Life is good. No, its great.

Blog!

So sorry It's been so long. Haha, that's an understatement. I've stopped blogging since the summer. SO, with that said. Let me catch you up. (Sucks in huge gust of air and begins to spit the following out) :

I'm in Seattle, doing my internship, I have an 8x10 dorm room(which I love btw), I have approximately 100 new friends, give or take, I went to D.C on a trip to help rebuild the church,which involved me peeing on a tree by the lincoln memorial and parkour on anything we could find, I've gotten things stolen from me twice now in this grand Seattle city, the first time my car was broken into, second time was my friends car. Go figure. Recently our founding Pastor Wendell Smith passed away this friday,with over 20,000 people present at the memorial service. He impacted so many lives, and crazy to think that if this man did not exist, I would not be where I am today. I've lost close friends in tragic deaths, I've created a homemade snowglobe, ventured out into blizzards, I've started a twitter account, gone thrift shopping and have started my new Bible reading plan. And now, its a new year. AH! Crazy to think when I look back on things..Let me tell you friends. There is NOTHING like, I repeat nothing, like the feeling of being in God's will. Its exciting, fulfilling, and peaceful all at the same time inside my beating heart. I've had intense prayer times, worship, crying out for the city of seattle with my fellow interns
All to say, Jesus is good, in every perfect way, and His timing is right and his love is sufficient. I love Seattle. I love adventures.
and I love Jesus Christ. My hero.

Until next time...

Did I hear you say John Mayer concert..at the Gorge?!

Yes. YES! John Mayer and Keith Urban at the mighty glorious Gorge Ampitheater. Please and thank You!
about 4 hours with 4 other girls, along with 20 justin bieber songs later, we had arrived at the Gorge.
Jenna Dear and I created wonderful tees for us that spelled out "Keith" on the front, and "Mayer" on the back.
Decorated and all.
so glorious.
thats the word that keeps coming to mind.
Now, I'm not a big country fan. At all in fact. I actually despise country. Taylor Swift, carrie underwood, and rascall flatts is about as country as I get.
But I must say, keith urban was not too shabby, Or shabby looking for that matter.
He is one good looking 30 year old..or however old he is.
Then came the man of the night, well for me anyway. Oh John Mayer. Your music is like a giant bear hug upon my ears and soul.
A wonderful singer, truly. But just seeing him high, yes he definitely was. He almost seemed autistic, that's how random and scatter brained he was. He would mumble, and go off on these random tangents about loving yourself and not listening to the bad that others have to say about you. Thats all good and well that you love yourself Johnny boy, but what you need is some Jesus to rearrange your priorities, life, and drug list.
John and Keith were spectacular singing and performing together,
but just seeing them compared. Keith basically looked saved standing next to Mayer.
He just looked so happy to sing in front of thousands of people, and so healthy.
John looked so drugged up and unhealthy, with bags under his eyes..
We all were pretty sure he had an acid headband that he was wearing while performing.
Nonetheless, He was a great performer. Very talkative on the drugs though.

We eventually got out of the parking lot, and headed home about 12:30 at night.
Andrea and Brianna pulled an all nighter, and we waltzed into our apartment at about 3:00 in the morning or so.

I have to say it was an overall great night of music and friends!

Seattle bound.

Yes. I have upped and moved off to my favorite city. It was just meant to be.
I and the tri-cities are no more.
What's better than living in your favorite city and doing what God's called you to do!

Wedding of a big sister!

My Lisa love has gone off and gotten herself married.
To the one and only Robert Lopez. Bob. The mean brother I never had. It's been forever since I've blogged, my apologies, but alot of things has happened!
Anyway, this blog is dedicated to my dear Elisa Serrano. Well, now formally Elisa Lopez.

