A Step Back

Okay. Can we just take a minute to step back and realize that today is the last day of February. 2 months have gone by already this year! I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around it. Maybe because it's just been so busy this year.  I've started blending my days, weeks, and the past two months.

Every Tuesday night, I meet with my D-Group (Discipleship Group) which is a small group of girls from Bel Canto and we talk, hang out, and have short devotionals together. Well, this week I realized we went around and talked about our weeks. I honestly could not remember what I had even done the night before!

The only thing I've really been thinking about, aside from school, is crossing off everything on my "to-do" list.  From figuring out summer school courses to make sure that I can graduate on time to making sure that things for Bel Canto are slowly getting situated for next year.  The list is NEVER ENDING! 

I wish things could just calm down.  This past weekend was nice because I honestly did not have anything going on. Well, besides having a choir concert. 3 services. Each and hour and a half. And we sat through all of the services. Talk about a long Sunday. All to say, I got my wonderful "after church Sunday afternoon nap".  I miss those...

So like I've said in a previous post, I'm trying to sit and relax more and enjoy my time instead of trying to jump ahead.  All to say, I'm still working on that. But like everything, it takes time to get into a new routine.

A Day Off

First of all, let me say "thank you" to those of you who helped out by "liking" the video for the Chick-fil-A contest! My friends won! Which means that I get some free food. YAY! :) 

I'm pretty sure most of my Facebook friends hate me now because in the past 24 hours, that's all that I've been posting on and messaging about... opps!

So weirdly, this year my school isn't giving us the actual President's Day off. Instead of having a four day weekend, we had a three day weekend, with this past Friday off. Granted, it was really nice to be able to just sleep, relax, and have fun that day, without having to think about school.  I think it might have been one of the first days of the semester when I could really just sit and relax. With this semester being crazy with classes, and a busy schedule full of choir concerts and driving back and forth to Irvine, it was nice to spend time with friends and do, well, nothing.

The day started off very relaxing. I finally got out of bed and showered and got ready for the day. I got to clean and organize my desk, bed and closet and do homework. I cleaned up the living room of my apartment and the kitchen. I even got to do (another!) Target run and get a few groceries and things that were needed for the apartment.

After, I got to watch one of my favorite Pixar movies. Okay, that's a lie. I love almost all the Pixar movies, if not all of them.  That was, The Incredibles.

Since Shawn and I had been sitting around all day long, we decided to go outside my apartment and play catch. There is this really nice large lawn that is right outside my apartment door. And let's face it, it was a BEAUTIFUL day outside. I'm talking in the high 70's to low 80's the past few days. In February. Yes, I know you all want to move to Southern California now.

Then, I got to go to the driving range for the first time ever! I seriously had such a great time. It's a nice stress reliever too. I will admit that my forearms are a little sore since I hadn't really done much that well, involves me using my arms to swing things. If you have never been to a driving range, you should go! It was so much fun. At the place we went to, it was $5 for one large bucket of golf balls! I can't wait to go again. :) I will admit that it got me looking for cute golf outfits and things. I mean, if I'm going to occasionally go to the driving range, I have to look cute and preppy, right? And let me tell you. There are some CUTE outfits! But of course, out of my price range. I'll have to start looking for some much cheaper, but similar outfits. Maybe I'll have to do a post on some cute clothes I find...

via Instagram

Stretched Thin

This semester I'm slowly coming to the realization that I'm very stretched thin in everything I'm doing, and I feel like I'm just slowly rushing through my to-do list just to cross things off.  The thing is I just love everything that I'm doing and I love the fact that I'm busy.  And somehow, I'm managing to get my school work done more efficiently. Maybe because I have less time to do things so I'm just focusing better? Does this mean that I actually really like being super busy??

I think I just have to remember to make sure that I do have "me time".  I'm realizing that during these busy times, I really treasure the quiet and alone times that I get, even if it's just for 5 or 10 minutes... before chaos begins again.  It's nice to just sit... and breathe.

I just wish I could figure out how to do everything without the occasional freak out/overwhelmed/panic/stressed feeling. But that's growing up, I guess...

