When I met her, I instantly knew she and I would be great friends. Standing in her dorm room, on my first day of college as a transfer student, she welcomed me in with a contagious joy, and a hot cup of coffee sweetened with her favorite southern pecan creamer. Whether I was sitting in her bed doing homework, or she was curled up in mine for a catnap, she quickly became a dear friend and treasure to me. We planned random trips to Disney, and cried when we were given free tickets to the park. We adventured across the country, and laughed at the irony of Washington DC being “shut down” on the weekend we visited.
When she made her first trip to Europe, I donated the last $5 she needed for the trip. We both celebrated as she squealed that she would be traveling everywhere from Germany to Switzerland. My heart jumped for joy. We both were adventurers, and we still are.
Holidays were spent in her hometown, because mine was fifteen hours away. Her family joked that I was their third daughter, and none of us ever imagined that the Lord would actually allow that to be a reality. Jessica and I both were teachers at the same time, crying and laughing about how hard our first year was. We encouraged each other and sharpened each other, never imagining in that overwhelming season that the Lord would take us from teaching and place us into something completely different. Teaching fulfilled us, drained us, grew us and opened our eyes to the world around us. But God knew best. There was a season for teaching, and now there is a season for new. Four years after our friendship began, I stand in awe of my God and all that he has done, in and through Jessica and my friendship.
And he’s not done yet.
Jessica moved to Berlin, Germany last week and I couldn’t be more proud of her. She will be living there for two years, doing ministry and missions work in the heart of the city. It’s so crazy to watch as God weaves our paths in directions we never imagined. When I met Jessica, all those years ago, we had no idea that she would live in Europe for a few years of her adult life. Talk like that would have been the conversations of DREAMS! Yet, God knew all along that he would place Jess in Germany, for His will and His purposes.
I am SO thrilled for my friend, and so excited to see what God does in and through her!!! Before she left, we snapped these head shots of her, and I am SO abundantly blessed by them. Her joy is contagious, her beauty is bright and her love for life is abounding.
Jessica, I am so proud of you!!!!!
Isn’t she lovely?! Love her. I’m thankful for moments when I can authentically capture the personality and heart of a person. This is one of those times!
xoxo
AnnaFilly
She is a beautiful young lady. Her smile is contagious and her heart is unbelievable. Can’t wait to see where God leads her and builds her testimony. Best of luck Jessica, no doubt you are loved.
What a truly amazing lady Jessica is, and what an amazing story God continues writing through her! Anna girl, thanks for sharing your heart about this dear one! Gals, keep shining! Love you both!????