my plans vs. His plans

Hi, my name is Krislyn and I am a planner. A planner for my life. If I were to go back to my 16 year old self, this is what I would have told you about my life.

I'd attend a Christian University in Southern California.

While in school studying to eventually get my Master's to be a Counselor, I'd meet my husband.

My husband who would preferably be 3-5 years older than I was.

We'd get married right after graduation.

Stay in California and or move to a Southern State.

I'd enter my Master's program.

Become pregnant.

Eventually finish my Master's program.

Work a few days a week and be a Mom the rest of the time

All this by the age of 26.

I know I am not the only one who had what they thought was their "ideal" all mapped out for them. It's just a part of who we are, we like to at least "help" God along, right? But soon we realize He's pretty good at doing it on His own. Here's what has really taken place up until age twenty-six.

I didn't get accepted to the California school I was counting on.

Therefore stayed in Washington and attended SPU.

At the end of my Freshman year I had no idea what I was doing, so I moved.

To Bellingham, as city that is so not me, lived with my best friend and some girls.

Attended a community college for a year, and worked at a bakery.

Went on my first Mission Trip to West Virgina.

Decided I needed to go to back to SPU so I could major in Family and Consumer Sciences.

Loved my major, but not college life at all.

Spent my free time nannying Gavin, whom I adored and spending time with his family.

Be a bit lost on the whole Jesus thing.

Came around to the whole Jesus thing during my Senior Year, thanks to Heather's Bible Study.

Decide to take a huge leap of faith and move to Arizona, because as you can see my husband was no where to be found and I needed sunshine.

Was a live in Nanny for five munchkins for a year and a half.

Traveled to Europe.

For three months had no friends, and yet I grew closer to God during this time then ever in my life.

Was invited to a Girls Bible Study.

Read through and studied and memorized a Book of the Bible for my very first time.

Found a community like no other.

Went through some trials with my job, and feeling unappreciated.

Wondered where my life was heading after this phase.

Made the choice to move home and reconnect with who God was forming me to be.

Saw my parents go back to Church.

Moved into my very own apartment and obtained an incredible nanny job.

Realized what being in community at Church was all about and joined a Growth Group, where we read "Calm My Anxious Heart."

Was Baptized.

The Lord brought someone back into my life, who I now love and can not wait for our future together.

Went to Africa, where I was completely uncomfortable and saw God use His people to break my heart.

Struggled with having a long distance relationship, wondering why God hadn't allowed me to move when I wanted to.

Acted on the passion God put in my heart, and started my own baking company SheBakes Bakery.

Have been blessed beyond belief with a job and families that I adore, who have showed me what being a good parent is all about and raising your children in the name of God.

Eventually began to see with my eyes that His plan is much greater than my will ever be.

And there you go, my little life these past years. Funny how at 16 you think you know what you want in life, but gosh you have no idea. I am so thankful that my little plan did not go as planned because what God has done in my heart during His plan is something I would never take back. This is all just a reminder that as much as I would love to plan the next 10 years of my life, I clearly can't, because God will shake it up into something greater, so I need to just be open to what He has in store.