Have you ever gone fishin? Could have been when you were a kid with your $2 pole from the grocery store with your favorite TV character on it? Or maybe when you were thirteen with a friend and there was no adult around to take the fish off the hook, so you bit the bullet and did it yourself? I remember that day. Couldn’t tell you exactly when, but I felt like a true fisherman after I held that slimy, writhing bass and worked the crooked hook out of its bottom lip. I realize now how intense and sad that sounds. But I promise, Gus (that was his name) was treated with the utmost respect and had a proper sendoff back into the deep blue pond from whence he came. See fishing, for me, is a beautiful pastime. Growing up in Michigan, most of my summers were spent at my Grandparent’s lake house. My brothers and I would wake up early and take a short paddle boat ride out into the misty water, just as the sun was starting to say hello. When it was warm enough, we’d grab our bathing suits and life jackets and spend the afternoon by the water’s edge. I think that’s where my love of the water and adventure came from. It was stirred by my family, the sunshine, and the excitement that comes as you wait for a giant bass, sunfish, or pike to come grab the your chosen bait for the day. From the age of three up until now, fishing has been something I do and love. It’s not for the faint of heart though. While there’s no greater thrill than when you feel that tug on the end of your line, there’s also no greater disappointment or frustration than when you reel and there’s not a single thing on the hook. After hours and hours sitting on the boat or wading in the water, it can get tiring. I’ve been able to practice patience far more often that I would like out there. You can see how I do on Jeni season three and five. It’s funny but also not funny. I wait and I wait until finally something happens. But that’s fishing for ya! It also happens to be life sometimes.

As the fisherman, I did everything I knew to do-right bait, right spot, right attitude but nothing happens. That’s part of the journey and story, though. It’s the art and the love of the sport, not always what you do or don’t catch. Maybe that’s why people put out signs and tell their loved one’s they’ve “gone fishin.” It lets people know, “hey, I’m going off to do this thing and I don’t know what’s going to happen or when I’ll be back, but I’m sure I’ll have a story or two for ya when I return.”

So, right about now, you’re probably asking yourself…what is she talking about? Excellent question. Valid question even! See, after three amazing, challenging, life changing years in Florida, I will be transitioning on from SEU. I knew going into this year it would be my last and I wanted to wait until I had something lined up before telling people. Cause I knew the questions would come. “What are you going to do?” “So what’s next?” Honestly, I didn’t and still don’t know and it has sucked. But you know when you hear God tell you to do something and while I’m freaking out and unsure, there’s also nothing that would get me to not listen to Him. So again, why this whole “gone fishin” thing. Well, like I said, this season kind of sucks with not knowing what’s going to happen, but I’m also filled with such excitement and anticipation of all the possibilities. I was praying about how to tell people and honestly complaining about not having the next thing planned out. “I don’t have a job. I don’t know what city I’m moving to. Blah, blah, blah.” But then something odd happened. I really felt the Lord say “tell them you’ve gone fishin.” My totally calm and normal response back to that was…”GONE FISHING??? What the heck does that even mean?” But like I said, when you know when God is talking and the more I thought about it, the saying makes sense. So that’s what I’m doing, guys. I’m going fishing.

I’m nearing the end of my swan song, don’t worry. I just want to say thank you to all the incredible people I met along the way during my time at SEU. To all the people I've met, worked with, or had the pleasure of calling friend...you've shaped and impacted my life in ways you'll never know. Thank you for walking out the last three years with me.

I’ll keep you posted on what’s next. For now, I’ll leave you with “hey, I’m going off to do this thing and I don’t know what’s going to happen or when I’ll be back, but I’m sure I’ll have a story or two for ya when I return.”