Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote, "Then followed that beautiful season... Summer...Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood." Today was a wonderful day... I spent the day at the beach with Sarah, and my new friends Daisy and Alisha whom I know through Aaron. We spent the day laying in the warm sun, accompanied with lots of girl talk :) it was nice to hang out with a couple girls who had fun just hanging out and talking. It was another great beginning to a wonderful summer.
Me, Sarah, Daisy, and Alisha <3
Before I we (Alisha and I) got burnt.
Beach Babe :)
Love this girl
We thought this was pretty funny hahahah :)
The day was just wonderful, we laid out for hours, had submarina sandwiches and I ended up getting sunburnt! Thankfully, Aaron brought me some aloe vera lotion to help with the pain :) Tonight was fun because Aaron came over and let me shave his head.... he had an overgrown fo-hawk that needed to be dealt with. He shaved his head and I must say that he looks simply handsome :) One thing I miss with Aaron is spending quality time with him, I never seem to get enough, or at least as much as I would like. I am really praying for him right now and his walk with God and everything else he is going through because I can feel that something is bothering him and it hurts me to see him that way. I think it's hard for him to understand how much I care about him, and how I only want what is best for him. I miss going to church with him through, I miss doing devotions with him... I miss the drive he had to take me to church when we first met, it was always a priority. I love him, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him... but it scares me to, it scares me to let down my walls that I built these past two months... but I know I need to. Part of me needs Aaron to open up to though, let me see the emotional side of him... and I need him to encourage me in my walk with God too. I am tired of being a lukewarm Christian... God deserves more than 15 minutes of my day.
Jewel.
God, thank you for today. Thank you for the sunshine and the presence of friends. God thank you for who you are and how you work in my life. Thank you for the opportunities you have placed in my life these past couple days. God give me strength to encourage Aaron in whatever he is going through. God help me make every day more and more about you. Continue to work through me and in me, speak through me everyday, use my hands and words to praise your name. In your precious name,
School is coming to an end and all of the papers are creeping to their due date and all the finals are around the corner. I am trying to do my best and not get stressed out over the life that is happening around me. As I try and stay positive, I go to my normal jaw/braces check up appointment...only to find a cist and some damaged teeth from getting hit in the face, and its just another thing to add onto the list...
On a positive note, it was a bright and beautiful day outside and I got the chance to wear one of my new tops from Forever 21 from my visit to see Sophie in Costa Mesa...
In the midst of all my stress, things in my life are getting better every day. God is teaching me many lessons right now, lessons on patience, trust, and not worrying about what people around me say. I have learned that the people in your life that love you will always be there to support you regardless if you make mistakes and take the wrong roads or not. Dr. Seuss said it best, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." I need room to make my own mistakes and to choose my own paths...
Today I read about being rooted in love for God, being like a tree that grows by the water, completely immersed in the love and passion of Christ. Eph 3:17 says, "And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love."
I want to be like a tree growing by the water, the roots deep down in the soil of Christ and continuously nurtured by the water and love of God. I pray that these last 3 weeks of school I can trust in God and remain at a low-stress level.
Do you ever long for life to be easy? or the right answer to just pop out at you? Do you ever wish that God could just give you a sign pointing down the right path based upon a choice you have to make? I have reached a point in my life where nothing is easy, and the answer is fall from simple. Those who know me, know how close I am with my family, you also know that their opinion weighs heavily over my shoulders. All my life, i have always listened to what my parents told me and took every piece of advice they threw out at me... and it got me some pretty great places. Now that I am older and mature, I know that I have to make decisions on my own, regardless of what anyone else "thinks" or "believes." I know that I need to learn from other people's mistakes, but at the same time.. if I don't make any mistakes of my own, then I won't ever know how to make important decisions. I've reached a crossroad in my life, the first chance and oppurtunity to make a choice on my own and for myself... one road is the path my family is pointing me towards, and the other road is the one my heart is pointing me towards. I know I am young and naive, but I need to take a leap of faith.... and I need to be aware that the landing isn't always soft and smooth.
I guess when all is said and done, all that is left to do is pray. If anyone is out there reading this, please just say a prayer for me, for my heart, for my family... it was once said...
"When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure."
I have some choices that I need to make, and prayer is really what I need most of... because I sure won't be getting much support... God help me, please strengthen me.
"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."-Maya Angelou
Things have been busy on my end, dealing with school full-time and working 20 hours a week...incorporating piano lessons, piano practice, bible study, college group, homework, and studying into all of that... my days can get pretty busy. I've been trying to make time for friends and family during the week because they are the one's that keep me going and encourage me in my walk. It's been tougher this past week because I've been told some things about my past relationship with Aaron that really hurt me, but I need not to dwell on the bad. There are so many positive things that happened this week, I got 2 classes cancelled yesterday and got to hang out with my friend from school all day, I got to have a sleepover with my friend Elaine, and tonight I am heading to the Jordan college group for some really great fellowship. Prayer has been my challenge this week, there are so many people, especially my friends that need prayer right now... and as much as I would like to pray for myself and my own issues... my focus goes on others this week. Make someone smile this week and tell them you are praying for them, and maybe even do a good deed out of the blue for them :) I know that my friend Kristen did this for me this week, she brought me lunch AND Starbucks at work, which no one has ever done for me. Completely made my week 10 times better.
Have a great rest of the week all ;)
and GOD bless <3
xoxo,
Jewel
PS: I just discovered a drink at Starbucks last week called a iced dirty chai tea latte... I TOTALLY recommend it :)
