Easy peasy BLT-sy

Lately I've been on a BLT kick.





Cook bacon in the oven on aluminum foil and you don't even have to wash the pan.


Also, brown sugar sprinkled on top...soooooooo good.

















Sprinkle a little Santa Maria seasoning on the tomatoes.


Enjoy your delicious sandwich.


*Note: this was started almost a month ago. Due to lack of computer and stupid iPhone posting it has taken me that long to give you this.

Off the grid

So, I really want to have a blog. And I want to update it, and post cute crafty things that I (don't) have time to do on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. I want to be able to be creative, in my writing, decorating, and crafting in general. Apparently I'm not allowed to have what I want. It doesn't help that my computer is dead, and I have no way to charge it. Yay for iPhone apps!

Since the wedding (which I will hopefully be able to write about one of these days) a lot has happened. And since a picture is worth a thousand words, and I'm trying to type this on my phone...




Coleman opened wedding presents...



Grapes started maturing...



We started a garden, that gets watered probably once a week. Good thing it consists of mostly succulents.



We puppy sat for some friends. I love Sampson.



We used our cuisinart nearly every day since we got married.



Filtered table wines at work.



Went to a bachelorette in manhattan beach



Visited Coleman's parents and ate amazing food



Went to a cousin's wedding, who didn't want to attempt my new last name



Found heaven.



Sampled beer in orange county



Watched star trek



Crushed some grapes...



...then pressed them.



Made bleu cheese burgers and sweet potato fries



And I learned how to drive a tractor.

Also, apparently I have stopped caring about punctuation.

Crush is happening right now. Here's hoping I don't have to work 6 days/week for two and a half months like last year.

Bouquet

So last week I started making my bouquet. Fun times. I enlisted the 8th grade girls I volunteer with to help prep/make some of the flowers. Here's the close up/examples of the flowers:


And here's what I have done.


I have probably 30 more fabric rosettes to make. Time for movies and crafting! :)

Wedding project

So Kaitlin and I have been working on a wedding craft tonight.


So far we've cut around 60 feet worth of fabric for the bunting! Too bad I forgot to get the cord from Coleman so we can't actually finish it and see how long it really is. Oh well. I'll just get Coleman to help me attach the fabric to the cord for the aisle runners.

Here's hoping the rest of the crafting goes smoothly.

125 days and counting...

Our wedding is in 125 days. In honor of that I would like to post this video of a wedding that I am considering taking inspiration from. Does anybody want to volunteer to make this a musical wedding ceremony?

Lots happening

So I started a post a few months ago. Obviously that didn't turn out so well.

Coleman and I are in the middle of planning a wedding. Parts of the actual planning is stressful like everybody talks about. But the most stressful part so far has been my brother. His wedding is almost a month to the day before ours. And apparently ever since Coleman had the audacity to propose before Chris and Colleen were married (note the sarcasm) he's been incredibly selfish. This is where all of my wedding related stress has come from. He didn't talk to me for 6 weeks because we're using the same venue for our reception that he is. It makes me sad.

I've spent so much time praying for my own pending nuptials that I haven't at all for my brother's. Sometimes I feel like he is still living off our parents' faith and not claiming his own. He didn't find a community of believers in college. He still hasn't connected to anybody in the group he's going to now. I think more frustrating than his selfishness about wedding stuff is his lack of spiritual growth since high school. I feel like the rest of the siblings have taken the opportunities for growth that God has given us. Sometimes we learned our lessons the hard way, but we still grew. But it appears as though he's stagnant in his faith.

Please join me in praying for my brother, and my, marriage to be anchored in Jesus.

House

I've been offered a room in a house with a few girls from church. I would love to move out, into a real house, into a place with Christian women. And it's a block away from church.
Rent is about $100 more than what I'm paying now, but if I'm working full-time at Chick-fil-a I could make rent in a week.
Coleman doesn't want me to move, I think that's because we finally live close to each other again, and can just walk to each other's places.
Move in day would be June 1, so I need to decide soon so I can give my notice to my roommates and apartment complex. Pray for this decision!

