5 years, 3 take-aways

I am wrapping up my time in Washington DC and it's hard to believe! I have about 2 weeks left until I venture back to the west. Many people are asking me how I feel and, honestly, I still feel quite emotionless which is funny for me since I consider myself a pretty emotional person. I have a feeling it will hit me when I'm in the middle of my road trip or when I get to Utah and I have no friends. But needless to say, the time is coming to a close and I can't help but think about the things that I have learned since I've been here.

I've been doing a lot of reminiscing; thinking about my experiences, friends, opportunities, and trials that I have gone through since I permanently touched down in DC in August of 2009. Because I am big on application and take aways, I think I have narrowed down my top 3 take aways--or things that have really hit home to me as a result of living in DC.

1. Trust in God's plan for me. Unless you're new to my blog, none of you have to wonder why this has been such a big deal to me. My life has turned out so different than what I expected. I think I have said that very same statement in at least 20 posts throughout the years. I really believed that when I moved out here, I would find a job in a suburban school in Virginia and within a year find my eternal companion. Neither of those happened. In fact, leaving DC, still single and moving back to Utah is huge humbling step for me. However, I trust in God's plan. Like I mentioned in one of my posts a month ago--"God is a God of Irony"--His plan has worked out much better than my own. Who ever thought I'd survive and thrive in an inner-city school for 5 years? Or camp out in 3rd world country for a few weeks? Or visit my mission by myself? Or overcome heart ache the way that I did? Or come to have so many AMAZING friends? I guess what I'm saying is God's plan, as different as it was from mine, has continually thrown me for a loop, yet it has been perfect for me and it has taught me some eternal lessons that have become so sacred to me.

I love 2 Nephi 4:

O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

 35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rockof my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

I have to constantly remember to put my faith in God and not man. God is my rock. I must trust Him.

2.Thrive on faith: I've had many faith promoting experiences while I've been in DC. One of the major ones began when I moved out here. I took a leap of faith in August of 2009 when I had no job but I knew it would work out. And it did, 5 months later, but it worked out! That's amazing. I've had similar experiences in the dating arena and although none of them have panned out to an eternal marriage, I feel confident to leave here knowing that I have given the DC dating scene my all. On the other hand, I have have moments and months when my faith has been destroyed. In those times of despair I had to come to the realization that it's much better to have faith than to have fear. I have learned to thrive on faith. As I do so, I am much happier and feel more confident.

I love the simplicity of this verse:

Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.

It's simple, right? Be faithful, be faith-filled.

3. Choose happiness. Thriving on faith means that you are choosing faith over fear, which also means you are choosing happiness. An expansion on this lesson learned is to not only choose happiness but to choose to live your life to the fullest. I have felt so empowered in my time here to not just stand still and let life pass me by, but to make the most of it! Do hard things, become more educated, travel to different places, serve others, and recognize that each moment is for my good and that happiness can be found in any circumstance. I am proud to say that I have made the most of my DC experience. I have truly lived!

 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.

Undoubtedly, DC has served me well in many ways. I will forever cherish my time here, my friends, my experiences, and will forever be grateful for these lessons learned.

Thank you, DC, for 5 years well-spent! I will miss you.