KELLY'S BLOG

ECUADOR 09!

2009-06-21T21:31:00.001-07:00

Tonight I'm leaving to go on a short term missions trip to Ecuador with the high school group from Calvary Church. Please pray for us as we have a few days of travel ahead of us to get down the Oncelet River and through the jungle to our final destination of Borbon. A few other prayer requests:

Safety
Health
Team Unity

And most importantly that our team can show everyone we come into contact the love of Christ Jesus!!!! Thanks, and I'll see you when I get back!

Summer Time

2009-04-10T15:01:00.000-07:00

I can smell summer...can't you?

Huntington Pier

2009-03-31T20:46:00.000-07:00

Today my friend Alex and I drove all around Orange County taking pictures of major O.C. landmarks to show his friends back in England. We ran into some of the most interesting people. But it's hard to complain, considering it was one of the most beautiful days we've had in awhile (this is why I love where I live). I'll post more pics later.

Our entertainment today @ the Huntington Pier...what song do you think he's listening to? Alex votes Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" while I think it has to be the HSM Soundtrack. What do you think???

Yess.

2009-03-25T01:24:00.000-07:00

Almighty God.

Thank you for allowing an awesome 5th/6th Pastor to speak directly to the hearts of High School students.
Thank you for those students whose lives change drastically because Chris called them out.
Thank you for breaking their hearts, and encouraging them to step out in their faith.
Thank you for being a forgiving Lord who never forgets us.

Amen.

Redemption

2009-03-05T13:14:00.000-08:00

So after all my problems with my computer, Apple sent in my computer and discovered that it was completely broken. Yesterday I got a completely new computer in the mail. What a humbling experience. After all my complaining Apple went above and beyond to fix the problem, and therefore are redeemed in my eyes. Thank you Apple Inc!

Apple Store

2009-02-25T22:01:00.000-08:00

My computer is broken and therefore I have been spending a lot of time at the Apple Store. This frustrates me in many ways...

1. When I have a problem with my computer, and go to the Apple store, I am, for some reason, turned away every one of my first visits. This has happened THREE times. Gosh, just help me already!

2. When you go to the Genius Bar no one tells you that the "geniuses" technically cannot help you with certain things due to possible lawsuits. Genius bar, do you really think I'll sue you for putting in a different hard drive than the one that was in my computer, when I was the one who asked you to help me in the first place???? Which leads me to...

3. Why doesn't Apple provide internal hard drives with larger storage space? And...

4. If the "geniuses" at the Genius Bar were the ones who told me to "oh, just buy a new internal hard drive" for $100 dollars, then how did they FORGET to tell me that if I put in a different internal hard drive than the one that my computer comes with that the Apple store could not help me?! Ever. Thanks genius.

(The person helping me at the Genius Bar also told me where to buy the new internal hard drive online, and I trusted him enough to buy it online from one of the computers in the store with him standing next to me. ASSHOLE.)

5. FACT. The "genuises" at the Genius Bar are awkward and sometimes too harsh when explaining "simple" technology to idiots. Would the idiot they were referring to be me?

6. Am I the only person who didn't know you could go to the Apple store and be given a free lesson on how to use your computer?

7. The "geniuses" at the Genius Bar need to communicate more with each other and really start actually helping people.

I have an appointment tomorrow @ the South Coast Apple store. Let's hope I get lucky tomorrow and find a true Genuis.

What would you do....

2009-02-18T11:35:00.000-08:00

IF YOU WON $165,000????

Last night I went to the Lakers game and saw the most amazing thing. At half time the Mirage in Las Vegas sponsors a half court shoot out for money. Every time I've gone to the game the person who is chosen misses the basket BY FAR. When a person misses the basket the Mirage adds $5,000 to the overall pot.

WELLL....last night this young male student from USC who was chosen MADE THE HALF COURT SHOT!!! His one shot made him $165,000 in 30 seconds! I've never seen the Staples Center more crazy! Everyone was on their feet clapping and cheering in disbelief, including the Lakers, and the guy couldn't do anything. He just stood there, expressionless, motionless. He was definitely in shock, I mean, I would be too if I won $165,000!

So it got me thinking, what would I do with $165,000???

GIVE IT ALL AWAY of course! (My Dad would never let this happen but let me dream!)

Giving is always on my heart. I wish I was a millionairess so I could just give away all my money and just help everyone. It's something I definitely struggle with all the time, even more so right now because I dont even have a job. Witholding what I know the Lord has blessed me with is something that is so hard for me, even if I dont have anything. I feel guilty either way. If I could teach and not get paid for it, but just help students reach their academic potential, I would. If I could babysit for families and not get paid, I would. If I could coach volleyball and invest in the lives of these girls and have them appreciate my coaching, I would. If I could tutor all students and make them feel more comfortable about school and actually for once feel good about themselves, I totally would. If I could just live my life and not need one more thing just so that my friends and families could get what they want or need, I would.

So how would I allocate my winnings if I made that half court shot?? Let's see, after taxes you could probable get about $100,000 from the whole deal. I would give back to all the places that made me who I am today:

$10,000 --> Calvary Church general fund
$10,000 --> Calvary Church emergency needs fund
$10,000 --> Voyagers Bible Church general fund
$10,000 --> Voyagers Bible Church building fund
$10,000 --> Hume Lake Christian Camps
$10,000 --> School of Education at LMU
$5,000 --> CCS
$5,000 --> Foothill HS
$15,000 --> To my Mom (ALL will go to Acres of Love)
$15,000 --> To my Dad (Mom might convince him to give to ACRES too)

What would you do with all that money????

23.

2009-02-04T23:42:00.000-08:00

Today was Alyssa and my 23rd birthday! We went to Disneyland because you get in FREE on your birthday...I love anything free. Jessica Hogg and Lindsay Guard came with us, as well as the two cute little twin boys Alyssa nannys. I hadn't been to Disneyland in so long, and it was so different going with small children, but I had a blast! The weather was perfect, in the mid 80's with a light breeze, and the park was barely crowded. It was the PERFECT day to go if you ask me.

After Disneyland we had a family dinner at Roma di Italia in Old Town Tustin, and then Alyssa and I went to EDL at Calvary since we are both on staff. I dont know if it was just because I was having a great day, but EDL tonight was awesome. I am so glad that I went even though I was tired from my long day. When we got home we opened presents and had the most delicious apple pie ever! (Thank you Erin!).

Alyssa and I thank all of you who called/texted/emailed/facebooked us to wish us a happy birthday. You are very appreciated!

Two Points for Honesty

2009-01-30T01:22:00.000-08:00

Tonight I read a good friend's blog and was so touched by her writing that I actually cried. How did this happen? Honestly. I feel like what she was saying identified with so much of the Christian walk, especially with something I am dealing with right now. I was so encouraged by the passion that just radiated through her words. Ugh. Katelyn Sherman is my hero. Thank YOU.

