is it summer yet?

summer is so close...yet so far!
studying for finals is rather difficult.
i cannot wait until next friday...in just a week, i will be d.o.n.e. with finals (and sophomore year)!
anyways, enough complaining.

my beautiful small group girls blessed me and debbie the other day with a bouquet of flowers !! (a whole bouquet?! i know!)
i still can't believe i lead a year of small group. it went by so quickly!
for me, our small group is a reminder of God's grace and faithfulness in each of our lives.
the girls are growing up to be such amazing women of God--i'm so proud of you guys! :*)
and i truly cannot attribute any of the credit to myself.
it is all by God for His glory, not mine.
i seriously feel like i didn't even do anything...but God chose to use me and debbie to lead the girls!
how crazy that the Creator of the universe chooses to use His creation to do work for His kingdom. (because, let's be honest here, humans tend to mess up...a lot. hahah, but there is grace! so much grace.)
even though i won't be leading small group next year, i am so excited to see how the girls will learn, grow, and serve in their own ways.

man, i've been updating my blog a lot more since i've been off social media.
it's funny because less people read my blog now that i'm not on facebook or twitter to post up a link to my posts. (thank you to those people who still check up on my blog regularly though!)

so, i took a break from studying yesterday to do a mini photo shoot with the flowers!
looking at them helps me stay sane as i study, heh. i love flowers.

click read more to see all of the pictures!

the greatest of these

this semester, i joined the taug decal because i wanted to learn about the whole publication process and improve my design skills!
overall, it was a great learning experience for me and i definitely want to do it again next semester.
my only regret is that i wish i could've contributed more!
but for the first time, my designs were actually used for something!!
i made the poster, ticket, and program for the cafe night. :)
my pictures were also published in the journal!
i don't think people understand how encouraging and affirming that is for me, haha.
being creative is freaking hard and there are so many times when i want to give up.
but i know that God has gifted me with specific talents so i will be faithful in stewarding them.

last night was taug's cafe night!
everyone is so talented--musically and in writing.
i was in charge of decorations for the night, heh.
it was a bit stressful at first because i wasn't sure what i wanted everything to look like, but with everyone's help, it all worked out in the end!

click read more to see pictures from cafe night!

the 100th post

i really like the banquets at the end of each semester.
personally, i think of them as a "you did it! you made it through the semester!" celebration.
even though i still have to get through finals, i'd like to think that sophomore year is pretty much over.
and since it's pretty much over, i'd like to take this time to look back at the semester.

man, second semester. you were a tough one.
coming into this semester, i knew i was going to face a lot of suffering--from both external circumstances and internal refinement.
so pretty much, i was ready for the semester to be over before it even started haha.
but i learned so much and i was blessed through friendships, both old and new.

God showed me a lot of things.
i'm always blown away by how much He has done when i look back at everything.
He gave me a heart for korea, the media industry, and the marketplace.
He challenged me to love others and to be humble and meek.
He kept my dreams safe as He taught me how to to walk faithfully in the little things.
He helped me see His grace over my life. oh man, that grace though.
He lead me to boast in my weaknesses--to trust Him and not lean on my own understanding.
He reminded me that love is truly, truly the most important thing.

so much happens in a year.
it's funny for me to see how i've changed and grown over sophomore year.
i remember one of my biggest challenges last summer was leaving my comfort zone to make new friends. (funny, huh? #introvertproblems.)
haha, but i've been incredibly blessed with amazing sisters in Christ who truly inspire me, support me, and push me to love Jesus even more.
i'm so grateful for each and every one of them.
i don't think i could've made it through this year without them.
(thanks guys!! i love you all so much!)

Lord, I thank You so much for sophomore year. I know I always talk about how hard it was (because it's true), but I thank You for Your faithfulness through it all. Thank You for all of the blessings and rewards, which were made sweeter by the hardships and trials. I thank You that You truly work everything together for my good. Thank You for each and every brother and sister in Christ who walked with me in some way, shape, or form this past year. Thank You for Your grace that covers all of my weaknesses. Thank You for Your love because that is what kept me going. Thank You, Jesus, for it is only by what You did on the cross that I am able to live this life that I have now. Thank You.

click read more to see the rest of the pictures. :)

bonjour, mai

hi, guys. i finally bought a vscofilm pack.
i was eyeing them for a while, but couldn't get myself to splurge on one.
i originally was gonna get vscofilm 01, but vsco is having a sale this week for vscofilm 02 so i just went for it (i think i'm going to get all of them...eventually).
i'm trying to remind myself that it's a good investment, especially if i want to work with photography more. (my way of justifying the price...)
maybe one day i'll be a wedding photographer?! haha, wishful thinking.

