People: Ian Charbonnet

I'm a senior, my last quarter in college. There are a lot of people who have made a major impact in my life over the past four years and I want to make sure that I tell them how much I Love them. This space is for that, to tell people what I really think, how much I really Love them, while holding nothing back. I'm going to try and do two a day this quarter, making sure to get at least 100 people in. This post is about a man who loves his music, Ian Charbonnet. Ian, our friendship goes all the way back to fall quarter of freshmen year and you have always been someone who I have been friends with ever since then. You are probably the only person I know who has a heart for worship comparable to mine. There are multiple times I remember it just being us two, worshiping together, be it in the prayer shed, at the steps of the beach, or wherever. Not only that, but freshmen year you seemed to be committed to me meeting other people and getting introduced and connected with people. I have never forgotten that and the way that you did not allow me to sit by myself at a real life meeting in the back, the way that I always wanted to. We are not as close now as then, but I have always looked up to you in one fashion or another, and I believe that our strengths and weaknesses compliment each other extremely well. Additionally, you have blessed the movement of RL so much in our four years here in ways that I don't fully know and nobody fully sees. You have been grace and a refuge (no pun intended) to so many throughout so much, whether it be through your worship, or getting people connected in various ways. I see such a heart of praise within you, and a heart of encouragement, something most people do not give you credit for. Well, here's credit where credit is due. Despite everything you have always been someone that I have been able to talk with and be open with, and even who has been able to understand my philosophically-oriented mind. You were actually huge, though you do not know it, in getting me to start going to church after freshmen year. You've also introduced me to a lot of worship songs that I really appreciate now. There has and will continue to be a whole lot of Love in our relationship, as evidenced by our facebook 'friendship'. I pray that God continues to grow your heart for Him and for Worship, true worship, and continues to help you understand what that means and looks like. I also pray that God brings by a woman for you and sticks out how special she is in your mind. Something that I have never told you: I think your genuine in person, very much so, but sometimes when speaking in front of people you have a tendency to come off as fake or rehearsed. Again, I know you in person and have seen who you really are so take that for what you will.

People: Bryce Soltes

I'm a senior, my last quarter in college. There are a lot of people who have made a major impact in my life over the past four years and I want to make sure that I tell them how much I Love them. This space is for that, to tell people what I really think, how much I really Love them, while holding nothing back. I'm going to try and do two a day this quarter, making sure to get at least 100 people in. This post is about a silly nerd, like myself, Bryce Soltes. Bryce, I first met you at IVC actually, Jordan introduced me to you and you had a popped blood vessel in your eye. Here you were this guy a year older than me; little did I know that I would have more classes with you than with anybody else. We sat in many lectures and study sessions together, and outside of Nick and Jordan you were the first upperclassmen to pursue me. We were silly together, we were nerdy together; nobody else even approached my level of nerdiness. Throughout it all, you Loved me, and this was clear. I can think back to so many little instances that proved your Love for me. Whether it was driving me somewhere (like the avengers' midnight premiere), buying me freebirds after a study session, sitting in Wilkins' class, passing the book back and forth, introducing me to so many other people, like PK and Zac Hamstra, being there for many when girls said 'no', and always opening up your home and heart to me. You were one of the first people I ever shared my faith with, and I remember last year how bummed I was not to be in your bible study. You have always showed me so much Love in so many different ways, it was never something that I doubted, and I think that you are one of the few people who had a heart like I did for real life in your time here. I remember when you took a picture of me during paparazzi my freshmen year, and believe it or not, that really did a lot for helping me feel accepted and like I mattered. You also gave me so much wisdom and guidance through it all, being a beacon of maturity in a community that really needed you more than you needed it. The more I type and think of it, the more I am able to recall even more of the little moments, or even just you being silly and how that was an encouragement for me to be silly. Really, I have nothing negative at all to say about you, Bryce, and you have pursued me for so long even through a constantly shifting and maturing relationship. I pray that God continues to use you in the time that you are oversees, and gives you direction as you return. I also pray that you continue to fall more deeply in Love with Him, and that He continues to give others the same grace in knowing you that I had. Something that I have never told you: I always felt that the reason you needed to study so much was that you always played iphone games in class. But it always gave me entertainment and ultimately you graduated.