That's the best reason to eat as much Fro-Yo as possible... right?

Keeping Busy

It's safe to say that I can tell that I've been very busy based on the way my desk, closet, and bed look. Normally, my bed looks fairly put together and I usually dont' have my laundry piling over and a pile of clothes on the floor of my closet.  I usually also have a spot for everything on my desk and I never have it overflowing where I find it hard to find things.  However, it has been quite a busy start to the semester.

For about the past month, I've been going down to Irvine every weekend to be with my family. Unfortunately my aunt is very sick, although she is getting better and stronger each and every single day! PRAISE GOD!

I can easily say that I've come to know the city of Irvine very well and I can easily find my way around there.  Yet, somehow I can't manage to get around San Jose, the city I grew up and lived my whole life until I left for college.

So, tomorrow after my Bel Canto concert, will be my focus/homework/cleaning/organizing afternoon! Hopefully there aren't too many people over at my apartment distracting me... But for reals. I really thought I was organized and I'm realizing that once I get busier, I forget how to be organized. I definitely need to work on that...

Also... is it lame that I've been in bed since before 11:30PM on a Saturday night?? I'm just exhausted and ready to get some sleep before getting up early in the morning...

Week Before Thanksgiving

The week before Thanksgiving always seem to be so crazy. It seems as if all the professors cram all our work into the last week and a half before Thanksgiving break.  Everyone I know barely gets any sleep, and they're living class to class, just trying to get everything done right on time.

As crazy as this last week and a half will be, I know that I will be so grateful when I get on my plane to fly home for Thanksgiving break.  I honestly will probably not be thinking about school at all while I'm home, even though I know that I really should because once we get back to school, it'll be non-stop go-go-go!

I do love the holiday season though. I love that the leaves are changing (barely!) and that it is much colder. I also love all the family time I get to have and of course, all of the good food. I'm pretty sure I will be in food coma for the rest of the semester starting with Thanksgiving dinner.

I think one thing I love about the holidays is giving gifts. I love making cute little things or finding that perfect thing (that I can afford) for my friends and family.  Although, it does take me a really long time to figure out what to give to people. I honestly spend a lot of my free time on Pinterest, and I just love finding cute gift ideas. Well, everything on Pinterest is really cute... It's probably the most addicting website I've ever found.  Facebook and Pinterest are the two websites that I am on the most.

So, I really need help here. I need good gift ideas. So if you have any ideas, PLEASE let me know!

Moving Back to Azusa

I'm a JUNIOR now! What is this?! I know it's been awhile since I've done a post, but then I realize that it's been awhile since I've really done anything on the computer. The past two weeks have just been full of craziness.  The first week, I was slowly moving into my apartment with my roommates and we were trying to figure out where things would be going. (I must admit, it did take us about two weeks until we finally did get everything cleaned up and put away.)  This past week, has been keeping me very busy. Thanks to choir camp, which I loved, I was getting up about 6:30 AM and coming home around 10 PM and falling asleep around midnight.

I loved getting to know all the incoming freshman that would be in choir and I loved just being able to sing with them all for the very first time.  My voice now, is completely tired and I know for a fact, that I am fighting a cold. Or a sore throat that has now turned into a cold.  School is starting on Wednesday, so I am trying very hard to take it easy and drink lots of fluids and get a lot of rest. However, my body just won't let me sleep in past 9 AM.  I guess that's a good thing since I will be having 8 AM classes every single day this semester. However, I am kind of bummed out when I look over my shoulder to see both of my roommates fast asleep and it's after 10 AM, and I know they won't be getting up for another hour and a half.

I am hoping to post some pictures of my apartment soon, but right now, as my apartment is for the most part dark, and everyone else is sleeping, I can't even take the pictures. So for now, I'll just include some of my favorite photos from this past week of choir camp!

