Path of Loving

"The path of loving trust means:

...an absolute, unconditional, and unwavering confidence in God our loving Father, even when everything seems to be a total failure.
...to look to Him alone as our help and protector.
...to stop doubting and being discouraged, casting all our worries and cares on the Lord, and to walk in total freedom.
...to be daring and absolutely fearless of any obstacle, knowing that nothing is impossible with God.
...total reliance on our Heavenly Father with the spontaneous abandonment of little children, totally convinced of our utter nothingness but trusting to the point of rashness with courageous confidence in His fatherly goodness.

Let us thank God for all His love for us, in so many ways and in so many places. let us return, as an act of gratitude and adoration, determine to be holy because He is holy."

Mother Teresa, No Greater Love, p.63

Her heart is expressed so passionately and raw through her eloquent words. The path of loving, as Mother Teresa has described, is right on. What would it look like it I lived in this truth? I wish I had total reliance on my heavenly Father. I would like to say that I do- but it is a constant battle. Little by little I am giving more and more of myself over to Him as I desire for Him to have full reign (as all of us who call ourselves Christians do). As I am reading her book I keep finding myself stopping and rereading paragraph after paragraph. Her words are deep, loving, true, and very convicting. I am trying to figure out what it means to be "holy." I have to admit I do not understand how I can be holy, when I think of God as being the only Holy being. I suppose this is a process.

Amazed

This video made me really happy. Creation will never stop amazing me... which makes me more in awe with God all the time. On Monday I went to Sunset Cliffs San Diego and San Clemente Pier, on Tuesday I went to my favorite beach in Laguna (A Thousand Steps), and today I went to the Santa Monica Farmer's Market right along the PCH. Most of you know that the beach is dear to my heart and that my soul feels replenished when my feet are in the sand and I feel the ocean breeze. I feel at home and feel closer to God and more in awe of Him every time I near the ocean. I believe it is God's gift to us- all of creation... well I know it is.

I am amazed that even the waves obey His voice. I truly am.

Lamps & Mother Teresa

"What we need is to love without getting tired. How does a lamp burn? Through the continuous input of small drops of oil. What are these drops of oil in our lamps? They are the small things of daily life: faithfulness, small words of kindness, a thought for others, our way of being silent, of looking, of speaking, and of acting. Do not look for Jesus away from yourselves. He is not out there; He is in you. Keep your lamp burning, and you will recognize Him." -Mother Teresa

The other day I decided to go to Barnes and Nobles and see if they had any historal books on the city of Memphis (which they didn't) and ended up sitting on the ground of one of the book isles reading a book on natural healing methods instead. As I was leaving the store I saw the 75% off bargain books section, which totally caught my attention. I came across a book I have been wanting to read forever- "No Greater Love" by Mother Teresa! Let's just say that her words have inspired me, challenged me, and have made me want to grow more in love with Jesus my whole life- even before I was a Christian. I have a book I am suppose to be readin for work and I just can't get it finished... Yet I can't put this book down. There is something so powerful and almost endearing when you read a book by someone you respect so much- I almost feel like I know her (even though I know she is with the Lord). Her words and actions have been talked about by my family as long as I can remember. We all have the ability to love people and to be deeply in love with Jesus like she was- it is just a matter of self- sacrifice ad allowing our hearts to be fully open to the love of God.

I want to shine for Jesus.

Europe Adventure

As many of you know, I spent three wonderful weeks in Europe. I think I could write a book on the experiences I had there (including all of the crazy things that happen). Back in August I reserved my flight to Germany with the goal of spending Christmas and New Years with Meghan (best friend from home). This trip was not intended to be a tourist trip or a trip to fit in all of the things that I wanted to do. The one goal I had for this trip was to experience Meghan's life and to better understand how she is serving military kids in Germany. And let me tell you... I think I have a pretty good grasp on her life or so I think so. I had the wonderful privilege of meeting her friends, becoming friends with them, sharing life, and lots of laughs. I got to know her girls really well because I was one of the girl leaders in Austria on the Ski Trip. Austria was by far my favorite place and my favorite experience. Pouring into the girls lives was awesome- even though I only got to spend a week with them. God did some really sweet things with our group of girls :)
I finally can understand the military hardships Meghan goes through in Germany and her living situation (not to mention that she drives stick shift)! We had some of the funniest things happen to us while we were in Austria, Germany, and Spain (ask me about them- you might wet your pants). I feel so blessed to have a best friend like her. We get along so well it freaks me out- that is what you get when you have a best friend for your whole life though, Pray for Meghan as she returns to love military brats in Germany until the end of July.

