...luminarias...

Another one of my favorite things about NMSU is Noche de Luminarias. The weekend before finals, they light up the East end of campus with hundreds of luminarias. It's beautiful and as the hopeless romantic inside me screams to say it, oh so romantic. :) There's also dance performances, horse drawn carriage rides, and hot chocolate or cider to keep you in the holiday mood. I haven't been in 3 years and finally got to go this year. Definitely one of my favorite things about going to NMSU.

These are a few of my favorite things...

Goddard Hall

As I was walking to one of my classes to take my final, I experienced one of my favorite things about New Mexico State University. The chiming of the clock. It's somewhere near the West end of campus (pretty sure it's in Goddard Hall) but you can hear it all over campus. I always feel as if I'm in a movie whenever I'm walking across campus and hear that clock. Just thought I'd share one of my favorite things about NMSU and it's campus.

Realization of the Day

This week has been met by a handful of frustrations. My professors have piled on new information just in time for finals next week, I haven't had an hour to spare, and I have out the wazoo of studying to do for next week. The most frustrating part of my week was yesterday, when our final marketing plan was due for class. We have had all semester to work on it and finish so there should have been no excuse for yesterday's events.
After a semester of no communication and lack of work, I had hoped everyone would have picked up their slack for the final paper. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Long and exasperating story, my group ignored all my texts and phone calls throughout the day and then finally, sent me everything 30 minutes before it was due and 30 minutes before I needed to go to work. To say I was angry would be the understatement of the year. I was livid!
Then, as I was getting ready this morning and thinking about how this past week had gone down, God snuck his way into my bitterness and started talking. You see, I've been reading the book of Job this week. If you are unfamiliar with the story, Job is a dedicated man of God and all of sudden, has everything taken away from him. His family, what he's worked for, and his health. Satan was attacking him. In the midst of all the calamity and tragedy happening in his life, Job still praises God. Not once does he curse God for what is happening.
So it made me realize, like a slap across the face, that no matter how this project turns out, no matter what grade we receive, God is still sovereign. He's still in control. God is still God.
So, if you find yourself this next week, in the next couple weeks or even in life feeling overwhelmed with the unfairness in life or having people you needed to be there letting you down, I encourage you to remember Job and his complete dedication to our One and True Savior, Jesus Christ.

Job 1:21 "Naked I come from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord."

Job 2:10 "Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?"

A Time to Give Thanks

The Family

close up of some of the amazing desserts


We had nearly a dozen desserts! (and almost half of them were pumpkin!)

This last week I spent my time at home in Albuquerque. It was really a blessing from God because I was originally supposed to work. Thankfully I got the full week off from school and work so my week was full of family and food, 2 of my favorite things. :) For some reason, this week was different than other times I've been home. It's amazing how you miss people once they, or you, are gone. So I tried to soak up as much family as I could, especially since I don't know when I'll be able to come home for an extended period of time again. This also helped with me getting back to school and life in Las Cruces. I've been having a really hard time these past few months and being home was just what the doctor ordered; a time to feel refreshed and rejuvenated and realize where God has put me and how I need to be content wherever He has me. So here are some pictures from my amazing week home and how truly thankful I am for my family.

The Simple Life

I have begun to wonder a lot about growing up and life in general. Thinking back to highschool or even the first couple years of college, I think of how easy it was. No cares in the world and only having to think about a few classes and your ever-growing social life. Now, as I embark on my fifth year in college and still only a Junior, life has become a new list of things to worry and think about. Family. Friends. Money. Work. School. Health. And other responsibilities that I couldn't even begin to list off.
So here's my question...does life ever go back to being easy? I know my life is not that hard now but I still have a lot of worries and concerns than I did 5 years ago. Do you ever get back to the place of life of when it was so simple? If not, what keeps you going? I'd really like some feedback on this.
Now, don't go thinking I'm all a bundle of worries or anything. God has blessed me in more than I can imagine. I just want to hear what you think. So fill me in. What keeps you going when all the worries have you down?

Weed 'em and Weep

There are certain times in your life you see yourself growing into an adult and today was one of those times. I spent all morning doing what my young self did for punishment growing up...pulling weeds. Oh yes. I pulled weeds on my own accord. Why you ask? It was due to the adult fact I have a house I need to take care of and that is mine along with 3 other roommates. Strange thing to think about...

