here & there

It finally snowed a few days ago, the kind that covers the ground and roofs. :)

we went to the playground

played on swings

we made buns

and had warm lemon tea

wreaths on sale at Jewel-Osco

studying Hebrew vocabularies

⁴⁶ And Mary said:
   “My soul glorifies the Lord
 ⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
   of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
 ⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
   holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
   from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
   he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
   but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
   but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
   remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
   just as he promised our ancestors.”
--Luke 1

Dad took this picture two years ago. I just edited it when I saw it the other day.
KL.

to God's Word, to Truth.
to the Cross--what God has accomplished for us (we are victorious because Christ is victorious)--salvation.

at the park

at Molly's cupcakes

In my music classes, I have learning a lot about chants and arrangements of music that were sung in the cathedrals in Europe and I can just imagine how glorious the voices will sound in cathedrals like this one.

pain au chocolat with mocha belge

roommate breakfast date

lemon crepes

macaroons that we did not try

Think about it and praise God for them. :)

Happy Thursday!

flower at a stand on the street in Rome

It's been a blurry Saturday. I've been doing homework and piano practice for the most part today. It's necessary to get work done so that's good.

The group who took Dr. Litfin's Early Christian Thought class at St. Ambrose's church in Milan.

I love mountains. That's all.

"...the skies proclaim the work of His hands..."
Psalm 19

If you're ever doubting your worth, remember that God made you and He is the Creator who loves you. Looking at how beautiful the sky is reminds me of my amazing Creator.

*pic from June 2010, at a rest stop on the way to St. Bernard's Pass.

It's coming...

sometimes I just need to remind myself to pray when I start getting stressed over things.
It's amazing how quickly I start worrying and forget to just trust God and pray.
Dad reminded me to pray this morning, and in piano service playing class, Joanna shared the hymn "what a friend we have in Jesus"

...take it to the LORD in prayer.

How firm a foundation is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!


"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed; for I am your God, and will still give you aid. I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand, upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand."

This song has been coming up in my life a lot lately and I think God is reminding me to trust and stand on Him, the firm foundation that never shakes.

*pic: Castle church in Wittenberg. When I think of castles, I think of firm foundation. There's also the connection of Martin Luther/Reformation's emphasis on sola scriptura (Scripture alone).

"Much mental suffering is tied to our false expectations. We may so link our hopes and joys and future to a new job, to a promotion, to certain kinds of success, to prosperity, that when they fail to materialize we are utterly crushed. But quiet confidence in God alone breeds stability and delight amid "all the changing scenes of life." p242
excerpt from How long, O Lord? by DA Carson

This is Abbel. He's from Haiti. He's such a joyful person and you can totally see God's joy in his life. I took this picture of him for an article in our school newspaper about Haiti since the earthquake 8 months ago. He said that even though the earthquake was devastating, he has also seen the faith of Christians grow stronger and God's grace in the situation with the international community coming along to help. Let's continue to pray for the rebuilding and readjusting for people who still need jobs and those who suffer from emotional pain.

Lately I've been missing Malaysia/Singapore and Europe a lot. This is usually what I get from being overwhelmed by the busyness of school work.
That being said, the semester has been going really well. I'm learning music history, conducting, piano service playing, church music arranging, and Hebrew grammar 1.
God is good.

*Pic: in Geneva, going to cross the border to France's countryside.

It's a beautiful song that I learned from choir retreat.
Listen to it.
....May I press onward to know You  LORD.