Welp Friday I turned the big 2-2. Every year it's the same, I don't feel any older at all. I suppose it is weird though because I used to look at Seniors and say, "Omg they are so old." Yep that's me now, a 22 year old stuck in a Sophomore body. 

It was a glorious day. People went out of their way to make me feel loved. It was so special. This was the first birthday I really didn't want or expect anything to be made a huge deal and it was a million times better than all the others before. I am really grateful for Jesus answering my prayers from that week. He worked through people to make me feel ridiculously loved and cherished. So thanks to everyone who contributed to that day because it was the best. 

My favorite picture of the night.

Oreo cupcakes.

So many laughs.

You know me, lovin food.

Look at that face.

P.S.- I found out that September 16th is Mexican Independence day, even cooler. 

Something Like This

I CAN'T WAIT I CAN'T WAIT I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!

9-13-11

One Thing Remains

It's been so long little blog!! I have been so busy with school and work the past two weeks that I haven't found time to blog at all....

Good news: I DID IT!!!! First two weeks under my belt!!!! I got placed at a low-income school and I absolutely LOVE it. I thought I would hate it, I really did. Nope nope nope!! The minute my little (actually they are quite big, I am so short) 4th graders walked into the room, I felt SO much love for them. It was insane how much love and compassion I felt just leaping towards each of them. I knew it was my Jesus, I knew He was just loving them so much. It felt so good! Every morning, the Lord gives me so much energy for those kids. I love them so much already and it's only been two weeks!! I know without a doubt that I was made for this. I was made to teach. And the Lord has just blessed my socks off the past two weeks.

Second awesome thing: my parents fence caught on fire (they don't know how) and the Lord protected them from the whole house burned down!! You can read it on my mom's Facebook. The morning I found out, I was overwhelmed by emotion because they could have died but mainly because I was so thankful. SO thankful for protection! So thankful for our neighbor who happened to be smoking late that night and saw it!! WHOO HOOO JESUS ROCKS!!!!

Third awesome thing: this makes me cry every time I think of it. People started a fun run for my family. AH so humbling and SUCH a blessing and SO amazing. I have never experienced this before but the amount of people who have showed interest is overwhelming to me. The random people that barely know us and want to help. Coming home from a long day at school and finding my roommate inviting everyone she knows to the event on Facebook. WHAT A BLESSING!!! I feel so helplessly loved. So undeservedly loved! If you want more info, you can look at the event!

There are just too many awesome things to write out. Blessings every day. People are so cool. I wish I could hug everyone and tell them, COME ON JESUS LOVES YOU!!!!!!! At church this past week they put John 3:16 up on the screen and it just hit me. That verse is SO powerful and growing up in a Christian environment, I guess I became immune to it or something.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."-John 3:16-17

One thing remains: His love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me!!! Get that song.

Dear Jesus, 

Thanks.

Holocene

Wishing for a rainy Saturday. For your viewing pleasure. Benjamin and I found out this was filmed in Iceland. I think I'll be visiting those mountain ranges someday ♥

God is L-o-v-e

I was listening to a sermon today that I've heard before and I felt like I should share what he was saying.

He was talking about how sometimes we as Christians feel like God isn't loving us fully. We feel like God has backed away from us because of something we have done to "make God upset." That is wrong. God is NEVER the one that leaves us or steps away from us. WE are the ones that do this!!! I am the one to isn't recognizing God's love that He is constantly giving me.

Andrew Wommack made this comparison: It's like if we were watching TV and all of a sudden the TV went black. We don't automatically call the TV station and tell them to start broadcasting again. They are always broadcasting. We need to check our receiver! Our receiver is the problem. This is just like so many other things in our lives! Just because we don't see the signal, it doesn't mean that it isn't there waiting to be seen. My Jesus wants me. My Jesus loves me ALL the time, no matter how well I do in school or how much I hang out with Him. He's the best friend I've got (I wish I remembered this). Such a simple concept that I forget sometimes. It's so foundational though! So many issues in life come from the root problem of not truly believing that God loves ME. I think..."I'm a wretched sinner. I'm not having a quiet time. I am self conscious."

