Advantages to Stormy weather

We don't get much stormy weather in Southern California so when it happens we get stupidly excited. Christmas night I was driving home late from the movies with Di & Matt  and it was 36 degrees outside - we were excited. Cold but excited. 

Then yesterday was one of the prettiest days I've ever seen (at my parents house). They live so close to the mountains but can rarely see them as clear as yesterday. 

I started to compare the stormy weather with my own life. It reminded me that when God allows stormy weather in our lives - it's dark for a while but it always gives way to a clearer view of all the beautiful things He's blessed us with. I'm looking forward to the view on the other side.

follow-up comments on last post

No that wasn't a typo on my last post (Mark). I was referring to my 24th birthday ten years ago. Sorry I wasn't very clear - my thoughts were still in process. Thanks to those who understood my insanity (Dawnielle) love you!

Another year older and none the wiser

My 24th birthday changed the way I look at birthdays all together. I get nastalgic and sentimental about all I've learned (or in this case unlearned) and how I've grown in the last year. It's made it hard to celebrate - especially when the year has been as hard as this one. However, God is teaching me even in the hard things to be content no matter the circumstances. But the testing of that lesson is taking it's toll.

My friends kids

I had such a great weekend with Amy and Bruce, Haylee, Alyssa, Drew and Amy's family. It's so great being a part of someone's life for so long that you get to watch their kids and family grow and change as well. I want to have kids of my own so desperately - but God's timing is perfect and so I wait. But what a joy it has been to be 

part of my friends kids lives - especially Haylee - your beautiful grown-up face brings me so much joy! Thanks Amy.

Idaho

I'm off to Idaho tomorrow to see Amy and the fam. It's been a pretty terrible week and I am desperate for a break - some place where I don't have to think about my life and what's going to happen next. Keep me in your prayers. I'll be back Monday.

Facebook killed the blogger in me

I've spent so much time on facebook lately I don't have the will to blog. I also have nothing interesting to say. . .

Kate cut my hair again today - it's even shorter. There's no stopping me now. Mark ran over my "forever in blue jeans" seatbelt bag - sad - poor little Jeanie - she's been at the Harvey's repair shop for 3 weeks - I get her back Friday. I'm going to Idaho a week from Friday to see Amy and the family - I'm excited for that. Things at Church are really bothering me - don't want to talk about it. That's all I got!

Round 2

I'm going back for round 2 tonight at Dodger stadium.

Go Dodgers!

Dodgers win! Dodgers win! Dodgers win!

The Dodgers won the west today and they haven't even played yet!

Oh Happy Day!

Giving in to the darkside

Until now I've refused to be part of the my space/facebook world for so many reasons. However, I gave in because I've got so many students and friends that I just can't keep up with anymore. Disclaimer- I have no idea what I'm doing so if I fail to respond to your comments it's because I simply don't know how. I'll catch on eventually I'm sure. So for those of you who are on facebook you can friend me but I'm not even sure what that means. (more thoughts on that later).

I just can't help myself

I took this picture a few weeks ago out my windshield - I know it's hard to tell from the picture but this couple was in their 80's at least. They had a full head of wild grey hair and lots o' wrinkles. What was so fascinating about them was that their bodies looked young - obviously - they were riding bikes and not on a trail - but out there in traffic. It was such a bazaar picture and it made me think - that's what my friends Derick and Rebecca are going to be like when they get old. (heeheehee - it's a compliment I swear).

Tuesday night at the Dodgers/Padres game at Petco - Tanya spotted this man a few rows ahead of us who was Garth from Wayne's World from the back - same hair - also the same hair as Will Farrell in Blades of Glory. Funny stuff I tell ya. Add to that - the man sitting one seat over from me was eating peanuts - but what was odd was that instead of peanut shells on the ground there were peanuts - was he eating the shells and tossing the peanuts? I couldn't figure it out and I could not stop giggling at him. I'm terrible I know - but people are so funny sometimes.

