Thirty

Isn't this cake great? :) I don't feel like I'm dying at all - but it's pretty funny whoever's it was.

Yes, I've been introspective about turning the big 3-0. Am I depressed? No. Emotional? Yes, very. I think turning 30 has made me very aware of some things. I realize I don't want to settle anymore. I don't want to waste my time. It's time to think about babies. Time to think about where to put down roots. Time to think about my passions and gifts and how I can shine more - avoiding things that dim or bring me down. I feel comfortable in my own skin. I'm ok with crying and don't hide it. I don't care as much about what people think. I trust my convictions more. I feel stronger, less insecure and self conscious. I'm more honest with myself and others. I love to love others and not expect anything in return. Getting to 30 has been an insane journey; I love who it's shaped me to be. I love the friends that I've met. I love the friends that I've kept. I love the experiences I've had. I love the hardships. Yes, I said it. I love when things get hard because it gets me to wake up and learn more about life and myself. 30 is cool. It's just weird when I think about it being half of 60. :)

Spoiled

Meet my gorgeous, new birthday present. Jake got me another pave diamond eternity band so I have one for each side of my engagement ring. It counts for my anniversary present and Valentine's present this year too. Hee hee. Yes, I'm spoiled. I have an incredibly sweet husband.

I Sound Like My Mother

Jake and I have wanted to get to know the teens in our youth group better so we had 2 nights this month where we invited anyone in the youth group to come over and just hang out. These pics are from this past Thursday. Umm... see all of that soda below? These kids cannot keep it off of my floor. lol I swear, I need to rubber band the cups to their hands.

Awwww, youth ministry! We had tons of fun, but I'm getting tons of mileage out of my swiffer. :)

Pic From Last Night

Last night was a blast. The best Christmas present. Here's the only pic I got (well, I took 2 others but they were blurry). I got yelled at by the theater hostess for having a camera inside and she threatened to take it away. Am I a child? lol

Oh yeah, and I got my hair cut yesterday by my friend Danellia. Fun fun fun!

My Christmas Present

Is tonight! Jake is taking me to see...


But before that, he's taking me out for my favorite dinner... Teppenyaki


Come on, how could I not include this sweet pic that I found?

Yes, I will be smiling like these people and having a good time. :)

Winter Extreme 2009

Wanna know what it's like to take over 200 high school students to camp for MLK weekend? :) Check out this video made by some of my freshmen boys...

A New Year

Yes, it's a new year, and a new blog look. I needed a fresh change - it might change again. I'm just taking this one out for a test drive. :)

I started off this year with such ambition and excitement only to have things go south the very first week in January. Honestly! I've never been so motivated and excited about a New Year in my life - - - someone must have been out to ruin it for me.

So now I'm set on taking my life back and focussing on the fact that it can only go up from here! Man I miss my blog! Man I miss my life!

This year started off with...

1. Me getting a speeding ticket - I hate cops now. Come on, 38 in a 25 in a school zone when kids are out on Christmas break??? Gilbert PD are seriously nazis and they do not give warnings. My mother-in-law got a ticket when she visited as well. Hey, if you visit us, you have to follow the law here cuz the cops are relentless. Jerks. I'm guessing since the enconomy is low, there's some incentive to bringing in money to the city. Can you say Trip to the Bahamas or bonus check?
2. Me getting kicked out of traffic school (way the h-e-double hockey sticks in Scottsdale at the butt crack of dawn) because the old man didn't have me on "his list" (even when I showed him my online confirmation number!!!) Now I hate old people who aren't up with technology. jk
3. My car died as I was leaving for traffic school.
4. Me getting locked out of my own house and stuck out in the cold for an entire hour on my back patio the same day I got kicked out of traffic school.
5. Me going to traffic school for a second time and missing out on going to Tombstone with Jake and his dad.
6. Me working until 10pm for the last 2 weeks to plan a very unorganized and schizophrenic Winter Camp - but man did God show up!
7. Me having 2 of my adult leaders shutting me out because they had a bad camp experience and don't know if they want to lead in High School anymore - Honestly, I wouldn't be sad if these ladies left. They've done enough damage with our students and their "opinions". It's pruning time!
8. Me not being able to keep up with 2 teenie tiny New Year's Resolutions because my life has been taken from me from the crazy Winter Camp planning! Resolution number one... exercise at least 20 min 3 times a week. I even joined a Yoga class and bought a mat and everything! Resolution number two came to me from a magazine article I was reading on the plane ride back from SoCal after Christmas... To keep from worry it's good to focus on the positive and keep hopeful by writing down 3 good things from each day. I started this in my journal and then failed miserably!
9. Me going to the dentist and finding out I have 2 cavities.

So life can only get better from here, right? :) I'm determined to stay positive and find joy in all that I do... even when I want to quit because my eyes are about to pop out of my head. :)