Summer lovin' had me a blast Summer lovin', happened so fast

Had an amazing weekend with my best friend. She had called me up a few weeks ago and we were chatting and she said, "Hey, you should come up for a weekend!!" So I talked with Aaron about when/budget would work, and ended up going this past weekend. Took Friday off work, rode a 7:30AM train (ick!) up to Grover Beach where my friend picked me up with another friend I hadn't seen in....oh gosh, I think we said 5-6 years?? Something like that. Probably has been longer. I've known both of these girls for over....oh gosh, 10 years. No...my best friend since I was 6/7 (we went to AWANA together, no idea how we actually met. We think it was through dance-class, back in the day), and my other friend....well....we were in dance together since I was like....3? 4? Around there. So seeing both of them and getting to hang out with them was amazing. I miss them a lot, and being in that area. Though I have realized I've adapted to LA, and am now in love with big cities. Ah well.

The weather was gorgeous too!! Played in the ocean, wandered around the shops, went to see Harry Potter6 again with her. Oh, and yesterday she showed me a cute chick-flick called Sydney White. Retelling of Snow White or something like that. It was cute. Hehe. Overall, this weekend was an amazing time and a grand success!! Must do that more often! And the train isn't all that bad, as long as you have someone picking you up and all that.

Sad to see the weekend end, but I wouldn't want to be on vacation forever either. Back at work today. Wish I had today off...ah well. School starts in a few weeks (Eeee....where did the time go??), my birthday is in two weeks--well, two weeks from today--and our anniversary is coming up in a bit too. So excited about that! It's almost been a year, I can hardly believe it. Seems like forever. I don't think I've ever been as happy as I am now. I can think of only a few things that would make me happier, but...on the whole, I am happy.

It's odd to think that I'll be starting another half-time year at Biola. I'll be taking 2 night classes that I'm really excited about. I think I finally figured out what road I want to take with my schooling, and I'm very excited about what I want to do. The game-plan, somewhat loose right now in timing, is to get a psychology/counseling degree to work with child victims of abuse. Maybe get a minor in Christian Ministries or something....depends if I stay at Biola (which depends on what Aaron does after graduation and career paths for him). Either way, I know what path I'm going to take, and I believe it's where God wants me.
I can't wait to be able to focus fully on this path, and work on it full-time. Aaron is fully supportive and is very excited for me. There's something to be said of knowing where you're going and the goal you're reaching for, and it giving you more energy, instead of feeling like you're listing around (in school), not quite sure where/what you're supposed to be doing. Or even what you want to be doing. So this is a relief somewhat, and also very exciting.

I should get back to work now. Mail came in and needs sorting. I'll be honest, I can't wait for the day I won't have to be working here, and I can concentrate fully on my schooling. All in good--well, rather God's--time.

Ta!

Summer life, so far...

I just realized I said "Summer life, so far..." and realized that the summer is half-way, if not over half-way, done. And so far, it's been mostly work and business. We had three weddings, friends visiting, but that's been about it. We haven't really had time/money to go on a vacation (yet, saving that up for our 1 year anniversary). I mean, I haven't even been to the beach yet this summer! Sad! Though necessary, I suppose.

Had some rough days this past week, but God is good. Aaron and I had a long talk while at work yesterday and into the night and cleared up a lot of stuff. God is good, as He keeps reminding me. The odd one I've realized is that the attitude I have currently towards God is that He is Good and King and trustworthy...in spite of life being hard and the world...well, as Rorschach puts it "God doesn't make the world this way. We do." I've adopted that idea, to be honest, to help deal with a lot. Not willing to do the whole "Satan is tempting me/persecuting me!!" thing...seems a bit cocky to assume that the lord of Hell who screws with nations, would stoop to tempt you, a puny human, himself. It is one where I do enjoy Piercing the Darkness, This Present Darkness. The demons have ranks and are all kinds...I think it's pretty accurate, and it frustrates me and annoys me to no end when people rebuke Satan himself or claim he's tempting them. I kind of scratch my head and go, "Um..healthy fear is a good thing. You should be afraid or at least wary of something that the archangels can't rebuke themselves..."

Ah. Rant. Sorry about that. It was on my mind for some reason.

Saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince the other night. It was really good. I enjoyed it alot. They did some interesting things with the plot, along with take out some stuff I wish they had left in. Overall though, it was very well-done, I enjoyed it, and I think they did a good job of portraying (most) of the spirit of the book. Really really! excited for the next two!!

We're headed to Savers tonight to see if we can find any thrift-store finds! And then to dinner at an amazing Mexican place that just started doing a " $8.99 all you can eat combos". Yummy!

Trying to figure out what to do this weekend...we'll see. Maybe I'll dye my hair or something...that could be fun. Or get my nails done again.

Back to work for me. Ta!

Boredom

So...bored at work currently. My boss is out of town, and the phones are really quiet today. At least, this morning they are. It's not too bad though, I like having quiet days. I just wish I could pass the time better.

I've started reading Dracula and The Problem of Pain. An odd mix, I admit, but one's fiction and the other is nonfiction. So it works, though seriously does make for some odd mixing of thoughts and stuff.

Dracula is one creepy book! I'm enjoying it, but man, I won't read it at night by myself or right before bed. Would rather not dream about creepy vampires, thanks very much. It's the structure that does it, a bit.

Excerpt:

The structure of the novel, a carefully interlaced web of journal and dairy entries, letters, and newspaper reports, is not original, but very effectively conveys the complex details of a constantly surprising story.

That sums it up quite nicely.

