sandra the swimmer

i swam laps tonight in the neighborhood pool. it was so relaxing. you know how people run and they say its really good time for them to think? well, i've never understood that. when i run, all i think about is how i cant wait for it to be over.. ok breathe, sandra.. breathe, oh yeah keep breathing. not so much with swimming.. i'm not sure how many laps i swam but it was really good "think" time. i highly recommend giving it a try. i'm hoping it becomes a regular thing for me. i tend to bounce around though from things i want to be "hobbies". nothing sticks for some reason. maybe swimming will. 

verse:

..He who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above..

"exceedingly abundantly"..?? wow.

 

status update

sandra is being exposed. it feels like she has been turned inside out. pretty uncomfortable. last time she check though, God wasn't really into her comfort. He is however concerned with completing the good work He began in her. 

hallelujah.

my amazing weekend.

on thursday i decided i would take a road trip this weekend to nashville/louisville. i think last minute road trips are the best. something about just leaving town only hours after the thought comes to mind is just fun in and of itself. i headed to nashville friday afternoon (after riding around with monica on her scooter for a couple hours looking at houses). saturday morning fletcher and i woke up early and got coffee at his local spot. we then went to the farmers market where he met the people he is going to be interning with in kentucky. we bought chocolate milk and a homemade granola bar from a dairy farmer (amazing!). we rode bikes to a local deli for lunch. after lunch we played catch in his backyard. "catch" is definitely a fond childhood memory. it's basically all we did. throwing the baseball next to his garden, under the shade of a big tree, talking about life. it was perfect. 

he had to go to work at 3, so i wondered around nashville for a few hours. i had some time to kill so i went to Grace Center for their sat night service last minute. it seems like every time i go there it's last minute, but always incredible. kimberly rivera was leading worship! it was so nice just to soak. then this lady spoke on dreams and dream interpretation. my favorite part was when she was talking about how God used dreams to protect Jesus' life. He told Joseph in a dream that the Holy Spirit had impregnated Mary. He told Joseph in a dream to move to Egypt and then Nazareth. He told the wise men, through a dream, not to return to Herod after seeing Jesus bc Herod wanted to kill Him. God relied on dreams to protect the life of Jesus. I'd imagine they are pretty important and we'd be wise to pay attention. 

I want to start asking for the gift of interpretation. it's so powerful. several people who shared their dreams and received interpretation were so deeply touched and impacted by what the Holy Spirit was telling them through their  dream. 

i headed to louisville after the service. i almost fell asleep a few times driving, but i made it thank goodness. i stayed with my friend ashley and her husband, keith. ashley and i went on summer project together in newport. she was one of my best friends on the project and probably one of the coolest people i've met in my life. they live in an apartment downtown above a sandwich shop. it's perfect. we stayed up late talking. slept in and then spent the entire morning talking, drinking coffee and making pancakes. we took her dog for a walk around the neighborhood and then it was time for me to head to sarah and dave's wedding.

sarah and dave's wedding was at by far the biggest church i've ever seen. completely massive. they had their ceremony in the chapel though. it was pretty. the reception was fun too. i'm glad i went even though i did know anyone. situations like that seem so scary to be solo in, but they're really not that bad. you just have to find the people that seem just as awkward as you and stick together. at least that's what i did. 

Also, got a few text messages from taylor!! He's doing great. loving africa. loving Jesus. Seeing healings and Jesus move. 

"love is way way deeper and harder than i thought. we know very little about the depth of dying of self and to fully love your enemy.." (from taylor)

so my weekend was completely awesome. and very refreshing. God is so good, He's so good to me. i love Him a lot. 

i randomly started feeling really sick today in the prayer room. all of a sudden my stomach started hurting and i was really hot and clamey.  i came home, ate some toast, drank some apple juice, laid on the couch while it stormed outside, and watched Mona Lisa Smile. i guess it was just what i needed bc i feel better :) 

life has been good lately. very uneventful, yet eventful at the same time. processing a lot. 

1. i miss my brother

2. i'm thinking about going to Israel in September to the house of prayer there, for 3 months. i filled out the application and looked at plane tickets today. i dunno though. i need to keep praying about it. i also REALLY want to go to europe. 

3. officially signed up for cake decorating classes... first one july 6. 

look unto Jesus..

it's going to be worth it.

so much more than worth it.