Christmas

I guess this doesn't count as a UNT adventure, so technically, this is a FAULTY and FALSE entry, because this is the journal of my UNT adventures, but you know what????

I just want you to know.

That I did in fact have a lovely and splendid Christmas.

Of the many highlights.... well, I'll name 'em

- I had been reading through the prophecies of Isaiah in December so I was eagerly awaiting the celebration of the Christ child as I had never been before! Along with my chocolate filled advent calendar....
- Had a full house, got to see people I absolutely adore and cherish moments with... always good

(Don't hate me for being cliche)

I already had everything I ever wanted. I'm not even exaggerating.

I did get a bunch of stuff I did find really cool! Instruments and digital photo album viewers and $$ and bling bling! Bada-bing

- Got to meet new potential family! new faces on Christmas is smile-worthy!
- got to sing carols, and if you're reading this blog, you know I love that.

CHRISTMAS PRANK: Our parents always make us wait till they're awake and we all gather together to open presents. Me and Jessie got up before the parents and thought we'd give them a scare by making noise by tearing newspaper and screaming. It was pretty funny...


Thanks for reading, friends... I hope all of your holidays were lovely.

What a joy, what a gift we were given, what a wonder is free grace, what a miracle is this Immanuel, God with us....

Goodbye

Goodbye, Denton.

I will miss you.
I will be thinking of you and your lovely people until we meet again.


It's been so much fun.

affectionately, Rachey

Nonsense

Sometimes, when I am at a loss for words, I talk and gibberish comes out.

It's all well and good around friends. They know. Sometimes there just isn't a word in the internal vocab bank for what's going on.

But sometimes it's not okay.

I literally speak gibberish when I am around a cute boy. I can't make a coherent remark.
I try to think of something witty and interesting and charming, and all he hears is "Aafeiowtaglj rasjkf pliaefnck?"

If I do happen upon the power of the English language, it's usually to say something brilliant like, "Pumice stones! Bicycle tire! .... (attempt at compliment) you've got nickels in your tomatoes?"
I'm exaggerating, of course (about the random nouns, gibberish is for real) - but I tend to say weird things.

I guess I should be grateful the victim mostly ignores me.

I got called strange a lot by the last boy I liked. I sure earned it...
For some reason, when I'm around a cute boy, wearing and doing bizarre things feels normal. Why are my socks on my hands? I don't know, this must be part of your spell on me.

Why am I pouring salt in my tea?
Why am I making a "dirt angel" in the ground?

The sad part is, I'm always attracted to the serious, moody, no-nonsense types, who like thoughtful girls that can, well, speak intelligibly at the least.

I'm a silly person, for sure, but around 99% of the population, I can speak and joke around just fine. Normal silliness.
But you'll know when I'm around someone I find attractive.... you'd be suprised what happens sometimes

Merry Christmas Daniel

The End (If You Want It)

I feel like the school year has already ended...
All I have to do is take two finals, one on thursday and one on friday, and then I go home.

Thus ends the wonderfulness known as semester one of college.

I guess I shouldn't be so suprised that it was so much fun - UNT was my dream college after all! I feel like I really have been living one big dream since I came...

But! I'll spare you a silly reminiscing post and get right to the junk I'm doing right now! >:D

Getting loads of sleep, I love not having to wake up for 8ams every morning! Ahh! I can't tell you what else I'm doing because a lot of it is involved with Christmas suprises!

I did have a really swell afternoon with the guys playing pranks and watching Pokemon episodes! Haha! And I saw my first episode of Digimon. Too bad I had been watching Pokemon before - it just wasn't as awesome in comparison.

I didn't know this, but Pokemon has a Christmas episode! I watched it! It was kind of precious!!
I hope that all of you are having a wonderful Advent season... as we prepare for the celebration of the birth of the Christ child!
God is leading me into boldness. Of course I'm not naturally terribly bold, but by the Spirit I am empowered to do all things.

Joy to the world... let earth recieve her King. =)

Bubbly

Today was even more stupdendous than usual.

Me and Maggie went to Hobby Lobby and spent the day making crafts and singing songs!
>:D (<---ferociously happy about this.)

