[insert your life here]

Can I just say: Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is the awesomest movie!

"so shines a good deed in a weary world"
~Wonka

The set designers and Roald Dahl may have been on some sort of Pink Floyd/Wizard of Oz-esque trip while this film was in the making, but what a beautiful creation! And so many awesome little anecdotes and short people. It is rad!

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This past weekend was wonderful! I went camping with my college group in the beautiful, lush, plush Mt.Baker Rainforest. And when they call it a rainforest... woo boy! They mean RAIN forest! Yes, it was a little wet and that is why Karen, Sharon, and I got comfy in the neon instead of swimming in the tent for sleeping purposes. The best part of the weekend was getting to know people. Awesome kids!

I can't believe I so often considered not coming back to the group. It was crazy because each time I entertained the thought of leaving, God brought someone in the group to my side in an unexpected way. The first time it was Karen who all the sudden stepped into my life as an accountability partner. The second time it was just a couple of people going out of their way to say hello. The third time it was randomly meeting Jesse the evangelist at a Tuesday worship night. This last Thursday I was planning on going to crew one last time for the purpose of saying good bye and setting a few things straight but God had other plans, yet again! and somehow by the end of the night I was signed up for the campout and super psyched to get out in God's country! Yes, I am stubborn. But after the weekend I know this is where God wants me on Thursday nights.

Tom focused on prayer this weekend: conversing with God. The main verse was Acts 2:42:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

One thing I have been missing out on since I got home from School is my silent time with God. I lived off those times only a few months ago and have been depriving myself since. This explains to me why I had been so passionless as of late. So many times I kept telling myself to go back and read what I wrote to remember what made me so passionate for God, but I need to move forward and break new ground by diving hardcore into His word and listening so intently for His voice. In the silent hour, Saturday morning, I made a promise to God: Whenever I sink back into my old school of thought, each time I try to fill the void in my heart with something other than Christ, each time I am depleted, every time I am angry; I will run to God and not inward. I will seek His words not my own troubled phrases. And every time I am joyful, I will share my happiness with my Father so we can dance with gladness together.

I was reminded this weekend that this thing I have with God is a relationship. Such a simple statement.. sometimes those are the easiest to play-off.

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Happy Summer, all! Yesterday was THE summer solstice! and I didn't go chill with the naked gay men in Fremont (maybe next year), instead I got to spend my birthday with awesome friends, old and new... I even got to blow out a little tea candle after everyone sang the traditional tune. I wouldn't have chosen to ring in my nineteenth year anyother way! cold, wet, and dirty was the way to go!

and this is my first official bloggage in my nineteenth year.

enjoy.