July 11

I've made my way back to Nanaimo (home for a while before heading to orientation). It was a bit of an adventure getting here. I was late to my flight and arrived 15 minutes before my flight was going to leave. I was so upset that I had tears flowing down my face. There was a really great lady at the check-in area and she phoned down to my gate and they agreed to let me on - especially because I was crying (tears can help!). It was hard, though, because I wasn't able to say a good goodbye to my sister - I was in too much of a confusing hurry. We're twins and I've never been apart from her for more than 9 days... so it was hard to imagine not seeing her for over a year! I did make it onto the plane though and the lady sitting next to me gave me a kleenex for my runny nose and tears (so nice of her). 

It's interesting  - the emotions you face when you say goodbye. They were with me for the rest of the day and I still miss her, but I know that this separation will be good for us. Teach us both greater independence. One of my friends at church prayed for us and asked God that we would learn to find our identities in Christ and not in each other. How true! That request is so perfect. I hadn't really thought of how much my identity is found in being a twin (I've always been one of the Banman Twins). I think this experience will be life-changing (obviously). I think I will view my individual purpose in life differently. God's plan for my life is not dependent on what my sister does or wants, it is dependent on what God does and what He wants.

I've been thinking about the url for my blog ("when god says go"). I wondered at first if that sounded kind of arrogant - to imply that my blog is all about what can happen when one (namely, myself) is completely dedicated to going when God says 'go' and to let everyone out there know that I am an excellent child of God. That's not what I meant and maybe the url doesn't sound arrogant... I hope it doesn't. I chose that url because I do believe that when God asks someone to do something, the best possible thing for that person to do is exactly what God asked of them. I think when you respond willingly to God's request of you, you should be prepared to see magnificent things done to the glory of God. I don't mean magnificent in the sense that the whole world will know about it. I mean magnificent in that God's will is being done - and that is always a marvelous thing. I understand that the url isn't really a big deal, but I still think it is important to let you know why I chose the name I did. It holds a special meaning to me.