I can't tell you about what I made! It's a secret!

But we also went to the Stroud house and had dinner. Delicious soup, brussel sprouts, mm good! Kerr just can't make vegetables taste as good as homecooked...which is why sometimes I end up just eating pasta there!

It was such a good day. I'm all tuckered out. Tomorrow will be really, really fun.

I dance and sing so much these days. I haven't even been watching musicals. It's just... I'm so full of joy, I'm like a shook-up soda pop

D-day

So Friday was Dead day, all classes were cancelled (funny enough, I don't have class on Friday to begin with)
So what ended up happening was that I just slept through Friday.
I did wake up at 6, chilled out with the kids next door.

Made me realize... I'm going to miss all the art kids next semester. =(

The past few days have been just.... a total crazy blur.
Today was the first day I didn't have some huge project over my head. Freedom is a weird feeling.

It kind of feels ....like being asleep, I guess. But I guess I've even forgotten how good that feels.

Just a note. I really feel grateful towards so many people right now... like an extreme amount of gratitude.

hugs. -Rachey

Good things

I had the most wonderful day today.

My design class let out early after we turned in our notebooks.
Oh, I made a 100 on my last design quiz >:D yessss

My Comm Design class was cancelled! Study time!

Then me and Britni made brownies for parish. She's such a sweetheart. And she loves the Lord so.
I actually just love everyone in my parish and everyone at C3. Man! I'm so blessed. I just want to praise the Lord for leading me to such godly friends.

You know what? I just want to praise Him for this whole semester. It's just been more wonderful than I could have ever imagined.

Now to work on my big drawing project.

Remember friends! We're called to love..

God is Awesome

God is good, all the time.
All the time, God is good.

Simple faith.

It's so hard to just remember, amidst all the noise of life, that God is good.

~

I was exhorted the other day, and the encourager meant well, but it reminded me, the goal of my attempts at good works is not so that my brothers and sisters can pat me on the back and say, "Good job, Rachel."
By nature, I really am a selfish and unkind person. By the Spirit, I am trying to follow in my Savior's footsteps.

This is my confession. The sin of pride creeps in to try to warp the desire to glorify God into glorifying myself.

In the past, it was always about that pat on the back. Words of affirmation. They were like a drug to me. I had to keep getting that fix.

Exhortation and encouragement are two wonderful things, created for our blessing, and growth in Spirit.
But when you are encouraged, it's easy to slip into the mindset of, "Yeah, they're right. I'm awesome!" Instead of, "This is fruit of the Spirit, God is awesome."

Every good thing comes from the Father.

In the Father's eyes, the sackcloth of humility is like kingly robes.

Merry Christmas Darling

Collage Project!

This is my autobiographical narrative project!

I could explain all of it, but that would be rewriting my whole Design essay.

Anyway..
I saw this tweet and thought of Daniel.

Psalm 116

Says everything.

Psalm 116
1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.

2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
"Lord, save me!"

5 The Lord is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.

6 The Lord protects the unwary;
when I was brought low, he saved me.

7 Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.

8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,

9 that I may walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

10 I trusted in the Lord when I said,
"I am greatly afflicted";

11 in my alarm I said,
"Everyone is a liar."

12 What shall I return to the Lord
for all his goodness to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.

14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful servants.

16 Truly I am your servant, Lord;
I serve you just as my mother did;
you have freed me from my chains.

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the Lord.

18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,

19 in the courts of the house of the Lord—
in your midst, Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord.

Bologna

I may have mentioned this earlier but....
I just love "bad" music. Well, what makes most people gag. I got sucked into it.. it's like a black hole.

You know what I'm talking about, right?
.... cheesy 90's music. Yes. Also, Justin Bieber.
Don't judge. I think it's cute..

But after listening to *NSYNC sing about "dirty pop".... I had the clever idea of googling 90's Christian Music.

That's how I came across this band called Plus One. ..Okay, technically, they were big in the 2000s, but still.

Even if you think it sounds dumb, and some of it I concede is so NSYNC-y that you might not like it, you should still check out their song "Be Love." It's just so good.

