the whole world's about to change!!

I cannot believe that 2009 is almost here. 2008 is over. What even happen? I always end up feeling that way... but really it has been a great year, not all easy, but I know that I am so incredibly blessed. I have so much... everything I need and so much more!

I rang in 2008 in California with my sister and our friend and it was so much fun! I also traveled to Ohio to visit my family, it's a beautiful place, i loved every minute of it! I made a big step in my photography career and bought a Canon DSLR, and i love it. I guess i decided to take my photography a little more seriously... now there is no looking back!! 2008 was a big year for me in that way! School is ALWAYS this biggest challenge... this semseter I had a drawing class, where I had to draw nude models, i still can't believe I made it through that! whew! My two best friends had two of the most beautiful babies that I have ever seen, i love them! Wow, life is full of beautiful surprises! I have seen a lot of beauty this past year! I have also learned a lot this year, and I am always very thankful for that! I learned that you can't put limits on yourselves, because God is working in you. Whether you think he is or not... HE IS!!! and because of that there is always hope! This world is a big place, and we are all so different. We all lead these insanely different lives and sometimes that makes it really hard for us to love like we should, but at the same time love is the one thing we all need.

I am going to look at this new year as a new start and a new opportunity to make my life better, to make my life exactly what God wants it to be! To do new things and to try to "change the world" in my own little way!! I am beyond excited and of course a bit nervous, but I think that's okay!

WELCOME 2009!!!!!

This is kind of my theme song for this new year:

by David Crowder Band

And the problem is this
We were bought with a kiss
But the cheek still turned
Even when it wasn't hit

And I don't know
What to do with a love like that
And I don't know
How to be a love like that
When all the love in the world
Is right here among us
And hatred too
And so we must choose
What our hands will do

Where there is pain
Let there be grace
Where there is suffering
Bring serenity
For those afraid
Help them be brave
Where there is misery
Bring expectancy
And surely we can change
Surely we can change
Something.

And the problem it seems
Is with you and me
Not the Love who came
To repair everything

And I don't know
What to do with a love like that
And I don't know
How to be a love like that
When all the love in the world
Is right here among us
And hatred too
And so we must choose
What our hands will do

Where there is pain
Let us bring grace
Where there is suffering
Bring serenity
For those afraid
Let us be brave
Where there is misery
Let us bring them relief
And surely we can change
Surely we can change
Oh surely we can change
Something.

Oh, the world's about to change.
The whole world's about to change.
The whole world's about to change...

Happy New Year Everyone!!

christmas photos!

i hope everyone had a very special christmas! it sure did go by fast! i can't believe it! here are some of my christmas-y photos! they are all on my flickr site, so you can view them bigger there!
i had a really wonderful christmas eve and christmas day! on christmas eve, my family went to the annual candle light service at my church, which i love every year! than we came home for our annual christmas eve dinner of clam chowder... my very favorite... yum!! christmas day was a wonderful time filled with love, family, food, games, and of course presents!!! at the end of the day i felt so incredibly blessed to have so much! my sister was so sweet and gave me the most beautiful vase from my favorite antique store, i am in love with it! she also gave me a book to learn some italian, she said that it was so that "when we go to italy, i can do all the talking!" hehe! it was a very thoughtful gift... really fun!



my brother and mom went together to get us all a wii! we were so surprised... of course we have been obsessed with it ever since... mario kart!!! yay!!!



my mom got me the movie 27 dresses, so cute! and a new alarm clock that holds memory for music and photos... it's great! she also got me a really nice tripod! i felt so spoiled! :)


anyway, it was a great day, as always! but now christmas is over, and a new year is on the way! it's so exciting! yay!!!!

this time of year...

this time of year is insane... i haven't bloged or "blog surfed" in forever... yikes! i have missed this place!

i am so glad things have started to settle down lately and i can actually enjoy this time of the year with my family and friends! i am officially on christmas break, and i finished the semester successfully, i think... hehe... i am still waiting on my grades. (fingers-crossed for stright As!!) it was a demanding semester, thats for sure! but no matter what, i am so beyond relieved that it is over! yay!!

also, i was having some bank issues.... eh! i had to close every account i had and basically start from scratch, because someone was trying to hack my online banking. and this all happened right around finals, so that was not fun to deal with... however, as of today, *finally* the bank issues are solved!! *smile* oh, and of course, this time of the year is always busy for me at work (i am not santa claus) haha! but i work at a church and so there is always a ton going on there at christmas time! we had a living nativty this past weekend and i was pretty involved with that... it was a bit busy, BUT very beautiful to see the true story of christmas played out. it's always a big thing at my church, we have people of all ages playing mary, joseph, angels, shepards, and kings... and there are live animals, everything from sheep to huge camels!! very exciting! it went beautifully, except for the sheep that tried to run away, but we caught him, so it just made for a funny story! but could you imagine a sheep running across a busy intersection?? haha! there were also some minor car problems thrown in there. and one of my best friends had a beautiful baby boy that i will get to meet when they come to visit!! yay! WHEW! life is busy!

but there is more... this weekend i will be going to see a performance of "the christmas carol", i am so excited! i love plays! also, i will be singing in my church's christmas cantata, making all kinds of goodies, finishing my shopping, singing christmas songs, knitting, eating all kinds of goodies, hopefully sleeping... busy busy busy!

sometimes it's easy to get lost in the busyness of everything this time of year... eh! i am trying my best to stop, breath, be thankful, and remember the real beauty of all of this... JESUS!! i am so thankful for this life i have... for my family and friends, and for all of the luxuries of life, that i sometimes act like i need... it's silly sometimes! but i am just so happy and thankful that God had blessed me with so much throughout my life and during this christmastime. i want to give the glory to him for that! i hope others will too, because when we complain so much all the time, it does nothing good... we really ought to stop and be thankful for all that we have! and maybe even turn that around into love, the kind of love that we were created for!

((more christmasy photos coming soon))

hope you all are having a special christmas season so far! and remember...

JESUS is the REASON for the SEASON!!

♥