Volleyball: Game 2

2009-01-23T15:38:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, we had our second volleyball game. We played Covenant Christian School in Orange and we dominated. At first our team struggled a bit, but we came back to win both games. I just love these girls and how they push through anything and everything. I keep praying the season continues to go as well as it is right now.

Lord, please protect these girls. Give them the strength to push through difficult times, and to seek their strength from you. Thank you for every single one of the girls on this team. Bless them tremendously.

PRIDE

2009-01-19T21:13:00.000-08:00

Am I prideful?
Is pride a weakness that I struggle with?
Does pride affect the things that I do (or don't do, for that matter)?
How does pride blind me from reality?
Can pride prevent me from listening to, then hearing what God wants for my life?
If I am prideful, can I be humble as well?

Volleyball: Game 1

2009-01-16T17:14:00.000-08:00

I just have to take a moment and brag a little bit.

Alyssa and I are coaching the Junior High JV volleyball team at Calvary. We have been practicing for two weeks now, and today was our FIRST GAME! We played Bethany Christian School and we WON. It was our first game and we actually won! I'm so excited for our team and each girl on it. The girls really came together today and did so well. I'm so proud of them!!!!

All I have to say is that the Lord is so good. This past week I have been really nervous about actual games, and the Lord really put it on my heart to just give my worries to Him. Now that our first game is over I know that I didn't need to be worrying because God is in control. Whether we win or lose I know that is what the Lord intended. I love that it took thirteen Junior High girls to teach me such a small lesson.

Stay tuned to see how the rest of our season goes...

Jessica and Steve's New Year's Eve Wedding

2009-01-02T22:29:00.000-08:00

On New Year's Eve one of my best friends got married to one of the most amazing guys I know. I am so happy for Jessica and Steve, and I feel so blessed to have been able to be a part of their special day. The wedding was officiated by Matt Doan at Calvary Church, and the reception was held in the Reigel's backyard. The whole night was so beautiful and a whole lot of fun. The night was a true celebration to the end. They left today for Hawaii for their honeymoon, so be praying for their safety!

Here are a few snapshots of the night. The last four are from the Foto Cabina (which is always a lot of fun). Enjoy!

The Beautiful Bride

The Bride and Bridesmaids at a park in Yorba Linda

The Bridesmaids at the Santa Ana Train Station

The Reigel's Backyard. Steve and his Dad built the dance floor over the pool. (Too bad it cracked in the middle of the night when all the high schoolers where jumping to the song "Shout".)

My seester and I.

Nathan, Jocey, and I

Some of my small group girls at the reception.

I love these Foto Cabina pictures!

With the Bride and Groom.

Jocey.

Eric.

Alyssa.

My Parents. Aren't they cute?

Christmas Break?....Break from what?

2009-01-01T19:44:00.000-08:00

This was my first official Christmas without being in school and, to be completely honest, it was kind of weird. I feel like "Christmas Break" is more exciting when IN school, rather than out of school...obviously. I really just cant wait to get a teaching job, and I don't think I have ever been more excited for school to start next fall.

Although, I did have fun over the holidays. Check it out..........

FAMILY CHRISTMAS

"WEAR HIGHSCHOOL" CHRISTMAS PARTY AT THE PETTITS

THE HARTS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY

The great thing about working with high schoolers is...

2009-01-01T18:57:00.000-08:00

1. You get invited to their AWESOME birthday parties.

Sarah and Chantelle's SUPER HERO Skate Party

Micah's Scavenger Hunt Birthday

(I made Micah this sign for her birthday)

2. They have GREAT parents.

Recently our small group and their moms threw an amazing wedding shower for Jessica.

Some parents even "got down" at Jessica and Steve's wedding.

3. You NEVER know what to expect.

I have to admit, Jessica and I are so blessed to have such an amazing group of girls in our Life Group. We love them so much!!!!

Josh's Ghetto Gangster Birthday Party

2008-11-24T22:09:00.000-08:00

Jessica&Steve

2008-11-24T21:54:00.000-08:00

One of my best friends Jessica is getting married on New Years Eve and I am so excited for her. Jessica and her fiance, Steve, are perfect for each other, and I feel so blessed to be a part of their special day.

Here are the girls @ one of Jessica's wedding showers.

And here we are @ Jessica's lingerie shower.

Thanks Meg and Allison for hosting such an awesome shower!

Limerick, Ireland

2008-11-19T11:49:00.001-08:00

After my wonderful stay in Capernwray I flew from Manchester, England to Shannon, Ireland to visit my good friend, old roomate, and sorority sister Laura Gutto over in Limerick, Ireland. Laura and I lived in the same apartment senior year with one of my best friends Malia Prietto, and we seriously had the greatest time. Between hanging out with "our boys", late night Harry Potter movies, our favorite game "web", sorority date nights, senior activities and LMU, we just couldn't get enough of each other and its been really hard not to see her since graduation. I was so happy to see Laura and her boyfriend Steve. It was a good time to catch up with good friends, and make new memories. I am so proud of Laura and her ability to move so far away from home, excel in graduate school in another country, and remain happy about life all the while. Unfortunately my trip was cut short due to circumstances at home, but I was so thrilled to be able to see Laura nonetheless. It just means I get to go back again sometime soon.

Capernwray, England

2008-11-09T09:10:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my previous blog, when my escapades in London came to an end, I ended up in northern U.K. at a place called Capernwray. I guess I shouldn't say I ended up there as much as I had planned to go their in the first place, but my intentions were to visit a good friend who is working at Capernwray Hall as an R.A. to students going to Bible School there. It was good to see Alex amidst his busy schedule (probably the most hectic time for me to visit him), encourage him in any way, take a break from travelling, and make new friends along the way.

The first full day I was at Capernwray Hall, the students were participating in an all day prayer day. It was the first prayer day they had all year, so it wasn't just new to me. I, of course, took advantage of the quiet and slept in (and boy did I enjoy it). As I went running that morning I could see students all over the castle and surrounding acres sitting in solitude praying and reading their Bibles. It was such an encouragement for me to see God moving and to actually be able to feel his presence. Since my travels have begun I have not been able to go to church or even take a second to reflect on what God is doing in my life at the moment. In a month's time I have slowly fallen away from a daily ritual that I thrive on, and I didnt realize how much it kept me from even thinking about the Lord and what he is working on in me. I took a break from my run and began to think about where I was and how God revealed himself so much over my trip when I didn't even think about it. He provided the opportunity for me to travel to Europe, He provided trains when I needed them, He provided places to stay when I needed them, He provided beautiful weather, He provided money when I lacked it, He provided safety from people and transportation, and He provided the friendships of others when I felt alone. I hadn't given God the credit for any of these things, and yet he deserves it. It's sad to think it took me so long to realize it.

