my dreams are coming true.

It's been a while since the last time I wrote (9 months...eek!). It's been a busy 9 months. A short synopsis: I got a job, finished my last semester at community college, got my associates degree, transferred to Southeastern University, completed my first semester, came home for the summer, went back to the same job, and I'm going...

 

Yes!

But first, let's rewind to a few months ago...

The last time I wrote, I mentioned that I had been offered an internship with Centricity Music. I spent a significant time with this offer in my hands, waiting for God to reveal when the right time was for me to accept it. There were a lot of factors that  were weighing into my decision, and it was all kind of confusing, so I just waited quietly and patiently. Once I arrived at Southeastern, I was surrounded by people who were living out the calling that God had put on their heart so passionately. I was hearing a lot of talk about internships, which led me to begin thinking more seriously about my own offer. I still had the same questions and uncertainties. What were those, you may be wondering? Well, it was all about timing for me. I knew that I needed three months of time to do a full-blown internship, but I knew three months wasn't feasible for me this summer. I also didn't want to do this too early, have the possibility of a job being offered to me, and then have to turn the opportunity down because I had to come back to school. So, I was still stuck, but I was feeling God stirring something up. 

In March, while I was on spring break, I had to do an assignment for one of my classes where I had to interview an individual in a management position in media. I decided to go to a radio station in Orlando since I knew quite a few of the people who work there. While I was doing my interview, I asked the individual who I was interviewing for some advice on the subject. He suggested that I contact the label, see if it would be a possibility for me to spend two weeks with them during the summer, and then go back later for a full internship. It seemed like a genius idea. I left with my head swirling and couldn't wait to get back home and finally put some action to this opportunity that I'd had dangling in front of my face for so many months. After e-mails were sent back and forth, I had a phone interview in April that went really well. I received an e-mail a week later informing me that they would love to have me come for two weeks this summer to work on a couple of projects surrounding the release of Aaron Shust's new album release in July!

Fast forward to right now...

I will be in Nashville in two-and-a-half weeks. It's bizarre, it freaks me out, and I'm out of my mind excited for the opportunity that is waiting for me. From the beginning, I've been saying that if all of this is God will He will make all of the pieces fall into place. So far, I have all of the evidence to prove that God's mighty hand is in this. He set me up with the opportunity to talk to Steve from the label in September, He provided the right advice in March, He gave me the confidence in April during my interview, He provided me with a job this summer to save for my trip and for my return back to school in August. 

I stepped into all of this blindly, taking a leap of faith. It's quite possibly the biggest leap of faith I've ever taken. While conversing back and forth with my mom about this opportunity, before I ever sent an e-mail, my mom asked me "Where will you stay?" "How will you get there?" I told her, "If this is God plan, He'll work it all out. What will be will be." I've seen God work and move in this situation, and I've heard Him telling me consistently to trust Him and to not worry. I've never been so calm and at peace with a situation this big in my life. I still don't have a confirmed place to stay, or confirmed transportation back and forth to work each day while I'm there, but the Lord has worked everything else out, so I have to have faith and trust that He will work this minor detail out, too. 

I'm truly watching my dreams come to life right before my very eyes. I can't wait to see what God does...

If you'd like to follow my adventures, you can follow me on Instagram.

big news!

Hey everybody! Sorry I've been absent for the past week. I've been working on one blog post, but life is full and new and exciting things keep happening every time I turn around.

As many of you know, I'm getting ready to start my final semester at my local community college. I decided to live at home my first couple of years of college, work on getting my grades up, and cut down on college costs (hahah!). So, by the end of December I'll have my associates degree. But with finishing my associates degree, I obviously needed to start looking for somewhere else to go...right? Well...drum roll, please...

Last Friday I got my acceptance letter in the mail from Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL! It was an exciting day when I got it. I've been working for so long to get to this point, and to finally be here, where I get to take classes for what I really want to do after college, to start getting hands on experience...I feel like I'm finishing some sort of marathon. Although, the real marathon is getting my bachelors degree. So maybe I'm finishing a half-marathon? Either way, it's exciting, and I'm looking forward to moving in January. Yes, I said MOVING! Into a dorm room, no less. That will be an adventure. And hey, I like new adventures!

