Special Delivery!

I got my very first issue from my US Weekly subscription yesterday!

It was a lovely surprise after an 11 1/2 hour work day.

Thanks Marlen and Don!

Concert = Free make-out session

I had lunch with my friend Jason this weekend (yes, same simudate guy).

Jason is moving back to La Mirada after spending the last year in San Diego, so he mentioned that some of his valuables got shuffled around in the move. He needed a charger for his iPhone and wanted to look around for a futon.

Because we finished lunch so quickly, we decided to go get him a charger down the street from the restaurant and hit Target up to look at their furniture (really...I just love Target and will find ANY excuse to go).

Jason insisted I drive because we were in "my hood"...I agreed, not too pleased with the idea. This was the second time Jason has ever been in my car. Once I turned the car on, my guilty pleasure played out loud...Michael Buble. I asked Jason if I should change it...boys tend to tell me it's cheezy (except for German). He LOVED it. My thoughts...he scores points...which still leaves his in the negative section.

Once we got to Target we shopped around and he got me this CD as a late birthday gift:

He said it was because of my love for the classics...nice.

After that, we talked more of Buble and how I'd LOVE to go to a concert of his, once he tours again in the States.

Disclaimer: If you know me well, you know that the following statement was purely comedic on my behalf.

I told Jason that I want to go see Buble SO badly that I'd make-out with the guy who actually took me.

He got the craziest look on his face and said, "So that's what it takes to kiss you?".

Just FYI, if I come home from a Buble concert...I may have put myself in an awkward position.

What is the craziest thing you'd do to go see a show you've been waiting for?

Side Note: No, I would never make-out with a guy for a free concert.

I got this yesterday...

SO good...

can't wait to see them at The Wiltern on Saturday night.

I have a pain in my shes and I can't breeve!

Today I had a pain right below the left side of my rib cage.

It felt like a small needle was stabbing me whenever I breathed in.

It reminded me of a George Lopez skit I LOVE.

I laughed...but it hurt.

Church

I've been thinking a lot lately...

specifically about the church...

not just my home church, but THE CHURCH in general.

Here is some food for thought:

Where is the line drawn between comfort and challenge?

Let me re-phrase that.

If you are in a church where you feel that major changes need to take place (and you've attempted to be a change agent) when do you decide that either a) you should stay and continue to BE the change vs. b) leave because of your lack of ability to actually follow in the direction that the church is going?

If you leave, are you just quitting or being obedient in not staying at a place where you don't feel peace.

If you stay, are you being faithful or courageous in standing up for what is right?

This brings me to a new, but connected, point. Should you choose a church where you feel comfortable, challenged or both? Where is the line drawn between all of those?

Just my thoughts on church...

Survey

I'd like for anyone and everyone who reads this blog to help me with a small, yet significant, survey.

Please answer the following question:

Do you think chivalry is dead?

also...

If so, who killed it? Women or men?

Thanks!
Can't wait to read what you think.

My Mother The Hulk

In my family, we all give each other nicknames.

They are random but make us laugh because we choose them from a particular incident or moment in time we all shared.

For example:
A while back my mom was washing dishes and as she picked up a plate it broke, in her hands, with little to no force placed on it.

She told us about it and my sister and I called her the Incredible Hulk, saying she is so strong that she doesn't even know her own strength (does that make sense?).

Yesterday and today, that theory was proven in real life.

My mom underwent surgery and she kicked MAJOR A**.

She's got pain and suffering but is taking it like a champ! I am so proud of her and love her too!

My mom IS the Incredible Hulk!

Thank You Notes Continued...

I got some more cool stuff after my last post:

-$25
-lunch at Applebee's

AND, I'm done with over half of my thank you notes :)

If you haven't gotten yours yet...wait for it!

Birthday Dinner

My family took me out to dinner on my birthday. We ALL went (Mom, Dad, Marlen, Don, Lillian, Alora, Jeremy and baby Don). We went to Peking Wok in Cerritos.

As usual, we had such a fun time!

As my parents and I walked into the restaurant and approached the table where Marlen, Don and the kids were seated I heard little voices screaming "Happy Birthday Jessica!". Hugs and kisses followed immediately.

Once I sat down I told my sister and Don, "I am so glad you had kids". They brighten everything up!

