Pies, pumpkins and talented people

Last night was one of Biola's most delicious traditions... Punk 'n' Pie Talent Show.

A night of talent, entertainment, pumpkin pie and the nostalgia of fall.

My staff has been putting it together for a few weeks and it was greaaat to finally see it all come together. This was the first year it was outside on our Administration building's lawn, and it was a huge success. Every other year it has been in our cramped auditorium and squeaky old stadium seats. This year was bring your own blanket and sprawl out wherever you can, it was wonderful.

Myself and Katie, another girl on staff, were the event's MC's. Neither of us having hosted any event before, were nervous and had no idea what to do, but it turned out to be so much fun, I would totally do it again.

The acts were greaaaat. Including solo artists, our dance team, indie-tastic fellah's singing about Pokeman {and an AMAZING cover of "My Girl" by Animal Collective} and a techno rave to the super mario brothers complete with glowsticks for the crowd and many more...it was a well rounded and high energy event.

The winning act {and rightfully so} was a group of guys. The main guy was dressed as Abe Lincoln and said the Gettysburg address, dramatically, from memory and then the song "Proud to Be an American" came on and tons of "American" men came from the audience dressed as: homeless men, construction workers, farmers, policemen, mailmen, cowboys, indians, bikers, baseball fan and all american came on stage doing amazingly bad/great choreography and lots of fist pumps in the air, waving a giant flag in the background and singing at the top of their lungs.

I. was. rolling. So deserved the win. Most hilarous part... 4 of them live next door to me, classic.

One of the greatest MC moments...

We were having technical difficulties with one of the acts so we had seen this dude in a gorilla suit earlier, so we called him out and brought him upstage.... with a slow clap. Epic. In addition to all of the other ridiculous things we said in nervousness/eagerness to fill awkward silences. So great.

I don't have many pics yet, but heres one of Katie and I.

In other news...

I took my lovely friend Emily and her fiance Tony's engagement pictures today and it was so so fun! And now I will be editing pictures like a kid in a candy store for the rest of the night.

IN ADDITION to having a massive junk food/girls night in Halloween with ze best friend, Danae. Mmmmm.

Hill Tumbling

I was walking back from class this morning and passed by a particularly lovely grassy hill on campus that is usually unoccupied. Well today, there were about 20 tiny tots rolling down the hill, screaming, flirting, bumbling and giggling and I was this close to joining them.

I smiled at one of the girls and she said "hi" and waived at me. I talked to her for a minute and asked what they were doin and they were on a field trip. That's all, just a field trip. And according to my new gal pal, she was having "a ton o' fun at Wyola! I wanna go here too!" My heart was all tingly and warm envying their life of college campus romping, hill tumbling and bookstore browsing on a Friday afternoon.

Oh to be 7 again, such bliss. A little glimpse down nostalgia lane was all I needed to make me yet again greatful for my childhood, and for where I am now.

It's days like today...

... that get me super pumped for heaven.

I didn't have a particularly bad day today, just an average day.

A day like a million other days I've spent, living my life, day to day.

Because it's all I've ever known how to do.

I just can't wait for the fact that in heaven I won't ever wake up tired.

I won't ever have to do homework, take tests or go to class.

I won't ever have to save money to buy things, or to even have to deal with the whole mess of money in general.

I won't ever have to say goodbye to the ones I care about. Just constant continued conversations.

I won't ever have to get sick, be late, or have to apologize for something I've done or haven't done.

I won't ever have to impress anyone or feel guilty about the things I'm not doing that I should be doing.

I won't ever judge anyone or look down upon those I subconsciously deem lesser than myself. So stupid.

I won't ever get cold, get lost while driving somewhere, stutter because I talk way too fast, or have to do my hair.

I won't ever have to fool others into thinking I'm smart, cool, hip or whatever it is I'm trying to prove at one time or another.

I won't have to read about celebrities and deem the ridiculous things they do as a point of interest.

