{amy #lovemypeople}

It has been 4 years since the picture above was taken. 4 years, I can't believe they have gone by so fast. My life is so much different now than it was when this picture was taken and much of that is because of Amy. Thinking back to when we took the picture in our red coats, I never would have imagined the path our lives have taken us down since then. However, I will forever be grateful for the ways in which we have shared life together.

Amy has become one of my dearest friends over the years I have known her. But more than just a friend Amy has become my spiritual mother. I know without a doubt that my life would be very different today if 4.5 years ago our lives did not intersect. Amy has been an example of who Jesus is in my life from the very beginning of our friendship and she continues to exemplify His love in all that she does. I can remember praying in my desperation and brokenness for someone or something to be Jesus, show me Jesus, teach me what I needed to do and know, and walk with me into the unknown. Little did I know at the time what great plans God had for me and the ways in which His divine intervention worked, because in the middle of my prayers and pleas I was blessed with Amy.

It did not take long for Amy to become my person. The person who would help guide me through life and bring me to Jesus. Amy has been there through all of my junk, hurt, and sloppy brokenness over the last 4 years. And through it all she has been beside me holding my hand, wiping my tears, praying with me and reminding me how the best is always yet to come. She has always had patience and grace even when I become difficult and drag me feet or become deafened from the truth. She is always challenging me and pushing me to strive for more. She never doubts my abilities in all that I do and all that I am capable of doing, or God's abilities to work in and through my life. Amy has opened my eyes to see the world in a new way through her example and honesty within her own spiritual journey. My outlook on myself has been drastically changed through the grace of God's work in my life, much through Amy and her persistance in calling out the goodness and beauty in my life. It is because of Amy's love for me, through the love of Jesus, that I am able to find the goodness in my life daily and to love others. My life has been changed through the work of God in Amy's life in more ways then one, and I will be eternally thankful for her life and the blessing she has been in mine.

I am so thankful for all that we have been able to share in life- from the simple things over coffee, to monumental spiritual milestones, to spending time loving on people in 3rd world countries. And even as time and business have taken over and we have be caught up in our lives more often lately I cherish every moment I get to spend with Amy. I know that even as our time together is fewer and far between she will always have a special place in my life. I have been blessed with such an amazing women who loves me unconditionally, who sees the greatness in my life and challenges me to strive for it; for a women who accepts my faults and praises me for my accomplishments; for a women who loves Jesus with all her heart. I am thankful for her support and encouragement, for her blessing over the woman I have become and her joy over what the future holds for me.

I will forever be thankful for the community and family God has provided me with to help me grow and learn to live in His kingdom. I have learned what love really looks like through living life with Amy. I've learned what a family looks like through all the tears and laughter, and support for one another that we have shared over the years. I wouldn't trade any of these moments for the world. I look forward to sharing many more seasons of life with Amy, continuing to learn and grow in who I am created to be.


Words cannot express how much I love this woman and I don't have enough space to share how many ways in which she has impacted my life. I know, wherever life takes me, Amy will be with me, apart of who I am, woven into my heart, and in prayers encouraging and blessing me on my journey. As she always reminds me the best is yet to come, and I cannot wait to see where and what that will look like for the both of us.

I could not ask for a better mother to provide for me, teach me, bless me and send me into the world.
Here is to my spiritual mom, Amy. I love you so much and always will, xoxo!

#lovemypeople

{yellow house girls #lovemypeople}

aka. my study table girls.

I wish I had more time with each of these girls. And I wish we would have become better friends sooner, but I am still so thankful for each of them and the impact they have had on my life. I am thankful for even the period of time we have been able to spend together.

I am so thankful for yellow house, even in it's smelly state, and all the great memories we have shared together there, studying, eating, taking naps and watching Gilmore Girls. It makes me sad to think there will no longer be time spent between classes on my spot on the couch.

Writing this blog post is hard for me. Part of me knows that our goodbyes are coming soon and apart of me is in denial that in a just a short couple of days our lives are going to change drastically. It is even harder for me because these girls have become my best friends. They are the ones that have been there through the rough and the tough of school. The ones that have celebrated accomplishments with me and helped ease the hard times. These girls make me laugh like no one else can make me laugh. It is around them that I feel comfortable to be completely me, free from all judgement. But I also know it is these 3 will tell me the hard truth if I ever needed to hear it. It is hard for me to think about the future without these girls always present since they are such a large part of my life and who I am now.

{meron}

I am so thankful for this beautiful girl. For her joy and even for her weirdness.

