Reflections for Mother's Day

Being home this past weekend for Mother's Day was absolutely amazing! It was also very interesting to hear different people's thoughts on my choices for post graduation. No one really seemed too surprised for me to make a choice such as moving away to South America to teach English for a year. I guess I've prepared people to expect the unexpected in my life. As I caught up with several family members and close friends this weekend, I felt slightly sad with the thought of leaving. 1) I have the most amazing family in the world. They are supportive, encouraging, hysterical, and loving people who can't wait to see what God has planned for my life after graduation. My cousins are all growing up and becoming young men and women which will be hard for me to miss out on for the year I'm gone. 2) I forgot how much I love my Simi friends! Sitting with Rachelle over breakfast and just talking about life, school, boys (or lack thereof), family, jobs, etc. made me excited to be home for a few months to enjoy such precious moments with people I hold so dear. 3) My parents are going to miss me. I know how conceited this may sound, but I don't mean it in that way. As I walked around the Aquarium of the Pacific with my parents, I realized how close of a bond I have with them and how much they value the relationships that we have. It will be hard to leave and not have the easy 3 hour drive to see them when I miss them too much. With all of that said, I am also very excited about my upcoming trip. Many people I have spoken to about my plans have put in their two cents about which country I should (or should not) go to as well as ways to stay safe and what not. I have now narrowed it down to Chile and Argentina. The search is far from complete and will not truly begin until after I am certified, but I feel myself daily drawn to look at airline prices and job posting sites. It seems unreal that I may have this type of opportunity in my life. Never once have I asked for an ordinary life. I've never asked for safety or predictability either. Maybe this is why God has planned this out. As I've said many times before, I don't know what God has planned or why He has those plans, but I am so excited to live the life He has set before me! Tonight was my last class of my college career. I will have two finals next week, a Dean's List ceremony, and graduation. Seems like just yesterday that I was sitting in The Best Little Hair House having my hair done by Geri who has been doing my hair since I was born, and we were talking about my upcoming move to San Diego and how exciting it was that I was going to break free and get the chance to design my own path. I have since come to realize that I want no part in the designing. I decide to leave that up to the Perfect Designer; however, I absolutely love living out the incredible opportunities He has set before me. Now, as I look graduation square in the face, I am again doing something that is different and unconventional. I am going to bed now with one thought: No Regrets. I purpose to live my life with no regrets. No matter what life's path holds, no matter what persecution or trials come my way I will live my life in a way that I can look back and regret nothing. One thing my dad said while I was home was "Under promise, over perform". I want to be that person. I want to be there for the people I love and really make a difference in their lives. For those who are starved for good role models, I want to be a vessel through which they see the Ultimate Role Model and how to serve Him with everything. I want to show love in a way that points to the Cross and Christ's life-saving blood.