Brandon said "hell."

Tonight was interesting. It was very fun, but VERY interesting. Let's start from the top shall we...

Brandon, Dan and I did a little shopping before heading out to Fullerton, to take Ana to the airport (we'll talk more about that later). First we hit up Old Navy where we bought the huge bouncy balls from the quarter machine. We then decided to become a small gang called "the cut-offs" (because of our homeless looking gloves)and our offensive mechanism would be throwing the bouncy balls at people and having them magically come back to us like a boomerang. Anyways, back to the story. We walk to Target, do a little shopping there and realize that one our way to Target, we unknowingly passed a mute Target employee who was chained to the building (this really isn't true, but if it were...). We were too distracted by our childish gang to save her.
So we got over that quickly and then departed for Chipotle, where I had the chicken for the first time. It was delicious of course. I dont think Chipotle can do anything wrong. So from that conclusion we decided that the only food in heaven will be Chipotle and when you eat it, you never get full or fat. And the "chipotle guy" (If you have been to the one in fullerton, you should know who I am talking about. He has a beard, long hair, and is always working) would be Jesus. When handing you your food He would say, "Here, eat my good and faithful servant, in whom I am well pleased." We really love Chipotle, but Jesus always comes before Chipotle.
So now we get to the airport segment. Ana left for Florida tonight. It was very very sad considering she one of the only girls I am around and when she said her last goodbye, I was left with 3 guys, one of them being her husband. I knew that it would be chaos from then on, because Ana is pretty good at keeping everyone sane. So, like I said, we drove to LAX, gave multiple hugs and watched Ana disapear into the long security process. That is when it got a little more interesting and Paula Abdul entered the picture. That's right PAULA ABDUL (this lady)We got in the elevator, which was taken over by a very large luggage cart being pushed by a small, metro, Persian man. We pushed our way in and noticed that the woman standing with him was in fact, the great Paula Abdul. I mean the story doesn't get much more interesting. We didn't stalk her (that much) and we didn't try to take pictures with her. It was just a nice little spice to the night.
So we got in the car and drove to Santa Monica. Mitch has an office there, so he wanted to show us. We walked around on 3rd street promenade and saw a lot of homeless people. We did a little shopping and then decided to head back.
When arriving back in Fullerton, we made our way over to McClain's, a small coffee shop in downtown. It always has it's nice share of unique characters, so we all got some tea (except for Mitch and his $3.50 latte) and sat and talked. We then played a card game which was quite fun and talked about all the weirdos walking around. Then the guys started getting weird. First they all accused me of being racist (sort of) and then Brandon started saying "pissed" and "hell." I think it was the fact that we were in an old coffee shop that felt like an Irish pub. I realized that I didn't have a camera to document the night, so I made Brandon draw a picture. He then drew us all:Brandon has a mustache and Mitch has a parrot. Don't ask we why. Brandon may have been hallucinating.
So basically that is the overall outline of the night. It was quite interesting. And tomorrow I get to see my room mate!!! I am so excited, and I just cant hide it! I think this is the longest blog I have ever written and if you sat and read the whole thing, you get a prize. Your prize will be... a big kiss from this Santa!Alright, I am loosing it now. Time for some sleepy sleep. Good night to all!

Up and coming.

I think I am approaching a song-writing phase in my life. God is doing so much in my life and the last time I was able to write, I felt similar to this. 2008 is going to be a good year. I can feel it already. Stay tuned for lyrics and ideas. I could always use feedback from all of you, my brilliant friends!

Happy Day after Christmas!


Oh and stay tuned for lots of new pictures because I got my new camera!!!

Christmas Lights.

Last night I went on an adventure. This adventure included Christmas lights, Michelle's birthday, the search for dip n dots, stealing pens from starbucks, indianna jones, chipotle, and the swing and broom inside of the van. Let's just say it was pretty fun. At the end of the night we ended up at starbucks and decided to play telephone pictionary. Anna and Mitch had never played before so it was pretty exciting. Here are some of the results from the game:

Merry Christmas everyone!

I am home.

Its a Saturday night in the middle of the Christmas season, and I am sitting at home. Not that relaxing at home isnt nice, I guess I just figured that break would be a little more exciting. I had a garage sale this morning, and made some money. Dan and I went Christmas shopping. We found out that the coffee place is NOT called Chubby's (like it is known and loved), but in fact called Cuppy's (which we found innocently awkward). Dan told me about a classic Christmas movie, Santa's slay (Imagine Santa gone horribly, horribly wrong). And, I think that most of all, I miss Biola and Taryn's crazy faces and Johnny's dancing and David's constant questions and Angi always thinking that the mess is her fault and sitting in the office with Claudia and leading worship in chapel. But I know that this break will be a good one.

Side note and real reason for this entry, I have been feeling pretty stressed and anxious about who knows what. I really dont like it too much (can you imagine?) So I came across these passages which I really enjoyed:

"Hear my prayer O Lord,
And let my cry come to You.
Do not hide Your face from me
in the day that I call,
answer me speedily.
For my days are consumed like smoke,
And my bones are burned like a hearth.
My heart is stricken and withered like grass,
So that I forget to eat my bread."
Psalm 102:1-4

"Unless the Lord had been my help,
My soul would soon have settled in silence.
If I say, 'My foot slips,'
Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.
In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul."
Psalm 94:16-19

Idolatry and the backslider.

This passage has been in the back of my mind recently. God used it to speak to me when I was going through a very difficult time. Lately, I have been seeing those close to me walking away from faith and putting their trust in things other then God. It is because of this, that this passage is yet again ministering to me. I know that many people have friends and family in their life that are backsliding, so I pray that God uses it to speak to you as well. (I know it is long, but it is worth it)

1 The righteous perish,
and no one ponders it in his heart;
devout men are taken away,
and no one understands
that the righteous are taken away
to be spared from evil.

