Profile: Sarah Victoria Sandoval (aka – SarahV)

It amazes me how close Sarah and I have become in the last year and half. This girl is literally my best friend. I talk to her about everything (and I mean everything!). She holds me accountable, she stands beside me in my decisions, she helps me strive for more with Christ, she keeps me sane with boys…she’s the best, really.

How I met Sarah Sandoval

Project Serve 2010. I had only been working with Youth for Christ for about six months, and she was a volunteer with the club out in Taft. We got along right off the bat, the logical next step in our friendship was Facebook. When she moved away to Sacramento for school, we stayed in contact. I wanted to read through a book, and thought about Sarah and asked her to join me. Our friendship has been off and running ever since! Through thin and lots of thick.

Who Sarah Sandoval is

• loving friend
• San Jose State student
• Christ advocate, 24/7

What Sarah Sandoval likes

• worship
• not finishing sentences
• road trips with friends
• pouring into younger girls
• Panera and Chipotle

What Sarah Sandoval dislikes

• creepers
• cavities
• half shirts

One fact about Sarah Sandoval

She is always down for a chat over coffee. No matter what time of day, no matter where the coffee comes from, she loves getting together with friends over coffee to discuss anything that comes to mind from boys, to Jesus, to Biblical controversies, to sports. Offer this girl coffee, and she will be there.

One reason I like Sarah Sandoval

Even though we have only been friends for a short while, I know I can trust her with the deepest of my secrets. Things I have never told anyone in my whole life seem to just flow with ease when I’m with Sarah. She wears love on her sleeve and is always ready with amazing advice.

One memory I have of Sarah Sandoval

The best memory of Sarah is from our Triple A visit to see her in San Jose. Her and the other girls surprised me with a trip to San Francisco for my birthday. We went to Pier 39 and Ghirardelli Square, creating so many memories I can’t count them all. She’s amazing like that, creating surprises and helping make memories that I will never forget. And here are just a few insiders to make Sarah laugh: fire-breathing ants, Northwest Pomegranate, winner winner… yes, I never complete…

Sarah Sandoval in one word

Friend.

success.

Success.  (often attributed to Elisabeth-Anne Anderson Stanley)

To laugh often and love much
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children

To earn the appreciation of honest critics
Endure the betrayal of false friends

To appreciate beauty
To find the best in others
To leave the world a bit better
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch,
or a redeemed social condition

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.

I’ve been dealing a lot lately with whether or not I am being successful. I worry that I’m not doing enough, not making big enough waves. I worry that I’m slacking or that I’m spending too much time on all the wrong things. Then, I come across this quote. In the midst of this holiday season, when I am wearing thin as the year draws to a rapid close, I am left pondering whether or not what I did mattered in 2011. It’s easy to get caught up in the hype, to lose focus, to think big and fall short. In 2011 I made a lot of big promises, many that I left unfulfilled. In 2012 I vow to make small goals, ones that can actually be accomplished. I want to focus on the little things, the things that will really determine whether or not 2012 is a success or a big waste of time. Here’s to a year of the small…

 

 

help?

“All their “helpful” comments imply that if I’d only do _____, my problems would be solved. Like it’s all within my grasp, able to be managed and mastered, if only I would try harder, longer, better. As I nod my head in polite and pathetic appreciation for their input, I scream inside, “Shut up. Shut up. Unless you’ve been lost in this particular section of hell yourself, don’t you dare try to give me directions.”
- Martha Manning, Undercurrents: A Life Beneath the Surface

Have you been there? Because I have. So many times people will try to be helpful, but all they do is make you feel more stupid, more lost, more helpless, more…

I don’t really know how to combat this. When people are hurting it is our nature to want to help. But what does REAL help even look like? How can you reach out to a friend you know is hurting without making them feel inferior? I really think there is only one answer…

Listen.

Be an ear to hear all the crap they are going through. Be the one that allows them to mind vomit all over you…for as long as it takes for the healing to begin. If you’re a talker (like me) this is the most difficult part of friendship. The time where you can’t share ideas, insight, solutions…the time where you just have to be present.

If you’re going through a hard time (or have been fairly recently through one), what are your thoughts? What helped you? What do you wish your best friend said/did that they didn’t do? What did your best friend do the right way? The wrong way?

I know we are all different, we all coupe with our problems in a different way. I think we are all similar, though, in our need for relationships and true friends.

