[ thoughts. ]

   Here are some thoughts and conclusions I've been having lately.

   First, people are growing up. Some of the girls in my youth group that I've grown up in and was helping lead just graduated from high school. Since when were they that old? Those little freshies are no longer freshies -- no, they're freshly graduated and headed out to begin the next part of their journey. That used to be me. That's even harder for me to grasp.

   My photo-editing skills have gotten so much better. Or rather, they've expanded. And it's due to me stalking people on Flickr and seeing their style and then trying things out on my own. I'm really starting to get into a different style. Something, unfortunately, I haven't really actually done much about as of yet. haha. No thanks to the weather.. [Isn't summer supposed to be sunny.. ?]

   This is yet another season of transition for me. Oh joy. It's different and yet similar to the one I went through before leaving for DTS. Both then and now, I felt/feel a sense of not belonging. Which I think I can expect to feel for the rest of my life. When you believe what I believe and lead the life I lead, that's what tends to happen. But trust me, I'm much happier being the outsider. Or that's what you think I am..

   I'll let you think that one out.

   But anyway. Continuing with that thought. I'm a very different person compared to who that girl was 5-6 months ago. My ground is more solid. I have a clearer picture of who I am in Him. Which makes everything else a lot clearer, in general. Interesting how that works, isn't it?

   Which is kind of, in a way, what one of the speakers, Vai, shared about during DTS. He spoke on spiritual warfare [in a very different way than anyone was expecting]. One of his key points was that you have to know where you come from in order to really be strong. Especially in warfare. Because if you don't know where you come from, or where you stand, your foundation is neither firm nor able to withstand a great attack.

   So that being said -- I know I'm much stronger. Why? Because of what I said above, but also because my relationship with God has grown to such a deeper level as well. I've been challenged and have challenged myself to hear His voice more clearly and learn to listen to His voice. Which I knew before coming, but it's become much simpler. And I'm also a lot more familiar with the ways in which Satan attempts to attack me and how he works around me. I think China opened a lot of new perspectives in that way, especially since his presence there was so evident. As was God.

   I've said this to multiple people thus far. But I'll say it here too.

   I've never felt God's presence and Satan's presence as clearly as I did while I was in China. The whole spiritual atmosphere is SO different there. It was weird to come home and feel the physical difference, and to feel it in my spirit as well. So that's what I mean when I feel like China opened new aspects.

   It's weird feeling so out of the loop. I mean, I'd normally be all over the new movies and be stoked about certain ones. The only thing I was aware of was that Pirates 4 had just come out. Go figure.

   Just a few things going on in my mind as of right now. Or as of late. To be continued..