To take this place and make this home

In my 3 years of college I have moved a total of 5 times, and I'm about to make my 6th move at the end of this month. The reasons behind me moving so often are various: I changed schools several times, spent a summer at home, did a summer sublease, moved in with one set of friends, then another set of friends, and now some roomies decided to experience a life lived alone, so I'm on to another great house with an amazing group of girls!

For many, the thought of moving so many times does not sound at all appealing. A lot of us like the idea of being stable, set, and secure, and our environment or living situation can play a big role in that. As for me, I enjoy change. In fact not only do I enjoy it, I crave it; I thrive off of it. Every new place is a fresh start and every new roommate is another friendship formed. I love being in a new atmosphere. I love getting to take a different route to and from school. I love re-setting up my room- my pictures get to hang on different walls, my furniture goes in a different arrangement, and every time I move I do a little something different with the decorations. It's therapeutic... and exciting.

Life has been pretty fast-paced during these college years, and I only expect it to stay that way until I do what they like to call "settle down and have a family," (and who knows how soon or how late that will come.) So until then, it's my pleasure to take advantage of living here, living there, living with this friend, living with that friend. Because when else in my life will I have the opportunity to do so? Though it doesn't have to, life might start to slow down after marriage. The house I move into with my future husband might be the house I stay in for 20 more years. You never know. I'm not saying I want my future to play out this way; I'm just saying that anything is possible. But for my life right now, I have been given a chance to have it either way. Sure, some of the moves were because of situations where I had no choice, but either way, I'm glad it's happened the way it has. It makes for great stories. It's helped me grow as an individual. It's taught me about how unique we all are as human beings. My dad always told me "You'll never really know someone until you live with them," and I never realized until these past few years just how true that is. I've learned so many things about many of my friends and the way they "tick," and I fully embrace and appreciate each one of them for being just who they are- even if their personalities are the complete opposite of my own.

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Romans 12:3-8

I'm really looking forward to all my future moves. I see Austin somewhere up ahead, with vivid colors and eclectic artwork, an old creaking house, and shows every weekend. I see Colorado somewhere in the future, with a cozy cabin, a roaring fire, a wine cellar and adventure. But wherever the Lord takes me or keeps me, I will, in the words of Sherwood, "take this place and make this home."

For Whatever Wednesdays,
Kate