The Problem of Pain I'm reserving judgment until I have finished it. I like it so far, albeit it is starting out a bit slow. It should be a good read.


On another note, Hubby and I went to see Public Enemies Saturday evening. (I mean, come on, Johnny Depp and Christian Bale in the same movie?!?) It was a very good intriguing movie about the bank-robber John Dillinger and his life and how he acted etc. Depp did a marvelous job, and Bale did a good job as the FBI agent hunting him down. It's rated R for language and violence. There's practically no nudity, and overall, a very intriguing movie and story. The ending will blow your mind. In a "WTF?" kind of way. Go see it.

And of course, Hubby and I and a couple newly engaged friends are going to see Harry Potter 6 next week!!!!!!! So excited!! In case you couldn't tell. I'm sad though...I've read the books and I know what's coming and..yah. Good movie/book though. cannot wait.

Wow....I'm rambling today. Probably cause the day feels like it's taking forever.

Life's been good lately. So, money's been tight the last couple of weeks. Two weddings, 3 drives to Temecula, 1 drive to Glendale (Yay for gas eating money!). So anywhoo, I was trying to figure out how/what we were going to eat for the next week or so. Got home from the movie on Saturday to find groceries sitting on our porch. 3 boxes of MacNCheese, some box pasta (made it last night, yum!), and sandwich stuff. Along with milk, butter, yogurt, laundry detergent. Don't know who left it for us (asked some people we thought it was, turned out it wasn't). So, whoever you are, many thanks for the food that is helping us get through this week. Actually, cut our meals in half, cause I can actually make stuff for dinner. And for showing me those boxed pastas. I shall have to get a bunch for our pantry.

God is good and provides when you least expect it.

Also, a hi out to my mom-in-law, currently teaching in South Korea!! If you're reading this, Hi!! We love you and are praying for you!! xo xo xo xo

Well, almost time for lunch. I shall be going now. Hope things are going well for all the readers (whoever/how many you are). I enjoy seeing all the towns/regions that pop up on the side. Say hi sometime.

Ta!

Life and stuff....

Actually found time to post and something to post about. The last couple weeks have been filled with work and weddings. This past weekend we went to Hubby's old roommate's wedding to a beautiful girl. It was a gorgeous small wedding, and we were so blessed to have been included (Hubby as a groomsman, me as an observer). Tomorrow we have another wedding to go to, another of Hubby's roommates getting hitched. Should be a fun wedding, and I'm looking forward to being able to sit with my hubby and friends, instead of not knowing anyone and the only person I know is either family of the groom or at the bridal party table. We both had a wonderful time and were so thankful and blessed to be there to celebrate with them.

It's rather exciting to see all these weddings going on! Hubby and I joke a bit that we started a trend, considering it seems like after we got married, all of our friends decided to get married too! (With the exception of Il Duce and Lush, who beat us by 2 months) It's exciting to see our friends getting married and starting a new life with each other. Many blessings on all of you! Marriage rocks.

In other news, I just finished a book I had doubts I would enjoy as much as I ended up enjoying. Last time we were down visiting, Lush let me borrow Dr. Laura's The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage. She explained that while most of it was stuff I probably had already talked about/figured out, it was a good reminder, to say the least. I didn't get around to starting it until a few days to go and finished it up today at work. Needless to say, I enjoyed it tremendously! I was sort of expecting a typical self-help marriage book, that talks about things you should and shouldn't do as a wife/married couple...almost more obvious things that I knew already or came naturally to me. I was right, there were definitely parts of the book that I went "Well, duh..." but there were other parts that served as a great reminder or encouragement that things I was doing as my hubby's wife were in the right direction. Also some nice tips on how to deal with things and balance duties as wife/housekeeper/FT worker, and all that. So all in all, this is one book I will definitely recommend to married/engaged friends if they want something like this to read. It helped me a lot, if just for the encouragement. Thanks so much, Lush!

I've been doing a lot of thinking about healing and pain and the difference between being "Better" and "Healing". And talking with some close friends about it, and the trend we've noticed is that people seem to assume that since you look/sound/act/are doing "better", it automatically means you're not in pain anymore. "Oh you're doing better, so that must mean you don't hurt anymore!" is the attitude we've noticed. It saddens me because I see a lot of people hurt by this attitude...cause it makes them feel like people don't care anymore...or are annoyed when the person is hurting and actually showing it. It's like people forget how permeated everything is, and how things affect your life. So just because someone who's going through a lot is smiling and happy, don't assume they aren't hurting anymore. A better thing to assume--no, not assume--think is that the pain is lesser today, than it could have been. More like you took some Tylenol, so it's a dull ache instead of a throbbing too painful to move pain.

People aren't simple. People dealing with hurts and pains and trauma and stress and whatever-else, aren't simple. Just remember, all you see is what the person lets you see. You don't know what's going on in their head. So don't act like you do simply because they act fine. (You know what F.I.N.E. stands for, right?)

It's been something pressing on my heart lately for a lot of reasons, and it frustrates me to see people who are hurting get treated like they shouldn't be hurting and should have moved on or what not. Ok. End Rant.

And on one final note, we have a new kitten!! Her name is Alice, after Alice in Wonderland. A 3 1/2 month old orange/blonde long hair, and she is adorable and so curious. She and Bella have been getting along decently well. They started playing last night for real, instead of Alice playing, Bella watching and then hissing and running away. They were chasing each other and pouncing their tails, so that's fun. Still don't quite trust them to keep them mixed while at work, but hopefully in the next couple weeks we'll be able to.