expanded worldview.. July 31, 2008

I’m listening to oldies right now…it puts me in a joyful mood!

Today, I really felt like God was continuing to teach me about his heart for ALL people.  I feel like just this move to California, has really expanded my worldview.  The best way to explain it is that I feel like all along I’ve been standing in the midst of this HUGE crowd of diverse people with different personalities, different needs, different interests…and I’ve just taken my head out of this small box and realized there’s a huge crowd around me!  lol, does that make sense?

I just feel like I am such an innocent, conservative Christian sometimes, in terms of just not knowing all the darkness in this world, even right beside me!….but wow am I learning so much, lately!  there’s a whole other world beyond how I grew up in P-town :) lol. 

Today I went to Barnes & Noble to get a book FOR gay marriage and AGAINST gay marriage (for school) and I felt kinda paranoid about standing in the “relationship/sexuality/gay &lesbian” sections at the bookstore!  lol… but as i was reading through some books, this was another area where my mindset is beginning to expand..if I’m going to go into full-time ministry, I will definitely encounter those who want to be married, but are homosexuals…how am i going to respond and minister to them? 

well as i was reading these books, I happened to be sitting in the “new age” section and this man sat down in front of me and saw my books and said “you’re getting married aren’t you?”  haha.. i was like “nono, these books are for class.” and then he asked me if i went to the local high school!  i laughed.  (not a surprise that people think i’m a teeny bopper)…so i said that i was 24 years old and he thought i was 15!  but he said that it was good thing that i looked so young and healthy and this started a very very interesting conversation….

basically this man said he was a minister, but was wearing sunglasses because he says he can see certain energies that people give off.. he began to tell me about the whole paranormal/psychic world where there are a lot of spiritual beings that still have unfinished business…then he began to tell me about the boycott against real-estate and how this whole world runs on money…the corruption…our capitalist society…how we need to teach people about finance and marriage in high school… and then we talked a lot about marriage…

he was really interested in what i had to say about marriage and encouraged me to write a book one day and really counsel people.  the most interesting point was that he told me he was a failure because he was one of the 60% that was divorced… i told him there was still hope, that he was not a failure!  i realized by this statement that people really really really want to be told they still have hope.  he seemed to brighten up and said, “you think there’s hope for me?”  i said of course, it’s all about your mindset.  it’s all about realizing your wrong in the relationship and how you can serve/love the other person, after all you’re a committed team!  then.. (stephanie will love this)  he encouraged me to write a book!  lol, stephanie always tells me i need to write a book.. maybe i will?

it was so interesting that i really believe today was one of those divine appointments that God used to show me MORE about people who are believing in other things besides God.  I felt more and more urge and motivation to be EVEN  more educated in each area this world faces, so I can be ready to defend the Lord on any subject. 

today, i learned the importance of communication… of really getting to know someone and where they’ve been before i prejudge them or assume anything… i learned that God has created EACH one..no matter how different they are for me …and I guess the theme is to look at people through God’s eyes and have a heart for them through God’s heart…it’s really a beautiful thing.

God taught me how crazy “consumerism” and greed can really be and the need to keep ourselves away from the temptations in this world.  I went shopping for the first time and just found myself wanting everything that I don’t need…it’s amazing what people think they need.  at the mall, they have ALL These things for people to pamper themselves..not only do we feel a need for MORE clothes and MORE expensive things to show off to others, but there’s also a massage we can get while we are there…and even our TEETH whitened!  ah, it’s so crazy how this world feeds us so many lies.  I find myself having to fight it and turn to God for his understanding of balance:  how to live IN and not OF this world.

God is continuing to teach me the importance of obedience.  I’m starting to read Isaiah, and yesterday just reading Ch 1 & 2, I see so much of God’s heart for redemption, for justice… He wants his people to obey Him because He loves us and when we obey him …we are living out His best for us.  We just need to constantly let go of our pride and selfishness to want to serve ourselves…and serve God.  He really does change us

“beautiful disaster” July 30, 2008

that is the title of one of the song’s by Jon McLaughlin that I actually heard in the gym’s locker room today!  I was so happy!  I’ve been listening to Jon’s music on my pandora site…so I consider myself a fan  

today God reminded me of the importance of reaching “beyond my own perspectives” and really getting a good understanding of where others are coming from and how I can best help them in their current need.  Actually, that’s exactly what ministry is:  being able to adjust ourselves to diverse people with diverse walks of life…and pointing them to the God who created them just like He created me..

