After an extended blogging hiatus, I've decided it's time for a return and a bit of a redesign. If you read this :), be looking for changes and a leap in post frequency (I say this partly to challenge myself to write) in the near future. Meanwhile, a bit of a catch-up on life is way overdue.
After my last post, I decided to finish my time at Hillsong College with the final semester of 2011, and I continued to live and work in Australia until August, before returning to the USA. In retrospect, it was the best decision I could have made-I realized that being part of church for those months was just about the biggest part of the learning experience I had overall. Looking back, I remember that when God called me to Australia, He said to go sit under the leadership there, but it was nine months later that He used the college to get me there-and a visa to keep me there. And the church experience-sitting under that leadership-was transformational. During those months of being part of the church and NOT the college, I got out of the college bubble a bit and saw what it was to actually be the church without the demands of college life forced upon you. I think that college was vital-to get me to Australia, and keep me there legally, and to make friends with the people I met and have grown to love. But the church helped me to understand what it means to be an effective representation of Christ on the planet. I came home believing in the Church's capacity to change the world for the better and ready to work to make that happen.
And so...at home, I am. I miss Hillsong, but I don't miss Australia terribly-except that I went from Aussie winter almost directly into Ohio autumn/winter-BRRR!!!! The weather has been a less-than-optimal adjustment (I like snow and cold, but not for months on end), and living at home with my folks has been good-interesting, but good. Mom asked me to come home and help look after my grandma, which I've been doing for six months now. Gram is healthy enough at 89, and sharp as a tack. But she is rather high-maintenance and it can be exhausting to keep up with her demands for attention (she'd be appalled to hear that, so don't tell her.). It's been absolutely lovely to be able to have this time with her to chat and gain insight into her life and perspectives, and even to share thoughts on what I've learned over the last few years. I adore this time with her and I'm so grateful.
As for how long this season will last, and what's next, I'm afraid I don't know. I know it IS a season, and I feel like I'm meant to be preparing to hit the ground running for my next season, so I'm doing my best to stay faithful where I am, and to embrace these moments I have with my family, in the farmhouse surrounded by cornfields, devoid of much but full of love, living simply (and sparingly!) until God opens the next door.
And that's about the gist of it all. There's lots more to come, though...so stay tuned!
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