Lord in you I find my strength, my comfort, & my courage.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

~ 2 Corinthians 3:5

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

~ 1 Corinthians 13 : 7

So tomorrow I begin what will hopefully be my last year of undergrad. Crazy isn't it...

All sorts of feelings and emotions come up when I think of this next year. Mostly im excited to see which paths my life will take- what next adventures im bound to experience. What things God will be teaching me and showing me through people, experiences, and choices I will make. As a kid I always loved this time of year - mostly because I always got new school supplies. Im telling you, there's nothing like a new box set of crayons or markers - just waiting to be opened and be used. Well that's how im feeling right now, after having rested and been rejuvenated these past few weeks im ready to see what's around the corner.

My prayer is that through out this next year I don't lose focus on the things that are important. That I not only listen to the things God speaks to me about but that I act on them. That I humble myself to know that I cant do this on my own, to find courage and strength in God because only through Him will i find what im looking for. That I live a life that is honoring to Him. To live a life that's worth living.

"I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."

~ 1 Corinthians 9: 23-27

ahhh sleep would be awesome right about now. i really need to work on this whole sleeping pattern thing, its on whacked out mood at the moment.

So summer is officially here! I finished off with finals last week - I cant even begin to tell you how good it feels to be done. So after finishing up with school I went camping with friends up in the woods somewhere, it was totally sweet. It was exactly what I needed. And now in a couple hours ill be on my way to summer camp with Power House. I have to say, my summers started off pretty sweet. I have a feeling that God is just about to rock my world, and you know what, I think im totally okay with that. Im excited to see what's in store for me this summer. Hope you are all having a fabulous summer so far. Ill be seeing ya. ciao.

Learning to Need You

by Justin McRoberts

I've forgotten

Just how sweet your

Mercies are Lord

Could you remind me

You've been faithful in my weakness

Father your love

Overwhelms my soul

I'm learning to need you

I cry out your name

I am in need of your mercies, Jesus

Despite my pride and my shame

I'm learning to need you

today's the day

Really, where did May go… on that note where did this whole year go? It’s crazy to me that I’m only a couple weeks off from the end of my spring quarter. On one hand I could say that I’ve been way too busy and pre-occupied to notice this year go by. But personally, I’d like to think that I was having too much fun and enjoying life too much to really notice. Maybe that’s just my optimistic side coming out. Is the glass half empty or half full type of thing (most definitely half full).
So as I was driving home last night and I got to thinking of how easy it is for me to think that there will always be a tomorrow. It amazes me how effortless it is for me to fall into this mindset. How often times I go through my day, ending up not doing things or saying things because I just assume that there will be a next time. But in all reality thats not true at all. I’ve been buying into this lie because truthfully I don’t know what tomorrow might bring. I’m only assured of right now, today, this very minute. I’m not talking about tedious tasks that we have throughout our day - like cleaning your room or getting the oil changed- those are just tasks that come with the job description called life. I’m talking about those moments, those conversations, and those dreams that you’ve always thought of having but have always left for another day. How many chances and how many opportunities have I missed because I’ve been too afraid to risk, too preoccupied, not thinking or believing that today might be the day to act. But you know what I've decided, that today just might have to be that day for me. I want to risk more, laugh more, hope more, dream more, live more, and most important... LOVE more. I might not know what the future has in store for me, but what i do know is what God has in trusted to me right now. He is my strength, what have i to fear?

So I leave you with those thoughts. Maybe today is your day too…



Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. ~ Phill. 4:13 The Message


In the end, it doesn't matter how well we have performed or what we have accomplished - a life without heart is not worth living. For out of this wellspring of our soul flow all true caring and all meaningful work, all real worship and all sacrifice.
~ Brent Curtis and John Eldredge

So here I am on my first full day in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Im here with City Team Ministries, helping out the community here. Im so excited for the week ahead and for the opportunity to meet people, work with them, and hear their stories... The people here have gone through so much and there's so much to do. But at the same time as I get to meet and interact with them im putting a face and a story behind the pictures I've had in my mind these past few months. These are some of the kindest most loving people I have meet, and its only the second day =0). I was giving a tour of the area right along the waters edge. It was unbelievable site to see. I never imagined the type of destruction that there was out here. I know I've seen pictures on the news and stuff, but nothing can prepare you to see things in real life. So please just have the community here and everyone affected in your prayers. I know that there's been great lose in this area but I know that God is doing some amazing things in this community and in the hearts of the people. I cant wait to see what God has instore for this trip. I hope you all are well back home, you all are in my heart and prayers. See you soon.

