Always Faithful

2 weeks ago I was wondering how I was going to get thru finals.

This past week I was wondering if I would ever stop crying-if I was going to be able to catch a break.

My brother showed up on Monday evening with news that he was going to join the military. I could have strangled him. Now, don't take this as I am not thankful for the men and women and their families who sacrifice themselves for my freedom and to keep my country safe, I just don't want it to be my brother. I cried so much and so hard that night I didn't think I was going to be able to get it under control. But true to form, Andrew came in and very gently explained everything to me. It didn't make it better-in fact he even made me watch a documentary about where he thought he would end up-that REALLY didn't make it better. But it was in that moment that I saw (for the first time) the beginnings of my little brother becoming a man. I never thought that this day would come.....the day that my brother-the one who got in trouble WITH me, who pulled practical jokes with me, who stood up for me, who even beat someone up for me one time-the day he would be all grown up.

Hit #1

Wednesday he left-he was going home to take a test for the military. I got a phone call about the time he should have been getting home that he had been in a car accident. A semi had run his car off the road and he had hydroplaned into the ditch. He was fine-but his car was totaled. I of course began to freak. But after a couple hours he called me and said things were just fine.

Hit #2

Thursday my Dad called. I don't know what it is about my family but they ALWAYS call me with bad news while I am driving. It's like they just know I am going to have to pull over and spend 20 minutes on the side of the road getting myself back together. Anyways he was calling to tell me the test results from tests he had run earlier in the week. He had been diagnosed with FSGS. It's a kidney disease and there are varying levels of severity. He of course very quickly followed it up with "I'm going to beat this". Great.

Hit #3

I spent all day on Thursday eating my feelings. I'm really good at that. I cried. I read. I cried some more. I just couldn't get my head around why all of these things were happening and all at once.

I then stumbled across a couple quotes on my computer- "Everyone is fighting their own battle- To be free from their past. To live in their present. And to create their own future. So have heart". the other one was "In the world of always changing and always going. A shifting world of uncertainty. You can be sure of one thing. The God of the Universe who called you by name is NEVER CHANGING. ALWAYS constant. & will NEVER let you go.

Take heart friends.....we have a God who is always faithful.....never changing.....always constant......no matter how many hits we get. So stand strong. Have heart. Push forward.

3 down 1 to go....

I never thought in a million years this day would come. I can now officially say that I am a college senior. Yes, I did say a SENIOR. Holy crap that sounds strange to say.

Hi, my name is Kaitlin and I am a senior in college.

Yep....totally creepy.

I got out of my last final today at 11:00. I got into my car and sat there staring at the back of the Smith building. By this time next year, I will be a mere 48 hours away from walking across the stage at College Church. It's been a long hard road. Lots of tears, stress, and late nights have lead up to this point, and I am proud to say that I finally made it. I overcame that which was the most difficult for me.

There have been alot of people who have contributed to me getting this far-they know who they are. But...just in case they didn't know this-I love you all. You have been a constant source of strength and encouragement for me and for that I am truly grateful.

MidAmerica was once a dream I was chasing-now....it's becoming the end of one of the best chapters in my life.....