I Like TV

I really like TV.

Grey's Anatomy
I Love Lucy
Jon and Kate + Eig8t
Amazing Race
Making the Band
Project Runway
Top Chef
E! True Hollywood Story

and that's just some of them...

Jon and Kate + Eig8t

If you've never seen this show...you should.

I randomly flipped onto it and LOVE it.

It's adorable. And really funny.

A crazy, fun family raising twin girls and sextuplets...yeah, they have eight kids.

My favorite line: Kate says, "I'm sure there are plenty of perfect parents out there...but we're not any of them."

Seriously...you should watch it.

Megan Hutchinson

I had a chance to meet and talk with Megan Hutchinson (and her husband Adam) this past week. She spoke at an APU chapel and then did a small forum for about 8 of us.

I had heard of Megan through PDYM and Simply Youth...LHGH too. But I had never heard her speak and share her life as a pastor, wife, mother.

There really isn't any other word to describe the experience other than amazing. She and Adam had incredible insights and so much wisdom. Not to mention the fact that they are madly in love with each other...which makes being around them so darling.

It was fun to see her excitement when she found out I was all PDYMed and that there were many people we both knew (Doug, Jana, Neely, Josh, Katie, Allison...).

All this to say...

she is fantastic!

4 days?

Yes,

I haven't posted in 4 days...

sorry.

New material...

this week!

Today...I am Happy

The fact that tonight I get to experience this...
have no plans set other than watching this...

and am going to have this for dinner...

make for a happy me.

Mush...

Yeah, I know, two mushy ministry posts in a row...

I promise the next will be either ridiculous or completely off the wall.

Promise!

Energetically Drained

The other day I read this on a friend's blog:

"I am drained from 4 brand new messages in less than a week, but at the same time I am energized from being able to live out my passions."

I really couldn't have said it better myself.

There have been times when I've felt physically, emotionally, spiritually drained...everything in me feels like I'm just about to fall apart. Usually this comes after a 12 hour day. Planning last minute details for a retreat, programming an overwhelming weekend, hitting 4-5 meetings in one day, dealing with conflict, etc.

There are other times when I have so much on my plate yet don't mind at all. I actually feel like , in the midst of my exhaustion, I could go on for hours and hours.

Because at the end of the day everything I do is for students, everything I do is for God, everything I do I love.

I LOVE that God allows me to live out my passions, my heart...

I really love...

students.

I had such an amazing time with my small group last week and can't wait for tonight.

Last night as I thought through things I wanted to share with them I figured out that half of them won't be in my small group next year...they're seniors.

I know...this happens every year, but these students are different (or at least the situation is).

They're the ones I started with, the ones that have walked me through youth ministry, the ones I learned with, made mistakes with, found my heart for students with.

It's amazing to think that the past 5 years have gone by SO fast.

I really love our students.

MILK on MLK Day

All my life, I've found milk to be disgusting.

When my mom made me drink it, I'd pinch my nose-hoping to not have to taste it. I'd guzzle it down and then brush my teeth right after. I thought it tasted gross and left a terrible after-taste in my mouth.

I was always jealous of my friends who loved milk. I thought it was so cool, the way they craved milk with a piece of cake, slice of pie, donut, freshly baked cookie...and I always opted for apple, orange, grape juice.

Just about a month ago I decided to have a cup of milk with a cupcake...

I liked the taste, the smell, it quenched my thirst...

Just last night I had my first actual milk craving. On my way home from picking up my mom I decided I wanted to stop by for a donut and have it with a glass of milk at home. I did.

I can't believe that after 24 years...I now like milk.

The Quote Wall...

After Broomball tonight...

"Dude, 24 is the new 16!"
-Henry Marquez

So, so sweet!

For Janette:

I've spent the last two evenings at Janette's house.

I love the fact I feel so "at home" at her house. I can just go in the fridge, snack, lay back, cuddle in her bed...and feel totally comfortable.

There's really no other place I'd rather be.

And no other person I'd rather spend my evenings with.

Love you Janette!

FUN FUN Day!

I decided that I'd dedicate today to friends...nothing but friends.

I got up bright and early (7:30am)...that's early, for my day off.

I had breakfast and played Scrabble with my friend Christian...got my butt kicked, but laughed a lot.

Then drove over to La Mirada to have lunch and visit with my new-mom-friend, Liz. I can't believe she's a mom! First one of our friends to get married and the first one to have a baby! And her daughter Faith, is even more adorable in person than in her pictures.

