Dreaming About David Jay?!?

At about 1 o'clock this morning I climbed into bed and closed my eyes quickly entering the world of my dreams. In the opening scene I was walking through a mall. This mall was a bit classier than the average mall with gold trim and pillars lining store entrances and walls made of that tacky green marble which you only see in old school upper class corporate offices. The flooring was white marble...

As I was walking through, lo and behold, David Jay came walking up to me. My reaction was like this is a normal thing (as if I see him more than once or twice a year!). We started talking about this conference we're going to that he's leading and how exciting it's going to be! lol Apparently, the conference is being held on a boat!

From there we started walking out of the mall and the scenes change to a dock. We board the boat and just keep chattin away like we're ol' pals and such. The boat was a lot different than I expected it to be, but DJ seemed unmoved by the fact that it looked like a fishing boat. We talked about how we were supposed to meet up with Sarah Barlow and her sister Natalie along with all the other people who were gonna be in the conference.

The scenes jumped and next it was after the conference was finished. It was late that night and the boat was out in the midst of big rolling waves. David and I decided to go running on the deck! Of course, DJ was leading w/ his "Fast I Am" shoes and for some reason I remember saying, "High knees DJ! High knees!" As we came to...a hill?! Hahaha...wow.

Suddenly, DJ somehow slipped and fell off the deck and into the water just gripping the edge. There was really only about a yard between the deck of the boat and the water. I went to the edge to help him out and somehow managed to lift him out of the water!

The dream concluded in a blur, but moral of the story: Hmm....well...I guess, DJ, rest assured that if ever we went running on a boat I would save you from falling into the water! lol

The End. :)

Honestly, I have NO idea how this dream came about! Nothing in the course of my day had anything to do with DJ or fishing boats...or even running! lol How random is that??

((Opposites Attract.))

"Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life"
(Ecclesiastes 9:9).


"I received a letter from a young lady saying, "I'm engaged to a nice man, but we are so opposite it seems we never agree on anything. Do you think we are so incompatible that we will not get along in a marriage?"
Possibly they are incompatible, but I know for a fact that if two people in a marriage are just alike one of them is unnecessary. In great part, God puts opposites together because opposites really do attract. In most marriages, one gets up early; the other prefers to stay in bed. One splashes in the sink; the other cleans up.
All of this is so that one will offset the extremes of the other one. If we look at differences as a problem rather than as a balance, we will end up arguing a lot. By recognizing the differences as an asset, a couple can become one working unit. That is what God desires.
Unless you have an absolute commitment to make the marriage work, it won't, because when the going gets tough you'll want out."

Great is Thy Faithfulness, by Larry Burkett

I know presently, for people my age including myself, God desires us to enjoy the days of our youth before worrying about something like marriage, but I just love learning about marriage and what kind of mindset to have in preparation for a relationship like that... I stumbled across this passage and thought it was absolutely perfect. So there ya go!

HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!!

Today and yesterday have just been absolutely wonderful!!!



Yesterday afternoon, I went out to Oak Park in a caravan of about 6 cars w/ Sarah, Andrew, and Natalie Barlow, and then Beth, Kristen, Tricia, Bryant, Morgan, and my brother, Steve. Sarah's siblings, my brother and I did some modeling for the photographer's training shoot and it was just sooooo amazing!! So many people in the photography industry are just wonderful, I don't know if I'll ever want to be disconnected from it! We were out from like 2:30 til 9:30pm...



Afterwards, my brother and I drove out from Oak Park (near the city) all the way to Plainfield for my friend Elora's college graduation party. It was so worth the trip cuz they're basically my other set of siblings/family and I haven't had the chance to spend as much time with them this summer yet. By the end of the night I was just wiped from driving all day...



I slept in this morning until about twenty minutes before I had to leave for church--oops! The service was really good and then the rest of the day was just relaxing and hangin out with my dad. I love him so much!! We have some of the best conversations together and I always learn so much from him. :)



Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend!!!

An Environmentalist?!?

I was helping Sarah Barlow clean her office on Tuesday and I told here I was gonna get her recycling! lol It's weird cuz I never considered myself one before, but it's like an itch inside when that empty water bottles sitting on the counter or the cereal box is empty...

