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This year I moved to Oak Street in Kansas City, out of the house I grew up in. I began living with four of my favorite girls. It has been so good and so challenging, and I have learned SO much about what it means to live closely with people. It’s a community, our house, with a lot of people in and out and a lot of different animals in and out (three different dogs and a cat and a lot of mice) and a lot of laughter and overdramatic moments and just plain FUN. Truthfully.

The house is full of life, there is always someone home, and I love that. I don’t even care that I am never alone anymore. And that is the truth, I really am never by myself, not even in the bathroom. Seriously there are times when someone is taking a shower, someone else is going pee, and someone else is brushing their teeth. True story. One bathroom. If you spend one night at our house, you will see what I mean. Having one bathroom and 5 girls does suck and it is freaking hard, I would be lying if I said otherwise, but I am actually thankful for it. It forces us to interract. It make us comfortable around each other, because we brush our teeth together. I mean it, I think it’s fun. I’m intensely extroverted and that’s why I don’t mind. But I do notice myself longing for space sometimes. I get a little bit anxious, like I just want to sit in my car and be quiet. So I do that. I also go to The Roasterie a lot (you’re welcome Roasterie, you take all my money). 
I wouldn’t change anything about this crazy house though.

I have learned that my roommates and I do weird things at home.

We’re loud and scream/laugh a lot. Especially me and Taylor (obviously) but Missy Olivia and Abigail are guilty of it also. Scream laughing, that’s a thing. Taylor and I scream-laugh about tv shows and Justin Bieber, and Abigail scream-laughs over school and music, Missy scream-laughs about cute cats and celebrities and babies, and Olivia screams sometimes about One Direction and Vampire Diaries but doesn’t want anyone to know it :)

We’re dirty (besides Taylor, who is the queen of cleaning) but not in a bad way, not like pigs, just like messy and busy college girls. I used to think I was the messiest person alive, but I think I lost that title to Abigail over finals week this semester. Her room is like a really trendy hurricane full of incense just blew through. But when she cleans I wish it was my room, because it smells really good. Abigail has this natural smell…like good smell. Like laundry mixed with incense mixed with coffee mixed with like…guitar…or something. Whatever

We argue about cleaning and chores and food and tv and dogs and bedrooms and the heat and the air conditioning and the kitchen and chairs and the bathroom and dinner and church and basically everything you can think of I’m positive we have had a fight about it. This is because we are absolute best friends. I don’t know a lot of people who live with their actual BEST FRIENDS. People say you shouldn’t do it, I think you should. I think it’s the hardest thing ever, because you see the good and bad about each other. It pushes your hearts closer together. I’m CONSTANTLY learning what it means to be patient, I’m CONSTANTLY learning what it means to have grace with someone, I’m CONSTANTLY learning what it means to forgive. I am knocked off my feet daily by how hard it is for me to be patient, and this brings me right to my knees in front of the Lord.
I can barely manage to forgive someone for staining my shirt, how does God forgive me for all the crap that I do every day?! Really!
Lord, WHAT MUST YOU BE LIKE?
I am in awe of His grace and mercy abounding. I need it more than anything. And realizing how badly I need this mercy, makes me see that I need to reach for these things in my own heart. When I see that I have been forgiven for the most horrible parts of my heart, I can easily forgive my friends. How can I hold grudges towards people when the Lord keeps no record of my own wrongs? 
I get a reality check daily. Jesus is shocking and I am often speechless.

Living with Taylor, Abigail, Missy, and Olivia has changed my life. I am SO THANKFUL that I was brought to a place where I needed to move to Kansas City.

I could write forever about what I have learned about myself because of these girls. Mostly I’ve learned that I suck at being a person. I really need help. I have gritty thoughts and  And this help only can come from Jesus Christ, who died so I could have the freedom to live in a way that points to Him. I’m trying.
The best thing I’ve really learned about my four roommates is that they’re all trying to do this same thing I am. Which has been the greatest gift the Lord has given me, living in a home where I am pushed and tested in my pursuit of the Kingdom of God.