In the beginning.....

I have had the following conversation repeatedly over the past several months:


"I'm moving!!" 
"Oh really?! Where?" 
"Guinea, West Africa!!!"
*confused, bewildered look*
"But, Why?"

The answer to this question is not simple.  But I feel like what best describes why I'm here at this point in my life is to share just a little bit of the past 2 and a half years.

At the beginning of 2009, I was laid off.  I was managing a high-end consignment boutique, and the store shut down.  And the job market in Atlanta was terrible at the time.  Most of my friends were being laid off or getting less hours and less pay at their positions.  I started working as a security receptionist at Delta administrative offices making $8.50/hr; barely enough to pay my bills.  I moved from my home in Smyrna to live with my aunt in Lawrenceville.  I was driving 2 hours to work and back every day.  I was working only to pay for gas.  I emptied all of my savings.  My car went into repossession.  I quit my job and started a real estate investment company, that also later failed.  At the same time, I was a part of a ministry for going on 6 years that at the time called me to drive to opposite ends of the city once a week to visit the homes of about 25 people to help them develop in their relationships with God.  I was depleted, scattered, and had been for a long time.  It took a conversation with a person very close to me, my then fiance, for me to see something needed to change.  At the end of 2009, I took 2 weeks at home in Knoxville away from everything and everyone to pray and find what was next.  I came out of that time with complete peace that it was time to leave my beloved Atlanta.

In my solitude over those 2 weeks, I knew it was time to go after my dreams.  I applied to every international organization involved in economic development.  With nothing but my car full of my things, I moved back home to Knoxville, nervous about what was to come and distraught over leaving my life behind.


My Peace Corps application was pushed back a total of 3 times. First medical clearance, then for legal clearance, then the fights between Obama and the republicans put a hold on Peace Corps leave dates for another year.  In waiting for that coveted invitation letter, I needed income.  Several positions came into being--call center operator, IHOP waitress, Census worker--all of which made me want to curse on a regular basis.  One day laying on my aunt's couch a conversation with God (yes, God) ensued:


Me:  This blows!  I want to do something that I LOVE!!!
God:  Well, if you could anything right now.....what would you do?
Me:  If I could do ANYTHING?!!
God:  Yep, anything.
Me:  I would want to work for an airline so I could travel!!!
God: Ok.


 The  NEXT day, I found a flight attendant position on Craigslist (random, I know) and by the end of the next week I was on my way to Ohio for training with PSA Airlines (a subsidiary of US Airways).  Within a week my conversation had become a reality!  A-MA-ZING!!


Over the past year, I've had my fair share of struggles, however in the midst there have also been beautiful blessings.  I lost alot of friends when I left Atlanta, I ended a long term relationship, and I struggled with many growing pains.  But also as I paid off my debts, I got to travel the United States, and the world.  I spent really good time with my family.  I have made some of the best friends.  My relationships have grown richer.  I have dreamed bigger and lived fuller.  I've learned so much about myself, and I know there's only more to go.  


With this blog, I will show you my heart, my life, my adventures, and my lessons.  I hope you grow from it as I do myself!


One thing I've learned through these tumultuous times is that everything - good, bad, negative, positive, life changing - each and everything is a blessing and I am GRATEFUL to have been where I've been and seen what I've seen.    Don't despise the journey on your way to the destination.  Because the journey TRULY is the best part of the end result :-)