People: Nick Brown

I'm a senior, my last quarter in college. There are a lot of people who have made a major impact in my life over the past four years and I want to make sure that I tell them how much I Love them. This space is for that, to tell people what I really think, how much I really Love them, while holding nothing back. I'm going to try and do two a day this quarter, making sure to get at least 100 people in. This post is about Nick Brown. Nick, I first met you at the beginning of my freshmen year, coming to my door to see if I wanted to come to bible study. You did not know it at the time, but your pursuit of me did wonders for changing my perception of Christians and who they were. You showed Love to me in the way that you used your resources to bless me, even long after you had obligation to do so. You would always give me a ride wherever I needed to go, and that did not fail to impact me. You always had me over and your apartment became for me a place of refuge for two years. We got into each other's lives, challenging each other, be it ever so gently. You were quick to cook dinner for me, something not many people have done, and there were times when I needed that more than ever. There were times where we just laughed together over nothing, and even my junior year, as our target areas grew distant from each other, each of us still made time for the other. You made a disciple out of me in how you took me under your retreat-planning wing, showing me all of what it takes and now I have been able to pass that on to younger guys, your presence still being felt in IV. Even my freshmen year, when I was flaky and inconsistent, you continued to invite me to things and challenge me in the ways that only you could and that did so much for me. I Love you, Nick because of the way that our friendship was long-lasting, even culminating at Jordan's wedding where you showed Love to me. I always had a special place in my heart for you for what you did for me freshmen year at a time when I needed it so much, but also for what you continued to do in and for me. Our relationship did not always look the same, but I have very much missed your presence in my life, Nick. My prayer for you is that God teaches, or continues to teach if He has been, you the beauty and importance of His word and grows you closer to Him, drawing you into His presence while you are in Egypt, teaching you to treat Him as He deserves, as God. I also pray that you would care about God above and beyond everything else in this life. Something that I have never told you: I think that you did not get accepted to Stint because you did not have an active time in God's word at the time. It obviously all worked out for the best though.

People: David Salazar

I'm a senior, my last quarter in college. There are a lot of people who have made a major impact in my life over the past four years and I want to make sure that I tell them how much I Love them. This space is for that, to tell people what I really think, how much I really Love them, while holding nothing back. I'm going to try and do two a day this quarter, making sure to get at least 100 people in. This post goes to one of my favorite Salvadorians-David Salazar. David, you were one of my best friends freshmen year and I am very thankful that we have remained close ever since. I first met you at a pancake outreach in Anacapa and at the time I assumed you were going to be like so many other of my friends. A few days later we were facebook chatting and you said, "Cody, I want to know what God is doing in your life." At the time, that was exactly what I needed to hear. I was an insecure freshmen who did not like Christians and you gave me permission to get to know you and get into your life. That was unprecedented in my life and it sparked a beautiful friendship. We walked together, we prayed together, and you Loved me; as an equal, as a peer, you Loved me, and that was so rare for me in my life at the time. Ever since then we have continued to grow together, often challenging each other but always walking with each other. We have often been sassy with each other, and have lived somewhat different lives, but God has given me a lot of grace in being able to share with each other deep, challenging parts of our lives with each other. Our relationship with each other has been a beautiful example of what a healthy Christian relationship looks like: it is something that has given me so much joy and brought me a lot of comfort, occasionally our sins have gotten in the way, but we are quick to bring it up and settle it together. I think that the work that you do in and for Destino has been a bigger blessing to this campus and to IV than most people have realized. God has taken you through the ringer these past four years but you have continued to pursue Him and allowed Him to work through you in the important, transformative ways. David, I Love you very much and you have been a blessing to me and I cherish our relationship and the way you point me to Christ very much. You have taught me how to be more open with myself towards people and the importance of opening up to guys, and appropriately to girls. I pray that God continues to strip you of the indecent parts of you and push you towards Him. I also pray that God grants you the grace of beautiful friendships and a desire for community. Something that I have never told you (or perhaps haven't): I used to have bitterness toward you at the start of our sophomore year because I assumed that our friendship would have been what it was our freshmen year, and it simply was not. God helped me to realize that that was not at all because of me, but because of things in both of our lives, and now I Love you so much and I am so thankful that God gave me the grace of forgiving you. I Love you buddy, and look forward to our continuing beautiful friendship.