Unpredictability

Why is it we don't get things when we want them but we get it when we're least expecting it? Take sleep for instance...when we want/need sleep, we can never get it but when the most inopportune time comes, that is when rest if upon us.
Another example is relationships. Why, when we are so content where we are and not looking for change, is when that choice person (male or female) comes into our life and changes it forever?
God is funny that way. But I like it. I like that things come when you least expect it. Sure, it may not be the greatest thing to stay awake til 1 a.m. and then go to school at 7 (I blame that on college) but I love that God is spontaneous and likes to suprise us, even in the little ways. I love that He gives me the extra few hours that I can't sleep to hang out with a roommate that can't sleep either. I love that He sticks amazing people in my life when I'm least expecting them and those people are the ones that don't leave my side, mind, or heart. I love having an unpredictable God and never being able to guess what He'll do next!

Baby Hapa 8/22/2010

In the past couple of weeks, I have been to Virginia to see one of my closest friends, started school, gone on a leadership retreat, moved into a new house, met new friends and caught up with old ones, and plenty of other exciting things. But I do believe the most impacting and exciting so far is getting the call/texts this morning saying I had a new baby niece. Even though I'm nearly 300 miles away, I am beyond excited to meet this new baby girl and be part of her life! I am also grateful that she and my sister are both doing well. Welcome to the world Baby Hapa!

Oh how You amaze me!

I know it's been over a month since I've last written. I have been beyond busy with school finishing up, being part of weddings, planning for more weddings (not mine....thank the Lord!), and so much more. Though, I wanted to share with ya'll what was happening in my life for the time being.
After lots of prayer and packing, I have moved back to Albuquerque for the summer. This is my first summer in 3 years I have not spent at one of my favorite places called Horn Creek. At first, I didn't know how to feel about this. I never felt God calling me back there so I knew there was a purpose but it still holds such a big place in my heart. The more I pray about it and the more time I spend in Albuquerque, I am in such awe of how God makes things work. He continuously suprises me! God has blessed me so much in just my 2 weeks back at home than I ever could have imagined. I can honestly say that I'm so grateful He didn't direct me back to HC. I'm so excited for people returning there and for new people who have yet to dive into the HC world! God just knew where my heart would be at this time in my life and knew of all the opportunities I've already have and are going to have. There's already a lot of promise for the next 3 months. I'm doing a ladies bible study with some girlfriends from NMSU; I get to be a part of and attend some of my closest friends weddings; I'm starting to work at a job I have ALWAYS wanted (beverage cart girl at a really nice golf course); and I'm sure God has more up His sleeve. I thank God every day that He's the Director of my my life and not me.

Psalm 9:1-2

You can call me old school....

...but I love the song "Stomp" by Kirk Franklin. Today, this song came on my itunes and so I proceded to dance to it. And by dance, I mean DANCE! :) I was having a blast! I was not the only one having a good time. My roommates were thoroughly enjoying my full out dancing skills. (if only I would have realized I had an audience a little bit earlier) :)
So put on this song and try not to dance to it. It's nearly impossible. :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx5n06TaajU&feature=related

Comfort

What is comfort? Anyone and everyone will probably answer this question differently. I have thought a lot about comfort these past couple of weeks. Comfort, to me, is watching "Friends" and thinking about when Hannah and I used to watch it and fall asleep together; it's the smell of fresh cut grass and manure and remember how my dad would come in from working in the yard; it's finding a song with a good beat that I can dance to; it's Psalm 100 and not only because it declares the awesomeness of our Lord but it's the most used bible verse my dad puts in cards he gives me.
Being comfortable and/or comforted is not something we normally think about until we don't have it. I have found the most comforting thing to me as I get older (right after God of course) :) is my family. When I first left for college 4 years ago, I would call my family every few weeks just to give them an update on my life. Sure, I missed them, but so much was going on then. Now, 4 years later and back in college, I can't go more than a few days without talking to them. Spending 2 years at home, living with my parents, and having my entire family become my closest friends, makes me so grateful that the Lord has blessed me with such an amazing family.