I have absolutely loved every moment I have been able to spend getting to know Meron. And though it has taken us longer than it should have to become friends I am so grateful for her presence in my life. She has become one of my bestest friends. I do not know what I would do without her. I can only hope that no matter where live takes us in our journeys that we will always be apart of each others lives. I hope she knows how much she means to me and how much she has shaped who I have become. Living life with Meron over the last couple years has truly been the time of my life.

To my dearest Meron,

I hope someday that you are able to see the amazing beautiful Meron that I see when I see you. And I hope that you are successful in all that you do- in which I have no doubts that you will be. I pray that wherever life takes you that you will continue to find happiness, joy and peace. That you will never lose your spunk. I also hope you know that I will always be here for you if and when you need me, and that no matter where life takes us you will always be apart of me and have a special place in my heart. Thank you for making college "one of the best times of my life"! I honestly don't know what I would do without you! I love you lots, mom, more than you know! Thank you for simply being you and being such an amazing blessing in my life.

{emily}

I am so thankful for this little whitey. Emily never ceases to amaze me. I used to think she was a quiet little girl and oh have I learned a whole new side of her. I am blessed to call Emily one of my best friends. I am thankful for the almost unspeakable amount of food that we have consumed together during study tables over the last couple years. I am thankful for all the laughter we have shared and the times we have spent living life together.

To Miss Emily,

oh where do I start? First off, I am so thankful that someone else has just as many or more shoes than I do! But on a serious note now, I am so extremely grateful for the time I have spent with you. I can only look forward to many more times in the future even if they are fewer and far between. I know without a doubt that the future hold so many good things for you and I cannot wait to watch you shine as a pharmacist someday. I hope that you will be happy in all that you do. And that no matter how near or far we may end up I will always be there for you! I am so excited for all that your future holds for you! May you always be blessed as you have been a blessing to me. Thank you for everything. Love you, Emily!

{Andrea}

aka. Drell.

I wish I had a picture with this wonderful girl, but going through stuff I realized I have no pictures with just here. Even still Andrea has been an amazing friend over the last couple years. We have shared so many good memories together, laughing, studying and even at times crying. I am so thankful to be able to share life with her and for the impact she has made on my life.

To Drell,

I know you do not like your nickname and I apologize for addressing you as it, but it would not be the same if I did not call you Drell. I want you to know that you are an amazing woman. I hope that you will find happiness in Minnesota someday, since I know that is where you will be. I look forward to watching you continue to grow as your future unravels before you. I know God has great plans for your life and I am excited to be on your sidelines cheering you on. I am so thankful for your life and the ways in which our paths have crossed. You will always be apart of me and I hope you know I will always be here for you. Thank you for being such a good friend. Love you, Drell! 

I love each one of these girl, and am so thankful to be able to share life with them. I have been blessed with a community that has helped me to grow. These girls will forever have a place in my heart because without them I know I would not be who I am today. For that I will forever be grateful for their lives. I feel extremely blessed by such wonderful friends. I cannot even begin to express my gratitude for their lives. As our time together comes to a quick finish and as much as I dread the day we say goodbye, I know that it will never be an official goodbye since these girls have become apart of me and will be with me wherever I go. The tears I shed as I write this are tears of joy over the time I have been able to spend with each of these girls and tears of sadness as this time in our life is coming to a close.

Here is to my study table girls who are more than my study buddies.  

May your futures be bright, and your worries be light on the road ahead.
#lovemypeople

{Emily #lovemypeople)

I have typed and deleted, typed and deleted, and repeated a couple more times trying to figure out how to even start to begin to tell you about my best friend, Emily. It is difficult for me to put into words how much my time spent with Emily over the last 5 years has meant to me. It brings tears to my eyes as I write to think about what the future may hold for us. They are tears of joy and sadness; joy and excitement for I know without a doubt that so much more awaits us in our futures but also tears of sadness over the thought that those times may not be shared with each other physically.

Just the other night the two of us sat in my living room talking about our lives since freshman year up until today, 5 whole years later. We talked about how we are the same and how we are different,; how we have grown and how we have changed. I know as I look back on my time spent at Drake that it would not have been the same without Emily. She has not only has become my best friend over the years; she has become more like my sister. I cannot imagine life without her.

Emily and I have trudged through the trenches of life together, taking curve balls as they are thrown at us.  We have gone through so much together in the last 5 years I can’t even begin to try and recall everything. But through it all Emily has been by my side. We have seen the best and the worst of each other. Shared in each other’s sorrows, pains, and defeats. We have celebrated life together, shared joys and accomplishments. We have encouraged and supported one another. Been there to dry tears and laughed hysterically about absolutely nothing. We have worshipped together and given ourselves to those in need together. We hold each other accountable and are there to guide each other when we need assistance or are a rock for each other when we need somewhere to lean.  

