Coming back home!

You know what? God is a funny guy. He wants to live your life with you, if you allow Him in. Let me tell you an amazing real-life story of how God’s faithfulness brought me in a full circle and dropped me right back to where I was always meant to be.

It all started a long time ago… in a galaxy far, far away….Oh shoot, sorry, wrong opening! So, my story isn’t quite as intense as the Star Wars galaxy, but in my opinion it’s an amazing story of God’s faithfulness and wonderfulness and just all things glorious. You see when I graduated high school, I had this elaborate plan that I was going to go to this beautiful school up in the mountains of Colorado. I was going to be in their vet tech program and get to live out my days working with and loving on animals. It was a dream come true, I mean who doesn’t want to play with puppies and kittens everyday? Well, I made the big move from my small town in South Dakota to this mountain town in Colorado, where I knew, no one. Not a single soul. I left everyone I knew and loved and thought, I was chasing the “right” dream. You know the one that the world tells you, you need to follow and pursue. Yah, that one.

I get to campus and get all moved in and am loving it, the views from my dorm are like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. The idea of being on my own and doing something for me, filled me with joy and excitement, but also felt like a ton of bricks had been dumped on me all at the same time. I decided this was my shot, my one and only shot to go out into this world and make something of myself. I’d be making a difference in animals’ lives and it was worth all this trouble. Or at least that’s what I kept reminding myself every hour, of every day. Well, the positive self-talk worked for all of… 48 hours, before the reality hit me. This wasn’t for me. Sharing my room, no sharing my life, with people I didn’t trust or connect with started to take its toll on me. A whole three days into the college life and I had a melt down in my head, about how in the world am I supposed to do this for another two years? I can’t. Like, there is no possible way this is going to happen.

So, I went with my gut feeling that, that specific college was not the place for me and I called my parents to come get me the next day. Fast forward a bit so I don’t lose you here. I’m now back at home still trying to figure out who I am and what I want to do with my life and where I am supposed to go. You know that awesome phase of your life where everything is a HUGE decision. I decided I wanted to try and pursue being a physical therapist assistant, so I googled and researched everything about it. I saw you needed to have some job shadowing experience to get in, so I decided that was my next step. I called a couple places near my house and got in. I job shadowed for a day or so at this super cute clinic in Castle Rock and loved it. After my wonderful day there I sent the owner a thank you email and told him to let me know if he ever needed extra help around the clinic, because I’d be interested.

I left it at that and a couple years go by. When one day after I had been praying for a job, I get a reply to the very exact, same email I sent him a couple years prior. Yes, a couple years later he replies to my thank you email and asks if I’m still interested in a job opportunity. Like what? How crazy is that? I was blown away that he kept it that long and remembered me. It honestly couldn’t have come at a better time and I know that’s why God did it. Another long story short, I got the job and worked there and loved every minute of it for almost two years. When again, I started getting to that place in my life where I realized I should start thinking about that “big girl” job you’re supposed to get.

I had an opportunity to make that a reality and decided to take it. Though, I have to say leaving the physical therapy office was one of the hardest goodbyes ever. You see, the owner and head physical therapist there, not only offered me a job when I needed it most, but he also helped me find my confidence again. He believed in me, when I didn’t even believe in myself. Everyday he sowed positivity and kindness and encouragement into our work place. He led by example how to truly live out your faith even at the work place. Something I have never seen before. He made me feel appreciated, valued and heard. He helped me find myself again and helped me find my joy in life again. All by just offering me a job. A job that was so much more than a job. It helped me realize how we can truly do every little thing for God. Tim and his amazing family are a walking example of Jesus. They have had such faith through their journey and they passed that on to me. They turned into my own family and for that I am forever grateful! But I still decided to step down from my position at the physical therapy office and take a new job in the city.

Let’s just say that God really truly is funny sometimes and you, my dear friend, are not that powerful to mess up God’s plan for your own life. I know this because, I stressed over if leaving was the “right” choice. But I took a step in faith and told God to do with it what He wanted. I worked at the other job in the city for a couple months and in that time God revealed to me that it was time to begin chasing my own dreams. The dreams He had put in my heart awhile ago and that He was awakening them once again. I was overjoyed that it was finally time! I had been waiting for a long time. Well, I guess in my mind it felt that way.

So, I left the “big girl” job and started to pursue my God sized dreams of starting a non-profit with my family and to use our horses to help others. But you want to know what? God went one step further and not only helped me begin my horse dreams again, but he brought me full circle and brought me back to the physical therapy office again. Yah, the very same office! You know, the office who knew my dreams of starting this horse business and the one who understands my auto immune disease and doesn’t judge me for it. The one who supports me in all that I do, even if it’s not for their business. The one who understands where my heart is and not only that, but doesn’t push it, but supports it all the way.

You see my friends, even when I thought I messed up and made the “wrong” choice by leaving the physical therapy office, God reminded me that I’m not that powerful. I’m not that powerful that I messed God’s plan up. Nope. He let me do my own thing for a bit and gently and slowly He brought me all the way around again. It is so comforting to me, who is a recovering perfectionist that is scared to make a move because I might “mess” up, that God is bigger than all of that. He is bigger than we give him credit for. He is able to steer us right back to where He wants us, as long as we are willing to listen. Let me tell you something guys, I am so glad that I did chose to listen to Him and allow Him to bring me back. He can do so much more with our lives if we give it to Him. This whole thing has definitely instilled some serious confidence in me that I can truly and whole heartedly trust God with my life! I hope you guys will try to as well!

I love you all and thank you for your endless love and support! And thank you Tim, I don’t even think you realize what you’ve done for me and how you’ve changed my life and for that I am eternally grateful!

For anyone in the Denver/Castle Rock area, the name of the office is Front Range Therapies. Tim Bernacki is the owner and the physical therapist there and he is incredible at what he does and comes very highly recommended (not just taking it from me). And the Lord has His hand all over this business and office! If you’d like to check it out the office number is 303-688-5885 and we’d be honored to work with you!

With love,

Kaley