Craziness!

Update! Since it's been a while. Can't believe I am getting married in less than 2 months! I am really excited for it. It has been a difficult season -- growing pains, adjusting to newness. But -- it's been good! I am so thankful for all the wonderful people in my life. God has blessed me -- I shouldn't forget it!

Transitions

Hey guys! I know it's been a while since my last post. Update: lots of transitions in this season of life! First off -- I have a new role at work. Shift leading. It entails overseeing my other co-workers, making sure the store runs smoothly/properly, and making sure everyone is happy (co-workers and customers)! Also, I am engaged! Woo! My now fiancé and I have finally taken the next step in our relationship. Doing so has brought about this season of change for the both of us. Planning together, learning more about the other, growing closer.... the whole nine yards. It's exciting and a bit scary, too. It's crazy that you can know someone for years and still have a lot more to learn about them, which makes it exciting! And scary! But, things are good. Planning is going quite smoothly. And fun! There are times of stress but, for us, mostly fun times. We have our venue, I have my dress, and things are falling into place. I'm looking forward to this next season of life. I once read that marriage is (and should be) the first step into adulthood. I believe that will be the case. Responsibility, love, sacrifice, understanding, communication, etc. So much to learn. I'm thankful that I can learn these things through my job as well. Having a job serving people teaches you a lot about how people are and how to interact with others. I have learned and continue to learn so much at my coffee shop job. There is not a day that goes by without learning something. And for that, I am grateful. So, that's it for now! Xoxo. Thanks for reading. ;) 

Guess what you guys?!

I'll be a shift lead at Peet's fairly soon! I'm so excited! I know it entails a lot of responsibility. And it will force me to grow in certain areas and develop leadership skills. But, I'm looking forward to it. I can't believe it's already been a few weeks since I graduated UCI. What a whirlwind! My brain turned to putty right after and I had to get my feet back on the ground and figure out a new rhythm! And that's what brings me to today. :) God has got my back and is taking care of every step. I was blessed with a sublease apartment for summer with awesome girls (not to mention clean, too!) and a comfy bed! I've been able to work at Peet's, enjoy my days off, and spend good time with family and friends. Looking forward to what is to come.  

On another note... I can't believe it's been a year since I was in England. :) That was one of the most awesome times of my life. And I met some pretty awesome people I'm glad to have as friends! I'm so lucky some of them live near me, too! The feels! Nostalgic. Reminiscing. Memories. 

Art class from England last year! 

DONE!

DONE with my college finals! Done with undergrad! Whoa! It's nuts. It is still sinking in.

Checking in...

Hi :) I am graduating in...... 10 days! Whoa! Nuts! It's all so surreal. I finished my last Spanish final today and I have two more finals next week. It's going by so quickly at the end. My heart is happy and I feel emotional about it all. So many memories, so many people I've met, so many people walking in and out of my life and some to stay. :) I love UCI, I've been so blessed here. I'm grateful for the memories and lessons learned and for the people who've impacted me so much. I've met my boyfriend here, many wonderful friends here. I've learned a lot from Bible study and have grown deeper in my faith in God. I got to enjoy the sunshine and beautiful trees and outdoors. I've gotten the privilege to work at Peet's coffee, too! That's been one of the biggest blessings! Honestly, there are so many things I will miss! I'm grateful I got this opportunity. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Mom. Thanks, everyone, who's helped me along the way! Now... focus time for this last week here. <3 

beach bonfire, may 2015

life is hard... but there is beauty in it.

Cast your cares on Him...

Because He does care for YOU! 

Guess what's coming soon?! :)

Future hope

God's future plan is amazing -- better than what we think, hope, imagine. "The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. Also your people shall all be righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation. I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time." -Isaiah 60:19-22

Spring is in the air... And so is love!

Hey guys :) back from Spring break! Well rested and ready to tackle the last quarter of undergrad! Super excited for everything new that's happening. My cousin is getting married in less than three months and I'll be graduated and out in the real world! And lots of other things along with that. It's sweet seeing people fall in love and get married. A good reminder of how relationships ought to be -- persistence, commitment, love, passion. No relationship works without forgiveness. Keeping your eye on what matters.... gratitude is key. 

God's goodness

"May He grant you according to your heart's desire, and fulfill all your purpose. We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all petitions. Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand." Psalm 20:4-6. I love psalms 20-22. It gives a good perspective of the hope we have in Him but the painful reality that we won't always feel Him near, that even sometimes we may feel forgotten or forsaken by Him. But the truth is He is with us, He is protecting us, and He will fulfill His purpose in us. Don't give up. Don't be discouraged. He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it to the end.

Reflecting on God's goodness and grace throughout my life. One includes getting this job at Peet's. 

