More San Diego!!!

I am sitting here in San Diego with some music blasting eating ramen, alone, for what feels like the first time in forever. You know how I like me some (a lot of) alone time!!! Just a heads up, this'll probably be a seriousish post. You have been warned!

So basically, this trip has been the best experience of my life. But at the same time, it's been so hard and so exhausting and crazy. The point this summer, is to step out in faith and leave results up to God. So, I was pretty much terrified of everything because stepping out in faith is very difficult to do. I came out here with hardly any support, I shared my faith, I shared the Gospel, I go evangelizing weekly, I shared my entire testimony to strangers (on multiple occasions), I forgave my dad, I wrote my dad a letter, I wrote Mary a letter, I started a bible study. And I'm sure I'm forgetting things but this is what I thought of off the top of my head.

Yeah I wrote my dad a letter. Let's just start there. First, I wrote him an angry letter without any intent of sending it to him. And I realized how pissed off I was at him for so long but I had never actually vocalized all of it. And I didn't realize that writing that letter would actually bring healing to me. Then I wrote a letter that I actually sent to him. Just saying how I've been mad at him but that I forgive him for everything and I don't know how it will look to have a relationship with him but I just wanted to clear the air. And he wrote me back! I thought that he would be mad and probably yell at me in his letter, but that didn't happen and we're gonna get together when I get back. It just shows how faithful God is and how he goes before us to prepare the way. It's amazing!!

I started a bible study with my friend Pablo Garcia from work. We have this weekly meeting and every single week (actually probably more like every day I saw him) I invited him to it. But he couldn't go because he is the drummer for this band and they usually play shows on the weekend. Anyway, I kept on stepping out and inviting him even though I felt uncomfortable and he finally one day asked me why I believe what I believe and he said that he is a Christian but has not really learned how to read the bible and stuff and he asked for my help!! So we have met twice! And it's totally a God thing!! It's just awesome! I have gotten to discuss a lot of hard questions with him about Christianity and what is truth and whatnot. I'm pretty much excited! Oh also, he has wonderful hair. If you're curious, look him up on FB. It's just fabulous.

I feel like God has grown me so much over the past month and a half, it's insane!!

On a different note, Andrew called me the other night and said that I have been so distracting to him and while he loves talking to me, we shouldn't talk till the end of his program this summer. I have been reevaluating out friendship anyway (some things will probably have to change...) but it was weird.

On a different different note, these two black girls I work with (Kennieshay and Quineesha) based their pants size off of mine, because I have a big butt...-_- Who am I kidding? I love it.

I am soooooo excited that you guys bought rafts and then also bought me one!!! SO GREAT! INGENIOUS IDEA LADIES!!!

Also, I am seriously sorry if I hurt either one of you guys' feelings about Water World. I'm excited to go with you guys and it's gonna be great just the 3 of us!!! And I can't wait for the apartment, but it kinda feels surreal to me right now!

I love you both! Sorry for the seriousish post!!!

Abby

Oh P.S. Romans 5:8. Yes.

Stuff and Fluff

I just recently found out that my family is moving. You both know and have seen pictures, but I'll just give you all the information I know. It is a very nice house that was built in the 70s but they just redid the kitchen and it looks fantastic. It has 4 bedrooms, 2 upstairs and 2 downstairs and 3 bathrooms. Samuel and I will be in the basement and there will be a guest room upstairs. There is a really big nice office upstairs for my dad and I think he's pretty happy about that. We are going to totally redo the back yard. My mom hates when there are rocks in the landscape so we're taking all the rock out and putting in gardens. Also we are going to design our own patio which is going to be cool! My parents are obsessed with HGTV right. I'm excited but at he same time not at all. It's gonna be a huge change because it is quite a bit smaller than our current house. It is nice though. Just the way everything has gone so smoothly so far makes us think that this is what God wants us to do. 

So The Count of Monte Cristo. I love the movie as I expressed in my last blog, and I watched it a couple times and just loved it so much so I decided to read the book! I am in love with it so far! (Keep in mind this is the abridged version). It's just so beautifully written and just a fantastic story!! 

So besides moving activities like starting to pack things up and going through my stuff and downsizing, I have had a pretty good summer so far. My mom and I are doing history together and I get to watch 300 and count it as school because we are studying Ancient Greece!! Pretty sweet.  

 

Alrighty that's it for now I suppose. I would appreciate prayers for calmness for moving, it stresses me out so much. 

Love you guys a lot!!!

Bray-nay-nay

Signs and Symptoms of Being an Adult

It's a disease that affects billions. Both men and women suffer from it. And the only way to not get it is to die before you are affected. What affliction am I speaking of? ADULTHOOD.

