life. summer. UPDATES!

I cannot believe the time that has passed, the occasions i think about sitting down to write, and i just don't. So here is a mini-update on my life.

i have finished my first semester at biola, and i loved it so much.it is now summer which means work, traveling and other fun stuff. we had a family vacation with 8 of us for the first time. what fun new dynamics =).i just got back from an amazing trip to mexico.it was the first time i never took pictures or had a sad goodbye.it was as if its just another visiting place and i'll be back for SURE.i fall in love with it everytime.the june gloom is just now fading into beautiful california summer.i love it.i am very content with where God has me in life.and i can see his hand in all parts of my life.

here's some pics from the family vaca:


(back row: joey. johny. amy. krissa. jim. mumzy
front row: me. dad.)



(me.johnny.amy)

just a little story:
So being at the mercy of the random selection for serving on our county's jury, i was summoned to appear in the second week of classes starting back in february.

unable to tear myself away from academic achievement for that long, I regretfully called in and asked to postpone it until june.


(me. regretful of not serving when they summoned)

I strategically picked a date that would land between my 10-day family vacation and my regualr summer Mexico trip. genius, right? i thought so. well my date came around, and as my summons said, i was available between the two dates, spanning a week. no longer, though. what i DIDN'T know was that you call in everyday until they need you. THEN your service starts. *sigh* well i went in and addressed a very disgruntled jury-service woman. and i told her that being a victim of our messed up system, that i would not be able to appear for seven working days following this day, and if she could please help me. just to have a little bit of mercy, because this trip was important to me.

To which she responded, "and thats my problem, why?" ugh. remind me NEVER to be a government employee. it might make me mean and jaded. so anyways. she told me to call as soon as i was back from mexico. i did. they wanted me. the lady said, sorry, you're at the mercy of the judge now. So i prayed lots and felt slightly stressed that i wouldn't be able to get out of serving. tragically i have aNOTHER trip planned for later this week and so i am really hoping this all works out. i have a back up or two if they can't be reasonable:
1. Vengeance is the Lords...he will repay.
2. tell them my theory: if the defendent made it this far already, even if he's not guilty for this, he must be guilty for SOMETHING. so i go "guilty" every time.
3. i am a criminal justice student at at private Christian university.
bailiff calls. we file in. hear ten other people's hardships on why they can't serve. i am the last. my heart is pounding. i stumble over calling him "sir" or "your honor." i don't trust my voice. it sounds more confident than i feel. i tell the judge my problem. he laughs. my stomach drops. he asks if i can postpone my trip by a week. feeling a burst of confidence, i try being witty. "its a non-refundable ticket, and i am but a poor college student, sir...err. your honor." the coutroom erupts in snickers from fellow jurors, judge and council alike. the judge pulls council up to consider requests. my heart is pounding. will they let me off? i watch their faces for positive signs. they all nod. judge returns to his leather thrown behind his "Judge Pluim" plaque. he looks right at me and says "Suzanne K, you are hereby excused from serving on this jury. thank you for your service and willingness to join us today." my hear soars.

i walk out in a daze.
and they say there isn't proof of a God. ha.

they were so wrong.

xoxo.