I was reminded of the importance of accountability.  Sometimes people are willing to seek and grow closer to God..they just need a buddy, a friend, someone who cares and is there to ask them  .. “hey, how are you?” and really want to hear… how many times does someone really ask you how your walk with God is?  I’ve been trying to be better at that and in doing so today….learned SO much about what people need and…really people’s perception of God …and the real Enemy that seeks to destroy our relationship with God.

I think as I continue in ministry and will pursue full-time ministry in a church one day, that the church just needs to really serve and care for other people.  God created us to need to be loved and accepted..to crave intimacy with one another.  In this world, we really cannot settle for its offering of “cheap, temporary and ultimately unsatisfying” love, acceptance and intimacy.

So…who are you going to reach out to today?  or who needs to reach out to you?  we all really need each other to encourage us to walk through this life with love, purpose and hope — that we can only get from God   He is the source of all goodness, all fulfillment… for always.    He never fails us.

“there is a love that never fails, there is a healing that always prevails” ~ Sara Groves

I feel so much joy writing about what God teaches me everyday–writing on this blog is my hope to encourage someone …somewhere with the good news of God

other news:

• My family booked the cruise today!  We will be going on a 7-day cruise on Carniva Glory from 9/6 to 9/13 to Belieze, Honduras, Cozumel and Bahamas.  I am very excited for family time
• I feel so loved!  Two people from my church are going to take me sightseeing in LA this Saturday, just because they know I am new   Isn’t that so sweet and thoughtful?
• I had southern food today in Pasadena (Sid, Christina and I went to Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles this morning)  hehehe..  I actually like that LA is so much more health-conscious than good ol’ Georgia.
• I am doing research on gay marriage and its interesting to hear Christian viewpoints on both sides–both for and against.  Being in seminary is really expanding my mindset to think outside the box!  How can I serve others if I am narrow minded in my own little bubble?
• Tomorrow is friends and family day at LA | Fitness…anyone wanna come with me to check it out for free?

be joyful always

keep your heart soft! July 29, 2008

I was reminded of this today.  I think the most important application of Jesus’ teaching is on forgiveness.  How many times a day do people frustrate, disappoint or hurt us?  Sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally…

Just today I felt like the cashier at the grocery check out lane seemed like he had a bad attitude and it was influencing all those he was talking to… I think customer service is really a skill all of us need to have in our every day life!! 

In a sinful world with sinful people, God does say we will encounter trouble.  I believe he stresses the importance of reconciliation, love and forgiveness because he knows sooner or later, we’re going to have to deal with a difficult person who didnt say something or didn’t do something we wish they had done!

Therefore, I think it is important to 1) continue in soaking the Lord’s presence..only be drawing your heart closer to His will you be faster to feel conviction and seek reconciliation in any small or large conflict and 2) forgive quickly and forgive often… keep your heart from being hardened by the DANGERS of bitterness, unforgiveness and resentment.. the Enemy really wants to ruin our relationships!!  3)  find ways to communicate with others… most of the time what we want to communicate is miscommunicated to the other party!  a lot of misunderstandings cause conflict and can be avoided if we learn how to express ourselves to each other!

There is always someone we need to forgive, and seek forgiveness from…and after that, we need to walk in the forgiveness.  Forgiveness is not a feeling, but obedience to what God calls us to do because God has forgiven us!  It is only by grace that we are forgiven, so we should extend that grace to others

Forgiveness for me is important because when my heart is hardened, it affects my relationship with God and others, but when my heart is soft, God can continue to mold it and shape it after His own heart

just want to remind yall too!

other updates:  today I experienced my first earthquake in CA !  I felt dizzy afterwards!  lol… it was funny because even though it wasn’t that strong in pasadena and only lasted for about 30 seconds… i found myself running to the middle of the doorway!    lol, isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?? haha..

also I finally finished my essays today for NT-Gospels, but now I need to start on the 3 papers for Christian Ethics and prepare for my World Religions class starting next Monday!  I talked to my brother and sister on the phone as well as Stephanie for a while, went to cardio kickbox class, and got caught up on a lot of busy work!  now off to shower and read “Mere Morality!”  goodnight

just a random update :) July 28, 2008

me, Shawn, Phoebe -- our Taiwan reunion!