What a hectic and crazy day, it was the first wedding I had ever been in. and might I say there is alot of pressure on a bridesmaid. But everything went smoothly, with a beautiful aisle way of a straight pathway with aligned trees on either side.
The bridal party walked out through the middle, then the beautiful bride came behind everyone. It was absolutely lovely.
with worship in the middle, I adored it. and Them. Robert sang an amazing song to Elisa, man, was it romantic.
and with orange lanterns, and citrus colored flowers at the reception, the wedding was a smashing hit.
And when I say hit, I mean it. Attempting to catch the bouquet was an intense predicament and event.
Some women take it to the point of pouncing on a poor individual named krista and pushing her to the floor to get those "magic" flowers.
Sheesh. It's just a bouquet ladies.
But anywho, I LOVED the wedding and the two special people who got married in it.
To my wonderful Elisa and Robert for a life filled with love, God, and happiness.

New TOMS!

and how i love them
=)

Off to the Hood. River that is.

Ventured off to Oregon in the morning with coffee and sleepy eyes, but we were bright for an adventure.
Traveled to Hood River in a straight shot with Feist playing and Trevor Hall.
Taylor and I arrived and the first thing we hit was Dog River CO. coffee shop. Had delicious African tea, on vintage couches and abstract wall art. Absolutely loved it.
We then went to shop the little stores of Oregon.

Both bought cool t-shirts, mine has a bearded man on it.
Book stores with great reads, and bad art.
Saw people kite surfing and kayaking, went to the art museum we got lost in.
Layed in the park after we were tired out.
Got up and got some more coffee.
Looked at bikes.
Ate dinner at this underground pasta restaurant, with lights strung around the ceiling.
So delicious.
Then went to this adorable ice cream shop where we shared chai and pesto almond scoops.
yumm.
Off we were to go home, stopped at the remake of stonehenge that we attempted climbing.
made it on top of one.
But it was soo windy.

what a lovely adventurous day.
with Tay.

Dance it out.

Sometimes all you need to do is dance.
Let it out in a little jig.
You'll feel better after.
I promise.
Those are all my thoughts for today.

Graduated and living in the "Real World"

Well. I haven't blogged in forever, again. But I just have to say something about graduation!
Going to LIberty Christian since 4th grade, and now out of school and graduated, is kind of a big deal.

So here is a little tid bit that I didn't have a chance to share before.

Graduation day couldn't have gone more smoother. Suffice to say, everything went perfectly planned. Got up in the morning, got ready, went to Kahs's graduation with katie dear, then off to my own. It was so wonderful to see family and friends there with such supportive love. It was emotional, but at the same time happy. A bittersweet ending/beginning.
I love my class. Every odd ball, cutie, and smarty pants. I know God has big plans for each one of us. It's just up to us to grab the opportunities he sets before us. It's up to us to step up to the calling. It's up to us to shine the light.
And it's up to us to be the love and Jesus to this darkened bitter world.
This new season will be open for Him to work through us, and to stretch us.

Here's to the 2010 graduates, and the new life God has for us!

Horses, manure, sagebrush, photo shoot?

Yes, as odd as it may sound, these were the things that were surrounding us on the photo shoot I went on!

Wonderful Meg Borders (beautiful blonde photographer who did my senior pictures), came up with yet another great idea for pictures. Except this time, we went FULL OUT. We brought all of our wardrobes to mix and match, and had a hair stylist and makeup artist to contribute to this photo shoot.
I, along with two other gorgeous girls (one of them is currently Miss Tri-citites, a sophomore! And the other applied for America's Next Top Model and actually made it on the show. Doesn't surprise me, she's 6 foot.) got all made up, then headed out to Richland Horse stables. Behind it there are fields with green and other fields with sagebrush and tumbleweeds.
That's the Tri-Cities for ya.
Suprisingly, it was freezing! What is going on with you weather? Isn't it May? We prayed that the wind would cool its jets, and stop harassing our shivering legs and perfectly placed hair.
But it was well worth it! The two other girls looked like they had just walked off the cover of Teen Vogue Magazine, and I...haha well I was the cute little vintage school girl with her books =)
We made a joke that they were like the popular girls and I was the little nerd.
All in all, it was so fun.
Megan is simply amazing at what she does. All we had to do was look fierce for the camera.

