Cali-bound!

I cannot be more excited for tomorrow!! We are leaving for our annual family Christmas trip and this year it's to the west coast.  We will be hitting some of the major cities in California to enjoy the sweeeeet shopping, views and of course the beach! Packing was a pain, and it never fails that I lose something the night before (this time it was my wallet) but in the end we all somehow manage to get it all together and head to the airport just in time. Traveling fills this adventure hole in my heart - so getting on that plane is what I am looking forward to most.

 BLAH tomorrow morning it's 7am.... 

But that's okay because this time tomorrow I will be looking outside the window at the beautiful shores in Malibu. Yeah, I can get up real early for that.

...So, here comes some California blogging! 

In Quietness and Trust

As you remember (if you read any previous posts) this semester has been not only busy but pretty difficult in a lot of ways.  The difficulty did not solely come from academic work, but rather situations and spiritual growth.  This past semester has had almost general a theme for myself and surrounding friends of "hard."  It seemed that every conversation I had with a close friend, they were also going through a season of trying and feeling weaker than ever.  Maybe it's the age and time that my friends and I are at right now or maybe our society as a whole is getting more stressed, but it was crazy how tired people seemed to be getting day after day.  Maybe that's a better word to describe the season..... tiresome.  But also, it's been so so so so special and sweet.  

With this season of feeling tired and weak, the Lord rocked my world with a verse from Isaiah.  

It says, "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength."  Isaiah 30:15

Now, I believe scripture to be God-breathed, but I guess I did not really take into consideration what that meant.  For me, it seems as if God has even whispered this verse in my ears on multiple occasions.  For instance, I would find myself wanting to fix a problem with explanations or try to talk through something when there was nothing left to talk about.  It was in these confused and weak times that Isaiah 30:15 would seep through my mind... "in quietness and trust is your strength."  It would remind me to let go and just trust.  I can talk all day about how important it is to trust God but just how much am I actually trusting?  I hear some people go on and on consoling themselves with "well, God did this for a reason... He has a plan" and I agree, but if you actually believe those words in your core then I think the way we handle situations would be a lot different from the way we actually are.

This verse reminds me to shutup alot of the time and let the Lord rule my heart.  It doesn't matter if I am outgoing or super happy all the time because the Lord doesn't need a good mood to work though, He can use anything and anyone and most likely, it's when I am the most unaware.  This understanding of being quiet and trusting is way easier said then done, especially for women because we just love talking and analyzing and beating an issue to the ground until we think we have a solution that is typically irrational.  In my psychology class, we talked about how women get caught in a depression easier compared to men typically, because we just will not stop dragging out the problem and want to keep talking about it!  Haha I understand that and definitely have been the most guilty in these conversations, however, this verse has even transformed my thinking in that way!  Instead of manufacturing some way to fix a problem or manipulate something to plan my own steps... be QUIET and TRUST.  Listen for the Lord and Trust in your quietness.  Trust in the Lord's plan, power, goodness and His timing...

I am telling you... God yelled this at me, or at least I yelled it at myself because all this time I felt weak, the Lord provided the answer to my "why" questions just like He answers the majority of my questions before I even ask.  "The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12  It's our survival kit, our manual from God Himself.  Whether I "feel" its power or not after I read doesn't matter because God doesn't work through our feelings alone.  His power and sovereignty does not rely on our acceptance, but rather exists on its own and has eternally.

With those previous thoughts being stated, I want to encourage asking God for wisdom and faith.  Ask Him to help you discern His voice and how to be more like Him because He will rock your world and show you in ways you had no idea He could.  The Lord works on His time and His plans are good, plans for a hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11)

Dear Mom and Dad

Dear Mom and Dad, 

I don't know why, but my mind refuses to take finals as seriously as I probably should.  It's as if Dead Day hits and the world becomes a beautiful treasure map with swirly twirly gumdrops! (Elf reference)  You probably recognize this transformation through my sudden increase in spending and our sudden decrease in communication...  

What you might have considered to be my most stressful time at college has actually been the opposite! While most students were locking themselves up in the library and shedding tears of blood, sweat and stress... your daughter was making some pretty great memories ;)

For example... 

1.

^^Delicious meals with my beautiful roommates!  

(Left: Taco Royale from Taco Mamacita & Right: Brownie Dessert from Urban Flats)

2.

^^Enjoying a Christmas Concert feat. Matt Wertz, Ben Rector, Dave Barnes etc.!

3.

^^Attending painting parties where a Goodwill sad puppy can turn into Swag Murphy! 