Just the facts:
[The energy we save when we recycle one glass bottle is enough to light a light bulb for four hours]
[Every ton of paper that is recycled saves 17 trees]

Uhh...Wow. The things you learn about yourself when you think you've already learned it all...

On a different note: Assistant Training shoot tomorrow!! WOO HOO!! I am SO excited to meet Sarah's new interns for the season and see their work!! It's gonna be gooooood stuff! Watch out all you hot shot photographers!! :-D

My Love is Conditional, So I'm Trying to Get Rid of it.

Between the time I left Sarah's and pulling into the Red Robin parking lot to pick up dinner for my family, I settled upon that annoying concept. I know I've come across it before, but I stumble upon it now and again and I find it quite aggravating.

So what does it take to have my love?
Well, I have to like you first of all. Haha, that's about as far as I'll go because there are so many intricate things to why I like or don't like certain people that it would take forever to analyze that and I am just not up for that task right now!

But isn't that horrible? My love should not be given under the condition of whether I like you or not! That's not real love to begin with! It's so hard to draw the line with people because, as the most amazing C.S. Lewis puts it, "to love is to be vulnerable," and most times I'd like to be much more cautious with my heart since not everyone cares to truly love back.

But then there's that call to love.
And I am a "slave to righteousness." (Rom. 6:18)

Wow. It's all connecting now! Over the course of the past few weeks I really felt like God had been using this song to speak to my heart in the midst of a battle between bitterness and enduring love:

"Don't Give Up" ~Sanctus Real

I heard you say you would love for a lifetime
Now you complain a lifetime just doesn’t feel right for you
Another casualty of casual love
Another soul out of place, a heart that gave up

Why do we break the promises we make?
Are we living for ourselves?

Don’t give up on love and throw it all away
Don’t give up on love and let it fall away
When did it become so easy to run from your pain?
Don’t give up on love and throw it all away

I heard you say you can’t change a stubborn heart
I can relate ‘cause that’s how I feel when I talk with you

Why should it take losing everything
To realize it might be time to change?

Don’t give up on love and throw it all away
Don’t give up on love and let it fall away
When did it become so easy to run from your pain?
Don’t give up on love and throw it all away

Your restless heart won’t win ‘cause you take but you don’t give
And you’ll keep moving on until you learn what love is

-------<3-------

That's what I do! I run, I find ways to win for myself and it usually entails bitterness or hard feelings. I hold grudges toward people I simply get a wrong impression from. I'm stereotypical. I keep moving on before learning and knowing what love is. And I do this with every type of relationship in my life.

That can't happen anymore. This doesn't mean I'm going to stay in touch with every person I've ever met, but I need to work at keeping the relationships that were once close still close. And try working to make the broken ones whole regardless of the past.

That's what God's teaching me.
He's saying to me:

Don't give up on Love, Sarah. I am Love.
((1 John 4:8))

An Extraordinary Life...?

YOU HAVE ONE!! And so do I...

Whether you're living in the biggest mansion or a studio apartment w/ a benz or a '92 Geo you have it better than most people in the world. Food & water, clean showers and restroom facilities.

We are unbelievably blessed. :)

I get to sing again...[!]

Wonderful...yet, tragic? Okay, "tragic" is wayyy too dramatic. Please...

In less than 25 days I'm going to be singing the most timeless love song of all time. I'm so privileged to sing it for this couple because they were basically my second set of parents growing up. It's for their Silver Wedding: 25 Years. How wonderful is that? And how refreshing in this day and age to actually have a REAL marriage... On my 30 minute drive to work AND back, I played this song over and over...and over again trying to get down all of the words. After a while I just had to drive and listen so I could hear all the cues and lyrics I need to know. This song is the most over-played Christian wedding song of all time...

...but rightly so, cuz it's absolutely beautiful.