I’ve been here many a time. Broken to the point of no return. Now, I’m on the other side of the friendship, and I’m at a loss…

divine nobodies: my take away (part one)

In his wonderful book Divine Nobodies, Jim Palmer shares how different people, one per chapter, have changed his life for the better. These are a few of the things I took away from each chapter. This post is just referencing the first five chapters; I’ll hit the other ten in two later posts.

1. Touched by a Drummer
   This chapter talked about a guy named Kit and his wife. They have a house in the mountains that they offer as a getaway for people who need rest. I would love to be able to have something like that available for people to come to. Heck, I’d like to GO TO a place like this. A place where it’s ok to ask questions and not know the answers; a place where you are free from distraction; a place where you can really talk to God and maybe be able to hear his whispers in the silence.
2. Hip-Hop Geography
   It’s all about being you. Forget the masks and the show; forget the smoke and mirrors. Why show people a fake you? I needed to hear that. It’s ok not to be perfect, in fact, it’s better to be imperfect. I am slowly beginning to throw away my masks (more on that later).
3. Waffle House Theology
   Do you ever make snap judgments about people? I know I do, and thankfully so does Jim. He talks about a waitress at the Waffle House that he met while she was having a rough day, proving that you never know exactly what the people you meet are going through. Always be nice, no matter where you are, no matter who you meet.
4. Death to the Phantom
   One story about Grace in this chapter completely captured me. Here it is in mostly quotes from the middle of this chapter:
   “Settling into my comfy chair [at the public library]…somewhere the corner of my eye caught something that hijacked my attention. All decked out in a pretty pink dress with white lace was a sweet little girl in a wheelchair. Her angel face was radiantly pale, and her sandy-blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail sporting a big yellow bow. Frilly white stockings disappeared into her sturdy white leather dress shoes, which were strapped down tight to the folding metal rests beneath her pigeon-toed feet. I could not turn away from this portrait of mangled beauty, despite knowing well enough that it isn’t polite to stare at handicapped kids.
   Kneeling down close beside the little girl is Dad. With one arm gently wrapped around her, he reads from an oversized storybook propped in her lap…she’s just sitting there unresponsive, seemingly oblivious, as Dad dutifully reads her a story, altering his voice to impersonate the different characters. My mind began wandering, imagining this father’s world. On bended knee is a man who must walk through life brokenhearted for his daughter, who will never sing silly songs, skate in the park, or dance at her prom. A dad who loves his little girl perhaps even more because of that but who will never hear ‘I love you, Daddy,” whispered in his ear or receive a homemade Father’s Day card with sunshine and stick people…The lens of my soul zoomed in on her facial expression as she sits wrapped in her father’s arms…What does she see? What does she feel? She seems so content and peaceful, at home really, resting her head against Daddy’s face, receiving his love. Then again, that’s all she can do. She’s not even capable of reciprocating her father’s love, and yet I can see she is his most precious treasure…
   Taking all this in, a torrent of troubling thoughts rose from somewhere deep within me. Would God still love me if I couldn’t do anything for him? What if I were useless and couldn’t do even the basic things I had learned a good Christian does? What if I couldn’t even go to church or have a quiet time? What if…Sitting there, a heavy weariness set in and I wanted to cry. I’m so tired of trying to get God to like me. I’m terrified of being abandoned and left alone in life. It had already happened a few times with people it’s not supposed to…But then there was this child in the wheelchair, useless yet priceless…An occasional grunt is Dad’s only reward for giving his all in reading her the story. There’s nothing she can do for him, but she doesn’t need to do anything; her father simply love her…”
5. What the Sheep Do We Know?
   Jim explains how he and his wife wanted their daughter to learn in a different sort of environment about the Bible and its stories. After reading this chapter, and doing a little research of my own, I would love to have my kids be involved in something like Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Even though I’m not Catholic, I really like the concept of hands-on learning, with no real outside influence that comes from this method. “I wonder if there’s more to this existence than logic, science, or the five sense can explain…” – Jim Palmer.

Profile: Samantha Rene Hulse – AKA: Sammie, Sam

Sam is one of my closest friends. It is her love of gum and her initiative that brought us together (but we’ll go into that more later). I love being able to talk about anything, let my true feelings and ideas be known, and not feel judged by her. Sam is just as crazy as me, so when we’re together, you might want to just stand back.

How I met Samantha Hulse

It was at church. I had seen her playing with the worship team, but I had never talked to her and I didn’t even know her name. About three months after I had been going to the church, I got back from a trip and she asked me, “Do you have any gum? By the way, I’m Sam.” Little did we know that God saw fit for us to be the best of friends.

