News Years Eve

Well the end has finally come. To celebrate the end of the year and the end of this blog, Christina and I got cupcakes. She insists that frosting is gross while I disagree.Anyway, thank you for those that followed me along this journey of photos. I shall not leave you empty handed should wish to continue blogging with me. At midnight my new blog starts up: As Ruin Falls. Check it out sometime.

Anyway wrap ups for the years 2010:

• Faced a lot of rejection but got through it.
• Returned to Fresno where God challenged my ideas about ministry.
• Started my teaching credential program and realized how much I love working with kids.
• Went to a LOT of weddings.
• Started up my photography business.
• Moved in/out of a house five times.
• Took well over 2,000 pictures throughout the year (my computer likes that one)
• Got three new cameras (and had one stolen).
• Made new friends, saw some go.
• Drank beer from at least 10 different countries in December alone.
• Turned 23 years old
• Rode a horse
• Got into at least three new tv shows 
• And had a lot of awesome adventures and stories 

Ok 2011... you've got some catching up to do.

The Friend Who Saw it All

This is my partner in crime throughout the year (well only for the last half since it was a graduation present). But it is the Robin to my Batman, the Pinky to my Brain, the Sheep to my Moses... ok enough of that but seriously, it has been a good journey friend.

P.S. I still have don't have a name for my camera. Suggestions? (and the first time I've asked for audience feedback. This is fun).

Wonderful

I consider myself a very fortunate person because I have a lot of amazing friends. Many of them have been featured throughout this blog and as it comes to an end (and naturally I become all sentimental) I once again realize how much God has blessed me over the past year.

When I was asked to go back to FUI (Fresno Urban Internship) I was very taken aback, the whole thing had come by surprise. I had already faced a lot of rejection of other internships and positions I had wanted so to be basically handed this was weird. I had never planned to return to Fresno - I even told everyone I went on the project with that I would only go once, that was all God wanted of me. But exactly one year ago - at Urbana I felt God call me to go back to Fresno. So many things happened while I was there that I never would have predicted but what I was most blessed with was a new and important friendship in my life.

I never expected to be such good friends with Sol past FUI. Not at first. Only when we realized how similar we were and how we faced very similar things in life, did we bond like atoms. Her friendship help get me through the hardships I faced during the summer. She sat and listened as I verbally vomited all over her but also wouldn't let me settle in it.

So today I celebrate her birthday and the awesomeness that she is while also remembering how far God has brought me in a single year.

Ukulele

I'd have to say this is one of my all time favorite Christmas presents. My ukulele. I've been practicing cords so I can play real songs (not that Braelyn is Going to Fail Her Math Test wasn't a real song but it wasn't very well received). I've learned a couple of cords and played Jingle Bells at least once.

Knight and Day

"I've been trained to dismantle a bomb in the pitch black with nothing but a safety pin and a Junior Mint, I think I can get you in and out of some clothes without... looking.... I'm not saying that's what I did."

Christina and I have been on an action movie theme lately. We watched the A-Team and now Tom Cruise's Knight and Day. We didn't watch because it looked like an Oscar movie but because wanted to a) watch a movie where things blow up and b) watch Tom Cruise be crazy. We were satisfied in both aspects by the end of the movie.

Snow Capped Mountains

One of the many benefits to the mass amounts of rain California experienced last week is now our mountains have snow on them. This barely captures the awesomeness that was this site.

Christmas Carols

Christmas was one of the few days where I felt pressured to put up a good picture. Since it's Christmas, I thought at first it should be something related to Jesus. Then I thought that I should show the thankfulness for all the wonderful gifts I received. But as you can see - neither of these made it to the list. Yesterday's picture I think captured the meaning of the season for my faith and today I've focused on family.

Because these two wonderful characters have been a part of my grandmother's household for as long as I can remember. Every Christmas we spend at my grandmother's house, eating too much, and talking too loud.

Christmas should also be about singing - well every day should be about singing so I guess that is now an unrelated point.

Candle Light Service

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne on over his kingdom establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."