Here are the lyrics:

Verse 1:
Tomorrow mornin' if you wake up and the sun does not appear
I will be here
If in the dark we lose sight of love
Hold my hand and have no fear
'Cause I will be here

Chorus:
I will be here
When you feel like bein' quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen and I will be here
When the laughter turns to cryin'
Through the winnin', losin' and tryin'
We'll be together
'Cause I will be here

Verse 2:
Tomorrow mornin' if you wake up and the future is unclear
I will be here
As sure as seasons are made for change
Our lifetimes are made for years
So I will be here

Chorus 2
I will be here
And you can cry on my shoulder
When the mirror tells us we're older
I will hold you
And I will be here
To watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things you are to me
I will be here

Bridge:
I will be true to the promise I have made to you
And to the One who gave you to me
I will be here
And just as sure as seasons are made for change
Our lifetimes are made for years
So I will be here
We'll be together
I will be here

--"I Will Be Here", Steven Curtis Chapman

Not gonna lie, in the middle of typing out those lyrics and even now, I'm feelin that warm sensation you get in your face when you feel like you're gonna cry (I'm way to honest on this blog thing, aren't I? I know, I wear my heart on my sleeve...). But don't worry! I won't cry! Haha, and even if I did, it's not like YOU'D know! :)

Listening to this song is like...AUGH, how my heart yearns for that faithfulness and boldness from a man. I know I will experience it one day, but it is very discouraging to be living in a day and age where the word "faithfulness" has fallen out of basic vocabulary. As with the words, "modesty" and "respectability".

I couldn't find an indirect way of typing this out on my blog so I'm just gonna say it:

SHOW ME A MAN WHO IS MAN ENOUGH TO BE SET APART FROM THE CULTURE OF THIS WORLD.[!!!!!!!!]

My friend and I were talking sometime back with the question, "Where are all the MEN???" I'm not at all saying females are perfect, TRUST me, I know very well what my sex has done to tear down the place a man should have in life...

But seriously, where are all the fathers standing up to raise there sons as godly men and not leaving them unloved and hanging around still as boys...or guys at their best? Where are the men that are gonna stand for purity and not fool around before they find the woman they'll marry??
I know we live in a culture filled with broken homes and complicated marriages, but what about God's promise that He will be a Father to the fatherless?

We as women have done nothing to help considering how desperate we've become with our shirts too low and skirts to short...our increase in forward actions over the years. Our overpowering, "I'll do it myself" attitude.

What happened to relationships as they were intended to be? Partnership. Balance.

(Thankfully, our God is a merciful God and we can start anew each day.)

Today, I was just thinkin...I'm not a "dating relationship" kinda girl. I'm no good at it! Not to say that I've ever really dated and I'm very okay with that. It's just I know that, through observation of the past 6 years. when any romance seems to bud, I get weird. Seriously. It's like I'm incapable of being my true self around that person...

It's because I wasn't made for dating relationships! I was made for one marriage and one genuine marriage alone. One that, first of all, won't be happening til years from now! :) But also, one that is full of faithfulness, purity and uplifting truths and actions...service and love. One partnership with one God.

Can we please bring the word "Faithfulness" back into our lives? If you're like me (single), aim that faithfulness to Your Biggest Fan up in heaven...He'll take care of ya :)

Also...women, we need to lift up our men with our modesty and encouragement to grow to be like Christ and to grow ourselves in that same direction. And men, you need to stand up and follow the example of the most Amazing Man that ever was regardless of your circumstances as well as respond to girls with respect and purity.

Wow, I can't believe all this came out! Crazy truth...

Culture Shock?!?

Wow! I've been home for almost a month now it's weeeiird. But SO good.

Since being home I've had the chance to, I guess you could say, screw my head on straight. In my attempt to adjust at school, I fear I lost myself along the way...I've realized how much people don't really know me. Especially among some of my closest friends. It's so easy to get caught up in the culture of my school and the south in general. Maybe it's a good thing, I mean, people are so nice down there. I find myself with a stronger, but more introverted personality now that I'm back in Chicago. And it feels like this skin fits me. I think my downfall is that I am exactly 50% introvert and 50% extrovert--gimme the meyers briggs test, I'll prove it! But anyway, I just wanna be myself next year...ALL year...



