I Don't Even Notice

"Men go abroad to wonder at the height of mountains, the huge waves of the sea, the long coarse of rivers, the vast compass of the ocean, the circular motion of the stars, but they pass by themselves and they don't even notice." -Augustine

I wonder how different my love for others would be if I constantly reminded myself of the wonder that every person is?

Every person is a walking miracle, created by God, designed so delicately, no one like them has ever existed or will ever exist after them, God intentionally made them who they are...

They are unique, precious, marvelous, beautiful, amazing...

Even the people who bug, annoy, irritate me...they, too, are such a masterpiece.

I just hope to be able to live out this truth everyday.

Asian Jason

I'm taking a Biblical and Practical Theology of Evangelism class at Biola this semester.

Our professor places the chairs in a circle for every class meeting; which means we stare at each other for the entire class time (3 hours every Tuesday).

The guy that faces me is a twenty-something year old Asian guy...I still haven't gotten around to remembering his name. It took a couple of class sessions for me to realize that he is a carbon copy of my friend Jason. The only difference is...he's Asian and Jason is Hispanic.

He laughs like Jason, dresses like Jason, smiles like Jason, is short like Jason, has the same voice as Jason, sits like Jason, stands like Jason, walks like Jason, makes the same hand gestures as Jason...seriously...just like Jason...but Asian...it's kind of scary.

I felt like a weirdo because I found myself staring at him today...trying to see how many things he did reminded me of Jason...and evidently everything was Jason-like.

I only wish I could get them both in the same room together...that would be ridiculous.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

I have no words...

My camera won't turn on.

I used it two weeks ago at a birthday party and it was fine...

I charged the battery all night for a wedding last Saturday. Once I popped it out for the photo shoot it wouldn't turn on.

Seriously...nothing.

No response to the on/off button, no funny sound, no screen light...nothing...just off.

Sad day.

Back on the BlogWagon!

I fully accept and acknowledge the fact that my posting has been minimal this summer...

I feel ashamed and embarrassed, especially because I used to always complain when bloggers didn't blog!

But I am officially committing myself to hop back on the blog bandwagon this fall...

Good stuff is coming...just wait and read!

I Changed My Mind

Remember when I posted about a wedding I was invited to?

Well, I changed my mind...

I just got home from "said" wedding and I wouldn't mind being the bride...not at all.

Truth is, no matter how long it takes to find love, when you find it, it really doesn't matter how long it took. Does that make sense?

She was happy, excited, thankful, blessed, optimistic, joyous, in love...

I don't care how long it takes for me to find that with another person...as long as I'm lucky enough to find it...that's more than enough.

I Wish I Were Turning 2 in 2 days

Remember when your birthday was a HUGE deal?

When you counted down the days?

When everyone in your family was also anticipating the big day?

Can't it be like that when you're turning 25?

I'm not complaining...birthdays as a grown-up are great too, but all the fun and expectation leading up to your actual birthday seem to be watered down...

I'd like the 100% juice instead of the frozen concentrate for my birthday, please!

Nothing Better

I had an exam and paper due this morning (on top of all of my other work at school and at the church)...needless to say, I was stressed and busy all week long.

I came home this afternoon with a nap, meal and some TV on DVD (Grey's Season 4) planned...

Surprise, surprise!

I found two issues of Us Weekly in my mailbox (last week's and this week's).

I can't think of a better way to spend the afternoon...

Reading my two issues, while watching Grey's and having some linner...

and then off to small group...so great!

Don't Judge Me

I just got invited to a 42 year old woman's wedding.

This is her first marriage...

Is it bad that I hope to never be her?

I never want to wait that long, be an "older" mother (if being a mother is possible at all), be in the "single" stage of life for 20-plus years...

is that wrong?

Reminders

I almost had a panic attack this weekend.

I'm doing full-time school and full-time work (ministry) this semester.

I thought I could do it, but when I saw that a huge test and paper collided this week I almost freaked out.

It took everything in me to not cry and cry and just give up.

I know I have to make some adjustments and get through it...

But today I was gently reminded of how sovereign and caring God is. He sweetly helped me get all of my work done and allowed me to enjoy it.

Old Me

Here are a few thoughts I has today while listening to an old man talk...

When I'm old I'd like to be a great story teller
I'd like to have people sitting at the edge of their seats while I'm talking
It'd be nice if I made them laugh really hard too
I'd like to smell nice, maybe a sweet scent
Maybe have a great lap to sit on
Also, I want to be able to laugh at myself... a lot
I want to be a wealth of knowledge and wisdom
I want to still be cool
When I'm old I'd like to be a really great version of me

Crybaby

The past week has been tough.

I've had tons of issues here at the church and lots of life going on in general.

I can't really talk about it, think it through or analyze the why's and what's either....I feel like I've already done enough of that.

The only thing I've been able to do is cry.

No, I haven't been a depressed mess. There have just been moments of reflection where I just start crying, just like that...I start and then I stop, I'll laugh at myself and then later I start all over again.

It's just been a flood of emotions. And I have no clue what to do with all of them...other than cry.

Twenty-Five

My star birthday is coming up...

I turn 25 on the 25th this month!

When I was a teenager I always saw 25 as the officialy grown-up age.

Anywhere before that was still being a young adult, but after that, you were a grown-up.

I'm finding it hard to accept that I've come to that age so soon! I love being single and in my twenties. It's been the most fun, gratifying, exciting time of my life! I really love my life. But, I don't know if I'm ready to grow up yet.

My life is nowhere near where I thought it would be at 25...it's been totally different, and I'm so thankful to God for that! What I've done and learned has exceeded any expectations I had as a child and teenager.

Now that I'm coming into living a quarter of a century I know I'm ready for it...and really excited to see what kind of a grown-up I become...although I may not become one for a while, no matter what I said as a kid.

An Untold Tale

Here's a San Fransisco story I never told...

last week, while Howard and I toured San Francisco I begged him to take me to the Full House, house...he did!

Here's 1709 Broderick St. (the house used whenever the Tanner house was shot from the outside) The doors used to be red and are now black:

Here's me sitting on the front steps (I ran off, scared the owners would come out and have me arrested for trespassing!)...

Here's me standing in front too! I know, I'm a nerd.

Seriously, one of the best moments of the trip!

We do what we like!

I'm sitting next to Howard right now....in the "BuisnessLink" room of San Jose's Embassy Suites. There's no wireless here, so we have to use the onsite computers...or pay $10 for 24 hours of internet in our room. We chose free internet across from the lobby.

We spent the better part of the day driving...

driving north
to In-N-Out
to his mom's friend's house
to drop his parents off
to the hotel
to Red Lobster
to many restroom stops...

So far we've taken some time to plan the next two days...

GoCars!!!!!!!
Lombard Street
Chinatown
Alamo Square
The Full House HOUSE
Alcatraz
Winchester House

there's more, but we're still planning!

More updates tomorrow...

I Promise...

I love to post on my blog.

I've just been swamped with work...

Remember I told you about my busy summer?

I just came back from a fully programmed-packed camp at Cachuma Lake and am in the middle of VBS, 'till Friday.

Then I go on vacation for a week and come back to work and start at Biola that same week.

I'm still finishing up student leadership training, doing interviews for potential staff and have trips to Raging Waters and Knotts with student ministry teams...this all happens before September 1st.

And I won't even fill you in on all the planning I have to do for the next six months...

But once my life slows down I will post again...promise!