Summer Recap

Is recap short for recapture? I've never really thought about that before, I just use the word.

Summer is dwindling down quickly, and by that I mean it's Thursday and I leave for Nashville on Monday. Have I packed? Nope. I'll get around to it on Saturday and then realize just how much stuff I left out. Oooh well, I guess you could say I like to live dangerously, haha!

I figured I better start preparing my answer to that infamous back to school question, "how was your summer?" I'm not the type of person to just reply with "good, yours?" I hate the lack of engagement in that.   (Side note: If I ask you how you're doing, I'm genuinely interested. Seriously. And if you ask me how I'm doing, I won't let you go with an easy "good").

Anywayyy, back to my summer recap. It really hasn't been a thrilling one, filled with pictures and memorable experiences like so many in the past have seemed. Don't get me wrong though, I've thoroughly enjoyed my time off, even those long periods of doing nothing. I'm not sure when I'll see that again.  In short, I spent my summer interning with the college ministry, building old friendships, creating new ones, and tons of family time. Thats the surface answer, the deeper answer is that this summer, I've heard and understood and learned about God in completely new ways. The lessons I've learned have been eye opening and leave me standing in awe. A pretty consistent prayer of mine is that I would grow in faith and learn about God in ways that I couldn't have imagined before. Ask and you shall receive.

The biggest lesson, well really, transformation, is the breaking down of such high emotional walls I had maintained for many years. There is still healing and rebuilding and probably more destruction, but in the end, I have learned to let others in further and see who I am. Ha, this means embracing those infamous female emotional roller coasters.
I've been freed and forgiven of things I didn't feel I could deal with, or rather, didn't want to.
I've learned why men should pursue women.
I've learned how to forgive others.
God gives, and he takes away. I may not understand the reasons, but I believe in his power and authority.
God will provide when he says he will.
I've taken on a more content spirit (I think).
God cares about seemingly stupid issues, but thats because I am His.
I've learned to allow God to bless me and not worry that something horrible MUST be coming.
I've learned more of God's romancing heart.

Thats a lot to take in, all of that. Maybe I didn't take a billion pictures this summer, or take any crazy trips. But I tell you, I've grown and changed and have built a stronger foundation on my Father and there is no experience that I would trade for that.

So now I ask you: How was your summer?