All of this hit me over the past week because we had family over from the Philippines. My Tita (Aunt) Dolli and Lolo (Grand-Uncle) Ashung have been staying with us the past couple days. It was great!! I got to listen to them talk to my mom in Tagalog allll weekend,

it's like music to my ears. :)

Last night was their final night here at our house so we invited my aunt and uncle to come over for dinner. I had the biggest wake up call to just how eccentric my family is and how much I love it!

Here's the scene:

Five 100% Filipinos sitting at a dining table with one 100% Indian, and two kids that are 50/50. The oldest child is still in Hawai'i. Meanwhile, we're all sitting around eating Lou Malnati's (Chicago style) pizza & salad, Portillo's Chicago style hotdogs...Oh, and Chinese lo mein. AND homemade Indian curry chicken that my dad made w/ nan or...like, pita bread. Afterward, we had mangos, pineapples and watermelon for dessert. Finally, we chatted into the night while the adults sipped either their American coffee or Hawaiian tea.

But see?? I told you!

60% of the time, I couldn't understand what was being said (Ha, I can count to 10 in tagalog), but it didn't phase me! Instead, I just listened. I pick up stuff sometimes and other times, someone will explain a little or start speaking Taglish (Tagalog-English mix).

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! But few people from outside my home grasp it. I think that's why the depth of this part of me goes unnoticed with most people. Until they really get to know me, come into my house and truly see it for what it is, they won't fully know me. My home and ALL it's culture (oh yeah, a pinch of Ethiopian culture is in there too--you'll hafta ask about that one), is such a vital part of my life. Haha, so whoever God wants me to end up marrying better be ready or be just as eccentric as me!

I'm so thankful for a home like this. I really hope to preserve it. Maybe this will give you an idea as to why I love my home/family so much. :)

[SexGod]

(Skip the first two full paragraphs if you feel it's too long...lol)
Yesterday afternoon I went to Barnes & Noble for a while. I picked up this book that my friend pointed out the other day since he heard it was a great book and...I guess I trust his judgement. :) I wandered over by the windows where the reading chairs were. As I was getting situated into my over-sized, over-stuffed seat (just the way I like it...), I was taken aback by a warning, "Get the EFF outta here..." I paused with confusion. Was he talking to me?? The stubborn side of me brushed it off and sat down. I then looked over at the man to which the warning belonged and realized he was talking to his book! Haha, it was a book about some war...I want to say Vietnam. And by the man's appearance, I'd assume he had been in that war. He commented to the pages here and there as I settled in and opened the pages to my own book...

SexGod.

I knew Rob Bell by the videos he's made, but never have I come across his books until now. This one describes the relationship between sexuality(energy geared toward outside sources like relationships-not only romantic) and spirituality. He has this ability to express the deepest concepts through the simplest of words...

But here's what I'm getting at...!!!


Through the first chapter, he described how sexuality has a lot to do with humanity (Rob Bell, please forgive me if I butcher this explanation! lol). He described one of the concentration camps that was receiving aid after the holocaust and wars were over. It was horrifying to read the description of it all: the corpses, filth, and the people who, after all that, looked like corpses and were now completely numb to the filth. They were no longer human because people stripped away their identity...all they had were the numbers printed on their bodies.
It's also like when a group of guys see a girl walk by them and one of them asks his buddies, "How do you rate that?" And they go about putting numerical value to parts of her anatomy.

They are no longer human...just a number on their arm.
She is no longer human, but degraded down to a "that."

For some reason, a massive order of lipstick came into the concentration camp from outside aid. At first, it didn't seem to make sense, but suddenly a scene of these women who had been imprisoned and starved were wearing lipstick and something deep down seemed to be glowing again. There was a description of a woman, dead and bare in her bunk, with scarlet lips. In her hand she clutched that tube of lipstick. That hope of being human again.

And as for "that" girl, when looked over like a thing, she became an object. And it didn't only affect her, but those guys who looked her way. They lost sight of who she really is: a person. A woman. She has a history, dreams and, most importantly, was made in God's image.

All of these people were meant to be looked at as more.

On my way home that day, I drove past a group of shirtless guys running along the road...

Bear with me here, I'm going to be very blunt, but I know you'll appreciate it cuz I know you've been here too.

