Roommate fun

I love my roommate. She is the funniest person I know. Here is one example.

We're sitting in our living room, silently doing our homework. Or, at least, I was doing my homework. Then Katie says, out of nowhere, "Tiger Woods is black???"

I was in shock. Hahaha So I asked her multiple times if she was being serious, because I couldn't believe it. I said, "You really didn't know? Did you think he was white???"

Katie: "Well, I've never really pictured him as a color, I always think of him as a tiger."

:) That's my roommate!

8 days

Alright, I have to say before I write anything...right as I sat down, I looked up at the wall and there was a HUGE cricket crawling right above Katie's piano. So so so so gross. Proud to say I smashed it with a shoe and put it in the trash. Sorry, little guy. :) 

In other news... haha. Finals are coming up next week. I have to say, I'm a little nervous. I'm mainly nervous for my Biology class because I feel like I always try SO hard and don't do well but I guess I'll just study until I feel like my face is going to fall off, and then take it! 

If I make it through finals alive, I'll be home in 8 days!!! I was talking to Michaela today (she is super bored since her broken collar bone is inhibiting her from doing much) and she was saying that she missed me. I told her I'd be home in 8 days and I'd be home for a whole month. Precious little thing said, "Yeah, but then you are going to another country for four months." Shot through the heart. It will be really really hard to leave her. It'll be really hard to leave a lot of people, but I'm trying not to think about that yet. After all, we still have 43 days until we leave. 

Here are all the things I'm excited for at home though: 

• A whole month with my family
• A whole month with my best friends 
• Katie Hahn's Christmas party
• The Greig's Christmas party
• Best friends (I'm really excited so it goes on the list twice)
• New Years Eve
• Christmas!!!! 
• Walks on the beach/maybe going to the beach if it's warm enough??
• Snapper Jacks
  

I love home. I can't wait.

For you are my hope...

It’s pretty amazing how deep the wound of gossip can go. It’s often disregarded as a small sin and something that isn’t that big of a deal, but it sucks. It really sucks. I think people just want to be included, to be able to say that they know what happened and contribute to a conversation that no one really needs to be part of. But those words hurt. One person says something, they tell three people, who tell two people, who tell a whole group and it eventually becomes so twisted.

I just want people to know the truth. Well, no. I just want people to not talk about it. It’s none of their business anyway.

I suppose I don’t really have the right to complain. Lord knows I’ve talked about people when I shouldn’t have. I think this whole situation though has made me realize how hurtful it can be. It’s made me realize why it’s a sin and how it affects those who are being talked about.

I’ve been praying lately that I could ignore all the comments people have made, and simply find peace in the Lord. People will always talk but my confidence must be found in Christ.

“Most blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.” –Jeremiah 17:7

“For you are my hope; O Lord God, You my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence.” –Psalm 71:5

Weekend

What a weekend. 

First of all, on Friday Taylor Greig, Hayley Swan, and Kyle Hahn came down to visit. It was soooooooo fun! :) We made yummy dinner, went into Pasadena, watched The Grinch, made a late night run to Donut Man, and had wonderful, heartfelt conversations. It was such an absolute joy to be with those three and hear from the girls about their lives and their hearts. It's kind of a funny concept to look up to people who are younger than you, but I definitely would say I look up to those girls. Just the way they truly commit everything they do to the Lord and how they are constantly seeking His plan...it's remarkable. And I love it about them. :) 

Saturday afternoon, I went home for a quick 24 hour visit to drop stuff off and go to a couple of Michaela's soccer games. She is a soccer stud right now and I really really enjoy watching her play. Sunday morning, bright and early (7am), I got up to go to her game...I know, I'm a GREAT sister ;) She rocked and scored the only goal of the game. Then my mom and I went to the Camarillo Outlets for a little shopping but got bored and overwhelmed, so we went back home. Then we went to Michaela's next game, during which she collided with another girl and broke her collar bone. Seeing her laying on the field crying...it was a little much for me. We drove her to the ER and she got x-rayed and everything. And then after that eventful afternoon, I drove back here to Azusa. Craziness. 

Here's my next two weeks: studying and packing. That's it. I have finals next week which will be the death of me, and then Katie and I move out next Thursday!!!! Isn't that weird?? It's weird thinking we only have 10 days left in this apartment. It feels like we just got here, and now we're leaving. I have a feeling it will all go by in a blur.  

In other news, my wonderful roommate is currently making me soup (it's raining and cold outside!!! Yay!) and it's ready so I should go. Gotta love roommates! :)

Pray for Daisy

Pray for Daisy.

It's such a simple statement, yet so powerful. Britt & Kate Merrick's daughter Daisy Love has been diagnosed with cancer, and I just spent the last hour reading through her entire blog, which you can read here. Reading about just the incredible miracles the Lord has performed and the courage of Daisy and her family...it is amazing to me. One thing that stuck out to me was an entry, only a sentence long, but so incredibly powerful. 5-year-old Daisy Love said this:

Awhile back when Daisy was asked what she wanted to be when she grows up, she replied “I’m leaning toward astronaut, but maybe warrior for the Lord.”

This precious girl is already a warrior for Him. Her story has affected so many lives. Pray for her, pray for the Merrick family, pray for healing. Pray for a miracle.

TOMS

Alright, Christmas is coming and one thing I really really want but don't think I'm going to get is a pair of TOMS. I can't decide if I want red or black, but I would take either! Haha. Plus it's such a cool cause. One for one. So awesome. I would love to have these for South Africa, but there are other things I need more. Like I've said before though, a girl can dream!

P.S. Shout out to Shannon Snyder for teaching me how to do the links!! Thanks girl! :)
P.P.S. Yes, this is my second blog today. Oh well.

Okay, that's all! :)

Too many to declare

"I waited patiently for the Lord; 

he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, 

out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth, 

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear 

and put their trust in the Lord.

Blessed is the man

who makes the Lord his trust,

who does not look to the proud,

to those who turn aside to false gods.

Many, O Lord my God,

are the wonders you have done.

The things you planned for us

no one can recount to you;

were I to speak and tell of them,

they would be too many to declare."

-Psalm 40:1-5

I know I've said this before, but I do feel like the past year has been a year of waiting for the Lord. That He has been preparing me for something I can't even imagine; something I wouldn't believe, even if I was told. There were just so many huge experiences I had to to adjust to, and through it all, God taught me so much about trusting Him. He taught me about waiting patiently. 

I still feel like I'm in a time of waiting and preparation, yet I also feel my heart becoming restless. I find myself hoping that whatever it is God has been planning for me will be revealed to me soon. Maybe in South Africa?? Who knows. But I'm ready for Him to show that to me. I know I'm becoming restless, but my prayer is that He will give me a new song. That, even when I feel like I'm prepared enough, I will continue to seek His plan and growth for me right now. 

It's been a rough semester. Busier than I could've imagined and definitely took some turns I wouldn't have ever guessed. But in the midst of that, I have found so many blessings from God. So many wonders that are too many to declare. So...yes, I do feel restless and I feel ready for the Lord to bring me somewhere different in my heart and my life, but I also feel grateful. 

I was talking to some friends last night about the sin of unthankfulness and how we often forget about it. And usually I would say I do, but because of how much the Lord has brought me through lately, I feel incredibly thankful. Blessed beyond belief and ready to use this thankful heart to spread His glory.