So close...

...and still so far. Only 39 more days til I am home for the summer and I know that's only a little over a month, but it seems like an eternity. The past few days I have been in this weird funk of not wanting to do anything related to school. A couple of my classes seem pretty pointless this quarter and are really time consuming, which doesn't leave me the time that I would like for the classes I'm actually enjoying. What's wrong with that picture?? I know we're already past the half-way point for the quarter, but it's difficult to keep going when so many people are either done or only have one more week left. Grrrr why did I pick quarter system?? (side note: so far this is the ONLY thing that I dislike about quarters vs. semesters, so I really shouldn't complain too much haha).
I am also ready to be warm. It's a little bit sunny today, but definitely not warm. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and 67...which is almost 70...which is almost warm...almost :) Again, it's discouraging to check the weather and see that its between 80-90 at home every single day. What is wrong with this picture?
Amidst all this funk, I have seen how great my support system is. I have a wonderful boyfriend who is willing to listen to me complain about, let's be honest, really stupid things, and still help me through them and tell me everything will be okay. I have lovely roommates and friends who are right there with me complaining and then we laugh because of how ridiculous we sound. They are there for me, encouraging me that we can get through it together. We're so close!! And of course, I have my family who is always there no matter what, telling me how proud they are of me and that they can't wait for me to be home soon.
In the end I know that I get this way every quarter- just wanting to be done. I get this way every year- ready to be home for the summer. And I always get through it and it never seems as bad as I thought it was at the time. Funny how that works out huh?

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

He is Risen!

Happy Easter everyone! I hope we are all able to celebrate with family and friends and good food and take time out of our busy lives to remember what this day actually means for each of us. This morning at church the pastor spoke about how we are to live as Easter Christians in a Good Friday world. So many people continue to look for the risen Christ, or something to put their hope in, but we have found him! We know how the story ends. When Jesus' followers watched him crucified on Friday they didn't know exactly how the whole story would play out. We have it written for us. We can read the play by play in the Bible; we know that every year certain songs will be sung at church; we know what it means that Jesus has risen; we know that Easter lilies will be purchased; we know that certain people will be coming for lunch or dinner. As Christians, we know that Good Friday is just a stopping point on the way to hope and victory- not the end of the story! We are called to live as Easter Sunday Christians; as Christians who have hope and victory not just once a year, but every day all year long.

This year I was blessed to spend Easter with my Seattle church family and my SPU family. It started yesterday with the EGGstravaganza- an event for the kids that consisted of games, bounce houses, a puppet show, crafts, and an Easter egg hunt (out in the SUN!) I was heading up crafts so I got to see every age group come through and it was so fun helping them with different things. I don't know how many kids were actually there (probably close to 100) and we had exactly 2,000 eggs to be hidden and found! (I would know because I counted them....twice!) Then this morning I was able to serve in the nursery for the first service and spend some time with the littlest members of the church, all decked out for Easter :) Church was after that and it was such a blessing. We sang "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" and they used the organ setting on the keyboard (second service isn't in the sanctuary and they use a praise band instead of the real organ), and anytime I hear music from the organ I tear up thinking of my grandma and grandpa. Last week I was in the traditional first service and I couldn't help from crying when we were singing about the angels and saints coming together to worship God. I miss my grandparents more than I thought I would. They always lived across the country so we didn't see them all the time, but now that they're gone I miss them a lot. Two Easters ago I didn't want to call because it was always difficult to talk to them, but my parents made me. This is how our conversation went:

Me: Hi Grandma and Grandpa! It's Emily.
Grandma: Who??
Grandpa: Elsa its Emily! Your granddaughter!
Grandma: Ohh Hi Emily!
Me: Happy Easter Grandma!
Grandma: Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
Me: No, Happy EASTER, Grandma!
Grandma: Thanksgiving? No its not Thanksgiving. Ben, what day is today?
Grandpa: Elsa, its EASTER!
Grandma: (laughing) Ohh that's right, its Easter! Hello? Who are we talking to?

At the time (and even now) this just makes me laugh, because I know she wasn't doing this on purpose. Bless her heart she was doing the best should could. It gives me such peace knowing they are both in a better place. Together and out of all pain, but I still miss them. Something about being in church always makes me feel closer to them again.

After church I went to a friend's for brunch and she made the most delicious French toast bread pudding casserole type thing! I am still in a bit of a sugar coma from it...haha. It was so nice to be able to go to someone's home (as temporary a home as it may be) and spend time with good friends and roommates and celebrate the resurrection together. I hope you had as blessed an Easter as I have.

Savior, worthy of honor and glory, worthy of all our praise.

You overcame.

Jesus, awesome in power forever, awesome and great is your name.

You overcame.

We will overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.

Everyone overcome.

Today I am thankful for...



Sunshine

Trader Joe's Cashew Caramel Crunch Cookies

Inspiring books

Finding new music

A job that I LOVE :)

Springtime

only 50 days until summer :)

Love

My new favorite song? Definitely one of them. She has a beautiful voice and a powerful message. Enjoy it! :)

Mighty to Save

Everyone needs compassion

A love that's never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Savior

The hope of nations

Savior
He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save

Forever
Author of Salvation

He rose & conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me

All my fears & failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in

Now I surrender

Savior

He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever

Author of Salvation

He rose & conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

Shine Your light &

Let the whole world see

We're singing

For the glory

Of the risen King

This song has been stuck in my head for the last few days, and I've been repeating the chorus over and over.

He can move the mountains, my God is mighty to save.

There is nothing that God cannot do, no matter how big or small my problem my seem- if God can move the mountains, why do I worry? Why do I think it is something too big to handle? These lyrics have been bouncing around in my head for a reason-- God wants me to let him handle every situation. Take a deep breath and stop worrying. I had to read 1 Corinthians for homework last night and there were so many things jumping out to me- just that Paul is trying to tell the people that God is bigger than this world. The things of the world and the sins of the world should not define us.

"And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13b

Sometimes less is more



Such a blessing to live in a beautiful city like Seattle. Thank you, Jesus, for the sunshine poking through the clouds today :)

Two weeks down, eight (plus finals) weeks to go. Is it too early for a countdown to summer? Having the sun out today has made me want to wear shorts and flip flops even more now. I do love Seattle, but I am excited to be home and warm for the summer. Unfortunately though, warm in southern California [in July and August] is sometimes a little TOO warm. Thinking about the summer so much has started to make me think about what it means to live a balanced life. How do we live in the moment every day while still planning ahead for the future? I have been thinking about where I'm going to live next year, who I will be living with, getting a summer job, registering for fall classes, visiting friends, going to weddings, and so much more.

God has been challenging me to live life fully right where I am each day. To be thankful for the both the small and big blessings he so graciously allows me to experience. How can I be the best student, daughter, friend, teacher, girlfriend, babysitter, roommate, volunteer, and servant? What are the little things I can do to make a difference in the life of someone, even someone I've never met before.

This Sunday at church the pastor spoke about how sometimes fewer words are better than many words. One of the examples he used was a stop sign. One word. Stop. No explanation. Just stop. Sometimes are prayers become a lengthy explanation of things going on and you don't always need to use all those words. Sometimes we are called to get back to the basics. Asking God to have mercy on us can be a prayer used for just about every situation. Being in a state of constant prayer doesn't always require as many words either. We can just say someones name or think about a situation we want to offer up to God. It was a refreshing way of looking at things, thinking that God wants us to be real and sincere in how we converse with him. AND if we are always going on and on talking it gives us very little time to listen to what he is saying in return.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."

Psalm 51:10-12 [RSV]