{24} This last year and a half in Atlanta has been a wonderful season. I have been reminded often of my need for God’s direction, companionship, and truth as I live my life each day. I continue to learn much as I do legal work for Burnett Law Firm and special tax projects for Frazier and Deeter. A professional highlight for me this year was having my first article published in the Tax Adviser. My life has taken a new direction as I have decided to pursue law and social work. While working at the law firm, I have had many opportunities that have confirmed my interest in legal research and writing while my work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in Fulton County has uncovered my interest in advocacy and social work. In August I will be moving to Knoxville where I will begin law school at the University of Tennessee College of Law and I hope to pursue a Masters in Social Work at a later date. My counseling work at the Good Samaritan Health Center this last year has also contributed to my interest in pursuing social work. Many times this year I have taken comfort in the fact that we can rest in God’s care for us as He directs our lives (Proverbs 16:9). I look forward to this next phase in His plan.

{22} As I reflect on all God has led me through this past year, I am amazed at His faithfulness all over again. I was blessed to serve for a second year as the Resident Assistant for the Rhea House Dorm, enjoying again the opportunity to live with and build into 16 tremendous guys. I also served as the Senior R.A., mentoring and growing with the other 8 male R.A.s on the Bryan Student Life team. Then, on May 7th, after a packed and wonderful senior year, I crossed the finish line of my undergraduate education, earning a B.S. in Business and a B.A. in Bible. Now I am more excited than I can say about focusing my time, energy, and giftedness on the work of God’s Kingdom through DNA and seeing what incredible things God is going to do to His glory! This year, God has reminded me over and over that there is nothing more eternally significant or satisfying than simply obeying, honoring, and pursuing Him with every part of my life, and discipling others to pursue this same passion. Especially as I enter this new season of my life, I am praying two verses that are on my heart: “I cry to God Most High, to God who will fulfill His purpose for me.” “I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do!” (Psalm 57:2 & Psalm 73:28, NLT)

{20} This last year has been challenging and rewarding as I have struggled to continue balancing an increasing academic and extracurricular load. Academically, I expanded my study of Government to include International Relations while daring to get my dreaded math requirement out of the way. I have continued to be involved in Campus Crusade and the Institute of Politics but have focused my extracurricular involvement on the Harvard Republican Club, where I was thankful and excited to win a hotly contested race for President in December. As is often the case, the challenges of this last year have made depending on the Lord for strength a necessary and rewarding part of every day. I am extremely thankful for the great privilege of working at the White House this summer in the Office of the Counselor to the President as well as the Office of Communications. Though these blessings have been overwhelming, they pale in comparison to being able to spend my last two years of college with Josh.

{18} It is hard to believe that I have finished my senior year of high school! Last fall I attended EXCEL, a program for teenage girls designed to strengthen our walk with the Lord, including memorizing over 100 verses, and learning many practical skills from first aid and cpr to changing the oil in a car! Although it was a very challenging eight weeks, I will always treasure all the Lord taught me. I enjoyed competing in Mock Trial for my fifth year as a double attorney and co-captain. This spring I took Chemistry, Biology and Spanish IV at a local community college, and this summer Josh and I will be studying Spanish in Guatemala for 5 weeks. I was honored and humbled to be a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship at Bryan College where I will be an incoming freshman in August pursuing a minor in Spanish and a five-year Masters in Nursing in conjunction with Vanderbilt University. I am excited about the possibility of medical missions work in the future, perhaps in Latin America where I can use my Spanish. I am looking forward to seeing where God is going to lead my relationship with Him and my ministry focus during my time at Bryan and beyond.

{18} Over the last year I have continued to co-host the TV show, Ignite. I have also continued writing for the Chattanooga Times Free Press as a teen columnist. I particularly enjoyed studying British history and literature this year with Mom. I captained the Homeschool Mock Trial team for the second year and was blessed that our team placed third in Tennessee. The greatest blessing of this year, however, was my acceptance to Harvard. I am extremely excited to be joining my brother, Matt, in Cambridge this fall. This summer I will be spending five weeks in Guatemala with my sister Anna, studying Spanish. During this season of transition, I have spent some time reflecting on Psalm 37:4. “If you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart.” My goal this next year is to make His priorities my priorities, and to follow my dreams even as I seek to answer His calling. I am thankful for all God’s blessings and am excited about speaking with the family at a DNA conference this Labor Day.

{12} I learned so much studying non-western cultures this year with Mom. My favorite book was Torches of Joy which is about John and Helen Dekker who shared Jesus with the Dani tribe in Indonesia. The Danis had no written language and used only stone tools when the Dekkers arrived in the Toli Valley in the early 60s. But within not very many years, the Danis began sending out their own missionaries to neighboring tribes who had been their enemies! About a month ago, I had a really fun time speaking with Dad in Sarasota, FL about our relationship and how we go on discipleship dates. I have enjoyed sewing lessons and learning to knit, and I am really excited about going to camp for two weeks this summer with a lot of my friends. I am sad that Anna and Josh are leaving for college, but I am really glad that Paul is back. This year, I am excited about being in seventh grade, with my mom as the teacher of course. The verse I am memorizing today that means a lot to me is Philippians 4:6, which says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”