My first reaction was to look away, embarassed in an empty car that my mind may take me to places I didn't want to go...
But then I thought about what I had read and looked straight at them while saying this to myself:
"These guys were made in God's image. They have a past and hopes for the future. They have weaknesses and strengths, mistakes and pride..."

WOW!!! I can't even explain what a difference that made.

Today, my brother was watching TV and as I passed by I heard a preview for a movie. In it the man said to the woman, "I think you're beautiful...and I just want to spend some time with you."

Beautiful...time....

What validation to her creation! It's no wonder why women long to know that they are beautiful. It affirms the Creator of her beauty. How you treat the creation is much related to how you feel about the creator.

Finishing the next chapter was like a cherry on top. A perfect ending to my short time at the bookstore. The chapter was called something like, "Sexy on the Inside."

One of the final paragraphs described to me exactly the girl I want to be:

(Rob Bell in reference to a girl he knows):
"I've realized over time that she is a deeply connected person. There is a certain potency to her presence that is hard to describe. She owns no property and she lives as simply as she possibly can because she committed early in her life to give everything she had to making the world the kind of place God dreams it could be. It is a joy to be with her because everything matters in her life. Nothing is shallow, or trite, or superficial. She's very funny, and smart, and compassionate - a magnificent human. Because she's been exploring her own soul so long, she knows herself inside and out. She's at peace, and it's contagious."

Human.

MAD UPDATES!!: May 24th

Haha, wow, so I'm really bad at keeping track with when I blogged last...anyway, last thursday, my good friend bree & I took my dog, Gucci, for a walk and shot some amateur photos around the neighborhood...




Our town is so cookie cutter that it's hard to find interesting things to shoot...nevertheless, we had fun and my dog enjoyed the walk as well. :)




What an interesting day...it started out very weird, but things pulled together as the day went by. God woke me up that morning with open eyes to just how wonderful my friends are and how much strength and support He brings me through them! I couldn't ask for better friends!

You guys are great :)


((PS>>I'll post the weekend updates later...))

What a Spontaneous Day!

Wow! I just spent a whopping 12 hours with the Barlows today! CRAZY! But great of course! I got over there a little after 10am and went to work with Sarah...by 1:30, our friend Jenny came by to hang out so we all spent a good long while chatting before we decided what to do next. In our attempt to go to Cheesecake Factory, we landed at Red Robin instead! Mmmm....

Afterward we were all SO full! Lemme tell ya it was almost difficult to walk around! After a while we decided to go swimming to shake off the feeling of all that food in our stomachs. The water felt soooo good....I'm so glad my friends convince me to do things cuz sometimes I don't realize what I would miss out on....

From there, Sarah, Jenny, Natalie and I (all in our swimsuits of course! lol) had a special "spa treatment". Haha, it was an amazing multi-head steam shower!!!! We all felt sooo refreshed afterwards.

After drying off we just hung out some more and Mrs. Barlow came to the rescue with some strawberries, blueberries and blackberries to save us from our sugar cravings! Did I mention we dipped them in chocolate? YUM!



Well, here's to a refreshing day. :) It's really gotten me pumped to start getting outside to do activities more, I love it! What a beautiful day.

----------------
This is what God's taught me a little more about today...I've really realized how much I tend to settle for the good things. And that's okay, but I don't hold out for the GREAT things that he really does want to bless me with. They're the things I'm not sure about or don't know exist...I don't hold out because I don't go out on a limb to trust beyond what's in my reach. And this is in regards to such a vast array of things!
Haha, let's put it in terms of photography: I thought about shopping for a camera and what kind I want. I immediately thought, well how 'bout a canon rebel xt/xti? I mean, it's simple, it's basic and I don't really need anything extravagant (I'm mostly a practical person, I guess!). But as I was lookin in the mirror this morning with those thoughts God replied, Why aren't you holding out for a 20D? I know that's what you want deep down, Sarah. Why do you have to settle for something that's just okay in your eyes and Mine? Don't you know I want to bless you with more than you give Me credit for? Please, just let go of the security you find in being close-minded and just let Me do what I want to do for you!
It was the same with my computer situation this past year! Though I didn't hold out, He still came through and blessed me out of no where with the computer I'm typing on right now. :)
So I'm waiting on him to show me more than the standards I lower for myself all the time...this is so much more than materialistic, too...
He's such a bless-er!

