Coupon Craze!

Lately it seems as though I am addicted to coupons. I have always heard the idea of creating a separate email account for coupons. But never did it... well it all started when my sisters boyfriend, Justin sent me multiple emails on how to order an Entertainment Book. Because it is so late in the year, they're on sale pretty cheap on the website. There are some great deals in there....and I have been using a lot of the coupons already. Then I was at the gym a few weeks ago and....the news was on the tv in front of me, they began talking about coupons and how you should create a separate account for coupons, so.... I FINALLY did... about a week ago, maybe two weeks I went on, created a separate email and then began going on sites and registering for their e-accounts or e-deals. I have already received so many coupons. Its been GREAT! And.... my birthday is coming up and if you don't know, most places will send you coupons for free stuff for your birthday. So.... that means soon I will be receiving more for that too!

I also was just recently told about a website..... Freebirthday.com

It is similar to going on and adding your email to the different sites but they do it for a bunch of them for you. Anyway.... check it out. There are also the reg coupons that come in the mail and in Sunday papers too... and if you have any other ideas let me know. I don't even mind carrying the coupons with me when I go out. Nick explained it quite well last night, its like a game to me, where I can get coupons and use them. haha.... because I love games and this is just another challenge. Anyway... hope my excitement gets you going on this coupon craze as well.... :)

P.S. If you want to get an entertainment book... right now when you reserve your 2011 one... they will send you a 2010 one for FREE.... click here for more details.

The Rusty Pelican. The Griffith Observatory.

A few weeks ago Nick took me to The Rusty Pelican for dinner, it is down by the beach. It was so nice :) and very delicious!

Yesterday, Michelle, KC, Nick, and I went down to LA to go to the Griffith Observatory. We went to eat at Andres, a spaghetti place on the way, it was gooood! and then we headed over to the observatory, It was pretty cool.... I LOVE the stars, they're just something that have always amazed me and I love being outside at night just looking up at the stars... The Lord and his creation just amazes me. I really want to drive to the middle of the desert sometime so I can just look up and see the stars so clear.... anyway, we went and it was cool to look at stuff about the sky and space, you can even see how much you weigh on each planet! Anyway... if you have the chance to go, you should! :)

GTI

This deserves its own blog. Thats what Nick would say I am sure so.... here it is... Nick's new GTI. I LOVE it! :)

in the desert.

I know, i JUST posted a blog but.... this really blessed me, I hope it blesses you, whether you're in the desert, leaving it, or entering it.

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert.

Exodus 3:1

It seems God often plants His people in the desert before He uses them.

Elijah was a man of the desert.

John the Baptist grew up in the desert regions of the Dead Sea.

Paul spent the three years following his conversion in the deserts of Arabia.

John the revelator was banished to the desert isle of Patmos.

Like you, I have gone through desert times, dry seasons when I have wondered, “Lord, where’s Your presence and where’s Your power?” But, as the years have gone by, I have come to understand that those desert times are imperative if I am to be one who is not dependent upon my feelings or my emotions. Desert seasons are essential for me to come to a place where I can say, “Lord, You promised You would be with me. You promised You would never leave me no matter how dry the times might be or how solitary the setting might seem. The fact of the matter is, Your Word has been given and You’re teaching me to stand upon it rather than sink in my own emotions.”

Over the years, I have seen lots of talented people in all sorts of ministries fall away because their emotions, rather than the Word, dictated their walk. Emotions go up and down. Emotions are fickle. Emotions are affected by how our job is going, how our family is doing, or how much pizza we had the previous evening. But because God wants us to be stable and solid, to walk by faith and not by feelings, He will put us into a desert place where we, like Moses, must learn to be content and say, “Lord, You’ve given me the promise of Your Word. And that is all I need.”

This Daily Devotional is an excerpt from the book "A Pillar By Day" by Pastor Jon. "A Pillar By Day" is a collection of 365 short devotions from the Old Testament books of Genesis through Deuteronomy

Birthdays and golf.

Since my graduation was on Nick's birthday we decided to celebrate a week later. So we had some friends over for game night. It was a blast :)

We had chili dogs and Nachos! don't worry you health nuts, there was fruit and veggies there too ;)

I made this birthday cake for Nick for his birthday game night :) It includes white cake, vanilla frosting, almond joy pieces, and white chocolate covered pretzels..... all his favorites :)

My sister, Kendall, her birthday is coming up so this weekend we had a BBQ for her with our immediately family.

This was her birthday present! What a cool bike huh? don't worry you safety guards, my dad's getting her a helmet ;)

Today Nick and I went golfing with his parents... well, they went golfing, i joined them and enjoyed the outdoors, it was so nice!

We had a blast out there :)

GRADUATION!!!

Today I graduated with my BA in Liberal Studies from California Baptist University!

I am no longer an undergrad but a Graduate Student!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!

It was also Nick's bday and my dad put his name on a piece of cake. :)

The pics are of me and Jillian, then a silly one of Kc, Michelle, Bethany and myself spelling 2010. and finally the last is of myself and Nick.....

Graduate school aka school for credential in 10 days............ :)

My 100th post.

I know I know I haven't blogged in FOREVER... well about 4 months, I noticed I went all semester without posting a blog so i decided I would recap the last 4 months in 1 blog.... here it goes....

