real worship?

I saw this video on facebook and it was such an incredible reminder for me.  

Warning: this video may be REALLY convicting  :)  

A Saturday in pictures

 It was 90 degrees today.

Love this shot :) 

 Right after their second goal of the game!

#14 is my resident!!!  Go Ally!!! 

There she is again! 

This evening will consist of laundry and a movie  :)  Oh, the life of a college student on a Saturday night. 

I walked into my room and this little treat was waiting for me from Natalie, one of the RAs on my staff. 

Abbs is playing the guitar, a lovely sound. 

Abbie and I put up Christmas lights last night  :)  I love Christmas. 

I am

Man oh man, these last couple weeks have been absolutely crazy (hence the silence here on the bloggy-blog).  We are smack dab in the middle of midterms right now, swamped with deadlines.  I've come to terms with the fact that "busy" is the new "normal," however lately, I've been "busier" than normal  :)  It's incredible how far the Lord allows us to be stretched.  

In the midst of all this chaos, God has been teaching me so much about myself and who I am in Him.  Sometimes it's easiest to find who we are by defining who we're not.  There are so many things that are  only a part of who I am but not who I am.  The other day, Wonderfully Made had a beautiful post about a prayer of identity.  So, here's what mine looks like.

I am not a daughter, sister, granddaughter or mentor.

I am not a teacher to be.

I am not a student or an RA.

I am not compassionate, intelligent, discerning or passionate. 

I am not impatient, prideful, doubtful or fearful.

I am a sinner clothed fully in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, destined for eternity with Him.

What does your prayer of identity look like?

I am not (my relationships)

I am not (my training/degree)

I am not (my job)

I am not (my gifts/talents)

I am not (my failures)

I am...

Who are you?

GYRAD

Saturday night was our first big hall event of the year.  The girls have been asking for a guy-girl event since the beginning of the year, so I finally agreed to it  :)

I decided to do GYRAD (Get Your Roommate A Date).  It's exactly what it sounds like.  haha.  Each of the girls goes out "hunting" for a date for her roomie.  It's pretty fantastic to overhear the conversations the week prior to this event.

For our GYRAD, we all went to the caf for dinner.  This eliminated the awkward "who pays?" situation that often arises on first dates.  After a [not so] delicious dinner, we all headed off to Huntington beach for a bonfire and hang time.  Once we got there, people kinda made up their own fun.  A bunch of people headed to the water and dipped their toes/bodies in (crazies), others grabbed the volleyball or frisbee and still others just hung out around the fire and had good conversations and s'mores.  It was great because for those who wanted to be "couple-y," the opportunity was there, but for those who were just going as friends, there were plenty of "non-couple-y" activities available [good planning on our part].

Here are a few pictures from our night:

Eryn (the other Top Flight RA) brought a Nacho Libre mask...so we thought,

 "Let's have everyone take pictures with it on!"  Why not, right?!

Nothing like toes on a cold beach and hands over a blazing fire.

My duty for the night??  Rationing the chocolate.

Eryn and her date  :) 

I LOVE the look on this guy's face.  The fire literally looks like it's attacking him!

So. Much. Fun.

Seriously, such a great event.  I just love seeing my girlies have fun and enjoy themselves.  Being an RA is the biggest blessing in my life.  I adore these girls.  Their joy inspires me.  Their vulnerability is humbling.  Their love for life is contagious.  Their laughter warms my heart.  Their faith in me and my Jesus is incredible.  

Often times I think, "I don't deserve ANY of this..." and the truth is...I don't.  But that's the beauty of it.  I don't deserve any of this and still my God continues to bless me through it.

The Bible says every good and perfect gift is from above.
And right now, I feel like I'm living in the clouds.

Just that kind of day

Yesterday was a pretty lazy day.  Abbie studied lots, I had a couple classes in the morning, a Mexico Outreach leader interview and a one-on-one with one of my lovely residents in the afternoon.  When I came home, this is what I saw...

Abbs was so tuckered out, crashed on the couch  :)

Yesterday afternoon, the cloud cover moved in and settled against the hills.  

I could smell the rain coming.

My heart leaped with joy when I woke up to see wet sidewalks, 

flooded parking lots and lawns turned into marshes.  It was like a little piece of home that I so desperately needed.  

When it rains in California, it pours. APU quickly begins to resemble a ghost town.  I kinda like the quiet.  It gives me time to think and pray and listen to the sound of the rain.

And what would a rainy California day be without boots?!  

These lovelies are getting worn for the first time this school year.  

Today I am thanking the Lord for little things in life: a zonked-out roomie who brought a smile to my face, a solid sleep last night, beautiful brown cowgirl-esque boots, the sound of cars driving through the flooded streets of Azusa and the smell of rain that will always remind me of home.  It's in these little things that I see my big God.  And my God is very, very, good.

Dear Mommy

Dear Mom,

Today is your birthday and I really wish I was there to celebrate it with you.  I know you are going to go to church and be loved on by everyone, but I have to admit that I'm a little jealous that I didn't get to wake you up with a birthday hug and kiss  :)

Today I want to say thank you.  Thank you for your love for life and how evident it is in everything you do.  Thank you for showing me what it means to love God and serve others.  Thank you for loving our family with a selfless love--always putting our needs first and letting yours be last.  Thank you for raising your children in the knowledge of the Lord and teaching us to follow Him.  Thank you for loving Daddy always.  Thank you for your laughter and no matter how bad any day got, you always found a way to slip humor in somewhere.  Thank you for chasing bad guys with me...for real.  Thank you for still tucking me into bed even though I am 20  :)  Thank you for standing beside me through think and thin, for knowing when to stand up and fight my battles for me and when I need to learn to fight them myself.  Thank you for never ceasing to pray for me.
Thank you for loving me.

My prayer is that I love you back just as well and that someday I might be half the mom to my kids that you are to me.

Happy Birthday, Mommy.  I love you!

Rest for my soul

This weekend Abbie and I are spending time in Simi Valley with her family.
Home-cooked dinners, early bedtimes, late wake-up calls, comfy beds,
garage sale-ing, lazy afternoons, frozen yogurt.  Yes please.

I am praising the Lord for an incredible roommate to spend this time with.  I am praising the Lord because He is so faithful to give me rest in the midst of my crazy life (that I love, I might add).  This is the kind of rejuvenation that only comes from the Giver of Life itself.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  ~Matthew 11:28-31


Do you need for rest for your soul?
Run to Jesus.