Roaring Twenties!

Hey readers! As of last Saturday, I am officially two decades old! It is funny to think about life in those terms because when I started the last decade I was in, I was only a fifth grader. Now, I'm a sophomore in college, and time is flying by. I wanted to share with y'all some reasons why I am so excited for my twenties! While I'm going to write about some events I'm excited for in this season of my life, I am also so expectant of the things God is going to do in my life and my heart over the next ten years! 

Five Reasons Why I'm Stoked for My Twenties:

1) I will, Lord-willing, graduate from college at some point in my twenties.
            Graduating from college will be one of the biggest accomplishments of my young adult life, and to say I'm ready for it is an understatement. I have had senioritis since my junior year of high school, and it just transferred over to college. While I am enjoying my time here in college, I am looking forward to being a graduate. It will be the start of a very exciting (and semi-scary) season of my life. It'll be the first time in my life that I won't be in school, which will definitely be a change. It will also be the first time in my life that I have a "real job" (because according to my dad, babysitting is not a real job). I am looking forward to the start of that season because I know it has so much sweetness and excitement to bring.

2) I plan to get married in my twenties.
            Okay, for anyone who knows me, this is no surprise. I have been planning my wedding to Al Rising since the day we started dating (hey, when you know, you know). While I obviously don't know when our engagement and wedding will happen, I know that it will be at some point in the span of the next ten years, and I am more excited than words can express. I am a strong supporter of marrying young - who would have ever thought the phrase "marrying young" would refer to your early twenties? I am especially steadfast in this when it comes to Al and me because we want a big family, and I'm not trying to have babies when I'm forty. Marriage is such a beautiful representation of the way Jesus loves us, and I can't wait to have a marriage that reflects Him.

3) I will be seeking a career that is fulfilling and brings me joy in my twenties.
            The last part of that sentence is the most important to me. I am seeking a career that will truly bring my joy. I am hopeful that God will place me exactly where He wants me. I have learned, this year more than any other, that money is not everything. Yes, it is awesome to have and everyone desires to have enough to be comfortable. However, it is not everything. And while I would love a career that would bring in lots of dough to support my family, I realize that I may not find that career when I first get out of college. I may not find that career for several years after college. I just know who holds me in His hand, and I am going to be fully reliant on Him to provide for me in times of need and in times of plenty. I have no clue what I want to do as a career after I graduate, but I do know that I am looking for a job that will make me happy over a job that will make me bookoos of money, but leave me miserable. I just keep reminding myself of Proverbs 19:21. 

4) I hope to have my first few kids in my twenties.
            As I stated above, Al and I want a big family. Since we began talking about a family, the number of kids we want has continued to grow. We both just have a heart for children, and we can't wait to have some of our own. My twenties are an exciting time because, Lord-willing, I will become a mom. Anyone who knows me knows that my dream in life is to be a mom. As many of my friends continue to tell me, I have a very mothering nature. I pretty much mother everyone around me. I can't wait to apply that characteristic to my own kiddos one day. I am probably most excited about this event in my twenties because it is my dream.

5) I plan to travel A LOT in my twenties.
             I have always heard that the best time to travel is when you're young, and I could not agree more. Before I have any babies, I would love to travel to some of my top-pick places, including Spain, Greece, France, the UK, Ireland, Australia, etc. I would also love to travel to more places in the United States. While I want my kids to be well-versed in traveling, I want them to be old enough to remember what they see. Therefore, I will be seeing as many sights as I can see until my kids are old enough for me to take them to see it all.

Bonus Reason

6) I want to serve people passionately in my twenties.
             This year, I have been learning a lot about what it means to serve people. I have been looking deeply into how Jesus served people and what that looks like today. I want God to instill in me a passionate servant's heart, so that people will come to know Him through what He does in me. I hope in my twenties, with all these changes that are bound to occur, that I will always remember to put others before myself. Even during times of excitement and transition in my life, I pray that God will always allow me to see others' needs as a priority. I'm saying it here on this blog: My word for my twenties is service. I pray my life lives up to that word.
          
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These are all plans that I have for my twenties, but I know that God's plan and purpose for my life is so much greater! I can't wait to see what He has in store for me during these next ten years. I am trusting Him to lead me where He wants me. 

Thank you all for reading!

-Morgan

Catching Up

Hello, my favorite readers! I wanted to take some time to catch you all up on the happenings of my life and foreshadow a few of the exciting things that are coming up in the next few months! 