Isaiah 9:2-7

Christmas Explosion

This is just a taste of the insanity that is my Mom's house. As you can see, our house is a Christmas explosion. But the stockings that you see - are some of my favorite items in the house because we've had them since I was born. Also, there are no regular ornaments on the tree - no bulbs that you buy in bulk, no each one was hand picked every year that I have been alive - from the baby blue one for my first Christmas (my mom thought I was going to be a boy) to the 'Smore-Man to the chalkboard to signify that I am going to be a teacher.

Puppy Love

This is my dog Tommy - he is giving me the puppy eyes right now. I think he wants to be on the bed but isn't allowed on at the moment. Our dog is spoiled - most dogs don't get to be on any bed, but Tommy is special I guess.

Advent

I've been thinking a lot about the Christmas season lately so let me use this excuse to process out loud. I've been reminded just how commercial Christmas time can be. Not that I don't like Christmas time - it's one of my favorite times of the year but I seem to go back and forth on the whole "how to celebrate the season" idea. On one hand, I like giving and receiving presents. It's a chance to give people gifts to show you care and I honestly don't like the guilt trips some people put out there of how we spend too much money - it's not like we spend money on ourselves. 

Then I remember how easily the "true meaning" of Christmas gets lost in the holiday cheer. I put that in quotes not to diminish the meaning of Christmas but to say that Christ wasn't born in December (a part of me likes to keep thinking I share a birthday month with Jesus). It's more likely he was born in March... and ignoring all the reasons why the holiday season was joined to celebrate Christ's birth - I kind of want to separate it. I like celebrating the Christmas time but I want Christ's birth to be separate - to give it more focus. Then of course I think against this idea because if I can't put aside my own distractions of the holidays to celebrate Christ's birth then who is to say I could do it in March or April or whenever. 

I feel as if I have gone in one giant circle of thought - and perhaps because most of this was bothering me at 1 am in the morning and it is very hard to keep thoughts linear past midnight. I guess in the end Christmas will remain a joint celebration of Christ and ourselves and sometimes we can do both and sometimes we place priority on just one. So for now I leave you with this verse from Isaiah foretelling Christ's arrival in a dark world... because that is the reason he came down to save us - not just from the darkness of eternal hell but from the darkness we were already living in on earth. 

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned... For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from the time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." - Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

Harry Potter

For my birthday I saw the seventh Harry Potter film: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. While watching the movie I thought that they changed it from the book so much because I didn't remember anything that I read being in the movie. But I had heard how accurate it was to the book so I decided to read through it again. Turns out, I just didn't remember what I had read because the movie really does give an accurate plot portrayal. Definitely worth seeing (and thankfully it also did not buy into the 3D fad that seems to be creeping up in every movie).

Gnomes and Rockets

Today Sarah invited me over for a small Christmas party at her place. She made us dinner then we opened presents she got us and then decorated Christmas cookies. I decided that the food coloring (used to make new colors of frosting) looked like little gnomes so I started calling them that. Then I proceeded to call the frosting decoration tubes rockets because that's what they looked like. What's not captured in this picture is my new Christmas jingle. It goes like this:

"Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, I'm decorating cookies.
Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, Sarah doesn't like them.
Oh Christmas Tree, you are a cookie, I just wish that you looked pretty.
Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, I'm decorating cookies."

Beers of the World

This was my birthday present from Sarah Henry. Needless to say my bags are packed for this awesome adventure. Ten countries, ten new beers to try, seriously greatest present ever.

Raindrops on My Window

My friend Sol describes it as tap dancers trying to figure out choreography. Five, six, seven, eight...

Day of Awesomeness

So December 16th happens to be my favorite day of the year. Here is why: 16 is my favorite number, December is my favorite month, and it just so happens to also be my birthday. It is a day for all awesomeness to occur. Well this was my birthday present from my dad to conclude a day full of pho, martinis, and Harry Potter greatness.

Shutterfly

I've been working a lot of Shutterfly projects recently for Christmas gifts and the like, so naturally I brought out the old scanner and started scanning in old photos. I came across this one, one of my favorite baby photos of me.

O Christmas Tree of Giant Proportions

The Christmas Tree in the Americana in Glendale. It's huge, full of lights, and looks like it came straight from the Nutcracker.

