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.

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.

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.

Exponentially Increasing Children

So I live with seven kids and their parents. For the next two days another family of seven kids and two parents are staying with us. There are kids EVERYWHERE. It's a good thing I know the family that I stay with, otherwise I'd be so confused. I think that kids are growing out of the wall.

M&M Wedding

So my mom and I attend an old family friend, Mark Stuckey's wedding this weekend. He is the last of the Stuckey kids to get married and we attended the previous two so I was excited to come to Mark's. Also this picture has a lot of M's in so I like it: Melissa and Margot at Mark and Molly's marriage celebration.

FUI Ignite Reunion

Every Ignite conference is the joyful reunion of all summer projects. I also had my camera back so I was anxiously taking pictures. Here we have the wonderful Lissah (lee-saw).

Then Amanda.

And Marissa (with Alex in the background). How I miss all of these people.

I Miss My Twin

I miss Sol so much.

Sweet Ride

This was my ride to lunch today, fortunately for me, it was in the front seat not the back.

Goodbyes

Instead of going to our site today - we had a thank you lunch for the agencies that we worked with all summer long. This was our team from Light and Life - they were an amazing group of people. It was sad to part ways for the summer. I never noticed it before - but poor Kevin was the only guy working with us. Well he never complained.

Tommy

At my grandfather's 75th birthday bash, we brought our dog Tommy with us. He was jumping around the house knowing he was going for a drive and as you can see - he is still totally happy right now!

Father's Day Presents

Shh... this is a secret - but these are the two pictures my dad is getting for Father's Day. One is from BrightWaters photography and the other is from my graduation.

Cake and Frank

Cake and Frank nights! This is the last one we will have as "single" ladies since Emily is getting married in July. I think we are currently singing about it or screaming about or a bit of both. Or Prince Philip came on the tv and we are expressing our undying love for him.

Graduation!

4 years later:

- I changed my major only once
- I read a lot of books I tried to avoid in high school
- I stopped caring about my GPA when I got my first C in a class (thanks biology!)
- I lead two AWESOME bible studies
- I went on a mission trip to Fresno and decided to go back a lot
- I had an awesome roommate for three years
- I took more pictures than more people do in a lifetime
- I had three cameras total
- I lost some family members, gained perspective
- Gained student loans :)
- Had late night adventures
- Tried new things, found new problems
- Took a lot of risks
- Still have never broken a bone (and it will never happen I hope)
- Still never got a speeding ticket
- Joined the best club ever
- Bought too many Cal Poly sweatshirts
- Love a lot of people
- Grew up, forgave much

Even as college is over (and I won't get too sentimental) I can look back at all the awesome pictures I took (which are a lot) and remember the fond times, the crazy adventures, and the transformations I experienced in only four years.

Area Greatness and Matchiness

A while back I showed you all the picture of my area t-shirt. Well this is us all wearing them together. We look pretty awesome if I do say so myself. I think it is one of the best "funny" pictures I've been in too because we are all doing something crazy.

Rose Bowl

To do: hike around the Rose Bowl

To check: if the trail still exists

To find out: the trail was washed out by the rain.

Good plan Mom.

Valentines Day Cards

Best Valentines Day card ever. I got it from my mom. And these are my favorite Up! quotes: 

Carl: "Hey, let's play a game. It's called: 'see who can be quiet the longest.'"

Russell: "Cool! My mom loves that game!"

Alpha: "Now you must wear the cone of shame."

Doug: "I do not like the cone of shame." 

Doug: "Hey, I know a joke! A squirrel walks up to a tree and says, 'I forgot to store acorns for the winter and now I am dead.' Ha! It is funny because the squirrel gets dead." 

Doug: "I hid under your porch because I love you." 

Mom's First HighStreet Experience

This is the sandwich up close - the garden veggie sandwich.

She was really excited to have such as kick butt sandwich.

What I meant to do was get a picture of was the High Street Deli application for employment. It is a blank piece of paper.