Sunday, August 28, 2005

you know you're not a freshman when......

the boys across the hall are loud and you call them immature
you aren't as eager to try new things
you're very content with hermitting
you dont talk about yourself as much
you cant stay up past 12am and feel alive
the new acquaintances of last year are your good friends of this year.
and the list goes on......

so i'm back for round two of college. i must admit it's more than wonderful seeing the familiar faces of old that i've missed so much this summer. and i suppose i'm not as green with envy as I'd thought i would be when i look at the freshmen. i feel like an old grandmother thinking many "back when I was a freshmen" thoughts. bittersweet for sure. I've had my opportunity to enjoy the past, now it's time to venture into the future and maturity has nothing to do with it.



"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
-jeremiah 29:11

Saturday, August 20, 2005

closing time..time for you to go out to the places you will be from.......

this summer has been a summer of reality for me in terms of my relationship with my family and my relationship with others. amidst all that, I experienced what it's like to balance work and serving God. In many ways, I feel like the events of the past are God's means of preparing us for the future.

Two of the most important things I've learned this summer are that God is true to his promises and that he is an abundant provider. God promises us that he will never give us more than we can handle. He often brings us back to him through trials as well as molds us to become better witnesses through our struggles. Sometimes, God can use the hardships in our lives to impact the lives of others. It's funny, I know for myself, it's easy to have knowlege of things but knowing God's truth in my heart is a different story.

proverbs 2: 6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding

as this new school year approaches, it feels almost the same as it did a year ago except with less excitement. dont get me wrong, there are many things I'm looking foward to. Unfortunately, there's this strange sense of weariness towards the future, an uncertainty of the things to come, confusion about the decisions I have to make, frustrations about the choices I've made, and the changes that come with the progression of time. God is good all the time and while we are sinners, he is full of grace and faithfulness, abundant in his provisions for all the doubts in our lives.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you

through all the people I've encountered this summer, I've also learned that there is hope.

Blue Skies- Point of Grace
On days of gray
When doubt clouds my view
It's so hard to see past my fears

My strength seems to fade
And it's all I can do
To hold on, 'til the light reappears

Still, I believe though some rain's bound to fall
That you're here next to me
And you're over it all

Lord, the sky's still blue
For my hope is in you
You're my joy
You're the dream that's still alive

Like the wind at my back
And the sun on my face
You are life
You're grace
You are blue skies
You're my blue skies

When nights are long
Seems the dark has no end
Still we walk on in light of the truth
For waiting beyond Where the morning begins
Is the dawn, and you're mercy anew

Oh, to believe we're alive in you're love
There is so much to see
If we keep looking up

You fill the heavens with hope and a higher love
A picture, a promise for life



Wednesday, August 03, 2005

we went up to a 7000ft peak today. When my family and I got up to the top after a spectacular 25 minute gondola ride, the funniest thing happened....or maybe it was one of those "you had to be there" moments.
We saw this guy and his wife walking. They're both carrying these HUGE backpacks. The man turns to his wife and says

"honey, I should have brought water."

after my mom and I busted out laughing, my mom turns to me and wonders out loud...what he was carrying in that massive backpack of his. Maybe I should have asked him.

I must have taken at least a 150 pictures of the peak, which I will post when I return...since I failed to pack a usb cord. After we spent several hours up at the peak, we went down this neat slide rollercoaster sorta deal in the kiddy section of Whistler. The weather is great, but the sun really knows how to beat down on you, so when we were playing mini golf I burned my eyelids or something. It was fun...and I realize that golf, is not my sport.

for the past day, we've been eating very simply. In fact, this evening...my family ate a combination of chinese salad (bak choy with soy sauce) and red bean patty desserts.

In a nutshell, life in the mountains is rather exciting.

Monday, August 01, 2005

indeed my dear friends and blog....it has been quite a while. I owe it to Joey to update.

Greetings from the beautiful state of washington =) August is always the best time of year to visit Seattle. I've never seen the city more breath-taking. Not to mention, Beautiful British Columbia is a name fit for yet another awe-inspiring place. Today I went to visit my dear Deeners and she took me to a park called Gasworks with the most amazing view of Lake Washington (pictures when I return). Furthermore, the skies have been so blue and cloud free that my family and I have been able to see all of the snow capped volcanic mountains along the way of our travels. If you've never seen a snow covered mountain...or a mountain for that matter...you should write that on your to-do in this lifetime list.

I must say that this vacation for my cousin's wedding is turning out to be a pleasant post job break. Yes, last week was my last week at TOL and though my last day was deeply saddening...I did leave with many fond memories of the children and staff at TOL. Working there made waking up at 8am every morning a joy. Who would have thought I could awake to a new day looking foward to work? When I enter into my professional career I hope to achieve that as well. Besides all the fun and games that come with working in a school with children, valuable lessons were learned as well. However, such lessons shall be shared at another time.

My sister has officially reached the last year of her single-digit life today and she commands me to go watch Man of the House with her because the setting is my school....therefore I go.