Phases

My mom used to joke that we lived in different time zones. As a college student visiting during break, I would usually be getting home only an hour or two before her morning began. Weekends at UVA typically didn't begin until 9:30 (at the earliest) on a Friday night. Prior to that, my roommates and I would typically eat dinner and take a nap to gear up for the night ahead. We would head to frat parties or "the corner" around 10:30 or 11pm and stay out until last call at 2am. After that, we usually joined the long line outside of Little John's Deli before finally making our way back home. For four years, this schedule was the only one that seemed to make sense and boy did I love every moment!!

Enter graduate school, a completely different phase of life. While many nights resembled those of my college days, learning to be an "adult" also came into play. I still thought that an 8 o'clock class was painfully early, but I was forced to shift to a more realistic schedule. When I think about PA school, my heart smiles and slightly aches to return to those incredible days. I moved to an entirely new place where I didn't know a soul, and quickly made 48 friends who became my family. We shared the silliest times, the most stressful moments (seriously, why were we so freaked out about "spa"?), and became professionals in the process.

It's hard to imagine topping the PA school experience. While I truly savored each moment, I am humbled and blessed to be in the newlywed phase of life. For more than twenty years, I had always wondered what my future husband would be like. Where would I meet him? What would he look like? What would he do? What kind of personality would he have? What would it be like to be married? Would I get married? Now that all of the questions are answered and I have accomplished a lifetime goal to be happily married, I am loving this newlywed phase. Being married to your best friend is as awesome as I'd imagined. We have settled into our routine with just enough spontaneity to keep things exciting. At this time in my life, all I care to do is spend time with my husband. No pets, no babies... just us, just grand.

As I become older and wiser, I strive to be intentional in all that I do. Every moment that we're given is a blessing, and it's those collective moments that create stages and phases that create memories and laughter as we grow. I can't imagine going back to my college days (partly because I wouldn't be able to stay awake another 6 hours!), but I sure did love them while they lasted. I am curious about the future and all that it will hold, but in no way do I wish to rush away this precious time that I have to have my husband all to myself!

Perhaps the greatest lesson to glean from this reflection is a lesson in worries. I will be the first to admit that while my journey has been great, it has been filled with worries about what the future will entail. In college, I worried about getting into PA school. In PA school, I worried that I would never find the man of my dreams. Guess what? All that worrying didn't change a thing! God had my life planned out way ahead of my thoughts and concerns. Have you ever noticed that things seem to find a way of working themselves out? Do not become preoccupied with the future. Do not waste away these precious moments worrying about what is to come. Have faith and have courage. Be present, just be.