A Great Life

So I've been thinking how I really need to debrief to all you faithful bloggies out there regarding my days at orientation. It's been really challenging to figure out what I walked away with, how I am feeling, or to package up into a pretty little box "what it's going to be like."

But, I've just decided pretty little box or not, I do have a few thoughts I have come away with. Surprisingly (or maybe not so surprising) a whole lot more about the bigger picture, the bigger story, and less about PA School.

Truth be told, I don't feel much different after orientation. A little more scared at how hard all the faculty and past students assure us it will be, but thankful to finally have a schedule so I can at least have an idea of what my classroom/lab hours will look like. It was fun to order scrubs and opthalmascopes (eye checker) and otoscopes (ear checker). That felt crazy fun! And I am really glad I got to meet everyone and put faces and actual humans with the names that I have seen over and over again. These are my people for the next 2 years. We will be each other's community, support, and the only other 54 people in the world who understand what one another is really feeling and living through. I am thankful for the way I felt like we gelled so easily. I look so forward to doing life with them.

On a grander scale as I have reflected, I have just felt grateful. Overwhelmingly grateful. Someone said recently that before they turned the light out to fall asleep, their wife turned to them and said "We have a great life." And I think I might claim this as my mantra for the next season. It is so true. And sometimes I forget it in the midst of my critical nature and overanalyzing of all things. I forget what a great life I have. I think every night as I turn out the light I want to end the day by taking the time to acknowledge that I have a great life. Life is all about choices...choosing how you will see things/ the world/ etc. I want to see through a lens of gratitude.

So, a few things I am thankful for in this coming season...

I am grateful for a community of people surrounding me that love me and stand behind me...my cheerleaders and encouragers in life. I think I really have the best "people" in the whole world. Really...yall cannot be beat. I mean, honestly, every time I looked at my phone on Monday or Tuesday I must have had at least 5 texts of people telling me they were praying for me, thinking about me, asking how it was, etc. It started to get ridiculous. I could not believe how many people remembered, how many people cared! I could never do this journey alone. I wonder if anyone else in the room had a community of people standing behind them and cheering them on for stupid ORIENTATION (ha!) like I did...I seriously doubt it.

I have a great life.

I have been watching some things on a new documentary coming out called "Waiting for Superman" (that everyone needs to see). It's about the state of America's schools and kids in inner cities who literally pray to win a "lottery" system that would earn them a spot in a private charter school. They break down in tears when their number isn't called because they know that in all likelihood they will not get the education they need or deserve.

And then there I am, sitting in a beautiful classroom accepted into a highly competitive PA program listening to some of the brightest faculty and doctors and teachers talk about the hopes and dreams they have for us. How dare I for one day complain! I have the opportunity to pursue my dreams! I have had an unbelievable education since my first day of Kindergarden. I have had people mentor me and push and challenge me. I have had people speak into my gifts. I have had the finances to go to college and to have no debt. I have parents who will help me get through these next 2 years free of rent, utilities, and pretty much any other expense. Are you kidding me?? On the hardest days of days when I am exhausted from studying and just want to quit, Lord help me to remember how lucky I am. How many around the world would give so much to have the opportunities I have been given. I do not want to take this gift for granted. I want to use it to change the world. To heal broken people. In all their broken places... And I am gonna get to do that! I am actually going to get to do that!

I have a great life.

It's Thursday night and once again I'm not at Young Life club. Thursday nights kinda suck in all honestly. I try to keep myself busy but it still just feels so weird to not be at club. I still stare down the clock as 8:00 approaches. I just want to be there. I could sit around and be mopey and sad that I don't get to do that right now...analyzing if I've done the right thing, etc. But in light of my new gratitude thing, I started thinking tonight. I started thinking about Meghan and Brittany and Leigh and Abby and Kyle. And about Kaitlyn and Alicia and BT and Betsy and so many others who this very night ushered kids into the presence of Jesus. Stood by the door and waited...for car lights to show up, for a certain face to walk in the door. I remember back to when I waited for some of them...now they wait for others. I remember back to when they wondered if they could do this...and I look at them now. Changing the world.

I got to be a part of that...I got a front row seat. And that really hasn't changed...I keep getting to have a front row seat. I've moved from the field to the bleachers for a few years...But I think I'm ok with that. To be quite honest, the seats are pretty good. I kinda like the view from up here. You get to cheer a lot louder and You notice a whole lot more..

Meghan's calling... I'm gonna go hear about club =)

I have a great life.