Hume Lake, Ca

My favorite thing about Hume Lake is that there is no phone service. There is something so freeing about not being able to be reached or contacted. It's as if no one knows where I am or what I am doing. I LOVE IT! It's nice to just get away and disappear.

So many fun people in one picture!

 I've noticed that I have my arms up in a lot of pictures. It's like I think I'm a bird or something.

 I encourage you all to GO and get lost in God's beauty and escape the sprawl. Try and spend a day away from people. All you need is a bible, journal, open space, and a willing heart to be intimate with our Creator :)

This past week has been so splendid! I got to visit my very favorite Aunt and my dear friend Sara met her too :) Then I finally went to the San Diego Zoo! I LOVED IT! Gosh, I loved it so much. Lastly, we spent a whole day at SeaWorld. I just love summer.
And, I've come to face the fact that Fresno, well...it sucks!

And this would be me. With my new film Pentax camera :)

My new mission is to find a hat like this one. One that is NOT $40!

This was probably the best part of the zoo. Yup.

Seaworld!

Shamu!

Hehe (;

I just love being surrounded by God's creation. I feel so small when I'm looking at how the mountains seem endless from the window of the car. Nature just inspires me so much. Thank you Jesus for being so creative. You are beautiful.

I had one of the most splendid days last Thursday. Just one of those days that you say to yourself, "This is what life is for." I could just feel God's presence everywhere.
First, I got to spend the afternoon with my dear friend Nicole. I work with this beauty and have gotten to know her story and heart. She is so lovely inside and out. Full of energy, curiosity, and a wild spirit searching for a deeper meaning in life. Soulmate would be a good name for her because we are so alike in very strange, but good ways. We spent the day riding bikes, taking fun pictures, browsing at target, getting our tan on, and talking about life. 
I'm so very blessed for you pretty girl.

My favorite part of the day happened to be a night. She had invited me to this worship thing that was taking place downtown. It was at this house where 4 young girls live in community with each other...in the ghetto. People our age don't do this type of thing. Purposely live in the dangerous part of town? Man, I DIG THAT. Only You, God, would place like-minded people in my life like this. One thing that really stuck out to me was walking around the torn down neighborhood with Nicole. Each of the houses were beat up and trashed, but yet so beautiful in it's own unique way. Kinda like people. We have so much baggage, but each so delicate and beautiful. Unlike here is Clovis, where all the house are so neatly placed and identical. Families were outside on the porch enjoying the night. Kids were playing with friends and completely content with almost nothing. Unlike kids in Clovis who have game boys, phones, ipods...not much need for friends or people for that matter. I got a sense that the community in that torn down neighborhood was closer as a family, than say Clovis. Hiding in our houses, unaware of who our neighbors even are. I want to live in a place like neighborhood in downtown Fresno. I want to be a light for You in places that seem disgusting.
Anyways, there was about 10 of us who spent the night worshiping our almighty God. Melting on the words of these songs that are so poetically written. God, I am so thankful for the people you have placed in my life this last month. My beloved Savior, thank you for answered prayers. Thank you for not forgetting about me.

6 things I have been absolutely fascinated with lately...

1. Mumford and Sons (Sigh No More)
They are f a n t a s t i c. Their lyrics will carry you into a maze of ideas and emotions. Emotions that you personally wish to share, but can never find the correct words to phrase them. With strong biblical references, I believe this an album of the battle between man and God. I know what you're thinking, "but they say the 'F' word!!!! They can't be christian!" Oh puhhh-lease. That is what I love about them. They are real and raw. Our relationship with God isn't going to be pretty and clean. We are dirty sinners and battle with sin daily, it's messy stuff. This is music. Sorry, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, you aren't that cool.

2. Prayer Walks
Going on walks at night with just my raw emotions, thoughts, desires, dreams, cries, struggles, and a God who listens and cares. When Jesus said we should go into our inner room and shut the door, that meant He wanted to be intimate with us! God providing each day is an invitation to intimacy. If you haven't been much of a prayer, I beg you to be alone with God and have a real conversation with Him. It's so hard to just be alone in todays world, but FIND A WAY. Prayer is SO powerful! I want to share with everyone how God has answered prayers in ways I still to this day can't comprehend how or why. Passionate prayers not only change the world, they have a way of transforming the people who pray them. Ah, prayer is so good.

3. Running at sunset

Running is my stress reliever. I crave mile long runs to clear my head and let frustrations out otherwise I will get moody and go crazy. I'm talking at least, 5 miles long runs. I usually run in the morning, however last semester I started running right before sunset and it's one of my favorite things to do. I get to watch and experience being part of something greater than I. No matter how horrible the day went, I am humbled at God's beauty that is displayed all over the sky when the sun is setting. All of a sudden my problems and frustrations don't seem important, because I am consumed and in awe of God's beauty. There's no room in my brain to be ungrateful when I see a sunset. Go outside around 8pm and just soak it in. Experience God's love. A love gift, utterly unasked for by a sky. (taken with my iphone)

4. Snail Mail
Receiving a real note or letter > Receiving an email, or worse, a facebook message. I encourage you to find a pen pal. I currently have 3 faithful pen pals and it has made my relationship with those certain people sooooo much more meaningful. The last package I got was from a dear friend who gave me a mixed cd with songs that were so relevant to me life, coloring pens for my journaling and pictures we had taken. It touched my heart. I guess it's the fact that someone took the time to think of me and wrote me a letter that leaves me a giddy girl. It's rare to find people who do that these days. Let me know if you want to be pen pals :)

5. 500 Days of Summer

The first time I watched this was January 2011 and it gave me the goosebumps. I honestly related so well to Summer Finn it was scary weird. She loves pancakes, bike riding, reading, has roof top parties, is confusing as heck, sucks at opening up...I mean her name is SUMMER! If you have seen it, you make think she is a mean girl, but I think the movie does an excellent job explaining how complicated and hard relationships are. Plus, the soundtrack to the movie is the best, it's funny, it's sad, Zooey Deschanel is one of my favorites, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is easy on the eyes. I've watched it wayyyy too many times, my roommates threatened to hide it from me:'(

6. Mangos
I am Obsessed. The smell. The unique flavor. The texture.
I love mangos.