I still consider myself a trustworthy source of decent music! I listen to good music also! Jon Foreman is always there to remind me of what real music sounds like...

Well, you might not care so much about that, but I got a pretty swell grade on my issue development portfolio, along with a comment from my teacher that I was a "strong writer."

Darn! Dumb old design project's due tomorrow. I have it 98% done. all I have to do is mount it on some bristol board.

I only say "dumb old" because the project is "tarot cards" and we have to make them and then analyze what they mean. I'm not going to be obnoxious about how I think it's bologna, but I mean.... there will be commentary in my analysis that definitely suggests the bologna-eque nature of this assignment.

On a brighter note, the C3 clothing drive is today. So I can finish these tarot cards and skip on down to church again....

You know, the art department could really use more Jesus.
It's almost a shame that I'm leaving it.

God is faithful!

J&J's!

So!!! Last night was pretty fun! and of course it was, because it was a show!

A show with bands with friends! And friends in bands! And lovely music.

Nathan Miller and the Loverlies played first! It was fun playing djimbe! I've grown to really love the sound of miscellaneous percussion as opposed to a full trap set.

Then was the Cumulonimbus Band! In which the esteemed Mr Jon Ladner was playing and singing! The lyrics of their songs were so clever. That guy is a strange bird! In a good way.

Then Across Waters played! I feel a little bad because it's hard for me to appreciate instrumental music live, I like listening to it with eyes closed in the privacy of my own contemplation, but their stuff is energetic and pulls me onboard the groove train anyway!

.... I love Denton

Here we go a-wassailing!

I always said "wuh-sale" when I read wassail.
So that was a shocker, the first time someone said "Wossle"
But!! Wassail-fest was such a complete and total BLAST.

I got to Christmas carol again - it's such a joy, joy joy! =D

And then there was lots of free fun stuff! Like free hot chocolate! And "puppy chow" which is .... chex mix with powdered sugar and peanut butter.. I think

But it was really really fun! I had a great night!
The Denton square at night always fills my heart with joy. it's so lovely.

And Brave Combo!! I've been listening to them since I was a wee tot!
So....that was really cool.

Next post:
Tomorrow night the Loverlies will be playing at J&J's pizza - sounds like another night of smiles, love and laughter to me!! =)

Watercolor

I've always loved watercolor. It's so beautiful. My favorite medium of all time.

Both of my Design and Drawing final projects gave us a choice of what medium we wanted to use - so, no surprise, I chose watercolor.

I found out I can't do watercolor for Drawing, though, it has to be achromatic - oops. I really like charcoal though - I'll just do that instead!

But I can't very well write about how much I love watercolor without including some of my own works that I painted in Design today!

This is going to be for design I think - I painted it from an image I came up with digitally.

This is a watercolor "cover" of a photograph I took of my brother putting his hands around a candle. It's called "The Modern Prometheus."

A practice charcoal of the snake I'm going to incorporate in a conceptual drawing....

Have a fantastic day!

Dreams, Pt. 2

You could call this a hope for the future!

I want to go to Japan. I don't know how long I'll be there.
It could be a few weeks. It could be a summer. It could be a year.. or years.
I haven't figured that part out.

But this has been a hope of mine for a long time. It's not new.

There has been a change in my long-term hopes list.

The list looks like this.

-graduate from college, major in Advertising!
-before I get a "real job" go intern with The Simple Way
http://www.thesimpleway.org/local/internship-program/
-take what I learn from The Simple Way and put it into practice in Japan!


In a perfect world...

I don't know whether this could be realized or not - but this is a far-fetched sort of plan for the future.
If it's God's will, then it will happen!

Time will tell!


What I learned today:

I am a very silly person. Alarmingly silly, actually!
I need to not only keep soaking up doctrine and truth being poured into me, but continue seek it out. There's so much I want to know!

A Dream Come True

When I was little I wanted to be a lot of things.

I wanted to be a glass-blower at one time.
I wanted to be an artist - along with half the other kids my age
But most of all, I wanted to be an author.

