disney parks, ranch life, & enchanted forests.

God loves rabbit holes & backstage scenes.



hold on, let me explain my thoughts.



ever get struck by the fact that the realms of the unseen not only work against us, but are more often working for us? that means that while Satan is trying his very best to bring us down, throw us off track, and break apart our faith, God and His angels are working harder & are going beyond to bless and direct our paths. most of the time we do not get the chance to understand or the opportunity to look at what God is doing, but, just once in a while -- in rare glimpses -- we are given the chance to look at the inner workings and see they paths God has brought us on.



funny how those moments can completely change your attitude, your purpose, and your zeal for the Creator.



one month ago, i was still living day by day, simply floating through time & the pace of life. yesterday, i was given a glimpse of the paths God has brought me on, and i am all the better for it. i thank God for the people who helped bring me to the place i am today, as well as the fact that He loves me enough to bring me all the way across the country to radically change my life. if that's all it takes, then i'll pack up BA (my car) and travel back again.



let me fill in the gaps.

i left life after college in God's hands, since my hands were full with race planning, end of college preparations, and 5 jobs. i spent most of my time running from one place to another, while i let my job searches, applications and interviews go by the wayside. surprisingly, God allowed me to have several interviews and lots of interest from places in MA, VA, TX, OH & NY. Yet, I wasn't exactly excited about any one of those places...espcially MA...I mean really, do I seem like the type who would live in the city? pshaw. as graduation crept closer, i finally decided just to pray & seek God's best, wherever He took me. Then, one later Thursday night, i hopped on the CCCA website randomly, since i hadn't been there in a while. to my surprise, there was a job posting for this seemingly amazing place in Occidental, CA, for a Naturalist position at a camp called Alliance Redwoods Conference Grounds. see, i had looked at this camp earlier in the year, but seeing they had no positions available, i had pushed it to the back of my mind. now, they were not only hiring, but desperate for teachers. without really thinking, i downloaded an application, and stayed up late filling it out. i finished it early the next morning (friday), and sent it in. later that afternoon, i got a phone call, had an interview, and a promise to hear back from them early the next week. monday rolls around, and i got an email offering me the job. tuesday afternoon, i signed a contract and radically changed my direction. now i had to find a way to get out to CA by jan. 10, and also leave everything i have ever known. in one quick weekend, i switched from being a college student to a working girl in the real world. for someone who has barely stepped off her home soil (in a figural sense), i was making leaps towards a new adventure.

phase deux. job # 2.

the next day, while i was simply sitting in my room, procrastinating a silly paper, i got an unknown phone call on my cell. ringing a voicemail, i listened to the message, and ended up putting my roommate in a panic with all of the "oh my gosh"s and panicked look on my face. the phone call was from Washington State University, informing me i was a finalist for their gradute assistant position in experiential education, and they wanted an interview. now i not only had a real job, but the chance to perhaps go to grad school for free with a legit position to boot. praise God from whom all blessings flow. will wonders never cease? not on my own doing, believe me. i had an interview the night before i graduated, and then placed the position in God's hands. little did i know that i would be receiving a phone call the following week from them. i can remember exactly what happened. i was walking towards the "Energy" display at Epcot Center, when i felt my phone ring for a voicemail. i sat on the bench, listened to the voicemail, and then promptly laid down and told my parents i was going to be sick. God once again astounds me with blessings, as the voicemail was an offer for the position. so hello california, then on to washington! mcgee!

did i forget to mention the fact that i graduated? that was interesting. i really thought i was going to cry and be nervous and get upset, but as i walked into lucky gym, i simply had a peace that it was time to leave. "for such a time as this" mordicai tells esther as she is brought to face the challege of saving her people, or her life. though my life was not in danger, i was brought to iwu for "such a time as this," and now was the time to flee or to fly. so i flew -- down the isle, up the stairs, and out the door with my diploma...holder. don't worry, i made a face and the "rock on" sign to my family. gotta be real.
(i miss that place already. it was the time of my life. but i will always treasure the memory.)

so, fast forward two weeks. i graduated, went on vacation to disneyworld (yeah baby!), then took a week to pack up my life in a car & say goodbye to friends i've had for years, not to mention a place that i have called home all my life, and to my family which is the most important thing in my life after my relationship with Christ. i said goodbye january 5, and pulled out the driveway with my stuff stowed away, and my brother in the driver seat. (yep, couldn't take a road trip without him!)

ok. this post is extremely long. my fingers are no longer functioning, so au revoir!