Santa Barbara

This past Tuesday, Johnny and I decided to drive up to Santa Barbara and Solvang. Our original plan was to go to Monterey, but its waaaaay to far, so Santa Barbara was good enough.

So we set off around 9 and it only took us two hours to get to Santa Barbara. We arrived for lunch and ate at Habit, which is a burger "stand" off of state st. We went back to the parking garage a few times to go in and out so that parking would stay free. We cheated the system a little bit, and took a few pictures while we were at it.We then walked up and down state st for a few hours and were planning on going whale watching. I had never been, so I was pretty excited about it. BUT, they called me and canceled because it was too windy... boo. So, to cheer us up, we headed over to the Santa Barbara mission! It was definitely not what I remember from 4th grade, and there were pretty much only 4th graders and their parents there. And while we were driving to the mission, we entered a neighborhood where I easily convinced him that this (below) was the mission...It was sweet... So then we decided to head out to Solvang, which is about 45 minutes north from Santa Barbara. The drive was beautiful...

We passed through this really cool tunnel that went through a mountain, holding our breathe the whole way of course.After finally arriving, we realized that there isnt really much to do in the good ole' city of Solvang, except buy pastries I guess.Oh and take pictures with this guy...
And each other...

So we finished somewhat quickly in Solvang, and headed back to Santa Barbara because there was a big famers maket that I WAS NOT going to miss. The drive back was also expecially beautiful because I turned at the 1 and drove about 20 miles in another direction. The hills were so big and so green! Then I turned around realizing that I was wasting precious famers market time and headed again towards Santa Barbara, but not without stopping to take a picture of the water.(and that truck)

The famers market was crazy windy, so a lot of their vendors started taking down their stuff, but I made it just in time to buy some beautiful orchids and yummy strawberries (which sadly are not pictured).

The trip was an overall success and it was definitely a motivation to do more trips like it in the future. Spring break sure is awesome.

Easter afternoon.

For Easter, I visited my family out in the "OC." I love em all and here are a few photos of them from the afternoon:






the drive out through the lovely Canyon.





In the kitchen with the food








My 2 aunts, Nancy and Anita (both of them being my mom's sisters)









Uncle Johnny cutting the turkey (we have one at every occasion, no matter what)








Cousin Allie, Momma, and Maire Louise







Jason (allie's boyfriend) and cousin Adriane








Baby Sienna (she is actually my second cousin) She is soooo cute!










Allie with the DELICIOUS cake that she made from scratch. It was seriously SO good.









My sweet sisters









My attempting to love my sister. And this is a much better improvement from LAST time...








Momma and Cait










and lastly the 3 of us. These pictures dont happen very often... haha









Overall it was a good day. Its always nice to see may family :)

In Christ.

YEAH! A new book:

In Christ by E. Stanley Jones.
From Sunday, Week 1

In regards to Jesus

"Other molds have proved too small. One by one they have been broken. Christ, the Teacher, the Greatest of all Teachers? Yes, but more, for a teacher imparts knowledge - He imparts Life. The Greatest of Character, the Best of Men, the Highest Example? Yes, but more, for we are not to imitate Him in life, we are to receive Him as Life. Someone pin-pointed in history, our Guide and Inspiration? Yes, and more, for we cannot live o a remembrance, we must live on a realization. A Martyr to the Cause of the Kingdom of God? Yes, and more, for His death seems to have all the signs of cosmic struggle with a cosmic result - the redemption of the race. Who then is He? He is the Word become flesh, God become man, the Eternal manifesting Himself in time, God simplified, God approachable, God lovable.
O Christ, while we cannot define Thee precisely, we can know Thee intimately. And to know Thee is to know Life, to know release and redemption. We thank Thee. Amen."


It is so true that God is always moving. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: they are interacting through direct actions being done continually. They exist as love, mercy, grace, wisdom, peace, patience, and the list goes on. As I attempt to allow them to live within me and through me, I must be open and willing to live in actions as well, not just professing, but doing.


Happy Easter everyone and remember the importance of this HUGE day. It really is the event that holds my entire faith together.

"¹⁴And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. ¹⁵ Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. ¹⁶ For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁷ And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!"
1 Corinthians 15:14-17

Passion, Love, Sacrifice

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

- Stuart Townend

Oprah...

ok so I am watching Oprah and she is telling everyone that it is ok to touch yourself and give your YOUNG teenagers information about how to have a happy sex life on your own. For someone who has no credentials or education, she sure speaks with a lot of self accredited authority, thinking she can tell everyone how to live life. I mean really?!?!?! How does that make sense? I mean she doesnt even have any kids!!!

AHHHH... its so frusterating.


And in regards to my own life, I just got home for Spring Break. I was "greeted" by Maire coming down the stairs and we immediately started fighting about her not wanting to spend anytime with me when she says that she misses... and then I found Caitlin in her room sleeping and she wouldnt even look at me and say hello...

Happy Easter and Welcome Home Emily.

the SHACK

So I started reading The Shack while I was on vacation in January, and once school started I put it down and didn't start reading again till a few days ago. I forgot how great it is. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it and if you have never heard of it, it was last years best seller. I am not going to go into all the details about what it is about, but here is a little excerpt:

"She (God's wisdom personified) sat back, beaming. 'You are wise in the ways of real love, Mackenzie (main character). So many believe that it is love that grows, but it is knowing that grows and love simply expands to contain it. Love is just the skin of knowing."


Go read it.

fishy

I am the biggest blag-slacker ever... Its ridiculous. But, here is a funny video. Its one of the cutest things I have seen in a while:

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

enjoy!