i've never...

thought of myself much as a "beach girl," more as a "mountain girl." sure i was born in california, but that never meant much to me. i'd prefer to be hiking up a mountain or kayaking in the surrounding waters. however, i recently discovered a warm connection to the beach. michael and i went to san diego for spring break to visit my dad. he took us sight-seeing to all the popular places, but we also got to walk along the beach a few times. it was only 70 degrees the whole time we were there-wayyy too cold for swimming, but the weather was beautiful!

when i think of beaches, my mind usually brings up an image of people wearing skimpy bikinis- playing beach volleyball, drinking beer, or turning themselves into leather. this beach was different. there were beautiful flowers, children running around, and SEA LIONS! i could have watched those lazy sea lions for hours.

i now have a new perspective of the beach, thanks to san diego : )

comfort

i've been sick this past week with some sinus stuff...not very convenient for me, but part of life : ) thankfully, i have a wonderful husband who takes care of me. michael has been making me tea every morning to soothe my throat, and let me tell you-he is the best tea maker. tea is good all the time...when you're sick, when you're not, when it's 85 degrees outside (like it was today), or when it's freezing. we're going to start having tea time together when school gets out. it reminds us of russia, and that is comforting.


photo via here

of recent

last week was a rough one for me. seems like as soon as i finish one HUGE project, they throw three more at me! but we all know god pulled me through.

also...someone got our bank info somehow and bought over $500 worth of stuff from online textbook stores. not fun to deal with...but you know god fixed it.

currently trying to fight off being sick -i think its just allergy complications though.

march madness has begun (not the basketball thing i don't understand), but a lot of traveling and performances! next weekend our company will be performing with the enid symphony orchestra. the week after that we travel to arkansas for the american college dance festival. spring break is the week after that...michael and i are going to visit my dad in california. and finally...the week after that we have our spring company show! busy, busy, busy...but i love to travel!

oh...and the first weekend in april is our women's retreat at church (women of influence-should be good)!

i've been reminded lately that i am a child of god. yes, i already knew that. but to really understand that is so comforting. my Father will carry me through everything.

"how great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! and that is what we are!" 1 john 3.1

our pastor has been going through 1 peter lately, and what a great time to do it...not only for me but for our whole country.

"praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! in his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -kept in heaven for you, who through faith are coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. these have come so that your faith -of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 peter 1. 3-7

this is giddica. i met her in india. giddica's village set her on fire when she became a christian. i thought about her today...a precious child of God.