UPDATE: Turns out the house that I was going to move into went into foreclosure. This was a surprise to the ladies living there and to the owners. I don't know how you could not know that your house was going to be going into foreclosure (doesn't that happen because you haven't been paying your loan off?).

Crime Alert

((Parental warning: This warning is directed specifically at my mother. Don't worry, I don't walk to or from Coleman's alone after dark. And my doors are locked at all times. I don't want you freaking out thinking I'm not safe where I'm living, I have never been afraid for my safety while living here.))

After the shooting that happened right off campus my last year working in the dorms (also around the same time of the Virginia Tech shooting), the school started emailing everyone that attends school anytime a major crime (robbery, harassment, shooting, stabbing, etc.) has happened on or around campus. This is their attempt at helping keep the campus more safe.

Sometimes it's annoying. Sometimes it's a little bit freaky. Like last year when the email said there was a shooting or stabbing right around the corner from my apartment ("So that's why the helicopters were flying about my complex", although this seems to be fairly routine).

Tonight I literally cried when I read one of the 2 that had been sent out this last week. 1) A girl was mugged, her purse stolen. Two days later, there was a report of a young woman being raped by two men. She was walking westbound on Shaw, near Backer. She was alone, it was night. But this happened right next to my complex. I feel for this girl.

It broke my heart reading that word. I can't even hear that word without my eyes watering. Today after hearing the message at church I was reminded of the focus of the last bible study series we did in Nehemiah (this is to the specific sermon I'm referencing, if you want to hear the rest of the series click on "More episodes" scroll to the bottom and click on page 4). Brad talked about our Holy Discontent. The thing that God has called us to do with our lives/skills/gifts. Perhaps mine has something to do with victims of this horrible crime. I'm not really sure, I still need to pray on it to determine if and what I could do. Nehemiah went 4 months before being able to do something about his calling to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.

When we were studying Nehemiah I wanted to think that I was called for something else, specifically to teach the junior high girls about relationships/dating. I knew that wasn't right, but I wanted to think it was, because it's easier to talk about. I had a brief moment that I thought it could have something to do with this but didn't want it to be true. I can't even say the word without wanting to cry, how could that be my holy discontent if I can't even say the word? Maybe the real question should be: "How could that not be it?" My heart is clearly broken for that. Maybe it's broken over that, but I'd rather not split hairs at this point.

Right now I want to just turn this over and give it to God. If I'm supposed to do something with this line of thought it will become something, a ministry perhaps, or even a mentorship? Who knows at this point.

Group Projects

I'm supposed to be working on a group project right now. I wasn't able to work with my partners in person due to work/time conflict. I was emailed the updated project and assigned certain topics to complete. While I have no problem with working in a group, the topics I was assigned, or that I couldn't meet on Saturday with them. I do have a problem with their inadequate grammar/word choice. Our project is to create an event, ours is a wine/food tasting fund raiser to benefit Bulldog Pantry (Fresno State's food bank. The word "poor" was used 10 times to describe the people/neighborhood/community served by this food bank, in one paragraph (5 sentences). You couldn't use "impoverished" or "destitute". That one might not be so bad, sometimes you just can't think of a synonym. One sentence (that I can't find anymore) I couldn't even understand it was worded so poorly. It's very obvious who wrote which parts because the person that says things like, "'member what he said in class" instead of remember. This is one of my biggest pet peeves. Bad spelling/grammar and speaking habits. It makes the person sound like an idiot. Use a thesaurus or dictionary. Seriously, they have them online now so it's even easier.
I've decided that there's too much editing to do to even bother fixing it. I still have most of my own work to do. I can't worry about the work of anybody else right now. I'm just very frustrated with it.

Toms

Being a little hypocritical at the moment.

I want Toms shoes.

My initial response to them, Ugo. Now, I want some.

I want this

I found a really cool decorating idea today.

I want this.



Seriously?
How amazingly awesome is this idea? Only downside? They used pushpins when making it, so if someone walked by and brushed it they could knock it down. Maybe I can figure out something else to use? Or do it on a smaller scale on a piece of painted wood...

Forgiveness?