Later that night there was a chapel where students encouraged each other, took communion together, and reflected on what the Lord was doing in their lives. If there were words to describe what happened in that room that night I would say intense, broken, and moving. It really made me think of my small group of girls at home and just how much I miss them. It also made me miss being home. But it was awesome to experience the work God was doing on the students at Capernwray. On a lighter note, after chapel there was a big group of students who got together and we all played volleyball. It was so much fun. There were so many ranges of players, and it was just funny to see all the students interact with one another on a competitive (for some) and noncompetitive (for others) level. After volleyball I was able to hang out with some of the girls and I seriously laughed my butt off. They were so funny and I really enjoyed their senses of humor, and how kind they were to include me in their after-hours fun.

The next day was cleaning day or something, where all the students had to do their "duties". I tried to help but none of the girls in my hall would let me, therefore I took a walk. It was so beautiful and so nice to finally have alone time to myself, soooo I took advantage of it. After lunch, Alex and I took another walk around the loop with two other students and then it started to rain, but atleast it wasnt as bad as when Jess and I were in the Kensington Gardens. Seriously, thank God for that. For dinner we ordered pizza (I wish I enjoyed the food as much as I did the people there) and hung out in the Common Room. After dinner a bunch of us took a late night walk around the loop and just enjoyed each other's company. It was definitely a good end to my stay there.

So as I'm in Ireland, I really miss Alex and all the friends I made at Capernwray. As much as I wish I could stay there and just finish the year there with them, I know God has a different plan for my life, and wants me in Orange County....at least for now.

London, England

2008-11-06T08:46:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that London is somewhere I've wanted to go for a really long time. Ever since my sister studied there I've been dying to go, and now I finally had the chance. Thankfully we were staying with two girls Jessica met while in Costa Rica, and they were such a blessing to us. It was great to stay with old friends and meet new ones. Ruje and Menai were lovely hosts, and we are truly indebted to them.

Jessica and I got to London on Halloween night and it was quite a sight. Having forgotten about my least favorite holiday (if you can even call it that), I was quickly reminded about it by all the people getting on the tube dressed in different costumes. My favorite was the guy who was dressed in all white bandages with fake blood all over himself, who ended up sitting next to Jessica. She looked at him and was like "Are you alright there?" which he quickly and confidently replied "Yeah. I'm fine", almost sincerely forgetting what he was dressed in. Being a nurse I'm sure her instincts kicked in-that's definitely something I love about her.

On Saturday we were able to sleep in until 9am then decided to slowly introduce ourselves to the city. Since we had about 5 days in London we wanted to have time to relax and really enjoy our stay there. It was raining (why didn't anyone tell me how much it rained in London?) so we decided to go to the Kensington Gardens and Palace. The funny thing about the Kensington Gardens is that THEY ARE OUTSIDE! I think you know where I'm going with this. We were definitely outside in the rain, enjoying the gardens of course, but very wet. We then decided to take the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk from the gardens to her Memorial Fountain, walked a really long way, ended up getting lost, and proceeded to get even more wet. We decided we had enough with the rain so we went to Harrod's and got lost there instead. AND it is very important to note that Harrod's is not like a department store in the states; oh no, it's like ten times bigger and ten times better and ten times more expensive. I'm glad we went but I could live without it. At least until my next trip to London. That night we went to dinner at this nice restaurant called Langley's close to Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square and it was definitely one of the best meals we had on the trip. Interestingly enough, it was a restaurant/club/bar, so very noisy but very delicious.

On Sunday we woke up and Ruje took Jess and I to this cute pub/restaurant where we were able to get a traditional Sunday English roast. When Jessica and I ordered our beef and chicken roasts, respectively, we had no idea how much scrumptious food they would cram onto our plates. I was definitely not prepared for this Thanksgiving size meal. Jessica finished her meal, but I just couldn't. I kept telling myself to "just eat it", but then I was thinking and I only allow myself to eat that much food on two days a year: Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. It was neither, so I didnt feel so bad. After that it was dark so Jessica and I went to the London Eye, and walked around the Parliament building and Big Ben. All the lights made London so gorgeous at night! We then walked along the Jubilee Walk and towards Shakespeare's Globe and the Tate Modern, something I had been looking forward to seeing since Malia told me about it. After that, we called it a night.

On Monday we got an early start to get our tickets to the Tower of London, and the play "Rain Man" starring Josh Hartnett and Adam Godley. Our morning and early afternoon were dedicated to the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and London Bridge. The Tower of London was huge and included some very fun sights, such as the royal crown jewels, diamonds, and armor from back in the day. We also got to play with these fighting simulators, which was really fun but too hard for Jessica and I. It was definitely a good laugh though. My favorite part in the afternoon though was when we were walking away from the London Bridge and I made Jessica stop so we could listen to the song "London Bridge" by Fergie. It was fun to stop and sing/dance in the middle of London; when else could we do that together!? Although I'm sure the other people at the bus stop weren't too impressed. Oh well. After that Jess and I did the Rick Steve's Westminster Abbey walk. We started in Trafalgar Square and ended up at the Abbey. It was a nice walk and we got to go to the National Portrait Museum, see a man rescue a bird trapped in the metal spicks at the National Museum (don't worry, the bird was okay), and see the House of Parliament and Big Ben during the day. Our fun filled day ended with seeing the play "Rain Man" and boy were we excited! It's not everyday you get to see Josh Hartnett in a play in London (with his shirt off). We were debating between "Wicked" and this play, but we are so glad we chose "Rain Man", considering we both have seen "Wicked" multiple times. Josh Hartnett was an excellent Charlie Babbitt, but Adam Godley stood out as Raymond Babbitt. They brought out the best in each other and I honestly recommend you seeing the play if you're ever in London. Just do it.

Tuesday was our "last day to do everything" day, as well as Election Day in the U.S. On the bus an older gentleman turned around and asked us if we were Americans. When we told him we were indeed Americans, he replied "Well I hope he wins". We were like "Yeah we do too". We, of course, were referring to McCain, where as I'm 100% sure he was referring to Obama. (I Just don't know why they love him so much over there.) Oh well, Obama won anyways. In the morning we hurried to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guards to only learn that they weren't changing the guards that day. Unfortunately we didnt get to see such a fun event but we did see this other parade including horses and guards and such. I'm sure it was just as important. After that we continued onto Harrod's to do a little last minute shopping. I'm still completely amazed by that place. Then we headed to Notting Hill to find this cupcake place Ruje recommended to us called The Hummingbird Place. It was raining (go figure) and the cupcake place ended up being closed (it just wasn't our day) but the good news was that Jessica found some boots. We then went back to Menai's to eat a meal she cooked for us and watch the election updates on BBC. That night we went out for drinks where we toasted to our amazing trip, good friends, and to Jessica's wedding. It was a great end to Jessica's trip.

