Acceptance

Home sweet home.

Since I've been home I've been learning to accepting a lot of things. Accepting change, accepting the fact that certain relationships in my life are changing/are no longer in my life, accepting this awkward stage in my life of not knowing where to go or what to do and even accepting the fact that the relationships in my life now are merely temporary - everything this on this earth is temporary. Accepting the fact that things and people won't be the way I want it/them to be forever and stay in the place I want them to stay in. All I can do from here on out is to truly appreciate the things in my life now. Saying more thank yous and I love yous.

It's been a really good transition back to home/school. Enjoyed every moment of my last official winter break just catching up with old faces! 2012 was the best year so far - I feel like every day I learned something new! Now, I'm looking forward to 2013! Entering into the next chapter of my life after graduating college and what not. Going into the "real world" with work or whatever may happen in the next 7 months I'm looking forward to it all.

Through it all
You are forever in my life
You see me through the seasons
Cover me with your hands
And lead me in your righteousness 

Turning Point

 I thought saying goodbye and leaving London would easy because I felt so ready to go home. As my flatmates and I are cleaning the flat and packing all our bags we get several people coming down to say bye to us and it really hit me. These people, this program, living in London (and well, life in general) was so temporary, but they impacted me and was a huge part of my experience here. I'm usually the one always crying about "endings" and change, but this time around I am just so confident in the Lord and His plans for the future for me. These 4 months went by so quickly and I really did have the time of my life. I really didn't deserve coming here and I am just so thankful to have a God who is just so much bigger then I am and any situation. Thank You sending me home with so much peace in my heart. Thank You for providing and answering me when I cried out to you. When I was really at the lowest point of loneliness in the beginning of my program, R- kept reminding me I had to see why God brought me to London and what He had to show me. Once I figured it out, then I was ready to come back home. I couldn't give her an answer at the time, but now I'm ready.

I'm going back home with so much peace in my heart because I was able to learn to put all my trust in the Lord - to take care of my parents especially. That God would heal them through His power alone. To speak up for my Faith and to have encounters with those who are lost and to somehow point them to the cross. To learn that a Church isn't a museum, but a hospital. A place, where every single person is broken and flawed desperately seeking God to fix them. To find confidence as a Child of God and as a disciple. To not allow the fear of being judged stop me from spreading the love of God to anyone. To see first hand how big our world is and how much bigger God is. To lose the idea of how "big" I thought my own life was. To see how God is everywhere..moving and working in everyone's lives. To know how to desperately seek after God's guidance through living in a different country and traveling. To step back and see my life and the people in my life, outside of my comfort zone. To learn how to forgive and love despite my own selfish emotions. To see what my life could have been if Jesus didn't save me from my own dark and sinful life. To experience prayers being answered right in front of me. To find my identity not in the people around me, but in Christ alone.

T-15 hours til I leave London!
Thank you London Family!!
California Family, I am so excited to see you all!


Thanks for reading and watching me grow :'). xx

Got into Hogwarts

on the Harry Potter bus! ahhh

the best HP fans <3

YEEEE

Ron's my fav.

trying to sneak a picture..got yelled at 2 seconds later. hmph!

The Ministry of Magic

BUTTER BEER! <3

cutie

real snow :')

Harry's home

not a lot of snow, but was still exciting :)

so scary

Diagon Alley!!!

From this

to this...

perfect ending :')

all the wand boxes had names on them!

Last time eating NANDO's. droooooooool.

Doing the Harry Potter Tour at the end of my time here was perfect. I had the best company go with me and these girls really just made it even more special :'). It was so fun and exciting to see everything. I'm not going to lie..I almost cried, but I was so happy that I wasn't the only one. Amazing day with the best Harry Potter fans!

P.S. I also watched Twilight a few weeks ago and..I almost cried in that one too and it really completed my London experience :'). no judging

Loved

No Words

Zot Zot Jam Jam

CCIL Hammersmith care group :')

MON <3

SAM my oh so super American..English friend

Flat16 A girls

Lord, Thank you for surrounding me with these people in London! I surely did not deserve this. Grace.

Finished my exams today which officially ended my study abroad program. Looking forward to the next 2 days before leaving for the airport! HARRY POTTER TOUR & a full day of walking around London!

P.S. people from my program met NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM tonight! So sad I wasn't able to see him too...jealous

Waddesdon Manor, UK

This time next week, I'll be at the Heathrow Airport getting ready to board my flight back to LAX.  Did I mention I was ready to go home? I haven't been feeling well these past few days and it has been really hindering my emotions. Big thanks to my flatmates; Sophia and Ashley who have turned 'mommy mode' and have been taking care of me with vitamin C and other medications to keep me going.

This past week was my last week of classes and it didn't hit me until the very last class when we were clapping for our professor! He made some of us really sad by continuously repeating these words, "When you're back home, your hearts will hurt because you'll miss London so much". The 3rd time he said it, I really believed it and got a little teary lol. All my papers are in and I've just got finals left. We're entering into week 16 now and I just think that's crazy. Semesters feel so long. I know that my fellow Anteaters are entering into finals week the same time as I am and I'm so happy for my class. For some of my friends, this quarter was their final quarter! So proud of you guys!

Yesterday, was my programs last day trip. We went to Waddesdon Manor - I personally didn't want to go, but ended up going and came back even sicker. I'm a little bitter, but I know I should be thankful. Won't complain. Pictures!

Priscilla - This is something you would do! (:') she knows me too well)

I was over serious pictures at this point

we're so weird

Let's have some fun Mo

Mo and I entering Narnia!!

it was snowing for a little bit! :')

cafe has blankets and sheep skin sheet covers for us

P.S. Remember a couple of months back I shared about a Brother from CCIL church doing some TV competition and I asked you guys to vote for him? WELL, HE WON!!! Tim Lee won TVB Europe's Talent Hunt 2012! How crazy is that!