La primavera linda

Happy Spring! I am currently sitting by my pool, enjoying the lovely Redding sunshine. I’m always amazed at how easy it is to transition from I-want-to-die-it’s-finals-week mode to I-don’t-have-a-care-in-the-world-because-I’m-at-home mode. In the back of my mind I keep on thinking that I MUST be neglecting some sort of homework assignment or studying… But I’m not. Ha ha!

So I went to Panera for the first time this last week and it was delicious (as was expected). While studying outside in the amazing LA sunshine, my friend Sarah and I noticed two elderly women chatting. These ladies hadn’t seen each other in FIFTY years. And they were so cute, just looking over scrapbooks, taking pictures on their disposable cameras, and gabbing about their grandchildren. It was such a sweet reminder of the beautiful relationships I have in my own life and how the Lord reveals Himself through those friendships.

My birthday weekend has been sooo nice-- seeing my best friend, lounging around the house, getting to drive my zippy little Jetta again (!), and spending time with the fam. I have a growing suspicion that spring break is going to fly by. Isn’t that how it always works?

I’ll leave you with a verse that has really spoken to me these last few days:
“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Isaiah 29:11-13

Thank the Lord it's all about Him!

-Pam

I've got a pretty smart niece :)

Spring fever!

Hey friends!
Well, today is officially the first day of spring. Oh how I've been waiting for this day! This past week in LA was B-E-A-utiful; 80 degrees, clear skies, friendly little squirrels...perfect for studying for finals! ;) Now that finals week is over I feel like I can breathe again, phew! I finally have a chance to read for pleasure, layout and soak up the rays, maybe go on a run around Batiquitos Lagoon. Ohhhh how I love spring break! (if only I was with my other half, Pam Pam!) Something I'm really looking forward to at the end of this week (Saturday, March 27th) is the FLOURISH conference that my good friends Rachel Closs and Megan Fate are putting on. I'm so excited that I have the opportunity to help with it. The conference is for high school girls and will be focusing on finding our identities in Christ, figuring out what our purpose is, and learning how to live our lives in a way that enables us to flourish. Here is a link to the website if you want to check it out!
Flourish Conference Website!

The other morning I decided to whip out my mom's nice camera and take some pictures outside. We have this really neat plant in our front yard that attracts tons of bees! I was able to take some neat shots...it really makes me appreciate God's creation. Ah! He is so awesome! Here are some of my favorite pictures and a verse that I love about God's majesty.

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens...When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" Psalm 8: 1-4

Have a great week!
Suzanne

I'll make him an offer he can't refuse

In celebration of winter quarter almost being over....

Pam's Summer 2010 To Do List:
- Learn how to longboard
- Take a beginner’s floral design class
- Be able to play a stinkin’ bar chord (particularly an F major)
- Read War and Peace (For real this time)
- Run 3 times a week (no matter how early I have to wake up!)

Lately in my devotions I’ve been going through the book of Acts; I just love how Peter and John have a holy disregard for authority (because let’s face it, those high priests and religious officials were WACK):

“We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” Acts 5:30-32 ESV
I also love passages like this because they refer to every part of the Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I would like to see how a Jehovah’s Witness could argue with this verse.

This week in my film class I got to see Coppola’s The Godfather for the first time. Oh my goodness. The Godfather is crazy good. Mind you, I don’t think I’ve ever sat through such a violent movie (I’m pretty sheltered in terms of gory films haha), but it was a phenomenal film. Of course this is old news to pretty much the rest of the world, but for little ‘ole me, it was something new and exciting! Needless to say, I will definitely be watching The Godfather Part II in the near future.
“Leave the gun, take the cannoli.”

-Pam
Currently listening to: Tiger Mountain Peasant Song- Fleet Foxes

I've been feeling very pensive lately. I'm trying to figure out what God might want me to do in the future. Will I become a nurse, a dentist, a teacher, a doctor, a missionary...? I honestly have no idea. It's funny because when I first arrived at UCLA, my life plan was set in stone. I was going to be a bioengineer, get my MBA, be successful and secure...But God has totally rocked my world. He doesn't call for security; He wants me to give Him my all. I really love this quote from C.S. Lewis:

"We are all hoping that when all the demands of morality and society have been met, the poor natural self will still have some chance, some time, to get on with its own life and do what it likes…The Christian way is different—both harder and easier. Christ says, “Give me ALL. I don’t want just this much of your time and this much of your money and this much of your work—so that your natural self can have the rest. I want you. Not your things. I have come not to torture your natural self…I will give you a new self instead. Hand over the whole natural self—ALL the desires, not just the ones you think wicked but the ones you think innocent—the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead.”

Being a Christian doesn't mean giving up your desires...it means replacing your old desires with new ones...really sweet ones that promise eternal compensation! I am so encouraged and excited by this promise! Read Jeremiah 29: 11-13. SO GOOD!

-Suzanne