On Wednesday Jessica left early to catch her plane. I went back to the Tate Modern to spend more time and ended up losing track of time and almost missing my train to Manchester. Honestly it was totally a God thing that I made it. I finally made it to Capernwray just around "Tea" time or what I like to call dinnertime. It was so good to see Alex Kenney and catch up, and then meet all of his students and friends there. Everyone is so nice, and Capernwray is such a blessing. After dinner, I went to Alex's futbol game and it was quite interesting, considering I was the only spectator (can you say awkward?). The most random thing happened that night too: when I was meeting all the students I ran into this kid Matt Joanou, who grew up at Voyagers and went to Woodbridge. How random is that? It was good to see him and talk about home, but it was just so random; God just continues to amaze me.

Downside of my U.K. trip: didn't make it to Bath or the Stourhead Gardens (where Pride and Prejudice was filmed), and I didnt see/meet Kiera Knightley. Oh well, another time I suppose.

On Saturday I leave for Limerick, Ireland to see my good friend and college roomate, Laura. I can't wait to see her and finally visit Ireland. Yet again, I'll be flying RyanAir so be praying for my safety and the rest of my trip. I appreciate all of you who have been reading my blog and keeping up with my journey across Europe. Know I'm thinking about all of you and praying for you as well!

Salzburg, Austria

2008-10-31T10:16:00.001-07:00

Okay, okay. I have to confess. The main reason we decided to go to Salzburg wasn't for the Mozart balls or to see Mozart's birthplace, it was to................go on the SOUND OF MUSIC TOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES. The moment we got to Salzburg we dropped off our things at Yoho International Hostel and headed over to the Sound of Music Tour Bus. The tour was 4 hours long and consisted of seeing key sites where the Sound of Music was filmed. We first visited the house and lake where the children and Maria fall into the lake. The next site we got to see was the gazebo where they shot the song ''I am sixteen going on seventeen...''. We also visited the church where Maria and the Barron got married and the front of the house where Maria sings the confidence song. We also got to see the Abbey where Maria Von Trapp actually lived. There was definitely a lot of singing, and there was even apple strudel!

The next day we went to the salt mines. It was magnificent and so much fun. We got to go underground and go down HUGE slides. Just wait until you see the pictures. Salzburg was just so much fun!

Tonight we leave for London. Pray for our safety as we fly on RyanAir!

Vienna, Austria

2008-10-31T09:57:00.000-07:00

Luckily on the train from Prague to Vienna we met some American girls who were studying in Florence but on fall break and actually staying at the same hostel as us in Vienna. It made it so much easier/safer finding our way to Wombat's with 5 girls late at night. Thankfully we made it with the crappy directions we had.

I didn't know what to expect from Vienna, or Austria for that matter. I had heard about the Opera houses, and Mozart, and the great chocolates, but did you know that Arnold Schwarzenegger is from Austria?! Who woulda thunk it! That was definitely one thing that I learned while in Vienna. Crazy, considering he is OUR Governor!

Vienna had a lot of great sites to see. There was obviously the great Opera house, then there was the Hofsburg Palace, the Mozart statue, the Momument of War and Fascism, St. Stephen's Cathedral, and of course the English movie theatre!!!!!! Yes, I'm disappointed to report that on our first night in Vienna we saw a late viewing of Eagle Eye in English. We were just in need of some normalcy when we found the English Theatre and we couldn't resist. But dont worry the next day we more than made up for our American-ness.

We saw all the sights I mentioned above, and even made time to see a ballet in the Opera House? Yes, it sounds strange. Unfortunately there was not an opera playing the night we were there so we went to the ballet instead. Since I had heard so many good things about the Opera houses in Vienna, half the fun was just seeing the beautiful inside, and BOY, was it gorgeous! We got cheap balcony seats and only stayed for 2/3rds of the show but we were tired and were leaving early the next morning for Salzburg. Overall the trip to the ballet in the opera house was well worth it.

Fun fact: we tried Mozart balls (a famous chocolate delicacy in Austria) sitting in front of the Mozart statue.

Prague, Czech Republic

2008-10-31T09:14:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who prayed for us! Your prayers have truly helped us indeed.

Prague is one of those cities that people rant and rave about but that you truly dont understand how special it is until you experience it's magnificence. Unfortuantely it was very cold and overcast during our stay in Prague but I loved it nonetheless.

We stayed at this quaint little hostel called Miss Sophie's that was delightful. It was recommended to us by my parents missionary friends in Prague, the Olsens. The rooms were clean and spacious, and the bathroom was AMAZING. I'm talking about a quality shower, sink, and toilet (not very prevalent in Europe). The staff was so kind and helpful and we definitely took advantage of the FREE internet. (Nothing is ever free in Europe, not even the public restrooms.) The hostel location was perfect walking distance into Wescelas Square and to the Old Town, which we definitely enjoyed.

When we got back to our room on our first night in Prague we walked into our room and found a ''Twilight'' book and a purse from Target on one of the beds. We immediately knew that we would be joined by fellow Americans, and boy were we thrilled. Ironically, we've barely met any Americans throughout our travels, mostly Australians or Canadians, so we were pretty excited. Later on we met our roomates and let me just say how much of a blessing they were to us! They were Jen, Jess and Dan, three American college students from Minnesota studying in Salzburg, Vienna but on fall break and traveling all over. It was so nice chatting with them and getting to know them. Since we were heading to Vienna and Salzburg they gave us many helpful tips and ideas on what to do to maximize our time in Austria, and the girls even gave us their October bus passes so we could use them in Salzburg!

On our second day in Prague we woke up early and did some much needed laundry and I was able to send some souvenirs back home to the U.S. After our errands we took a FREE walking tour of Prague in the afternoon and were able to visit the largest castle in the world there! Yeah, it was pretty amazing. The 264 steps getting up to the castle were also amazing, to say the least.

We did some shopping in Prague because everything was a lot cheaper there than in other parts of Europe, but Jessica and I made sure to reevaluate everything we wanted to get. We have quickly begun to see that our budgets are dwindling much faster than we had anticipated, or even hoped. Our latest excuse has been: ''I guess we won't be getting any Christmas presents...''. We laugh it off, but we know it's more serious Mom and Dad.

Prague was definitely a success. Now we are looking forward to what Austria will bring.

Berlin, Germany

2008-10-25T10:02:00.000-07:00

Berlin is such a neat city. It has so much history and is well worth the time spent there. Other than Jessica and I having the worst night of our lives EVER last night, Berlin sure than ever made up for itself today during our FREE walking tour of the city and the California Burrito place (Chipotle-esqe) that we found and are going to for dinner tonight. Let's just say I'm ready for something California.

