My dad.

You know, I think I've been to the moon and back with adventures with my dad. We've crossed oceans, cities and streets to be with each other, literally and figuratively.

Dad,
I love you so much.
You've sacrificed for me.
You've taken care of me.
You've loved me beyond comprehension.

I respect you so much.
You've taught me how to
Work dilgently,
Love unconditionally,
Serve humbly,
Live honestly.

I don't think I could ask for any better dad. Sure we've had our ups and downs, but time and time again, you've shown me your love so faithfully. I could never doubt your love...ever. Your love for Mom and our family is the truest kind.

I'll always be your little girl. And you'll always be my greatest hero.
I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day.

Memorial Day.

Today is Memorial Day. As much as I am thankful for those who have died for my freedom, and as much as I specifically love American history...

Honestly, it is hard to understand and personalize the gravity of the death of many brave men and women-when I am an American whose "fathers" did not die in American wars. It's an ambiguous and abstract feeling.

Nonetheless, I am forever grateful. Whether I realize the depth of their sacrifice or not, there are countless lives that have been spent so that I can be where I am today.

This day is a human reflection of the Ultimate Sacrifice Christ was for us. Jesus demonstrated His love for us, while we were yet sinners. He put His life on the line. For us. To give us the freedom from sin.

Maybe you can personalize this kind of sacrifice more than I can. Just remember. Today's a day we look back at our history: personally, nationally, and universally and remember. Don't let the heroes of our past become unsung.

Love Lead Me On.

"Someday I'm gonna go out to the country
I'll drive til the highway ends
Chasing after picture perfect sunsets
To take away my breath
I'm tired of living in the city
The world's got me tied on a string
Wanderlust has overcome me
Like Lewis and Clark I'll dream
There's a million different ways to go
Only God can know where I will call my home

Love lead me on
Where no one else has gone
Faith keep me strong
Love lead me on

The open road can be so lonely
I'm longing for someone to love
If only I could share my new surroundings
Open the doors above
There's a million different ways to go
Only God can know where I will call my home

Love lead me on
Where no one else has gone
Faith keep me strong
Love lead me on

Faith keep me strong
Love lead me home"

By the Afters.

I love this song. I thought about today while I was basking in the sun. We had water day today, and it was an absolute BLAST!!! I am really sunkissed. I love not burning in the sun. Deepest sympathies to those who do. This summer is going to be great. I can feel it in my bones.

Good times.

Ok, so I typed this blog out earlier, and it was nice and long...but the silly computer got confused and deleted all that I wrote :D

Anyway, I'll just summarize. I love to work. I love going to sleep really tired. I don't like to sit at a computer and type all day, not that kind of work. I like to run errands and talk to people and fill up inflatable pools, crazy stuff like that.

Today in Bible study, I realized I really ought to be learning something every day. It's easy to see spiritual change after a week, or several months or several days, but God is continuously working in me and growing me that there should be a distinct, no matter how small, difference between today and yesterday. :D

I've been reading through Colossians for my Bible reading. Tonight I read about my life being hid in Christ! Isn't that amazing!!! I share the same spiritual eternal life attributes that God has! I have eternal life that unbelievers don't understand the depth or width of how AWESOME that is! No one and nothing can take that life away from me! It's been really good. Really really good.

I'm so excited to grow this summer! It's already exponentially better than last summer. Not as many tears. ;)

Bliss.

I think I've mentioned it on my Twitter before, but these past few weeks I have been so unbelievably happy. Like really, truly, deeply happy. It's not the kind of happiness that comes in wisps. It's this substantial kind of joy (I guess would be the right word.)

God has done miracles in my family. I stand astounded, awed, and astonished at the power of my Lord. There is a sweetness in the relationships I have at home. I am so so so thankful.

I feel

Safe.

Loved.

Accepted.

I am so grateful to know that I have such cherished memories with Mom and Dad. Sometimes I am reduced to tears because of the goodness of God overflowing into my life from theirs. God is so good. I can't even say that enough. My family is a testimony of God's continual pursuit of His children. Eeee!!! Oh I am just GUSHING!

My heart is so full of joy.

I have so much to be thankful.

God has shown me through this that I can't give up praying...ever.

He holds all things in His hands, and He will allow His will to come to pass in His time.

He only asks that I trust Him, obey His voice, and let Him be God.

And let me tell you, He does a mighty fine job at being God!

He is God. and He really is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Oh I am just so happy. What more can I say?

My Life Skills Class.

Maybe I've posted about this subject before, but I can't remember.

For those of you who don't know, our Bible class this year is all the Junior girls combined. With Miss Choi teaching us, it has been such a growing experience! At the beginning of the year, many girls went up to the front of our class and shared what God's done in their lives. Miss Choi has over and over again shared what God had been laying on her heart to share with us. Throughout the year, we have continued to challenge one another with the things God has been teaching us in our own personal lives. It's been really great. Honestly.

