The_Cuban_Rubicon's Xanga

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Tue, 29 May 2007 15:58:11 GMT

I have not been on this for a while and I thought I would update those who still are faithful in the Xanga world, which is really awesome! I also changed the "skin" to something very pink and girly because this summer two of my good friends are getting married. And of course, they have pink in their weddings and what girl does not love pink, even just a little bit?

God showed me many things this year and I would love to share with you His faithfulness. Going into my sophomore year of college had many challenges yet exciting adventures that awaited me. I lost someone very dear to me at the end of last summer and have never experienced grief like that before. I lost my Abuelo from congested heart failure but God still blessed our family with so much during that time. First of all, I did not have a job and was able to spend a lot of my time with him and my Abuelita. There were a lot of long and tiring days but will always be grateful for the time I was able to be by his side. He died a slow yet peaceful death with ALL of my family by his side and though it is painful to remember, we would not have wanted it any other way. God has brought healing and though we miss him a lot, he is now rejoicing in a much better place with his son whom he tragically lost 30 years earlier. My family including my extended family have grown in so many ways and I love them more than I ever have. God has been holding tightly ever since and I always look forward to the time of coming home and just spending time at the house with them.

Going to UCF again was a big way I received healing from that summer. I had three wonderful roommates in an on-campus apartment with individual rooms. Many nights I was able to spend with God in solitude yet if I needed someone to talk to or comfort, they were down the hall which was such a blessing! We grew together so much through doing a Homecoming skit together with Campus Crusade for Christ (which we are all active in), Soccer, pre-nursing classes with one of my roomies, Bible Study with another, going to church and attending prayer sessions with two of them. I am blessed to be living with two out of three of them next year and we have a mission with a fourth "random" roommate whom I still have yet to meet. My roommates became some of my closest friends at the end of this year and love how four people who barely knew each other but had two things in common would become so close: the desire to live with Christians and to live on campus!! :)

I was able to still be close to my friends from Freshman year and experiencing hard and good situations only strengthened our friendship in countless ways. I love how God has taught me to be vulnerable with people and I was able to share some things I have not had the courage to do with except for a couple of people in my life. I am grateful I have friends that encourage me, love me, and most importantly draw me closer to my Father.

I have yet to know when and where my Lord-willing Prince Charming is. I love him the more and more God closes doors to other people I think I am attracted to. I am grateful that God makes the calls and I do not. I was close to a possible relationship that would have allowed my standards to be lowered and am grateful and now more determined than ever to have those stay up and be patient.

Classes were challenging like always. Many tears were cried over classes and at times I felt like my world was crashing. God showed me once again that I do not need to do it all on my own because that is when I felt like I was going under. He proved faithful with my first semester in many ways. I was taking five classes, always studying and doing HW, also doing many extracirrucular activities with CCC, and on top of that being emotionally drained and physically sick three instances for extended periods of times. Without even trying, I was losing weight and consequently was weak and exhausted. I also kept pursuing my dream with nursing and was facing one of the most important semesters. I ended up doing really well, the best yet in college, all because of God holding me and directing me the whole time. Through uncertainties, God molded my heart and I am grateful to have faced those challenges.

The next semester proved full of countless blessings that I hope I can give justice to what happened. I have never felt so loved and confident in Christ. My circle of friends grew so much because of getting to know and hang out with my roommate's friends and playing soccer on an intramural team. I was happy and felt very loved with what God was doing and going to do. I found out that I got into Nursing School on April 2. This was something I was not expecting at all because UCF has a very competitive and selective program. I still cannot believe it sometimes because I was already planning on pursuing a minor in Spanish while I applied again the next year in order to get a higher GPA. I am now going to graduate on time and am so looking forward to what God has in store with this career that I have dreamed about for 5 years now.

This next year is going to be challenging with being in a rigorous major but I am being prepared by my Heavenly Father this summer with much rest and time with my loved ones. All I have to do is look back in my life and see His faithfulness in every single area of my life so far. It is not smooth sailing at all, but I would not be the person I am today if it was not for those bumps and waves that I have come across.

I would love for this to my constant prayer which was written by the awesome Aaron Shust (singer of My Savior, My God). God always deserves my very all. And I do not want to let any opportunities slip through my fingers. I want to be a shining light to all that comes in path.