I'll Be Home for Christmas

"O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, how lovely are your branches..." Time to be home for the holidays -  and insert every greeting card welcoming you can think of. This is my dad's Christmas Tree, the only traditional "Christmas" thing in his house. My mom's house, on the other hand, looks like a greeting card company exploded in her house - there are so many decorations. Mom loves Christmas more than any other time of year.
Me personally, I just love December. I love the winter time, the cold weather, the holidays, and being on break.

Horseback Riding

Today was awesome. I went horseback riding for the third time in my life. But this was my first time in California (the first was in New Jersey and the second was in England). Also this was my first time riding bareback. It was way better than riding a saddle (you aren't sore in awkward places for days afterwards).

Baby, the horse, took a liking to me. I think it was because I wasn't too scared or too cocky. I trusted her to do her thing and she then trusted me.

Bottom line: I am going back.

Around the World

Dylan successfully completed his Around the World Challenge. That meant that he drank 40 beers from around the world in less than a year. I don't know if that's impressive or just kind of sad. Maybe a little bit of both - but that's a lot of beer my friends. I am currently trying it but will probably succumb to the fact that I like my beers and don't venture far out from my favorites.

Sundown

Sometimes I am amazed at the view from my house. I am really going to miss it.

Santa Maria High School

This is where I will be commuting to for the next two and a half months to do my student teaching. 60 miles everyday roundtrip. I will spend more on gas than I do on rent, probably.

I am really excited though - it is out of my comfort zone and a cross-cultural experience but I love those (you don't do FUI twice and not love cross-cultrual experiences). I think I need to get a SMHS sweatshirt to rock.

I Am the Walrus

We were probably being culturally inappropriate and playing with our chopsticks. First it was this, then playing the drums, then trying to pass Cheerios  We were so classy at sushi tonight... I think the stress of finals was getting to us all.

Whiskey and Chicken

"You know what would be good with BBQ chicken?" - Karl B.
"What?" Me
"Whiskey." - Karl B.

Five minutes later Nate brings out Whiskey from the pantry and yes, we did have it with our chicken.

Sparkling Flower

Marissa finally turned 21, which is weird to me. But we were going to go to Spikes, my favorite bar in SLO but they were closed for a Holiday Party (and trust me, I thought about crashing it). So we decided to go to Sushi and get Sake. This one was called Sparkling Flower. It tasted just like what a flower might taste like.

Etch-A-Sketch

So the oldest daughter that I live with drew this on the Etch-a-Sketch. Seriously, this girl is talented. I can't believe it myself, this is legit stuff. I'm slightly jealous right now.

Lyn's Bachelorette Party of Awesomeness

Tonight was Lyn's Bachelorette Party (which is a hard word to spell) of epic proportions. We dressed up in vintage clothing and hit the town for a scavenger hunt and even got serenaded along the away. Can't reveal too many details but it was a night to remember.

Candy Cane

Today's Adventure: The Dollar Store. Emily had a burning desire for Candy Canes and Lauren need tea candles so we went in search of these treasures. Instead of finding the tiny candy canes, Emily found the giant sticks. Sadly when I opened mine, the front part just fell off. I think because I was too fond of my candy cane scepter and was waving it around the dollar store.

Through the Open Door

This door was on campus for some odd reason. So of course we went through it - I was hoping it would take us to some magical land, a Narnia perhaps. I was sadly disappointed. I guess something so obvious wouldn't transport us to other worlds. Unless it's obviousness made it the perfect portal because would just walk by it....

Baby It's Cold Outside

December has arrived! This means several things. First off, it is time to brush off the dust from those Christmas records and start playing Holly Jolly tunes of Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Holiday music (pick your celebrated winter Holiday and insert it's music here).

Also it means that Baby It's Cold Outside Inside. My house is like a freezing icebox and I am cold 24/7. I can't wait to go home for break and be in 70 degree weather again.

December is also my birthday month so I will be celebrating during 23. Finally, December 1st means that we have exactly one month left before the blog will come to an end. No tears necessary - I will be starting another one in 2011 to feed my own ideas of my supposed importance in the world.

Pampered Chef

I am becoming an adult based on the fact that I now do adult things like go to Pampered Chef cooking parties. My mom goes to things like this...