IT SNOWED TODAY!!! at my house....

So often I find myself pulled in a million directions, wanting to try and do so many things. Where do I start to understand where im suppose to be going? There’s so many plans, responsibilities, so many dreams, so many possibilities…
At times I can definitely lose myself in that. Wondering where I could possibly begin, but too afraid to actually jump in. I know God has a plan, a purpose for me but I guess too often I try to take control and do it on my own. im done trying to do that…it just doesn’t work. I guess what ive been reminded of these past couple days, is to just stop looking everywhere else (the answers aren’t there). ALL I have to do is keep my eyes on God and what He asks of me, and everything else will work out on its own. Some might say, “Easier said then done”…true, but there is so much freedom in realizing that it’ll be okay. No matter what road I do eventually take, it’s the road im meant to be on. That those dreams and those hopes that right now I think that I want, will only be a fraction of the joy that will come from just following and seeking the true path that Christ has for me. It’ll be sweet!!! Well im off to bed, chat with you soon, ciao.

Take This Life

Written by Shawn McDonald and Chris Stevens

As I’m standing here, staring into the mirror

See the figure of a man trying to take a stand

And live for something more

Integrity is what I need and honor to my soul I feed

To give it up, pack it in, getting rid of all my sin that’s weighing me down

Won’t You come and fill

I want You to come and make me more real

Take this life, won’t You change this life

Come and make me whole

Won’t You take this life, won’t You change this life

Come and make me whole

In my pursuit of what is real

My heart is longing with a need to feel my soul come alive

I trudge and I step through the height and the death

Of a long narrow as I’m growing old

And soon I will be home

well kids im finally home from all my adventures & travels =0). im stoked to be home, but part of me misses all those people i met and were part of the journey i took this summer. They all hold a dear place in my heart. But i also know that through them & the experiences i had, God has taught me alot. So now its time to take all those things i learned and apply them to my life. So here we go...im sure itll be an adventure in its own. =0). Well friends much luv to you all, thanx for just being amazing friends. You all truley bless my life.And im pretty excieted, that now that im home to be able to sit down and hang out and chat it up with you all and see whats been going on in your worlds. well ciao for now.

Well were finally here in Arizona. So far its been some good times. Yesterday we drove to Las Vegas and stayed at the Excalibur Hotel. And walked the strip and checked out the Cesears Palace and the Belagio. I think the highlight of the night was either the cheesecake, from the Cheesecake factory, that I ate (it was amazing, im a fan).Or the fountain light show that we saw at the Belagio. So that was basically Vegas. Then this morning we woke up and drove to Utah, to this place where we rented inner tubes and rode down the river in them. That was actually pretty sweet, the view was amazing, having the canyons just right there. That was definitely something I enjoyed, some of the views I saw today were absolutely breath taking. And seriously you really can’t beat going down a river and playing around with friends, acting like little kids. =0) Well so after we did that, we hit up lunch and then headed out to the Zion national park. Which was an adventure in it self. It was amazingly beautiful! That’s all I have to say about that. So after we were done playing around and hiking up some sweet rocks we headed off to Page, Arizona. This is where we’re staying for that night. So today is our kickback/relaxing day before we head of to the reservation tomorrow. All in all im pretty pumped to go to the reservation tomm. , im ready to just kinda dive in, ya know. Im excited to see what God has in store for us there. Well I should probably head off to bed, but hope you all are doing great. I don’t know if ill be having internet connection while im there. But if you need to get a hold of me or just wanna chat it up and give me some luv ill have my phone so give me a call and hopefully ill have reception. If not you can leave a sick message for me to hear when i get home =0). Well kids, hope you all have a sweet week; you will all be in my prayers. Im looking forward to getting home and catching up on what you all have been up to. Well chat with yall soon, k. ciao. =0)

So im finally home, back here in California. I have to admit that the last couple of days have been a nice break for me. There’s nothing like sleeping in your own bed, let me tell ya. And being able to hang out with fam. and friends has been pretty sweet. But for the first couple of days I was home, it just felt weird, not seeing everyone from CO. I guess that when you spend every waking minute with friends for two weeks and then a separated from them, you are bound to feel kinda weird at first. And in all truthfulness I really do miss everyone. I can’t wait to start planning some trips and go visit peeps, it should be sweet. And also, I guess just everything about my time in Colorado in general was just such an experience that its strange being away from there. And there’s definitely a lot of thought processing that I need to do from all that I learned there. =0) So glad I have about 2 months left of summer before school starts up again, hopefully ill be able to have tons of down time to do it.