Song for this week: Come for Me by Charlie Hall

Pick on someone your own size

So even though I've shared with most of you this story, I thought I should post it for those who haven't heard my new "animal encounter."
Last week, I'm sitting in class and a wasp comes into the room. It decides to nest on the smoke alarm which happens to be directly behind me. Half jokingly-half seriously, I tell the girls behind me to scream or something if it decides to come down b/c I'm facing forward for the lecture. They agree and I face forward to listen to our Asian professor (who has a VERY thick accent...yes...this is important). We get half way through the class and I begin to hear stirring and squeals behind me. I turn around and the wasp has decided to visit the other side of the room but is now heading back to the front of the classroom, straight for my face. I grab the first thing I can think of and that is the 2 sheets of paper my professor has handed to us. I swing with all my might to try and hit the wasp and thought I missed so now, I'm up and out of my chair saying "Oh dang! Now I just made it mad!" The girls behind me tell me I've stunned it and it is now on their table. I quickly take my sheets of paper, cover the wasp, and smack the papers down on the table like there's no tomorrow. Everyone who is not laughing is now clapping for my heroic efforts. After 3 minutes of pure chaos involving my fight with the wasp, I throw the squished wasp away and sit back down at my table. As I sit down, my professor exclaims in her thick accent, "Lydia, now you know why you don't have any boyfriends." :)

ROC

Yelling & shouting as much as possible=lost voice
Hiking/Running around all over the Sacramento Mountains=sore & aching body
"Sleeping" with a group of girls who talk, snore, & God knows what else=less than 6 hours of sleep
Amazing, God-filled weekend @ ROC ministering to mid-schoolers=priceless

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There's really too much to say about this weekend so here are some pictures for now....enjoy!

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Some of the girls in my small group

We gave them all rocks to remember what they learned this weekend.

What else do you do at 1 a.m. other than skate around in roller skates?

with my fellow MC, Erik

My favorite state of mind

I am preparing to do one of my favorite things in the world...go to camp! Whether I'm headed to Horn Creek, Glorieta, Lonetree, or now, the Sacramento Mountains, my spirits are lifted and I get above and beyond excited!
This is the first time I will be attending ROC (which stands for Rhythm Of Christ) with the Wesley Foundation. Nearly 200 kids will be attending and as I just found out last night, I am MCing the whole event! What an amazing opportunity! This is what I want to do with my life!
I can't keep my excitement down! I have been involved in camps my entire life. I love the camp life! I would make that my life right now if I could. I especially love Christian camps. There's nothing like them. You get the experience of living with 10+ other people in just one house/room/dormitory, getting pushed to limits you never thought you were capable of, having some well...questionable food but it doesn't matter because you are so hungry from your extremely active day that you'll take anything, getting to know people in a way you could not if you were back home, and while doing all of this, the best part is you get to experience God on a whole other level!
Now, not everyone sees going to camps the same way I do. (I guess camp living is in my blood) ;) That is why I am so honored and so excited to be a part of ROC this year. I'm excited to connect with these kids! I'm excited to be messy for a weekend and get no sleep! I'm excited to talk to a group of 200+ people! But what I'm most excited for is to see other people experience camp life and see Jesus in a whole new light.
This weekend is going to be amazing and I'm (yes, you guessed it) excited to see what God's going to do!

Psalm 68:19
"Blessed be the Lord who daily loads us with benefits!..."

That's where I put it!

Funny Story of the Day

As I was leaving my apartment for church today, my roommate Laura pointed out a hideous lump on the back of my leg by saying "What is that?!" After laughing for nearly 5 minutes, we realized that it was my underwear wadded up in a ball. LOL The only thing I thought of was, "now how could I have pulled that off if it had fallen out during church?"
Haha...oh, the life I live! :)

Song of the Day: "God Gave Me You" by Dave Barnes

James 2:19

My first blog

I've finally done it! I have started a blog! (with the help and influence of my sisters) I'm actually really excited to be doing something other than stalking other blogs. To make mine my own, I am going to be ending it with a bible verse (in red) and then something else from that day, such as a song, picture, or quote.
Now, you may be wondering about the title. I feel like I always have stories to tell people and a lot of the time, I forget what they are. So that is the purpose of this blog. To "fill" you "in" on the happenings of my life, or to my niece and nephew, Aunt "Icky's" life. The title also sounds a lot like "icky feelin'." Clever? I thought so! Hopefully I haven't confused you yet. I'm still getting the hang of the blog world.
That's pretty much all I have to say for now. I'm sure I'll write soon. Until then!