So I have officially spent the entire day writing and trying to finish my last paper for my New Testament Gospels course.  When I said I loved learning, reading, and writing papers… It was good for me to go to Seminary because that is exactly ALL that I’ve been doing   Fuller is a good school though and I’m excited to feel more like a student in the fall

I have felt so busy lately with school work and ministy stuff, but I believe it is ALL about the time management — today i went to the gym in my NEW WORKOUT top that Stephanie mailed out to me!!  I received it today and it was the best gift because I totally have been needing a new set of work out clothes..i probably wear them more than my regular clothes..lol.  But Stephanie is a sweet girl and is so thoughtful when it comes to giving gifts… It’s a green Nike Dri Fit tank   MY fav! 

I also got Lisa’s wedding invitation today in the mail — crazy how the older we get the more marriages, babies and even deaths we’ll experience.  This September when I go home to Atlanta to visit, I’ll be apart of two weddings — Kristin from high school and Lisa from college   Cortney will be having her baby girl in November!  It’s just craziness  

So every day that passes, I feel like I see Lee Lee age faster and faster!  Her vision and hearing is getting worse, so much so that she is starting to run into things and is extremely clumsy!    I feel like it’s harder for her to chew…she walks slower and legs are starting to shake!  It’s so scary to watch her slowly age…but I love her all the same and she is still very joyful and vibrant   I’m so happy she is here with me…

other news is that I made “niu rou mein” tonight <–taiwanese dish also known as beef noodle?  i’m not sure, but hahaaha i totally didn’t have the right pot for it..i bought this pot from 99 ranch market for $20!  lol, but it turned out pretty well   my mom is a great person to ask   mmmm.. protein

one more thought..tomorrow i’m starting a term paper on homosexual marriages.  any thoughts?

i am such a procrastinater! July 27, 2008

Oh my gosh… i have this horrible realization…. I CAN’T SPELL ANYMORE!!  it’s so weird ! In middle school, I was like the SPELLING BEE CHAMP (in all modesty)  hehe..and now.. things look correctly spelled, are actually misspelled, is that the world of spell check that we live in or am I just getting older??  help!

The reason why I said that is because I don’t think I spelled procrastinater right.. let me check!  ah!  see! it’s spelled procrastinator.  now I have to leave the error just so yall can see what i’m talking about!

anyway… i am really usually so disciplined, but now that I have FIVE papers on my plate.. i find myself finding every reason to do everything OTHER than my papers…lol.  that is why i am *ahem* on my blog… lol.  I’ll really finish it tomorrow, for sure.

so a lot has happened!  This weekend I met up with Phoebe and Shawn for dinner at a Taiwanese restaurant called “Indian”….lol an indian restaurant should open up next door named..guess it? “China”  haha. anyway, it made me reminisce about high school times (MCEACHERN INDIANS) and the servers had electronic iphone-like mechanics to place our order..it was neat! 

Then Saturday night I hung out with my youth and we went to Pasadena’s Film Festival–they were showing the movie “Grease” outside at Old Town Pasadena (this place is crowded like crazy! it’s such a nice area — kind of like downtown athens but more high class!) it was really cute to watch that movie again, John Travolta is soooo young!  lol. 

Then today at church I taught on “Surrendering to God,” and I felt very empowered to teach these youth something really true to every Christian… we can all testify that following God is not easy–to deny ourselves and surrender to him is the only way to live our purpose in Him fully   I really feel passionate about speaking… I mentioned already how I’m going to be preaching at my church on August 10th!  I’ll have to update this blog with my “speech” whenever I write it

Ok.. i wanna keep this blog short and sweet..plus I got a paper to write

p.s.  Seminary?  Youth ministry?  preaching?  God’s obviously not done with surprising me… I’m working with a team to start a contemporary service at the church!!!  crazy PR skills ahead   Be praying for our church as we are starting veeeeeeeeeeeery grass roots.

XOXO

Diana Lee, loving the Sunshine, but Always a Georgia Peach.

i love my pet July 23, 2008

hello friends   i hope you all are sincerely doing well.  school has indeed been keeping me busy; now that i am out of class, I am working on papers that are due at a later date.  I am on my second text analysis now and am doing John 15 “the Vine and the Branches.”  I picked this passage because I really love it anywhere in the Bible where they talk about bearing fruit.