Peet's 337

The countdown

Hi friends :) I haven't posted in a while... Anyway, this is the last week or so of winter quarter at UCI! Then, spring break then spring quarter! It's unreal -- unreal how fast time goes by. This past weekend we celebrated my older brother's birthday. I'm grateful for my family. Also, got to buy school supplies for next quarter. That's always fun. :) The fun part about school. ;) Learning lots of things -- like how God's love doesn't run out on us and He never withholds His grace even when we're being naughty/evil! Also, He is a friend you can count on -- when no one else is there, when no one understands you, when you feel alone. He is there. 

Another thing to announce is my cousin is getting married! So many cool things happening all at once -- college graduation, being a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding, one of my best friends pregnant! Time flies.... Remember to look up! And be grateful. 

    

Update

Here's an update. It's week 8 right now in winter quarter. Just a few more weeks to go, then spring break! Then spring quarter! Today I enrolled in my final courses of undergrad -- what a strange feeling! So happy though. Look out world, here I come... Hehe :) 

came across this today...made me laugh! :) 

I am - Crowder

Listen!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77SuukJEJ2Q&spfreload=10

A little sunshine

It doesn't matter how stubborn you are. It doesn't matter how "unrighteous" you are. It doesn't matter how (fill in the blank) you are! That doesn't stop God's pursuit of your heart. It's doesn't stop His relentless love and pursuit of you. And it's not about who you are or what you've done, it's about His love. That's who He is. Comforting, right? Crazy, huh? <3 

Isaiah 46:12-13 "Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness: I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel My glory." 

Me and Juan on one of our dates in December. Grateful for this guy. 

There is hope for the future. Whether you find yourself in a valley or in the sunshine, remember that God's love for you does not stop. Nothing can stop His love for you. Nothing can separate us from His love ~ Romans 8:39

A ROCK

Remember -- He is a Rock. All those other "blocks of wood" (idols) can burn up or topple over. But He is steady, strong, sure, immovable. Be grounded.

(Read Isaiah 44!)

Hope

"For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring." -Isaiah 44:3

"There may be pain in the night -- but JOY comes in the morning." <3
~After a long night comes the light!~

"Giving thanks" and "miracles"

John 1:1-14 ~ Jesus feeding the five thousand! 

My thoughts after reading this passage... it's funny how you can read a passage for so long and then one day you learn something new/something different stands out! Here's what I learned today: 

Jesus already knows. He asks the questions to test and reveal what is already in our hearts (v 5-6). Money isn't the answer. Jesus is! (v 7). He chooses the weak, the foolish, the unexpected. And He calls us to simply obey (v 9-10). He had it all planned and even gave them grass to sit more comfortably! (v 10). He gave thanks before the miracle, revealing the importance of a heart of gratitude (v 11). The people ate as much as they wanted and they were filled. There was even a lot left over. God is more than enough and sometimes He will surprise us that way (v 11-13). Aspect of faith -- they saw and believed (v 2&14) but nowadays we don't see Jesus physically. It's a little different! But blessed are those who believe without seeing.


The thing that stood out to me most this time was how Jesus gave thanks before the miracle happened. I don't know what He was giving thanks for -- if it was general or specific, but all I know is that He gave thanks. It shows me the importance of a heart of gratitude. Also, faith in His providence distinguishes this passage! He cares more than we think. It's cool how He chooses the weak and foolish things to shame the wise.

panini cafe in Corona del Mar

A New Thing...

"Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." 
-Isaiah 43:18&19

Isaiah 43:13

~nothing can reverse God's work~

"Indeed before the day was, I am He; and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?" -Is. 43:13

God is with you.

At the end of Isaiah chapter 42 it talks about people not listening to God and the consequences of that. We reap what we sow. If we are children of God and we have idols in our life, of course they will be destoyed, or we will be destoyed by them! The last verse (25) says "it has set him on fire all around, yet he did not know; and it burned him, yet he did not take it to heart." So many times we are unaware of the damage of our own sinfulness.. This passage was powerful. In the beginning of Isaiah 43 it talks about God being with you through the fire. This passage has spoken to me many times about not worrying about the future -- but this time around I read it in a way that God has already protected me from the fire of my past. It's a good reminder of the faithfulness of God.

New quarter, New year

Hey! It's a new quarter. :) And a new year! Crazy. The classes I'm taking this quarter: two Spanish classes and one Italian class. I'm looking forward to the new quarter. Crazy that I'm graduating soon.... Crazy! Work has been good -- such a blessing. And I'll be teaching piano lessons again soon so I'm really looking forward to that. 

Stuff I'm learning:
Lean on God's strength. Really, in our own strength we can do nothing. We fail so much. We become fearful and prideful. And He can do so much more with our lives than we can do with them. 

Also, it's ALL about relationship. If your works fail, if your plans fail, expectations fail, etc...what is left? If you don't have a relationship with God you might find yourself bitter after bad things happen. But if you take the time to know who God is, who He really is, you can still have joy and hope in something that lasts -- and that's a relationship with Him. 

Exercise a little faith! Faith is what pleases God. And faith leads to a life worth living -- life involves taking risks! Taking risks inquires faith! 

Happy New Years from Peet's :)