Chicago, Taylor, Lake Michigan, and Life.

Last Friday, my day began at the airport with a hot cup of earl grey tea (with just a hint of honey.) I sat down to journal, waiting for my flight to Chicago to begin boarding, and as I wrote the date it occurred to me that exactly a year ago I had also flown into the O’Hare Chicago airport—only I was coming from another country versus another state :-)

This past weekend was incredible. My roommate, Eprise, graduated from Taylor, so I flew up there to celebrate. Jessie, our other roommate lives in Chicago, so I flew there first to spend a day with her, as well as Jade. Jessie’s mom took us out to my favorite restaurant in DeKalb, Baker’s Square, which sells homemade pies and sweets. I split an omelet with Jessie’s mom, and to continue tradition we had to get a slice of pie also. Omelets and pie? It worked! Jessie, Jade, and I drove over to Taylor later that night. It had been over a year since just us girls had been together, and I cherished the time so much. On the way back to Chicago we passed through the Indiana Dunes, so we took some time to stop and enjoy the lakeside. Barely taking the time to think, Jessie and I ran straight into Lake Michigan, fully clothes… Jessie and I really haven’t changed too much ;-)

Aside from the weekend, God has been doing some amazing things in my life lately. Thursday, before I left for Chicago, I got a letter informing me that I had received a scholarship for $3,228! Later that night, I looked online to find out more about the scholarship and come to find out I wasn’t even eligible for it. The required GPA… is far from what I have. Somehow, God knocked down that barrier. I don’t know how to express my complete awe in the way God has provided for me so faithfully throughout college. I have always known that college, if I chose to pursue, was something I would have to pay for out of my own pocket. And somehow—even after attending a $30,000 per year school for two years—I haven’t had to take out any loans yet. Mathematically, it doesn’t make sense. But that’s the point. God has been providing.

It gets better.

The VERY next day Blake received an e-mail. This time, he was informed that he was considered for a $5,000 scholarship through LPA—the highest amount given. In addition, the board is anxious to meet Blake and has offered to fly him up to this year’s convention in Detroit. Still more. They want to include him in a future episode of TLC’s television series Little People Big World. They’ll interview him, talk about his life and future goals, and then show him going on stage to receive his award! He said to me, “that means you’ll be on there too, Juli, because I can’t talk about my life without talking about you.” J

What’s so awesome to me is that we are both able to experience the joy of God’s provision together. I’ve experienced it time and time again, and each time follows praise. And now, I have someone else to join with in praise. Together we received $8,228 within just 48 hours. I can’t stop praising Him!