I think that bearing fruit is how you can tell if someone is truly following Christ or not; anyone can say they love God, but can you tell by the fruit in their life?  Jesus calls us to remain in him, so that we can bear fruit because apart from him we can do nothing.  Jesus also calls us to obey his commands to love one another… Jesus is surely an advocate for us to be ACTIVE christians, to actually be “working out” our salvation.

However, the whole passage made me think a lot about free will vs. predestination.  How much really is our choice if it is God who has chosen us and we can do nothing apart from him?  If Jesus is working in and through me, how much is really my action?  Isn’t it just my surrendering to God working? 

LOL.  Lee Lee makes me laugh!  I’m sitting on the floor with my laptop right now typing away before I shower and Lee Lee plops over, lays her head on my laptop (almost sneezes on it!) and now she’s rolled over on her back and man with such a smal nose this girl breathes really powerfully!  I can feel her breathe on my arm at least 6 inches away!  hahaha..i’m really laughing out loud..she’s so funny to me.  here are some pictures I took of her today purely for my amusement: 

I really love animals.  I find that I will never go a day without a pet around me Yesterday I almost died when i went to my friend’s house who owns a chinchilla..it was soooooooooo cute…it had the poofiest fur and the tiniest little mouse paws..haha it was so funny; then i gave it a little nut and it took it like a little squirrel and starting eating like that … OMG it was sooo cute!  so so so cute.. I love watching animals eat!  hehehe.

Ok, now i’m going off topic…but another thing i wanted to share is that i really have loved what I have been cooking this week!  I’ve been experimenting with new things and the other day i had my own new “mango chicken”  pretty tasty!  i also have been a huge fan of hummus with pita and hummus with carrots. 

God is good, still.  He is doing amazing things.  All we need to do is abide in him and we will bear fruit, that will last!

p.s.  i love jon mclaughlin’s voice so much.

p.p.s.  we are heading a contemporary worship service for our church and i think we’re going to check out a christian concernt in LA that features Michael W. Smith, Lincoln Brewster, Kutless, Leeland so the band can get a better idea of worship — keep yall posted!

universal studios !!!! July 21, 2008

Yes, I went to Universal Studios in Hollywood this past Saturday with three boys !  (lol, you can tell this picture was totally my idea…)  The Entertainment Capital of LA!

These are the boys that I teach Sunday School to at church and they are the ones that wanted to take me to universal studios for my birthday!  Isn’t that sweet?  From left to right, it’s Miller, Job and Joseph.  If you can’t tell Job and Joseph are twins!  Miller is 19 and has only been in the U.S. for one year and Job and Joseph just turned 18 and have been in the U.S. now for almost 5 years!  Miller goes to PCC, a community college in Pasadena and Job will be going to UC Santa Barbara this fall and Joseph will go to UCLA.

Even though their first language is Chines, I speak with them in English, I need to speak with them more in Chinese, but it’s so embarrassing talking to people who are already fluent! I’m getting better at reading (from church), but I need to speak it more!  Anyway, we had a really great time! 

We were there ALL DAY and experienced ALMOST everything there.  of course we spent MAJORITY of our time waiting in lines!  Why is it that amusement parks all end up being that way?  LOL..the fast pass was so ridicously expensive though!  I actually think an amusement park would be a GREAT place to bring someone you really want to get to know better because you have soooooo much opportunity to just talk when you are waiting in line..hehe.  I love playing games, i think.    hehehe… “would you rather?”  “20 questions” 

I rode the new Simpsons Ride, The Mummy Rollar coaster, Jurassic Park water ride, went in the House of Horror (it was actually pretty scary b/c there’s people that jump out at you!), watched Shrek in 4D, and went on the Studio Tour.  It was really cool because people were actually filming a movie and I got to see all the trailers and stage sets where most of the actors have been in LA! 

We got to see the scenes for a bunch of movies and I think producing a movie is sooo interesting…  it’s not really what you think!  haha.. I got to see the main lake that most movies use for their water/ocean scenes and it’s sooo funny when you really see where these actors are in real life compared to in the movies when they are acting out a scene

Anyway, being at Universal Studios actually really made me want to go watch a movie.  I’ve never seen The Mummy, but now I want to see Mummy 3 on August 1st because JET LI is in it!!! my favorite!!!  There’s a bunch of older movies though i realized I want to see and haven’t…

A Beautiful Mind

Cinderella Man

Erin Brokovich

the Schindler’s List

… i even kind of wanted to watch Jurassic Park again.  lol.  Any other suggestions?

