Hello, Monday

Hello, not-so-beautiful middle of California.

Hello, California getting much prettier as you enter Yosemite. 

Hello, weekend spent at Bass Lake with friends that its been too long since I've seen. 

Hello, APU High Sierra campus that houses my dear Anneke. 

Hello, day hikes to waterfalls and night hikes to peaks. 

Hello, Amie! My Japanese twin.

Hello, iPhone 5, and informative sessions on panoramic photos while lounging. 

Hello, Mexican food in Oakhurst before some funky thrifting and kayaking around the lake. 

Hello, weekend spent dwelling in the shadow of the Almighty, with twelve friends I am so very thankful for. 

This weekend took me right back to Walkabout. 

And I needed it real bad.

Speaking

We were putting our packs in the vans, ten minutes from departing campus for the airport to begin the first leg of our three-flight journey to Nepal. All that was left was to put university tags on our luggage, and pray with those that had come to see the ten of us off.

My friend Eddy was driving us to the airport, excited to send us all off to a country he had spent the summer in two years prior.

As I was changing from sneakers into rainbows outside of the Office of World Missions, he walked up to me and said, "Margaret, there is something I absolutely have to tell you."

I looked up, confused, and told him I was listening.

He continued by telling me that in praying for our team in the days prior, the Lord had given him words from Scripture to lay on me.

Me, specifically.

Like, I know God speaks directly into our lives through others, but I had never been in a situation where God had told someone that I needed to hear something.

"Be still and know that He is God, Margaret, just like it says in Psalm 46. I have no idea what that means to you, but I trust that God knows what He is doing by telling me you need to know that."

I had been freaking out that day. Never had I felt so nervous to travel so far, but never had I felt so lead by the Lord.

You see, there were pieces of my life that I knew I had to leave in California. Struggles that absolutely could not follow me into the mission field.

I had just received word that I may have a small tumor at the base of my brain. I had just found out that I inherited the cholesterol levels of my father, who had a heart attack and triple bypass at 47. I had just finished hand-writing a letter to someone I love, but that I knew I could not be constantly thinking about when trying to show people Jesus.

Not only did I pull from Eddy's words, God's words, that day. I pulled from them constantly throughout that next six weeks, singing them to myself as I walked the streets. I pulled from them as I studied the biology of cancer for class, trying not to imagine what was potentially growing in my brain. I pulled from them as I had blood drawn, tested, and got more opinions from more physicians.

I was reminded of them as I found out that there was no tumor. I was reminded of them as I realized the fact that my cholesterol levels do not determine my fate, but Jesus does.

What truths of Scripture can we be speaking into the lives of our friends and family? Can we pray for opportunities to wash both believers and non-believers in the words of our Father?

I want to. Sometimes it's hard to feel like I have it together at all, let alone feel like I can speak into the lives of those around me.

But Jesus uses the weak and the broken.

"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'" 
1st Corinthians 1:27-31

Hello, Birthday!

It's my 22nd birthday. Woo!

I haven't had many birthdays in my twenties yet, but lets look back at the last couple.

Hello, 20!

I turned 20 when I had just transferred to APU, and did not know many people yet.

But my wonderful friends from home showered me with gifts and cards via mail, including a wonderful little card containing a giftcard to head to the Pasadena Apple store to pick up my...

iPhone 4! I was officially in the club.

I was treated to my favorite Japanese barbecue restaurant in Pasadena and a night up at the beautiful Griffith Observatory.

And then headed to Yacht Club, a poolside event on campus.

My twenties had begun.

Hello, 21! 

For the big 2-1, I was a few weeks into my second year at APU, and had spent the month before school began in Resident Advisor training. It had been such a whirlwind of fun for almost two months, but I was ready to see some friends from home!

We met at a hotel in Santa Clarita, and these ladies showered me with love.

I was on a contract as a student leader on campus to not drink alcohol as an RA, but we still had fun with colorful non-alcoholic drinks and tiaras.

Laura and I went to Disneyland for the day the next day. I hadn't been there in years, and I freaking loved it. I had wanted to go my whole first year at school, but never got to. 

It was a blast.

We were only new roommates at the time, but Kayla had already picked up on my love for the Biebs, and got us matching Bieber toothbrushes that sing.

We loved it. The hall loved it.

Nothing like making a mundane task into an entertaining one!

Anneke!

Getting hijacked for a surprise BJ's birthday dessert by my Engstrom RA staff was a great ending to a few days of birthday celebrations.

Hello, 22! 

So, for 22, I had a couple great birthdays to top.

Today is the actual day, but my birthday weekend began Thursday evening when Kayla arrived! My parents went to San Diego for the weekend, and are still there, so Kayla and I had the house to ourselves for a few days.

Friday morning, we headed to the city. We weren't at the Golden Gate early enough to see the rocket-strapped-to-a-plane fly over, The Endeavor, but the bridge was a beaut.

Those of you who know and love me, know that I love to document the adventures of my shoes.

A short drive through the hills to Sausalito was in order, where we enjoyed clam chowder and time along the water perusing the shops. 

That night, we headed to Kevin and Ashley's for a game of Catan with those two, Kim, and Brian.

While we were playing, I received word from UPS that a special package had been delivered, that we found upon arriving home.

My iPhone 5!

That next morning, Saturday, Kim, Kayla and I headed over to Half Moon Bay. As a tradition of Kim and mine, it was fun to take Kayla on our rounds to Half Moon Bay Coffee Company, and our walk through Main Street of HMB. The interesting characters, rabbits, baby chicks, free kittens, and handmade crafts abounded. I don't have pictures, but I may post some soon when I get my hands on them.