Tomorrow we head to Prague, which will be an exciting journey. Please pray for us!

Frankfurt, Germany

2008-10-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

Don't ever go to Frankfurt. Let's just say we walked out of the main train station to bums with a dog leash in one hand and an alcoholic beverage or cigarette in the other, walked a minute to our hostel, which was conveniently located right above LIVE NUDES and next to a SEX SHOP, and checked in. Needless to say it wasn't our type of city and ended up leaving the next day.

The only mediocre thing that we did was an overpriced bus tour with an old white couple, an Indian couple, and two women in their early 30's. We fit right in. Oh, and our roomates were cool, but that's about it.

Amsterdam, THE Netherlands

2008-10-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

Going to Amsterdam I really didnt know what to expect. I saw it as a town for people who were not like me, but slowly realized it was a town for just about everyone.

Upon arrival to Amsterdam we checked into our hotel, the quaint Quentin Hotel near the happening and convenient Leidensplein. We loved our hotel and arguably had one of the best rooms in the place, looking out over one of the many canals there, but were disappointed in the hotel staff. They were certainly not friendly and not very helpful, but we managed to avoid them as much as possible.

The first night in Amsterdam we went to this great restaurant called Wok the Walk, which was some awesome Chinese food. We were warned early on in our trip that Dutch food was not very good, but that Amsterdam had many good ethnic restaurants to choose from. After dinner, we decided to go on Randy Roy´s Red Light Tour, which we discovered in a magazine we got from our hotel. We met our tour guide Kimberly in front of the Victoria Hotel and then ventured our into one of the darkest parts of Amsterdam (except for the red lights) with the most random group of people. Although I admit I was quite nervous to go on the tour it ended up being very informative and eye-opening. Amsterdam is so rich in history, and just plain ole rich. But I have to admit there were awkward moments, especially when walking by women standing in windows half naked. Honestly it was just so sad. I am glad I went on the tour because it was verz interesting.

After the tour Patti, Jessica, and I strolled around Dam Square where there was this huge carnival going on. Dam Square was definitely hoppin. The rides were sick, and the food was delicious. Jessica and I were eyeing the chocolate covered Belgium waffles and decided to split one. Man oh man was it delicious!

The next day Patti went off on her own to see Rembrandt`s house while Jessica and I went on a free 4 hour walking tour with the New Amsterdam tours. Our group was a younger crowd and our tour guide Neil was awesome. Think Ryan Gosling meets Ryan Reynolds. The tour took us all over Amsterdam starting in the Red Light District and ending next to Anne Frank`s house. The tour was completely interesting and Jessica and I loved every second of it.

That night we went to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner and it was just what we needed. After dinner we dropped Patti off at the train station and Jessica and I went to this improv show at Boom Chicago in Leidensplein Square called Bye Bye Bush. Our tour guide Neil told us about it and gave us discount cards. We were warned in the beginning that it was neither Republican or Democrat, more on the Independent side. Nevertheless we went. It was kind of awkward in the beginning, but was certainly entertaining and funny as the show went on. We even saw our tour guide Neil there.

After Bye Bye Bush, Jessica and I went to the carnival in Dam Square again to possibly go on a ride a two. When we got there we decided not to go on the swings and chose a really fast swinging twirling ride instead.
Big mistake. Dont get me wrong, it was fun, but it began to rain when we got on the ride and since no one was in line they let us go on forever. The poor kids across from us were about to puke, and luckily they didnt because I dont think I could have handled that. When the ride finally stopped and Jessica and I were getting out of our seats I slipped because of the rain. Luckily no one saw that, BUT people did see when I was walking down the ramp and literally slipped on my butt and slid down the entire ramp. I just sat there in the rain while Jessica laughed her butt off. We both felt sick after the ride so we left the carnival and walked back to our hotel in the rain.

At 5am the next morning Jess and I were woken up by a very loud noise coming from our hotel. Could it have been the fire alarm? YESSS! WE both got up and didnt know what to do. We stayed up until they turned it off but didnt get much sleep after that. It was such a nightmare.

Overall I really enjoyed Amsterdam. It definitely wasnt what I thought it was going to be. It was awesome. Now Jessica and I have a lot of crazy memories to think back on, probably not the same ones other people have from Amsterdam, but they will be memorable nonetheless.

Tomorrow we head to Germany.

Paris, France: Part II

2008-10-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

Today was a long day but fun filled indeed!

We woke up early this morning and visited the Louvre, a definite MUST SEE if you are ever in Paris. Since we bought a 2-day Museum Pass we were able to skip the long lines and get in right away (thank you Rick Steve). We went straight to Leonardo da Vincis the Mona Lisa, arguably one of the most famous paintings ever. It was there in the Denon section of the Louvre that Jessica proceeded to sneeze 26 times. There must have been something in the air because I dont think I have ever heard anyone sneeze that much. Or maybe it was because she was being pushed around by all those impatient Asian people, who knows. She probably ended up sneezing around 30 times today overall, if not more. What a freaking record!

After the Louvre we walked to the Notre Dame Cathedral which is one of my most favorite churches. I immediately fell in love with the Gothic architecture and the detail of the saints and gargoyles. There were so many people there it was almost overwhelming. We didnt end up going in but I think I would have enjoyed it immensely.

From Notre Dame we walked A VERY LONG WAY past the Tulleries Gardens to the Champs-Elysees and then the Arch de Triompe. Though the walk made us extremely exhausted, it was well worth it. The Arch was massive and in the middle of the cities most interesting traffic. Think the middle of the Orange Circle, but BIGGER.

Next, we walked to the Eiffel Tower. No one should ever go to Paris and not see its most famous sight. We ended up eating dinner close to the Eiffel Tower where I met up with my friend Kiersten Stevens from high school. She is studying in Paris and came to meet us for dinner, a scenic night cruise on the Seine River, and then crepes under the Eiffel Tower. The night cruise was delightful and it was so good to hang out with an old friend and reminisce about home/catch up on life. From there, we parted ways, but it was definitely one of my most favorite days in Paris ever.

Next on the itinerary: AMSTERDAM!

Paris, France: Part I

2008-10-19T13:18:00.000-07:00

Bonjour!

Paris has been quite interesting so far. It didnt take us only one train transfer to get to Paris like we thought, but FOUR train transfers! Then we couldnt find our hotel therefore I had to walk around for about an hour and a half with my 30 lb. backpack on. It was pure torture!

Yesterday when we FINALLY found our hotel we were pleasantly suprised and became very fond of the location...only a couple blocks from Starbucks. Needless to say, Jessica was thrilled!

