Here's to My First Semester

Here we are, 4 months later. I have made it through my very first semester of college. In honor of being at home on break, and in honor of having more free time than I know how to handle, I figured I'd open up the old blog and get writing. This last semester has been wildly good, better than what I ever imagined. 

So, here's to my first semester.

Here's to all the late nights and early mornings; to all the days I went to practice and then to class on virtually no sleep, and somehow made it all the way through to the night to do it all again. Here's to studying more than I ever thought was possible and to finding myself stressed, overwhelmed, frazzled, only to look up and see my friends ready to swoop in and save the day. Here's to many, many afternoons in the Student Center, where I got to meet some of my best friends and learn how full simple college life can be.

Here's to my sport. The sport that I have loved for over 10 years. The one that has pushed me to be more disciplined, hard-working, and determined than I ever knew possible. Here's to meeting 24 new teammates who quickly grew into best friends. To many, many two-a-day practices and even more 5 a.m. runs. I know I'll be thankful for them later. Here's to a trainer takes care of me and constantly cheers for my progress and recovery. To coaches who believe in me (even when I sometimes don't) and who push me to be my very best. 

Here's to professors and classmates that have challenged me. Thank you for reminding me how much I love to learn. Here's to my first all-night study session, my first 12 page scripture analysis, and my first college finals. Here's to my professors; for challenging me in hundreds of ways and giving me guidance when I need it. For caring about me as more than just a student and for wanting to know more about my life. Here's to my classmates; to the hundreds of intelligent conversations we had and the assignments we (barely) made it through together. Thank you all. Seriously, class can suck, but you people didn't.

Here's to Young Life; the greatest ministry I have ever gotten to be a part of. To current leaders who show me what it means to put your whole heart into leading kids to Christ. To an area director (and an area directors wife) who are incredibly passionate about spreading the gospel and who are equally passionate about my growth. To my fellow trainees who are learning with me what it means to love others fully and deeply with he intent to give them a little glimpse of who God is. Here's to the ministry that has changed, and is still changing, my life. 

Here's to every imaginable late night adventure. To all of the meaningful conversations and the sweet time spent worshipping Jesus together. To friends who humor me when I am absolutely sure its "National Donut Day," ..... only to find out that it's not. To spending hours looking at the same stained glass windows in the same little chapel. To unnecessary Walmart trips, Cookout stops and Starbucks runs. To baking more food than we could ever consume and eating as much of it as possible in one sitting. To waking my roommate up (when we know we shouldn't) and her being sweet enough not to hate us for it. Here's to every good thing that has happened after 3 a.m..

Here's to long car rides to Chattanooga and whole weekend spent with best friends. To our adventure downtown... and the annoying song that went with it. To so much good worship time and to learning how big our God is. I am thankful for our attempt at making big cookie, for not getting yelled at for being an obnoxious morning person, and for the many squished car rides. Here's to deep night time talks that don't end until 5 a.m. and to the friends that consistently make life a whole lot sweeter. And here's to finding out that those are the friends that I want to know for the rest of my life.

Here's to learning, growing, and changing a whole lot. To being pushed further than I knew I could, and to being thankful for it. Here's to discovering that busyness and significance are not the same thing. To learning that people pleasing isn't what makes life more full. Here's to saying no when I didn't want to and seeing that God is a better option than anything I could ever dream of. Here's to realizing that weaknesses can becomes strengths when I run into the arms of my Savior. Here's to His plan. To slowly discovering that my plan isn't always THE plan and finding out that it's so much sweeter that way.

Here's to all of the people. The ones who have made these past four months of my life better than anything I could've dreamt up. To my dear friends for the many late nights, raw heart-to-hearts, and undeserved acts of  kindness - for the constant encouragement, adventures, cuddles, and laughs. Thank you all for showing me how full life can be and for modeling what a life in pursuit of Christ is. Here's to my sweet, sweet roommate. The one who has shown me what genuine friendship and true love of the Lord can look like. Here's to her for doing every part of life with me and still loving me, staying patient with me, and being my friend. Thank you to the coaches, professors, and advisors - who have taken a chance on me, invested in my life, and shown me grace in hundreds of ways. Thank you to my siblings, Cal and Katheryn, who make me laugh, who make it a joy to come home, and who make me proud to have the last name Garvey. Thank you to the parents to send me constant encouraging texts and cards, who care about me more than I can wrap my head around, and remind me that my best is good enough. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart for believing in me and loving me better than I could ever deserve.

And lastly, here's to a God who is constantly faithful. To a God who brought me to Gardner-Webb and into such a loving community. For that, I am thankful. I am thankful for a Lord who provides. To Jesus, who I see everywhere I turn. To the man who rescued me, reassured me, and restored me. To The Lord, who calls me His beloved. Has chosen me. Has picked me. He has paid a deep, steep, and immeasurable price for me. For my heart. Thank you Jesus for a cross that heals everything broken. Jesus, thank you for life and fulfillment like I never imagined. You are better than my greatest dreams, and greater than my best days.

So, first semester, here's to you; to days better than what I could've wished for, people I don't know how I ever lived without, and a gracious, loving Lord who has shown Himself to me in unfathomable ways.