Beach-ing and Prom-ing.

It's been far too long since my last bliggy blog.
So hello there old friend.
so busy. but I like it.
PHil wickham/leeland concerts, friends, bbq's, school, coffee dates, more friend time, work, sleep, graduation letters, repeat.

I went prom dressing today. That's what I call it, and it has been a long journey let me tell you.
Went to three places, that's all i could handle. It's so stressful, senior prom, but also exhilarating to try on all these lovely colorful contraptions strapped around your body to make you feel elegant for one night.
But I found an amazing one today...it fit perfectly. No alterations needed except maybe hemming the princess bottom up a little.
It is so over the top, but for some reason, I don't really care. It is princess in a castle, cinderella material by far.
Poofy, sequins.
But I love it? Weird I know. But I thought, what the heck, its my senior prom, we're going in limos, why not?
It's going to be hilarious going in public to random places after in it though...maybe even a little embarrassing..
But I do not care.
Not one bit =)

Then off to the beach house this weekend! I'm so super excited, I just can't Hide it!

Life is lovely right now.
As it should be.

ttfn,
ta ta for now!

Spring in Seattle.

Ah, Hello Blog. It's been a while hasn't it?
Sorry I haven't talked to you, things have just been a little crazy!
The good kind of crazy.
So spring break came upon us, and what else is better to do then drive off to your favorite city with your best friend and mom!?

We left on thursday and the first thing on our agenda was to tour SPU for my dear friend Abigail. Seattle Pacific University (just so you know what it stands for.) She's trying to decide between SPU and Whitworth (which we all know I'm rooting for Seattle), but we'll see where God takes her. The campus was Absolutely gorgeous! It seriously made me want to go there. The comfortable neighborhood surrounding it, with blooming cherry blossoms and yet, not far from walking distance into the bustling city of Seattle. The dorms were, well, far from tiny. Ginormous is more like it, one even had a couch along with a flat TV screen.
That night we went to my favorite restaurant in seattle, ICON grill. They have the best calamari and grilled mac n' cheese in the world. We also had to introduce Abby into the "Mother Sundae".
It is, the most delectable dessert, you will ever have. A huge plate of vanilla ice cream with a cookie cone turned upside down, that the waitress turns and pours hot chocolate fudge out of all over your mountain of deliciousness.
Then you have your choice of toppings: strawberries, m&ms, sugar walnuts, and whip cream.
SOOO GOOOD.
The crazy thing is, later we heard on the news that the cement decorations outside, above ICON, fell down on someone the next day! They had to close it for the day. Thank you Jesus for letting us go and enjoy that experience!

Then the funny stuff happened. So we're following Nellie,(my new found friend of a GPS, thank you papa for her) to my friend Andrea's place where we were going to stay. And we make it there, or so we think, while my mother and I are about to pee our pants, which always seems to happen to her at the most inconvenient of times.
So, what we didnt know, was that that the apartments had like 5 different sections, each with different letters.
We climbed up section C, to the number that Dre had told us was hers, and I called her to ask if she had a garbage and skateboard in front of it, she laughed and proceeded to say yes.
So, we opened up the door to find a small child standing to our left in a room, and a dog racing out, barking at us.
I was confused and thought to myself, since when did Dre have a dog?
The little girl just blinked and stared at us. She didn't even protest that there were strangers in her hallway!
My mom marched right in, but then we came to the realization that this was not our 26 year old friend's apartment...
haha, it was hilarious. My mom barely made it to the bathroom, which ended up being in section E.
We then went out with Dre to ice cream and I met all these great new people from the church that I'll be getting to know this next year! Such amazing men and women of God. It was also our friend Jenna's birthday, she turned 21 and they went salsa dancing! I am so doing that when 21 comes around for me.