Today was definitely better than our day of a mess yesterday. We visited the Orsay Museum in the morning and then rode a train to Versaille. In Versaille we visited the main Chateau and Marie Antoinettes house. We were able to view the beautiful gardens and were amazed at how beautiful Versaille is and probably was back in the day. It was a long day but well worth all the walking and sightseeing. I cant wait to show all of you my pictures!

Tomorrow will be fun packed as well. On the agenda: the Lourve, the Champs-Elysees, the Arc dè Triompe, and of course the Eiffel Tower.

Talk to you then!

Interlaken, Switzerland

2008-10-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Interlaken!

Yesterday we spent a whole day traveling from Florence to Interlaken. We left Florence for Milan, went from Milan to Brig, Switzerland, then Brig to Spiez, and finallz Spiez to Interlaken. With 3 destination transfers you can imagine how our day went. From having to pay for seat reservations to sprinting to train terminals to telling our life stories in front of 4 complete strangers for a tourist interview, then getting yelled at by border police and having to walk about a mile in the rain to Balmers carrying our luggage made the day exhausting to say the least.

We are staying at Balmers youth hostel and we were immediately impressed by the nice receptionist and pretty much free everything beside the room and internet. We definitely recommend Balmers if you ever come to Interlaken. After we settled into our small log cabin-ish room we headed out to dinner where I tried my first Thai meal ever and had my first Heineken on the trip. The dinner was completely and utterly scrumptious after such a long day.

Today we took a bus to train to a gondola to a train to walking to a gondola to finally reach the top on Mount Schilthorn. Mount Schilthorn is about 10,000 ft. high and had a gorgeous view of the Swiss Alps. After about an hour of taking pictures and standing in awe of Gods gift to the Swiss we eventually toured the inside of the lodge and watched a Touristarama on the making of James Bond 007 at that very mountain top. It was awesome. When we eventually got down the mountain we walked around the city of Interlaken and ate the most delicious meal. We ate a Swiss delicasse called Rösti, which is hashbrowns with an assortments of toppings. Jess had fried egg, bacon and cheese, whereas I had plain ole ham and cheese. We were hungry considering we had no time for lunch but it was well worth the wait.

Tomorrow we leave for Paris, France for four days. Lucky for us we only have one train transfer this time and then its a straight shot for the Eiffel Tower. Talk to you then!

Florence, Italy

2008-10-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

Ciao from Florence! Jessica, Patti, and I have been exploring the city for the past 36 hours. We hit the ground running, and all have blisters ALREADY! Jessica and Pattis are a little worse considering they have been here a week longer than I but we are all getting used to actual tennis shoes.

Yesterday I was Jessica and Pattis official (and free) tour guide. We were all over the place from the Piazza del Duomo to the Ponte Vecchio to the Pitti Palace. Lets just say they got a good overview of the city for our next day. For dinner we met up with my friend Nick from LMU who is studying abroad here through Gonzaga. It was a pleasant dinner and its always fun catching up across the world with good friends from home.

Today we visited the Uffizi gallery and the Academia, in which we saw the David, and numerous (NUMEROUS) other sculptures and paintings. I finally got my own picture of the David, even though you are not allowed to take pictures of him. I wasnt even that sneaky, and I didnt even get caught! I would have to say it was well worth the second trip to see him. Forlunch we ate at the Oil Shoppe which is one of my favorite sandwich places in Florence. Im pretty sure Jessica and Patti enjoyed it just as much as I did. Then we visited the Piazza San Lorenzo for some shopping in the outside markets. After that we trekked to the Santa Maria Novella perfumaria to get my Mom some more lotion that I got for her when I studied here. Then it was back to our hostel for some relaxation and power naps.

Overall the day was a success, EXCEPT for when Patti realized she left her credit card in Venice therefore having to cancel it (which was an adventure in itself). OR maybe when Jessica spent £3 on a tiny shot of ice blended coffee which she was craving all week. Lets just say she couldnt even enjoy it, especially after Patti compared her to her mother.

We leave for Interlaken, Switzerland tomorrow. There will be more stories to come so keep reading!

DAY ZERO

2008-10-08T01:04:00.000-07:00

Friday night was the first Day Zero of the fall and it was so SICKKK! The Bolts kicked off the night with an awesome concert. Then there was dancing, playing, and hanging out. Also available was ping pong, Wii, Rock Band, Henna tattoos, free food and drinks, unbelievable giveaways and prizes, and an awesome photo booth to take pics in. The kids had a blast, I had a blast...did I mention the kids had a blast?! The night would not have been a success without the crazy volunteer staff and the insane students who kept the night alive. The next Day Zero is on November 7th, so tell everyone you know that's in high school to come because it is a night they don't want to miss!

Eurotrip

2008-10-08T00:47:00.000-07:00

Today I leave for Europe for 5 weeks. Yes, Europe. Yes, 5 weeks. I'm excited to say the least. The friend I'm traveling with left last week and is hitting up Rome and Venice before we meet up in Florence on Tuesday. From Italy we are traveling to about eight different countries. Our itinerary is as follows:

October 14-16th : Florence, Italy
October 16-18th : Interlaken, Switzerland
October 18-21th : Paris, France
October 21-23rd : Amsterdam, Netherlands
October 23-25th : Frankfurt, Germany
October 25-27th : Berlin, Germany
October 27-29th : Prague, Czech Republic
October 29-31st : Vienna, Austria
November 1-5th : London, England
November 5-8th : Manchester, England
November 8-13th : Limerick, Ireland
November 13-16th : Dublin, Ireland

Please be praying for our safety as we are traveling together.

That masseuse just kicked the crap out of me!

2008-09-09T15:39:00.000-07:00

I have had a free massage for The Massage Place in Venice for over two years. My roomate Laura used to work there as a receptionist and gave it to me for my 21st birthday. Since I no longer live in LA I figured I should probably use it so it doesn't go to waste. My friend Allison found it very appealing to get a massage so I decided to make an appointment for both of us to get a massage on the same day during the same time. You know, girl bonding time. First, when I called the receptionist to make the appointments she was very nice but asked me two things: what sensitivity we were comfortable with and if we preferred a man or woman to give the massage. I wanted to scream "WOMMMAAANNNNN" but didn't want to be THAT difficult customer. So, I preferred that I would rather be choosy about the sensitivity preference, and said medium range would be fine. When she repeated back to me the time and date for our appointments, she let me know that I would be working with Ann Marie and Allison would be with a masseuse named Kelly. Two women? YES!!! I was completely relieved!

When I woke up this morning I was a little nervous because I had never gotten a massage before, but I had been to The Massage Place to visit Laura so when I got there I was just kinda like "Okay, let's do this!".