Who cares?!?!?! 

You are righteous in The Spirit. I am righteous in The Spirit. See...

Romans 8:9-11 (NIV)
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

We were "made right" with God the minute He died on the cross. Done. THEN and FOREVER!!!! How stinkin awesome. Nothing you can do can separate you from Him. You don't need to confess in order to be made right with Him!! HE did it all. He did it all for me. And you. 

Oh how He loves.

Bloglovin'

If you're like me and read a million blogs, it's really hard to keep up with all of them! When I first got into blogs, I used Google Reader and it was great. BUT now I have a new way to organize and stay in the know! Bloglovin'. It's the best AND it has a trusty app for my beloved iPhone (I'm addicted to that thing).

If you want to follow me just hit the little "subscribe" button on my bloggy! Ps- did you notice I redesigned my blog? I'm not completely done yet, but I love it so far :)

Here is a beautiful video for your viewing pleasure that my friend posted on his twitter. I wish I could dance like this.

A Year Ago

One year ago today my Daddy was diagnosed with ALS. I can't believe it's been a whole year!! If someone were to ask me to sum up this crazy year in one word, it would be growth.

I feel like I have grown so much in this past year. In one year I have cried more than I have the past 20 years combined. In one year I have read more of the Bible than ever. I have been confused, frustrated, sad, encouraged, joyful, happy, loved and scared. I have felt as if I have been on a roller-coaster more times than I can count. I have watched my Dad fall on his face. I have watched him take action on his faith and walk on the treadmill.

I feel like this year has been the most amazing and ridiculously hard year I have ever experienced. How interesting that those two adjectives could describe the same experience! I'll tell you the story of my Junior year: My first semester of school after finding out that my dad had ALS was the most heartbreaking time. I felt like I was constantly on the verge of tears. It is/was the worst feeling. I got to the point where I was so frustrated with God. I remember vividly one time screaming in my car, "THERE IS NO POINT TO PRAY TO YOU AND ASK FOR PEACE BECAUSE YOU AREN'T DOING ANYTHING TO HELP MY DAD!!!!!" Man, was I wrong. About two weeks after that we got a christmas present. What a blessing. I have seen financial blessing in my life countless times, but nothing like this (funny how I have to re-learn this every time there is financial stress in our family). Over the next few weeks, I finally took my mom's advice to listen to some sermons. The man speaking talked about concepts so foreign to me. That we are already blessed, and that ultimately God wants us to be happy and blessed in this life. If you have time I HIGHLY recommend these sermons. With the help of those podcasts, and God's word, my spiritual life has been transformed (and continues to be).  From that point forward, I began to receive revelation that God not only didn't bring this sickness upon my dad, but that he hates it. Sickness is not from Him. Sickness is a curse, never intended for us. I began to have hope. I am sure my roommates can attest to this because I became less of a weepy wreck, to more of a delver in the Word or a searcher of Truth. Life felt like less of a hopeless journey with phrases like. "just make it through this hard time," to more of a battle! A battle. My second semester was spent winning and losing battles. But friends, I want to emphasize this: I beyond a shadow of a doubt KNOW that Jesus did not want this disease for my father. I KNOW that He hates that we suffer. I KNOW this isn't just something that I am going through to learn something. Yes, I will learn. And yes, I have. But that doesn't mean HE did this. This subject is so deep, and I definitely don't know near as much as there is to know, but I do know that I am learning. I do know that I have more hope and joy in my life because I know more now than I did that GOD LOVES ME. So immensely. And because of this, He would never do something to hurt me. Would you want to hurt someone you LOVED more than anything else? Now multiply that times a million bazillion. Yep, pretty sure He wouldn't ever want to see me suffer. 


Friends, this journey has been hard. Such a journey. I have been so encouraged and blessed by so many of you. Thanks. I know that some of the things I said may not make much sense because I have a hard time articulating things but I would love to talk in person if anyone wants! Just remember this right now because it is what I cling onto every day: 


You are loved. You are WONDERFUL.