Who Samantha Hulse is

• worshipper
• giver
• future court reporter
• missions minded

What Samantha Hulse likes

• deep conversation (but only once she knows you really well)
• Red Vines
• Friends
• taking silly pictures/videos with friends
• playing music

What Samantha Hulse dislikes

• being lied to
• people who drive slow and are in her way
• change (both the money kind and the kind that makes things different)

One fact about Samantha Hulse

Her heart lives on the mission field; she has pieces of it scattered across the world in Romania, Mexico, Zimbabwe.

One reason I like Samantha Hulse

She is an amazing listener. No matter what is going on in your life, she is willing and able to sit and listen. She isn’t just a bystander either, she really cares for people. If you’re hurting or scared, she feels it right along with you. If you’re happy or excited, she is, too.

One memory I have of Samantha Hulse

Oh my goodness, there are so many to choose from. The greatest memory that I can think of right now is on one of our many trips to school in Irvine. We were driving, talking and sharing and we realized that the reason why we were doing all of this was because God knew we needed to be best friends. Apparently he thought the only way to make that happen was to put us in a car together for 4 hours once a month. An odd approach, but it has produced some amazing memories.

Samantha Hulse in one word

Heart.

my weekend, only in brief.

This weekend was amazing, and it was just what I needed. I cannot believe that I survived this long without having Katee, Sarah, and Bri as constant friends in my life. They are amazing ladies, and great people to invest time and energy into. They give back to me much more than I pour out, and I’ve been praying for friends like that. Sarah, my best friend, is fantastic. A chance meeting at Project Serve, and besties ever since. I know that our friendship is totally God sent, and I love having someone in my life to walk beside in faith that I can learn from, and also pour into. It’s awesome to not have to feel like I’m holding someone back in a friendship, or that I’m carrying all the weight. It is because of her that I became friends with Katee and Bri; it’s sort of wonderful that we are all friends. In Bri I find a friend that is wise beyond her years; someone on fire for God and not afraid to discuss it in depth or in brevity. In Katee I have found a kindred spirit; someone who is much like me in every way. I loved getting to know these three more this weekend, and I cannot wait to grow these friendships, both separately and I’m sure together (our Triple A Meetings need to continue, afterall).

Thanks for a great weekend. Here’s to many more years of friendship, laughter, inside jokes, awesomeness, awkwardness, and aimlessness.

quick regional conference post.

Regional Conference was amazing. The theme this year was “Surrender” and on Thursday night we were challenged by our YFC USA President, Dan, to surrender the worst and the best of us. This really got me thinking, I do that? Do I give God the worst of me? My deepest, darkest secrets tend to stay that…secrets. And, do I give God the best of me? Do I let Him take my talents and my best and make it for His kingdom and glory? Or, do I keep my best and the results for just me?

I definitely left the conference with lots to think about. I have so many dreams for my ministry, and the Regional Conference and breakout sessions always seem to remind me of the dreams God has given me and how, if I trust Him, they can come to completion through His Spirit in me and my team. I’m really pumped, and very blessed, to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of young people in Kern County.

Looking to the future, I have lots of fears and lots of plans…but I’m surrendering them over and letting God use me as His vessel. I am just a jar of clay, but the Holy Spirit in me is powerful. I’m ready for the future, and I’m diving head-first to see what it has in store.

 

Ready. Set. Go.

motivation monday.

the weekend that was: LAZY! I honestly didn’t do much of anything. I did some laundry, watched lots of documentaries (my new obsession), cleaned my apartment, and slept a lot. on saturday we had our EPIC game night at the Lowery’s, and I went to that. on sunday, I had church and my small group, followed by more laziness and documentaries.

where i am at the moment: working on being more organized with my work schedule, my church schedule, and getting personal, quiet time in there somewhere. it seems that I’m either super busy or I’m beyond lazy. I only work in extremes, apparently.

on my to-do list this week: club prep. student leadership. more laundry. fall fun festival prep. taft trip for work and for glee. appointments, appointments, appointments. volunteer follow-up. commitment follow-up from gospel presentation last week.

procrastinating about: preparation for next week’s club when I’m gone for regional conference.

what God is teaching me: that I don’t have to have it all figured out, I just need to step out in faith where He is calling me…He will take care of the rest.

books i’m in the midst of: “one thousand gifts” by ann voskamp for book club (8% finished). “a daughter’s worth” by ava sturgeon for small group with my campus life girls (43% finished). “redeeming love” by francine rivers for personal reading (82% finished). “divine nobodies” by jim palmer for personal reading (84% finished).

