Thankful

To keep it very short and sweet (mainly because homework is already calling my name...very loudly...even above the roar of our ridiculous dorm...), I feel so blessed. I've been at Point Loma five days so far, two of which I've actually been in class, and other than the fact that Verizon seems to have exiled all of campus to no-service land, I can't think of a complaint. My roommate is a sweetheart, my hall of fifth north is already bonding like sisters, my classes are full of entertaining people and professors, and I get to admire the endless ocean views as I eat, study, run, walk, talk, sleep...etc. College life is hectic and sort of scary, especially as I'm still figuring it out one day at a time, but I couldn't be more thankful for this beautiful place.

Golden State

16 hours down, 6 more to go...but I'm finally HERE- in the refreshingly familiar hills of Southern California. Something about driving along miles and miles of ocean cliffs can do the mind, body, and soul some serious good. I had forgotten how much this place truly is home to me. My mom and I have stopped near Hearst Castle for the night, which we are going to tour tomorrow morning before making the last leg of our journey. We left my dad and Kyle in Medford, Oregon early early early (did I mention, much too early?) this morning for a golf tournament and hit the road running. Everything about the trip so far has gone as planned...aka: I drive until I start getting sleepy (which usually comes in about two hour increments) and then my fearless, coffee-addicted mother takes over. I mean...my loving co-pilot and friend... :) We have already listened to every CD I own, frequented all of the Starbucks between Olympia and the equator, and even made a quick detour to see some dear friends. All of this to say, I am on cloud nine. I had thought that leaving home would be much harder than it was...although, petting my animals for the last time until December almost brought a sign of a tear. But really, I couldn’t be happier. The past few months and the end of high school have brought much stress and many regrets that I am gladly leaving behind as I begin this new chapter in my life. I’m going to a place where I won’t be known to anyone, and I’m grabbing this chance for a fresh start and holding on for all that it’s worth. I am so confident right now, as I know that God continually holds all of my fears and directs my feet in His perfect way. Thank you to all who have been praying for me, I am so very appreciative and can feel His hand at work!

Starting Friday, I will officially be a resident of San Diego, California and a student at Point Loma Nazarene University. Can you believe it? Because I certainly can’t...

How He Loves Us

"I think God wants us to love Him more, not to love others less"- CS Lewis

At bible study today, we talked about something that I had honestly never been introduced to before...the three types of love that appear in the Bible: Ahava, Dod, and Raya. Nate, our youth pastor, explained these Hebrew terms so clearly. Ahava (an emotion and leads to a lifelong decision), Dod (a lover or to carouse), and Raya (a best friend or a committed companion). "Love," our truly insufficient English word, is something so much more than mere kindness or a 'fuzzy feeling.' God IS love. He IS Ahava. So why can't we be as passionate about other people? Or at least to the God who is already passionate towards us? Jesus, save me.

"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" -1 John 4:10-11