2 Those who walk uprightly
enter into peace;
they find rest as they lie in death.

3 "But you—come here, you sons of a sorceress,
you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!

4 Whom are you mocking?
At whom do you sneer
and stick out your tongue?
Are you not a brood of rebels,
the offspring of liars?

5 You burn with lust among the oaks
and under every spreading tree;
you sacrifice your children in the ravines
and under the overhanging crags.

6 The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion;
they, they are your lot.
Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings
and offered grain offerings.
In the light of these things, should I relent?

7 You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill;
there you went up to offer your sacrifices.

8 Behind your doors and your doorposts
you have put your pagan symbols.
Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed,
you climbed into it and opened it wide;
you made a pact with those whose beds you love,
and you looked on their nakedness.

9 You went to Molech with olive oil
and increased your perfumes.
You sent your ambassadors far away;
you descended to the grave itself!

10 You were wearied by all your ways,
but you would not say, 'It is hopeless.'
You found renewal of your strength,
and so you did not faint.

11 "Whom have you so dreaded and feared
that you have been false to me,
and have neither remembered me
nor pondered this in your hearts?
Is it not because I have long been silent
that you do not fear me?

12 I will expose your righteousness and your works,
and they will not benefit you.

13 When you cry out for help,
let your collection of idols save you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
a mere breath will blow them away.
But the man who makes me his refuge
will inherit the land
and possess my holy mountain."

14 And it will be said:
"Build up, build up, prepare the road!
Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people."

15 For this is what the high and lofty One says—
he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
"I live in a high and holy place,
but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.

16 I will not accuse forever,
nor will I always be angry,
for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me—
the breath of man that I have created.

17 I was enraged by his sinful greed;
I punished him, and hid my face in anger,
yet he kept on in his willful ways.

18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will guide him and restore comfort to him,

19 creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel.
Peace, peace, to those far and near,"
says the LORD. "And I will heal them."

20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea,
which cannot rest,
whose waves cast up mire and mud.

21 "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."

The glories of procrastination.

It's 1 o'clock in the morning and it feels like time isn't even existent. My night has consisted of hours of studying, a triple shot over ice (which is the first in a while), watching multiple you tube videos and a recent del taco run. Taryn, Sarah, and Lauryn are accompanying me on this crazy night and who knows if we will get any sleep at all. I am pretty sure that I have heard about the exploding whale over 10 times and I cant get enough of Taryn's Old Gregg impersonations. There is a gobstopper war. Now the worm is climbing the yule log! Oh, this night is out of control...

Christmas is coming.

So, today is the 9th of December (as already stated above); 16 days away from Christmas. I would have to agree with a good friend of mine when just yesterday he said, "This has been the best Christmas ever." It all began with a long night of pictures, hot cocoa and friends, was then followed by the Christmas tree lighting at Disneyland (where I renewed my pass!) and more festivities are added to the list daily. This evening, I was able to go home and when I opened the door I was greeted by the sweet smell of peppermint and evergreen. It made me even more excited about going home this Friday. Brandon, Dan, and Frankie went to go look at Christmas lights tonight, and honestly, I am pretty jealous of them. Anyways, I tell you all of this because I wish this was all that I had to care or think about. I want to be able to soak up the Christmas season for all its worth: hot cocoa every night, seeing Christmas light, visiting the snow, singing Christmas carols, sitting by a fire reading a good book with my kitty sitting close by, and what the heck, maybe even writing a song or two. Tomorrow begins finals week and I am really dreading it. But, it will soon be over and then I can enjoy the lights, cocoa and holly!

Oh and watch The Christmas Story over and over again.

Once.

So I just got ahold of a beautiful sound track that I actually heard about a while ago from a good friend. He told me that he thought I would enjoy it and, boy, was he right. It is the soundtrack for the independant film Once. The soundtrack is done by a guy by the name of Glen Hansard and a girl named Markéta Irglová. They are in the movie and the best part is that their roles in the movie are actually "guy" and "girl." I have yet to see the movie, but the music is incredible, so go take a listen. They have a Damien Rice, acoustic style with a lot of passion. It's good stuff.

Dry Bones.

I was sitting out on the patio at church this morning and came upon this passage in Ezekial which I thought was incredible.

1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.
2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.
3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."
4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!
5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.
6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.
8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' "
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
11 Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.'
12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.
13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.
14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.' "

A little bit of disney.

So those who know me well (or those who can read at the top of my page), know that I love Disneyland. It is honestly one of my favorite places to be, even if I am just by myself walking around. I find it relaxing. Anyways, my pass expired two weeks ago and Disney was ripped away from me just as quickly as it had come into my life. Now for those who do not know, Disneyland during the holidays is absolutely beautiful. Everything about it is great. So with that being said, I have this great friend. His name is Dan. Tonight, Dan and I (as well as Brandon, who could not come because of homework...boo) were invited by Mitch and Ana to attend the candle lighting at Disneyland which included a 200 person choir and the reading of the Christmas story out of Luke. Well I was very sad, because I could not attend this festive event due to the fact that I had no pass. This is where Dan came into the picture and saved the day. Long story short, Dan is a great friend and he loaned me the money to get a pass and used part of it as my Christmas gift. SO YEAH I HAVE A PASS AGAIN!

So the ceremony was absolutely beautiful, not to mention the park itself is magical. This is a picture of the castle in Paris. I couldn't find one for the castle here but just imagine this same lighting on a smaller castle.
Disneyland is so beautiful during the holidays and for anyone that has not gone, you need to go! And I will go with you because I have a pass again!