My futon

This morning I realized how epic my futon has been in the past three years. Lets rewind for a second. Ok, I am like 6 or something and my best friend Kelli gets a sweet new bed. I actually went to the bed store with her family to look for beds. It was a couch/bed on the bottom and a bunk on top! It was epic and would be the best for sleep overs. I loved it. Kelli kept getting headaches and they thought maybe it was because she was sleeping so high up. So they needed to sell the bed. I don't remember how my family decided to buy it, but we did. AWESOME!

Anyways, I slept in the bunk part for  awhile, and sometimes I would sleep on the bottom. I am pretty sure Alex took the top bunk (we called a crib) to college for a while. I think Grant lived on the futon for a while. It is weird to think about now since I have had the futon in my loving care since I started college. I knew it would be a great couch and IWU has dorm rooms big enough to contain it. So, my freshmen year it started a new story. I remember having 4 girls sitting on the futon, other girls sitting around in chairs and on the floor and just getting to know each other our freshmen year. That year I also started having morning quiet time with Jesus and coffee, on my futon. I had a crazy flash back this morning as I did that very thing again.

Every year I have (along with help) disassembled and reassembled this sweet spot. The list of people who have helped me put it together and take it about is really funny. So many sweet hearts. I am so thankful for supportive, helpful men in my life over these past 3 years.  But in all reality these men are doing themselves a favor by helping set it up.

Life has happened on this futon. Not only is it a beautiful spot for my alone time but it has fostered community more than I even realized. Countless ladies have sat here with me, or spent a night on this mattress. We have laughed until we thought we would pee our pants, we have cried tears that felt like our heart was being stabbed, we have processed falling in love, breaking up, changing majors, family issues, and adjusting to new seasons. I vividly remember having a giddy conversation with Steph on my futon last year after Ben and I kissed for the first time. I have held residents as they cried from pure exhaustion and confusion. I have had hard conversations. I've spent late nights and early mornings. We have pulled it into a bed for sleepovers and lazy days.

I am incredibly thankful for the long conversations that easily trump homework or sleep. I am thankful for each of the relationships that have come in and out of my life in the past 3 years. In my fourth year I want this place to be a spot where people can come and be courageous enough to be fully themselves. I want to invite others into vulnerability to do life in the best way possible. I want to love well. I pray that I will be able to listen when that is all is needed and give wise advise when it is right. So come, put your feet up. Relax. Lets talk. Lets do life. The futon is up and ready in Beckett Hall for is fourth and final year here at IWU.