Fall (Love) Fall

It's just a few days until we hit November and I'm already craving the things of Fall and Winter! The weather just turned really cold...like teeth chattering cold! The winds are blowing like mad. But the good thing is that the cold makes me want to:
1. Snuggle up in bed for an extra hour after I wake up.
2. Turn on the heater and fall asleep to its hum.
3. Turn on the heater in my car and listen to it make weird cat-like noises.
4. Listen to Christmas music and watch Christmas movies.
5. Go to a Winter Formal.
6. Drink lots of coffee and tea! Preferably peppermint mocha coffee or peppermint tea.
7. Buy a really nice, fuzzy sweater or coat to wear.
8. Wish that the super winds bring super rain and snow.

So, yes, the cold really does bring awesome stuff with it! I drank a cup of tea and two cups of hot chocolate today...its affecting me! But I know that Fall means the beginning of the holidays and in a month I'll be stuffing my mouth with Thanksgiving foods. I love it! Thank you, God, for each season!
Have a blessed day :)

Alex does a really good job :)

Raking up the leaves, Sunny loves to help :)

The Death (and Revival) of Chivalry

You've probably heard the old adage: Chivalry is dead. Ever since I heard the phrase many years ago, I've examined the world around me (and myself as well) to see if that statement is true. And I've found that it is not true. While some people have killed chivalry with a knife and left its bloody pieces for all of us to see, many people still hold firm to a chivalrous state of mind. Now, I'm a firm believer that men should hold the door for women, boyfriends/husbands should help the woman to her seat, and (my personal favorite) order for the girl if she would like them to. I also think that all younger people should help the older folks cross the street, hold the door for them, and give them your seat if they do not have one. Chivalry is a BIG deal to me. It shows that you care enough to help someone and to go out of your way for someone. It bugs me so much when someone doesn't hold the door for me...and it’s not me just being "stuck-up". Once, I was carrying out some smoothies from a store...about three, which is too many for me to open the door. A teenage boy walked in and saw me approaching the door, but just let it close behind him without offering to help me with the drinks or open the door for me. Another lady who was walking held the door for me and I thanked her. I was livid, though...so livid, that I almost walked back in and lectured the boy! But I've also experienced chivalry. Guys often hold the door for me even when I was far behind the door. People have let me go in front of them in line when I only have 1 item. And it feels good to experience chivalry, while also participating in it. So always mind your p's and q's. Hold the door for someone and offer help if they need it. Don't stand around and help hack chivalry to death! Revive it back to life by giving it CPR (Caring Persons Requested)!

Have a blessed day!

Girls Trip to AZ :)

This past weekend, my mom, sister, and I drove down from California to Scottsdale, Arizona. My parents were invited by CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) to a partner retreat. They get invited every year, but AZ is close to us so we decided to jump in the car and go this year. We also went in 1999 to a Virginia Beach retreat. So my dad decided not to go at the last minute and my mom took Alex and me instead. The drive down was amazing! We had so much fun! It took us about 6 hours and we stopped maybe once or twice for food. We stayed at the Fairmont Resort! It was ammmaaaazzzzing! It was huge! Our room was in an area called the "Casitas", which means little house in Spanish. The next day, we slept in, and then got up to go to the seminars that CBN was hosting. We got to see Gordon Robertson and Terry Meeuwsen! God was really moving in that place. You could definitely feel His presence. We met new people and enjoyed the luxuries of the hotel :) (The food was delicious!) I can't wait for another partner retreat! We drove back to CA on Sunday. It took us longer to drive back because we stopped so many times! But we enjoyed out girls time together :) It was an amazing bonding experience with each other and with God!

Have a blessed day!

My mom, Alex, and I at dinner

Me in front of a nice tree

Our awesome casita

As Fall Gets Closer, I Reflect on Summer

Oh my goodness! Summer's almost over!!!! This calls for a "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" But I am truly looking forward to Fall and Winter…even though I will miss my summer break. As we approach the coming Autumn season, I look back on what a wonderful summer I had. I visited the beach more than once (and more than twice!). I spent wonderful amounts of time with my family and friends! I blogged up a storm about all my summer activities! New friends were made and I was reacquainted with family members. Birthdays were celebrated (mine, Alex's, and my mom’s). I finished several books that I was reading. I got my driver's license...for those of you who didn't know, I didn't have it before. Overall, it was an amazing summer :) When summer first started, I made a list of things that I wanted to do over the summer. Here's the list and a rundown of whether or not I completed everything on it.