I wanted to be an author so badly, and I was so sure of myself, I thought that at age 18, I would be the world's most successful author.
I wanted to have a book published by 15 ... imagine that

I remember I wanted a lot of things, too. I wanted a house with a hundred floors.


It wasn't so long ago that I had a dream that I got all of those things, I woke up and everything was there. Funny huh, dreaming that all your dreams came true?


But as I grew and reality set in, my dreams changed... fame was more important than the book, a man was more important than the house...

Strange!

And as I matured in faith, my dreams changed again. Simple dreams. Simple groanings of my heart, so basic in nature that I can hardly describe them.

It's true - eternity was placed in the heart of man.

And all those groanings, my heart's hand outstretched, was met and grasped by the Love it was reaching for.Finger by finger, the perfect fit. The perfect remedy. The perfect answer to the desolate question.

Words, even thoughts only paint an image of the joy that overwhelmed me like ... in the words of David Crowder, a hurricane.

Now I can't help but realize, that when I close my eyes at the end of the day, I am living my dream come true. In every regard.

As we pursue God, our desires become more like His desires. And as Scripture says, seek ye first the kingdom, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

God's goodness is being repeated like a beautiful chorus, a catchy song I hear on the radio, it just won't stop echoing in my life. God is good. And then I'm given some new treasure that I don't deserve - over and over again. Grace..... it's overwhelming

don't forget your First Love
and because He loved me... He taught me how to love.
And it is only through Him that I can honestly say

that I really and truly love you, friends

Kitchenstuff

I really enjoy baking. Cooking, not so much.
I'm not very good at either, honestly - I'm kind of a terror in the kitchen...

But me and my sister made some pretty delicious corn casserole for Thanksgiving! (We "forgot" to add cheese. but neither of us are big fans of cheese... it's a twin thing)

And today I made some brownies! I just can't help myself. Baking is just so, so fun, especially the eating of the dough/batter/unfinished baked good.
Granted, it was a Ghiradelli brownie mix, but still! I had to put it together! haha

I'm writing a paper on Martin Luther and his 95 Theses. It's easy for me to write about - and it gets me thinking about corruption and materialism in the modern-day Church.

I'm sure Shane Claiborne has a lot to say about it.

Anyway - I hope all of you are having a fantabulous and lovely holiday.

with love, Rachel

Thanksgiving's Eve

Home for Thanksgiving! My little brother Daniel is getting so tall and grown-up. It boggles my mind!

I took my mom to my two favorite places in Denton: Sukho Thai and Naranja for boba tea!!! I don't know if she enjoyed them as much as I did, but still...

I went shopping at Plato's closet for the first time today.
I got a buncha clothes! and a Sgt. Pepper-esque jacket. Also, since I apparently don't have enough knitted sweaters, I got another one - it's purple.

And, best of all, I got to see my dearly loved friends that I have been missing for a long time.

There's nothing like the embrace of people you cherish

Turn that smile right side up!

The day always turns out to be a strange one when you take too big of a nap.

But this morning I had a critique, and I think it went alright. One of the pieces I turned in was the one on black I posted last time! This is the other one!
It's a curtain... if you can't tell..

Had breakfast at Jack in the Box again this morning - their breakfast grilled cheese sandwich was fantastic! I asked for no meat and it was just eggs and cheese! Delicious! Even thinking about it is making me hungry again!
(Critique mornings, I usually take more time gathering up my works and sometimes I miss breakfast...)

After my two morning classes I was done for the day, so I took a nap. a very big nap. I guess I needed to catch up on some sleep haha.
That, and I was feeling pretty stressed.

Design isn't really going that well. I am trying my best of course...
I emailed my teacher to ask if there was something I could do, but there isn't anything. So I was very sad and frustrated.. but a good sleep can really help you feel refreshed.

But, on the brighter side:
Drawing is going super-fantastically.
So is Intro to Communication Design!
Honors Classical Argument is tough in different ways, but I think I'm doing well since I got an A on my midterm, and I've been doing all my homework! (I say I think, because she doesn't post grades on blackboard.)

