Transition

If I could sum up the year 2011 in one word, it would transition.

• Transition is a nice way of saying that I moved three times this year. I have lived in 4 different places in 2011 (but all in the Nashville area). I wish I was joking, but I never really unpacked at any place this year. I lived out of boxes and it was a little tough for me to feel settled. I am very happy to say that while most of my stuff is still in storage, I am unpacking my boxes in my new place with my new roommate.

• I graduated from grad school! And then I spent the summer waiting and stressing and looking for jobs. I found an old blog entry from this summer that I never posted on my thoughts on "waiting." This year was a year of waiting and God taught me so much through it. Hopefully I will get the nerve one day to post my entire blog entry on waiting. But the short version is the struggle made me dive deeper in my faith. At times I was so frustrated and mad that I didn't want to pray or read my bible. But Jesus brought me out of a tough situation, and closer to Him. What I learned was that this situation was not about me. The purpose of waiting is Jesus, and the work of waiting is worship (I read that once somewhere and I wish I could remember where and give them credit).

• I also had a transition of being a full time counselor at a school. I'm not sure I can accurately describe this change; it has to be experienced. People who work in a school have a common bond and a mutual understanding (It's kinda like how I didn't think the tv show "The Office" was funny until I worked in a business office). It was a little overwhelming and exhausting at first, but I never thought I would be able to love 600 kids so much! I am so thankful for my job and my school. I never thought I would meet such amazing co-workers who stay at school until 10:30pm on a Saturday night to help me bubble in TCAP scantrons. It was a huge change and a big transition this year for me!

• UT sports are going through lots of change and transition. That's really all I can say without getting too sad about all the changes. But I sure had some great times with Amy and Kory at UT functions in 2011!
Most people don't like change, but I learned this year that change may not always be bad. The changes and transitions of my life this year were really hard, but they taught me so much. Looking back on 2011, I am thankful for the one thing that is constant in my life. God is the same yesterday, today, forever. So here we are 2012. It's going to be a great year!