Cheerleaders

I am so grateful to have so many wonderful people in my life; people who are continually cheering me on and encouraging me!

Many days I am fighting discouragement and a sense of inferiority.  As I read through other Fulbrighters blogs from this past year I have a range of emotions: excited, encouraged, discouraged, inferiority, curiosity, frustration, and I constantly find that the saying, "comparison is the thief of joy" is BEYOND true!  I often feel like I am Fulbright's experiment; I feel like they said, "hey! This girl has very little experience abroad and is from the south.  Let's throw her in and see if she can swim!"  I am constantly having to remind myself that God opened this door and that He is with me.  I find myself quoting Brother Billy from Valley View all of the time; "God does not call the equipped, He equips the called!"  I can find many things in my life that have equipped me for the upcoming journey I am about to embark on, but yet I still find myself feeling inferior to the previous Fulbrighters.  They all seem so intelligent, well traveled (internationally I mean), eloquent with a second language, and well, prepared.

Things that have prepared me for the upcoming journey:
1. Moving to NYC with no job and no apartment...but that was easy...it was NYC...I LOVE LOVE LOVE NYC 
2. My month in Florence last November
3. Italian minor at UA
4. THE THESIS PROCESS!! Bleh!!
5. Years of dance and all that came with it
6. My child development classes/experiences
7. Lesson planning for children
8. All of my amazing travel opportunities

I know that there are more and God will continue to show me how he has prepared me for this adventure.  I am feeling sadness already about leaving.  I am going to miss my friends and family so much, and I am terrified of not finding people I get along with and want to spend time with on a regular basis!  I am fearful that the other Fulbrighters will not like me or that I will not fit in with them.

Most of all, I am afraid of failure.  I have never truly failed at anything; that is NOT to say that I feel I am perfect or that I have been perfect at everything I've ever done; what it means is that I do not feel as though I have ever fallen FLAT ON MY FACE!!!  I fear that this is that time...but even as I type this, I feel the Holy Spirit asking me, "how?  how will you fail when I am with you?"  God's unfailing love will surround me...He will keep me safe as He is my rock, my fortress, my shield, my protector, my provider, my healer, my shelter from the storms of life, my strength because I am weak, my comforter, and the one who knows my every need/pain/hurt/joyful moment/everything.

I am so grateful for the cheerleaders in my life...the ones that God has placed in my life for various reasons and in various seasons!  I do NOT let go of people easily, and I am so grateful to have the most wonderful people in my life that love on me, support me, encourage me when I need it, hug me when I want it, help me dry my tears, make me laugh through my tears, and are there to tell me that everything is going to be okay!  While I know that I depend on God 1st, I believe He places these people there for a reason!  So thank you, to all of my cheerleaders:
My momma & daddy, Erin, April, Mrs. Malissa, Kelly A., Maria H-R, and many, many others who have been encouraging me via facebook, text, and in person!! I am grateful to each and every one of you!