Search my heart,
search my mind, search my soul
Make me clean,
make me new make me whole
All of my plans, all of my dreams,
I lay them down before Your feet
All of my time, all that was mine,
I now submit to Your design
'Cause You are the one
who can make my life complete
You are the one who can give light to my feet
You are the one and only one
who dared to give it all away for me

You are my strength,
You are my God, you are my King
You make me laugh,
You make me dance, You make me sing

Everything inside,
everything outside, I give it all away
You never change,
but You rearrange my heart more everyday

p.s. I will be working part-time at Bed, Bath, and Beyond this summer and would love to see you there or get together somewhere else!

Carino :)

Friday, September 15, 2006

Fri, 15 Sep 2006 09:41:59 GMT

This is dedicated to Carissa, C, and the Little Sensei (my no longer teenage friend)...

Hope you have a wonderful 20th year full of God's blessings and joy. I love you and look forward to all God has in store for us. It is amazing to think of His intricate plan and how you came here to UCF for so many reasons including to encourage me in our friendship. See you! :)

Just happened to come across this...

Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:50:51 GMT

"FEED YOUR FAITH AND YOURS FEARS WILL STARVE TO DEATH!"

TAKE THAT YOU MEAN FEARS!!

Hope everything is going well and God is teaching you many things. He is teaching me to lean on Him 100% for every single thing (again) and that I am nothing without Him.

Carino.

Friday, July 07, 2006

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 19:22:07 GMT

I believe my Xanga life is nearing its death. Sad but unfortunately true.

I have had a wonderful summer and have kept busy doing a lot of fun stuff, necessary stuff, missed stuff, and loved every minute of this STUFF! My family and my girlies continually remind me how blessed I am and they push me to be better.

God continues to amaze me and teach me all I need to work on. I have a long ways to go and it makes me excited that this is not it.

I am going to Camp Grace in Fairmont, North Carolina and am very excited! Two weeks of being a counselor is something I have looked forward to since the Spring.

Hope everyone is doing great!!

p.s. Braveheart is such a great movie!

My experience in the rain and why I love running in it....

Thu, 25 May 2006 22:40:55 GMT

This evening my brother and I went to Lake Hollingsworth and decided to run even while it was pouring out. Running in the rain has always been a favorite of mine for many reasons. Let me share with you why...

First, I am amazed at the beauty and the freshness rain brings. I am boosted with extra energy and ready to do my best as I become more drenched. As I enjoy talking with God while I run, I realize so many parallels in my spiritual walk with Him. First, the rain for me shows the trails God has brought me through. While I cannot see that far ahead, He pushes me with His love (the rain) and allows me to know that it will end eventually. Though the rain may be heavy and uncomfortable at times, I always feel more determined to run harder and stronger because I know there is a wonderful prize at the end. (Good running time!!) Also, while I was running, the beautiful sun was shining through the clouds and then in an instant I did not see it. Though I may not always see His hand working to what I want, I know my God is there. Also, many people take shelter to guard from the rain and to look out for themselves. I can understand this, but I was also thinking when there is no life-threatening thing (like lightning) preventing those to be in the rain, it is a missed experience. Not many people run this race we are in and we may not see people for miles but God is gracious and provides people when we least expect it. It was so encouraging to see my brother when I was nearing the end!!! God is love and so gracious and He has laid this on my heart because He is so faithful and will never leave His children.

Romans 5: 1-5

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perserverance; perserverance, character; amd character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!!

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Tue, 02 May 2006 00:32:39 GMT

Hola! I am back home in wonderful Lakeland with my beautiful family and soon to be spending time with my amazing friends I have missed. That means I finished my first year of college and what a marvelous ending! My God is so faithful and all the things I thought would and could not happen, God proved me wrong AGAIN. He made sure after a rough first semester, that I would be lifted up and see how His faithfulness is full of countless surprises. My second semester was a blast in every way and I so look forward to going back to the exciting UCF in Orlando! I already miss the amazing friends God placed in my life but am grateful for all the memories we have made this semester! To have strong and encouraging sisters and brothers in Christ is so amazing and am so grateful that God placed me in the right place at just the right time so I could meet these wonderful people. It is nice to know I do not have to make too long of a drive to see my close friends as they will be hanging around Orlando for the first part of summer! Yae!:)

Well, hopefully I will be seeing many of you soon and we can be hanging out like the good old days. I am only taking one summer class this summer at PCC and going up to Camp Grace for 2 weeks in July, but other than that there is room for randomness and planned out beach trips, Orlando trips!!, any type of road trips, and just RELAXING! I love you all and hope is going well. See you soon!

Carino

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 22:06:47 GMT

Hallelujah He has risen! "Where would I be without your son?" I really have no idea and it is quite a scarey thought......

