Easter...

So I definitely dropped the ball this Easter with not planning ahead on what we would eat after church! I guess I was just thinking we could eat at the food court of the mall that our AMC theater is in that our church meets at. (we eat there most Sundays...it is a very nice food court, not the typical taco bell/mcdonald's ones). Well, it was closed, but there was one restaurant open (a Brazilian place)...it looked good but it wasn't...It just didn't feel right not to have a large family gathering at someone's house with a ham and and other delicious things...All of this to say, I think it just reminded me how much importance I place on the activities of the day, rather than the meaning of the day! The music on Sunday was very meaningful and fullfilling, and the service reminded me of Jesus' ressurrection from the dead and all of His righteousness that was placed on us by way of the cross!! I am so incredibly thankful for the reminder, but I think next year I will plan ahead better to make a meal that our friends can enjoy with us!

Funny Questionaire

So someone tagged me to answer these questions...I thought they were cooler than your typical chain email questions! So here goes...

Where was I ten years ago?
Wow this makes me fell young...I was in 7th grade! Probably playing on the basketball team because it is spring time and finishing up with the track team at Lake Olympia Middle School. I was also wearing some sort of really cool outfit...like maybe some overpriced Dr. Martens and an awesome Abercrombie and Fitch shirt. I do not miss those days...even though they were fun!

Things on my to-do list today:
Pick up the dry cleaning and don't forget to bring the coupon!
Practice my excerpts/music for flute class and orchestra
Iron
Pick up a few items from the store
Read my new RealSimple Magazine :)
Eat the leftovers from a delicious Brisket I cooked Monday night!!!
Make something delicious for Bible Study tonight!

What would I do if I suddenly became a billionaire?
I think I would try to save as much as a could. I am on a big saving kick right now! I know so many people right now that are trying to make ends meet...and people I have heard about through friends...so I would try to help out as many of those people as possible. I would also go buy a house on the beach and a new wardrobe!

3 of my bad habits.
1. Wanting to watch too much TV(and doing it)...keeping track of American Idol...I know...don't judge me!
2. Over analyzing silly things
3. Always picking up clutter in the house

5 jobs I've had.
1. Working at my Dad's office as an "administrative assistant" for many summers and holidays...i.e..make databases and buying my dad frozen yogurt! :)
2. Working at kids camps (Fine Arts Camp for my mom!)
3. Victoria's Secret when I was a freshman in college...mom...why did you recommend this job for me?
4. Teaching Flute Lessons! One of my favorite things to do!
5. Assistant to my flute professor at Cal State Long Beach right now!

5 Things you don't know about me.
1. I like sweets...many of you probably already know this!
2. I played soccer for 11 years growing up and haven't played in a really long time! I am thinking of joining a league for the summer out here! (possibly beach volleyball too)
3. I make funny sound effects to a lot of stuff! Even when people aren't around...I also talk to myself sometimes in the car
4. I like window shopping and imagining what I would buy...sometimes this is better than actually buying stuff. :)
5. This is the coolest thing about me...I count the sides of numbers and letters any time I see them...on billboards, signs, etc. I always count them by 2, 4, 6, 8, etc., and add on the odd number if there happens to be one...I guess I really like numbers. I would have been an accountant if I wasn't a musician. I bet it would be more lucrative, but not as creative! If you have any questions about the number/letter counting, I will be happy to answer them!

Spring time!

Birds of Paradise!
Outdoor amphitheater in Polliwog Park!
Palm Trees!
Cool Tree by the Manhattan Beach Historical Building!

I am so glad that spring time is finally here! Not to mention that summer is close, too! One of the best parts of being in California close to the ocean is that we don't have air conditioning in our apartment. When I was first looking at the apartment, I didn't even notice, and then a few days after we moved in, I was like, wait...there isn't central air/heat. This makes no sense coming from Texas! I mean, there are a few days (maybe a month) that it got pretty stinking hotttt last August, but with fans it was alright. (I will be buying another one this year!) The only downfall to the open windows with gorgeous sunlight and breeze blowing through is that you have to clean the dirty screens that trap yucky mold and dirt from coming into your home. I just cleaned them today, and feel like I can breathe so much better. Part of the problem was the fires that blew through California in the late fall. There was so much ash and dirt in the air and it stuck to the screens. Anyways, I love not having a/c now, but come August, you should check back with me and make sure I haven't baked in my house! Above are some pictures that I took while I was talking a walk around our neighborhood the other day!

Going on a trip...sick

Tomorrow I leave on a trip with school to Sacramento...I was excited about making this drive to see a place I have never been before, but Sunday afternoon I got a really sore throat and that of course has turned into something else...So if you have any good ideas of how to get well from dang allergies/cold/aching body bring it on...because apparently Airborne is a crock and doesn't work. Hopefully I will have some pretty pictures to post when I get back Friday!

Calming the storm

So here are some more juicy tidbits on this book...
The following quote is one of my favorites of the entire book...it just makes you say mmmmmm....

"Those who have the wind of the Holy Spirit in their souls glide ahead even while they sleep. If the vessel of our soul is still being tossed by winds or storms, we should wake the Lord who has been resting with us all along, and He will swiftly calm the sea."
(See Matthew 8:23-27)

This shows me how un-reliant I am on the Lord even for small storms which translate for me most often to anxiety. I was reminded of my readiness to resort to thinking about different scenarios and worrying about situational outcomes instead of waking the Spirit who can calm all of my anxeity with quiet meditation on who He is and what He has already done in my life! This is what brother Lawrence did, he practiced God's presence in his life so much that he never had to wake the Lord because He was already there with him at every moment.

This is definitely a very difficult thing for most of us to do because we fill our days with unneeded thoughts, worries, and activities all the time.

So, I am doing my best to practice the presence, and not get sucked into the sea of life.

:)

Virgin Blogger

So this is my first time...blogging that is...and I am going to attempt to make this interesting for people to read!

So you may or may not be wondering about my blog title. I just finished reading the most amazing book I have ever read last night! It is a book that Jared brought back from the conference he went to in Seattle last week (Resurgence). It is "The practice of the presence of God" by brother Lawrence (written over 300 years ago). This book can be summed up as a ton of great coffee table book quotes all rolled into one book. The only difference is that they are not cheesy, typical inspirational quotes you normally find, but rather deep, meanigful words to live by. The title of my blog comes from a conversation brother Lawrence has with a friend. He says, " Therefore, we should rejoice in our difficulties, bearing them as long as the Lord wills, because only through such trials will our faith become purified, more precious than gold" (See 1 Peter 1:7, 4:19).

My faith is constantly being refined, and I desire everyday to have it become more precious than gold. I want to share with you the things I normally think about, and hope that you can glean some encouragement from my trials and joy in life!

More to come...there is so much on my mind after reading this book!