celebration

this past weekend, i went home for the first time in about 6 weeks. as you know, i've been thinking about moving back to chatt...thankfully after this weekend it is clear as day that its what i am supposed to do and where i'm supposed to be! here are my reasons why...

my sister and her boyfriend are ENGAGED! woo hoo! i am so unbelievably excited for the two of them and their future together! my sister already asked me to be the maid of honor, so we were quick to start the planning. they want the wedding to be in the fall, so we gotta get to work. while i'm dreading graduating, i now have something beyond exciting to look forward to and help plan! the timing of the whole thing has worked out perfectly and it makes me certain that the Lord brought it all together. He knew that this would be the perfect thing for me and my transition back home and He knows that I love planning and am super excited to help my sister. He also knows the timing of my sister and her fiancé's lives...it was the perfect weekend to get everything in motion! to top it all off, i realized that this will be the first event for both sides of my family to get together. as i get older, my family means more and more to me...so how could i not be excited about my sister marrying an incredible guy AND celebrating it with all of our families... its the perfect reason to celebrate with those loved ones close to us! plus this has made me appreciate the meaning of a wedding which is awesome.

on saturday night, i got together with some people from high school. because i was at the same school for so long, i have a deep love for it and the people that were there with me. i have loved coming home and getting together with people this past year... i think its the fact that we're older and more mature but either way, i love catching up with them! i'm also more thankful that we forget all the crazy, ridiculous things we said while we were in high school. if i had a dollar for every time i said i'd never live in chattanooga, i'd have my rent paid for this month. ha ha, yeah, i'm eating my words but its good because it reminds me how little i knew in high school and how great it is to know what i want now. being at home this weekend allowed me to picture and dream about life there...i sit here now really excited to come back and try it for real this summer. i also realized this weekend that i crave time with my parents...as time has gone on, my time at home is never enough to catch up, relax and get stuff done. when i'm home, i'll get to spend more quality time with them and i'll get to do more things for them that i haven't gotten to do since i've been in college (ie cook dinner for them).

my weekend was relaxing and celebratory...but more than both it was an answer to my prayers. the Lord did hear me when i was freaking out about my future and my life. He knows me better than myself...and He really does know what is best for me even when i don't. i know home won't be a walk in the park, and i realize that i may not stay there long. but i'm moving back and i'm excited about it today and for that i am thankful.i pray now that i'll continue to live in the moment, enjoy every second in athens while also looking forward the future and the things to come!

minus the stye on my eye, i had one of the best weekends in chattanooga. the Lord is good. All the time!