Here are the signs and symptoms of being an adult:
    SO much worry about money. All day, every day. do i have enough? how can i make more? Will i ever have enough? (the answer to that is no, btw.) So if you worry about money, congratulations you're an adult.
    Remember how as a little kid chores were from the devil? yeah when you're an adult you want to live in a clean environment. suddenly having a clean bathroom and no dishes in the sink makes you feel like you really have your life together (even thought you really don't.) sure sign of adulthood: wanting to do chores.
    This is a big one so listen up. bees are scary mother**ckers. as are wasps and all matter of flying or crawling creatures with 6 or 8 legs. but as an adult, you're the one who has to stay behind when everyone else is running screaming from the room and kill that nasty son of a gun. sucks to suck.
   Have you ever said 'because i said so' or 'don't make me come in there' ? If so, you might be an adult (or babysitting michael) especially if you have a special tone of voice that you use when saying such phrases. not even yelling, just this real dangerously quiet voice. use it once and BAM you're an adult.
   Going to bed is your favorite time of the day. or your morning cup of coffee. from the moment you get out of bed in the morning, you look forward to getting back in it.  this might just be me though...
   It's a helluva lot easier to ignore/forgive annoying little brothers and sisters. it just doesn't matter anymore if they are stupid. you're an adult and have more pressing concerns. (like money, remember) older brothers and sisters are still as annoying as ever though. funny how that works...
 
I'm sure that there are many many more but maybe i'm not a full-fledged adult yet. thank goodness.

quick update on me though:
I'm so busy it's crazy. I like being busy but this is a little ridiculous. i am tired all the time. I have only 2 evenings and two mornings that i don't do anything. and sundays. but those times are taken up with doing chores or errands that i don't have any other time for. july is looking just as busy cause even though class will be over, i have 90 hours of clinical shifts at Emergency Departments or ambulances. Then i have to look for and apply for jobs. gah. at least i'm making bank and getting to stick people with needles.
Speaking of needles, i'm loving my IV class. i don't know what i find so thrilling about sliding a thin hollow piece of metal into another person's vein but it's great.
well until next time. Abby, miss you and love you a lot. Brianna, i don't miss you because i see you what feels like every day to freaking run (gaaaaaah) but i do love you!
-Grace

San Diego

So I am in San Diego at this moment in time. It's basically this amazing place that I am in love with by now. To the west is the ocean and to the east is the bay. Each within 2 blocks of my condo. It's beautiful is what I'm trying to say. It's also so nice here. It's cool and breezy all day long. It's just perfect to be here. I really like it.

So I shared my testimony like the first full day that we were here. With 4 other girls. Complete. Strangers. It was such an interesting experience. Technically, we haven't even shared our testimonies with each other even though we do life together all the time. I think we should.

So I went swimming in the ocean 2 days ago. It was amazing! Except this girl Anna and I were the only girls ACTUALLY swimming. All the other girls were laying out. So I was swimming with like 7 or 8 guys that were from CRU too. Back up. On the way there, I met this guy named Bryce (I think that's how you spell it) and he said that I have great hair. Well he said something like "cool hair because it's a different color" or something like that. So we were all swimming in the ocean. And he is hard core flirting with me. I'm talking splashing me with water, trying to push me into the waves, trying to trip me over himself, mocking my screams/giggles of delight at the waves. Hard core flirting. So then when I got out of the water, my friend Taylor said that he would teach me how to play the ukelele this summer. Anna and I want to ride a tandem bike with me on the back playing the ukelele. Yes. So anyway, Taylor had his ukelele so I went over there to try and learn and I'm really struggling so I'm trying to laugh it off and I can just tell he thinks I'm being all cutesy and stuff and he just continues to flirt and he tries to sit very close to me on the sand and he said "I'll sing the guy part and you can sing the girl part" in this LOVE SONG. So then he asked me what my major is and I said I'm a music major and he said he wanted to be a music major. For guitar and drum set. -_- under impressed am I. So then he asked me if I can sing and I say not really I mostly play classical music and I kid you not he goes "I have a friend who likes classical. What is wrong with you guys?" And so naturally he almost gets punched in the face. Then later that night, he found me in the crowd after the meeting and he invited me to the beach for a late night jam session on the beach. At night. With him. On the beach. In a romantic setting. I'm so under impressed. I don't know how that's gonna work out for him...

On another note, this guy at work just was staring into my eyes and he wouldn't break eye contact and then in the weirdest way possible, he goes "Are those your real eyes, because they are beautiful" and I was weirded out.

I also get to rent bikes, surf boards, paddle boards, wet suits, and anything else without a motor for FREE this summer!!! WHAT WHAT?!

Ok we seriously have to road trip out here some time when B isn't a baby anymore :)

Also, Count of Monte Cristo? Not a good movie. Read the book. The movie ruins everything.

I have to go. Make sure to write fast so that I can update more about my trip!!!

