I Have Been Blessed

Everything has been super busy the past month! A lot of things going on left very little time for me to write. So I’ll go back and cover what has been going on in my life recently. As school was ending and finals were approaching, I began to reflect on all that God had placed in my path during my freshman year of college. Of course, classes were difficult. And yes, I had first felt out of place at a very large school. But God had big blessings in store for me. I found a new family in the BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministries). And I found my best friends through my wonderful small group. I had finally become a University of Georgia cheerleader, a dream that took a long road to reach. God had truly provided for me and given me so much to be thankful for.

On another note, when I got home the weekend before finals, my family received some bad news. My grandpa had passed away. We quickly packed and headed to Florida the next morning to be with the family.  As we sat together to plan the service, we remembered all the good times with Grandpa full of love and laughter that he had blessed us with. My grandpa was a great man, and I still miss him every day. This past weekend, being Memorial Day, I have thought about him a lot. He served in the Air Force for 20 years and always showed so much pride in our country. He loved his family, and he loved America. I love him so much, and I am so proud to be his granddaughter.

Richard B. Sargent

October 3, 1935- April 29, 2011

It was so nice to spend time with my family in Florida. We don’t get to see each other very often now that everyone is grown up and moved away. But Kris and Brian came down from Canada, and my cousin Brittany and her husband Justin came down from Missouri. We got to see my cousin Stephanie all cute and pregnant! Her second baby, a little girl this time, is due in August! All of our time together as a family is truly cherished.

So I came back, took my finals, and that was it. School was over! I was done with my freshman year of college! It flew by so fast, but I had such an incredible time. As I packed up my dorm and got ready to say goodbye Athens for the summer, I was also having to say goodbye to my friends. In high school, it was never sad to leave for the summer because all of your friends were right there to see during the time you weren’t in school. But this time, I was really saying goodbye for a few months. Needless to say, I shed some tears. My girls have been so wonderful this year, and I don’t know how I’m going to go through a summer without them. But then I remember, when I move back to Athens in August, I will be sharing an apartment with them, and I cannot wait!

Now summer has started time is flying! Earlier this month I got to wear my new Georgia cheerleading uniform for the first time (I cannot wait for football season to get here already!)! I started back working at the daycare, and I’ve been home spending time with family and old friends.

My next big task ahead- besides keeping up with cheerleading- is the Dominican Republic trip! I am going to the Dominican Republic again this July on a mission trip with my church. I am beyond excited!!! Last year I had such an incredible time, and God used that trip to do so much work in my heart. I cannot wait to see what God had in store this year. I’ve been working hard to raise support money through letter writing and the big BBQ fundraiser we had at the church. I am happy to say that God has provided once again! So now all I can do is look ahead and begin praying! I pray that God will prepare my heart and the hearts of those whom I will come in contact with in the Dominican. I pray that He will provide the opportunities to share my faith in Him, and that I will be thoroughly equipped for when those opportunities present themselves.

“How then can they call on the one they have believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!” –Romans 10:14-15

So as I wrap up another long blog post, I thank God for all that He has given me. Wonderful friends, a wonderful family, a wonderful life in Athens, wonderful opportunities to show others His love, and so much more than all of this, a wonderfully promised life of eternity in Heaven. I have been blessed.