August 2010

On the way to the last day of my grad assistantship, I went out of my way to frolic  along the “scenic” route through the Quad. Sitting on the steps to Foellinger, you can’t help breathing in the nostalgia–it’s crazy to think of all that God had done in the last  four… I mean six… years on this campus. One of the many blessings and lessons came from this letter from the Office of Financial Aid:

March 6, 2006
Congratulations! Based on your academic record and your father’s former veteran status, you have been selected to receive a four-year tuition waiver. This waiver is valid at any University of Illinois school from August 2006 to August 2010…

I distinctly remember calculating how many thousands of dollars were figuratively in my hands on the back of the award letter envelope–nearly $40,000. Ridiculous, right? I was thankful for a bit, but I still remember asking God, “why didn’t I get this my freshman year, instead of half way through college?” (I’m such a brat sometimes!)

Four years ago I was still chasing Katie Couric journalism dreams, didn’t know kimchi or CFC existed, and characterized my walk with God as a bitter victimization of His sovereignty.

I had no clue then that God would lead me to Korea, break my heart for what breaks His serving in an orphanage, heal so many of my past hurts and show me what it means to be His adopted daughter, or lead me to stay at U of I for two extra years to learn more of His Word and get a Masters in Social Work, which I would finish in exactly August 2010.

His timing is impeccable.