Real

Earlier this week my little baby sister finished school. Forever. The hurdle of A-levels and then that's her done. On to University and a whole new chapter of life. As I looked at her Facebook and saw her leavers day photos I was taken back 9 years. Standing in that exact same Assembly hall, in that exact same blue blazer and grey skirt, with those exact same tear stained eyes, was me. At 18 I had great plans. I thought I'd my entire life planned out. I'd pass my A-levels and study Nutrition in Scotland. I'd meet the man of my dreams and I'd return home after 4 years with a ring on my wedding finger. I'd marry the next year and then rapidly produce beautiful babies.

My plans didn't exactly work out.

God was working in other ways. I'd drop out of University the first time and return home to study politics. Boys would cause me hurt and I'd finish  University very much single. I'd work for years in a job I didn't love and at 25 I'd meet and marry the most amazing man ever. And I'd continue to work in a job I didn't love and we wouldn't be greeted by gurgles from a cot every morning.

This is real life.

These are God's perfect plans for us.

And real life? It's far far better than my plans when I left those school gates at 18.