Sometimes, things just don't turn out how you thought they would.

When I was 10 years old, I had my life figured out. I was going to go to college somewhere out of state. I was going to teach kindergarten for the rest of my life and have fun doing it. I was going to fall madly in love and be married, at least, by age 22. I would have at least 2 kids and I would adopt more. I would buy a big house and live the American dream.

But now I'm 21, and so far, NONE of these things have happened (and probably most of them never will).

I'm learning to be okay with that.

I stayed home all this time and chose to go to Maryville College. This has ended up being one of the best decisions I've ever made for the long run because I got to be home when my Grandfather passed away freshman year, I've met amazing people, I've done young life at LCHS, I've become friends with my parents and have grown closer to my siblings, I've been pushed academically and am still learning so much, and I've realized just how much I love Tennessee. I appreciate it now.

I stopped wanting to be a teacher after I worked at a daycare. Now I have no idea what I want to do, but I'm leaning toward journalism. I love writing. I love that I have no idea what I'm going to do with my life. I used to hate it, but now I think it's exciting because it means the possibilities are almost limitless.

And I'm definitely not in love. Not even dating anyone. I thought I would meet someone in college. I thought that I would find my significance in a man-that I would need a man. But by being single, I've learned so much about myself, about being patient, about waiting, about loving for reals, about sacrificing, about giving. I've learned that it's okay that I'm not dating anyone. Like everything else, I feel like God will just make it all fall into place when the time is right. So meanwhile, I"m waiting and I'm trusting and I'm hoping and I'm enjoying the time that I have now to myself.

I have no idea where my life is heading, but I'm so thankful for where it has been.

Yes, sometimes things just don't turn out how you thought they would, but thank God for that. What an amazingly boring life I would have if everything turned out exactly how I expected it to. God has so much more planned for me...and so much more planned for you too. He is the great orchestrator. And, oh yeah, he is always good.