NEW.. because I got locked out of my old blog!

HI :)

  I'm back on the blogging circuit. It has been a very long time since I have sat down to share my thoughts with y'all. So much has changed in my life in a short amount of time. In some ways time seems to be flying by. The last time I blogged I was living in Detroit, and now I've been back in Chicago for over a year and half. God brought me back to Chicago for a specific purpose, and I believe I am living out that purpose every day at Lydia Home. My number one passion is Jesus Christ, and second being serving him in an urban context. Since I was little girl, around age 12, I wanted to work at Lydia Home. My heart felt a deep love for "orphans". While in college I volunteered at Lydia every Thursday night. Upon graduating there wasn't an available job for me at Lydia, so I went to Detroit instead. My time in Detroit was, well interesting to say the least. In some ways I'm still waiting for God to reveal all of the lessons he was trying to teach me during those 10 months. If anything He taught me that living 10 hours from home, while both my parents were going through severe health problems, was not an option. Thankfully Lydia was here to catch me as I was falling. I spent about 3 days after I resigned from LifeBUILDERS doubting my calling to urban ministry. I was weary, felt defeated and was ready to move back home to comfortable Canton. During those days several people spoke truth to me and reminded me of my passion for the city. I'm so glad those feelings only lasted a few days. Five days after I resigned from LB I was hired at Lydia in their alternative high school, Lydia Urban Academy. I feel truly at home here... God has guided my steps to just the right place and just the right time for me to be here. 

Most of my blogging will probably center around my days (and nights) at Lydia, because lets me honest... my life is centered around this place and I wouldn't have it any other way. Ministry is about living life with people, and I'm definitely living life with those whom I work with and serve at Lydia. I plan to pour my heart out to whoever plans on reading this. I hope you're prepared for some serious heart to hearts! Enjoy :)