Let's just say I did NOT know what I was getting myself into. The massage itself was not as awkward as I thought it would be but it did hurt a little. My massuese Ann Marie was really nice and made me feel comfortable but I'm not gonna lie, there were instances of pain. Ann Marie said I had a lot of knots in my neck and shoulders and asked me if I was "physically active". I was hoping she was referring to sports so I said yes I play tennis. She asked me if I was good. I lied and said yes. (One lie never killed anybody). She said the tennis probably caused all the tension in my shoulders and neck and then made her own decision to work those knots out. When I went to pay, she handed me a cup of water and said drink lots of water and fluids today (ironically about 3 other people told me to do the same thing-Is it just something you're supposed to do after you get a massage?). I took her advice and finally left. When outside of The Massage Place I looked at Allison and, being as honest as I could ever be, told her how that massuese just kicked the crap out of me. Fortunately, I was not alone.

On the drive back from Venice to Marina Del Rey Allison and I decided that if we were to get massages more frequently maybe we wouldn't be so sensitive or sore. It was then and there that we decided on our Christmas presents to each other.

Women of Faith

2008-09-07T00:30:00.000-07:00

If you have never heard of the Women of Faith Conference, you need to google it immediately! It was brought to my attention by my favorite new friend, Lindsay. She spear-headed getting a group of young women to attend the WOF Conference, and it turned out to be an amazing weekend. Just the company alone was fabulous.

The speakers included:
Stephen Arterburn
Patsy Clairmont (my fave!)
Natalie Grant (close 2nd)
Nicole Johnson
Marilyn Meberg
Nicole C. Mullen
Sandi Patty
Anita Renfroe
Luci Swindoll
Sheila Walsh

All these women brought something different to the table and I took away something unique from each message . It was also great to hang out with the amazing women I went with...we are definitely hanging out more and making WOF an annual tradition.

Another highlight of the conference for me was hearing Natalie Grant for the first time. Hands down she is one of the most talented singers I have ever heard before in my life! I am so thankful that God has given her such a special gift in which she uses for His glory and not her own. Here's a little taste of Natalie Grant...

Natalie Grant "In Better Hands"

Labor Day Weekend

2008-09-06T23:14:00.000-07:00

Things have been so hectic recently I haven't been able to blog about my labor day weekend! In so many words it was simply amazing because not only did I get to attend a wedding for my dear friend Kirstie Mitchell (now Kirstie Walker) but I also got to celebrate my Dad turning 52 in Newport and Oceanside! Let me just tell you, my weekend was not lacking...

On Friday night our family went down to my Grandpa's house on Lido Peninsula for dinner and a duffy ride around the Balboa bay. My Dad's two sisters joined us, so it was a real family affair.

On Saturday night I had the privilege to attend Kirstie Mitchell's wedding to Josiah Walker. The wedding and dessert reception was at Calvary Church in Santa Ana. To be honest it was probably one of the most fun weddings I have ever been to at Calvary. Kirstie looked absolutely gorgeous and the ceremony was beautiful! During the reception there was a lot of mingling and there was even a photo booth you could take pictures in so that Kirstie and Josiah could remember who came to their wedding. Can you guess which picture I gave them to keep?

For the first time: Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Walker!

On Sunday and Monday I was in Oceanside with my Dad for his 52nd birthday. We lounged around, tanned, swam in the water, threw around the frisbee, and played bocce ball. It's a tradition to not only celebrate my Dad's birthday over the Labor Day weekend, but also my Uncle Casey's and our neighbor Mike's birthdays (that are in September and October, respectively). It was all fun and games until Uncle Casey stuck his cigar in the cake. What a jokester!

I can't even count to that...

2008-09-03T14:07:00.000-07:00

When discussing how my Grandpa Bob was turning 80 this year my five year old cousin, Mateo, exclaims, "Woahh. I cant even count to that. Nope". In July we had about 60 people at our house in Tustin to honor my Grandpa and celebrate his birthday. It was a nice day, and it was fun to get the entire family together, as well as some of my Grandpa's closest friends. My cousin Katelin is a photographer and photographed the entire day. We just got the pictures back, and not only am I in awe of her amazing photography skills but also what a momentous time we had reflecting back on my Grandpa's life. He sure has been through a lot and I feel so blessed to have him in my life. He has taught us so many life lessons, and I'm so glad I can keep learning from him.

Here is some documentation of "Bob's 80th".

Grandpa Bob

Dad, Aunt Debbie, Gramps, Aunt Kim

The Granddaughters

The Grandkids and their Grandpa

All the Grandkids with Grandpa and Grandma

Grandpa and LaVerne

Jared and Ryan

Mateo

Playing tag with Mateo

Grandpa and Alyssa

She always has to look so much cuter than me

Cake...mmm.

Andrew and Marisa

Missing LMU Friends

2008-08-12T15:53:00.000-07:00

My friend/old roomate Laura came down to Orange County from San Jose to visit last Friday. I was so excited to see her because I hadn't seen her since Malia and I had moved out of our L.A. apartment. The reunion was complete when my friend Allison drove down from L.A. to go to dinner with us and then go out afterwards. It was so fun to all be back together and catch up on each other's crazy lives (cause, you know, a lot can happen in 3 months). Malia and I are staying in Orange County, or as long as we know we are, Allison is living in L.A., and Laura is moving to Limerick, Ireland on August 31st to do a master's program over there at the University of Limerick. Luckily, since Jessica and I are going to Europe for a little over the month in October/November, I'll be able to visit Laura in Ireland since I'll already be over that way. I'm already getting excited.

The picture from left is Malia, Allison, Laura and I at another Hot N' Swayze performance in a friend's backyard.

There's No Place Like Home

2008-08-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday the High School group returned from Hume Lake and let's just say it was the BEST homecoming EVER. Without going into too many details it was the most trying week for me, emotionally and spiritually, and I am so glad that it is over. Overall I learned that God has a plan in any circumstance and that I just need to give everything to Him, because I can't do anything on my own.

On a better note, while up at Hume I was able to hang out with my friend Jocey, who is working up at Hume this summer, and who recently signed on to work full-time up at Hume. Although I was so sad to hear that she wasn't going to be coming back to Tustin, I was more excited for her that she finally knows what she is going to be doing these next 3 years, and that God has opened these doors for her up at Hume. I have to admit I am somewhat jealous that (A) she has a job, and (B) she gets to work and live up at Hume Lake. We were even able to bike ride up to the house she'll be living in while working up at Hume.

I have to say that even though it was a tough week, the Lord truly blessed me with an amazing staff that was so encouraging and really lifted me up during a hard time. Jocey, Jessica, Alyssa, and Katelyn really encouraged me up at Hume while I struggled with my cabin. Mark Adair was also someone who really lifted me up when I wanted to go home and was in hysterics. I am completely grateful for these people who put a smile on my face when I was completely hopeless.

All I have to say is the LORD IS GOOD.

