In my previous post, I wrote about how I saw life panning out for myself. Which, in the realm of choosing to follow God, doesn’t mean squat. But the truth is, I kinda saw that for myself like…right now. The last thing I ever saw myself doing was working in an office (let alone for a construction company), living in Indy, and having the typical 9-5 schedule. For some reason, I always saw that as just settling when I could have this big adventuresome life doing something more…adventerous.

The funny thing is, I talk about life panning out for me when it just hasn’t yet. I am 24 years old. Cody turned 25 today (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HUSBAND!). We are so stinkin’ young! And I would say we are doing a pretty good job of making the most of life while we wait for whatever might come next…we stay up late talking and watching movies, we constantly have people over, we are planning trips, exploring possibilities, spending time with family. Sometimes I get a little weepy because I would love to travel more, do missions more, and I’m tired of waiting. But Cody always has to bring me back and remind me why we are here. Because we love God and He has told us to stay put. And it has been good for us.

We may not know what ‘now’ is preparing us for. But Cody starts class in the fall to get his business degree. I have several big projects here at work: one of them is hiring a company to design a new website for us, the other is to become an accredited professional for LEED, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. I’ve thought about pursuing an education degree to teach at IPS at some point. Who knows what will happen?

The beautiful thing is, I don’t have to fit these puzzle pieces together. I can’t worry that now won’t prepare me for later because I don’t know what later holds. I know what I WANT it to hold right now, but that can always change.

Cody was born 25 years ago today. When he moved to Indiana from Nebraska his freshman year of high school, his whole world got pulled out from underneath his feet (This story is relevant. I promise. Stick with me). We met the fall of sophomore year in world history. We were instantly close. Dated. Fell in love. Were inseparable. The road became broken from there…multiple breakups, multiple moves, multiple other relationships, multiple confusions…and just reading back through my journals, I asked God so many times…What do I do, what is going on, and why is Cody still around? (ha).

Then, within a span of three months, we decided to get married, got engaged, and we were married. Sometimes I feel like it all passed in a flash. One day, I’m praying and asking God if we are supposed to be together, the next moment I’m sitting on a plane to our honeymoon, stunned at how I got there.

That’s the beauty of it. In the middle of the story, I could not have put together the pieces for the LIFE of me. And it made me angry and frustrated. Yet looking back, it’s the most beautiful and romantic story. I was writing Cody’s birthday card this week with tears, so thankful and so in awe because the story was crazy! Our paths zigzagged every which way and only God could have made them cross when they did.

I will let go of the one little puzzle piece I’ve been staring at and gripping so hard so that God can show me where it goes. I will keep walking and I will trust. And in the meantime, I will love as much as I possibly can.

Here’s the story’s beginning: high school junior and senior proms (yes, I know I blinked the first time).

And here’s how the story ended…or rather, began.

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1corinthians 1