So much on my mind...

Man oh man! What a year God has brought me through! There's so much that I've learned it seems difficult to fathom...what a big God I serve--and what blessings He has bestowed upon me! I just...ahhh...let me just list out the things God has opened my eyes to:

--Love is not simply defined by a feeling. It is exactly what the bible says it is! And there is no fear in perfect love. Perfect love is only found in Christ.

--I have been so naive about the way life is to be lived!

--Grace is so important. You can't just run away from difficult relationships (though I have that tendency!), you have to show unconditional love even if dealing with that person seems hard.

--Faith is the foundation for miracles...and miracles aren't always displayed in a grand performance. A lot of times they are overlooked.

--Purity is all about becoming. It's not something we had from the beginning and have lost. We were born with impurity and sin, but strive to break away from those chains to become more.

--Words are a powerful thing. They set things in motion even if we don't realize it. That's why holding your tongue is important.

--God never overlooks tithing from an honest giver. He is our Provider, and not just financially, but in EVERY way! We are to put Him to the test to provide for us--He WILL come through!

--Living with uncertainty=living w/ complete reliance on God. Uncertainty is a good thing.

--I need to enjoy where I am in life presently instead of getting caught up in growing up so much. Ecclesiastes talks about being happy and enjoying the days of our youth while still living a life that follows God's commands.

--Trusting God is so much more freeing than trying to control my circumstances.

--Making judgements of people is not my responsibility. Loving them regardless is.

--It's so important to let go of the past, especially when it has already been forgotten by God. Don't live in the past--it could become your future.

--Honesty, laughter, and real love are the key factors to great relationships.

--When you want to win an argument (esp. a theological one), have proof/backup.

--Crying is necessary.

--So is laughter.

--Both bring you closer to people.

--"The King is enthralled by your beauty"--Psalm 45:11 ENTHRALLED!! How in love can ya get??

It's all about vulnerability. Towards God, towards other people...it grows you so much and gives you such endurance to just keep moving.

Well..that's my summary for the year...it's been unbelievable and every single moment unexpected. I feel so stretched and pulled even still cuz I continue on in learning about life.

On Sunday, my pastor said this, "I don't think there was ever an ordinary day in the life of Jesus. There were always challenges He had to face..."
I hope I can say the same for mine...wooo....that's one of those dangerous things to hope for! But so worth it :)

Love you guys! I hope to start updating this more often then I have during the year so don't go away!

Like a kid playing dress up... :)

Hehe, so I was just looking through my pictures and I found these pictures of what I consider playing dress up--I like to "steal" my friends' cameras and pretend like I'm a photographer...




Perhaps it's about time I get my own...
maybe? Haha, it'll take a while. But maybe. :)

On a different note: Being home was SO wonderful! It's been hard to find balance between home and friends, but it's been so good. :) I love getting to see you guys--and I miss you all already!!

Verse of the Day!

Hey everybody!
One of my favorite websites is biblegateway.com--everyday there is a different Bible verse that pops up on their home page. Today's really struck me so I thought I'd post it!

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”- 1 John 3:18

I don't think I need to elaborate on this one--it's pretty much says it straight! Hope you're all doing well! I'm coming home on Thursday so hopefully I'll see you soon!!

"Do Not Worry About Your Life..."

Wow! So much to catch up on!! I flew back to the south on January 8th and man how time has flown by! It's been full days of fun and re-adjusting to classes again and a whole new schedule.
MAN! How faithful God is!! These past few weeks have been a rollercoaster ride and the best part is that through it all--the stress and the joy--He has been so evident in every part.

I love having a God who takes care of everything!

My eyes have been opened up to just how much God has been answering my prayers and how much He has allowed situations to come about to stretch me and run back into His lap.

Hm, I don't really know what else to say! Every day is an adventure and I'm slowly learning how to just live for each moment and to just relax about the things I get so emotional and worried about. All that matters right now is that I put my Love first. He knows how to do things so perfectly. :)

I love you guys and I wish I could give you a big warm hug right now!