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:14-15

A friend of my brother’s was arrested the other day. For internet pornography. He was extorting a 16-17 year old girl. She sent him inappropriate pictures; her mom found out and told her to end it. When she did he told her he would post the photos online. That threat and previous accusations against him was enough to put him in prison with a possible 5-30 year sentence.

Several people that I’ve talked to since I found out told me that they had always felt uncomfortable around him. One person laughed, at what an idiot he was. Another person posted on the friend’s facebook page “I just heard about a guy named ________ that’s 25 that was arrested as a sex offender. Crazy, he has the same name as you” (or something along those lines, I’m quoting what I heard not read). Someone else commented on that “HAHAHAHAHA That’s crazy!” They didn’t think it was actually him. There is a lot of shock, and small town gossip going on.

His parents are devastated, and don’t believe that he did it, or at least have hope that he could get parole. Colleen’s parents are in support of his. And while I love his parents, they are amazing people, I cannot get past the thought of he deserves every bit of this for what he did.

Jesus said that we’re supposed to forgive others 70x7 times. How do you forgive someone like this? If it’s hard for us to forgive others, why do we expect God to easily forgive us? If we can’t forgive others, how can we forgive ourselves, and how can God forgive us. Forgiveness has always been such an issue with me. “Little” things like lying I may be able to forgive, but when someone really screws up, when I’m the one that’s hurt and devastated, I don’t let go so easily. Does my brother’s friend not also deserve forgiveness? Even though what he’s done is horrible. We forgive others, then God forgives us.

If we are forgiven then turn around and condemn others, how is that living in a way pleasing to God? I just read Matthew 18, and verses 21-35 state this concept very clearly.

Can we forgive others and still think that they deserve punishment?

Rhetorical Questions

When you’ve spent so long not talking about something, how do you start? Where do you even begin? How much do you say? Do you not say some parts because it’s been so long that you don’t exactly remember the details (perhaps because you’ve forced yourself to forget)? Do you leave some things out because it’s just too hard to say the words? Do you talk about it, and cause a family grief? Had it been talked about in the first place would the situation be what it is today?

God is AMAZING!

What a provider He is!

This semester I am doing an internship for my PR class with an organization called 9 to 5 for Christ. A non-profit for women of faith in the workplace. A dinner is provided and guest speakers come in and talk about their faith, their work, etc.

After dinner and before the speaker index cards a provided to write down prayer requests to swap at your table. My prayer request was about finances and finding a job. As the speakers were just about to begin the lady next to me, Diana, handed me a check for $100. My eyes welled up and it took a few minutes for me to calm myself down. After the evening was over I gave her a hug and thanked her, she prayed with me about finding a job.

Thank you Diana. Thank you Lord!

Confession

So, I'm going to be sort of random, but this is what's going on.
I joined this social media website called ravelry, basically a knitting facebook. It's useful, lots of pattern ideas and the ability to ask other knitters questions. A friend asked me to knit him a bag that he can use when biking around downtown with his girlfriend (hold their wallets, a camera, etc.), so I looked up patterns and found an interesting idea. It's called "plarn", which is yarn made from plastic bags. You cut bags into one-inch strips, loop them together, then roll into a ball and knit. Target bags are more sturdy than regular grocery store bags. So Coleman and I need to invest in needles so "we" (read I) can knit this.
Last week Coleman's roommates very astutely pointed out that he tends to take over in the kitchen. So much so that we literally got into an argument because I was using a spoon instead of a fork to stir cookie dough. I really wanted to hit him and cry and go home (I didn't though, the cookie dough was there, not at my place). Most of the time I don't care, it's just times like this instance when he won't let go of the fact that I'm doing something different than he would have. And in my stubbornness I don't want to listen to his..."helpful advice". So Coleman has now decided that I need to be the one in charge in the kitchen, he'll gladly help me cook, but it will be my ideas. He's also supposed to step back and let me do things my way, haven't tested that one yet. I'm hoping that in the next week or so we can try to make meatloaf, I've never made it myself and I enjoy meatloaf.
Which brings us to the other entree I have been considering. This is a little embarrassing. I have been thinking about making "Engagement Chicken". I've heard the stories, at least the ones that worked. I'm just curious myself whether it works or not. But, it's a very plain recipe. Every recipe I've seen calls for a whole chicken, lemons, salt and pepper. That doesn't sound very flavorful, and I know that Coleman wouldn't be impressed by something that bland. It would need to be either spicy or cooked exceptionally well. Maybe it's more important that it's a whole chicken, and not the ingredients.
Any thoughts?