Day 2. I got up early to follow Andrea to Intern Prayer of City Church to see what it was like, since I'll be an intern next year.
I drove on Seattle's highways and traffic in the rain all by myself! I felt very accomplished.
Prayer=so great.
Pastor Jude spoke in intern classes that I sat in a couple for= SO amazing.
I love him! He's so kind, and wise. He talked about faith, and how some christians have more faith in their "faith" then Jesus Christ himself. That'll preach.
my friend introduced me to him and he said that I was "just stunning!" haha. Made my day to say the least.
We then went Portage Bay, my favorite breakfast place, where everything is Organic and fresh.
They have HUGE portions of wheat pancakes and french toast that tastes like a cinnamon roll, with a sides table full of fresh rasberries, strawberries, black berries, peaches, walnuts, whip cream. You name it.
Yummy.
We went to the U district and shopped on the ave at Buffalo Exchange and Urban. If you want cheap brand clothes, Buffalo is the place to go. I got H&M jeans, which are the best, for 12 dollars!
And Thats how it's done my friends.
Later that night, Cactus! This great mexican restaurant with the best salsa, Ever. Our waiter was hilarious. He went to UW, and told us a joke,
"What do the Cougars and Huskies have in common?
-They both applied to UW."
hahaha.
Then Ce fiore, this italian yogurt shop, that looks, and almost tastes EXACTLY like Shnoo.. The greatest yogurt you'll ever have.
I noticed that most of my blog is half about food..but all of it is well worth noting!
Anyways, they have shnoo here at Sweet Treats by Carmike if you've ever been in there.
It was a phony shnoo, but still. Not terrible.

Day 3. Went to kahili coffee. I love the coffee shops of Seattle. Then off to pick up my bro at UW, then to the Alderwood Mall.
SUCCESSFUL shopping, yes indeed. Urban and Forever 21. Then Macaroni Grill with My grandpa and his wife, with mom, brother, and abby. SO good. I always love their fresh bread with olive oil.
Then shnoo, the real kind! Then party at the bowling alley for my friend Arianne!
So many birthdays, so little time.
Abby and I didnt bowl...yea you might say lame, but 15 dollars per person, just to bowl?! Thats a little ridiculous if you ask me.
That's okay, they had blacklights and music bumping the whole time so we just danced and chilled while watching them play
=)
Day 4. EASTER.
Got up and went too ZOKA coffee. I always love their coffee, its smooth, and if you want to try it you can go to Brulant by the gas station and Dairy Queen.
Went to the U district, the church campus by UW for college students to go to, and listened to Pastor Judah preach.
He's so great.
The message was "Dead for 4 days".
He talked about Lazarus being raised from the dead and how people might say things are over, but they are not over, until God says they're over.
4 days is the point where the decomposing of the body begins to show on the outside, for all the world to see.
It's the point where death is visible from the outside, and it is the point of no return.
Martha and Mary were passed the point of hope, and to the point of grieving and comforting.
Jesus waited for Lazarus to die. They told him to hurry quick, but he waited. He told them in the beginning of the story that this situation would bring glory to God.
Martha said, if only you came earlier Jesus. My brother might not have died.
But Jesus said, YOur brother is not dead.
And radical Jesus, went up to the tomb and called out upon Lazarus. People must've thought he was crazy, how dare he come later and call on a dead body of this family's brother/son? He'll make a mockery of them.
ANd out came Lazarus, all tied up in toilet paper.
FOr the things we call over, God calls to awaken.
To begin.
Dreams we might see as dead, God only sees as sleeping. So don't give up hope, for our Jesus is outside of time. He is. Not was, not will be, but always IS.
He is the eternal healing life today.
Now. Present tense. Always there.
Thank you Jesus for rising from the dead, thank you for defeating sin so that we can be with you, and thank you for having such a merciful heart and love for your people, who don't deserve a single glance from you.
How great truly you are.

