28 reflections

This week has been filled with things I hadn’t expected and I’ve had a lot more late nights than my body is used to. So when the alarm clock went off, I thought, “It’s my Birthday I can sleep and I don’t have to go to school.” Well, I’m going in a little late so I can enjoy my full cup of coffee without rush, but I have to get to class today. So as I stumbled out of my bedroom, my roommate, Ernie, came out with his classic Ernie smile and said, “Hold on I got something for you.” I then waited 10 minutes, and began to worry. But no worries… He brought out a big cookie with 28 candles and was playing a ragae Happy Birthday Song he found on iTunes last night. Too funny and a special way to start my day (thank you Ernie). Here is the cookie…

I thought it would be fun to ponder 28 reflections for each of my 28 years. Some are thoughtful and some are complete nonsense! I hope you enjoy!

1. By God’s grace, I seem to grow more appreciative (most days) of each moment with every year that passes.
2. Even though I realize I’m young my body doesn’t feel like I’m AS young (I know it will only get worse).
3. The days only continue to move faster and faster.
4. I’m still excited to get older and the wisdom that comes with age.
5. I think it is safe to say I’ve finally gone through puberty (see earlier pictures with me and my beard).
6. There are an infinite amount of life experiences that are ahead of me, that I can’t wait for and also some that bring a healthy fear of God to my life.
7. I find the life that God has lead me into terribly interesting.
8. I don’t own a car, a house or many of the other things that friends that are my age own. Interesting…
9. I never thought I would be here, doing what I do; i.e. I will walk out the door within 20 minutes and go to class to learn a language. Is this really my job?
10. At any moment God is ready to bring somethings, or someone to my life I feel more grounded and ready than I’ve ever felt.
11. I love the adventure of a life that I live.
12. I’ve found God bringing a beautiful continence (or steadiness) to my life, that has allowed me to trust Him in ways that are not inherent to my personality and demeanor.
13. I like being a twenty-something.
14. I don’t know yet about the thirty-something thing, but bring it on in a short two years.
15. This has been one of the most challenging years of the 28 years I’ve been alive thus far, which brings some sober thoughts because I know there will be more challenges ahead.
16. It is strange being 10 years older than a good portion of the guys I play American football with here in Prague.
17. My littlest sister is 13! A teenager, I think this is one of the scariest things about getting older is seeing her go from a baby to toddler to little girl to teenager to…. I’m starting to hyperventilate, I’m stopping there!
18. I long to see God overhaul my heart each day and let my heartbeat match His.
19. People are ever changing and yet at the same point some people don’t change at all. This is extremely paradoxical for me.
20. My longing for the Czech nation to experience a Jesus revolution has never been stronger.
21. I’ve finally stepped up to the plate of adulthood and I’m taking things seriously that I’ve scoffed at or deliberately ignored in the past.
22. Even though, I feel good about stepping up to the plate of adulthood, I find myself missing the simplicities of youth. I long to enter into the fantasy world of James M. Barrie (the author of Peter Pan) some days.
23. I’m learning more and more about dependency upon God and a healthy dependency on the people he has put around me.
24. I have learned that with being dependent upon the Sovereign Creator that He must move, He most do the work and I can’t force his hand. It’s Him. Him.
25. I find that I have to wake up to go to the bathroom more at night and I struggle to sleep in. Is this a sign of getting older?
26. I dearly love my family more with each passing day and find God bringing a deeper appreciation of them. (I LOVE YOU Mom, Dad, Mikaela and Megan!)
27. I can’t believe I actually came up with 28 reflections and also that I have 28 years to ponder!

What will God bring in this 28th year of life? I’m excited to anticipate God’s movements over the next year. What will I be thankful for on this day next year? Thanks for stopping by today and thanks for being a reader!