We ordered a little bit of everything and opened amazing presents while waiting for our food to arrive (my family knows me so well...the presents they got me proved it).

At the end of dinner it was cake time. The waitress told us that the restaurant provided a banana cake-type dessert for birthday party-type dinners. We said we'd take it in addition to the cake that my family had brought.

Note: at the beginning of dinner we noticed we were seated right below a disco ball...why a Chinese food restaurant would have a disco ball is a mystery to me. My question would be answered shortly thereafter.

As the waitress and two other waiters came out the lights came on...they turned on the lighting and spinning disco ball! Everyone sang Happy Birthday and we cut the cake. I couldn't get over the fact that there was a disco ball at my birthday dinner! By the way, the banana dessert was AMAZING!

After that, the kids and I did a little disco dancing under the cool lighting and opened up fortune cookies.

I've got pictures too...they will be posted soon!

Thank You Notes

Yesterday was my birthday.

I find myself in need of writing some thank you notes to all of the sweeties that gave me gifts and went out of their way to make my day so, so special.

Here's what I got:

- Kayaking
- Yahtzee
- Monopoly
- US weekly subscription
- $50
- Personalized mug
- Flowers
- Paper weight
- Purse
- Blouse
- Devotional
- 2 Dinners out to 2 different Chinese food restaurants
- Movie
- Special home-cooked meal
- 2 cakes

I wasn't expecting it all...but it made me feel so special!

New Music

I just bought this Cd compilation last week.

It's Chris Tomlin's "Not to Us" and "The Noise We Make" Cds.

I've been listening to the "Not to Us" Cd non-stop for the past 5 days.

I can't help but feel so inspired and encouraged to humble myself before God when listening to Chris' lyrics.

"the earth is shaking
the mountains shouting
it's all for YOU
the waves are crashing
the sun is raging
it's all for YOU"

"What a wonderful Maker
What a wonderful Savior
How majestic Your whispers
And how humble Your love
With a strength like no other
And the heart of a Father
How majestic Your whispers
What a wonderful God"

So sweet!

Traditions

My best friends and I have a tradition: we do something new and totally different (go to a new place, a different restaurant, somewhere most of us have never been before or something most of us have never done before) for each one of our birthdays.

I love this tradition because it's sacred.

We all plan ahead and make sure we are all there. We make it a HUGE priority to be together. We stopped giving each other gifts and now give each other each other's presence...it really is great!

Since Tuesday is my birthday we celebrated my 24th yesterday.

We went kayaking and then to dinner at Panda Inn...which I absolutely LOVE!

It was tons of fun...a little gross (the water), but so cool.

And we only had one man go overboard: Howard. Hearing Edgar scream, "Man overboard, man overboard" off in the distance will always be one of the funniest things I've ever heard.

Here are some pictures:

After dinner we all headed back home.

Damaris' tire popped...

a fun and exciting birthday celebration!

I Turn 24 Tomorrow

So I thought I'd list 24 things that I'd like to have (this list might not be realistic...but bear with me):

#1 Peace-about oh so many things in my life right now.
#2 Laptop
#3 Financial Stability
#4 A new Haircut
#5 Vacation
#6 iPod
#7 Concert tickets to aforementioned artists shows.
#8 A shopping spree
#9 Premium Pass to Disneyland
#10 Flat screen TV
#11 New Luggage
#12 Roxy Bedspread
#13 Rain resistant shoes
#14 Nicer car
#15 A better attitude
#16 Wisdom
#17 Patience
#18 New sneakers
#19 Moldable spirit
#20 Time
#21 My mom to be healthy
#22 Cell phone
#23 A meal at the Olive Garden
#24 A college degree

**Note: These are in no particular order...so please don't judge me based on my listing abilities.

What do YOU want?

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today's my dad's birthday!

We celebrated yesterday and had an amazing time! A party with about 50 of our friends and family.

I love you dad!

Happy 50th!

Another Reason Why September Rocks!

On a previous post I mentioned that September was great, not only because of my birthday, but because of really fun things happening in pop culture this month.

Well, here is one more of those cool things...David Crowder Band releases their new album "Remedy" on September 25th...my birthday!

They are also coming to The House of Blues at Downtown Disney this October...

so if you haven't figured out what to get me for my birthday, this broadens the options.