Drive and Ponder. Ponder and drive

So this morning as I was driving on the highway to school, a couple minutes fashionably late as usual, I began to think about driving..it was kind of funny because God was showing me something.
When you're in the car, and look to the side of you, you notice your surroundings, other cars, how fast things are passing, or how slow you're going. If you look for too long, you begin to drift from the correct lane you're in.
But if you keep your eyes on the road in front of you, you don't drift. You stay in the right lane you're suppose to be in. And I also noticed that you don't notice the speed as much. Yes, of course you can tell if you are going fast or slow, but you dont recognize it as much as if you were to look away.
This is a metaphor for life.
Our life with God. If I just keep my eyes on Him, on the path that he's set before me to run, I won't stray. I won't run into other things, and my life is to the fullest when my focus is on Him. The speed of life becomes less of a worry when my perspective is on my Jesus...
just a thought.

Another thought He brought to me... this always happens when I'm driving.
I guess that's the best time for Him to show me things to ponder on.
A love song came on my Ipod and I began to think about people, love, and God.
We, as people, long for someone to love us. IT's just how we were created.
God's put that desire inside of our very beings.
And I was thinking how we long for that one person to love us, think the world of us. That one being to fill us with that love.
And when we find them, it's like we have to share it with everyone. We think it's the most amazing thing, that we've found this one person that finds us so incredible and special.
One person for you, and you for that one person.
We find it amazing.
But then I began to think of God and how he loves us this way. And how His love is undconditional.
It's always there to be poured out on us.
Yet, we don't find this as amazing as the one for one person love. How silly this world is!
How much more incredible should we find that God's love is unconditional, always faithful and true, and never ending!
This love is One for all. God loves everyone with a passion.
His love is for the multiples, yet not necessarily the multiples for Him..
I think we take His love for granted because it's always readily there. We can walk away, not think about Him, and He's still there. Where as a one person's love might not always be there.
We cherish the temporary more than the eternal.
I want to start treating God's love as if He were the only being that could ever love me, and I'm the only one that could love Him.
In a way, He is the only one that truly can.
Just something to think about...

"Your love has no limit at all
Your love has no limit at all
It has no limit, at all

You don't treat me like I deserve
You don't crush me with a heavy hand
You don't leave me alone in this world

And you know how I was formed
When the wind blows I'll be gone
Like a flower after winter storm

Your love has no limit at all
Your love has no limit at all"

-Enter the Worship Circle

(they're amazing bee tea double you)

Road Trip.

That's the brilliant thing about private schools. You get the whole school cancelled when your basketball team makes it to state.
Lucky I know.
Therefore, it was time for my dear best friend and I to head out on our first official road trip together, on our own this time.
Full tank of gas- check.
Snacks- check.
GPS (aka sally)-check.
sunglasses-check.
two super stoked girls to get on the road?
check and check.

And so we were Off to Spokane to see our team's play some basketball...(Insert song "we're playing BA. SKET. Baall.." here.)
Sally helped guide us along the way, though at times we unplugged her..
But nonetheless we made it!
Saw first girls' game, then had tons of time to kill, since the boys' game was at NINE at night...
SO. What to do, what to do. What a silly question to ask.
Shopping was in order. We hunted good finds at Nordstrom rack, then relaxed our exhausted feet by sitting in Barnes and Nobles. Who would've thought that hours upon hours of shopping could be exhausting?
We then head out in search for a lovely church service to wake us up before the game later.
Coffee helped, yes, but some worship and preaching most definitely topped it off.
Boys won. YES.
made spiffy spirit tees at 2 in the morning.
goodnight world.

Thursday morning. Got ready, went to the arena to cheer our girls on; sadly they lost their 2nd game, but they are still such great players. They have more heart and spirit than most. Then we drove around spokane, looking for a park..which didn't exactly happen, but we DID find a Forever 21.
and let me tell you, if you're the kind of person who is overwhelmed easily, please bring a guide and paper bag with you while entering Forever.
So many options, it's like where do I start?
Successful shopping-check.
Abigail had never eaten at Pita Pit before, and that's like saying Michael phelps had never been in a pool before.
She's a healthy eater, so Pita was right up her alley. Suffice to say, she loved it.
Successful luncheon-check.
More time to kill, so we took out our guns, and shot it down by going to World's market, this cute store with items from INdia, to foods from Korea, with cute little trinkets gallore.
TIM TAMS. the best invention of a cookie. This Australian chocolate cookie, that you take a bite out of from both ends, then sip hot chocolate into it. It then melts the entire cookie right into your mouth. Heaven will have these.
Then abby and I slowly made our way to Barnes and Noble. where we...read. sat. giggled. drank hot cocoa and tim tams. Then fell asleep on the couches.
We then tried slapping ourselves to wake us up for the game that was ALSO at nine. Ridiculous.
But we finally made it.
I made a new friend that continued to take pictures of me with his fake camera, then persistently turned around to stare at me.
(he was a 5 year old little boy)
He'll make a great paparazzi someday.