Most Embarrassing Moment #oh I've lost count

   As a freshman at Biola, in a student orientation group, we were asked to share our most embarrassing moment. Most people had trouble recalling an embarrassing moment. This was troubling to me because I had trouble deciding which of the thousands of moments was least incriminating.    Sad . . . I know and at the time I saw this as an insecurity and I have since embraced the ridiculousness and have learned to laugh at myself. It's just part of who I am and the journey to becoming all God wants me to be. 

 

Well I added yet another moment to my collection on Friday. I was driving to Yucaipa to camp with my family for a few days when I had to pee, so I stopped at the Coffeebean in Redlands that I love. I went to the bathroom and then decided to get an iced tea because it was 104 outside. As I stood in line to order a woman I had just passed in the hallway approached me. The look on her face spoke a thousand words and I began to panic. She whispered, "excuse me miss, but your skirt is tucked in your panties". OH MY GOODNESS, CAN I DIE NOW! You see somehow I had wondered out of the bathroom and down a hallway into the coffeebean and stood in line amongst several people, with my skirt tucked in my panties. Now we're not talking just the hem here - those people got a full shot of my pretty pink flowered undies. I told the woman, "You are my favorite person in the whole world" and I bolted out of there as quickly as possible. It's okay to laugh, like I said, I've learned to laugh at myself.

Happy Birthday Julia

Yesterday my wonderfully weird and equally beautiful niece Julia turned 9.

Happy Birthday Juju bean - you're crazy but also sweet and helpful and I adore you. I hope you had a super day - I love you and I'll see you on Saturday for your big partayyyyy!

Hawaii and I fried my iphone

My vacation in Hawaii was great - lots of lazy afternoons by the ocean and beautiful sunsets like this one. However it turned out to be a very quiet vacation because I fried my iphone the first day. sad. Note to iphone owners you can't charge an iphone on and ihome made for a nano. I know sounds obvious but not to me. It fried the hard drive and another note for iphone owners - there isn't an apple store on Maui. So I had to wait until I came home to get a refurb replacement - but I'm back now with an almost new "old" iphone. It turns out buying that apple care plan two days before I felt was a really good investment (thanks JG!). I'm back at work and what a crazy week it has been - I had to speak 4 times and with the olympics in high gear and baseball season at it's peak - I didn't get much sleep. 

I heart peaches & John Mayer

My dear friend Jen (peaches) and I saw John Mayer last night and it may have been the best live music I've ever heard. He has an amazing voice and rocks the guitar. He came out shirtless for an oncore and did Van Halen's Panama - I honestly think his guitar rifs were better than Eddie's - it was amazing and who doesn't like hair metal. It was so much fun to see Jen and catch up on life - Thanks and I love you Peaches!

June Lake with the Fam

I spent last week with my family in June Lake - we had a great time - fishing, playing games, going to the spa, hanging out on a pontoon boat, relaxing, and enjoying each other.
These are my crazy nieces - I just adore them! They are so silly - look what they did to poor Gidget - heeheehee.

Dodger Dogs and Fireworks!

It's been a sleepy week - not much to talk about.
Last weekend I went to the Dodger game with Dale, Julia, and Kallista and we had a great time. Even though they lost in extra innings - it's hard to find fault with Dodger dogs and a fireworks show set to 80's music. Thanks Dale and girls for a fun night.

This week I am headed to June Lake with the fam for a week of relaxing and fishing and being with those I love most!

Well it's been 10 years and a thousand tears . . .

