Blessings

It's days like today that I realize once again just how much I'm blessed here at Providence. Surrounded by community, sunshine and the mountains. It's a wonderful thing, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

In the past couple of weeks I've been to the top of the LA city hall, ice skating, concerts, picnics, City Hall sardines, trips to Denny's for drama practice, Biology field trips to the mountains, Late night Fro Yo trips, a Choir performance in Chapel, Open mic night, and just so the adults won't freak out, I have been studying and doing homework. Promise. 

Life is crazy. It is wonderful and beautiful and crazy. Every day is a new adventure. Everyday is a new chance to learn something new about yourself, the people around you, the city, the world. I've done so many things that I don't think I could experience anywhere else. Yes, I could go ice skating in Sioux Center, or go out for Fro Yo with friends. But it's not the same experience. 

And in that way I'm outstandingly blessed. Something as simple as a trip to Denny's,  a tug of war game, or running around, up, down, under city hall at midnight playing sardines builds community in a unique way. 

The blessings are in the little things. Look for them. Live them. 

Sardines at Pasadena City Hall

View from the top of LA City Hall.
The beautiful city of LA!

Sea Beggar Palooza Photo Booth

Slack Lining at the Fall Picnic

Tug of War. The girls won. As always. 

One of my favorite pictures from the BIO field trip

Bio field trip. Right after we had some of the most amazing apple cider I will ever have

Ice Skating in Culver city with a Disney star.



It Is Well With My Soul

Patience

Patience.

 I've been told several times now that I am a very patient person. Maybe that's so, but I sure don't feel patient.

I loose my temper.
I get frustrated easily.
I am often stressed.
I hate waiting.
I am hasty.
I give up.
I am focused on the now.
I am easily annoyed.
I complain.


I am not a patient person.

Not at all. My whole life I have been reminded that "Patience is a virtue" because of the numerous times I haven't been patient.

What exactly is patience? According to the dictionary: The quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.”

Bearing annoying, misfortunate, painful, provoking incidents with out complaining, becoming irritated, or loosing your temper?? Yikes. Sounds pretty impossible to me. 

The biggest problem with Patience is that people want things now. After going for a run once, you want to step on that scale and see that you lost all that weight. You order that package and you want it to be shipped to your door now, not in a week. You buy a airplane ticket for May, but you wish it was taking off tomorrow. You put a pizza in the oven and you wish it was done right away. You send someone a text and you want the answer now. I can think of a million more examples but I think you get the idea. 

But it's more then that. It's being understanding of people, being considerate towards others, helping people even if it might be an inconvenience to you.  Patience reveals our faith in God’s timing, omnipotence, and love.

Patience isn't something you just put on in the morning. Which, when you think about it, is really to bad. Think about how much nicer people would be to each other, how understanding, helpful, or kind we'd be to our neighbor.

Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  James 5:7-8

Pray for patience. 

Blessed

I am so incredibly blessed. It is nearly impossible to fathom how greatly God has blessed me these two short semesters at Providence. Every day I am completely blown away by His great blessings.

I do not have room or time to list all the blessings, and I don't think I ever will. God is constantly doing things in my life that I never would have imagined. I've always known that I was going to go to Providence, that it was going to be my college. But I don't think I would ever have guessed or imagined how it would shape my life.

I still can't put into words how blessed I am. I have amazing, supporting friends, I'm surrounded by God's beautiful and diverse creation, I have learned so much in all of my classes, and have been greatly humbled through them. The list would go on and on. Everyday I discover another reason to praise God for what He's doing in my life.

Even through mid-terms, homesickness, and stress, there is no other place I want to be right now more then Providence. My senior year of high school I knew that this was were God wanted me. I can see that even more clearly now. I belong here. God has greatly blessed me through this college, praise the Lord!

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new mevery morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Surrounded by His Beauty

 

On the wall in our dorm room there is a large bulletin board that contains close to 100 photos of everything that happened during the first semester here. A daily reminder of everything that has happened in such a short amount of time.