Eight years later...

According to Facebook memories, I started this blog eight years ago as of today, which seems totally crazy. Eight years ago, I was starting the spring semester of my freshman year of college at Appalachian State University. Eight years ago I still wanted to be a high school math teacher, specifically I really wanted to teach calculus. And as I sit here eight years later, I literally cannot wrap my mind around just how much has changed and just how much God has done in my life.

Might not be a math teacher, but I will always love math!

In eight years time I went from a painfully shy, timid teenager to a still quiet, but confident young woman. I remember shaking when I talked in front of people, and now one of my greatest joys each week is preparing, writing, and preaching a sermon to the congregation where I serve.

A lot has changed, but I will always love coffee!

In eight years time I switched majors from secondary education to exercise science (with a brief detour through social work). And after all that, when I graduated with my undergraduate degree, I sensed a call to ministry. So, instead of starting work in the exercise science field, I found myself starting seminary at Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, GA.

The first time I preached was at my home church from growing up, and after, my pastor said I might want to consider preaching. I think I laughed...

Even in seminary, I remember saying that I wanted to go in to ministry, but I didn't want to serve in a local church. Instead, I hoped to serve in extension ministry as a hospital chaplain. But just like all the other plans I had for my life, that ended up changing too. With graduation from seminary looming in the future, and three open CPE residency offers, I ended up taking a leap of faith to ask for a local church appointment. Because, as much as I loved the hospital, I felt like the place where I could really lean in to my weaknesses and grow the most was in the local church.

Early seminary days

 Even then, when I requested a local church appointment, I thought I would be the associate pastor somewhere. But that changed too, when in March 2017, my district superintendent called me to tell me that I would be serving at Wesley United Methodist Church in Gainesville as the solo pastor.

I was a strange mixture of excitement and anxiety in the months that lead up to being commissioned and starting at Wesley. But as I sit here, in my second year serving at Wesley, my heart is absolutely overflowing with love for this congregation and the blessing it is to serve here.

Ministry is always an adventure!

A lot changes in eight years. A lot of new beginnings, a lot of big moves, a lot of transitions, a lot of celebrations (hello meeting the love of my life at seminary orientation and then getting married two years later!!), a lot of tears, a lot of books read, a lot of pages written, a lot of memories made, and most of all, a lot of God's grace and goodness transforming me from the inside out!

Right after getting recommended for ordination as a full connection elder
in The UMC by the Board of Ordained Ministry,
wearing the cross I was given at my confirmation in 2004.
Crazy journey from then to now!  

Can't wait to see what the next eight years brings!