All I want right now is: 

-a really good book

-some sunglasses

-a towel

-the beach

and some peace and quiet. Some time to think, time to write, time to just be. 

A little piece of encouragement

It hasn't been the easiest week, to say the least. Lots of stress, exhaustion, and heartache. But tonight, I got a little encouragement from one of my Alphies :)

They were all leaving and one of them pulled my aside and said, "I just wanted to tell you that I think you're doing a great job. I am so glad I got put into your group and love hanging out with you." 

Talk about feeling good about yourself ;) 

I just love how God gives us little gifts of encouragement and support when we're going through hard times. He sends little angels to reveal his love. It's really a beautiful thing. 

Sleepovers, pictures, and laughter

This weekend could not have been better. :)

On Thursday night, Megan and Katie Hill came down to APU and visited. We all just had a blast together, eating food, taking pictures, and laughing SO hard. Friday morning, Katie Hill and I drove down to San Diego to see Lauren. It is the last time the three of us will be together until Christmas (hopefully Thanksgiving!), which is really sad. We went out and got frozen yogurt and talked forever. I love how real our relationship is...We talked about absolutely everything, down to our struggles and ways we need to grow. And ended our conversation talking about how blessed we are to have the friends that we do, the three of us and other friends from home as well. Going to college, we all realized how amazing our friend group was in high school. How spiritually mature everyone was and how incredibly lucky we are to have had the support we did. It just amazes me. God blessed us in so many ways. And I feel especially blessed with those two. Their hearts for the Lord and the joy & laughter they add to my life is just wonderful. 

Then we said goodbye and drove back to APU, where Katie Hahn and Megan were. So we had another sleepover with the four of us. :) More pictures, talking, and laughter. Man, I love my friends. They left the next morning and, I'll be honest, it was really hard for me to say goodbye to Katie Hill. Ever since our friendship began, she has been someone my heart just completely connects with and we've never been more than an hour apart. I don't know how we're going to do this...her being in Seattle. But I am so proud of her. Seeing how faithful she's been these past few months, when it would be so easy to give up...wow. She is an inspiration. She never complains and despite her hard situation, is the most selfless person I know. And I'm so excited for this next leg of her journey. I know she is just going to rock it up in Seattle and I can't wait to hear about it...like a proud mama :) 

And then yesterday, my mom came down to APU and we had a sleepover!! It was so wonderful to see her. We went to Pasadena and went shopping, went to Cheesecake Factory and then came back and had a movie night in my apartment! :) Then this morning, we got some Starbucks and went to Barnes and Noble to just relax. It was so much fun. 

Overall, as you can probably tell, it was a great weekend. :) I feel so blessed by all the people God has surrounded me with. It's more than I could ever ask for.

Checked Out

I am a little frustrated at how inconsistent I’ve been with this blog since I came to school. I suppose it’s only natural…I have started school which adds hours upon hours of classes and homework. And I got my Alpha group and have been hanging out with them! So much fun. J But I still wish I had more time for this. To just write and get my thoughts out. For me, writing is just as essential as sleeping or eating. I crave it.

I’ve been feeling pretty checked out lately. I haven’t felt well rested since beginning of August probably. And there have just been so many things happening in the past month that I needed to be mentally & emotionally present for, and now that all of that is dwindling down, I find myself just kind of going through the motions. Going to class and not fully engaging or even conversations with friends...I don’t know what it is but I feel like I have nothing left to give. I have poured myself out to so many different places and I am just in a place of desperation for the Lord to refill me.

My life has been good though. Lots of fun, exciting things. I am absolutely in love with my Alpha group. I have 4 girls and 1 boy, which is funny since we’re supposed to have 10-12 students. It’s also funny because it is so typical of APU’s guy/girl ratio. J But it’s been just a joy to see all of their personalities light up. And they all get along with each other so well, which is something I really prayed for. Thank you, Lord. We’re having our first official meeting next week and I’m planning on sharing my life story with them...I’m a little nervous but I think it will be a good way to just put myself on the same level as them: a complete sinner who has no idea what they’re doing. Just trying to please Jesus and enjoy living throughout the day.

For anyone who actually reads this, if you get a chance or remember, please pray for wisdom and the ability to just really hear God’s voice. There’s so much going on right now and I just feel like I’m too bombarded to process any of it. Like I said, completely checked out.

This verse gives me comfort though. Maybe, if you need it, it will give you some as well…

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.” –Psalm 68:19-20

Checked Out

I am a little frustrated at how inconsistent I’ve been with this blog since I came to school. I suppose it’s only natural…I have started school which adds hours upon hours of classes and homework. And I got my Alpha group and have been hanging out with them! So much fun. J But I still wish I had more time for this. To just write and get my thoughts out. For me, writing is just as essential as sleeping or eating. I crave it.

I’ve been feeling pretty checked out lately. I haven’t felt well rested since beginning of August probably. And there have just been so many things happening in the past month that I needed to be mentally & emotionally present for, and now that all of that is dwindling down, I find myself just kind of going through the motions. Going to class and not fully engaging or even conversations with friends...I don’t know what it is but I feel like I have nothing left to give. I have poured myself out to so many different places and I am just in a place of desperation for the Lord to refill me.

My life has been good though. Lots of fun, exciting things. I am absolutely in love with my Alpha group. I have 4 girls and 1 boy, which is funny since we’re supposed to have 10-12 students. It’s also funny because it is so typical of APU’s guy/girl ratio. J But it’s been just a joy to see all of their personalities light up. And they all get along with each other so well, which is something I really prayed for. Thank you, Lord. We’re having our first official meeting next week and I’m planning on sharing my life story with them...I’m a little nervous but I think it will be a good way to just put myself on the same level as them: a complete sinner who has no idea what they’re doing. Just trying to please Jesus and enjoy living throughout the day.

For anyone who actually reads this, if you get a chance or remember, please pray for wisdom and the ability to just really hear God’s voice. There’s so much going on right now and I just feel like I’m too bombarded to process any of it. Like I said, completely checked out.

This verse gives me comfort though. Maybe, if you need it, it will give you some as well…

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.” –Psalm 68:19-20

All who are thirsty

All who are thirsty...

God, I am so thirsty for you. For your power to just rain down and reign throughout.

Come Lord Jesus.

Come like a tornado.

Show me my weaknesses, in order to replace them with more of you.

Teach me that compassion is not a feeling, but an action. 

You are good, holy, loving, humble, merciful, forgiving, mighty, just, understanding.

Beautiful.

Remind me that I'm no better than anyone else,

Just a forgiven sinner.

Come and listen to what He's done for me, you, us.

Oh, to spend just one day in His courts.

You hold all your children in your hands,

Every hair accounted for.

How He loves us so.