With Everything - Hillsong United

If there's one song that can't be played loud enough, often enough... it's this one.
"With everything, we will shout for your glory!"

engagement ring love

Who says a girl can't dream?
This morning, I've been neglecting my academic duties as a student and instead found the most incredible engagement ring. (You think THAT'S bad?? I already planned my honeymoon. See here.)

Well, here it is!

Satomi Kawakita

Beautiful!! Platinum band. The damage? $1560 for a .2 carat diamond. A little pricey considering how simple and muted it is. Alot of my friends are engaged or married and some of them are sporting these HUGE rocks. I think that's wonderful and their rings look beautiful on them. But my left index finger is a tad on the small size (3.5) and so a big diamond just looks tacky. Plus, I want it to match my personality.

Of course, I'd be happy with ANY ring my fiance gave me. It's about the symbol, the meaning, rather than the rock. But as I said, I girl has to dream!

"There was certainly at this moment, in Elizabeth's mind, a more gentle sensation towards the original, that she had ever felt in the height of their acquaintance."

-Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Where to begin...

So much!

Between school, work and just life in general, I've been completely overwhelmed with STUFF. I just need to step aside and let God take control. I always tell myself I'm going to let Him take charge, but I have a nasty tendency to repeat my past mistake of taking on too much. 

I deleted my Facebook account. Actually, just deactivated. I feel that it is just too easy to slip into the habit of killing time, catching up with old friends... OK so those things aren't necessarily bad. But Facebook makes it all too easy to see what an old love is doing. What he's been up to. Who he's been talking to. And it makes moving on and staying focused all too difficult. I just need to focus on my graduate applications, making new friends and keeping up with the old ones in a healthy fashion. I always deactivate the thing when there's some "crisis" or I need to eliminate a distraction!

God has convicted me so much in the past few weeks. I feel Him drawing me in, relieving me of my guilt and shame that bogged my heart down for too long. He is SO good and faithful! I was reading Zephaniah 3 the other day. God was so disappointed with Israel -- "The LORD within her is righteous; He does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame." He forgives us every time even though it breaks His heart when we run. And after all that, He leaves us with this promise:

One thing He is working on in my life is my perspective on relationships. I feel that He has placed certain dear people in my life that will help me learn about what I want in a relationship, or what I should stay away from! The heart can be deceiving, the Bible says. And oh boy, is that true or what! I am learning to be patient and be filled with His holy spirit before I venture out and look for a special man to share my life with.

Another thing is that I know He wants me to build my community of believers. To branch out and reach out to those who do not yet know of God's love, but to also surround myself with faithful friends that I can learn from as well. I had such a wonderful group of Christian friends back in San Diego, but now I feel that God wants me to find people like that back home. It's not going to be particularly easy -- trusting others isn't something that comes naturally! But I know the consequences of a life without faith, and a group of prayer warriors is something that we all need in this life.

Well, with that being said... I decided to take a study break and surfed through Anthropologie's home collection. For some girls, it's shoes or makeup or clothes... for me? It's home decor. My weakness.

I mean really, how cute is that apron? I love. I'd wear it when I bake goodies in the kitchen! But for cooking? I don't cook. Ask me to bake something sweet and delicious and I'll put on a cute apron. Ask me to make dinner and I'd have to wear something along the lines of...

Sad but true. 

Love and blessings,

C

GRE. Done!

Verbal: 660
Quantitative: 710

Overall, I'm happy!
Now it's time to whittle my time away with Desperate Housewives reruns, indulging in classic literature, crafting, church, and dancing tonight!

Oh, happy day :)

What makes me smile?

Daffodils.

Answered prayers.

Ampersands.

Platypuses.

Cardigan sweaters.

Running through rain.

Perfectly made s'mores.

Late night heart to hearts.

In'n'out hamburgers.

Chubby babies.

Handsome strangers.

Words of encouragement.

Snuggles.

Open meadows.

Classic literature.

People that wave back when you let them in traffic.

Coffee. Or promises of coffee.

Thinking of you.