a changing me

I've done a lot of thinking about me over the last few months.  Normally I would say that sounds self-absorbed (because it does), but in this case it was necessary.  It's been a huge thing for me.  It's led me through some fascinating discoveries about who I thought I was, the things I thought I needed, and the people and accomplishments I thought defined me.  Through some very frustrating experiences, a lot of honest conversations with friends, family, and mentors, and way too many tearful prayers to count, I have grown in ways I struggle to express in words.  I have learned about me and, even better, learned that it's okay that I don't know everything about me.  I still have a long way to go.  I still have too much stress to be healthy long-term.  I still worry about the future more than I should.  I'm still on this journey to relearning how to live truly content in who God made me - not content in what I have control of, but what He is in control of.  Regardless of the "I still"s, I can look back to see how far I've come and be confident in God's hand in each step.  I'm grateful for my (ridiculously) overemotional summer because it's allowed me to experience God in ways I never have before.

My friend from small group and I at the NC Mountain State Fair

I love this picture.  Not just because I feel pretty (which is very rare for me to acknowledge and huge for me to put in writing), but because I actually feel beautiful.  It's more than a physical beauty - I can feel my joy when I look at myself.  Thank you to my amazing family and friends who have always seen this beauty and have continued to point it out - even when I so strongly resist :)