live the light

Hello Friends & Sunshine! I don't know the weather is where you are but I'm so blessed by the sun in Oregon today! I know I know it has been a looooong time since I last blogged oh boy. I will justify myself and say that I have literally no time on my hands to blog lately. So better late than never:) This past weekend I want to a NW regional conference with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and the them was Just Money.  There was talks about being grateful for the wealth that God has given us (dude I bet you didn't know that Americans are in the 2nd richest in the world, that means even "poor college students"). The Bible calls us to share our wealth with the poor and we can do this by living simply and being generous with our money, ehm excuse me God's money. All of these things have been on my heart for a years now but it's always difficult for me to tangibly change my ways. So I'm going to start with some small steps! One of those steps...

Today is January 15th, the marker of one incredible year with Russ:) He has been an amazing blessing in my life and I'm excited to spend more days, months and years with this man! It's a happy happy happy day, can't wait for our date this weekend;)

It's been so amazing being at home so far this break. Rest has been much needed in my life and it's so nice to wake up to a peaceful home, have my coffee and breakfast and read God's word while staring at the Christmas Tree and snow(thanks Jesus!) I love snow it always makes me feel like a kid again, something about it is so peaceful, which is exactly what my restless heart needs.  Actually God's peace is really what our world needs.  This joyful time of year has been pressed hard this past week of shootings and lost loved ones.  It breaks my heart every time I turn on the news.  However, what breaks my heart even more is that we get so caught up in the stories that our "close to home" but we don't get upset about how broken our world is everyday.  Everyday women all over the world (including America) are abducted into sex trafficking. Everyday children ache and die from hunger.  Everyday people are martyred for their faith. Everyday th...

One year ago the luckiest man married my best friend! It was a very proud moment to stand by their sides and watch them say "I do"! It was a gorgeous wedding to be apart of! It feels like just yesterday Venisa and I were having sleepovers and just dreaming of when we would be each other's maid of honors! I'm so happy for them and God has blessed them so much already! I'm so excited to see where he will take them!  Happy 1 year Saviola's!

DEAD WEEK.  It's usually my last favorite week of the school year. Going into this week I was beyond stressed just thinking about all the assignments, papers, projects and finals that I would be spending my time on this week. However, this week has been more peaceful that I was expecting! God is showing up all over the place!  These are just a few of the unexpected blessings I've received:  I haven't felt stressed yet and my to-list is continually shrinking with ease! The lady at the coffee shop gave me a free coffee yesterday, made my day:)  My room is now decked out in Christmas Cheer Campus is also looking like a winter wonderland And we had a fabulous dinner out with our Bible Study last night with many laughs Oh and I scored at the secret sale in the campus bookstore today! So many joyful blessings and it's only Wednesday! Thanks Jesus for making this week a fantastic week instead of a dreadful one: I shouldn't even underestimate the...

{Happy Monday} I'm so excited this Monday because in only 3 days I get to see my family for Thanksgiving!! I'm beyond stoked! I haven't seen my lovely sister since the middle of August and I cannot wait to be re-united with her! She has been kicking some serious water out of the pool this year and I'm so proud of her and how much she has grown and learn at her first year of college at Concordia! I have to admit I'm slightly jealous of her new adventures, you know: traveling to awesome cities with her swim team, sunny weather and hanging at the beach every Saturday. That's only slightly different from the wonderful rain I walk through everyday here in Oregon. Anyway I'm just so stinking excited to see her! I love thanksgiving and all that it includes. A weekend with family, mash potatoes, black Friday shopping, the civil war game (go beavs!) and bringing on the Christmas holiday traditions! This week I have been so thankful for the best devotional I ...

Well one countdown on my list has come and gone cause yesterday was my birthday:) goodness I feel old now 22 is such a weird age cause there are no more exciting birthdays for a while now. I feel like a real adult now just a young adult ah and I have to make real life decisions now, oh my goodness like what job ill have and where I'll live oh wow I'm not going to freak out about that now. Anyway I had a very nice birthday:) I had a very enjoyable and delicious dinner date with Russ, Krystal and Ryan at Big River. My taste buds to say the least were very happy! It was a lovely evening:) I'm very spoiled and blessed by my these lovely people:) I can't wait to go birthday shopping and enjoy the many treats my mom and friends have made me. But more than anything I'm so blessed to know that my father God has made me and created me to be exactly who I was created to be and I'm so excited to live life on this journey he has for me! Oh and I'm so excited well ok...