Merry Christmas!!

I can't believe it's Christmas Eve!

I woke up this morning just like any other day and it took me a minute to realize it was Christmas!

Well, basically...

I don't know about you but Christmas Eve is always what I look forward to during this season. Christmas Eve for my family means community, story time and of course, great food.

This Christmas my parents and my closest brother aren't here with us as they've taken a trip to Mexico to visit other family which makes things a little different around here but I'm excited to spend time with my little nieces and nephews.

Last night we went to the Festival of Lights in Portland and today we'll decorate cookies, watch Christmas movies, eat home cooked meals (can you tell I really like our food?) and all around get into the Christmas spirit.

What are you doing for the holidays?

I hope whatever it is, it is just as good, filled with everything you need and that you're able to spend it with all those who matter most to you.

Happy Thursday!

Today, I will accompany my sister to drop off my parents and brother at the airport, and then accompany my niece who has an appointment with her doctor, all in a city. After living in Seattle these past two years, I've grown real accustomed to city life, even if not in the traditional sense of hanging out downtown, etc. so I'm real excited about being in Portland.

Even though I've enjoyed my last few days of rest while home, it's nice to have something, anything, to do.

What are you doing today?

Whatever it is, I hope it's just what you need.

Happy Thursday, friends!

Home.

I'm home for the holidays and though it's not always easy to lay around and do nothing for me, it is nice to sleep in and spend time with family while it lasts. Here's to you and your holiday. I hope you're enjoying it! :)

Thankful.

Tonight was the kind of night that I prayed for when I decided to apply to be a RA and I am so very thankful.

On weariness.

This quarter has really challenged me in school. Many of the classes that I am taking include discussions around heavy issues like abortion, homelessness, racial discrimination, white privilege, homosexuality and Christian Doctrine which is a hefty subject in its own right and brings to light what the implications of being a Christian are for the former. Most days I'm okay. I really do like entering into those conversations and I think they're important ones to have but at the end of most days, my heart feels burdened with deep anguish. Anguish for all of those who have been hurt by racial discrimination or for the ways I've hurt others who would describe themselves as openly homosexual, without meaning to. Anguish for anyone who has ever had to undergo an abortion, even if willingly, for the pain it causes them mentally and spiritually and for the pain it causes their unborn child.

Anguish for all those who have been hurt by the Christian faith while we (or perhaps I should say, I) were stuck in our own little worlds too comfortable to step into your distress, into your confusion or into your story when all you wanted was a listening ear to hear and a little love to be known.

Now don't get me wrong, I am doing okay. As I shared in my last post, when people ask me how I'm doing, I often don't know how to answer straight away but I am, I'm good.

Mentally and physically, but sometimes I can't help but feel tired, a tiredness that in many ways, I feel is spiritual. As if God is pressing on me the way he feels about all of these things. And sometimes, I don't understand it.

Yet, here I am. I don't know why it is that I often feel this way but I believe the Lord did it on purpose and that He is stirring things up. So, I will choose to rest in the sorrow, while learning to renounce it all and give it back to Him who is worthy and Holy and Good.

Do you identify with this in any way?

I'd love to hear about it.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
-Isaiah 40:28-31

How are you doing?

You know, lately, I've been feeling really good about things. People ask me all the time, "How are you doing?" and my response is always, "um...good." But really, I am. I am doing well. I guess I just don't stop to think about it very often and I need to be doing a better job of that but I really have no reason to complain. I have all my girls here with me and minus a few colds, they are healthy. I am finding that as people start to get settled into their roles with a new year here at SPU, my friends and I are learning to make time for each other, which is wonderful cause time with them is life-giving and though there is always so much to do with school, (when isn't there?) I'm feeling optimistic. Time will find its way and things are going to get done, one way or another. Maybe that's a bad view but right now, i'm gonna roll with it.

So yeah, i'm "um...good" and I like it.

Things are going to be different and that's okay.

Already, this year is looking so different to me from what I expected or wanted it to look like and I have times where it really gets me down and honestly, sometimes I wonder why that is, what I could be doing differently or even if I should be worrying. But then, when I spend time really getting into my classes (I'm taking some pretty cool ones) and deeper into knowledge on Christian Doctrine and Reconciliation, those emotions fall away. God whispers to me that it's going to be okay, that I am His daughter and that His plans for me are now, right this moment, even as I study and learn more about Him. That's he's got me in His arms and that it's not the end of the world if things are different. And you know what? That's all I need. Thank you Lord for Your comfort, for the way You made me and for my story, that even now, You are working in. May my heart and soul be ever after You.

Something in the midst.

I sense God doing something in me, recreating me, whispering to me, reminding me of my identity, not only in Him but also my identity as a person of color. It's scary and I don't know exactly what it means but it's something different, and beautiful.

There is something in the midst.

Contentment.

Today was a really good day.

Like, really, really, good.

It started off with nostalgia and reminiscing on years past, as I ended RA duty in my old home and dorm, but not in a sad depressing way, but more of a "I'm really thankful that I shared that year with those people" kind of way.

Later, I went back to my dorm where I got to hangout with a bunch of cool girls that I'm privileged to call friends, not just residents.

THEN, I cleaned my room! Guys, I cleaned! (*celebrate*) It's gotten so bad around here lately and it really, really, needed to be done. Needless to say, I can now sleep a little better tonight.

After that, I went to Starbucks for some solid study time, got some reading done and then sent out and responded to e-mails.

FINALLY, as if that wasn't already good enough, I stepped outside of my comfort zone and spent time with some friends and strangers at a friend's gathering. It was a night full of worship and fellowship and it was exactly what I needed, at exactly the time I needed it.