My mom and I are driving up to Lakeland next Friday to tour the campus and meet with my admissions counselor. I'm excited to see the campus (I've heard it's gorgeous) and start preparing for this next big step. Thanks for being excited with me!

this is it.

The time has come. My suitcases are all packed, my room is cleaned, and I am ready to fly tomorrow morning.

At the beginning of the week I was dreading saying goodbye to my mom. Don't get me wrong, I will miss her, but my whole perspective has changed. This is quite possibly the most amazing opportunity I've ever had so far in my life. I'm about to go experience something that I know will be life changing. I'm excited to see where God takes me on this adventure.

It will probably be pretty quite on my blog until I get back from camp. Mustering up the energy to write up a blog every once and a while at camp may be harder than you and I think. So I bid you farewell until August...

This is it. The homestretch. Sort of...

Four days until I hop on a plane and go head first into my adventure. I can't lie...I'm nervous. I'm scared. I'm going to miss this place I call home. This is the biggest thing I've ever done in my life. Quite possibly one of the most life changing things I may do in my life. This is preparing me for bigger things. The grown up world, I suppose. Even though I'll be chasing little kids around all day. I'll be on my own, far away from home. It's exciting, but scary at the same time.

I couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic when I curled up in bed with my mom tonight and she scratched my back. It's almost as if this is four more days of being mommy's little girl. I know I won't come back the same. That's exciting, but like I said, scary at the same time. I just don't even want to think about it. After wondering how I would be feeling my last week at home before I leave, wondering if I was going to be feeling these things, it's here...and I am. I was really doing okay this whole weekend, but I just had to say goodbye to four people who are near and dear to my heart for 2 1/2 months. My step-siblings. Love them so much. I don't even want to think about that either.

So this is where trusting and leaning of God comes in, doesn't it? Here we go...! Here.we.go.

Oh, Friday. You have proven to be quite uneventful. The way most Fridays are. Which brings me straight into the weekend. Which brings me into feeling restless. Which...shall I go on?

I've been lounging around my house all day now, trying to think of something productive to do, but I can't find anything. Can't think of anything. Or maybe I just gave up. Maybe I'll just take advantage of this weekend, not having anyone else in my house except for me...and my brother on occasion. Doing things at my own leisurely pace. Vacuuming when I want to vacuum, putting the dishes away when I want to put them away, baking cookies when I want. Peanut Butter Cookies. Flourless peanut butter cookies. That are delicious.

You know, before I know it, I'll be waking up at 2:00 A.M. to start packing my suitcases into my van, driving two hours north to Orlando, sitting at an airport for two more hours, and having an airplane take me thousands of miles up in the air, thousands of miles away from home and all I'm familiar with, and dropping me in Minnesota for 2 1/2 months. Looks like two is the lucky number. My favorite number. Maybe I should just soak up this time, not worrying about being somewhere or doing something big and extravagant just for the heck of it. Maybe the next month and a few days will be as low key as it can be, I'll be able to take it in, and then go up to Minnesota ready to take on those 2 1/2 months with gusto. Maybe, just maybe, I'll enjoy these low-key times unlike I normally do, before I'm thrown out of my comfort zone...again.

This post sounds as if I'm not thrilled to be going away for the summer, and experiencing new things. No, I'm super excited. I'm just aware that it won't be a walk in the park. That I'll be tested beyond what I can imagine. That I'll probably get home sick and miss everything that I love about this town that I hate. That I'll miss my Mom, and my cat. I may even miss my big brothers, too. And my crazy step-dad.  I'm also aware that I'll grow in unimaginable ways. That God will reveal Himself to me in so many ways if I allow Him to do what it is that He needs to do inside of me, and through me in Minnesota. Oh, camp. You couldn't come soon enough. Just let me enjoy the next month and a few days before you sweep me away to your state. Thank you.

my passion.

There is nothing in this world, besides Jesus, that makes me happier than planning a concert. I say this in no joking manner. I've only had the pleasure of doing it once before, but fully intend to do it many more times. There is just something inside of me that unknowingly comes out when I head into planning mode. You see, I can be a shy person, and absolutely hate taking any sort of leadership role because I have always felt like I can't do it. Along with being shy, I am also very soft spoken in an uncomfortable environment. If you were to talk to my best friend, she would tell you that I sound like a little four year old. We'll have to agree to disagree on that, but what I'm trying to say is this:

How in the world does a shy, soft spoken girl break out of her shell and plan a concert? 