A little update on what has happened since Nick came home......Sorry its so long.... prob a record or something... haha

December: Nick came home, I went with his parents to pick him up from the airport :)

December 23, 2009, Nick arrived

This photo was taken at the airport, I know its blurry sorry, I was SHAKING lol

At Nick's house, after we got back from the airport :)

This is us at my house on Christmas :)

(I posted it in my last blog, but since I'm recapping decided it belonged here again)

January:

It was my nephew, Colin's, birthday so Nick and I took him to Disneyland for a day... it was a blast.... :) Nick and I went to the snow for a day with my parents, it was at the old camp I used to go to when I was little. It was a lot of fun. January was also when my best friend, Michelle's birthday was so we went to BJ's to celebrate.

Nicks sister left for Ireland.... we miss her but.... I can't wait to visit!

Isn't this one of the cutest things you have ever seen? I thought it was adorable! Nick and Colin walking into Toon Town at Disneyland!

We all wore hats :)

We went to the mountains with my parents for a day to play in the snow :)

It was Michelle's 22nd bday, we all went to BJ's to celebrate, in the picture is KC and Michelle

Nick's sister, Jessica, moved to Ireland.... Lucky huh? This is her and her mom at her going away party

February: It was Valentine's day, and Nick took me out for a nice dinner. February was also the month of our Winter HS camp at Harvest. Our theme was Fixated. It is always a blessing to go up and encourage hs-ers in the Lord and to be encouraged in my walk as well. Nick and I went to Disneyland for the opening of the Captain E-O tribute with Kendall and Justin, it was raining, that didn't stop us, it made it more fun! We also purchased Catan, probably one of the greatest games ever.

Nick took me out for Valentines Day. We went to TAPS, he had a reservation and totally surprised me :)

This is what Nick brought me before our date on Valentines Day

Nick and I at HS Winter Camp

Myself and some of my good friends going sledding at camp, that was fun :)

This is me and Nick, Ily and Walter, and Michelle and KC. They're our good friends :)

This is Ily and myself with our other friend Michelle :)

My sister Kendall, and her boyfriend Justin when we went to Disneyland in the rain....

Splash Mtn in the rain? why not, we were already prepared!

Nick and I all ready to head out in the rain.

Catan. That should be enough said but, if you havent played it, you need to, its one of Nick and my favorite games... and we own all of the editions :)

March: Sometimes I take my nephew, Colin to school, when I do, the new tradition is to make pancakes :) My photography class was great! I loved it, I really enjoyed taking that class, and... it was just for fun! I didn't have to take it, I wanted to :)

I really enjoy going to air shows. When I was little I would go with my dad a lot. Whenever there is one, I always try to go.... its fun and amazing to me how much the human mind comes up with. Our friends Brittany and Luke Sanders were married this month, it was a beautiful wedding and reception!

I made pancakes, just for fun... and also for my nephew for breakfast, it soon became a tradition, when I take him to school, I make him pancakes for breakfast!

I was taking a photography class... this is a photo someone took of me in class.

Nick and I went to the Riverside Airshow with my dad and sister, Courtney.. I am so fascinated by planes...

Nick and I at our friend Brittany's wedding!

April: The day before Easter..... our best friends KC and Michelle got ENGAGED!!!! woohoo!! It was so exciting.... Michelle asked me to be her maid of honor, I am honored.... ha! no but really I am privileged and so thankful for our friendship, she is such a blessing to me, her and KC are to both Nick and myself. We went to a couple of angel games, one that was in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most people wearing a fleece blanket, aka a snuggie, at the same time for 5 min. It was a lot of fun. When we went to the angel game with Michelle and KC, KC asked Nick to be his best man. So, this is going to be a lot of fun, I am so excited to be apart of it and excited they will finally be married :)

Nick FINALLY went in for surgery for his kidney stones.... good news.... we think they are all gone, we find out tomorrow if it was fully successful. Thank you to everyone who was praying :)

I had to say goodbye to my first car, the saturn..... it didn't pass smog so.... I sold it to the state bc it was a "gross polluter" it sounds a lot worse than it was.... to be honest, I am kinda bitter when I drive by a car who is obviously a gross polluter, if my car, which wasn't that obvious was a polluter, get yours off the road! lol anyway.... so I have a new car....its my sisters old car and I am very thankful for it.

I had a good time dying Easter eggs this year.... The best of Easter part was sunrise service at church, and remembering all that Christ did for us:)

Michelle and I at the Angels game... they won :)

Nick and I, wearing our snuggies....:)

The newly engaged couple, Michelle and KC!

When everyone put their Snuggie on for the world record!

Nick, waiting to go in for surgery.....

Goodbye.

Thanks for reading if you made it to the bottom lol.... obviously there was a lot more that went on but this is a short (Ha! I know it was super long) recap.....

Now......

I graduate on SATURDAY!!!!! its about 3 days away. I can't believe it, it doesn't seem real at all. I am happy, but I will be starting the credential program on May 11 so to me it doesn't feel like I am done yet. I am excited to move on though. Saturday will be a very fun day, I am excited to graduate with a lot of my friends and also to be one step closer to teaching a class of my own.

Saturday is also Nick's birthday! :) So it should be fun!.....

I think that's all for now.... till' next time (it should be sooner than 4 months, don't worry)

The BEST Christmas Present

So... He made it, he was home for Christmas!

More details to come, just wanted to post a pic :)