I thought I'd post some old projects from Drawing! Feet and stuff!



Have a lovely day, and if you don't, take a nap =) you'll feel loads better!

Mission: Pedicure

You know, for a Monday, today was pretty swell! haha.

We're doing a card project in design. Right now we're working on my favorite part - the concept - and I'm trying to decide what media to do my cards in...

The drawing workload is so intense! It's a good thing I really enjoy it. =) Design requires so much precision..

The Comm Design Portfolio review is swiftly approaching, along with a slew of other final projects. I just feel like I'm on that bumpy part of the roller coaster, waiting, waiting for the big drop where I'm going to have to just hold on and ride out the madness.
But as far as happenings go, I got my first mani-pedi ever today. Now my nails are buffed, shiny, and .... pink.
...YesIt was 5$ for the whole thing, hands and feet! The BSM put it on, they're raising money for missions! And I thought, if I'm ever going to get one of these "mani-pedi" things, it should be now! for a good cause!

It was really fun! I got my feet massaged and washed and ...lotionized? My feet felt like rose petals after!


This is subtractive work - I started off with black paper and added white conte crayon to it! it was different!

I also went to the girls night briefly! The only thing I love more than argyle is plaid pajama pants! =)

Not long until Thanksgiving, my friends! I will see you soon!

Give and take

Hey-la-lo-ah!

It's good to be back in Denton. I did go home for the weekend!

Aledo seems like such a distant memory. There are some things I can remember really well, but the people I spent time with are off on their own adventures. As am I of course!

I guess the whole world feels like a different place. I like to think that I've changed, and even Denton itself is turning over to winter.
This first semester is a season in itself... a season of learning and soaking up and delighting in the Lord.. I hope that the next season will allow me to repay the people around me for all the kindness they have shown me.

The years, since 2004, have gotten progressively better... Until here, where I am completely befuddled and bewildered as to how every moment could contain so much joy and blessing. What could the future have in store?

I keep in mind, though, that all these things are gifts. It's only through God's grace that I am able to study here. Sometimes I wonder if I, like Job, am being blessed in preparation for some trial. But even if all these wonderful things I write about were taken away, I hope that my faith would be strong enough so that my first response would be to praise God...

I heard a pastor say, "You shouldn't love anything on earth so much that if it were taken away it would impair your ability to worship."
So I enjoy and hold these blessings with open hands.

Thank you, Lord...

Theatricality

How I've missed Sukho Thai!! Had a most terrific lunch there today.

We had another field trip in Drawing. It wasn't super productive, but I did find a concept I really liked.

Me and Elise cooked eggplant today. The recipie called for weird things like mint and garlic and spices, so I was a little unsure of whether I would like it... but it was delicious! We also ate spinach quiche.

This evening, to help children that suffer from abuse, Nathan Miller and the Loverlies played another show! This time it was at the Hydrant, a Christian coffeeshop. I got to try out the ...kahona?? (however you spell it..) Anyway, it's a fabulous percussive instrument. I wish I were better with my hands - djimbe and hand-drums are so cool sounding.

I've been pretty disappointed with Season 2 of Glee. I just kept watching it hoping it would get better. And now, finally, an episode has come with a ray of hope. "The Substitute" was the first really great episode of season 2. The Umbrella/Singin' in the Rain mashup was fantastic!!!

Mr. Schuester is such a theatrical man. I might be inspired enough to do something crazy. Like jumping around, singing showtunes to strangers...

Oh, in celebration of the Harry Potter premiere tonight...

I've been doing the whole Hermione look these days, I think...

Oh, and while I'm thinking about lookalikes, does this girl remind you of anyone?

Her name is Sofia Coppola!

Take care, friends =)

Screwtape and stumbles

After I finished Coffeeshop Gospel, I kind of stopped reading anything outside of textbooks and the Bible, two things that I can't afford not to read.

But The Screwtape Letters might be my new favorite book. I loved it so much that I started and finished it, today.

It sounds like it'd be scary... letters from demons? And to some extent it is unsettling, but mostly, it's funny and enlightening.
I think I did well on a test today. So that's good news.