1. My 20th birthday :) Yay, bye bye teenage years...
- Of course I turned 20! :)
2. Look for a new job, one that'll help me build up my journalism and writing experience
- I sent out apps and looked online, but for now I'm still at my old job. There's a job fair coming up soon, so I pray that that will introduce a new job to me.
3. My sister's birthday
- Yepiddy do! My sister turned 17! She's still my little sister, though :)
4. Lots of beach days & a wedding (not my own :D but its gonna be fun!)
- I went to the beach three times and they were each amazing! I wiped out really bad during one trip and I was so dazed, but it was awesome! The wedding was fun, too! It gave me a chance to reflect on true love and got me excited for my own special day!
5. Try new things...let's see what they are... hehe
- Let's see...some new things...driving (oh yeah!), making new dinner recipes, new dance moves, playing RockBand, seeing a play on Broadway (it was my second show, actually, but it was still amazing!)...these are just a few ;)
6. My mom's birthday
- Yep, my mom has a summer birthday, too! We saw a scary movie on her birthday (of all things!), but it was so much fun!
7. Being a great friend to my friends and family, near and far...you know who you are! :)
- And yes, I believe that I was a great friend to all whom I love! I met new friends around the country. I was glad to have spread the love! And I'll continue doing so :)

Now, I'm going to have to make a "to-do" list for Fall! Wow, how time flies! Enjoy the end of summer my friends and look forward to Fall. God has new things in store for us!

Have a blessed day!

Here are some pics taken over the summer...Enjoy! :)

Alex and I at Six Flags on her birthday (you can tell which ride were about to get on!)

Alex and I on my birthday

Mommy and I at the beach

Alex, mommy, and I in front of the Pantages Theater for Legally Blonde: The Musical

Legally Blonde!

A couple years ago, I caught an MTV showing of Legally Blonde: The Musical. "How weird!” I thought. "How can they turn Legally Blonde into a play?" Well, I really enjoyed it! I watched it twice :) I haven't seen it on tv since, but I did watch the reality show in which a group of girls auditioned for the new lead. After watching the show, I was excited to see it on Broadway! So I looked it up online to see if it was going to come to California. This was August 2008. The show wouldn't come to CA until August 2009!!! "How long!" But I kept tabs on the show and my mom bought tickets for my birthday! Finally, the big day came.

I didn't know which actress was going to play Elle, the blonde-pink loving-Harvard attendee, so I was in suspense until the show started. I wanted to see Laura Bell Bundy in the lead because I had seen her on tv. But a new girl had been cast. Her name is Becky Gulsvig. And alas! She was wonderful. My mom said that she even held a resemblance to Reese Witherspoon. The entire play was amaaaaaazzzzzing! I knew several of the songs already so I hummed along :) Now, as many of you know, my favorite color is pink. So it was great to have so much pink in one place! The script was funny and witty. The set was colorful and the lighting couldn't have been better! I was in 7th heaven the entire time. I think that I had a grin on my face from start to finish. I didn't want the play to finish! It eventually did...but my Legally Blonde experience wasn't over yet! (Thank goodness!) As my mom, sister, and I walked back to our car, we passed the stage exit door. And...just as we were walking out (even after the crowd had left), out walk the stars of the show! They began signing autographs and taking pictures with the few that had gathered at the door. I got my picture taken with a beautiful girl who was in the Greek Chorus. I also took a picture with one of the buffed up :) actors in the show. It was amazing! It completed my Legally Blonde experience!

Thank you, Mommy, for attending the show with me! And thanks to Alex, who had just as much fun as I did, even with all of the pink decor!

Have a blessed day!

Alex and I in front of the LB sign

Me, Alex, and Mommy at the Pantages

Sleep

I wanted to write a new blog post, but I had no idea what to write about. So I asked my sister who is lying on the floor as I type this. She is tired, so the first topic that came to her mind was "sleep". Sleep is nice! Especially as a college student, I realized that studying hard makes me sleepy. I can't wait to dream at night! My sister has always been more of a sleeper than me. I just recently started taking naps :) But sleep also reminds of resting in the Lord. It is a time to reflect and renew. No wonder we like it so much! So go on and take a nap! Get some rest! You know you'll love it!

Have a blessed day!

Alex preparing for a nap :)

Being in a Pit...and Getting Out

The other day, I was getting ready to wind down for the night...you know, just shower and watch some tv before I went to bed. As I was getting into my pjs, a scripture popped into my head -courtesy of the Lord :)-. It was Psalm 40. I didn't know it by heart, so I looked it up in my Bible. I know that it was definitely God who had put that scripture into my heart because I had been dealing with some difficult stuff that week. I was just tired and drained. This is the scripture:

Psalm 40:1-3
"I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth-Praise to out God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord".

All I could say was, "Wow! Thank you Lord!" Even when I feel lonely, God will place a simple thought into my head and change my whole perspective. He listens when we cry out to Him. He will establish our steps and put a song in our mouths. The pit can be deep, but getting out isn't hard when you have God on your side.

Have a blessed day :)