f r i s c o.

sitting at the gate at lax. A whole hour and a half early! Quite different from my last flight. Haha. for those of you who don’t know, we nearly missed our flight back from Colorado—arriving 45 min prior to leaving, without having done a pre check-in or anything. THAT was an experience.

Anyway. Reflecting on my time at home, I’ve come to the conclusion that I really enjoyed it. I’m used to having it go by really slowly, seeing friends here and there, and spending the bulk of my time at home. But this time, I was able to see not only my closest friends from home, but some of my close friends from school as well! I also got to spend yesterday in Irvine with BRENNER (all the way from hi!) & epic hi sp crew 08, as well as nina bonina, sarah, and Kathryn. Had SO much fun. And I would love a repeat again soon. ☺ other than that, I got to spend my last night at home with 2 of my closest friends, tam and j. it was so nice to hang out with BOTH of them at the same time. Even if they had to hang out and watch me pack! Ha.

Now I have the last 5 days of break to look forward to, spent up in norcal. I’m quite excited ☺ although, sadly I do have a few things hanging over my head that I do need to get done while up there. =/ Likeee, finishing my summer project application (only 3 short answer questions away from finishing!), fixing my resume, and writing a cover letter. I had planned originally to start writing a support letter too this break, but I’m thinking that might have to wait until after I figure out where I’m going. Let alone if I even get accepted! Despite all that, I’m looking forward to going to a King’s game (my first NBA game EVER), with roomies Kristin and Jenn ☺. Then NYE at City Hall with Katherine & co., and a splendid dinner planned when I get in tonight! I have a feeling this trip is going to go by rather fast. Whelp, better make the best of it!

Aside from break and whatnot, my parents and I actually talked on the way to the airport about plans for this summer. And it just hit me. I’M ACTUALLY GOING TO DO IT. I’m actually going to live out my lifelong (ha well, for how long my life has been so far) dream. I’m moving to Hawai’i. I’ve always been somewhat adventurous, but this just trumps every decision I’ve ever made. Who would’ve thought? My parents are on board. Grant is on board. I’m clearly on board. And I’ve got an amazing roomie to look forward to when I get there! Now the more particular plans come into play, like finding a place, finding a JOB, and booking my flights.

Now the job thing is just killllin me. I’m PETRIFIED. What if I don’t find a job? What if I’m not skilled enough? Or prepared? I just don’t want to fail. I think that’s why I’m making it a point to get my resume checked, and out within the first month back at school. So there. I said it. ☺ Better get done! If you see me around February, ask me if I did it. If not, tell me I suck. Haha.

On the flip side, I’ve gotta say, I am getting quite sad thinking about leaving everyone behind. I’ve been thinking about that A LOT. Being home made me realize that this might be the last big break before I go that I really have to spend time with old friends, and these next 2 quarters will probably be the last time I see people from school for a while. =/ makes me sad because I’ve spent the majority of my last 4 years with these people, and they’ve become my family. It’s gunna be sad not to wake up next to hi-me<3 in the mo’nin, walk a few houses down to go to the guys’ house, go to zeta rush events, weekly lunch outings, Sundays at reality, running around with my partners in crime, dancing with ito, coming home to my roomies baking. Annddd. Not going to ucsb epic meetings every Wednesday, or core meetings on tues. I’m going to miss it all.

But I guess I gotta grow up sometime. I graduate in just 3 short months. And then it’s real world time. Ready or not, here I come.

this is the life.

kolohe kai says it best :)  "this is the life, and i hope you get to live it too.."

this break has been nothing short if AMAZING thus far. and i still have sf nye and my norcal trip to come! i leave on tues. i am SO stoked to say the least. :) last night i went out with a bunch of my closest childhood friends, and i had a ton of fun! seriously like all my bffs. haha. i never get to hang out with all of them together, unless it's my birthday or something! we went out to a club in agoura. (please refrain from laughing at me now, k THANKS! haha) but chyea. always a good time when in good company. ♥

and tomorrowww. aloha meets cali. haha. i get to see some hawaii friends! and also meet up with my lovers kathryn & nina, and possibly princess katherine as well<3 CHEEEE! wish ray was in the irv so i can see him TOO, but i guess vegas is slightly better. :) but yeah! so taking off for irvine tmro bright n' early, hopefully there's not too much traffic!

this rest of my time at home has been awesome, seeing all my close friends quite a good amount. while still being able to see my fam as well :) good balance, i'd say!

anyway. im a happy girl right now. that is all!