Well so now that im home from Colorado and have been able to rest and catch up on stuff. Now im off again on another adventure, I leave for Arizona in a couple of hours. Im going with TTT, (which is PH’s graduating Seniors/student leaders), on their last trip with PH before they head of to college. So we’re actually going to Arizona to go work/ help out at a Navajo reservation, so im pretty stoked about that. There’s not a whole lot of information that I have on what we’re actually going to be doing there, that’s partially my fault ( blame it on my bad memory) =0/. But I can say that im just really looking forward to the trip and what God is going to be showing us through it. My hope and prayer is that we’re able to have a safe trip, sweet times, and are able to allow ourselves to listen to whatever God has in store for us and to take it to heart. It should be Sweet! So with that my friends I bid you a good nite, and ill be talking with you soon. I’ll be sure to post on what we’re up to while we’re in Arizona. Well good nite, ciao.

So here I am, at the end of my 2 weeks in Colorado. Im actually pretty sad that it’s over. I woke up this morning and was able to hang out with friends before we all flew out, and I was amazed at how close I grew to some of these people in just two weeks. It’s been such a blessing to be able to be put in a situation where you know no one and by the end of your time together you can truly say that some of those friendships built will be ones that well last forever. It was really such an honor to have gotten the opportunity to get to know those girls. They reminded me that its okay to be vulnerable, that life is better lived when lived together; they inspired me to be a better person. They accepted me for who I was, but at the same time pushed me to dive deeper into who I am. They defiantly gave me a lot to think about. =0). So thanx girls, your awesome! What I also liked about Colorado was the fact that I was able to get away and be able to process some stuff God’s put on my heart. There is so much ive learned, from all the crazy outdoor stuff, to the late night talks, to all those little moments that will forever stay with me. So my hope and prayer is that as I leave here, I take with me everything that ive learned and experience and not just look back on it as a good experience but as a time that’s refined me to be the person im mean t to be. So yes, im looking forward to go home and sleep in my own bed and hang out with peeps back home, but im sad to leave this place, these people who have meant so much to me. But im almost positive ill see them all again, so I aightn’t trippen =0).
Well that’s about it, hope you all are good. Chat with you soon & God Bless.
Ciao.

this is me on top of that mountain i was talking about. And theres the Rockies in the background. Isn't that sweet. Well thought id share in the coolness of the picture. aite im done now, good nite. you all are awesome, ciao.
 

So can i just say i love it here. Im begining to understand why God wanted me to come here on this project. And its only the third day. i feel like ive been here for so much longer. Its amazing to meet with people from all over the country and just right of the bat have something in common with them.That even though we never knew each other before this we still are family, we have something thats bonded us thats greater than anything else. We are all here becasue Gods called us to be here. And to meet with these people and get to know them is just amazing. They are my brotheres and sisters and the very fact that i get to spend the next 2 weeks just growing closer and seeing what really matters to them, just rocks my socks off. =) they really are pretty rad. And whats even more amazing is that i know God is doing some amazing things here. And im excieted to see what it is that he's going to show me. So yeah, i can say im having a pretty sweet time over here. Im the most tired ive been in a long time, but its definatly worth it. Actually today we went on a 6 hour hike, i thought i was gunna pass out half way up the rock. I think the thing that got me the most was the elevation, little old me is coming for sea level and here i am trying to climb 2000 feet in 2.5 miles. It was definatly a challenge, but it was definatly worth it. By the time i got up to the top and was able to see that awesome view of the Rockies and all the mountains, i forgot about all my aches and pains and was just in awe of just how beautiful and breathtaking it all was. I felt so small compared to everything around me, it was definatley humbling to see all these beautiful things God created. And know that He is in control. I dont know what it is about nature that just geting me, but it always does. So that was something id definatly do over again if i had the chance, it was pretty sweet. So now im definatly looking foward to a day of rest tomm, i have a feeling ill be hurting a bit, but im sure ill be good. And then i officially start classes on monday, with the first week doing Old Testament survey along with Bible Doctrine. Im actually pretty excieted to jump in and just start up some of these classes. So yeah, thats a little about whats going on with me the last couple of days. Hope you all are doing good. i do miss you all, but im sure you all are just having a sweet time. But ill be writing on and off to check and and tell ya whats new with me. Well good nite, im off to go play some capture the flag. It should be sweet! well talk to you all soon. ciao.