Besides all of the fun though, it was really great to spend time with the boys.  I feel so excited everytime I talk with them about God at church, but it’s equally important to spend time with them outside of church.  I really do feel like God is working on their hearts and am excited about it…  member when I told yall yesterday that I taught on repentance?  Well, one of the boys emailed me today and let me know that he wanted me to pray for him in a particular area he wanted to repent from!  WOW!  it was such a wonderful moment that he would come to me like that……. I love love love love being able to encourage someone in the Lord

Anyway, just wanted to share with yall my experiences   Oh and I found out Miller is a Jay Chou fan too!    A BIG PLUS!!!  <i’m actually listening to him right now!>

Daily Thoughts on God… July 20, 2008

Today, I taught my Sunday School a lesson on repentance from Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted..”  Another meaning of ‘mourn’ in Greek is ‘repentance.’  I think it’s important to remember it’s not how many times you sin, but how QUICKLY you feel convicted to repent… I think when God sees us feeling bad about our sin to the point that we want to turn from our sin and turn from Him in repentance, He is really pleased.   

One time Andy Stanley gave this message I’ve always remembered, he said if God is the source of all peace, all joy, all freedom…then when we are turn away from God by walking in our sin, we are turning away from ALL peace, joy and freedom !!  Have you ever thought about that? 

Therefore, the whole point of us repenting is not simply just the act of repenting, but to recognize that God calls us to live a repentant life to keep us trusting in Him.. He has better things in store for us than the sin “that so easy entangles us.”

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart,

            lean not on your understanding

                               in all of your ways acknowledge Him

                                          and He will make your paths straight ~ Prov. 3:5-6

I was reminded today simply that often times our sins show us how much we lack trust in God and really try to take things into our own hands…

For example, today the message in church was on “busy schedules.”  I was so convicted because I am one to LOVE being soo busy and filling my schedule and piling on my plate MORE than i can chew…  I like to be “busy” because it makes me feel “productive” and “efficient.”  However, I wrote down two things the pastor said that really stuck with me… he said:

“life is not a RACE, but a JOURNEY…”

“It’s not how FAST we live..but how WELL”

That really applies to me as I’m sure of many others who live in this fast-paced, rushed society.  Statistically we are working more hours and sleeping less hours than we did 100 years ago! 

So… right now my schedule is PRETTY FULL… with Seminary Classes, Serving/Leading in a Youth Ministry, being involved in two small groups (one youth ministry, one women)….take up a lot of time and that doesn’t count in social time, working out, cooking, sleeping, taking care of Lee Lee, time with the Lord.. 

well the thing I was convicted of today was how I actually wanted to find ANOTHER part-time job to work so that I wouldn’t be living with such a tight budget that I do (with my church income and loan check..i pretty much will live “paycheck” to “paycheck”)  and I thought.. “I can handle this!” 

I seem to always want to fill my schedule with more and more and in a way I realized today it showed my lack of trust in God.  I want to load my time up with an insignificant part-time job that would not be an effective use of my time just to make a few more dollars a month for my own pleasure?  hm.

So today I decided that I would make it a point to say if I have extra time in my schedule for a part-time job, i can commit to weekly volunteering…serving others in my time …and living simply so that I am not using all of my money but simply cutting back more…

So Repentance.  Trusting in God.  Is there something that you can think of that stands in the way of trusting in God?  A bad attitude?  A bad habit?  Disobedience?  Worrying? 

I pray that God would encourage you wherever you are to know that His way is better!  If we let go of the things we hold onto so tightly, we’ll see that it wouldn’t have been to our benefit anyway in the long run to have kept going about it the way we had initially thought.  Keep your faith in the One who is the Source of all Goodness and Truth !

p.s.  Newsweek has an interesting article on the “Faith of Barack Obama..”  You should read it!

random pictures :) July 18, 2008

the GA PEACH license I mentioned in my earlier blog :) isn’t that cool?

Sunny D :) this is what Stephanie calls me for a nickname and I was talking to her on the phone when i saw this whole case! yay for sunny D!

my little peanut…lol..it gets hot at night so i put this little ice pack on lee lee and she likes it! LOL

:) i love my camera! it’s able to take such clear pictures… i was taking a walk with lee lee and saw this on the way..it’s not everyday you see a purple flower!

what do you think this is ? heheh… it’s actually a sewer lid with “D” on it and of course i had to take a pic

My classmate Boram, from Korea, she really liked lee lee! “hang sang ke bo harah!”