Sarah

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

WOW!!
Man, how my first semester down south has flown by! It's been a crazy amazing experience! God's changed me so much this semester I don't even know what to expect for the next 3 1/2 years to come!

Looking back on this calendar year I realize how many changes have taken place in as little as 12 months! 2 weeks into January I graduated, jumped into community college, traveled a bunch, got a new job...or two...or three[!], jumped into a whole different world full of Southern culture, and met some of the most amazing people while maintaining relationships with the ones I left here in Chi~town. :)

This time last year I was living a totally different life...Man oh man, the places life can bring you to! I wish you all a wonderful, merry Christmas! God bless all your endeavors for His name. :)

I Heart Sarah Barlow!!!! :-D

Sorry it took me so long to update this! Last weekend I had the AMAZING pleasure of having Sarah Barlow come down and visit me down here in Nashville and it was soooo wonderful!!! I don't ever have such a good laugh as I do when Sarah's around!! I tried to give her the college experience in one night though we were all pretty beat. But the night she came in we went out for dinner with Brianna, who Sarah introduced me to, and the conversations we had for 3 hours at Chili's was so empowering!! It was encouraging to be in the midst of such godly young ladies! I'm so thankful that God has placed them in my life! :) These pictures are from the morning Sarah left...haha, we had breakfast in the university dining hall....let's just say the food here is not exactly good for you! Sarah, you are such a blessing!! I thank God for you!!!

Thank You for Loving Me...

Wow,
what can I say to fully describe how much God has made Himself known to me in these past few months? He has blessed me immensely; molded and shaped my character and overall personality. I'm almost afraid to go back to Chicago for the first time at Thanksgiving--I feel like a completely different person.

Hmm... let's see how to start this...every friend that I consider close to me here at school was not anyone I sought out to become friends with myself. God simply placed them before me and the rest is history!

Sometimes I get frustrated because there aren't enough hours in the day. But My Love simply whispers to me that it's okay--just put Him first and everything will fall into place. And they do. I mean, some things have to give, but on the day I stand before Christ I wanna smile knowing that I put aside everything of this earth to soak Him in for He will never be temporary.



I've been learning how to handle relationships--especially being with people 24 hours a day; 7 days a week! It's really been about patience, self-control, learning about each other and choosing to love regardless.

I'm beginning to think that my life is going to unfold very differently than I've ever anticipated. Last night, to my own surprise, I caught myself in prayer; telling God that if He called me to go I would go. As scary and insecure as missions sounds, I know that it would be the most worthwhile thing to do with my time on earth.

I feel like there's a million more things for me to say because of how much God has spoken to me, but in my attempt to sum my experiences up, I will say this:

God has been a part of EVERY THING.

And I'm in love

with Him and how much He takes care of me.

I'm being romanced.

It's so obvious now.

To Update!

So the devotional on Wednesday night went amazing! We had a good group last Wednesday, a whole different group on Saturday and this Wednesday we doubled! Both groups of people came out as well as a few newbies. :) It's sooo amazing how God does things! I love it and I'm so excited to see how he leads...

How great is our God...

Wow! This past week has been a whirlwind of amazing things God has planned out! He's provided me with a job in the Admissions Office here at school for one thing. As for the rest, God's been placing so many people in my life that He wants me to encourage and lead as well as people I can connect to and be blessed by...it's so perfect how He does things!

Last Wednesday, my friend Chris felt a strong need to do a devotion that night and asked if I wanted to join. I said sure so we got 2 or 3 other people to join us.

When we met up in my building lobby, a bunch of our friends were hangin out and we pulled them in too! There ended up being about 8 or 9 of us and we sat outside and discussed a passage in Romans...

It was so awesome! God spoke to every heart there and things just set into place. It sort of became a tag team between Chris and I in leading it, but we didn't plan it that way at all--it just worked!

Everyone wanted to get together and do it again so we got together on Saturday and we're meeting again tonight! I love how God does things! Everyday is such an adventure 'cause I never anticipate what He has in store!