I drove back to South Gate and went to a basketball game with Edgar. We wanted to see Henry and cheer him on.

I'm still on a roll, I've got Fuse and a late dinner with Leo and German...

It's been a really great day.

Good Morning?

Yesterday I woke up and saw a streak (a small one) of blood on my sheets...

I looked over and saw a dot of blood on my duvet...

I got a little freaked out, but was late, so I gave myself no time to think of it.
I got in the shower and found the source of it all: a small cut on my elbow (there was even a little streak of blood right below the cut).

All day long I couldn't think of where that cut came from. When did I hit myself? On what? Why did it start bleeding at night?

When I got home yesterday, I went straight to my bed and crawled under the sheets.

The memory came rushing back...

I remember waking up in the middle of the night (to a loud BANG) and rubbing my elbow. I remember telling myself, "Wow, that freaking hurts!" and then going back to sleep. I had hit myself on the headboard.

I know I've had bad sleeping habits lately, but really...this might just be too much...even for me.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

Yesterday Evelyn turned 18...but continued to look 12.

Small group was back up and running so we celebrated it there...

Cupcake tree, chips, dip, apple juice and chicken salad...what more could you ask for?

Here are some pictures:

I really love her!

Her father posted about this too.

My Celebrity Crush

I have a crush on Dermot Mulroney.

I started to like him when I saw "My Best Friend's Wedding"...

and officially crushed when I saw "The Wedding Date".

His characters have said things like:
"I think I'd miss you even if I'd never met you"
"I'd rather fight with you than make love to anyone else"

And sung:
"The Way You Look Tonight"

Really...how could I not?

Check Him Out!

Howard blogged it up yesterday...

take a look!

A couple more "people shots"...

as requested by Howard:

My Weekend in Pictures

and the new issue of US Weekly...

It was good :)

Third time's a charm

On Friday evening a group of us went to see Juno, it was my third time seeing it since Christmas Day.

The first time I saw it tears welled up in my eyes...but no tears left my eyes.

The second time I saw it there were virtually no tears (which strangely surprised me).

The third time I full on cried. No sobbing, just tears streaming down my face.

So, it took three times...I really love Juno.

Dream a Little Dream for Me

I'm not a big fan of dreaming.

Don't get me wrong; I like to think of what is to come, see things for my future (in my mind/heart), grow in my faith...that's not the dreaming I'm talking about.

I mean the "you go to bed, close your eyes and expect a full night's rest, but instead you dream" dreams.

I've been dreaming non-stop for about 2 weeks.

What I find is:
-I only remember glimpses of the dream...not even a whole idea or main theme
-I dream tons in one night
-I am exhausted when I wake up
-I usually only remember the bad parts of the dreams

If I'm going to lack rest after a full night's sleep I'd at least like to:
-remember 70% of the dream
-have "good, happy" dreams
-have my dreams mean something

Is that too much to ask?

The Quote Wall...

for Evelyn and Edgar's birthday dinner at Lucille's last night.

"You almost freakin' killed me!"

"Yeah Damaris, tell me how I feel"

"All you girls are so jealous of Edgar's boobs"

'Member?...You 'member!

While Howard and I were IM-ing today his IM picture kept shuffling.

I IM-ed about them all as we were remembering all of the fun things we've done.

We saw a picture of Damaris and I and couldn't remember when it took place...then it hit me...on my 22nd birthday.

I remember what we've done for everyone's birthdays, for the past 5 years. And by everyone I mean 6 of us.

For my:
20th...nothing really

21st...surprise at Marie Calendar's with a bunch of random people

22nd...San Pedro and cake at my house

23rd...Blue Bayou

24th...Panda Inn and kayaking

I really love remembering fun times!

Juno This is So Great!

I stole this from Howard's blog...



I loved this movie!

Coff-Pee

I had an early breakfast at Baker's Square today.

It was so cold (at 7:15am) that I decided to have a cup of coffee...with one refill.

It's a little past 3 and I've already gone to pee 5 times today.

Does this only happen to me?

The Quote Wall

My friends and I are pretty ridiculous.

Weird things are always said, awkward things, funny things...things that, if taken out of context, seem strange and hilarious.

Things like THIS and THIS.

A while ago (while in line for some Disney ride) I mentioned that we should have a quote of the day (for whenever we hang out), Damaris said she and her roommates have a Quote Wall in their apartment and then I remembered having a Quote Wall in the bathroom at Biola...

