New Beginnings

I am finally in Springfield :D This long awaited day has finally arrived. Let me update you on my life though.

My last entry was a bit of a sob story. All of it was true, but times have changed and things are different now. On May 21st, 2011 I finally graduated from Ozark Christian College and that literally, was probably one of the happiest days of my life. I have two degrees from there and the freedom to do what I want to do. On May 22nd, at 5:41 an F5 tornado hit the city of Joplin. Thankfully, it did not hit anywhere near my school, but the damage that was done is devastating. There was literally nothing left and the only way I knew how to explain it was to say that it looked like a bomb had gone off.

Joplin had changed. I spent my summer down there helping and working. I ran into a few crossroads that have changed me and that I have learned from. I can definitely say that moving from Joplin is one of the best decisions that I could make. I am inspired by Joplin, but there does come a time where I need to move on with my life and that started yesterday. My heart still hurts for the Joplin and the people of Joplin daily, but with their spirit, that town is going to look brand new :)

I moved to Springfield to start my next journey. I will be attending a grad school there this fall called Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. I am looking forward to it. I have a great roommate! And I can just tell that this going to be different, the good different I have been waiting for. I am officially doing something great with my life and moving on. Springfield opens up a door of great opportunities that I cannot wait to try. Grad school is definitely going to be different from the school I just came from, but it's good. I feel like I have grown up in these last couple of months. I am not the same girl that left Joplin only 3 weeks ago.

I made mistakes that I wish I could take back, but there is no point. They have only made me stronger and more convicted. I want to live a good life and I think that God has given me one more shot to do that here. I am strong, but if I want to admit it to myself, I lost God awhile back. I believe in Him, do not get me wrong, I just lost who He was. I lost that He was the saving grace, the forgiver of all things and the righteous judge. I want that back.

Ozark was a lot harder than I thought and I already wish I had another chance to go and do it over. At the same time, God has given me another chance. He gave me Springfield. He gave me another chance. Joplin is a closed chapter in my book. That is not to say I will not ever miss Joplin, but my story is done there. The place I gave 4 years of my life is done. I close this chapter and open another. This is a place with new beginnings. Thank you God :)