Thursday, September 23, 2010

you put a smile on my face (make the world a better place)

So, I have been completely and utterly busy lately...but in such a good way! I won't lie though, I am going to be needing some rest soon :) I know it will come soon! Anyway, one of the reasons I need rest is because of how stinking hot it's been in Orange County. It's just a few days before October and it's been hitting 90'F. Not right people...not right at all! Anyway, I'm thankful for air conditioning and I know I'm spoiled to have it. Well, I haven't done this in a while and I've been able to get a few great kid quotes lately, so I will leave you with them! I hope you are all having a great week, and staying cool out there!
  • I was going outside with a 2 year old boy I sit for and sneezed. I said "excuse me". He then asks "do you know why you sneeze?". I said "well, I sneeze a lot when I first walk outside and in the sun". Then he says "No, you sneeze when you eat too much"... I don't know what food he's eating ... :)
  • I take 4 kids home from after school 3 days a week...on our way home I usually take a route that passes a McDonalds...with four kids in the car. For the past 3 weeks each time we pass (or even get near it) the kids yell "turn here, turn here. It's McDonald's!" for 2 miles before and after the establishment. I laugh because I still haven't taken them to get an after school snack there (and I feel slightly mean for not taking them...but people, it'd mess up and make us late for nap time and getting me to my other jobs), but also because I would literally do the same thing when I was little. Except it wouldn't just be McD's...I'd know all the fast food places and hope my mom would turn into one before we got home.
  • was taking a pair of 3 year old boy and girl to school with their 18 month old sister. The 3 year old girl did something to her brother where I told her she needed to apologize. She yelled "I'm soorryy". I said that wasn't the right way to say it and I would like her to retry using a nice voice. And then the 18 month old chimes in saying "E-ahh, sorry" (E-ahh is how she pronounces her sisters name). I just had to laugh. The little one was bossing her older sister around and at the same time trying to imitate me. She's got spunk and sass :)
  • I had to stop by my house while I was babysitting because I left my phone there. The mom I was sitting for said it was okay. (It was on our way to where I was taking the kids.) I had the kids mentioned above (two 3 year olds and a 18 month old). They came into my house and found my room and all of them crawled on my bed and laid down (shoes on and everything). It was cute :)
p.s., anyone recognize the lyrics that are in my title? :) I know, I know. I love songs and music, I just can't help it! :)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Sleeping Soundly (An Ode to Fall)

I love Fall. Today is the first day of the season...and it's such a wonderful one. It warms my heart. It means back to school. It means change. It holds the days when I can sip a Chai Tea Latte or curl up with a blanket to watch a movie, actually wear a warm coat, feel a crispness in the air, eat yummy soup, wear closed toed shoes a little more often and see glimpses of leaves changing color. There are also the beautiful holidays! :) Halloween, Thanksgiving...and of course my birthday (just in case you were wondering) :)
But, do you want to know why I am loving the Fall so much right now? Because of the glorious sleep that it brings me. I know, sleep is a weird reason to like Fall. Let me explain. I love sleeping where it's very dark, and with the temperature being slightly cooler. And lately, these conditions have been perfect. So, I've been getting good nights rest and actually sleeping in. I normally have a problem being able to go back to sleep if I happen to wake up early for some reason (no matter what time I go to bed, I wake up early). Lately, though, I've been like a bear hibernating and I sleep right on through until my alarm goes off. Heck, this weekend I even slept in until 9am on Sunday! It took me a few days to adjust to the Fall weather, but now I am loving it (and the great sleep it is bringing me). So, here's to you Fall! Hope you are all enjoying it to!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

in the clear

I guess that there was some problems with my blog design. The website I got it at couldn't have all the html codes anymore. But I was able to upload a file with the code on it. And I had no idea about this because I hadn't checked my blog in a few days. Anyway, sorry if any of my (few) readers couldn't read/get to my posts. It's all better now...and I thought it was time to change up the design so I did :) And look, I blogged twice in 1 week! :)

Monday, September 6, 2010

What's been going on/update/stream of consciousness

Wowzers...It's been about 3 weeks since my last post. Where has the time gone? There is definitely a lot that has been going on in my life...but what's new. I'm excited about it all though :)

I've been getting even more involved with India ministries now that our December team has met each other, and things are picking up with the trip. But seriously, the group of women that I'm coaching/shepherding through the trip are such a blessing to get to know, are amazing Christ followers, are so fired up about going & are such a great dynamic together (we have a college student, a special education therapist/teacher, a lawyer and an engineer--and then me, the nanny/student). They are a wonderful bunch, and I'm having so much fun with them and getting to know them and all prepare to go on this trip together. For example, I had my first meet up with one of the girls on Monday of this week and we hiked for 2.5 hours but the time went by so fast and we had such good conversations and I'm so glad to have learned more about the people I'm shepherding. I've also been amazed at how awesome the leadership team is (in general) & how great we are coming along planning for this trip and working together. I've said it already, but it's been a joy and a blessing to be in ministry with the leadership team (those actually going on the trip as well as those staying "on base" at home). These are partially the reasons that I have not been posting because I have been busy
with these things and have been trying to be intentional with the relationships & community in my life...you know, the real life people kind ;) ...nothing against the world wide web communities/friends, because I love that too :)

This past (Labor Day weekend) has also been a blast...and consisted of a little something I like to call the "away-cation" (to be said like "vacation" except take away the "vay" and substitute "away"). It was absolutely lovely :) My friend Stephanie was going to be in L.A. to house/cat sit for her brother & sister-in-law...my friend Cynthia was going to be in the production of Ragtime in L.A. on Saturday night. It was a match made in heaven. Stephanie and I left Orange County in the late morning on Saturday and made it to beautiful Playa Vista in time to soak up some sun at the relaxing pool (I even took a cat nap and read some of the book "No Mercy"!!) and also go to the cute/small but totally awesome farmers market. Then we went to dinner and saw Ragtime. It was a delight to see Cynthia perform so well in it, as well as watch a great play. Anyway, we spent the night in L.A. and the next morning went on a walk to Loyola Marymount University (which was only about a seven minute walk from Stephanie's brother's place). It was a little interesting and brought up some interesting emotions to walk the campus because I was suppose to go there for my undergraduate education....but I digress. Here are some pictures
just to show you for fun :)







































Another thing that has been happening lately is some family stuff. My aunt (my moms sister) was in a car accident Aug 30th. She was pulling into her town-home complex making a left hand turn because the oncoming traffic was stopped and was also letting her through, but a car came speeding by in the side of the right lane and hit her. She actually has no physical injuries/scrapes/bruises, but she is however paralyzed on the left side of her body. All the scans/tests show no brain damage and that there is nothing "wrong" so to speak. In the last week and a half she's made a lot of progress and can move her face, toes, shoulder and elbow on her left side. She also gotten little nerve impulses in her back and can sometimes move her whole left arm, but has yet to move her left leg. Yesterday she got moved from the hospital to a rehabilitation center. She had a pretty good day there today and it's suppose to be this intensive and very helpful rehab center, so we are so thankful for that. As all this has been taking place, I have really strongly felt the need/call for prayer. So, will you join me in prayer for my aunt? I know that it is only because of the prayer that has happened thus far that her body has had the restoration thus far. Pray for healing on her left side, and specifically arms and legs. God is alive and His power is in full force. I know this because I've been witness to other big healings that have happened in the name of Jesus Christ within the last few weeks. Thank you, and I will keep you all updated! :)

Well, thanks y'all for reading this lengthy post, but I hope that it satisfied your reading pleasures :) And I promise, I won't wait so long to write again!