endings, beginnings, and continuations.

So, over a year ago, I started a blog on here, but I never stuck with it. Story of my life.
I guess I oughta start by talking about myself? I'm pretty good at that...
I'm on the cusp of my 21st year, I'm a hairdresser, I love Jesus, and I love babies.
thats about it.
also, I love mud.
I can't really explain my present without explaining my past.
I grew up in Jersey (yep the fab Jersey Shore)
well, to make spark note this story: I went away to college in Pennsylvania at 18 years old.
that November, my best friend died of cancer. that was awful.
like really awful.
I turned my back on God, dropped out of college and moved back home.
thats when I got a phone call from a little place called the Honor Academy.
After much internal debate and arguing with God, I shipped out to Texas and became a Teen Mania intern.
hardest year of my life.
so far.
greatest year of my life.
so far.
most important year of my life.
so far.
I learned so many things in that fateful year.
I learned how to love people.
even when they don't deserve it.
I learned how to love myself.
even when I hate myself.
I learned who God is.
and through that, I learned who I am.
I had so many amazing experiences in that year.
experiences I will never forget.
and I met the people whom I now consider to be my brothers and sisters.
After 11 months in Texas and one beautiful month in Africa,
I moved back home to New Jersey.
I am on my way to graduating from beauty school and I plan to work for the next few months so that I can go to Uganda for seven months.
In the past 2 years, I have done a whole lot of reflecting.
a whole lot.
Ive learned that its okay to not know things.
Ive learned its okay to cry.
Ive learned its okay to trust people.
Ive learned its okay to love people.
Ive learned its okay to be hurt.
And Ive learned that I'm braver than I believe.