Aside from that, today wasn't as much fun, but tomorrow has exciting plans! =)

OH - and a friendly reminder...

If you believe, as I do, that Christ Jesus is Lord, and you follow Him, then you are my brother/sister, you are my family, you are always welcome to message/visit me when you are lonely, seeking truth, in need of prayer, anything really.

Actually this applies to everyone - but I wanted to assure my brothers and sisters that I consider them as such.

To you who also pursue truth: don't let me spread false doctrine. If I write something untrue, or say something that isn't true, please tell me. And call me out when I screw up. I really need people to hold me accountable.

One last thing: I came across an old post and I realized that instead of writing the details of my day, recently I just have been writing about new spiritual truths that I want to share. Perhaps that's not interesting to read.... but those things really have become the details of my day - there's less of UNT that I have left to discover, and more and more, I'm finding out there's a lot about God I have yet to discover.

You have my love and affection, dear friends.

Mercy

Today was another fantabulous one. For three reasons.

1. I woke up on time.
2. My design critique went well!
3. Something cool happened this afternoon!

This afternoon (in reference to #3) me and some brothers and sisters gathered outside in a courtyard and just celebrated Jesus. Celebrated the beauty of grace! And it was good. =)

Later me and Maria went on a wild goose chase looking for this restaurant I really wanted to check out! We found it though! If at first you don't succeed...

Man. I am so glad.. so thankful I know the Lord. His very nature is drawing me closer to Him, because He is so good and merciful. I was overwhelmed with this truth when I read 1 Chronicles 21. That whole chapter is a beautiful story.

To sum it up, David shames Israel and sins against God. But he realizes it and says to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.” (verse 8)

So then Gad, David's seer, tells him he has three possible punishments, three options, and that he gets to choose.

A. Three years of famine
B. Three months of being swept away before enemies
or C. Three days of the sword of the Lord (plagues, the angel of the Lord)

David says "Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

14 So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead.
15 And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was doing so, the Lord saw it and was grieved because of the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.”

... He was GRIEVED! Because of the suffering of man!
And so he had mercy on man even then, before Christ.. We justly deserve punishment, and God is just, but He had mercy and sent a Savior to take our punishment.

The song "Great is Thy Faithfulness" keeps repeating over and over in my mind. It's never been a favorite song of mine... until now. Its lyrics fully describe how I'm feeling...

Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

"Morning by morning new mercies I see" That phrase keeps popping up in my mind throughout the days... each day I learn more about God's good nature. He shuts up the mouths of lions that roar about me, and has even shut up the mouth of the great lion that prowls about, Satan - He overcame death so that we could be with him. Man...... wow....

Anyway - cardboard testimonies are this wednesday, I'll be showing mine again, I can't wait to tell people, "Look what God did!"

thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever will be.
Take care my friends. =)

Loverly

Concert #2 of the weekend. All this musicking is filling my heart to its brim with joy.. and then some.

There were a lot of acts going on, too many to write about, so if you're reading this and you're not included... I still like you.. a lot

I was very happy to join the Loverlies. A buncha people told me I "looked like I was having a good time."
This is very true. I WAS having a good time. It's hard not to smile when you're surrounded by people you love dearly. And the Loverlies are among those people.


I post a lot of blogs, I think. But I like to record the day's events... it helps me drink the moments slowly, like a rich coffee. There are so many good things going on. I always feel overwhelmed with gratitude, and I feel compelled to thank the world for its kindnesses. And if this is my broadcast to it... I want to say thank you. I guess I say things like that often.

As often as I say thank you, as often as I say "I'm blessed" and as often as I say that I'm loving life here, I mean it with the same conviction as the first few entries.

If nothing else I hope you know that. If you're reading this blog, for whatever reason, you cared enough about me to read it, and I want you to know I love you. And I want you to take delight in every moment. Drink it in. Drink it slowly. Your very existence is a voice in the choir of creation... sing with passion.

Join me - dance with me, laugh with me, because you are my brother or sister, and let's celebrate!! for God is good and grace is ours.

Darcy, North of Autumn, and Seryn show!