It goes without saying, then, that I am super grateful for this weekend. Though I didn't get as much homework as I wanted done, this weekend was life-giving, and that is a blessing.

Thanking Jesus for this time tonight.

I hope your weekend was great as well!

Third Year} First East

I'm here! I'm here!! I still can't believe it. So far this year has been filled with late nights doing each other's nails, lots of YouTube videos and ordering in. These women are beautiful and precious to The Lord and I can't wait to see how he unveils the ways in which I'm to love and be loved by them this year. It's gonna be a good one, I can feel it.

10 things I'm grateful for right now.

Last night was a crummy one for me.

One of the things I've learned this last year is that I'm really empathetic, and though you'd think that was a good thing, I think that for me, sometimes, it's to a fault.

Do you ever get that? Where suddenly the weight of the world seems to hit you?
Like you're completely fine and all of the sudden you're feeling burdened?

It happened to me yesterday.

Anyhow,

I've heard that sometimes making a list of the things one is grateful for can be a really healthy thing when one is feeling that way.

So here it goes:

1. My parents and family. Though they're not perfect, I don't know of many families who are and because at least I have them. Others don't and I can't forget that.

2. A bed. With so many others living on less than $2 a day a bed is a luxury.

3. Sleeping in. School starts soon and I'm going to be really busy when it does but right now I can relish in getting those extra five minutes.

4. My cat Luna. She is a precious little one and though sometimes she drives me crazy, she's a pretty hilarious cat and companion and I'm lucky to have her.

5. Friends, in all corners of the earth. They're spread out but they're there and I know that I can count on them for whatever. That's a gift.

6. Technology. A computer, a phone, other electronics. It sounds silly but so many people don't have
the ability to make a phone call or Skype with someone to connect with them, of course in our world that's more rare than before but still. I have the ability to use technology and so often, I take that for granted.

7. My relationships with Jesus. Seriously. This should realistically be the first, but I am flawed. I fall and He picks me up. I mess up and He forgives. I call Him Father and He calls me daughter (!!!). I am loved and nothing and no one can take that away from me.

8. Provision. My family and I don't come from a background with much and yet I'm in college. I have employment, I have a home. I have. I am so, so blessed.

9. Food in my stomach. I'm sitting here with a coffee in hand and I have food in my fridge. So many people in the world are suffering and starving. I'm blessed.

10. My future decided. I may not know what is still to come but I can rest in peace, knowing that the Lord is in control. I will choose to follow Him, and keep choosing Him because He is worthy.

So many other things...

What are you grateful for today?

P. S. For more inspiration go: here, here and here

It's raining!!

Can you hear it!?!

It's raining outside! Like really raining and it's awesome!

And honestly, for the first time in a long time, it's a really nice thing.

It's been a dryer summer than normal and though that would generally be a good thing, unlike most people who love to soak up the rays in the summer while sipping on their iced coffees and scrolling through their Instagram feed, I am definitely more of a cold weather, wear cozy sweaters and scarves while holding a nice mug of hot coffee in my hands kind of gal.

I guess that's just the Oregonian in me talking, or the Seattle getting to me, take your pick, i'm not so sure either way.

In any case,

The smell and sound of rain brings me joy and I stop and wonder if people other than those in the Pacific Northwest recognize that about rain...

If they appreciate it.

I hope so.

Anyhow, summer can stay and come back tomorrow but for now, I'll enjoy this rain.

In my heart of hearts, I believe that Jesus loves a good cup of coffee.

It's a reoccurring feeling I get every time I hold a nice warm mug in my hands, a feeling of peace and rest.

A reminder that He is near and that I am loved.

Summer sure is sweet.

Friends turned brides and wedding showers.

I just got back from a dear friend's bridal shower.

She is one of four of my friends getting married this summer and I think a part of me is still in denial that this is actually happening.

Quick! Send help. I don't want to grow up.

On spending time with my nephew and being an aunt.

Since I've been home, I've been spending a lot of time with my nephew Leonardo.

I've been an aunt my whole life (literally, ask me about it) but there's something so special to me about having a little boy to take care of.

You see, Leo, as we call him, is the first boy out of eight, the rest are girls (some women now, EEK).

Anyhow, I've been pretty heavily involved in my nieces lives from day 1. I've changed their diapers, played with them, wiped their tears, cleaned up their messes and held their little hands.

But now that I'm in school and away from home, 9 out of 12 months of the year, I can't do that with my nephew.

He's a year and a few months old now and he doesn't know me to the degree that my nieces did at his age.

Because of that I try to spend as much time as I can whenever I'm over or he's around.

I'm on summer break so doing that's a lot easier now.

Here are some pictures of the last time I was with him...

Lately he's been super into watering the plants and it's so fun to watch him, as he runs back and forth to water the same plant, time after time.

He also likes playing with his water gun, as noted in the first picture, which reminds me about just how true it is that a man's heart is built differently from a woman's.

This little guy's heart is made for adventure.

Again, God really knew what He was doing when He made it that way, which is pretty cool.

Leo makes a pretty good model, don't you think?

I think we'll keep him :)

Welcome!

Hey friends!

I'm Elizabeth.

I am a follower of Jesus, lover of people and friend to coffee.

I used to blog under this same domain when I was in high school but I didn't use it well and i'm looking to start over.

I am starting this blog in part because of where I believe Jesus is leading me and because at twenty-years-of-age, I have found that these are the years worth capturing and living.

I am seeking to get past the monotony of life, to live one that is worthy of the calling I've received from my Father in Heaven and to tell some pretty great stories through it.

I hope you'll join me in telling them!

(I'm new to this community and I'd love to find other bloggers who are seeking more creative lives or who can be an encouragement to me!)

Grace and peace,

Elizabeth