I have had a busy, busy, busy semester so far! I think in my last life post I had just started my first day of second semester. If I remember correctly, I was being relatively optimistic about how this semester would go, how I would love all my classes, etc. Well to say that is the farthest thing from the truth would be an understatement. I do love kinda love my classes, but this semester has been kicking my butt. The first few weeks my motivation level went from a 10 to a 0 real fast. I've had to kick it into gear lately because, let's face it, I'm Morgan Wade and not doing my best is not an option for me. Things are beginning to look up, and there are only 70 days left of this semester, or 39 class days - however you want to look at it (Thank You, Jesus!). I'm discovering a lot about myself as a COM major, and I've been able to successfully narrow down the career fields I would like to go into based on my strong dislike for large groups. I'm thinking about a career that is heavily reliant upon interpersonal communication, which is still a plethera of options! Just say a prayer that God leads me where He wants me! 

As for other life things, I have gained two new babies in my life that I am absolutely smitten over. Al's cousin, Mallary, had her second baby boy, Lucas Avery, on January 22nd. I've been surrounded by girls all my life, so a boy is very refreshing to me. He is so handsome, and I can't wait to watch him grow up! Al and I have already decided he is going to be one of our ring bearers when we get married in a few years - safe to say we'll have the cutest ring bearers ever. If Lucas is anything like his brother, Drake, he will be a firecracker and his mama and daddy will have their hands full!

The other new baby in my life is one who is especially dear to my heart. On January 31st, my sister gave birth to my very first niece, Lorelei. I've been waiting for the day I would have a niece basically since forever. I had planned in my head what it would be like to see her for the first time and hold her for the first time. I had a picture of what she would look like since I found out she was a girl. However, when the moment actually came and all those pictures became a reality, it was nothing like I expected it to be. The first time I saw her, as well as saw my sister being a mom, a feeling that I had never felt in my entire life came over me. Kayla and I talked about it later on, and she got the same feeling. It was such a peace and an overwhelming amount of love. Honestly, my heart is so full of love for her that it could very well explode. I have wonderful aunts that I am very close to. I know how I feel about them, and it makes me tear up to think about the relationship that Lorelei and I will have. I can't wait to watch her grow and see everything she is going to accomplish. She is stunning, and I am so in love. I will be spending my first few days of spring break with them, and I can't wait! I haven't held that girl since she was a day old, and I can only imagine how big she's gotten in a month! I'm so proud of my sister and Harris, and I'm so excited to finally be Aunt Moe!

I've also been watching my goddaughter grow up before my eyes. I literally cannot believe how big she's gotten. Part of me wants time to slow down (as does her mama), and part of me is excited to see her grow. She is such a special part of my life, and the place she holds in my heart is one that only she could fill. I could write an entire post on just the things I love about my Sophia Lorraine, and it wouldn't even begin to cover it all. I truly love her with all my heart, and my relationship with her is one of the most important relationships in my life! 

Al and I celebrated our three and a half years, as well as our fourth Valentine's Day together, and both were perfect days! I think we've both realized that the longer we date, the less we care about what we do together as long as we're doing it together. 

We spent our three and a half years laying out on the hammock for most of the day because it was the only remotely warm day we've had all winter. It's hard to believe we've been together for this long. Sometimes I feel like we just started dating yesterday. All I know is just when I think I can't love him any more than I already do, he does something to prove me wrong. 

For Valentine's Day, we just went down to the mall and shopped for a little bit, had an early dinner at Olive Garden, got home by 6:00, shared an Oreo pie, and watched Bridesmaids together. It was simple, and that's just the way I like it. I'm so lucky to have this guy as my forever Valentine. I love doing life with him! 

We'll also be taking our second vacation together the last part of my spring break, and I literally can't wait! Stay tuned for the Spring Break post that is to come!

One of the most exciting things that is happening in my life is that my best friend since second grade is getting married in May! Mine and Alex's friendship has always been one that I've treasured. We knew from a young age that a friendship like ours was one-of-a-kind, and we've both always held it close to our hearts. Alex is one of the most beautiful people I know, inside and out, and I'm lucky to be able to call her one of my best friends. I am SO excited that she has asked me to be one of her bridesmaids. I'm truly honored that I get to stand with her on her big day! We've been having some fun with wedding/bridal showers, as well as working on ceremony and reception details! This weekend we're going bridesmaids dress shopping, and I'm sure that will be an interesting and fun experience! I'm so enjoying helping her with the little things, and I'm soaking this time up because I know it won't happen again until it's my turn to get married! I love my Alex Wickel (almost Moss).

These are just a few of the exciting things that have happened in the past month and a half! So many more exciting things are on the way, but I wanted to give a little update! I am so blessed, and I'm so thankful to God for everything He has given me in this season of my life. I'm soaking up these last few weeks of being a teenager (My birthday is March 21, in case you were wondering hehe). Stay tuned for a post to recap spring break, as well as a post that explains why I'm so excited for my twenties! 

Thank you all for reading!

XOXO, 

Morgan