Then we made our way back home today.
Lovely Fun filled weekend.
Good Friends are the sun to my shine.

Next on my list, Seattle.

Indifferent.

In the impossible times of life, how often We forget.
How often we focus on the minor details of the day that seem so GREAT and unconquerable.
Our focal points zone in on the things that are lacking, the things that are wrong.
The things that are out of control. Those tiny details that mislead us to thinking "God, Where did you go exactly..?"
One of my good friends said,
"Even in your darkest times, when you don't even remember what His voice sounds like.
He is there."

HE ISSSSS.
He simply is. Even if He wanted to leave, He couldn't. That's how strong of an impression we have on His great big heart that never ceases to stop pounding with affection for us.
His love not only compels him to care for us, but it's in his very being, his very breath of life to protect, and simply love on us.

I'm indifferent.
I've learned to accept my flaws. These tiny mishaps of the stumbling blocks in the past.
I've tripped, yes.
Fallen? sure.
But I've also gotten up.
MY JESUS reached out and picked me up, right off my face.
He's brushed this insecurity, condemnation dirt right off of my pant leg.
It flew away like chaff in the wind.
I've become immune to the enemy's arrows.
Immune to useless pain.
But have embraced the suffering that was good for me.
The suffering that birthed growth.
A New Perspective.
Jesus my Jesus, whatever would I be without you?
nothing. Thats just it. nothing at all.
I live life as if you really are the Jesus, we all say you are.

haha. God is so good you guys. I asked Him to give me a verse, opened my bible, and this is what the page said:
Zechariah 13:9-
I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure.
I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them.
I will say, "These are my people, and they will say, "The Lord is our God."

Hello adulthood.

Yesterday was nothing like I expected...it was better.
and nothing went according to plan, but made it that much sweeter.

I received two free starbucks, without asking. Thank you Chris Yourdan.

Flowers and a card from Elisa, who is like my big sister, they were gorgeous!

and the Sun was shining. All day.

The plan for the night was to go to olive garden, ice skate, then manhunt.
but none of those things went the way I thought they might...
It was an HOUR wait at every single restaurant we went to, amidst the little options we have in tri-town.
So we ended up going to Mongolian, which was just as wonderful!
An ethnic birthday.
And it was so simple, yet so lovely. Just the people who I care about so much, surrounding a small table in a quaint little mongolian restaurant. That's how birthday's should be.
My dad got me this BEAUTIFUL gold, sapphire ring. It's, one of the best gifts I've ever receiven.
And my dear abigail got me canvasses and paint. The gifts I really wanted in my heart, yet didn't tell anyone about.
She's a keeper.
We then we're about to go ice skating, only to find out that the next session started a half an hour before manhunt was suppose to go on.
So, we decided to skip ice skating, and chill at my house before the hunt.
Which was just as fun. We ate cake, talked, and laughed.
oh and I can't forget birthday cake ice cream. THE best.
Then manhunt was INSANE.
Behind clearwater to Lawrence Scott Park.
Jumping into bushes, running, hiding behind buildings, I felt like a true fugitive.
Which was exhilarating.
I ALMOST got caught when I slipped on an icy driveway hill, and tumbled down.
And I received lovely bruises and scratches, the road's birthday present to me.
But I ran free and made it there in one piece
=)
Suffice to say, this 18th birthday was a success.

How lovely are the friends that surround me, who make my days a joy to live.
Along with My Jesus.
Thank you Lord for the blessings you place on my life, how dear they are to me.

