Some Things I've Been Up To

Sometimes I don't blog because I just don't have the time.  Other times I don't blog because I don't have anything interesting to say.  One thing I know is that people like pictures, so here are some pictures of what I've been doing lately.

With my sister getting married in January I have been coming home for a lot of family weekends.  I have been missing my church family in LB on Sundays, but I absolutely love the time with these people in this picture.  Sometimes being away for so long makes me forget how blessed I am to have the family that I have.  This specific picture was last month (October) on my Dad's 61st birthday.

As 6 months together came and went, this silly guy has kept me laughing and loving life.  I'm so glad we are still able to date and pursue each other regardless of how long it's been--it makes everything more fun  :}  This particular picture is us on the pier at Seal Beach after a Ruby's dinner, just being...us.

(My new "Hipster" App turns my pictures into Hip Postcards! LOL)

This is Carmelitos where I do my Community Service Learning.  I work with children from the Carmelitos neighborhood (low-income housing projects) to mentor them, tutor them, play with them, and provide any other after-school help that they need.  I have also received a specific "mentee"that I mentor primarily..

This is my baby Nebula.

She has melted my heart.

I see her every Thursday and it is always one of the highlights of my week.  Working at Carmelitos has opened my eyes and softened my heart to these innocent children that have so much to give but so little opportunity.  I love to love on her, and the way that she squeals when I have barely walked through the door plasters a huge smile on my face that is hard to get rid of.

Instead of buying overpriced Christmas gifts for everyone this year I began a painting project so that I can paint things that I know my family and friends would like, and have them "mean" so much more than a petty gift.  The only difficulty is finding time to get out all the paints and make a mess.  On Veteran's day we had the day off from school, so I spent the whole day painting.  These are the beginnings of a few of the paintings I did for my little sister's future house (she loves Sanctus Real).

James never drank much Starbucks before we met, but now he's a loyal customer (can I say that?)!  Starbucks gets us through school and work, and those have been two very demanding things lately.  Before-school coffee visits make my day!  On the bright side, today I took my last midterm/submitted my last paper and I am free for the week for Thanksgiving break!  I will be spending the Holiday in Bakersfield with James' mom's side of the family, which should be fun.  I love bonding.  :]

Working Hard or Hardly Working?  Sometimes I'm not sure.  Yesterday I spent 16 straight hours in bed, doing a combination of napping/studying/writing/sleeping/home-working and preparing for this last day of school.  Some days I feel like I have conquered the world, but more often than not I'm just exhausted.  I will be sooo glad when December 15th rolls around and I can wash this semester off of me.  This is my last intensive school semester (5 classes/lab) and after this I think it's safe to say it's all down hill from here. 

 I just picked my Spring classes about 30 minutes ago and here is a look at my schedule:

In case this just looks like gibberish to you non-college people, it just means I have 3 classes and a lab, and from the reviews I've read online, my 8am class is a piece-of-cake elective (attendance is not even mandatory!).  Graduation is lurking...so, so close.....!

Happy Thanksgiving!