So much has happened in the past few weeks - sorry for not posting. Well I'm in my new house and it's feeling more and more like home everyday. Unfortunately the screens on my windows don't exactly fit - there are 3/4 inch gap at the bottom - just enough room for June bugs to get in. If you know me - I HATE JUNE BUGS! I think I hate them more than bees but I'm not afraid of them. My senior girls graduated from Dana Hills (15 years to the day from my graduation from high school - freaky). I went to Jr. High camp about 3 days after I moved in - it was a great week. It was hard to be at Pondo as a youth leader and not staff - but I love that place and seeing my friends. I woke up the last day of camp with the flu and it was knarly! The flu led to an infection in my throat that made it almost swell shut - very scary - made me question the whole living alone thing. I've almost completely recovered from all of it and ready to enjoy summer living at the beach. Please come see me and my new house - it's lonely living without Tanya. This is quite possibly the most hideous light fixure I've ever seen 

- and it's in my bedroom : )

Hannah Marie

Friday was my niece Hannah's 11th birthday! It hardly seems possible that 11 years went by that fast. She's going to be in middle school next year - crazy! I love you Hannah - Happy Birthday.

Tom and Tanya's Big Day!

This last weekend was Tom and Tanya's wedding! Thanks Kristy for this trip down memory lane - I'm sure Tanya will love it. It was a beautiful wedding and so much fun to catch up with old friends. It was my last (mark my words) wedding as a bridesmaid! I was saving my 15th wedding for Tanya and now I am done. It has been an honor to be a bridesmaid in each and every wedding . . . but I am done - it's my turn now. (mark those words as well).

I found a place to live!!!

I got to see my friend Aaron on Saturday (and his adorable girls) and he told me that he and his wife Rachel had been praying for a house and that God would bless them beyond their imagination - of course He did! It was great to see him and hear about God working in his life. As I left I began to pray the same prayer and I felt a bit lame having not prayed that all along. Well - Tuesday night I was feeling just about as low as I could (sorry Mark - he had to endure my wows). Wednesday morning I got a phone call from our landlord's wife - she wanted to know if I had found a place yet and I told her I hadn't. She said they have another duplex rental in north beach that is coming up vacant in a few weeks and she offered it to me. It's cheaper than I was going to pay, it has a garage, washer/dryer and get this - it's half a block from the stairs to the beach. Oh my goodness - God is so good and has blessed me beyond my imagination. I haven't seen the inside - but our landlord promised to make it as nice as our place was when we moved in so I'm not worried. Yea! Thanks for your prayers. Mine is the back half of the duplex.

Stress

It's been a busy week and a half. Last week was crazy at work then Kristy, Gigi, and I threw Tanya a bridal shower on Saturday, then I put on a mothers day brunch at church on Sunday and throw in Mothers Day. Crazy. My body has been paying the price today - my stomach is all messed up. I suppose I'm internalizing the stress in my life and friendships and I should talk to someone about that but who has time. And life goes on.

Homeless in 45 days

Today begins the 45 day countdown to moving out and I don't even have a lead on where I'm going to live. I can't find someone to live with (or that I could live with) and I'm having a hard time finding a one bedroom that I can afford. I had a bit of a freak out yesterday - I think I was having a panic attack - not sure because I've never had one but I could not get my heart to beat at a normal rhythm all day. I hate moving and I hate being part of the black hole (ask me later).

New York

I know I've been home from New York for over a week and I'm just now posting. Sorry. It was such an amazing trip. We ate at some fabulous places, met some cool people, visited the Brooklyn Tabernacle and shopped the Buffalo Exchange, shopped in Soho & Greenwich village, visited Washington Square Park and NYU (saw Felicity's stomping ground) ate authentic Italian food in Little Italy, walked through Central Park, ate at Justin Timerlake's restaurant on the Upper Eastside, bought cheap knockoffs on Canal st., bought expensive jewelry at Tiffanys on Fifth Ave., got on the Today Show (Matt got kissed by Merideth Vieras), ate lunch in grand central station, went to the Bronx and watched the Yankees win in the final season at the house that Ruth built, saw Wicked at the Gershwin, spent too much at the Ed Hardy store (well Jenn did anyway), went to Ground Zero - cried at the museum, went to Battery Park saw the statue of Liberty, saw the Empire State building and bought souvenirs in the giant Macy's, rode the subway uptown and downtown a bunch of times, rode in a taxi (tried to find the CashCab but no luck), drank frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity just like John Cusack and Kate Beckensale, ate fabulous New York Pizza at Patsy's, had our flight cancelled and had to switch to United and make a 6am flight home. Honestly - what didn't we do. We had so much fun laughing, singing, dancing, talking and just being together. Memories to last a lifetime. Thanks girls for letting me tag along.

