life update!

hey friends and family!

it’s been a minute! so let’s do a little recap of some things you might have missed.

march 12: i turned 18!

so many mixed emotions about this day. 18 is a big milestone, it’s the year that i am officially viewed as an adult. little lily always dreamed of being a teenager, i was so excited to drive and to have freedoms that i couldn’t as an elementary schooler. i looked up to girls my age now and thought that they were the coolest people in the world. now that i am actually here, i can confidently say that time has gone by way too fast and i hope that i can be the teenager that a little girl like me can look up to just as i did and that she might see how much jesus loves her more clearly because of it. i am so thankful for another year! (these pictures are from my surprise birthday dinner that my friends and family put together for me, they’re the best!)

may 1: decision day!

if you aren’t familiar with decision day, it’s a special day for many seniors in high school because it’s a day where they get to declare the university they will attend in the fall. at my high school, we celebrate by wearing a t-shirt or school spirit of some kind representing our soon to be new home. unlike most of my friends, i am taking a gap year to go on the race before i attend college. it has been hard for me at times when all of my peers were choosing schools, finding roommates, shopping for dorms, attending orientation etc. but i know that the lord is calling me to do something a little bit different and that’s not only okay but so so exciting! on this day i wore my world race t-shirt (pictures attached) and was able to share what i was doing with all of my friends and the love and support was overwhelming.

june 8: i graduated high school!

another big milestone! mixed feelings about this one too, i’ll miss my people so much! but i am so relieved to be done and so excited for this next chapter of my life. one chapter closes, another opens. (the last picture of the blog shows how i feel about graduating.) i am so blessed to have the support from my family and friends that i do! so many people i love came to see me graduate and i am so
thankful for their unwavering love and kindness! they are walking examples of jesus in every way!

& last but not least….

as of today, june 17: i am 43% fundraised!!!!

what even is my life right now. i am SO blessed. i only needed to be 40% fundraised to launch for training camp in august and i have surpassed that goal already! so many people have given so generously and i am seriously blown away. i could not do this without you! it also isn’t too late, if you are thinking about giving, my fundraising page is linked under the “support” tab of this blog. more than anything, i am asking for your prayers! here are a couple things i would love your prayers on…

1. continued growth in fundraising

2. motivation to take some next steps in big purchases for the trip (if you have any recommendations for tents and hiking backpacks they are greatly appreciated)

3. for wisdom and continued confidence in my faith through trials, and against comparison!

thank you thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart!

love, lily