Sisters

Sisters are sweet things (people :)) that let me taste and see God's goodness. As a little girl I would grieve (literally!) the fact that I didn't have a sister - I wanted one so badly. What's fun, is that I'm always gaining new sisters, in more ways then one, and I'm so thankful!

One way that I am gaining a sister is through my younger brother's engagement a little over a month ago! I am so excited that Joost and Kristin are getting married, I could not ask for a better wife for my brother. . .and sister for me, finally! Looking forward to seeing them and my parents for a Giants baseball game in San Francisco tomorrow. . .I've got the peanuts and cracker-jacks all ready to go for my mom and dad's first baseball game ever!

Another way that I have gained a sister happened just yesterday. After a wonderful faith-stretching week of meeting lots and lots of new students, I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with a freshmen who proceeded to begin a personal and very real relationship with God in the courtyard right outside of her dorm room. As we talked about John 1:12 ("Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave he right to become children of God"), it hit me afresh that I have many brothers and sisters in Christ - and that many are still coming to know Him as their Savior, even in the hardest of places. I am so thankful for the work God is doing to draw His children to Himself!

Lastly, this is recruitment ("rush") week in the Greek community here at Cal. Students that are rushing are looking for sisterhood/brotherhood, amongst other things. It has been so neat to see God answer my prayers - He's brought several great freshmen girls, who love Jesus, into my life this week who are going through recruitment. I am excited to see what houses/chapters they end up in and which "sisters" they will be a light to for their next 4 years at Cal.

Thanks for reading some of my thoughts on the many blessings of "sisters" in my life!

Finally!

So, I've been wanting a fresh look and name for my blog for quite some time. Well, today is the day! I'm waiting for some college friends to show up, watching the Jr. Olympics on TV, and fiddling with technology after a full day of campus ministry related things.

If you know me at all you'll know that I just love "sweet" things - things that are sweet to taste, see, feel, and hear. . .but especially taste!

But, I am most passionate about the sweetest thing (errr, person) in my life - Jesus. I have indeed tasted and seen that He is good (Psalm 34:8) and want to continue to do so as I enjoy the people, places, and things that He's placed in my life. He gets the credit and the glory for any of the sweet stories (and recipes. . .) I'll be sharing here, because He's the creator of it all!

So, to start - one of the sweetest things of today was my trip to Costco. Well, Costco can make me grumpy - way to many people, buying way to much stuff. . .and I just add to the problem. Today I went to buy lots of ministry things (like 5 cases of bottled water to give out to new students this week) and was feeling the grumpiness come on as I was pushing a way too heavy cart through the obstacle course that is Costco. I finally make it to the cash register and through a conversation with one of the employees, Dennis, it comes out that I've bought all this stuff because I do campus ministry at Cal. Well, Dennis gets SOOO excited and comes over to shake my hand and give me a big hug while saying "Bless you, sister in Christ". We chat for a bit and I'm on my way. Dennis turned my frown upside down - I definitely left with a smile on my face. How encouraged I was!

I'm thankful for many sweet gifts, pictures of God's grace (an undeserved gift, always) throughout this day and everyday. I hope to give you snippets of His sweetness as the weeks and months of a new year go by.

What is a sweet thing you've experienced this weekend?

bathroom make-over

Well, now I remember why it took me over a year (we re-painted the rest of my apartment in April 2009) to get up the motivation to paint the bathroom. . .it's hard work! I don't want to paint anything for another yet, at least. Here's the before:

It's hard to tell, but it was floor-to-ceiling yellow. . .well, actually the color was called "polenta". So, I had been bathing and primping in a polenta-colored cube - yuck! But, to be honest I now understand why even the ceiling was painted the same color - because it's REALLY hard to do a good job painting edges. Well, I did my best and here's what it looks like now:

I painted the ceiling, cupboards, and sink cabinet white, the walls a creamy sandy color (just found it in the paint closet in the garage so I have no idea what it's called), and changed the hardware. I actually didn't buy a single thing to do this project. . .but I sure wish someone paid me! But that's alright, I have the satisfaction of my hard work and a "new" bathroom.

I've also made some changes to my bedroom - stay tuned. . .

Off to finish laundry - heading out to a staff planning retreat this week, be back Thursday night. Have a good one!

Oops. . .

Well, it's been over a month - and it's gone quickly.

Some highlights. . .

- finished up classes, thankful for a deeper faith in God and His Word, also thankful for deeper friendships

- Joost and Kristin are engaged! My mom and I threw a fun engagement party a week ago. . .it's really happening, probably sometime in April - wahoo!

- a SLO vacation with a dear friend; something active in the beautiful outdoors every morning, something super relaxing for the rest of the day, oh - and lots of really good food. . .definitely the recipe for a great vacation!

And now I'm back in Berkeley trying to get ready for year 4 of full-time ministry, year 3 in Berkeley. Hard to believe! Feeling the usual jitters of starting a new year - but have been very encouraged as I am reading Hebrews to walk by faith and run this race with endurance.

This summer has had many seasons - both literally (from snow to humidity and everything in between) and figuratively. A couple of lines in a song (called "Desert Song") have come to mind frequently:

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

I have so much to be thankful for as I start a new year - I am especially thankful for Jesus and the relationship I have with Him, and I am hopeful that He will do great things in Berkeley and at Cal this year!