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: new mayday parade cd. it’s fantastic. you all should buy it if you like alterative style music. if you don’t like that style, just go take a listen on groove shark, then you don’t have to buy it.

next trip: regional conference. for YFC/Campus Life. October 26-29.

how i’m feeling about this week: motivated.

Profile: Kayla Nicole Martens. AKA – BFF

Kayla is seriously one of my best friends. I don’t know what I would do without her in my life to have random moments with, amazing heart-to-heart convos with, venting texts with, and amazing car talks with. I love this girl.

How I met Kayla Martens

It was at church. Her family was the first to take me in and adopt me as part of the group. They all helped me feel right at home after only a few months of going. It is because of them that I stayed at the church.

Who Kayla Martens is

• overachiever, in a good way
• friendly times a thousand
• soon-to-be greatest teacher Bakersfield has ever seen
• my BFF

What Kayla Martens likes

• sour apple sno cones
• fruit punch rockstars
• super late night drives/talks
• taking ridiculous pictures
• the San Diego Chargers

What Kayla Martens dislikes

• when people chew on ice
• people who try to give advice when they don’t understand the situation
• tomatoes

One fact about Kayla Martens

When she sets her mind on a goal, she will do anything and everything to get there. She graduated college with a B.A. in Liberal Studies in just three years, and got her teaching credentials in just two quarters. Yea, she’s a beast.

One reason I like Kayla Martens

Her heart is HUGE. She will be late to where she is going if someone seriously needs to talk. She goes out of her way to be nice to everyone she meets: the grocery store clerk, the person in the drive-thru, students in the youth group. She has been on every mission trip she possibly could go on while raising most of the money to do so on her own. Like I said, her heart is HUGE and her love for people is even bigger.

One memory I have of Kayla Martens

Oh my word, so so many to choose from! My favorite memory is probably the story of how we became so close. We had a ridiculous heart-to-heart conversation about our lives, our past, and our future plans in the summer of 2009. I had never had someone share so much about their life with me before, and it’s when I knew we would be best friends forever. Oh, did I mention that this all happened while we were on a safari in Africa? Yea, we had this amazing heart-to-heart while watching giraffes graze, seeing elephants take a bath, and feeding baby rhinos. Who does that?

Kayla Martens in one word

Joyful.

tuesday.

the weekend that was: on friday, i got to hang out with my cousins jennifer, crystal, and james. We ate pizza at pizzaville and chatted about life. it was nice to get to catch up with them. after dinner, crystal and i went and watched 50/50. it was a great movie. we laughed, we cried, it was wonderful. then on saturday we had our fourth annual Ride for Youth with YFC/Campus Life. we had a great turn out, and had nine students (middle and high school) there to help up out. after the ride, i went home and rested a little, and at seven went with some of our EPIC kiddos to watch Courageous. and, as far as Christian movies go, it was pretty great. sunday brought the usual morning routine, with a nice relaxing afternoon. monday was like an extra weekend day because i only worked for two and a half hours to make up for all my hours on saturday at the ride. however, i spent most of monday running errands and getting mad at AT&T.

where i am at the moment: learning to take everything as it comes and trying not to get anxious about things. i’m also working on becoming a morning person. so far, i have been mostly unsuccessful.

on my to-do list this week: club prep. student leadership kick-off. ministry reports for september. writing of my volunteer newletter article. tying up loose ends on things at my new apartment. hopefully getting my internet working at my apartment. hopefully hanging out and catching up with friends.

procrastinating about: today: club prep. this week: volunteer follow-up.

what God is teaching me: that when i am faithfully in the small things, he is faithful in all things. i’m also starting an in-depth look at 2 corinthians. i don’t know why, but i felt drawn to that book and want to learn more. plus, i love paul’s writing.

books i’m in the midst of: redeeming love (79% finished), divine nobodies (65% finished), a daughter’s worth (35% finished, it’s a weekly study). the percent finished is stated on my kindle app, or guessed for books i’m reading without it.

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: jesus culture. i’m soaking it all in. their stuff is really good.

next trip: beach getaway. october 21-23.

how i’m feeling about this week: excited. THEME NIGHTS starts at EPIC this wednesday.