95% of the returning Bel Canto ladies
(Photo Taken at Huntington Beach)

End of Choir Camp Redneck BBQ dinner at our directors home

I am really hoping that I will be able to update you more as this school year continues! Until then, have a wonderful day. :)

Summer 2012

JEMS Mt. Hermon Inter High Staff

This summer has been crazy, to say the least.  I don't think there has really been a moment where I've been able to just sit and breathe and not have to worry about anything.  However, this summer has been one of the most exciting and rewarding summers I can remember.  Through working, helping out with the Junior High Youth Group at church, Vacation Bible School (VBS), cabin leading for JEMS Mt. Hermon at Inter High, and catching up with friends, I must say that I am looking forward to returning back to Azusa.  Luckily the week before returning to the crazy world of being down at school, I'll have a nice week to relax with family in Lake Tahoe!

I thought I would take some time, as I'm sitting in the nice air conditioned library to reflect on everything that has gone on this summer. And let me tell you, it's been a crazy few months.  Looking back at my last post which was at the end of May, I had just reflected on the past school year and I hadn't even really started my summer break, aside from talking about the choir tour I went on.  So, here we go... if you dare continue to read on. This is my warning: THIS POST COULD END UP VERY LONG!

Weddings, Weddings, Weddings!

My parents and I at a wedding in May

Well, here is something... not so new.  This summer, again, is full of weddings. If anything, I believe I went to the same amount of weddings last summer that I did this year.  This summer's total: 3.  My cousin got married on Memorial Day Weekend and that was a beautiful wedding. I loved every part of it. Next week, is another wedding for a good family friend. I'm looking forward to that one, as well as my other cousin getting married towards the end of September. You could still call September summer, right? After all, officially Fall doesn't start until October I think? I love going to weddings. They're so happy and it's great to see two people unite together. The hardest part is always finding a dress to wear to the wedding though... I guess that's one thing that us girls will always have to deal with. 

Youth Group, Church, VBS
Well, what more is to say about youth group, than the fact that it's youth group? From crazy games, to hyper junior highers, to attempting to stay up at the all-nighter (Which didn't happen... I left at 5 AM.)  it's been a great time. They make me feel like I'm getting old because I can't believe that some of them are going to be starting middle school.  But, what can I say? I love working with them and getting to know them.  It's great seeing them first start off in youth group because I know by the time they graduate high school (Oh gosh... then I'm really going to feel old!) they will have made some great friends through it all.  

"Sing and Play" at VBS!

VBS this summer was great. I wasn't expecting to be as involved as I was, but it was still great. Seeing children worship God, have fun, and just being crazy is so exciting for me.  What is wonderful is that all of the kids who attend, for the most part, do not even go to a church!  Overall though, it was a great week, despite the fact that I went home every day feeling exhausted and then had to run straight to work!  But it was a great week, and somehow, those VBS songs randomly will get stuck in my head...

JEMS Mt. Hermon Inter High 

"For the Lord will be your confidence

    and will keep your foot from being caught."

Proverbs 3:26

The Lovely Ladies of Cabin Seven

10 days being with an awesome staff. 7 days being with some awesome and crazy incoming 8th and 9th graders. And one AMAZING cabin full of 8 incoming 9th graders.  Gosh, this year is just indescribable.  So many great things happened.  I got to experience my girls in my cabin becoming close with one another, being real, praying for one another, and even had one girl accept Jesus into her life! Seeing these girls really grow throughout the week was just so exciting for me.  All the late nights and early mornings and not sleeping during chill out time was totally worth it, and I can't wait for next year. 

Friends

In Santa Cruz with Shawn

Being home has given me the opportunity to catch up with friends that I don't get to see or talk to on a regular basis.  I got to have brunch with Mika before she left on her missions trip to Mexico, I got to go bowling and have some great meals and laughs with friends from church, and I got to catch up with Annie, who has practically been my sister my entire life.  But the one special visit of the summer was when Shawn came up for 4 days to visit! Being able to see him after not seeing him for about a month and a half was wonderful.  We got to go to Santa Cruz, Monterey, and he got to know my parents even better.  It's hard to believe that the day school starts, will mark 4 months of us being together, yet we will have seen each other maybe a week and a half total.  

