Wow...I can't believe it...5 years ago today (yep...Valentine's Day) I packed up a U-haul & moved to Oklahoma City. It wasn't exactly what I wanted to do, but due to a layoff, I had to go where I could find work. I had four friends in the surrounding areas, all married with children. The first few months were incredibly hard...I was missing my dream job that I just lost, my co-workers who were more than just co-workers...they were dear friends, my new church that I was just getting plugged into and my family. I truly didn't understand why God allowed all this to happen but I wanted to believe He had a good reason for all of it.
I quickly found a church and started to get plugged in by taking classes and joining a community group. It was in the Hosea precepts Bible class that I truly felt I understood what God was doing in my life at the time. As I was sitting in my apartment reading Hosea 2, I came across verse 14 that says "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her." I realized at that moment I had been "lured into the wilderness for the Lord to speak tenderly to me". In Tulsa I had it all...wonderful friends, a fun family I enjoyed spending time with, a great church & a great job I truly loved. BUT, I was investing more of my time in those relationships than I was in my relationship with Him. Once He revealed that to me I was very excited that He cared enough to "lure" me away so that He could "speak tenderly to me"! This was a time I could really sit, without any distractions & listen to His voice...to ask what it is He wanted to do now.
I've been on a wonderful journey of growing closer to Him and, as always, He's taken me on a beautiful adventure...one I could've never dreamed up on my own.
I'm just going to list the things that I've had the pleasure of experiencing over these past 5 years...God is so cool & truly knows how to love each and every one of His children in the way they need to be loved
Gaining a deeper relationship with Jesus
Going on mission trips to Malawi & Kenya
Friends that blessed me with my dream camera for my birthday 3 years ago
A great church family, pastor & community group
Sweet friends who love on me in ways I never imagined
Volunteering at Love OKC with my friends from church
Emotional & spiritual healing through a wonderful friend & Biblical counselor
The opportunity to do High School ministry for three years
Fun room mates (I'm an extrovert & 7 months of living alone was more than enough for me)
The joy of witnessing friends fall in love, get married & have babies!
Fun nights out with my friends before marriage & babies came along
Quality time with friends & their families
A passion reignited in photography
Went on a Safari in Kenya...DREAM come TRUE!
Took up running for a season & did a 5k
Volunteering in the Wonderfully Made Class at church for the special needs kiddos...they have my heart
Saying goodbye to the sweet girl who inspired that class in the first place - she was my sweet little friend
Thunder games
Meeting Steve Moakler at a house concert...sooo FUN!
Volunteering with my dear friend, her oldest daughter & one of my former HS girls after the May 20th Moore Tornado
Becoming an OKC Local Foodie - we have SO many amazing local restaurants here!
Meeting Coach Scott Brooks the day after winning the Western Conference Championship in 2012
Meeting Nick Collison on my birthday
Redhawks games
Making the Mustache Bash Website- What What!!!
Attend the annual Friendsgiving with a great group of people
Published in the Newspaper
Took up painting ;-)
Introducing my niece to Thunder madness by enrolling her in the Devon Thunder Kids Club
A Trip to San Francisco
Meeting a Photographer on flight to San Fran willing to mentor me
Met the Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond
A great job that allowed me the time off to spend my last moments with Nana before she went to be with Jesus...when I came back they had my favorite flowers & a beautiful box of encouraging words waiting for me
Sweet friends who came all the way from OKC to Tulsa to be with me during Nana's funeral
Meeting the entire Thunder team last year
OU Games
A trip to Philadelphia to see my Dad's family for Thanksgiving
Went with the roomies to the tree farm to cut down our own Christmas tree
My very own house - this still blows me away...I'm so thankful for how He takes care of me
Many opportunities to love on people the way God has loved on me
Two sweet kiddos I'm crazy about in Kenya
A group of middle school & high school girls Bible study that I get to be a part of
The list goes on & on people!!!
I'm so thankful & look forward to many more years and surprises ahead. God is so good, people!!!