I won't have to just sit and wonder what in the world I'm supposed to do with my life. It will be done, I will have learned, I will be content, and I will be relieved.

I'll never have to be anything other than in the presence of God and do nothing but praise the crap outta Him.

And it's day's like today that I can't wait to meet Jesus.

Great Weekend? Check.

Shane came to visit this past Thursday through Sunday.

It was glorious.

We ate good food and treats, watched movies, he met my friends and church, we saw art, went to the beach and spent way to much time pestering each other. All in all, it was stupendous because after 12 weeks, we got to be together again.

Now just 4 more... no sweat.

In other news, I most likely gave him Mono and he gave me a cold. Awesome.

Learning to suffer

This week at good ol' Biola is the Torrey Conference. This year's focus is on suffering, personally, and globally. It's been a really encouraging time to seek God amidst suffering, even though my sufferings are barely comparable to the amount of pain, darkness and anguish throughout the world, but it's still comforting to seek God and let Him sit with me in my suffering. This has been a Psalm of David I have been returning to and sitting in with God.

Psalm 5

Give ear to my words, O LORD,

consider my sighing.

Listen to my cry for help,

my King and my God,

for to you I pray.

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait in expectation.

You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil;

with you the wicked cannot dwell.

The arrogant cannot stand in your presence;

you hate all who do wrong.

You destroy those who tell lies;

bloodthirsty and deceitful men

the LORD abhors.

But I, by your great mercy,

will come into your house;

in reverence will I bow down

toward your holy temple.

Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness

because of my enemies—

make straight your way before me.

Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;

their heart is filled with destruction.

Their throat is an open grave;

with their tongue they speak deceit.

Declare them guilty, O God!

Let their intrigues be their downfall.

Banish them for their many sins,

for they have rebelled against you.

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;

you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

boyfriend o'clock

i get to see my man todaaaaaay!

please be excited.

thanks jesus.

I went to my mailbox today and found an encouraging card and some monies from my Gramma. Just when my happy thoughts and bank account were running low, God provided security and encouragement.

Life updates:

- Mono - I shooould be released next week back to normal activities {such as walking semi long distances, lifting things, the return of my social life, being able to stay awake... that sort of thing}, but will still have to take it easy for several more weeks. A new weird symptom... everything else feels fine but I'm even more exhausted than ever, which is apparently and unfortunately normal at this stage. yuck

- Phone - Still broken, but I'm learning how to operate amongst the cell obsessed environment in which I dwell, and thanks to mis padres I will have a new telephono soon

- Shane - Gets here TOMORROW. Can't really focus on much else. Too bad he'll most likely get Mono, whoops.

- Work - Our biggest event of the Fall, the Punk n' Pie Talent Show is next week so I'm stoked to work on that and see how it turns out

-School - I have decided to change my degree emphasis to Photography {with a bit of design thrown in} and couldn't be more excited about further pursuing my passion in the medium of photo, I've been ignoring it/scared of committing to it for a while, but I couldn't be happier that I've chosen it now.

- I miss - Home, my familia, my little tot nephews, fall in Oregon, being cold, high school football season, having energy, giggling with my gal pals and not worrying about school

- God - Is good. And has been teaching, challenging and stretching me in almost every possible way this past few weeks

-Photo - Because I love it and you should too...

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.... I'm BACK!

I don't know what I was thinking. Tumblr is silly and not exactly blogger friendly, its great for posting pictures, but not thoughts. So... we're back, my thoughts and I.

Sorry we left you in the lurch for a minute there.

In other news, for those of you that are keeping track, Shane is coming on THURSDAY, my phone is broken (may it rest in peace) and the one we had ordered... is in fact back ordered. And I am learning patience in many ways.

ALSO, I learned today that moths do NOT make moth balls. Moth balls are something you put in your closet to repel moths so they won't devour your clothes. So sneaky. Slash a bit sad that I just now learned this important moth-related information.

It's good to be back friends, good to be back.