None of us are roommates...so we don't actually share a common space to have a Quote Wall...

Earlier this week, Bibi suggested my blog be the Quote Wall...

Okay!

This will now be the Quote Wall...

Just so you know that anything ridiculous you might say around me, might be posted on the Internet.

The Internet: An Amazing Thing

The Internet is an amazing thing.

You know it...I know it.

You love it...I love it.

But have you ever made a friend or gotten to know someone so much that you feel like you talk to them everyday because of the Internet? (dating services don't count)

I have!

Her name is Allison Hibbard.

The story is HERE.

And here's the update:

We now both read each other's blogs and frequently comment.
The other day she commented, on one of my posts about TV on DVD, "we could be good friends".

Allison and I have probably been in each other's presence for less than an hour (if I were to add up the times we've seen each other at Saddleback), yet it feels like we could be friends...because of blogger.com.

The other day I was talking to my friend and it reminded me of one of Allison's posts...I was about to say, "Oh yeah, Allison said the same thing" when I realized that my friend had no clue who Allison was and that I had never "heard" Allison say anything...I read it.

Allison...if you're reading this:

I think it's really cool (and kind of scary) that we know each other...just through blogs.
And if I had to judge you based on your blog alone, I'd say "Yes, we could be friends...I wouldn't mind at all!"

Yup! The Internet...an amazing thing.

Why I Really Love My Friends

Because they say things like:

"I'm going to turn it on, but if your butt get's too hot, let me know"

A guy while wearing a woman's leather jacket, "Take a picture of me"
The jacket's owner, "You better make that your default picture on myspace!"

"Don't die tonight"

Overwhelming

This morning I came in to the church office feeling some pressure.
Not bad pressure...just some pressure.

I came in knowing I had a lot to do, as usual.

I came in with many thoughts in mind; for student ministry, children's ministry, adult ministry...

dates, events, small groups, volunteers, meetings, locations, budgets, weekends, messages...

By 1:20pm I had done a lot but was almost at the point of tears (yes, tearing up is a usual occurrence for me).

I have been at this job for about 2 years and have kind of forgotten what it feels like to work outside of this...but what I do remember is leaving my old jobs at peace, knowing I was done for the day, and not thinking twice about it...just leaving.

I now think about my work a lot of the time. Mostly because I love students, kids, people. I want the best for them. My mind, my heart is always working.

I feel this sense of urgency, I want to do all I can with what God has given me, but I still feel so insufficient. I feel like what I have to give is not really going to go a long way.

I really need to be totally dependant on God...

because I am SO not enough for all of this.

Again?

I absolutely LOVE re-runs.

I don't really care if I've already seen that episode 3 times...if I like the show, I'm most likely going to watch it over and over again...at least until the new episode comes out.

I love the fact that holidays mean marathons on TV.

America's Next Top Model
The Hills
I Love Lucy
Project Runway

I flip back and forth (between shows) during commercials.

Even though I know what's going to happen...I can't help but want to keep watching.
I especially love re-visiting the really good episodes. Where there was drama, a fight, a life changing moment, a first kiss...

I love saying, "oh, just wait...see what happens next"...even if I'm saying it to myself.

This why TV on DVD is God's gift to man...or maybe just me.

Productivity

A resolution for me in 2008 is to be intentionally productive.

I got to it...

On Tuesday morning:
- Began to wash all of my bedding (mattress cover, duvet cover, duvet, pillow shams, all sheets, blankets)
- Flipped my mattress...by myself
- Re-organized closet and dresser
- Set up my new TV with my DVD player
- Sorted through many of my CDs...new and old
- Re-organized and cleaned my bookshelves
- Cleaned and organized linen cupboard
- Framed pictures
- Cleaned out and organized my stationary

And on Wednesday night:
- Finished washing/drying all of my bedding
- Washed all of my drapes/curtains and re-hung them
- Dusted and vacuumed behind and under EVERYTHING in my room
- Cleaned and organized my cupboards
- Went through the rest of my CDs
- Organized all of my clothes
- Threw lots of things away

Here is the result:

Goodbye 2007...

Hello 2008...

My Future Home

While doing my Christmas shopping this year I made two very significant purchases (by significant I mean: "important to me and really no one else").

I bought this:

and this:

They are for the home I will one day live in...on my own.

True, this day is not coming soon.

But I think that these purchases are a step in that direction.

And yes, those are little Coca-Cola Salt and Pepper Shakers!

Please, no jealousy.