Sometimes it's a little scary how very easy it is to become someone so totally different from yourself. Today, I became a babuska for a few minutes, and it was hilarious. My roommates and I laughed as I waddled my way across the room, attempting to figure out where exactly all the extra padding is supposed to go.


On a more serious note, it also concerns me how easily I can change from being content and happy, to being flustered and upset. I became very jealous over a friend of mine today. She's doing things I have dreamed of doing for a long time. I'm having to face the reality that very likely I will never get to see and do what she is seeing and doing now. It's a bitter pill to swallow, and I am having trouble letting go of that dream. I just have to keep praying that God will grant me contentedness with where I am now and the crazy moments like these pictures that just bring joy to the day.

Grace in to Darkness

Another picture from this summer. I took this one while in the University of B.C. Research Forest. Incidentally, this is an amazing, amazing place that I highly recommend to any and all considering visiting this odd corner of the world. I think I most like the light flooding the whole picture. It's overpowering light.

I've thought a lot about grace lately. Grace is the center of our faith. Apart from it, we are nothing. We are dead. We are filled with darkness and anger. It is a hard thing to remember sometimes that our guilt and shame -- our blackest sins -- are the areas God most desires to extend grace to. We just want to hide that darkness, bury it away. But we never can. It eats away the joy that Christ longs to fill us with. By denying this grace, we are denying that Christ's sacrifice was, is, and always will be sufficient for that corner of darkness. I don't want to have to rely on grace in those moments, but how can I live without this truly awe-some gift? I don't understand our Savior's love, but I accept it, and I hope that the changes that God is working within me continue and grow.