Brilla. Crece. Ama.

"(general) things I learned at MSU:

“Early mornings” are relative.
It takes time to find community.
Family
is so, so precious.
Friendship can be complicated.
People won’t know
what I believe until I tell them.
There are a lot of smarter, better people
in the world than me.
Stamps cost a lot of money when you buy a lot of them.
Grocery shopping late on Sunday nights is relaxing.
Always read the fine
print of parking signs.
Work isn’t fun… unless you’re doing what you love.
School spirit takes effort (SB11)."

SB11!!

After 36 hours total of driving, it is good to be back in one place and stay there for a little while. But man oh man, was this week a much-needed time of fun and rest and silliness and cultural experiences :)

Highlights include:

• Road-tripping with 3 awesome ladies
• Seeing the thermometer hit 75 degrees!
• Staying on a lake
• Running almost every day... outside!
• Adventures with R-Batch
• Taking pictures with Bruce the Moose
• Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean!
• Beating Bethany at ping-pong (ha)
• Finishing a 1000-piece puzzle in one night
• Documenting every memory with a tweet and a picture
• Pizza cook-off!
• Saying "y'all" and stretching my vowels as often as possible
• Dinner at Hyman's
• Being really funny in the car... ha!

...plus everything else. It was a great week! But now I have class in 11 hours, I have homework to finish, work to think about, a bracket to fill out, support letters to address, and life to process. Back to reality, I guess!

processing.

Over a week later, and I am still trying to sort through all the thoughts running through my head. Thankfully, I finally got to start my journal, and seeing those thoughts listed on paper instead of swirled around in my brain has helped a lot to figure some things out. Pretty much anyone who’s talked to me in the past 2-3 weeks has witnessed my inability to put together cohesive thoughts… It really has been quite an adventure attempting to process this growing list of things to process!

I don’t even know where to start.

All I know right now is that I have been believing quite a few lies, and been pretty darn reluctant in accepting the truth that counters them.

At least I have some action points to take in the very near future…

PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER!

random thoughts.

1. I love my mom.
2. The sunset tonight was absolutely beautiful!
3. I finally got to run outside today :)
4. My emotions are out of control.
5. I'm learning to devote myself to prayer.
6. My sister leaves for Mexico tomorrow!
7. Love is one of the hardest things I've ever done.
8. Skype is an awesome invention.
9. Sara Groves' music calms me.
10. The next few months will be full of tears (and laughter!).
11. (in honor of Lauren) I love letter-writing!

"Making disciples is not an easy process. It is trying. It is messy. It is slow, tedious, even painful at times. It is all these things because it is relational. Jesus has not given us an effortless step-by-step formula for impacting nations for His glory. He has given us people, and He has said, ‘Live for them. Love them, serve them, and lead them. Lead them to follow me, and lead them to lead others to follow me. In the process you will multiply the Gospel to the ends of the earth.’

"…According to Jesus, disciple-making involves going. It involves intentionally taking the Gospel to people where they live, work, and play. Disciple-making is not a call for others to come to us to hear the Gospel but a command for us to go to others to share the Gospel. A command for us to be Gospel-living, Gospel-speaking people at every moment and in every context where we find ourselves."

-"Radical" by David Platt

2011.

A couple of quick thoughts to bring in the new year:

First, this has been the best and most relaxing break that I've probably ever had in my life. No pressure to get things done, no long to-do lists, no worrying about upcoming tests or assignments... Only time to sleep in, hang out with family, play in the snow, read books, do crafts, and practice piano/guitar. It's a beautiful thing.

Second, I'm realizing that 2011 carries with it a great weight of mystery. I know what life will tentatively look like for the next four and a half months, but after that...? I have no idea. Where will I be this summer? I don't know. What will I be doing? I don't know. Will I go to grad school in the fall? I don't know. Where will I be in the fall? I don't know. And the scary thing is, I might not know for awhile.

So here's to a month of prayer and fasting, and discerning a bit more of what the future will hold. Praise God for His sovereignty over what's to come, even though I am clueless. Praise God that I can trust Him to lead me in His good, pleasing, and perfect will. Praise God that He uses these times of clouded confusion to cause my feet to walk closer to His certain, glorious steps.

Thank You, Lord, for what You have done in 2010, and thank You, Lord, for all You will do in 2011!

mis niños preciosos de Emiliano Zapatanuestra familia mexicana

mis sordomudos!!


nuestro amigo mejor, DAVID!