Make what you want out of it.

So I've decided, that every single day is what You make out of it.
It's your decision, to be sad, or depressed,
or be happy, and choose to laugh.
Choose to smile, even when you don't feel like it.
Choose to be the the better self that you can be.
That God wants you to be.
It really changes the outcome of your day.

haha, like Joel Olsteen says, "Be a better You."

I was listening to a podcast by Pastor Judah Smith, (the pastor at generation church in seattle, my future internship)
in the car, and man, it was SO GOOD.

When God crosses His arms.

He talked about Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. And when Joseph blessed them, he gave the blessing to Ephraim, the younger son who didn't deserve it, while Manasseh, the first born, received nothing.
Manasseh should've received the blessing, but he didn't.
Joseph crossed his arms, with the left on Manasseh, and right on Ephraim.
It's funny when you learn the meanings of their names and apply it.
Ephraim means "Fruitful, or Favored"
Manasseh means "Forgetful"

and Judah was saying how Jesus CHOSE to be Manasseh. He chose to be forgetful of our sins. He always has been.
and if He is Manasseh, then there's only one option left. We are Ephraim. We are blessed and favored in Christ!
We didn't deserve ANYTHING from God.
Not even a glance from His holy precious eyes, yet He looks upon us with tender mercy, and lavishes his unfailing love on us.
Over and Over again.
In Jeremiah it says that His thoughts about us, are Inumerable.
Unmeasurable.
Like the sand on the seashore.
and when we put our confidence and faith in Him, each single thought about us, is Wonderful.
Every detail of His thoughts about us are only filled with goodness, favor, and love.
How wild is that?
Just thinking about God forgetting my wrong, and only wanting goodness and blessings to fall on my life and be produced is so ridiculous to think about..

So all that to say, Live life as if God is who He really says He is!
Live with a mindset of knowing that your Jesus only wants the very best for you, in every situation, of every single day.

and my painting is done!
I'm thinking of writing a quote, or a scripture next to it above the roots...but the painting job of it is finished.

Here's the verse that inspired me-
Jeremiah 17:7
"But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a Riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water, such trees
are not bothered by the heat, or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit."

Vinegar.

Sigh.
This is the most treacherous season. Of my life I feel like.
It's like...the wound was starting to heal, slowly but surely, but then all of a sudden someone decided to throw a douse of vinegar on it, along with some nail polish remover. Then, they spit on it to top it off.
I know this probably doesn't make any sense to you...but, I'll just say that I was hurt. And I practically did it to myself.
And I've tried to fix things...so many times. Too many times in fact. Did you know doing that can make things worse?
I'm a "peacemaker". I can't help but want people to have peace and have things resolved. So when I create a problem,
all I want is that problem to be erased, and have that person forgive me, or at least try and let go of the bitterness.
But that's not always possible. Or even tangible.
THis time, it feels as if it's behind the moon in terms of "being accessible".
I keep telling myself, "God is here. He's in control. He'll work things out for good."
And quite honestly, I can't see that. Any of it right now...
I hate this situation, everything about it.
I hate that it's taken this long to recover from, (which its not yet) and I hate that I can't see any good from it.
People tell me, time heals, time heals.
I just wish time would come sooner, and faster. More like antibiotics and a bandaid instead of tiny swabs of a cotton ball that stings.
God is all I need. He is my all and all. He is my reason for life. His love is sufficient, and He cares for my pain.
OKay. I'm done venting now.
just need to write it out sometimes.

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief...and unspeakable love."

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world”

“Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not"

-C.S. Lewis

Sweet Love

"The journey starts, I'm back again
Climbing through this mess I'm in
While willow trees they shift beneath
the outcome of my unbelief

I stop again take a breath
I think of all my past, my past regret
A smile breaks and finds her place,
In this valley I see Your grace.

Sweet, sweet love
You're my sweet, sweet love
Sweet, sweet love
You're my sweet, sweet love.