Yankees win! Yankees win! Yankees win!

Few words can express my joy - truly amazing experience!

NYC in 38 hours

We leave for NYC in a New York minute - heeheehee - or 38 hours - my girls did the math - I'm glad they are excited - it's going to be a really great trip. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment - lots to do before saturday morning. If you've been to New York recently or ever and you have a favorite place or something I have to do - I would love the input. I will be checking this all week so anytime. Thanks!

Bitter Sweet Opening Day

Today is the 50th anniversary season opening day for the Dodgers and I'm not there. SAD. VERY SAD. Dale couldn't go and I really didn't want to go without him. So I'm leaving work in a few minutes to go home and watch the game (I tivoed it). This is one of my favorite days of the whole year - I love baseball season and watching the Dodgers although after a retched spring training I'm not too optimistic. But miracles can happen - go Doyers! (that was for you Rynk).

PS - 5 days to NYC

God's Holiness

I know it's short notice and most of you will read this after the fact but if you think about it, pray for me tonight. I am speaking at our high school/college/young adult service on God's Holiness. It's actually been fun putting it together but I always get a bit nervous to speak at Core. The lights are in my eyes and I hate wireless mikes so using a handheld limits my expression. Anyway - thanks for the prayers I will let you know how it goes.
PS 9 days to NYC.

I heart New York

As some of you know I am taking my senior girls to New York over spring break to celebrate the 4 years we've spent together. Matt and Amy are coming too. We are super excited and counting down the days - 18 more to go. I am most excited about the Yankees game we're going to - I love baseball and what a priviledge to see a game at the stadium Ruth built in it's final season. (They are building a new stadium for the 2009 season).
Yipppeee! Happy Day!

Glam Rock On!

This weekend was High School winter retreat - which means I got to hang out at Pondo with my friends again. It was a really good weekend for our students. The highlight was a fun dress up night (which we usually do at winter retreat for fun). Matt and I decided to do an 80's glam theme - which our kids know nothing about - they weren't even born yet. But they did research and it was so much fun. The only sad part was that Matt had to take a kid to the hospital and missed the whole thing - but we took pictures : ) My girls spent the afternoon doing each other's hair and make-up (which was unifying for the group). They kept coming to me and asking if their hair was big enough (heeheehee - gotta love the 80's). Jordi and I went as Axl Rose and Slash from Guns and Roses. She looked amazing! So much fun! Sorry Matt - can't wait until the reunion party to see Bret Michaels.

Tanya's engaged!!!! Finally

Tom proposed to Tanya on Saturday night - he drug his feet a bit over the past month but he came through with an absolutely beautiful ring (aparently that was the reason for the feet dragging). Good job Tom on the ring and congrats. I approve of the ring and you. (as if you needed that).

Plan Progress and random thoughts . . .

I hit the 10 pound mark this morning - it's coming off slow but at least it's coming off.

Random thought: Any Trader Joe's shoppers out there? Are you one of the freaky environmentalist TJ shoppers that brings their own cloth bags? Well I made an observation this week while shopping there. In the parking lot I watched two different people - with cloth bags I might add - that plopped their shopping carts on an island instead of walking the extra 2o feet or so to put them in their place. They care about the environment but lack common courtesy? Then once inside - I observed several people pass up a slow older woman who obviously needed help reaching the salad dressing. One man shoved my cart aside so he could get the very yogurt that I was picking up - rude. This is puzzling to me - but then again it was the Trader Joe's at Ocean Ranch so I shouldn't be too shocked. Doesn't say much for place I choose to live.