This summer, I've also gotten to Skype with friends from school and just keep in touch with them. I think that's the greatest part about friendships.  Today with all the technology, even if you don't see your friends on a regular basis, you can still keep in touch with them and know what is going on in their lives.  

Upcoming
Well, in exactly 4 weeks from today, I will be moving into my apartment back down in Azusa and it's hard to believe that the year will be starting. The utilities are all set up and Bel Canto things are being taken care of.  Choir Camp preparation is in full swing and it's so exciting to think that I'll be meeting a whole new group of young women and I'll be able to sing with them and minister and serve with them this year.  I'm excited to meet all of them so soon!  It's hard to believe that just 2 years ago, I was just starting college.  I can remember very clearly everything that happened that first week and a half of Freshman year. And let me tell you, that is quite a story!  But I won't go into that.  

I'm excited to see how everything works out this school year. Granted, it will be a lot of work and this semester, I will need to focus a lot more and work a lot harder. But I'm excited for the challenge and to see how God is going to work in this next year! There is still a lot more things that need to get done before I can get back down to Southern California, so it will be busy. But I know that these last few weeks will go by so quickly and I won't know what happened to the time. 

Camy and I at the youth group all nighter
eating our Spam Musubi Which was falling apart

Well, this has become much longer than I thought it would, so I better get going.  For those of you who read until the end, WOW! I mainly was writing just so I could have these memories written down.  But hopefully this school year, I'll be able to do a better job at doing updates.  

Anyway, I hope you all have a great day, and you all get your daily dose of Vitamin D!

Update Time

At Knott's Berry Farm

I know that this post is very long overdue, but the past couple of months has just been a crazy whirlwind of all these different events happening.  Since Spring Break ended (and that is when I last updated this blog), I have gone on many different adventures with my friends. We ended up spending the day at Knott's Berry Farm, going to an Anaheim Angel's game against the Oakland A's (yes, I was happy that the Angel's won!), had a future roommate photo shoot, and also ended up going on a little adventure to Venice Beach.  Talk about some interesting people there.  I was also able to go on tour with some of the most amazing young women I know.  We went to 7 different states within 16 days. If we calculated, that is approximately 3,005 miles that we drove. So now that you have a little idea of what has been going on in my life recently, let me break it down for you all and go into a little bit more detail. 

Future Roommate Photo Shoot

Knott's Berry Farm, Angel's Game, a Photo Shoot, and Venice Beach

Shawn and I at Venice Beach
(Plus our official "Third Wheel")

My friends and I have really enjoyed getting to know each other better day by day.  We enjoy just hanging out and playing games to sitting around eating a meal together. Eventually we make it off campus to go on a little adventure. We had a great time at Knott's Berry Farm riding all the different rides and also just having a great time. That even included watching a show about some cowboys! Yes, you can bet that Megan just loved it. 

As I look back, I realize what a crazy busy weekend that way. The next day we went to an Anaheim Angel's game to celebrate our friends birthday. Yes, the Angels won, and I was very glad because they were playing the Oakland A's. Coming from a San Francisco Giant's family, I wasn't going to root for the A's. It was fun being with friends and enjoying the game while snacking on some very yummy hot dogs and peanuts!

The following weekend, was again, another very busy weekend. My future roommates and I went on a photo shoot just so we could have photos we could have printed and the put in our apartment. Plus, we needed a reason to hang out and get dressed up. Let me say, although it was awkward at times because we didn't know what to do, the photos are hilarious! 

Link for the edited photos from the Photo Shoot: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150843649217792.469144.678167791&type=3&l=4e0cf0258f

Link for the unedited photos from the Photo Shoot: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150843658817792.469147.678167791&type=3&l=29d971eb93

The ladies who kept me sane over Tour

That same day, we decided that we wanted to go to the beach, so we all adventured over to Venice Beach. Now here's a funny side story. It was so hot in Azusa that we thought it would be the perfect day to go to the beach. Well, so did everyone else in the Los Angeles area. It took us almost 2 or 3 hours just to get to Venice. And by the time we got there, it was cloudy and starting to get a little cold. It was okay though because we still had a very good time tossing the frisbee around on the beach. 

