ode to a sandal

Had any one of you been cruising along Center Street today, you may have just spotted yours truly walking in a lovely coordinated outfit...and no shoes. Why the missing footwear, you ask? Well it was not that rushed of a morning, and I'm by no means making any sort of statement...its just that midway through my errand filled day my right flipflop broke. Can I see a show of hands for anyone who has suffered from a spontaneously broken flipflop? If you are like me and you purchase relatively cheap (but gloriously comfortable and available in a wide assortment of colors) pair of flip flops from Old Navy, it is only a matter of time before you experience this disheartening event yourself. It always seems to happen at the most inopportune times. Like when out to lunch with some people that already make you slightly self-conscious and you feel the sudden freedom of one foot and think "CRAP...how do I subtly fix this before someone suggests another trip to the buffet line?" or you are light heartedly running towards or alongside someone only to trip over the suddenly loosened foot strap and plummet to the ground. Or in my case today, during a special visit to the private Catholic elementary school I counsel at for a carry-in teachers appreciation day lunch. Normally I wouldn't feel funny walking bare footed- I certainly have ditched my shoes on numerous occasions in a variety of settings. But among the gargantuan diamond wearing, country club mothers and their uniform-trapped children, I felt a little trashy walking barefoot. As least my purse was cute.

the winds of change...

Well, it is official... and, after giving my boss my 2 weeks notice over coffee this morning, can now be publicly announced. I'm moving. I graduated with my masters in counseling earlier this month and have just recently accepted a job in Alaska. I feel completely at peace about this decision, which is somewhat surprising but yet not at the same time because God's hand has been so apparently involved in the process. I have been craving an adventure, and am excited to see what He has prepared for me in the last frontier! However, I do not pretend that this transition will be easy. My excitement for the future does not diminish my grief as I prepare to leave the life I have made here. Everything is about to change drastically. The move itself will be arduous- I'm still unsure how exactly I will be moving myself nearly 5,000 miles across country (Even if my beloved bedroom set did weigh under 50 lbs, I doubt it will fit in any suitcase!). I will be adjusting from working 50 hrs/wk with at risk teens + 2 internship sites + graduate coursework to a normal 40 hour work week with no other time commitments. Then there is the shift from counseling with other believers in a spiritually fostering environment to a secular agency that bills for Medicaid (hello, paperwork!) I will be leaving 1313, my healthiest roommate situation to-date and it's ridiculously affordable rent to pay 4 times as much to live alone. It may even become necessary to part ways with Fiona the Focus and that makes me sad in my heart. Although naturally there are less than savory aspects of living in rural Indiana, I do adore and will miss the sunsets, the trees, the crickets, the lakes, the city access yet small town feel...and more than anything, the people.

This change will involve loss. But I feel peace because I know in my heart that this is where the next chapter of my life is to take place. Alaska, and more specifically Kenai, is again going to become my home. Although I grew up in Alaska, much has changed in the last 6 years. My hometown is very different, but so am I. Gosh, when I pause to think how different Bethany Joy Thornton was at 18...oh my. I don't care to linger on all the events that have taken place and have molded me into the woman that types these words today. At least not tonight. :) I do know that the same God that has been continuously faithful these last 24 years promises to be with me today and tomorrow and the next day...and that there is no safer place to be than in the center of His will. He is inviting me to take a leap of faith and continue this journey in a different place. I'm excited to see His story evolve and honored to play a small part in it.

This blog (inspired by Jodi!) will hopefully be a medium of recording and communicating the goings-on of my life. To my Indiana family: know that I'd much rather catch up over coffee, in a backyard hammock, on a spontaneous windows-down roadtrip, or while browsing through Maurices, but I hope you'll come to appreciate this blog as one of many poor substitutes...at least until we all pool our PTO and can purchase plane tickets! :)