Here are some snapshots from the week.

My Cabin

My Small Group

High School Staff

My Best Friend, Jessica

My friend, Whitney, who is working up at Hume this summer

Together since Calvary: Alyssa, Jocey, Me, and Jess

My cabin on crazy spirit day!

My best friend, Jocey, who is working up at Hume indefinitely

My Cabin

Hume Lake

2008-07-19T22:45:00.000-07:00

Alyssa and I leave for Hume Lake Christian Camp tomorrow morning with Calvary Church. We are both going to be counselors, and are super stoked about our cabins!! Alyssa has senior girls, most of whom go to Calvary Chapel, and it is pretty much the same group of girls she had last year. I, on the other hand, have a different group of girls than I have normally. I still have junior girls, but only four girls from my small group, along with 7 other junior girls. Since Jessica and I co-lead a small group of fifteen girls, there's no way we can all be together, especially when almost all of them signed up to go to Hume (which is AWESOME!). Unfortunately that means splitting up our small group, but I know the Lord has placed the girls in the cabins they should be in, there is no doubt in mind mind about that. My prayer is that these girls grow closer to the Lord and continue to love him with all their hearts.

The theme this year is "Rise of the Kinematics". Kinematics is the study of motion without regard to its cause. The theme's goal is to give cause to Christian experience and action. Brent Eldridge is our speaking and he will be discussing the topics of God, Man, Christ, Justification, Discipleship, and Scripture. The overall goal is that students walk away from camp with an understanding of these foundational principles of the Christian faith. The root scripture for the summer will be 2 Timothy 4:1-5. Be praying that the students from Calvary Church will open their hearts, become broken, and be prepared for the Lord to work in their lives.

Also, please pray that God will give me strength to keep up with these high school students and the patience and diligence to really pour into them spiritually and emotionally. Things can get pretty crazy up at camp and I know it is only the Lord who can give me the silence to listen and the right advice to offer. I know the Lord is going to do amazing things this week up at Hume!

If you want to email Alyssa or I up at Hume just go to http://www.humelake.org/content/yc_emailcamper.php. We absolutely LOVE getting mail!

Cutest Kids in the World

2008-07-15T00:12:00.000-07:00

Tonight I babysat for five of the cutest kids in the world: brothers Jackson and Houston, and their cousins Max, Kate, and Avery. It was only my second time watching them and they are becoming two of my favorite families to sit for. Not only are the kids adorable, but they are so much fun as well. I have to give so much credit to their incredibly kind parents because their children are so well behaved and respectful. I always leave their house wanting to stay a little bit longer.

I brought my computer so that we could play around on the photo booth. It never fails-all the kids I babysit for just LOVE it! Here are some of the pics that crack me up.

Hot N' Swayze

2008-07-14T23:44:00.000-07:00

On Sunday night my friend Colin's band, Hot N' Swayze, played at my friend Forrest's house. The night was quite an event with Forrest's youngest sister, Brooke, turning 13 years old and the numerous high school reunions going on throughout the night. The ages of the attendees ranged from about seven years old to probably close to the mid 50's and it really generated a feeling of family. The band raged on throughout the night, which included one of the most epic dance parties since Alyssa and my birthday party at Oceanside in early February. It was a great night, and Hot N' Swayze rocked it.

Fourth of July

2008-07-12T02:21:00.000-07:00

So it's taken me awhile to post, but here I am nonetheless. I spent another Fourth of July in Oceanside and it definitely was worth it. My best friend from LMU, Allison, came down to Oceanside, as well as my old neighbor, Sean, who brought his girlfriend, sister, and good friend along. Alyssa also had some good friends from PLNU come up from San Diego, so it was a good group of people. In addition to our friends, our entire family was there, as well as the Journigan family. We had a lot of fun swimming, bike riding, playing paddle ball, throwing the football and frisbee, and of course tanning all day. Unfortunately the fog settled in when it got dark, which kept us from seeing any fireworks, and believe me my Mom was upset- it's her favorite part! Luckily my Dad is taking her to Disneyland so she can get her fireworks fix. What a great guy!

This is Allison, Mason, and I.

Alyssa and I (and somehow Mason crept in...)

Doing what I do best...

Hanging Out: Mason, Alyssa, Anthony, Trevor, Allison and I.

THE WHOLE GANG (you can really tell how foggy it got in this picture).

Countdown to the 4th

2008-07-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

One of my most favorite family traditions is going down to our beach house in Oceanside and spending the fourth of July with extended family and close friends. This year the tradition lives on with some new friends. I'm so excited to celebrate this momentous holiday with such great people!

Here are some pictures from past Fourth of July's....enjoy!

What High School Students Face Today...

2008-07-02T00:46:00.000-07:00

It really saddens me how soon High School students (or all students, for that matter) begin to experience things nowadays, whether it be the death of a close friend or family member, experimentation with drugs or alcohol, intimacy with the opposite sex, or even the incorporation of defamatory language in every day conversation. Kids today are growing up too soon, and who is to blame?

My mind immediately develops a theory that the media is solely responsible for all this ungodly behavior. There are so many movies, television shows, and songs that blatantly encourage underage drinking, sex before marriage, etc. The media glorifies beauty in ways which force girls to dislike themselves and seek approval and validation in other ways or defame women to the point that men begin to treat them like meat. Whatever happened to the shows I grew up with, like "Saved by the Bell" or "Full House", that had positive morals imbedded in each episode? (Positive for the most part, anyway.)

But then I begin to doubt the control the media has on its viewers, and I begin to think about the actual ROOT of all the temptations and expectations surrounding students today. What is the cause of this instant maturation of students? And how can we help students who struggle with this temptation?

Muir Family Reunion

2008-07-01T00:53:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting three years for this family reunion to roll around and it definitely rose above all of my expectations. My family and I recently got back from Fort Worth, Texas where about 60 of my extended family on my Dad's side traveled to be together and enjoyed some family bonding time. Between the live rodeo, country dancing, the water park, free happy hour at the hotel, and being with just a rad group people 24/7 you wouldn't want to go home either. But I guess all good things come to an end, and thus this family reunion did as well. Here's a few highlights from this week:

Some of the cousins in front of Billy Bob's

Ryan and Alyssa dancing at Embargo during Salsa Night. The 7 kids that went out that night were about the only white people at the bar. When the DJ gave the Muir Tour a shout out he just happened to play "Ice, Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice...what a sense of humor that DJ had!

The Burgess side of the Muir Family

Uncle David Muir and Ryan.

Grandpa Bob, who's still good looking at 80, with LaVerne and I.

Sarah Dudley, Emma Muir, and David Muir II at dinner.

Susan Dudley and I sitting next to each other at dinner.

Some of the girl cousins on the dance floor.

Jammin on the last night together.