I couldn't even begin to tell you. The last time I did this I surprised myself. It made me realize that I had a whole lot of other things inside of me that I didn't even know existed. Maybe when God has a calling on your life, He plants those tools inside of you, only to be brought out when absolutely necessary. Almost like a secret weapon, but not so weapon like. Not so scary. Just something to be used to further His Kingdom and glorify His name.

So I surprised myself again tonight. First, I have to start off by saying something. At the beginning of this week, I woke up thinking "Wow. I really want to plan a concert." The thought hasn't left my mind at all. If anything, it's just been knocking on my door harder. And harder. Today I tweeted "kaitluce has never had the urge to plan a concert more than I do right now." It's true. After I posted it, I prayed, asking God to let things happen how He wanted them to happen. Knowing that He would show me the way if this were to happen. Well, shortly after I posted that a couple of people told me I should go for it. So I went to church tonight and told the youth leader what I was thinking about, and he's ready to go. He wants it to happen like..yesterday. Then, while I was driving home, I thought "It would be cool to hear Jason Gray on the radio right about now. If that happened, that would be one more sign to add the the list that I should continue on with this." A couple songs later, his song For The First Time Again comes on. Yep. Call me crazy, but I have a feeling this should happen. The last time, I sort of just stumbled upon the opportunity to plan a concert.. The opportunity found me. Maybe this time I need to find the opportunity and we'll meet in the middle. Whatever happens in the end, God will get the glory. Anything to further His Kingdom.

P.S. I will keep you updated.

yesterday i wrote a blog. a blog that was hopeful. a blog that clearly laid out that i was putting all of my trust in God, because that was all i could do...having no idea what was going on, or what the future held for me.

today i'm writing another blog. this one contains my plans for the future, because God let me know yesterday. as of five o'clock p.m. yesterday i found out what i had been waiting two months to hear. after spending hours upon hours of researching summer camps out of state, not even knowing if it was what i was supposed to do, but doing it anyway because i didn't want to miss out on it if God wanted me in summer camp ministry again, i got a call back from green lake lutheran ministries in spicer, mn. i'm hired.

it hasn't quite sunk in yet, but i'm pretty sure i jumped about five feet in the air yesterday after i got off the phone. there was a whole lot of squealing, jumping, and blabbering of a bunch of mindless jibberish to my mom. needless to say, i'm so excited. when do i leave? well, i would like to leave right now, but i really have to be there before june 6th. the last day of camp is on august 14th. ten weeks. it's going to be ten weeks of a whole lot of awesome.

...and i can only thank Jesus over and over again for His faithfulness.

So, 2009 is coming to a close, and i've been anticipating this blog for sometime now. Time for reflections and looking ahead!

2009 has been a year of much trial and triumph. It's been one of the most difficult years of my life, but one of the best, also. I had to say goodbye to my Grandma after she lost her battle with cancer and my dog. I left home for the first time when I was working at camp. I came home broken and beat down because I was confused. Confused as to why God would have brought me there, and then allow what happened to happen...I wanted to throw in the towel. I wanted to give up on God, because I didn't understand. I'm glad I didn't. I've learned more about myself since then, than I ever have in my life.

2009 was a year of finding out what I was to do with my life. I got to have my favorite musician come play at my church twice. One of those concerts God used me to plan. It is something that I will remember for a long time to come. I finished high school (finally!) and started taking classes to get my GED. I've realized that i'm capable of a lot more than I ever thought. I have more confidence in myself and i'm not scared of trying new things as much as I used to. I'm more open to challenges that will be thrown my way, and conquering...even when it is difficult. God has shown me time and time again this year that I am incapable of completing anything without him. It's been a year of trusting Him with everything that I had, because that was all that I could do. I even got my license and a car. I've realized that He does everything in just the right order at just the right time. He is always faithful and I don't think i'll ever forget that again.

So here's to a new year, of new accomplishments. I'm excited to see where God leads me in 2010 and how i'm doing on the other side of it.