Emily has been there for me through so much. She has been there for the probable gallons of tears that I have cried over the years. Supporting and encouraged me in everything I do. She has been blunt and rational when I become irrational or caught up. She has been my dose of reality when I need it.  

Like any sister or best friend Emily and I have had our differences over the years but I can only say they have brought us closer. She has become my other half. The person I tell everything to, and I mean everything! The person who can make me laugh until I’m crying, my stomach hurts and I’m on the verge of wetting my pants.

As we prepare to both start rotations in just over a week I know that even with the distance Emily will always be apart of me. It has been my time living life with her that I have grown the most, and learned who I am created to be. We have honestly LIVED life together. I can only hope that someday if I ever have a daughter that she will have a best friend like Emily- one that she can learn from and grow with, someone she can laugh with and cry with, someone who she can learn who Jesus is from, and someone to encourage her and love her no matter what.

I am so proud of who Emily has become through the years. It has been an amazing journey to watch her transform and grow, but what makes me even more excited is to see where life will take her. And no matter where that may be, I hope she knows that I will always be with her, cheering her on, and there for her when she needs me.

__________________________________________________________

When you're the best of friends,
Having so much fun together,
You're not even aware you're such a funny pair,
You're the best of friends.

When you're the best of friends,
Sharing all that you discover,
When these moments have passed,
Will that friendship last?
Who can't say there's a way?
Oh I hope,
I hope it never ends,
Cause you're the best of friends.

_____________________________________________________________

I will forever cherish my time physically living life with Emily. And even as these moments pass I know I am blessed to have such an amazing person to be able to share life with for even a period of time.

Here is to my best friend, my other half, the one who knows me better than anyone else, Emily.

I love you SO much, and always will!

 #lovemypeople

From here...

till there... wherever that is, and everywhere in between.

{family #lovemypeople}

My family is the start of my people.  #lovemypeople

Though I haven't lived with them for years now, without them I wouldn't be who I am now.

It seems like just yesterday we were packing up a trailer full of my crap for college and now here I am packing up my room 5 years later getting ready for the next adventure of rotations. Little did my father know when he wrote me a letter titled "Courtney's journey" on the day I left for college what my journey would all entail. His little girl grew up fast, jetting off to 3rd world countries, purchasing her first house at the age of 19 and so much more. But my journey would have never happened if it weren't for their support and encouragement.

I know they have questioned me at times and we've had our disagreements but through it all even in their doubts they have been on the sidelines cheering me on. I never would have become the independent strong willed woman I have become without them. They are apart of me and I am blessed with the gifts they have given me. I wouldn't have survived college or being a homeowner without my fathers sense of priorities, perseverance and resourcefulness along with my mother's creativeness and people skills.

Even now, with hundreds of miles between us and even as I continue to grow up, my family will always be my people. They are the ones that make me laugh and listen when I need to cry. They support me as I attempt to take on what sometimes feels like the world, and in some cases it is as I leave for another country for extended periods of time.

I am thankful for them allowing the sky to be my limit. For giving me space to grow and to learn who I am. For loving me and backing me up even when they didn't agree with or understand my choices. I am so thankful that even through the rough patches in life they will continue to be my number 1 fans.

Here is to my family.

#lovemypeople

{#lovemypeople}

As the end of my college (classroom) career comes to an end and a year of new adventures on rotations draws nearer I have come to realize how much around me I will miss. I’ve found myself clinging to the comfortable and holding onto every moment I have with those around me.

Preparing for this transition has been mentally and physically draining but I have also found peace and fulfillment in being able to reflect on how my life has changed over the last 5 years (crazy to admit). Those last 5 years have been a crazy whirlwind of ups and downs, laughter and tears, frights and excitements, disappointments and celebrations, ends and new beginnings. And even through it all I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world! It has been in these past years that I have grown the most, learning who I am and where I fit in the world. I have had my eyes opened with experiences in 3^rd world countries and wished to shut them with many losses of loved one.

But looking back on my time at Drake it is not the infinite amount of knowledge I have learned or the places I have gone that have changed me the most, though those are large players in who I am now, it has been the people in my life.

 It is the people I have been able to share life with that have helped me to receive the most out of my time at college and have taught me the most about myself.

It is these people that I will miss the most.

It is these people that I cling to as I count down the days until we separate for periods of time.

It is these people I find myself being thankful for each night as I lay in bed.

It is these people I already miss, as I know I will miss them more as the unknown future destinations draw closer.

So in light of my reflecting, as I lay in bed being thankful for my people, overwhelmed with so many blessings, I have decided to dedicate the next couple blog posts to these important people. To share with you how each of them have a special place in my heart.

Here is to my people who have shared life and grown with me and showed me what love really looks like. #lovemypeople