Jesus

So.  I love Jesus.   He is wonderful, growing me in ways that blow my mind.
My roommate Eva read this poem to me, and it helped me feel so much better about myself. That it's okay to grow into a magnificent oak tree, even if I leave others "behind". Cause I'm not leaving them; they are growing in a different way than I am.

The Oak and The Rose
by Shel Silverstein 
An oak tree and a rosebush grew,
Young and green together,
Talking the talk of growing things-
Wind and water and weather. 
And while the rosebush sweetly bloomed
The oak tree grew so high
That now it spoke of newer things-
Eagles, mountain peaks and sky.
"I guess you think you're pretty great,"
The rose was heard to cry, 
Screaming as loud as it possibly could 
To the treetop in the sky.
"And you have no time for flower talk,
Now that you've grown so tall."
"It's no so much that I've grow," said the tree,
"It's just that you've stayed so small."

Snow!!!

So I woke up early this morning for my eight o'clock class, and it was cloudy slash rainy. I groggily walked to the cafeteria for breakfast, gearing up to start the day, despite the fact that I was running late.  After eating, I swiftly exit, zipping up to weather the cold environment outside. To my delight, there were snow clumps falling merrily as I lifted my face to the sky. While the clock tower stuck eight, I jumped after large chunks with my mouth, and the cool burst of water was so refreshing that I was distracted for several seconds before I remembered that I needed to be in class.  Skipping and sliding through the slush I went joyfully :D

Since then, I have been in six snowball fights [because the snow is sticking-YAY!!!] had a foot cramp in my right food due to snow getting in my rain boot, eaten snow from the sky, made a huuuuuuge heart in the snow on one of the several lawns on campus, and have seen several snow men and one snow family.  What a wonderful life!!

This is me heading to class :]

And to think, just last week felt like May and there are pink and white blossoms on several trees now, all of which are holding the fresh snow. How delightful! :D

Revived

        Tonight, about thirty students met in our small chapel room on campus.  We worshiped our Lord, prayed for one another and shared healing and life testimonies from some of the group.  It was wonderful- I felt completely in my element.  The Holy Spirit moves in magnificent ways when we make room for it to do so. :]  I am so at peace, because God's love fulfills my every need over and over and over again.  He is all-powerful, letting me know that I can do anything when He gives me strength to do so.  Yay Jesus!!!

        Yesterday I gave a speech to be class president next year in front of the whole school... very intimidating.  I couldn't sleep very well the night before- I woke up four times! /:  Right before it all started, three of my friends came up to me and prayed for peace on my mind.  It sure worked, because when I was up on stage giving my speech and answering questions I wasn't scared, just a little jittery when answering questions that I didn't know were going to be asked of me.  I'm giving this up to God- I don't know if I will get it or not, but He'll definitely use me one way or another next year. :]

          I can feel God's blessing on me, that He's cheering me on saying, "You can do it!!" as I step out of my comfort zone and allow God to use me in areas I previously thought were not for me.  I'm learning that I don't need to start a revival here on campus either; Jesus is living in me, and I am the revival whenever I spread His authority and joy over people I see in my daily life.  He is filling me up and I'm so willing to pour out His Spirit to others who are thirsty. :]

New Cut For A New Year

    I am now back at Simpson. What a strange feeling.  I haven't seen too many people here yet, and two of my room mates are not here yet.
    Two days ago, I got my hair cut. My hair is in the mail to Locks of Love :]
    Yesterday I saw my mom off as she went to board her airplane.  I was very sad to see her go- I was just getting used to being with her and my family the past few weeks, and then I have to leave them again.   :'(
   I was able to spend my weekend at the Garcia's house with my mom, which was very nice.  Gavrielle is my eight-year-old sissy and we got to play together a lot.  I took her to school this morning, which was very strange for me because I am not used to driving before eight o'clock in the morning.  We saw the sun rising up near Mount Lassen as we speed in the freezing weather towards Bethel Church. 
   I have a great view of what is to come this next semester. I know it will be great! :D