I sound like a man!

Just about every year after jr. high camp I loose my voice. Usually it comes back in a few days. However, this year my case of laryngitis has hung on a bit longer. It's been a week since camp and my voice still sounds like a man. yuck! Speaking multiple times this week and leading games on wednesday probably wasn't the smartest idea. : (

my day at the park

I decided I needed a day alone with God after a tiring and draining weekend at camp. So I walked to Pines Park which is about a mile from my house and spent the afternoon reading my Bible, talking to God, listening to God, watching squirels play, and enjoying the amazing place in which I live. There's just something about seeing, hearing, smelling the ocean that is nessessary and healing. I began to think about how blessed I've been to live where I live for the past 2 years - where I am in walking distance from the ocean and how much I take that for granted. I know I won't live on Gomez forever in fact my time there is drawing to a close and that thought made my day at the park priceless. I watched a little boy and his father play in the waves - as each set came in the boy would run from the crashing waves but the father never let go of his son's hand. At one point, he had a hold of both hands and swung his little boy around and around just like I remember doing as a kid. It struck me how that picture related to my life and my fear of what's to come in the next year. I was blown away by this simple illustration of a child's need to hold on to the father's hand. Trusting God is so hard for me and that lesson was much needed. Thanks God for the lesson and for hanging out with me.

Jr. Highers and their moms

Mark took his group to Pondo this weekend also and it was really fun to hang out at camp again with Mark. As most of you know, my friend Mark and I met at jr. high summer camp (we were counselors) 15 years ago. So our friendship began as camp friends. We used to have a saying (and he won't remember this because like my brother - he remembers nothing) - we like jr. highers but not their moms. Too many close encounters with strange, overprotective, bazaar moms. But this weekend I have to say that a couple of jr. high moms came to my rescue. Never in all the years of doing ministry have I had so many logistical problems with transportation. First of all - transporting 28 people without church vans is difficult and add too it my fear of driving a 15 passenger van down the mountain (because of a windy drive from hell last year). But it's not just 28 people - it's all their winter "gear" nessessary and unnessessary. If it wasn't for those moms we would not have made it there or back - so thanks! (not that any of them read this). It was a good weekend but I missed Aaron and Brady terribly.

I got to snowboard on saturday with one of my jr. high girls - Carly (she's the one squinting in the picture). I had so much fun - she ripped it up - she's a good little snowboarder.

Sushi @ Mikan and JH camp this weekend!

I had sushi @ Mikan with the OPT (friends from my program team @ Pondo) on Monday night and it was sooooooo good. I really miss them and the dynamite roll. (we missed you Aaron). It was a beautiful day like I have never seen (especially through redlands). This weekend I'm headed to Pondo for JH camp - which should be fun (pray I don't rip all my hair out). I can't wait to be "home" and see some friends.

I'm lost

Last night Tanya and I watched the enhanced season finale of Lost from last spring and it was just as confusing as when I watched it in June. I'm actually LOST! I don't get the looking glass/rabbit's hole analogy or whatever - but I can't stop watching - curses on those writers. So the season priemere is on tonight and thank God Tom will be there to decifer the nonsense because for some crazy reason he gets this stuff. Thanks Tom!

I'm sore

Steven Shaw is the devil! (okay of course not really). Our workout with Steven on Tuesday has left Tanya and I completely wrecked. Stairs are my new enemy. The past few weeks have been frustrating - I am working out so hard and making so many sacrafices (have I mentioned I hate getting up early) and I've lost a pound and a half. I better be gaining some serious muscle! So I'm only at 7.5 pounds but my clothes fit better.

A life lost and gained

I've been riding a roller coaster of emotions this week. Yesterday I went to a funeral for a student I had at Temple City. It was super sad to say goodbye to a great 22 year-old kid who just couldn't stay clean. It never gets any easier as a youth pastor to loose kids. It made me feel helpless - like no matter what I do for them - it's not enough. It was nice however, to hear all the good things about Michael - the fun memories his friends and family have of him. It was also so great to see my old jr. high students grown up and for lack of a better word ALIVE!