The legendary Denton bands are as good as the stories say.

Darcy, North of Autumn, and Seryn are musical champions! It was a really fun concert.
Seryn was AMAZING. Crazy good stuff. They transitioned really well from song to song. And their drummer was fantastic - he kept moving from instrument to instrument.
I might overuse the word crazy in my description, but that's the word that keeps coming to mind. Crazy beats.
They harmonized really well, it reminded me of Fleet Foxes, or Frontier Ruckus.
North of Autumn sounded a bit like Kings of Leon or Gavin Degraw. I didn't really like their style so much, but they played well, and their first song was fantastic! The rest were good too. But not my cup of java..
Gosh! I don't even like java, haha.
I may be a little biased, because I know two of the people in Darcy, but their music sounds the most like what I would listen to. Their style is so, for lack of a better word, cute... it made me think of Owl City (they used a xylophone)

I love that kind of thing!

There's another concert tonight, gosh I love live music!

Rain is romantic

It's hard to walk alone in the rain without wondering if there will ever be a boy to share an umbrella with me.

But it's hard to imagine a happier place to be than where I am now... I couldn't ask for more.

So often I'm tempted by memories of kisses and companionship. Maybe one day a godly man will sweep me off my feet. But for now... I just want to fall more and more in love with Jesus

Wonderment

Lately it's become very evident that I'm meant to be exactly and precisely here. I find myself overwhelmed with the desire to worship. By the wonder of it all.

It's the happiest wonderment I've ever known. God, why do You love me so much? Why are You giving me all these things I don't deserve? Why when I ask for breadcrust, You set before me a feast?

I feel strongly that I'm just MEANT to be here. Specific needs, weak points that needed to be challenged and refined... God's meeting me at every angle. Moving and working in every breath.

I stumble and I'm not always a great 'shining light' in places of darkness.... but I desire to be strong enough to shine and transform hateful things into beautiful things, to turn rebellion into reconciliation.
And that, of course, is what I hope for most of all..
That the people I meet are brought closer to Jesus through my living.

I love you my precious brothers and sisters. So much.

The Wind is Blowing

You know what I keep re-learning?

That if we ask, we shall recieve... God provides us with what we need.

I keep thinking, I'm going to have to get through this on my own, or this is just something I need to adapt to, but God shows me that there's no way that I can! And He makes a way!

Old afflictions suddenly dissolved. Deep aches in my heart were filled with love and peace and I am completely satisfied.

We give our lives and our hearts to God, and He takes all of us, even our darkest parts, so that He can sculpt us into holiness.

But ahh! I want God to shine from my actions. Every day my footsteps should write out the Gospel. I hear "godly woman" and this image pops up in my head of what I've always wanted to look like. And step by step, God is correcting me... so that one day I might finally look like that godly woman

A friend of mine said that the Hebrew word for Holy Spirit is also the word they use for "wind"
But when I feel the tug of the Spirit, I realize that's what it feels like. A strong wind.
The wind is blowing here in Denton, God is moving, greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city!

Boba Fett Tea

I feel totally renewed and refreshed.
Everything is beautiful.

The stress has just been ironed out of the fabric of my mind.
Like it was a puddle and someone dropped a Shamwow on it, and sucked all that stress away.

I am learning patience and self-control.

Today was just lovely though. Everything went so well.
Obviously, life isn't all smiles, we live in a fallen world, but sometimes I get so caught up in these unbelievably happy circumstances that I have moments of thinking that life "couldn't be better."

I'm grateful. I'm so blessed.

I hope that my scary goals in the future turn out ok in the end. I am trying to keep my eyes on what I can do today, and not worry about the future that I have no control over.

Went and had my first "boba tea" ..
No, not like Boba Fett!

Boba tea is like tea with milk and little balls in it called bobas, in America we sometimes call it "bubble tea" it's the best!!
My new favorite drink!

A diagram of the tea:

and the boba itself!


CHECK THIS OUT!!!!!!

It's a list of kind things to do for others! Really nice ideas!

http://www.helpothers.org/ideas.php?op=deck-ideas#clubs