People: Jordan Marshall

I'm a senior, my last quarter in college. There are a lot of people who have made a major impact in my life over the past four years and I want to make sure that I tell them how much I Love them. This space is for that, to tell people what I really think, how much I really Love them, while holding nothing back. I'm going to try and do two a day this quarter, making sure to get at least 100 people in. This post is about a Loving man, Jordan Marshall. Jordan, you were the first person ever in my life outside of my family to show me a glimpse of what unconditional Love looks like. This entire post will be an explication of that. I met you freshmen year, a goofy, blond-haired kid with a lip ring as you came to my door to follow up on a survey card that I did without thinking twice. Never would I have imagined on that day that I would be meeting one of my best friends. For four years you have tirelessly poured your life into me, never ceasing to pursue me no matter what, and leaving room for me to blatantly open and honest with you. Jordan, I mean it from the bottom of my heart when I say that nobody has ever or perhaps will ever pursue me in the way that you have for as long as you have. No matter how much I messed up, how far I fell, how guilty I felt, how insecure, how afraid, there was never any doubt in my mind that you would still Love me and accept me and, in a true picture of what unconditional Love practically and positionally actually is, think no differently of me because of it. For years, the best hour of my week every week was spending discipleship with you, where you always made room for me to be open. I can say with honesty and full certainty that I Love God, my God, my Jesus, so much more because I have known you. You were the first person to ever just tell me plainly and neatly what the Gospel is. If I did not do my homework, if I was tired, you still Loved me and pushed me, and challenged me. It was one of my greatest honors to be in your wedding this past year and it is so sweet to see how God has blessed you with one amazing woman. Jordan, there has never been anything that I for any reason have been afraid to tell you, and you might be the only person that I can say that for. You have given me the most quality advice over the past four years and I value your opinion over that of anybody else's, truly. To me at least, you have represented more of what Jesus is, with your steady, never-flinching pursuit of me, the subtle way that you have always pointed me back to Him, the grace that you have always showed me, the ways that you have allowed me to grow and have known exactly what I have needed in any and every situation, than anybody else has or possibly could. I pray that God never takes His hand from you, Jordan, from your marriage and your aspirations, as I know that they are from Him. And I pray that God always grants me the grace of having you in my life. Something that I have never told you: I have learned a lot from your leadership style, and we had a super hard conversation freshmen year in which you called me out on a lot of things and although I did not like it at the time, I am so thankful that you told me the things that needed to be said. There is so much more I could say, Jordan, but I want to make this a reasonable length. I Love you forever.

People: Michael McSpadden

I'm a senior, my last quarter in college. There are a lot of people who have made a major impact in my life over the past four years and I want to make sure that I tell them how much I Love them. This space is for that, to tell people what I really think, how much I really Love them, while holding nothing back. I'm going to try and do two a day this quarter, making sure to get at least 100 people in. This begins where it need begin, with Michael McSpadden. Michael, You were really my first friend at UCSB. You taught me that it was ok who I am, that I needn't change to be loved. We got along so well, and even now I have a special type of warm feeling when I think of you and think of all of the times that we have had together. Everything from our theft of 'wet floor' signs, our getting in trouble for playing chess in class, our prompt 'dinner at 5', and of course the Brusutti plagiarism scandal, I loved it all. Here was this strange guy from a city named Paradise, and our friendship took off. You defended me and I defended you. I still regret not just abandoning it all and moving into your sister's old place with you after freshmen year. I still wish that we would have lived together every other year because despite whomever else might ever be my roommate, I will always introduce you as my roommate. You set the standard for what a roommate should be in my mind, and it is only fitting that we had the hangout room for much of freshmen year, as people got a glimpse into what the relationship between you and I was like. You accepted me for all of my failures and idiosyncrasies, and I, you. No matter hoe much or how little we talk, and no matter what paths our lives take, I will always think of you as one of my closest friends. The simple fact of the matter is that I can tolerate being around you so much more than most and that I can forgive you much more easily than I can anybody else. Every time I think of you or see you I just get a huge smile on my face because you bring me so much joy. You are going to be famous one day for sure as you are so ambitious and auspicious and I know that you are destined for greatness. I truly hope that someday soon we will be able to live in the same room again, waking up to the sight of each other. You are silly, and busy, and hard to get a hold of at times, and I Love you so much for who you are, faults and all. You have made such an impact in my life, and I will not forget it. I pray that God continues to bless your endeavors, based if on nothing else, then on how much you have blessed me, and that you give Him a chance. Something I've never told you: I was very insecure coming into college, and pretty down on myself. Having a roommate that so readily accepted me was huge in helping me come out of my shell and have a healthy social life. Well, Michael there is so much more that I could say about you, but just know that I Love you, that I always will, and that you mean so much more to me than almost all other people.

7 Days of Baking: Day 4-Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes

I've been inconsistent. I apologize. '7 days of baking' has turned into a quarter's worth. Thus, thank you for your patience, reader. This entry is on cinnamon roll cupcakes. I've has the pleasure of making these a couple of times now. Cinnamon rolls are fairly tedious to make, what with the rolling, the rising, rinsing, and repeating. However, they are delicious. Because of this, I have taken to making cinnamon roll-flavored items, like cake, cupcakes, etc. These are those cupcakes, and they are as good as they sound. The recipe can be found over at bakingdom. This recipe is in several parts: the cinnamon swirl, the batter, the coffee icing, and the cream cheese frosting. Because of this, I have always left out the coffee icing. I'm not a huge fan of coffee flavored things, although the taste has been growing on me, so I have always left it out. The rest of the recipe is absolutely amazing though and topped with cream cheese frosting, which is divine, these are wonderful. The nice thing about these cupcakes is they do not have to turn out perfectly to be delicious; my batter was super thick and I nearly ran out low on the cinnamon swirl because I doubled the recipe. These turn out great no matter what though and people love the taste of cinnamon rolls. The cinnamon swirl is delicious and I could literally eat it out of the bowl until I get fat forever. Again, I've never tried this recipe with the coffee icing, so I cannot comment on that, but I really do not have any qualms with this recipe otherwise. I give it literally 5 out of 5 cupcakes.