Long time no see

I'm not very good at this blog thing. I could take more time to be a blog person. But really, when it comes down to it, I'd much rather be doing something else. (Like knitting. I need to take pictures of some knitting projects from the last few months. I learned how to knit a beanie, and I knitted myself a sweater. The sweater turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.) Not talking about myself and what I'm doing. Which I feel is not a whole lot.

I'm still not working. It's been almost a year and I feel very inadequate, and my pride is hurt because I've had to ask my parents for help financially. I was so proud of myself for not needing my parents to pay for anything since my Freshmen year. And now, every time I think about money and bills and finding a job, my eyes get all watery, and my head hurts, and I practically burst into tears. I am so frustrated with not being able to find a job, and I know that the longer I don't have a job the harder it will be to get one.

I have a conundrum right now. My friend told me that if I could work from 10-5 a few days/week I could work at a winery. I have class everyday, partly to get enough units to remain full time as a student. I (am/was) going to get my Special Event Planning certificate. But if I dropped one of the classes I could work at the winery. If I dropped that class there would be no point in taking the other classes, and I would not get the certificate. I would still have full time student status. So do I take the immediate opportunity for a job, and just forget about the event planning certificate? Or do I try to find a different job, hope for the best, and keep the certificate which may help me get hired after I'm done with school?

Tonight was the first Tuesday night that I did not volunteer with the junior high group at church. Stupid class. I already miss them. Seriously. I think that is an age group I was meant to spend time with. What if I should have been a single-subject teacher rather than a winemaker? It's my last semester and I'm questioning my major...again.

Hopefully it won't be 6 months before I post on this thing again. But I can't make any promises.

Camacho Wedding

Josh and Jeanine got married last week! :) I am so happy for them. Jeanine assigned me the task of setting up the reception site...This is how it turned out:

Head table

Vases to go on the head table for bridesmaid's bouquets.

A cake for each table!

We had such a great time! I can't wait to see them in a few days, before they move to San Jose.

So school is about to start up again. I've kind of been thinking about changing my major...or staying in school and getting a double major, but at $2350/semester I won't be able to afford that. Right now I'm going to work on getting an event planning certificate, it's only 12 units, and I'm going to need more units for next semester when I only have one class to take. I've been thinking that maybe I want to work in a tasting room, and plan the events at a winery. Or even be a party planner or something along those lines. Who knows where I will end up.
This is what my summer has consisted of. Hanging out with Junior High girls. Some of the girls are the epitome of last year's mantra: "Boys, boys, boys. Text message, text message, text message." But mostly they're sweet girls trying to figure out who they are. Pray for more consistent female leaders to join us. With 25 seventh grade girls we're going to need more than two people leading life groups.

The never-ending hunt

Looking for a job is very aggravating. Fresno is in the top 5 worst places to find a job right now.
I have been able to read 5 books since school got out though. And gone on a few bike rides. So it's not ALL bad, not having a job. But I will eventually need some money, so the search continues.

Here's a picture of Coleman on our recent visit to Thousand Oaks, looking for a Blue Whale.
I would post the picture of the glimpse of Blue Whale that I took, but you wouldn't be able to tell unless you knew where exactly it was.

This final is absolutely insane. All of the questions have to be answered using outside sources, i.e. not from the lectures or book. I feel like I've had Senioritis for the last month and a half.
I'm thinking of getting a second degree, or minor. More on that when I have time.
On a lighter note, one of my friends is proposing to his girlfriend on Thursday. Pray for him, that even if things don't go exactly the way he planned, that they will turn out okay. He wants to propose at Woodward Park, so hopefully the weather is good. I'll have to tell you how he got the money for the ring another time, it's obvious that God was in it.