I missed my high school reunion – 10 years! My sister got married on the same evening as the reunion and even though I tried to do everything at the wedding – making the reunion wasn’t going to happen.

I can’t believe that 10 years has FLOWN by!

Ten years ago I was in Philadelphia – having a God appointment and not fully realizing why I was there until now!

When I went away to college – I had never been away from my family. Samm and I were very close and I was not doing well without her – without my mom and dad and brother. Without being in control over what they were or weren’t doing (I wrote about those control issues earlier).

I cried everyday – I called home everyday – I packed up everything and called my parents to come get me. My dad told me that if he came to get me and I quit college that he was putting me at the end of the line – Samm and Derek would get a chance first THEN I could have mine back – but I was paying back the loan they took out – and when/if I needed financial help- I was out of luck. I was FURIOUS with him – how could he do that to me? Didn’t he love me?

My mom called the school counselor – and made an appt for me – which I was NOT HAPPY about! I didn’t need counseling – I didn’t need to talk to anyone – I needed to COME HOME.

I went to the appt and continued to see her until I left that December. We talked about my fears – my control issues – my need to fix – and I learned SO MUCH about myself that semester!

I talked with my dad and we agreed that I would transfer to Mansfield in the spring – and the rest is history.

While I was in Phillie my RA Trudy befriended me. It was bittersweet to leave in December having made such a GREAT friend! We stayed in touch via email (if you know me you know that I am not a good phone person) and IM – THANK GOD FOR TECHNOLOGY! That summer she called me and wanted to know about Jesus – she had read the Left Behind series and needed to know more – and I explained to her what she needed to do – what Jesus wants ALL of us to do – and she became a sister in Christ! I knew that I was in Phillie for a reason – we needed to meet – she was my God appointment. Trudy was in my wedding and we have made it a point to visit at least once a year.

It never occured to me that yet another God appointment had been made while I was in Phillie – waiting for 10 years!

Jared and I know a girl who started college this year.

The same college I went to ten years ago.

The same major I chose ten years ago.

The same dorm hall I lived in ten years ago.

The same week I started ten years ago.

This girl called me a few weeks ago – and it was one of the most exciting, yet eeriest, moments of my life.

I felt like someone was playing a tape recording of myself exactly ten years ago back in my ear. She had the same fears, the same reservations, the same concerns that I had. Ten years ago.

We talked about the decision I had made – the fears I had in making that decision.

I decided to change my major and transfer – come home. She asked if I regretted my decision. I told her that there are times I would like to look into an alternate universe where I had chosen to stay and stick with my major – but I don’t regret it. If I hadn’t made that choice – I wouldn’t have been talking to her on the phone at that very moment. Would I be a photographer? Would I be married to Jared? Would Trudy have accepted Christ? I don’t know. I know that it would be different.

I told her that I didn’t regret that decision. I told her that she was not giving up – just changing direction. I told her that God has a plan and purpose for her life and she needs to seek Him in this decision. That He will provide for her.

We hung up and I sat shocked – still hearing my own voice in my head from ten years ago. Taking me right back to that day and that feeling and that fear. And listening to my own words that God has a plan and a purpose. And that even now – 10 years later – I am fully knowing why I was in Philadelphia – why I had a God appointment.

And how God is never late in keeping those appointments!