A thought just occurred to me: I only have one month of summer left. I leave for AU exactly one month from today, which means I'll be flying straight into the middle of winter. I think it's time to put together a "Summer Checklist."

• Get a tiger's blood sno cone
• Get a wedding cake sno cone
• Go to a Rangers game
• Spend a day at the pool
• Have a cookout (may be combined with the previous to-do)
• Go to a drive-in movie
• Go longboarding with my siblings
• Watch fireworks on the 4th of July

Here's to you, Summer!

It's looking very likely that I'll be leaving for Australia in a month. How insane. It's really happening.

As the reality sets in though I am tempted to be afraid. I'm experiencing the same emotions I felt in late 2010 as I prepared to leave for AU the first time; the same questions are bombarding my mind. Will I be as homesick as I was the first time around? Will I find a place to live, a place to work, an affordable car? Will God come through? Then I read Psalm 121 yesterday; written for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. And returned to it again this morning.

I look up to the mountains--

does my help come from there?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble;

the one who watches over you

will not slumber.

Indeed, he who watches over Israel

never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you!

The Lord stands beside you as

your protective shade.

The sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon at night.

The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.

The Lord keeps watch over you as

you come and go,

both now and forever.

I will most definitely be meditating on this as my departure date approaches. My God will not let me stumble; he himself watches over me! There is no room for fear in that truth.

If you're looking for a way to contribute and help me get back to Hillsong College in July, check out marymoscoso.bandcamp.com, where you can download my song, "Isaiah 40," for just $1! All proceeds go directly to my Paypal account. The recording is not perfect, the song is not perfect, but it is an honest and raw reflection of where I am right now, so if you're curious have a listen.

Trusting God is much easier said than done.

I'm only off $1,700 now. So close, yet so far.

Over these next two months I am praying for:

1) The money required to get back to AU (I am about $3K off at this point).

2) A new laptop for college (my iBook G4 is on its last leg).

You know the great thing about being changed by Jesus?

Being able to give grace to people because we have been given grace. It's like: I sucked, I was forgiven; I still suck a lot of the time, I'm still forgiven; you suck, I can forgive you and keep forgiving you because I sucked and still suck a lot of the time...etc. See the beautiful cycle of grace we're caught up in?

"The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love." Psalm 145:8

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

Such sweet, sweet words--such a precious promise. One to cling to in times of upheaval, uncertainty; trial or pain. It is comforting to be reminded that he's near.