"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"
Psalm 107:1
It's just about that time of year again, Thanksgiving approaches quickly.
For the first time in 20 years, I will not be in Maine for it.
You know what though? I'm actually content with it (and never in my life did I ever think I would be able to say that). I will admit that it does feel weird knowing that I will be missing our normal dinner with my Lunn family. Nana has assured me, however, that our day-after-Thanksgiving tradition of decorating the house for Christmas will not occur until I get home around the 15th of December. I'll instead be heading fifteen minutes southwest to Xenia to celebrate the holiday with Tom & Chris Mach before heading over to Centerville to spend the rest of break with Lynette, Jon, and Jenna. I am so thankful to both the Mach's and Rarick's for being willing to pour into my life.
I have blabbed on and on already (to the surprise of many) about how grateful I am to have returned to Cedarville this fall, and to have seen God's hand so evidently in my current situation. Lynette has told me numerous times while hanging out that she cannot believe I am the same person that she met last fall. To have a school so well grounded in the Scriptures and community astounds me nearly every day that I live here. To be involved in a department so full of God-fearing, legitimately caring professors...wowowow.
But my support system is not just here, of course. I would be amiss to not talk about my thankfulness for those back home. Even though I have become more independent of my Main(e) support system, I don't think I would be thriving like I am currently without it.
- My best friend of more than six years, Abbs, is currently pursuing her bachelor's in Communications Writing at Clark Summit University in PA, but distance sure makes the heart grow fonder. Even though we have made new friends and are finding our own, our friendship has not skipped a beat. She is my precious sister, and I am so thankful for the connection we have- I love you sissy (PS- we need to do a Walmart run together during Christmas break.)
- Most nights include a Facetime call with my parents, either separately if Dad is working downstate, or together. Our relationship dynamic has changed immensely, but they are still willing to go the extra mile for me, even with me being 1,200 miles away. The fact that they trust me and trust God with what he is doing in my life is such a blessing. Even though they cannot support me with my college finances, I will forever be grateful that Dad is willing to let me get on Prime once a month and grab various things I need, as I do not get to Walmart often. I know it is hard on them having me away more and more frequently, but they know I'm still their "little Laura string-bean" and that will never change, as old as I get.
- I think people are most surprised to hear that I attempt to get a hour-long conversation in with my Nana every day. The people that really know me, however, know that it is one of the most important parts of my day. My Nana is my best friend, and the impact that her and Papa have had on my life is tremendous. Their impact on so many people in general has been tremendous, even if they do not know it. My separation from them is admittedly the most difficult part about living here in Ohio but we have that mutual understanding that this is the best place for me right now, no matter how hard it is on the three of us.
Nana sends me 2-3 letters each week, and often rags on my Papa for him not writing to me occasionally. I think honestly he just worries that I will not be able to read his handwriting (but if I can decipher the handwriting of my father and Tom Mach, than I can decipher any). Also, if you know my Papa then you also know that he is generally a man of few words, but that when he does speak (other than when he's playing cards...) the words are weighty. Recently at the end of my letter from Nana I found this:
There are just so many things that I am thankful for this Thanksgiving season, that honestly I don't think I can name them all.
I have blabbed on and on already (to the surprise of many) about how grateful I am to have returned to Cedarville this fall, and to have seen God's hand so evidently in my current situation. Lynette has told me numerous times while hanging out that she cannot believe I am the same person that she met last fall. To have a school so well grounded in the Scriptures and community astounds me nearly every day that I live here. To be involved in a department so full of God-fearing, legitimately caring professors...wowowow.
But my support system is not just here, of course. I would be amiss to not talk about my thankfulness for those back home. Even though I have become more independent of my Main(e) support system, I don't think I would be thriving like I am currently without it.
- My best friend of more than six years, Abbs, is currently pursuing her bachelor's in Communications Writing at Clark Summit University in PA, but distance sure makes the heart grow fonder. Even though we have made new friends and are finding our own, our friendship has not skipped a beat. She is my precious sister, and I am so thankful for the connection we have- I love you sissy (PS- we need to do a Walmart run together during Christmas break.)
- Most nights include a Facetime call with my parents, either separately if Dad is working downstate, or together. Our relationship dynamic has changed immensely, but they are still willing to go the extra mile for me, even with me being 1,200 miles away. The fact that they trust me and trust God with what he is doing in my life is such a blessing. Even though they cannot support me with my college finances, I will forever be grateful that Dad is willing to let me get on Prime once a month and grab various things I need, as I do not get to Walmart often. I know it is hard on them having me away more and more frequently, but they know I'm still their "little Laura string-bean" and that will never change, as old as I get.
- I think people are most surprised to hear that I attempt to get a hour-long conversation in with my Nana every day. The people that really know me, however, know that it is one of the most important parts of my day. My Nana is my best friend, and the impact that her and Papa have had on my life is tremendous. Their impact on so many people in general has been tremendous, even if they do not know it. My separation from them is admittedly the most difficult part about living here in Ohio but we have that mutual understanding that this is the best place for me right now, no matter how hard it is on the three of us.
Nana sends me 2-3 letters each week, and often rags on my Papa for him not writing to me occasionally. I think honestly he just worries that I will not be able to read his handwriting (but if I can decipher the handwriting of my father and Tom Mach, than I can decipher any). Also, if you know my Papa then you also know that he is generally a man of few words, but that when he does speak (other than when he's playing cards...) the words are weighty. Recently at the end of my letter from Nana I found this:
It's just little things that this that remind me that I am so blessed by God.
Dr. White had a phrase that he constantly repeated last year during his sermon series in Proverbs which I had found annoying at first, but it began to weigh on my heart and I realized that it was a truth I needed. If someone had told me this time last year that I would be back here again this year, and not only that, but that I would be content and I would quit being the "world's best escapist?" I would have told them that they were literally crazy cause there was no way in heck that I was returning to Cedarville. But that phrase rings ever true, and I keep it up on my wall so I don't ever forget:
God is faithful, you can trust Him.
Coming back here was the biggest leap of true faith that I have ever had, I was scared and unsure of what He was doing in my life. Because of it, however, I have so much more to be thankful for this season. God is so good.
I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving with your families.
Laura xx
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