Miss Choi said today that every person has their story. Some girls have shared part of their stories with our class. It has provided a sense of openness in our class. God is so good. Yes, we have all gone through pain. But through that pain, we grow. Growth does not come without pain. It has been such a blessing being able to share with each other the pains of this life and see how God has shown Himself strong through that.

I shared with someone today that if there is anything I've learned in Bible class this year, it is that my God is Sovereign. There is a specific reason why all of us were put in that class. There is a reason why we all decided to put ourselves at risk of being rejected and exposed our pain to other people. Whatever that reason is, I know that it has helped me heal. There has been a lot of pain, no doubt. But I have also had the privilege of seeing great healing. To be together, to hurt together, to heal together, and to grow together. That's what I've seen this year.

And through it all, God is growing each and every girl in that class to become the young lady He wants us to be. He is taking our past hurts and teaching us to let go of anger and bitterness, give it up to Him, and learn to truly love. He is taking our ashes and making it something beautiful.

Days like today.

Before I get uninspired and totally distracted, I need to tell you guys about TODAY!

So I woke up with a crazy headache that I had for no apparent reason. I got up and started getting ready for school, but then I got really nauseous and weak, so I went to go tell my mom. I didn't want to just stay home because I had a dress rehearsal for choir and I couldn't miss that. My stomach and head hurt so badly that I was rolling around on my bed and crying. Well, long story short, Mom thought it was an attack from the enemy because of all the work God has been doing through our family these past couple of days, so she and my sister prayed over me....and then I fell back asleep for another two hours. The last thing running through my mind, "God promises that He will lay His healing hands upon the sick and they will be healed." SIGH.

Two hours of sleep later. I am better. :D So I go to school. And yes. Of my own volition.

Fast forward two hours. Alice and I randomly end up getting the opportunity to speak in Miss Choi's 10th grade girls' Life Skils class (Bible class). Alice shared a testimony of what God has been doing in her life the past couple of days, and she challenged the girls about how freeing it is to confess sin, make things right with God and others, and accept the consequences maturely. And she was so right on when she said: the scariest place to be is when you are a Christian and you have unconfessed sin against God, but the BEST place to be is when you know you are in a right standing with Him. So true. Wise words there, girl. :D

I also spoke, very extemporaneously. Miss Choi just asked right before that class if I could speak, and I couldn't turn her down. It was something that I had been wanting to do for ages, and here was an opportunity being given to me.

I can't remember word for word what I had said, but it was along the lines of:

As a Christian, there will be a time in your life where you will have to decide whether you really believe in God, whether you are going to take a step of faith and take God for His Word, whether you will believe that the Bible is the absolute authority. I shared about the time when Mom got sick and was in and out of the hospital for a couple of weeks. I told those girls that it was then that I really got serious about God. It was then when I was pushed to the end of myself and I had to ask myself if I really believe God is truthful when He promises to me in His Word that if my mother and father forsake me, He will lift me up. I had to ask if I really believed that all things work together for good and that He is the Father of all Comfort.

I told them that we can go to Harvest since we were in kindergarten and learn all these facts about God and the Bible, but if we don't live out what we learn, all we're doing is learning how to be really good liars. When will we take the mask off? When will we stop kidding ourselves and get honest with God about sin and who we really are?

If you don't go to Harvest, then you probably don't realize this, but the difference between this year's junior class and the other high school classes is a huge chasm. Aside from all biases, there is something different about my class. I know that those sophomore girls knew that, because I have talked to many of them. Some of them have even asked me why things are so different with us. You may be asking the same question. God's grace is what makes us different. Yeah, we are TOTALLY not perfect, but because there were a few of us our freshman year who took God seriously, God took us seriously. Because of His grace, He has really brought our class close together.

I took that illustration and brought it to the point of: Take God seriously, and He will take your seriousness seriously. I told them they can mock me and even think I'm foolish for giving my all for the Gospel, but I also told them that if they do, I know something they don't. I know how real, how good, and how awesome JEHOVAH God is! I told them that my life is a picture of God's grace. Honestly. There have been so many things that my family and I have gone through that we never could have survived without God. I shared with them specific things in my family that I have seen God do.

I told them that if they are challenged by what was said and finally decide to take the next step in their Christian walk, I'm not going to mock them. There are people that are going to support them, not ridicule them for standing up for Christ. I told them that even the reason I was speaking in their class was to support Alice, my sister in Christ. And if they ever wanted to talk, they can come to us...and other Christian girls. I challenged them to be that girl who people can point at and say, "Yeah, that girl is God's girl. She's not perfect, but she knows exactly who she is in Christ."

In all seriousness, I praise God for that opportunity. I praise God for the fact that my life is a picture of His grace and sovereignty. I praise God for all the things that He has brought me through. Even for just one person I touch....each hardship is worth it.