When Dreams Come True

Another semester has drawn to a close and there is so much to process, more then I am probably aware to be honest. It has truly been a really long semester and I have that weary to the bones feeling yet I am filled with gratitude, love and joy from the never ceasing stream of grace and blessings.
There is probably a lot of thoughts to be teased out here in the near future but right now I find myself in a Chattanooga coffee shop and my heart is overwhelmed. You see, my heart gets wildly happy when I see my friends living their dreams.This semester has been a semester of us all stepping more and more into our own. With this is challenges, road blocks, disappointment: tears...but paralleled with triumphs, hope, opportunities: celebration.
As I type this, one of my best friends is arriving in Paris. She has only dreamed of this day her whole life. Taylor was made for Paris and the thought of her walking the lit up streets, standing wide eyed below the Eiffel Tower or eating fine French cuisine makes me beyond happy for her.

Also at this moment my other dear friend is moving all her stuff to Disney. Hannah loves Disney more than Taylor loves Paris. So the day that she got accepted to do the Disney College program was one of the sweetest days of all. It is sad to see her go, yet I can stay sad long because I am entirely too excited for her.

And now as I sit here at Cadence Coffee Co. I watch Shelby live out her dreams, the truest desires of her heart. As she shares with me what the Lord has done in her life since she so courageously moved out here from Texas a couple months ago, I am so inspired and elated.
I also have so many friends who have made big decisions in their lives in the past months and just like these 3 ladies I recognize this sense of audacity that comes with follow ones dreams. Taylor worked long hours and made tough decisions to make this trip possible, Hannah had to give up so much and say many goodbyes to move. And Shelby has moved across country by herself and stepped into so many new opportunities.

At the very beginning of the new year my dorm questioned the girls "What would you do if you were not afraid?" In the photo booth is was beautiful to watch them write down their fears and their dreams (sometimes synonymously). It seems fitting that I am sitting here at the end of the year watching some of them fulfilling those, or having been inspired to not let the fear stifle the desires of their hearts.

If you know me, you know that I have been named this year the "year of confidence" and have been striving to find ways to walk in courage and trust. Part of that is allowing myself to pursue my dreams more courageously. As the year closes I know that I can be proud of the growth I have seen in myself but also as I reflect on watching my friends step up into their own dreams I recognize that this journey of confidence has just begun. There are still so many walls I have between me and the things that my heart yearns to do, and there are days when I don't feel strong enough to move beyond those. But now it is evident that those are possible if I really want to work for them.

So I ask you today, what is holding you back today from stepping into the dreams you have?