Here are a few pictures. Enjoy :)

 Christmas Eve in Meghan's small German Town- it was magical!

Christmas Eve Chapel on base got cancelled because the roads were so icy so we stumbled into this Catholic Church instead. They were "Oh Holy Night" in German and it was absolutely beautiful. It gave me the chills.

 Lauren came back to Germany after Austria. She gives me the giggles.

 Trier, Germany

 A few days after we got back from Austria it rained and the snow melted! I woke up one morning and saw green and I thought it was Christmas! 

Louis and Meghan on the "safe" Austrian sledding run. 

We got to spend a week (including New Years Eve) in this wonderful hotel! Beautiful back drop! I woke up every morning in complete awe. Austria is the most beautiful place my eyes have ever seen.

 Some of the gang on the sledding run.

I have a confession... I love McDonald's in Germany. I can't stop day dreaming about it! I hate it in America though. It is so much better there.

Cute man in Innsbruck, Austria.

This picture makes me look like I am a professional skier... which is far from true.

80's night with some of the girls in Austria- such a fun night!

Do you see how beautiful Austria is? The Alps are breathtaking! 

Some of the girls :) 

Crown? Haha. The Cathedral in Barcelona. 

This market had more fruit in one place than I have ever seen in my life. Yum!

On the Mediterranean in Barcelona. 

It was a GREAT three weeks! Thanks to all who supported me for the Austria Trip. God did some really sweet things in the girls lives- I can't wait to share with you all!

Who ever thought I would miss gas stations being open 24 hours, having access to a gym, using dollars, and having an endless selection of vegetables to choose from at Safeway?

I love traveling... but sometimes the convenience of America just gets me good.

Dang it, America.

Cheers to Spring 2011

When asked where I am from I always emphasize the fact that I am from the Bay Area, not from Los Angeles... well because, lets face it... the Bay is just glorious (and I am bias).

I am sitting here in Germany, waiting for Meghan to wake up, and reflecting on how I have about four months left in Southern California. I have to admit I am getting kind of sad about it. I know that I cannot be sad about it for now and that I need to soak up every moment and live in the present. So because of that... here is my list of things to accomplish before I say adios to Los Angeles.

1. Go to Thousand Steps as much as possible. Make it a goal to swim out past the rocks and float for at least an hour with a friend. I did this with Amy and it was literally one of my favorite moments at the beach.
2. Go camping in Malibu Canyon for a weekend with my closest friends and bring lots of fun games.
3. Try to make it to Coachella- better start saving or find someone to hook me up with free tickets.
4. Spend quality time with friends- and try NEW adventures.
5. Make it to the Santa Monica Farmers Market for breakfast. 
6. Buy as many flowers as I can afford at the LA Flower Market on a saturday morning. For one whole week my apartment will smell like heaven.
7. Take a stroll along the Venice Canals with a close friend that I love... then go long boarding along the ocean in Venice to Santa Monica. Reward ourselves with Tacos!
8. Go to Pedro's Tacos in San Clemente at least three times- Memphis will be missing this.
9. When I have three hours to kill.... drive straight to Newport and enjoy some vitamin D.
10. When the opportunity presents itself... pray with people and encourage! 

Here is a quick list of activities I am going to be involved in:

1. Volunteering for MIKA- my favorite community development corporation in Costa Mesa.
2. Taking four classes and 2 PE's :) I killed myself last semester so I can take it easy my last.
3. Hanging out with my roommates constantly and laughing ALL the time. That is what goes down in Beachcomber 106.
4. And of course, studying.

Cheers to Spring 2011. 

This Little Lady is Moving to Memphis!

As of January 3rd...

I learned that I was accepted into the Memphis Teaching Residency!

Memphistr.org... check it out. The next four years of my life or more... I will be living in Memphis earning my Masters in Urban Education and teaching elementary school. I am pretty stoked!

A blog will come soon on this journey (when I return to the states from Germany).

P.s. So far I have been to Barcelona, Austria and all over Germany. I am in love with Austria... everyone should go their.