That afternoon I went through the steps of activating and transferring to my new phone, and Kayla and I did a little shopping.

Sidenote: Apple, get some iPhone 5 cases, will ya?

Saturday evening was my birthday dinner! B Street & Vine, followed by Grape & Grain.

I love restaurants and bars with &'s in their names.

The heat lamps at B Street & Vine made for a rough red glow for everyone. 

But the bruschetta made up for it. 

The desserts, all five of them, were hella good. 

Grape & Grain. Yum.

Some beauties. 

The next morning. The perspective of a vocalist who requires much coffee and much ice water on a Sunday morn. 

And leopard shoes, a birthday gift from myself. 

It was very appropriate that we sing Jesus Paid It All, because He "can change the leopard's spots, and melt the heart of stone." 

I am so thankful for the people I love, that drive far distances and sacrifice their time with their spouses and children to celebrate me. 

They are such gifts of God's grace in my life. 

Hello, 22!

You are my favorite number, and I am thinking you may be one of my most interesting years. 

Linking up with Lisa for Hello, Monday. 

Hardness

Things that are hard:
- Moving back home, even temporarily
- Being full-time job-less
- Sorting through a life's worth of pack-ratting
- Deciphering what keepsakes just need to go for the sake of my mental state
- Making plans for the future
- Trusting in Jesus
- Hoping in Jesus
- Waiting on Jesus

I complain enough out loud, so this post really shouldn't be saturated in discontent. But you know how sometimes you just have to voice what's going on? Sometimes when I am wrestling with life and its contents, I feel even more overwhelmed knowing that no one knows.

So here's what's going on, people.

I am overwhelmed with the feeling that I need to work out my future, and that if I don't, no one will.

I am disappointed in some of the people in my life, both near and far.

I find myself having a hard time forgiving, both myself and others.

I am overcome with doubt recently; doubt that people can change, that situations can change, that I can change. That He can transform all things.

The common theme in all those?

I am having a very hard time remembering the size and the might of the God we serve. 

I am not in the place I imagined myself being at 9 days from 22, and frequently fall victim to the lie that because I am not where I planned, I have been left to fend for myself.

I have yet to figure out where blogging helps or blogging hurts.

So, please pardon my absence. Or pardon my too-frequent presence. Whichever it ends up being.

"For the sake of my servant Jacob,
    and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
    I name you, though you do not know me.
⁵ I am the Lord, and there is no other,
    besides me there is no God;
    I equip you, though you do not know me,
⁶ that people may know, from the rising of the sun
    and from the west, that there is none besides me;
    I am the Lord, and there is no other.
⁷ I form light and create darkness,
    I make well-being and create calamity,
    I am the Lord, who does all these things."
                             Isaiah 45:4-7

September 10 on 10

Welcome to my first 10 on 10.

Or more than 10. :)

10:30 AM

My giraffe friend was swimming in my coffee.

11:30 AM

Putting up my #mugswap post, chatting with Kim, and eating a new snack that I just love. Wild Riceworks chips.

12:30 PM

Lunch tradition with Kim, because iChat just doesn't cut it.

 1:30 PM

And then, my computer began doing this thing that it's been doing.

I have zero patience for it.

It doesn't start.

#mugswap link-up day is NOT the day for the computer to refuse to start.

2:30 PM

It began singing me the sad, sad song that it would like to go to the Apple store for some TLC.

My anger and annoyance began to shift to pity, as I called AppleCare and they informed me that the only solution would be to bring her in.

3:30 PM

Adding to my pile of stuff-to-bring-to-GoodWill.

It's amazing what I have acquired over the last 22 years.

4:30 PM

Snack time!

5:30 PM

After a long day soaking in coffee, I decided to give my little giraffe a bath.

He loved it.

In fact, he's still bubbling it up.

6:30 PM

Dinner.

7:30 PM

Apple Store Burlingame.

"Well, we'd like to keep your computer for a few days to really run some tests on it..."

Sure, dude, keep it.

I don't have 10 on 10's to post or anything...

8:30 PM

Came up to the Mission district where Cindy is housesitting/dogsitting, and met Zuzia.

What a ball of fun.

9:30 PM

A little Zuzia, Cindy, and Arrested Development.

Time for a sleepover!

Anyang.

(get it?)



Linking up here!

Mug Swap 2012

So, my partner in crime fellow Bohnanza loser best friend (in real life) Kim organized a Mug Swap again this year, where you get assigned someone across the country to send a mug to, and someone sends one to you! 

With over 200 entries, the pool was very large. Think Atlantic-sized. 

But somehow, I happened to get assigned one of my favorite people to sass with, Erin at Bringing Up Burns. 

Mysterious. 

I packed up this guy to send her way. 

I really hope that hashtag takes flight. 

The same day that I went to mail Burns' package, the school post office alerted me that mine was already here! 

So, I proceeded to my vehicle to open it in peace. 

Everyone needs a little selfie-with-their-package in their Mug Swap. 

Now, proceed to open said package with the sharpest thing you can find, which happens to be an APU housing key. 

For Kayla's apartment. 

Surprise, Kayla! I still have that...

I spy cute handwriting and fun colors!! Always a good sign!

I'm not sure why this picture is upside down...

BUT HOW CUTE ARE MY MUGS?!?! And TWO of them?!?!

Kara, who happens to live very close to my school's campus, is the cutest. She treated me! 

She even included some mocha-flavored Starbucks Via, and Tazo Zen tea. 

#yum

Thanks Kara!! You're the greatest. Hoping to meet up with her in real life soon, when I am back in the southern half of the state! 

Mug Swap 2012, over and out.