Raccoon Hat

When I dropped off Chelsey we had this exact conversation:
"Hey who's home?" - Me
"Probably Marissa." - Chelsey
"Really, with that hat in the window?" (we could only see the funny looking hat but no face or head for that matter). - Me
"Oh yeah." (Chelsey is perplexed). "That's probably not her." - Chelsey

But it was in fact Marissa with a raccoon on her head.

The Drowning of Gingerbread Man

I had a Gingerbread Latte from Borders and part of the reason it is so expensive is it comes with a little Gingerbread man. But sadly he is currently drowning in my latte. What you don't see in a couple of minutes he falls to the bottom of the cup. :( 

Soledad

On our way to Santa Cruz I saw the sign for the city of Soledad and I was so excited to take a picture of it and send it to my friend Sol. However, my phone is not a state of the art camera (or a state of the art phone for that matter) and just missed the great photo opportunity. So instead of sleeping on the car ride home, I stayed mostly awake so I wouldn't miss the wonderful signage opportunity. 

Bo-ya!

Pig Staredown

Our family game used to be Hand and Foot. That is a complicated card game that requires skills, patience, and a lot of brain power. But now our family game has shifted to a game of squealing, change, and yelling: Pass the Pigs. The goal of the game is to roll these tiny pigs and ensure they land in a particular way to gain maximum points.

I think we have downgraded on our game skills.

Grading Papers

My new life begins now. Already practicing the grading over the Holidays. Note to future self: don't assign papers or tests right before the break because otherwise I spend my break grading them while my students get to frolic in Thanksgiving joy.

Flyers and Business Cards

Blog to come. Right now the wonderful people who want see my work come to this particular blog but soon I will be creating one specifically for my new on the side business.
Any logo suggestions?

Night Sky

Rain + city skyline + clouds equal greatness. Fortunately I managed to get a few shots on from the moving car I was in as we travelled over the freeway. 

Train Ride Home

Taking the train sounds glamorous but in reality - it is not. Getting to the train station is fun, there is a lot of hustle and bustle, the unique noises to a train station, the conductors. And then the ride begins. It starts of with excitement, looking at the scenery passing by, seeing sights hidden from a normal car ride, and not having to drive yourself. 

But then, it gets dark, and you can't see out your window anymore. And the train will stop at random times to let others pass. Then you look at your watch and realize you have two hours to go but if you would have driven by car, you could have been home 20 minutes ago. And then you're tired of sitting down and really want to get out of this moving box but home is just so far away. 

Point: don't take the train for somewhere more than an hour away. 

Montecuollo Photos

This weekend I took Nicole's graduation photos. It was also the first time that I was officially paid for my services. It was the launch of Montecuollo Photos - my on-the-side amateur photography business. Contact me for more info *wink *wink. 

Naked Phase

A picture is worth a thousand words. I'll let it speak for itself. 

Coffee and Breakfast Burrito

As I commute to school every day I often find myself with extra time in the day. So whenever I need a place to relax I come to my favorite coffee shop in the world, Nautical Bean. And I recently found out that they are putting one downtown. How glorious is my life. 

The Heart of Racial Justice

This is the new book that I am reading lately. I first began it several years ago, after the first time I went to FUI. But then I decided to re-read it (or read it all the way through). It is very intriguing.

(Side note - did not actually finish this book until fall of 2012. Oops.)

Changing Colors

Yes the colors do change in California too. Except instead of this happening in September/October, it happens in late November. I think in SoCal we have about one week of real winter. Most of October-February is a glorified fall season. But in reality I could not handle anything else.

It's Beginning...

Yes, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Downtown Arroyo Grande has been transformed into a Winter Wonderland (minus the snow but makes up for in lights).

Too Darn Hot

At least once a day someone gets dared to eat these exceptionally hot peppers. They were sitting in a bowl on the table and to prevent some form of a death by pepper, they have becoming hanging decorations. I guess you wouldn't eat stuff hanging from the wall as quickly as you would if it sat in a bowl, which begs the question, potpourri (really, that's how you spell that? I'm just as shocked as you are). 

Prayer Letter Pictures

I've become an expert at prayer letter pictures for IV staff. Above is the Alan Hancock College and below is Cal Poly.