anyway, i decided to try it out on some pictures i took in korea back in 2010!
i don't know if i've posted this on my blog yet (i don't think i have), but i'm going to korea this summer !!
finally! after three years! food, family, and fun!
i. am. so. excited.
i'm already counting down! (88 more days, heh)
i've been wanting to go for such a long time and in many ways, it's becoming more of a personal mission trip for me.
God has been placing the nation of korea on my heart a lot these past few months.
for the first time, i am going to see korea through His eyes and with His heart. (!!! eep!)

i am currently off of social media (more specifically, facebook, tumblr, twitter, and instagram)!
i'm just taking some time off to "declutter" my mind and focus on what is important.
it's been pretty great so far! i think everyone should take at least a day off of social media.
i decided to continue blogging though! just to keep people updated and whatnot. (hi, cc ;D)

'tis finally the last week of classes. (side note: it's may?! already?! whaaat?)
one more day of class for me! and then time to study for finals...
i'm really excited for this summer though!
i've got an internship in SF and then i'm going to korea afterwards--all by God's grace.
i am seriously so blessed.

et il m'a dit: ma grâce te suffit

this semester was a never ending to-do list for me.

it seemed like there was always an assignment to turn in, an event to attend, or a small group to plan.

despite being one of the toughest semesters of my life thus far--spiritually, mentally, and physically--it was also one of the most rewarding.

the rewards came in the little things.

new friendships formed and old ones strengthened.

late night talks, junk food parties, and painting nails.

hanging out before lecture and trying out different places to eat.

ice cream. lots of ice cream. 

celebrating with sisters--the end of midterms, breaking fast, or just because.

suffering with sisters--prayers sown, tears shed, and encouragements spoken. 

& there were many lessons learned.
faithfulness--being faithful in the little things because that is where our character is built.
the little things that seem so unimportant, the things that nobody sees except for God.
being a good steward of what has been given to you, no matter how big or small.
rejoicing always--in the sowing, waiting, and reaping.
trusting before understanding.
being faithful even if you never see the fruit of your labor or any of God's promises fulfilled in this lifetime.
simply because He is enough.
His grace is truly sufficient.

the verse of my semester:
"et il m'a dit: Ma grâce te suffit, car ma puissance s'accomplit dans la faiblesse. Je me glorifierai donc bien plus volontiers de mes faiblesses, afin que la puissance de Christ repose sur moi. C'est pourquoi je me plais dans les faiblesses, dans les outrages, dans les calamités, dans les persécutions, dans les détresses, pour Christ; car, quand je suis faible, c'est alors que je suis fort." -2 Corinthiens 12:9-10

putting my new french Bible to use! haha, but i will also write the english version for you all:
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Corinthians 12:9-10

p.s. my blog has reached over 10,000 views!! whether it's one person viewing my blog 10,000 times or 10,000 people viewing it only once--i am so thankful and blessed that people actually care to visit my blog. :) you guys are the best. seriously.

a sun-filled, fun-filled weekend

i haven't written a post since march, i know.
i've been lacking inspiration for posts.
i would come up with ideas, but shoot them all down.
i thought i knew where i was taking this blog, but i'm not so sure anymore.
it just changes as i change.
oh well, it's my blog so i guess i can do what i want with it.
but thank you for reading, especially those of you who have been reading my blog from the start.
you guys are crazy. and awesome. high five. :)

anyways, i should probably add some text to go along with these pictures.
this weekend was fun and productive in very unexpected ways.
the weather was beautiful.
i got to spend a lot of time with my sisters, which is always a blessing!
i also finished my essay a few days before it was due!! i was very proud of myself.
and i did laundry! i love the smell and warmth of fresh laundry. mmm.
also, the coinslide for the dryer was jammed, but i fought it. and won. three times. (twice for me and once for my roommate.)
weekends like this past one remind me why college will be some of the best years of my life.

i realized that college has increased my love for thai food, boba, and ice cream (or just sweets in general).
not sure if that's a good or bad thing yet. for now, i will say it's good because my tastebuds say it's good.
i will probably change my mind in a few months/years.

it's the final stretch!
two and a half more weeks until classes end and then two weeks of studying for and taking finals.
it's hard and i'm tired, but i'm trying to finish strong!
bloop.

#hipsturgeadventures

finally got to try sightglass coffee on friday with irene!

i think it's one of my favorites just cause the interior is huge (and their logo is awesome).

the rest of our day included free google+ cups, shopping, and walking for an hour to eat delicious korean chicken with micho.

click read more to see more pictures...and a video !! (i know, i haven't made one of those in months!)