So there’s a lot that’s happened these last couple weeks, I finished up school for the quarter (thank goodness for that), went to summer camp ( it was a blast), did this and that. And i can truthfully say that over all its been pretty sweet. And im sure ill comment on it later. So now today I leave for Colorado for two weeks with Campus Crusades. Im totally stoked! Ive been looking forward to this for the last couple of months, I am just excited to see what God has in store for me while im there, and the friendships im bound to develop and build there. So Yay for that. Well ill be writing and posting stuff while im there, so ill be keeping in touch. And to all my friends who will be traveling this summer, hope you have a blast, hope God just does and shows you some amazing things through your experiences and travels. And ill miss you all, cuz you guys are truly my family, but im totally stoked for you cuz I know your gunna be having some rad experiences. So have fun take care and ill be seeing you all before you know it. Ciao!

my little sister graduatd highschool today...!!!

Why is it so easy for me to put on that smile and say that im okay, when really im not. Why am i so afraid or reluctant to share what’s really going on with me. Sadly this is something I’ve gotten really good at over the years. Yeah its something i work on, trying to be real with the people, letting them into what’s happening in my world. But it’s so hard for me to show that part of me that’s hurting. I realize now that if I don’t allow people into my world and share with them my pain, my joys, my happiness, I’m just depriving myself of the community and relationships God meant for me to be in. God has blessed me with some pretty sweet people who i know care about what’s going on with me. Some amazingly real Godly women who I know will always be there to live life with me. They push when i need a good shove, or have a word of encouragement when I’m down, and most of all they're just there letting me know that it’ll be alright. God has taught me a lot through these girls; He’s taught me that I need to be real because they’re real and they do care, that’s its okay & that I don’t have to be afraid to share my life with people. And that they won’t give up on me, even when my world is full of ciaos and madness and I’m just about ready to give up on me. So I guess this is thank you, to all of you, for willing to live life with me,for showing me God's love and what its ment to be, for being real, for caring, for being such a blessing and bringing words of wisdom to my life, for just being there. I promise to try not put on a smile and say I’m okay, when I’m not; I promise to be real.


Philippians 2: 1-7 "1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness."

its monday already, where did my weekend go?

so last week i was able to hang out with an old friend i haven’t seen in a while. This person played such a big part in my life through out my childhood and even more so when i was in high school. i have memories of us together as far back as i can remember. Just being girls telling each other our most prized secrets, our hopes, dreams, our fears. we both grew up in totally different backgrounds and families but we always seemed to click. we shared a sisterhood/friendship that i thought would never be broken, looking back now i always figured she be a part of my life in some way, big or small. But heres the thing, time changed us. we both outgrew our childhood selves and moved on to who we were meant to become. We chose different paths... So there we were sitting at a coffie shop, myself wondering where time went. Thinking how our lives could have changed so much in just a couple of years. But what i realized that afternoon was that no matter where we both go in life, she will always hold a dear place in my heart. I thought things would be different, that we had changed too much. But we just picked it up as if those years apart didnt really happen. yeah we will both change and chose different paths in our lives but i made a decision long ago that i wanted to live and share life with this girl. yeah ill tell ya straight out, we're different; we do things different, we believe in different things, we live life differently. And despite our disagreements and views in life i still love her. And here's the thing ive always been told to live my life in love and love everyone in my life, and yeah i think that’s very true. But i really didnt grasp what that meaning of love was. I now understand that i have to love people for who they are and not judge them or even try to change them into who i want them to be. And the freedom i got when i realized that was so great, because i finally was able to love with out holding back, with out the restrictions that had tied me down in the past. Im not saying that this is something that will happen overnight, but its defiantly given me lots to think about. And work on.
And thinking about this just got me thinking of Christ (since He is the ultimate love) and his love for his children. How there is not restrictions to love when it comes to God. How He will Love you wherever your at. He will meet you there. This was such a hard concept for me to understand. Because i felt and at times still feel soo unworthy of His love. That i never felt that i was at a place that i was worthy of the blessings and love that He gave me in life. Thats when He taught me that lesson of grace. That to Him, i was worthy to be called His daughter. That no matter where ive been, or done, or even how bad ive messed up, He still loves me and will continue to persue me. Once i saw myself through His love i was able to begin to love myself. Something i never thought possible.

One month left of school and counting.... i dont think ive ever been so excieted for summer to get here already. It seems like ive been at school for ever. But i was thinking about it earlier, and realized that i cant forget about all the things and responsibilities i have in this next month before then. Yeah, theres some pretty sweet things that are planed for this summer, but i also know that God doesnt want me to forget what i have infront of me now. So i guess i was just reminded that i need to take every oppertunity i have now, He has me where im at for a reason, i cant get to ahead of myself.