Bel Canto Women's Choir Tour 2012 #bcTUBE12

53 Women, 16 days, 7 states, and 3,005 miles later, we had finally completed our tour. Now don't get me wrong, we had a great time and it was so much fun being able to get to know all of these young women so much better, but 16 days with all girls is a little long! By the time we finally were able to get off the bus when we arrived back in Azusa, I was so happy just to see other faces! 

It was wonderful being able to meet so many different host families in all of the different states we traveled to and it was also great being able to minster to many different groups of people. We even were able to go to the Mormon Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. While in Utah, I even got to float in The Great Salt Lake! It really does work. You don't have to try at all to float. I even managed to somehow float on my stomach. That was also quite the experience.  But overall, it was such a great two weeks and if you want to see photos and get an idea of what tour was like go to Facebook and like our page: APU Bel Canto Women's Choir!

Shawn and I after my final concert
(Sorry it's a blurry photo)

We had our final concert in Azusa, and it was great seeing a good amount of my friends show up. We had a potluck dinner and we got to share about what tour was like and share all of our favorite songs from choir with our friends and family.  At the end of the concert, all of the members were acknowledged and were given either a flower, journal and flower, or mug depending on how many years they were in choir.  The graduated seniors also got a special necklace. It was definitely a night full of tears, but also happy tears!

Oh, and how could I forget!? 

With my roommates after they got Baptized!

Both of my roommates got baptized! And let me tell you, I was one happy roommate that night! God has been so good to me this year by blessing me with wonderful friends and roommates. I don't know how I would have survived this past school year without every single person that I interacted with this past school year. 

A Look into this Summer!

Well, this summer is going to be quite a busy one for me, and hopefully I'll be able to update this blog more often.  I am currently working, and I will also be cabin leading at Mt. Hermon, as well as going on vacation to Lake Tahoe with my mom's side of the family.  With all this going on, there are also a few family weddings getting thrown into the schedule as well as me trying to schedule time in to see all of my friends from home, as well as hopefully getting some visits from friends from school! 

So keep checking my blog for more updates from me!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day.  You either love it, or you hate it.  Usually when you hate it, it's because you don't have anyone special to share the day with.  When you love it, well, that's self explanatory.  You have someone to love and share it with.

Although those are the two most common reactions towards Valentine's Day, I for one have learned to have a different view towards this day.  On Valentine's Day, I always realize how blessed I am to have the life that I have today.  19 years ago today, my parents were in China to adopt me.  Had it not been for them, I do not know what my life would be like today.  Throughout the past 19 years, I have been blessed with so many opportunities and I was raised in a wonderful loving Christian home.  I have the most wonderful family ever and I have also created some wonderful friendships too.  

For me, Valentine's Day isn't a day to realize how lonely you are if you don't have a 'Valentine' or a day to be mushy and show that you love someone more on one day than I do on another day.  For me, today is a day that I look back and I say "Thank You" to God and to my parents for how they have blessed me so much and given me all that they can to make sure that I have the best opportunities in my life.  

So for those of you who may be single on this Valentine's Day, I challenge and encourage you to take a look at your life and realize how blessed you are to have a wonderful loving family and wonderful friends.  Just because you aren't 'In a Relationship' doesn't mean that you can't show that you love you friends and family. 

Summer Work

Today at school, we had a Summer Non-Profit Organization Fair, which had so many cool opportunities to get involved in!  Most of them were various Christian Summer Camps all throughout California and even Colorado.  I could be a camp counselor or I could be a secretary for the camp, or I could even just be there serving at the camp being a part of the kitchen staff or recreation staff.  

While walking through the fair, I also came across this one table which was an organization helping students around Azusa, California who were not up to par on their education.  By being a volunteer with this program, I would be able to actually create various lesson plans and teach the students after school!  

Is it just me or does it seem like summer is coming all too quickly, despite the fact that I do want it to come?  There are just so many opportunities to think about and I also need to figure out what I want to do this summer. Any suggestions as to what I should do this summer?

My Princess Rubber Ducky that I got at the fair!