One thing I ask...

Wow, this passage has been ringing so beautifully in my head and heart for weeks now. The Lord brings it to my mind at some of the most random times, and I almost break down every time I hear it.

Psalm 27:4

"One thing I ask of the Lord,
this I will seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple."

Ah, how this passage refreshes and lifts my spirit! I know that this will be a reward for me, and every single believer in Jesus Christ, as we live out the calling He has given us! We GET to dwell in the presence of Almighty GOD - the Maker of heaven and earth and everything in between. The one who longs to ravish our souls everyday if only we would let him. The one who created our inmost being, having so many hopes and dreams for us. He is so beautiful. My favorite part about this passage, is that it's not necessarily just talking about heaven or eternity. I believe so strongly that we are able to live a life that constantly gazes upon the beauty of the Lord! That we can see so much of him in our day to day lives by shifting our focus. Right now I write completely convicted that I do not live this way enough. Since I got home from work today, I have done absolutely nothing productive. I have sat around my house feeling lonely, bored, and lazy. I am so ashamed that when there is a God whose beauty is entrancing, I have been twiddling my thumbs. He is worth so much more than that, and I so badly want to seek his beauty right now. He deserves that from me!

Lord I seek so desperately to live a life that is a love song to You! That as I LIVE, I would be a constant worshipper - in everything. You are so beautiful and You deserve my utmost! Thank you for loving me in the midst of my passivity, and that, with Your help, I can break through passivity into passion. You are so good!!

Holy Ghost encouters at Disneyland.

This is my God!!!!! He's alive and active and so, so phenomenal.

My Friend :)

I have been inspired to write a blog. My dear friend Melissa started a blog over a month ago and has written a new post everyday. I just read a hand full of them, and have been so deeply touched. Mel is such a good friend to me. I know I have written some posts about her, or her baby, Mr. Keaka in the past, but I feel the need to brag on her briefly. :) I met Mel when I was doing my 9 month study of the Bible in Kona, HI. She is a personal trainer who taught a workout class offered to the entire campus twice a week. We began hanging out weekly, doing various things such as yoga, Starbucks, coffee at her house, and lots and lots of talking. Her and her husband's condo was such a get-away for me in the midst of such an intensive school and too much campus life! After being a student in Kona, I went back to staff the same 9 month Bible school. This is when mine and Mel's friendship got deeper. :) Within the first couple weeks of my second big trip to Kona, Mel announced to me that she was PREGNANT! I was so ecstatic. At that point we hung out probably 2-3 times a week. As her pregnancy progressed, we hung out more and more. I loved being around her prego self and exercising with her.

Then in September she had her precious baby boy! We had been hanging out in the afternoon into the evening when she was having consistent contractions, and did not feel like going on a walk - no wonder!! I went home, and a couple hours later got the call that they were heading to the birth center. I got to watch their dogs while they went and had their amazing son. After he was born, I ended up hanging out more and more at her house even than I had before. It was a double wammy - I got to be around my dear friend AND I got to hold a newborn!! I don't know where I'm going with this. I could spend hours writing on how much I love her and how much her friendship has touched me, but maybe I'll just leave it at that for now. :)





I just love this family. Mel has been and still is such an encouragement to me as a single girl, going through daily battles of wishing I wasn't so single and what not. She prayed an amazing and powerful prayer for me over the phone last night that has completely refreshed my soul. Mel, you are incredible!!!

More wedding photos!!

Here's the link to Ean's new blog
http://studio190.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/grae-and-taras-wedding/
ENJOY and BE BLESSED!

Life...

Hooorah! My best friend is now a married woman. I could not be more happy for her and her husband! Their wedding turned out to be soooo gorgeous, and on top of it being awesome, they had the best photographer ...EVER... ::cough:: Ean Perkins ::cough:: The location got changed last minute.. I mean, the day before the wedding.. due to weather. But it turned out more beautiful that we could've imagined, plus we got to take some awesome photos at the original location that we wouldn't have, if it was set up for a wedding. God was so good to us, and provided a beautiful back up plan. :) His ways are good.

Here are a couple photos I just jacked from facebook. I hope Ean doesn't mind! The one of the actual ceremony was taken by an audience member, not Ean. :)




I must admit, however, I am very relieved that the big event is said and done now! I wouldn't take back all the time and energy put into that wedding for ANYTHING, but it is time for me to get into a more consistant routine, which I am! I started my nannying job three weeks ago, AND AM LOVING IT!! Every day I get more and more attached to the little lady. :-) Speaking of, I am at work right now, but princess is sleeping. Yay for newborns loving to rest!!! What a great job.



(I= excited, She = confused)!