♥nicky

attention all.

princess katherine is coming to visit today!!!

okay, this is pretty sad if this is last picture we took?! this is over a year ago! basically more are gunna go down today. haha. but chyea, it's been 6 LONG months since i've seen this girl. a visit was definitely in order. can't WAIT! ♥

and my wolfpack, it grew by one.

HAHA. i forgot to post this tshirt i designed for the guys. cracks me up everytime. :)

learning to share.

first things first, colorado was AMAZING. god's presence completely surrounded mine and grant's trip to colorado this past week.  we had such a great time with all of my relatives in the frosty mountains of colorado :) first a little eye gulp though: here are some pictures from the trip! you can check the rest out on facebook when i decide to make time to upload them. hahaha.

haha. okay, in colorado i have a total of 12 cousins 6 uncles/aunties, and 2 grandparents. so that's a lot of family! with the addition of my brothers, and my 3 other california cousins, that totals out at 19 grandchildren. nutsss. and we're talkin first cousins, yo. haha. anyway, all in all, a very special trip for sure. i'm really going to miss it, cause i don't know when i'll be able to go back next!

but the real topic at hand has a lot to do with both my trip, and the church service i went to today. learning to share.  one of the main reasons i wanted to go back to colorado this winter was to share Jesus with my grandparents. now, i'd known that they'd been attending church with my aunties for a while now, and my grandpa was even going to a catholic teaching class. however, i still didn't know whether or not they were saved.  to be honest, i was really scared. last winter i went to colorado as well, hoping to share with them. but instead i chickened out. this time was the real deal! initially i ended up asking my grandpa about his class and how he felt about it and whatnot, but sadly our conversation got interrupted and we didn't get a chance to reallllyyy get into it.

but God is oh so faithful. he gave us another opportunity. and it happened to be the night before we left! naturally i was a little anxious, but the Lord completely covered that. the conversation opened right up again, and it seemed as if my grandpa really wanted to talk about God this time. but surprisingly, it took a bit of a turn--in a good way, that is. i was expecting to talk to my grandpa about it, and then my grandma later. but the Lord was speaking through someone else that night :)  i began asking my grandma questions and learning about her past, while my grandpa became increasingly interested in what Grant had to say about the Lord. before i knew it, grant and my grandpa had moved into another room to talk! for those of you who know grant, this is huge. and for those of you who know my grandpa, this is huge as well. long story short, my grandma and i had an amazing conversation and although she didn't accept christ into her life that night, a seed was definitely planted. i told her about lee strobel's a case for christ book and she seems very eager/interested to read it. i'll be sending that out to her shortly :) and as for my grandpa, quite possibly one of the most skeptic people i know, he truly took a baby step into faith. they shared an amazing conversation. grant helped him to see things a little differently, and truly urged him to seek the lord earnestly. for once my grandpa was stumped, and for once he truly considered it. the Lord unexpectedly used Grant that night, and it was unbelievable.  and now, we PRAY. pray daily, weekly, monthly. because now it's in God's hands--exactly where it should be. ♥


so how does this tie into today's service? well, today pastor shawn really hit home with me at the end of his sermon, when he talked about telling the story you have. ironically, we went over luke 2:8-20, which happens to be the book i just started :) but he reminded us today that the Lord just wants to knock our socks off and bless us. but we just need to be ready to receive it.  i'm not really going to go into detail about the sermon as a whole, but on the part about sharing: God really convicted me this service. maybe i don't have the craziest story to tell. maybe i haven't been through earth shattering events in my life, but i do have a story. we all do. God makes the things in our lives happen so that we can share them. and bring Him glory. don't forget, we're a part of HIS story, and not the other way around.  But what today really made me realize, was that i haven't shared enough with my family. we're close, but not that close. there's things my parents have no idea about me. and i just felt god nudging me to share MY story. to show them how God has worked in my life, and has saved me from all of my sins. because i've changed A LOT. and some may not see it, because i was never that wild child that got into trouble. but praise God for that--that he's kept from that. just because i didn't necessarily have a crazy outward transformation, didn't mean god wasn't turning my world upside down inside. soo basically. i've got a story to share. and i'd better share it. :)

♥nickkayyy

colorado bound.

leaving todayyy. :) be back on thursday. gunna hit the slopes brah! hope everyone is hangin in there with their last finals. hi-me, i'm thinkin of you<3

updates later! paycee.