I love you two!!!

~Abby~

The Count of Monte Cristo!!!!!

New favorite movie!! Well not favorite because Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back will always hold the number 1 spot in my heart as best movie. Then October Sky is in 2nd. Well the Count of Monte Cristo is in Third!!! My gosh guys if you haven't seen it, watch it!! I watched the entire thing on YouTube. In fact here is the link http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dOv_BSPOfew so you have no excuse to not watch it. I'm going to read the book now! So good. Plus the main guy is cute. :)

Anyway. Sorry I have not blogged, I just haven't had the motivation to for some reason. Life is good. Trying to eat healthy, get in shape for a 5k, not sin. Ya know the usual stuff. 

So I know you don't particularly agree with what my church does but if you have time watch the sermon online from yesterday. It usually takes a week for it to be put online so next Sunday try watching it. It was very very good. They play a secular song at the beginning but watch the whole thing and you'll realize why they played it. I just think it was really helpful for me so I hope you consider watching it :)

So I was not at all excited about the camping trip but now I cannot wait!! It gonna be so great!!! I'm a at nervous because I've never gone camping without axe wielding men to protect me before, but it'll be great!!

Well I guess that's it for right now. I know my life is so exciting. Anyway I love you guys so much. Keep being awesome!

Brianna 

Romans 6:11

Feelin Pretty Good and That's the Truth

I've never done something in my life that I was so proud of. I feel absurdly happy that I earned the Star of Life patch that came in the mail yesterday. I am also am feeling a little guilty because i really want people to get hurt and sick and keep doing stupid things and crashing their cars so i can save them. now i just have a crap ton of paperwork and job applications to get through. prayer that i get a job would be much appreciated.

i know i told you both about John and Billy and Shane, the paramedic and EMTs i worked with. i really wish i could just work with them the rest of my career, but i know there will be other people just as awesome as them. meanwhile i will sit in my car and cry every time i see a fire truck or ambulance or hear sirens cause i wish i could go along. ah well. my time will come.

Also, guess what? this is gonna be a huge shock, so you better sit down.here goes....... Abby and I signed a lease!!!!!!! well not really. i just paid almost $900 and we got an address. but still. feeling like an adult. now to buy a microwave.

did i tell you that i am no longer driving a car? it is now an oven, seeing as how the a/c is broken and the windows won't go down. I was driving michael the other day and i look back and he has the silver thing that you put in your windshield to reflect that sun. he has it on top of him like a turtle shell trying to stay cool. he's so weird...but the good news is that it's at the mechanic right now. i'll be using my tax refund to pay for it. blech

i think i told you both this, but my mom is taking my rent money ($150 a month) and collecting it and she's going to give it back to me when i leave. i am very thankful for that.

also we need to go camping or at least hiking before abby leaves. at least we need to give you a send-off party! :D and celebrate me. and brianna graduating!!! so many good things happening!

 ok i think that's it. Have a fantastic week.

Stress

Welp, Obviously blogging is not my forte. Good thing I don't do this for a living.

Basically, I am very stressed out right now. I have so much stuff to get done in the next few weeks. And I want them all to be amazing. I was going to write a Listz of all the stuff, but I wrote it all down to on paper and it's too long to transfer. Yeah... I'm about to throw a tempo tantrum -_-

On a high note however...

1.) After many minor setbacks it is official: GRACE AND I ARE SIGNING OUR LEASE ON FRIDAY!!! WOOT WOOT I'M SO FREAKING EXCITED
2.) I talked to Dr. Korevaar about studying abroad and he suggested Australia. Don't have to tell me twice!
3.) I get to accompany Mary for her senior recital in the fall!
4.) I got my first donation for San Diego and I feel reassured.
5.) I am almost done with my first year of college!
6.) I get a crap ton of extra money next year hence the reason why I will get to study abroad (forget about a 2 week trip somewhere!) This is a major development because I get to do what I want now!
7.) I had the best spring break in the history of the world. I think I have looked at the pictures like 20 times
8.) I get to play this badass piece next semester: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAsvRHXR_DE  yeah. It's badass. I have provided the link as a preview of coming attraction. (I predict that B will watch it and Grace will not... <---accurate.)
8.5.) I played in class today. Baby got Bach. Even if I screwed up Bach...
9.) I am in love with this piece I am playing right now! It's so much fun to play!
10.) I am completely and utterly annoyed by people who go to the treble of ridiculing my degree. I can't stand them. They just don't measure up to these standards in the music school.
11.) I am signing up for my classes on Friday and I am so excited about them! I get to take an art class!

Also, I am reading this sharp book called Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and I highly highly highly recommend it! It's awesome! Also the Bible but you know...

Keepin' it trill bro.

Find all the music puns and I'll be your best friend. Oh wait.
~Abby~