I LOVE my family, God has blessed me with so much. And....I never thought I would say this--but I LOVE college, with all these wondeful people around me, who wouldn't?! Friends have made such an impact and difference in this semester compared to last semester. These two weeks are going to be busy crazy, but I believe a ton of fun. I am praying that we all have focus and endurance to finish strong! Then SummerTime-another thing that I pretty much cannot wait for!

Mark 16: 4-6 "But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him."

Carino

Monday, April 03, 2006

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 17:02:46 GMT

"In the stillness of this place-I will rest in your arms and give you praise-At the end of the day-I am only yours-At the end of the day-I am only yours...In the light of the setting sun-I will be still and know that you are God-At the end of the day-I am only yours-At the end of the day I am only yours. When I run you will chase me down-So I lay me down and worship at your feet- When I fall you will pick me up-So I lift you up and worship you my King. In the moments I see your glory, Lord I will sing a new song in my heart-At the end of the day-I am only yours...When I run you will chase me down so I lay me down-I delight in your love-I have traveled a thousand miles in my heart-At the end of the day-You have brought me back to you again O Lord-At the end of the day-I am only yours..."

"I am not deserving of the blood of Jesus Christ-I am not qualified for grace-Take me by the hand-And help me to try to understand this isn't me-You have set me free-You called me your beloved-And told me that I am beautiful to you despite my many scars-So take me by the hand -And help me try to understand that you alone are all I ever need-If this water is sin-This wine now my grace- Has taken my thirst from me far and away-O Blessed Redeemer now raised to life-With thee I stand-O Blessed Redeemer now raised to life-With thee I stand.... Hallelujah you are worthy, you are worthy, you are worthy... How wonderful this love that reached into my dark-How wonderful his love-How beautiful his words-When they befell my ears-When they washed away my pain and wiped away my tears-Ohhhhh, hallelujah..."

These are two of the many awesome songs we sing at Crave (Campus Crusade) each Thursday night and the words just pierce my heart every time we as body of Christ worship Him. Our worship leader, Justin, actually wrote these songs and our band (There For) do such an awesome job weekly. I love Crave and am so grateful for the encouragement I receive weekly along with ammo that is much needed in my life. I have never been so in love with worshipping our loving God....

I hope you all finish up this semester strong. I am praying that you will and would appreciate prayer as well. 4 more weeks!!

Carino

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 21:08:36 GMT

What a wonderful, wonderful Spring Break! I hope you had a great one as well!

Here are some of the highlights in some of my attempted phrases:

Being picked up with 2 suprises, DRIVING!!, Sonny's with the gang, Seeing some of the cutest couples ever, First Baptist message conviction=needed, My Daniel!!, My Becca!!, Time with Taylor and girl's day out, Date with Daddy and good talks, Tennis with Daddy (sore muscles!), movie and bunches of laughs, American Idol catch up, Florida Southern with Tara and Daniel, Lake Hollingsworth with Adam and his electric scooter, Beach Day with Becca and Joe-being buried in the heavy sand-cold water fun-and of course at the beautiful Anna Maria, Becka's night (Mimi's Cafe and Pride and Prejudice!!), Lunch with my favorite bro, quality time with my mommy, going to Tampa with my grandparents and mommy, Cripsers with Whitney and Carter--Picassos Cup cuteness, stargazing with Becca (with no tears!), HUGS!, wonderful and missed food with my favorite people ever, sleeping in my bed!, bonfire even with itchy and runny eyes was worth it, laughing and so many good talks in those 9 wonderful days..... and most importantly learning and leaning on God through all the bumps I had to face. I can honestly say that I saw changes in a lot of different things including myself and now am completely sure it is all for the best. I love Lakeland and will always cherish the memories I make every time I return to my home.

Summer is fastly approaching and many things I am looking forward to. Hope you all have a wonderful and great rest of the semester and FINISH STRONG!!

Carino! :)

Friday, March 10, 2006

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 15:55:06 GMT

SPRING BREAK= splendid time with those I have missed soooo much! I cannot wait!

The Rocket Summer is so fun to watch in concert. Especially with awesome people. Bryce is so talented with his energetic moves and little touches and suprises (confetti and body surfing in the crowd). The Social is a really fun place to watch bands too considering how close you can be. And so many good memories there already. I hope to go there again soon!

I am really liking living here in Orlando and UCF! I am getting really adjusted to college life. Pretty crazy considering how much it seemed to make me come to this point. Friends make such a big difference and God ties it all together. Well, I hope to see you soon!

Jeremiah 17:5-10

Challenge from Crave (Campus Crusades)--"Are you ammoed up in this war we face everyday?"

Carino