grat·i·tude [grat-i-tood]

Gratitude (noun): the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful.

Sentence -- I have great gratitude towards my best friend.

If you ask us how we became friends, I honestly don't really remember. She needed a friend so I became her friend. Haha (just kidding). I met her sometime during junior year of high school & we just clicked from the beginning :] From giggling about boys together, to always laughing hysterically with one another,  to crying in front of each other, to making dance videos, to taking SAT classes together, to taking webcam pictures, to checking our college acceptance letters together, to having our pig-out-days, to her coming over to my house after school everyday, we became like peas & carrots! peanut butter & jelly! jose & enriques!

Like all friends, we had our ups & downs and still do, but with every relationship comes joys & struggles. Even Spongebob & Patrick had their moments of quarrels. I'm thankful for our friendship, Nina Yoonjung Yi (But stop making fun of my horrible sense of directions, my Eng-rish, & my laughs)! That'll be pretty awesome if we went to the east coast for grad school together :]

it's finally happening!

I went to go take my graduation picture today. It's finally happening! I'm going to be a graduating senior in about two months! GO TRITONS :] I don't know whether I'm excited as the exclamation marks show, but it's just so surreal. I'm sure every senior feel this way, but college sure does fly by quickly!
I come from a first generation family, meaning that both my parents weren't able to go to college. My dad was definitely smart enough but had to give up that dream to enter into the work force after marrying early. My mom always reminds me how lucky I am to be included in the 2% of the world population to be attending a college. My grandmother passed away when my mom was only in middle school, therefore she had to take care of the family & give up her college dreams early on. My mom & dad are both so hard working and I know I should be extremely thankful to have been born as their daughter :] It's surreal that the college chapter in my life is coming to an end and it's time for a new chapter! I'm not as anxious as I used to be in the beginning of the school year. Is this what contentment feels like? Like every chapter, it will be filled with trials & challenges, but how you come about dealing with it will reflect where your relationship with the Lord is. I'm reading a book called, "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow, and it's such a good reminder to be in practice being content in our lives, no matter the circumstances. We need to choose to give our anxieties to God, choose to pray specifically, choose to be thankful, and choose to dwell on the positive.

I'm thankful for...

I was encouraged to write what I'm thankful for after reading a friend's blog. There are so many things to be thankful for without me realizing that I should be thankful! To have a thankful heart is to have a heart of contentment, & a contentment is a heart at peace with the Lord < 3

This week I'm thankful for:

♥ The generosity of Christine, her presence, & her meal points  to swipe me a breakfast burrito at OVT this morning. Breakfast dates are the best because breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

♥ My small group ducklings. I was incredibly humbled by our sharing time & in awe how they are growing. I am nothing but a mere tool and God is doing the work.

♥ My spontaneous night at Irvine. I love you girls (Mel & Candace)! We are so silly together.

♥ Pretty awesome movies like "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs." Hehe I laugh at the most random parts.
♥ My random AIM conversations with R82ers. I'm physically far, yet close with you guys. Can't wait to see you all this Friday. PTL for a church family :]

♥ Praise & Prayer Night. What more can I say? Worshipping the Lord with fellow brothers & sisters on campus is something you can always be thankful about. We are free to sing praises & pray without the fear of being persecuted or thrown into jail.

♥ STEP Missions!!! I'm going to China this summer!!!

♥ Jamba Juice...because I'm drinking it right now. There's a buy-one-get-one-free deal going on.

Toodles!

Good Friday

"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, 

and to give his life as a ransom for many." 

Matthew 20:28

Jesus, thank you for what you have done on the cross.

I am humbled, awed, joyful, & forever thankful!

< 3

You are my Prince of Peace,

& I will live my life for you.