Today - Mark and Anne had their 3rd baby! So I went from a death to birth in 24 hours - crazy. Her name is Maddy Jo and she's beautiful. Congrats Mark and Anne on yet another beautiful little girl (they have 3).
It's definately a choice everyday to say blessed be His name - even in the face of tragedy.

Moments of Joy, Silliness & Sentiment

Moments of Silliness and Sentiment . . .

I helped my friend Brady pack up his house yesterday . . . he's moving to Florida - which makes me sad - I hate losing friends to proximity. However, I am excited for him to start fresh in a new place and watch God use him in big ways. Sean and Slugger (Brady's nephews) and Daniel helped too. I came to this realization - when you're the only girl in group of silly boys it can be a bit frightening. I felt like I had been dropped on the island of The Lord of the Flies. I had a good time - mostly watching them be silly. They had fun scaring me out of my skin (thanks Tarko) and tricking me into saying things I didn't mean. I admired the ring on Brady's finger and he took it off and gave it too me (which by the way says so much about him). However, it's a wooden ring and it now has a crack in it. I'm wondering if the crack was there before or if it misses Brady and doesn't like taking up residence on my finger. hmmmmm . . .

Moments of Joy . . .

I weighed in this morning and I'm down 6 pounds in the first week (could have something to do with not eating dinner last night) but regardless my body likes the plan!

Back on "The Plan"

My back has been doing so well that I decided it was time to get back on "the plan" at the 1st of the year. However, last week was a bust and so Monday, January 7th (also my mom's b-day) was my first day. If you don't know what "the plan" is - it's a fitness plan that includes super healthy eating (very low calorie intake) and working out 5 days a week. I did it 2 years ago and lost 35 pounds and recked my back - not this time. I'm a bit ashamed to say that I gained back almost 25 of those pounds (mostly because of back) but again - not this time. This time I've talked Tanya into jumping on board so we can support one another and my friend Steven is training us on Tuesdays. I have high hopes - so feel free to encourage me!

My neverending list

I am definitely a particular person - I know what I like - but I am also adventurous and like to try new things (in case there are more things out there that I like).

and the list continues . . .

38. Bumble and Bumble products! My favorites are Defrizz and Curl Conscious (the luscious Latina hot mama one) - especially on days like today.
39. Sophie Kinsella Books (even the ones she writes as Madeline Wickham).
40. When it comes to worship - David Crowder, Charlie Hall, Derek Webb, Phil Wickham, and of coarse Jasen Ashdown.

41. Movies that redeem my hope is meaningless fun - Clueless, Napoleon Dynamite, Christmas Vacation, The Waitress, and my newest favorite Juno - I haven't laughed that hard in a long time (well not as much as the two older men in front of us - that was a bit creepy).

Okay that's all for now - but I'm sure it's not the end.

Accidental Omissions and things I forgot

I made a few omissions on my favorite things list. Some I just forgot and others I left out simply because I figured they were a given (my bad). So here is the ammendment to my list.

31. My best friends in the whole world . . . Kristy, Tanya, Jessica, Gigi, Amy, Mark & Anne.
32. CoffeeBean - how did I forget my bread and butter ( I am loving the winterdream tea latte)
33. The smell of silk - maybe that makes me weird but I love it!
34. BJ's pizookie and nutty brunette
35. Watching the Rose Parade in my pajamas - all day!
36. The color purple (not the movie - the actual color)
37. Seeing my Pondo friends - I got to spend the weekend with Samantha and Natalie Brinson - I adore these girls and we had so much fun with my nieces Hannah and Julia. I love you girls! Oh yeah and you too Brady and Debbie!
My apologies for leaving anyone off of this list or the last one - I still love you.