so I'm going skydiving....

I have no idea if anyone will even read this....


All I know is that on the 21st of August, I am boarding a plane to Grand Rapids, Michigan. And that from that day forward, my life will be new. EVERYTHING will be new. The old me would have found that absolutely terrifying, as I will admit I do not like being the new kid. But the new me, the one that is pursuing freedom, finds this to be a incredibly beautiful adventure. 


A couple people have asked me if I will keep them updated on college life, and how everything is going. I said, "of course i will!" And if you know me, I tend to follow through on things I say I will do.... except for when my mom asks me to clean the house... I suddenly become busy and forgetful...


Anywho, I though a blog would be a perfect way to keep those people who are interested in my life informed about this great adventure I am embarking on. I am certain that I am about to learn things about myself that I have never known. I am going to uncover things deep in my heart that are dying to SING, and I will sing them. I want to completely obliterate the things that have held me back from singing my heart song so loud that everyone can hear. "How Lyndsay," you may ask, "are you going to do that?"


Welp for starters, thanks to the Boonstra's, Zylstra's, Kennedy's, and Nienhouses...


Skydive.


When I told my friend Catherine this, she said, "WHAT? I'm sorry what did you just say? It sounded like you said skydiving..."


On August 13th, Lyndsay DeGroot, the girl who can hardly sit in the top seats at the Rockies game, is jumping out of a plane. Not gonna lie, I wasn't so gung-ho about this at first.... I was ready to waltz right up to the skydiving place and ask for a refund.


But hey, how often do you get to go skydiving? 


So that's how I'm going to do that.


This summer has been a time of transformation of the heart. A time of pruning the branches, if you will, so that I can grow even more beautiful, strong, and fruitful... I thank God for the work He has been doing in my heart. As I look back at this past semester and summer, I realize that I asked God to help me let go of two things that have ruled my life and defined me: Fear and Control. 


Guess what?


He has placed challenges straight in my path that deal with exactly those two things. 


I'm not going to sit here and pretend like I've conquered those challenges with ease... that would be a complete joke.


It's been really hard. REALLY hard. REALLY REALLY hard. 
But so refreshing, oddly enough.


And HE has held my hand through EVERY single step of the way.  


Because he is beginning to free my heart that I have held captive for so long. 


So I'm going to go skydiving. To symbolize a new start, a new beginning. A commitment to chasing after the person that He has created me to be.

You always here talk about Jeremiah 29:11. But have you REALLY read it?


Listen:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”


He KNOWS the plans He has for us. 


So I'm going skydiving....


How about you?