Can I just keep it short for now?

It's been so long since I've written on here which makes me a liar.

I have been travelling this road called college for about 2 months now. It's been crazy. It's been nothing like I imagined yet it's been so fulfilling.

It's amazing to be somewhere God is dwelling.
It's amazing to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit while sitting in a classroom.
It's amazing to know that as much as it seems like it, you are really not alone.
It's amazing to find friends who look past who you are on the outside.
This is amazing.

So I'm just going to let it be. Because I haven't taken the time to really compose all of these thoughts.

Visit

I went to Olivet this weekend and it was wonderful. On the flight to Illinois my plane flew by two huge thunder and lightning storms. It was incredible, like nothing I've ever seen. The lightning just kept on going, it didn't stop and I could see every bit of it. Then the next morning we got up and drove to Burbonnais, Illinois, to see Olivet. The campus was beautiful. The buildings were all brick and there was grass, trees, and walkways everywhere. Despite it being extremely hot and humid, I had a great time. I got to meet with the head of the youth ministry department which was really cool. He was so nice and friendly. I could tell that he actually cared about me. Then I met with my counselor and we talked about logistics and such which also went really well. Then we left to go to PJs Creamery for some delicious ice cream. While there the power went out because it started raining cats and dogs out of no where! It was only out for a couple of minutes though. The stormy-ness was definitely new and interesting but it really didn't bother me. I really know that God is calling me there. Even when a hint of doubt rolls into my mind, God quickly whisks it away. I know that God is behind me. And I am so STOKED!

Update

Everything with Olivet has been working out perfectly. I still get my scholarship which is definitely one of the big things that was worrying me. Everything has just been so seamless. How amazing is that? So I definitely am going to be moving to Illinois this fall! I am truly so excited about this decision and I have so much peace about it. Every once in awhile I get so hyped and giddy about it that I just want to scream! This is the right decision! And I know that it is because I know that this was completely a God decision. My faith is being strengthened and I'm loving every minute of it.

This is a big one...

Well ever since fourth grade I had decided that Point Loma Nazarene University was the one for me. I dreamed about living there. I loved the idea of being surrounded by the ocean. I loved that Amy went there. I was absolutely certain that that was going to be the school for me. So naturally it was my senior year and I was ecstatic to finally be applying to my dream school. I applied and visited for the third time. Then I waited. I got letters from all of the other schools I applied to, congratulating me on my acceptance, but still not one from Loma. Finally I got that letter over Christmas break! And I was accepted. So I naturally began to put everything into place and get everything worked out for being a PLNU student.

I was offered a huge scholarship from Olivet Nazarene University. I completely rejected it, trusting my admissions counselor from Loma assuring me that I would most likely receive more than that from Point Loma. And I did. And I was always planning on going to Point Loma, so whatever Olivet.

But God didn't let Olivet go and neither could I.

After a lot of prayer and definitely feeling God pulling me in this direction, I have decided that I will be attempting to go to Olivet this year. I say attempting because of course I still have to talk with the administration at Olivet but I am confident that God has paved the path ahead of me and it will be smooth and easy to accomplish. So tomorrow morning I will be making some big phone calls. And I will need big prayers.

Because what I am doing is a leap of complete and utter faith. There is no other way to describe it. I am following my heart because I believe that what is in there is from God and God alone.

Necessary steps to be taken to complete leap of faith:
1. Tell my parents- done
2. Call Olivet- done
3. Figure out what needs to be done- done
4. Arrange a visit- done
5. Tell Point Loma that I've changed my mind- done!
6. Make the move- done!!

Please, please, please, pray for me.
Jeremiah 29:11

Good Stuff

Well everything has been going pretty well! I've been babysitting a ton and making money. I've bought a few purchases for my dorm room. We had a really fun 4th of July party with a BBQ and swimming and of course some fireworks. For the rest of the summer, I'll be working and just spending time with the people I love. I'm excited!

Sorry this is so short!

Good Things

I got back from Canoe Camp on Sunday. I had a wonderful time as always.

Some good news: Frank got a job! What an answer to prayer. We've been waiting and praying for this for over a year now and the Lord has blessed him with a job that he'll be starting on Wednesday.

In other news:

On Thursday I'll be finding out my roomate at Point Loma!

And my schedule and such. I'm so excited for that.

I'm just trusting in the Lord, I believe that everything is in his hands.

It's Summer.

This means the end of another school year. But this ending was different. Because unlike every year before this year, I will not be returning. The cycle has ended. I have graduated. How strange and abstract that statement is and will probably continue to be, maybe even until my first day of college classes. Is it strange that it hasn't hit me yet? I've been grasping for feeling anything but numb about this. Repeatedly telling myself that this is it, I'm going to college. For some reason I am not comprehending this. It's not bad. I'm not distraught, I'm just curious as to why it still seems so far away when literally I will be in San Diego 2 months from now. I just want there to be a resolve to high school and San Jose. Some sort of ending. I thought that ending would be graduation, but it still doesn't feel any different. Maybe it won't.

With summer comes exciting times, of course.
I have dedicated my summer to being basically a nanny (though I am not a fan of that word, it just fits) for a family with two children. I work Monday through Thursday, 8:20 to 5:30. It's been good and it's a wonderful way to earn money for college.
This upcoming week I will not be working. I will be going to Redding to canoe down the Sacramento river. I'm going to Canoe Camp! I thoroughly enjoy canoe camp and I'm excited.

On a final note, I really hope to actually start blogging on a regular basis now. I want to update on summer and college adventures. So hopefully I will be updating at least once a week. We'll see how that goes. :)

It's been awhile blogspot

A lot has been going on lately so I'm just kinda going to randomly throw this blog out here.

Point Loma has always been my number one choice. It's always been my dream school. But a couple weeks ago I was offered a $13,000 scholarship to Olivet.

I've been praying and really trying to figure out the route I want to go, or more so the route God wants me to take. Today Point Loma offered me a decent scholarship. I'm still a little unsure but I'm definitely still leaning towards Point Loma.

Basketball is over. We lost our CCS game on Tuesday night. That really sucked. I know we could have won. I'm super bummed that basketball is over but I'm hoping to get the opportunity to play in college.

I'm really trying with all of my heart to live my life in a way that pleases God. All I want is to do what He wants me to do. He's given me passions and goals but I really want to make sure that all I do is what He wants. That is such a difficult thing to do. It's so hard to decipher my selfishness from God's plans. I'm sort of in the midst of this crazy point in my life where I need some direction.

Well that's about all I have to say for now. So I will leave you with this picture:

This kid I was watching at church one time made this awesome creation of Mario out of Legos!