Thoughts on Figuring it Out

My mom's chicken enchiladas Oatmeal Ice Cream Today I am especially thankful for being funded for my research venture this summer!

Three Gifts Waited For: To be done with my exam. I've been waiting for this day for a good few weeks.  My new Sevenly shirt. I really like my new shirt and am glad it finally came! The nice weather, it's finally in the 50's or above for the foreseeable future!

I just finished one of the most stressful, frustrating, tiring and gut wrenching weeks of my life thus far, an exam on Monday, a presentation later in the week in which a 5PM meeting with the professor on Tuesday told us to do more research. We did hours of research, which lasted until one PM on Thursday. Thursday night we finalized the PowerPoint and quickly went over our presentation. Come this morning at 11AM we were giving our presentation. I did not feel prepared at all! Reading papers to present on research that others had completed, I felt I knew nothing. In the moments before class I felt I could lose my breakfast. My mom put it best that morning. She told me that I was the one that knew the information the best and that I would be fine. She spoke a lot of truth into my life. I’m so blessed because of her. My performance today does not, I repeat, does not , define me. I’m worth so much more and however this semester turns out I am still Charissa, a child of His. It’s not a def...

I have been so busy so I apologize for not keeping this up, but it's spring break so I'm back and hopefully for a while. Yummy Pancakes Laundry done by my mom Pants that a friend tailored for me

A Gift of Tin, Glass, Wood Fruits and Veggies that come in tin cans Glasses My bed 3 Gifts before 11 AM Time with Jenni Office Hours so I can get help Sunshine and Bird Songs

This past week was crazy with three exams in total, two of them big chemistry exams. So, here is the past weeks. 3 Gifts In Shadows Coolness from a beating sun in the summer A new perspective Photography opportunity  3 Gifts Found in Serving/Giving Joy Smiles Realizing how blessed I am 3 Gifts on Paper Verses Notes Photos 3 Gifts That Were Plan B's My major Having To Borrow My Professor's Answer Guide (To the textbook) Staying in Bed some mornings A Gift At Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Sunshine A Break Family Time 3 Gifts White Woolite (The bottle is white) Shaving Gell...seriously amazing stuff! Socks 3 Gifts That Changed Today Chocolate Waffles Warm Weather A Baby Shower

3 Gifts in working: A scarf My dad's life Getting to see Passion 3 Gifts behind a door The great outdoors All the clothes I can afford The warmth of the heater 3 Ways You feel the love of God By the people in my life Seeing His creation  His taking care of me A gift in Losing, Finding, Making Something Losing: Humility Finding: Excitement  Making Something: Creativity

Got To Run To Class So I'll Finish Up The Rest Later 3 Gifts Found Outside: Birds and their songs Flowers Spring breezes A Gift at 11:30AM, 2:30PM, 6:30PM Having time to myself  Being with friends in class Yummy dinner made by my mom A Gift Broken, Fixed, Thrifted My Mulan doll My rayon skirt  Jeans 3 Surprise Gifts - Unexpected Grace Getting To Attend The  KU game Getting to hang out with some awesome students Friday night The Snow Day Last Wednesday 3 Times I Heard Laughter Today Nate in class Dr. Morales talking with students Jenni laughing at our animal organic compounds

I'm a slacker...I know and I apologize. 3 Gifts Found In Writing Expression Beauty Penmanship  3 Gifts Found When Bend Down A new perspective Children Details A Gift Stitched, Hammered and Woven Pillow cases Shelf Scarf

I actually am writing today without multiple days! Pen marks: Constructive feedback on homework or papers is good. It helps me grow and get better at what I do.  Letters: I love getting nots/letters from people! Letters from my grandmas are my favorite! My Granada gift certificate: I really enjoy coffee, so this was a great gift!

A Gift on paper, in a person, in a picture Quotes to keep me motivated Love: From my parents, I could not be more blessed This woman: Paige, she has been one of the biggest blessings in my life! Three things Red Cherries: Yum! Cardinals: They are so fun to watch at my feeder in the summer Starbucks red cups: I love coffee and Christmas and they represent both!

Yesterday: A song heard, a soft word, light seen Sing Sing Sing- the old swing tune, it was a happy tune and made my day a little brighter Hearing how my father delights in us, his children The song Glorious Ruins by Hillsong Live has been one of my favorites recently (Listen here ) and the lyrics are seeping into my should reveling light and truth.  "Let the ruins come to life! In the beauty of Your Name, rising up from the ashes, God forever You reign. And my soul will find refuge, in the shadow of Your wings. I will love You forever and forever I'll sing."  Today: 3 old things seen new  Effective nuclear charge: This probably means nothing to you, the reader, but I learned more about what this means and got a greater understanding of it. I have a new picture of what it really means.  Sex Trafficking: It's not only girls being sold for sex, boys are as well. It's a startling find as we think only girls are being sold for such things. Rescuing those ...

A gift before dawn, at noon, after dark Sleep Warm sunshine The stars 3 gifts in the kitchen Milk Dishwasher Baking suplies  3 graces found in friends Patience Love Grace

Sorry! I've been a bit busy with classes already! Three gifts found in Christ Life Forgiveness Refuge Three Things Blue The ocean. I just LOVE blue oceans, they are beautiful to look at, hold beautiful creatures/plants, and hold amazing misters and awe-inspiring things.  My KU shirts. I get great joy in being a KU fan and really enjoy seeing them play in person. Rock Chalk! Blue Jeans. They are my favorite type of pants, comfy and versatile!

wrinkled- My TOMS flags, for each one I have it means I have a pair of shoes, but also that a child has a pair of shoes! smoothed- My chemistry t-shirts Unfolded- My knitting: I'm so glad I got to learn to knit. I enjoy it. 

The moon Blue starfish (google "Linckia laevigata" and look at the images, yep I saw those!) Playing barbies with my diseased grandparents, we laughed so much that day!

Snow flakes: I love it when the snow is dry and you can make out the individual flakes! ( see here ) Bugs: However gross you think they are you must get close up to see them and they are gifts to us. ( see here ) This might seem ironic, but eyes: They are girts in two ways. They help us see and they show us how others really feel. You can't see them truly, but close up. 

Sorry I missed yesterday. My day was kind of crazy. We, as a family talked about them. Three things that might not have been: The Philippines Trip: This was a trip "in the making" for several years at our church and honestly I thought it would never happen. But it did and it was such a great experience for me.  Seeing Sharon: Sharon got to come to the US in October and our mission trip group had talked about having her in Emporia. But then nothing was said and I thought it would never happen. But it did and it was so good to see her!  The opportunity to go to Madison this summer. It is beyond my wildest dreams and may not have been! 

I love sharing these with you and hope that they can be gifts, even new ones, for you! Encouragement: "Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on  Jesus , who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s  there , in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through.  That  will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" -Hebrews 12:1-3 (The Message) Peace: "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayer...

Today's: Laughter: The children I watch Prayer: Times with close friends Quiet: Naps