Like honey comb that's on my lips
I taste a love that's heaven-sent
A love that's pure, a love that's free
The only love I really need."

Sweet Love-Esterlyn.

I love this song. It's old, but I hadn't heard it in forever when it played on my shuffle mix, and it's soo wonderful.
Reminds me of How sweet and precious God's love and grace is, and at the end of the day, it's the only love I need to fulfill me.

FEBRUARY february Feeebruary!
My month of birth. The month of heart candies and valentines. The month where winter is on the verge of turning to sunshine and spring...but then decides to stay a little longer and throws its last punches of the biting cold.
I usually love the cold, scarves, layers, boots.. but I'm kind of getting sick of it right about now...
I want sunshine to smile down upon me!

I feel like alot of things are coming up, but I'm oblivious to any of them, or all of them. Dances, Birthday...(I have absolutely NO idea as to what to do for turning the big ONE EIGHT of my life.)...preparing for weddings, application, ordering things before the end of the month, planning spring break, signing up for random events...and the list goes on.
But I think that just comes along with the title of "being a senior"
and getting organized and things out of the way as graduation creeps up on us.
By the end of today, I want to feel productive by at least getting ONE of these things checked off.
I ordered my beautiful brides maid dress yesterday and tried it on!
LOVE IT. silky, strapless, tangerine, and best of all, it has pockets.
Personally, I think every single dress should have pockets. Best invention of our time.

and today. SUPER BOWL.
it's where everyone gathers in their living rooms and gorge themselves with popcorn out of a GINORMOUS glass bowl.
haha. not. but Colts against the Saints. I have no idea as to who I'm rooting for, so Jennae and I said
"whichever colors look better" haha
blue and white....or black and gold?
I love black and gold...
but then again, I'm always for the underdog.
we shall see.

Cling to His Promises

Cling to them like the hem of his robe.
Like it is the only source of hope of life for you.

I sometimes get so caught up in the now, and impatience begins to stir within me. Doubt seems to be more attractive then waiting for God's promises. I see through the tiny peep hole God has set before my eyes to view His overwhelming confusing collage of a mystery. Waiting. Not seeing the benefits. Only pain and no new gardens to bloom around my hurting heart.
But oh how wrong I am in this tiny disposition of God's big plan!
Jeremiah 33-
The Lord who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the Lord: Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.
The people of the world will see all the good I do for my people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them. You have said "This is a desolate land where people and animals have disappeared."
Yet in the empty streets of Jerusalem and Judah's other towns, there will be heard once more the sound of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the Lord. They will sing,
"Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven's Armies,
for the Lord is good.
His faithful love endures forever!"
For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the Lord.

This is what the Lord says: "If you can break my covenant with the day and the night so that one does not follow the other, only then will my covenant with my servant David be broken."

So if I can try and stop the night from greeting the end of the day, or stop the dawn from rising after night, THEN God's covenant would be broken. But it's impossible to be done!
It's like trying to hold back the sun from rising to it's ordained place.
That is how true and faithful God's promises are. And how He Loves to keep them, and bless those whose confidence is found in Him. Faith is the decided obedience in the things unseen.
Though it may feel the blue has left my skies, God is there to restore them with His beauty from the ashes kiss upon my heart.

Unwashed and Dirty.

So when was the last time Krista washed her hair...?
just take a guess. Or two....

3 days ago?......guess again. 4? 5? 6?.... No. Not SEVEN Krista... Seriously?!

Darn Right I'm serious. Last Saturday was the last day I washed my hair.
I am being completely honest when I say I have magical hair. My dad prayed for a redheaded girl, and here I am!
I can go a week without washing my hair, and it still looks great. Well, I think so. Baby powder and hairspray become your closest friends in this process.
I will probably end up washing it tonight...or maybe see how long I can actually go..
I think I would do great in Africa, going days without a shower, and not caring about my hair.
Disgusting? Only if you think my hair looks it.
Its a great feeling though.
Waking up and doing nothing to it. Letting my wild red mane be free in all of its craziness.

You should try it sometime
=)