“For I know the plans I have for you,
declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans
to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
This scripture is a very well known,
consistently recited, and often memorized by many. I have just
recently figured out how true this is though. I mean, I didn't doubt
it. I knew that God had a plan for me. I knew that whatever it was,
it was going to surpass whatever plans I could dream up myself.
Over the past 6-9 months, I've felt as
if God has been calling me somewhere else. But I haven't been able to
see where. Nashville, TN—no. Cincinnati, OH—no, St. Louis—no,
Collinsville—no. I've been trying to wait patiently. I've been
trying to figure out what He has been telling me. Where He wants me.
The thing is...I put in “requests” for where I wanted to be. Or
what I wanted to do.
You wanna hear God laugh? Tell Him your
plans.
For real though.
Because what came next completely
rocked my world.
I need to preface by saying, as a
person raised in Southern Illinois. As a person who has lived here my
entire life...I'm naturally trained—raised to have very strong
opinions about Chicago. There are countless reasons why, and there's
no need to go into them. But I can just say that Chicago was not a
place that has ben anywhere on my radar at any point in my life. Not
once. I've actually referred to Chicago as the armpit of America. You
wanna hear God laugh? Tell Him your plans.
I'm not going to go into the whole
story of how it happened, but as of Friday 8/14/2015, I accepted a
job as a nanny/house manager for a family in
Chicago...er—well—Naperville, IL. This family and this family
kind of plopped in my lap. It was very out of the blue. When they
first approached me, I was hesitant...because it's Chicago. And it's
me. And it's Chicago. But something told me to talk to them. And I
did. I met them. I met their family. I saw their home. It was that
moment of clarity I had been praying to Jesus for.
His plan. His timing.
Not my plan. Not my timing.
His plan > my plan. His timing >
my timing.
This job is quite possibly one of the
most amazing opportunities I have ever been given. I'll get to
travel. I'll get to experience things I have wanted to for a while.
I'll get to serve Jesus, and be a witness for Him.
So...in 3 weeks, I'll be saying goodbye
to the only place I've ever called home. I'll be moving my life up to
Naperville. I'll get adopted into a wonderful family (and still get
to keep my actual family). I'll experience a life and things that
I've never experienced before. And I'll constantly remind myself of
how much God has blessed me with this opportunity.
[To my current coworkers]...you guys are awesome! Thank you for the shared frustrations, the countless laughs, the singalongs, the dance parties, and the memories. You'll still kill it without me there.
[To my friends]...thank you for your
support and your prayers. You unselfishly prayed for God's will do be
done in my life. Even if it takes me away from here. Special shout
outs to Cori, Damanji, Katy and Cassy. My sound boards. My prayer
warriors. My best friends. I love you.
[To my students]...y'all are without a
doubt the hardest part of leaving. I cannot say that there is one
person that would tempt me to stay. Because it's more than one
person. It's all of you. You all have impacted my life as much as
I've impacted yours, if not more. I will not be absent from your
lives, just not physically present as much as I am now.
[To my adorable nephew]...G, I'm still going
to be that super cool, fun aunt. That aunt that buys you every single
instrument for you to keep your parents up at all hours of the night.
That aunt that will be your personal paparazzi...whenever I'm home.
[To my sisters]...thank you guys for
teaching me how to live life with determination. Shannon, I've seen
you fight selflessly. You always put others first. You are determined
to put everyone else's needs above your own. Brittani, you're one of
the most ferocious people I've ever met. You're goal-oriented and
driven. You see something you want, and you don't just go for it. You
actually get it. Bryanna...you're determination is inspiring. You've
fought for your life. And you won. You fought for your happiness. And
you won. Thank you for showing me what determination looks like.
[Momma and Daddy]...I love you. Thank you
for everything. For your support. For your constant dedication. For
your sacrifice. For your time. For your love.
Naperville...here I come!
[Thank you, Jesus!]
[Thank you, Jesus!]