Christian Ethics Class! we celebrated at CPK today after the final — my first experience eating at CALIFORNIA pizza kitche in CA :) hehe!

You can click on the pictures to see them bigger if you’d like  

Two pieces of news:  My church has asked me to PREACH on sunday morning (aug 10th)  isn’t that crazy?  Me?  Preaching?  Pray for me!  I will be speaking to an ALL CHINESE ADULT congregation… crazy where God is bringing me!!!!

Other.. I made an A on my Christian Ethics Midterm!!

-hang sang ke bo harah is korean for BE JOYFUL ALWAYS!

sweet southern comfort … carry on :) July 17, 2008

Aww.. the gool ol’ south.  today, as I was walking to school i was listening to country on my ipod , and there’s just something about country music that really lifts my spirits!  THEN Buddy Jewel’s “sweet southern comfort” came on and my heart just melted… no matter where I am.. the idea of the south always gives me such a happy nostalgic feeling.. yall know what i mean? hehe..

anyway, tomorrow I have my final exam in my second class, Christian Ethics.  this will be the THIRD friday in a row I’ve had an exam!  crazy.. my brain really feels overloaded, but I can honestly say that knowledge is such a good thing.. i love love love learning:

two book recommendations from class: 

“Strength to Love” by MLK

“Just Generosity:  Overcoming Poverty in America” by Ron Sider

MLK is like my new hero.  Wow!  There is truly strength in a nonviolent approach to the injustices in the world.  Did yall actually know that in the beatitude when it says “if someone strikes your cheek..turn the other..etc” that it’s actually a call to expose injustice and follow peacemaking practices? 

I used to think it was just ‘being passive’ and letting the person abusing you to get their way.. HOWEVER Jesus is teaching quite the opposite!  To turn your cheek so that the person would strike you with their LEFT hand was the highest form of insult b/c the left hand was considered extremely dirty…you would do “unclean” things with the left…therefore to turn your cheek so that the person who striked you would have to use their left hand would EXPOSE their injustice..so all those watching would say “whoa, he truly is being injust to that person”…kind of like the nonviolent way that Rosa Parks sat in the front of the bus…to expose the injust…

anyway, yall have to read MLK’s “Strength to Love” because it is a small book of his sermons.  HE IS SUCH A SPEAKER.  So inspiration and So knowledgable and SUCH the heart of Christ.  Yall have to read it!

Anyway, just to go into further updates:

• SATURDAY I AM GOING TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS with the boys that i teach sunday school too ( 2 twin high schoolers and 1 college)  b/c they want to treat me for my bday!  isn’t that sweet?  i can’t wait to tell yall all about it   My first California experience.. all i need now is Disneyland hehe
• I brought Lee Lee to campus with me yesterday and people thought she was soo cute   i’m so proud.. remember that her 15th birthday is on August 1st!
• I love “what are the chances of this?” moments…and the other day in my car… the car in front of me had a california license that said “GA PEACH” on it!!! how cute was that ! i was totally excited and took bunch of pictures….what are the chances of that ONE car with georgia pride in california to be the car in front of me AT THAT TIME , AT THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION?  if he/she had driven any faster, taken any other roads, i wouldn’t have seen them!  i loooooove moments like that.
• Youth Ministry stuff is going really well.. my christian ethics class is giving me so many ideas of living out biblical stuff in the church and is really preparing me for full-time ministry, we have some fun activities coming up in July/August where we are planning to go to a film festival, volunteer, go to the Getty Museum in LA and have a pool party..in September we should be starting the youth group!
• I am coming home in September and my family is going on a cruise together!
• For me personally — I am really loving cooking more and more!  My hair is getting longer, but I trimmed my bangs yesterday again, and I am still working out daily!  (and playing tennis!)
• I am starting a new group next week that meets with other youth ministry leaders in California, to pray and encourage each other so i’m really excited about that support
• i put together a 6ft bookshelf all by myself in my room–so now my room looks even better w/frames and books   I also am thinking of a way to put up alll the sweet cards yall have sent me!!

Hayley you are sooooooooooo sweet for sending me such a thoughtful card   Tiffany, too, for your email.  Yall are so thoughtful to think of me and encourage me!  I am so blessed!

Back to studying I go   Tomorrow I’m arguing a case against divorce and racism in my paper!  I’m all for love and justice hehe!

eeeeeeeeeeee