4. 

^^ Turning a box from one of Mom's 12 days of Christmas packages into our robot boyfriend!

5.

  

^^ Taking extremely awesome yet awkward Christmas card pictures with all the hidden treats that make up our cozy Ckando!

6.

^^ Attending a theatre Christmas party where Santa's costume reflected a college students budget and was therefore 10x more creepy!

7.

^^ Going on adventures with incredible friends to see Christmas lights at the Opryland Hotel in a car they decorated that felt like Santa's sleigh! 

8.

^^ Making everyone watch Shrek 2 over and over until they finally realized it was starting from the beginning again!

9.

^^ Getting to unwrap new leaders and enjoy music from Matt Wertz & Brandon Heath at the Younglife Christmas party!

10.

^^ Actually getting some work done, but never locked up in a library... because who wants that when you can snuggle up next to robot boyfriend?

Now, don't you feel like these memories and this smiling face are far more valuable than any A+?? 

............. I sure hope you do

Sincerely,

Cassidy

Wedding Fever

What incredible gifts friends are!  The Lord has been really pouring truth into my soul through other people the past few months and revealing more of Himself with each conversation.  Do you ever have those conversations that just feel powerful?  It's as if God's incredible energy is flowing in every part of you and bursting out to the other person and vice versa.  

I just left a conversation that felt exactly like that.  One of my dearest friends, Jenny, has a heart of gold.  Ever since we met by being on the same Younglife team last year, God has consistently blessed me with her.  We just sat in the car telling each other about the past few days and what God has been doing in our lives.  We have been through some pretty crappy times this semester and to sit together and reflect on those times as this semester comes to a close is mind boggling.  I could have sworn we would be stuck in those pits forever because at times they felt impossible to handle, however, just as He always does- God delivered us from the pits.  Being able to share the darkest valleys and the highest peaks with Jenny has been one of the most blessed and treasured things about this semester because it has been vulnerable and real.  She does not encounter struggles with all smiles because no matter how much faith we have in the Lord's power... sin and being on this earth is still a struggle.  

Being able to be in that funk yet still be encouraged by people who ask nothing in return is another special gift. Thank you, Jesus for real community in You.

Recently, it has seemed that everyone came home from Thanksgiving with marriage on the mind.  I knew college aged students would start talking about it more and more but I never actually estimated just how much that would be.  I would go in a room and no matter what the conversation would eventually lead to, "What are you looking for in a husband/wife?" or "Oh! I want my wedding to be like this..."  What? I know it is possible for me to get married right now, but that thought is baffling and I have been frustrated with what seems like so many people rushing to get married for the simple reason of "being married."  ....Wedding fever is real, people, and it's contagious! 

The other day I had a funny breakdown while helping my friend paint his room.  I was letting my frustration out about this whole marriage thing and eventually yelled, "What happened to being passionate about something else besides a relationship!?  Where are the driven and motivated for other things? Give me those people so we can talk about something else for a change because there is more to life than just finding a husband or wife!"   Whew.  Dramatic, I know, but I was tired, okay?

This relationship, this marriage thing that we want so badly is not out of nowhere, though.  It's the desire we were created for... the desire for our bridegroom who is Christ.  He is who I want, not the tall dark and handsome mountain man who I used to describe as my future husband.  The "dream guy" might be an added bonus but he will not satisfy me like my already committed Savior.  Jesus is waiting at the altar and so in love. Let's get excited about this romance, the one that has been happening since before we were even born.  The romance that, if we open our eyes to it, will sweep us off our feet every single day.  His love for us is what marriage between two people should be modeled after, not the other way around.  

Matthew 25:1-13 reminds me of how important it is to stay focused.  Let's not get so caught up in our relationships here on this earth that we miss our real bridegroom coming to take us home.  

Christmas Decor!

So Christmas time is upon us and therefore the decorating has taken over.  Our little townhouse (that we call "The Ckando" and it bothers my mom so much because it's not a condo... haha)  has been pimped out with the latest accessories.  

Let me give you a little peek... ;)

^^ take note of the toy train that Kallen purchased because she told us it has been a childhood dream of hers to own one but her parents never let her ...... UNTIL NOW! YEAH COLLEGE!

^^Santa just chillin with the remote

^^ We even invite you to celebrate Christmas in the bathroom

^^And this is why I love this season: friends, cozy study parties, coffee/tea, candles, etc.

So embrace the beautiful coziness and meditate on this time of Advent.  It's wonderful.