Twirling, Unsettled Thoughts

With the year two-thousand and eleven upon us, I suppose that, like me, many people are reflecting on the year two-thousand and ten, how wonderful it was, but at the same time they are looking forward to what is ahead.  I have been wishing that I had journaled more about my first semester at Simpson and documented wonderful moments with a camera to display for loved ones and for myself when I desire to look back on my teen years decades from now. However, I am constantly conflicted with this thought: I could start now with diligence in recording my life, but I am not sure how focused on this I sould be.  I feel like my time that I spend right now is already chalk full of events that occur, and I don't want to stop whatever I am in the middle of to blog or journal about it.  Thus, my tug-of-war has begun, because journaling does help me clear my thoughts.  Writing helps concepts in my brain to become organized and complete, and I am able to scribble things that could later encourage me. For example, in two-thousand and seven I wrote a letter to my future husband for fun. I found it a week ago when I was going through things in my room, and I read its contents.  While reading, I discovered many similarities and some changes in my world view over the past three years. So, I wrote another letter, and felt relieved to express my thoughts freely to someone by following the curvy trail of my muddled thoughts. It felt very good, and I realized that the fear that stopped me from writing was that I would consume too much time there and not focus on important things in life.  What a queer fear that is!
I suppose,my new year's resulution, in effect, is to write, scribble, draw and follow my thoughts and experiences without being fully distracted by journaling without getting in the way of spending time with Jesus, friends and school work. I know that although I won't be very consistant, I want and desire to keep up with this throughout the year. When two-thousand and eleven closes in three-hundred and sixty days or so, I believe I will not be hard on myself; instead I will be able to have tid-bits of the year to reflect on and remember the growth and changes that occur.
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas, and has a wonderful New Year :] I love you dearly- thanks for reading!

Taking Flight

Tonight, I will be flying on an airplane, all by myself.  For the first time.  I've always flown with my family, and this summer I went on a trip with my brother in a group, so I'm very comfortable with flying.  But I've never gone by myself.  I feel so grown up :]  I'll be flying home from the Redding airport to San Francisco, switching planes and then flying to the San Luis Obispo airport.  I am so blessed that my parents were willing to pay for the tickets- I honestly wasn't sure if they were going to do that or not.  The reason I am going is because tomorrow morning is my grandpa's funeral tomorrow [my mom's stepdad]. 
I went home for Thanksgiving break last Tuesday evening. I felt so disoriented being in my room.... I don't know how else to explain it.  The next day my family and Rich drove down to Disneyland so we could enjoy the park for Thanksgiving Day.  Although I didn't quite get all the rest that I wanted, I enjoyed the company of my family, which I haven't done for the past three months.  And it was strange to drive back up to Simpson again and start school again.  Yet, it felt so normal to be back, like my new home is here. 
I did get to ride my horse last Saturday. I am looking forward to riding again this weekend as well :]

11/11 at 11:11pm :]

First off, I am continuing to have an amazing time here at Simpson.  The love of Jesus continually flows through my veins and encourages me daily <3 I have been learning the concept of not taking responsibility for other people when it's not my place to do so. I'm also learning how much He loves me, how much His death on the cross overrules anything I do, and that when I serve Him, His love continues to spread like fire :]
Secondly, I am thinking about changing my major from Accounting to Business and Administrations. I'm still praying about it and would love your prayers on this too! I feel like I will be able to have qualifications for a wider range of jobs as a business major than as an accounting major.  The classes required are very similar, but not exact.
Thirdly, I'm wanting to take up snowboarding. There is a class offered here, but I'd have to minor in Outdoor Leadership to take the class. Which would be very fun, I think, but I'd have to take extra classes over the summer or stay extra semesters to do it.  What I could do is just get my own snowboard and go to the snow when I want and not take the class [because I already know how, I just want to practice]. This way, I might be able to go with friends whenever they go for a day, and I wouldn't loose 4 Saturdays in a row next semester. I'd appreciate prayer for that too.
Fourthly, my laptop screen is a disaster! it has shattered. Sad day. I'll be getting it repaired next week. Thank the Lord, a friend of mine is lending me his monitor, so my laptop is now connected to it so I can use it.
Lastly, I am having a lot of fun with my room mates Emily and Eva. I so want you to meet them- they are wonderful young ladies of Jesus Christ, and I want to take them home with me :]