can't fight the feelin.

what can i say? here i am, 4  m o n t h s  l a t e r. still missing it like crazy. you would think that feeling would fade, or i'd get over that "high".
but oh no, not me.

still got that hunka hunka burnin love for hi ♥!

and it's looking more and more each day like it will soon be my new home. still praying about summer project, which, i am happy to say i've finally decided to go on! still praying about tokyo vs. hawaii though.  but so far i feel like God's been nudging me towards hi. :) gimme your input too, ya? i'm always down for advice &/or feedback.

anyway, just reminiscing & longing for waiola, honus, plate lunch, fm100, night swimming, surfing, & warm rain. mmm ♥

ALTHOUGH. i do love it here. and i sure am going to miss it. but we'll save that for later...no need to get weepy now.


leaving for colorado on friday. super stoked! gunna cruise with the cousins & many many relatives i have out there. aside from hawaii & california, colorado is where another large portion of my relatives live. way random, ya? haha.

but yeah. heading home tomorrow morning, so i better get some rest. just thought i'd share my thoughts.

aloha nui loa,
nickkayyy

sooo stoked.

jfdlafj HAHA. so essited for some of the gifts i'm giving. :)

jamie and i are doing a driveby today. gon' hand out all our goodies!

i love love LOVE giving people gifts & watching them open it. sadly, i won't be able to see their reactions today since it's a driveby, but i'm sure i'll hear about it.

anyway. i'm beaaattt. baked for like 5894375 hours last night. finished at 3 in the am! ridic if you ask me. well worth it though. toodless<3

you can call me betty.

betty crocker!

just started my baking escapades this evening, and i believe they will continue into tmro! still gotta make gingerbread cookies, but sadly i just realized i needed to buy a cookie cutter for that =/ and i have one at homeee. but not here! boo.

i'll also be making some more of my peppermint bark. :) oh and my strawberry mascarpone cupcakes! eeee!

anyway, today was aiight. woke up on the late side, probably because i went to sleep late. hehe. tonight i need to do some mad coding & preparing for home! also baking. haha.

supperrr excited for church tmro though :) haven't been to reality in a while, so i'm stoked! hoping to check out the stockton one in tracy when i go up for new yearss.

gunna finish up the baking though. but one last thought! I MISS HAWAI'I. sooo much.

learning to fall more in love.

with jesus.


funny how right at this moment, it feels like time has slowed down yet sped up, all in one instant. while it seems like i've experienced A LOT since the school year started, i also feel like it's on the verge of passing me by.

so far i've finished one of my two quarters of my LAST year in college, and i can't believe it's almost over.

i'm not ready. not anxious. not excited.   i've just turned 21 and am having the time of my life. and i have GOD to thank for that. tonight (epic ugly sweater/winter party) really made me think. Epic means SO much to me. And seeing most of the members of my happy family truly bring joy into my life. Just the thought of leaving them all behind saddens me!

my growing heart for ministry has just been unfolded to me in the past year, and perhaps that's why i feel that i'm not ready to leave. there's still more work to do. still more people to serve. still more God to share.

but maybe that's why He's making it more and more clear to me that i not only want to go on summer project this summer, but more so that i NEED to go. any way you look at it, i have a heart for unsaved people. and it'd be selfish of me to keep that to myself. i guess now it's a matter of figuring out where i should go? signs are starting to point to/reaffirming epic summer project HAWAII. still praying though.


aside from all that future talk, i have to say that i've been pleasantly pleased and happy with particular people in my life. i'm truly feeling the love from them, and it's making our friendship just SO good. i'm thankful that i can be my weird, goofy, ridiculous, sinful, crazy, selfish, silly self around them, and they're still there to love me and care for me! God is so good. He truly does answer prayers, and truly does bless us with the friendships in our lives that we NEED. and let me just tell you, i NEED this person. :) they know me better than i know myself sometimes. and just lately, it's been so genuine, so fun, so amazing. sometimes i sit and catch myself smiling about this. HA. k enough. i'm getting way way way too sappy mushy. she probably knows who i'm referring to anyway. lol<3

THANK GOODNESS my spirit can be uplifted. cuz my body sure ain't. haha. been getting sicker by the day my friends, and i am not having it! i can't decide if it was the flu shot, my lack of sleep, my prior sore throat, or all of the above? either way, it sucks balls. ima handle it like a boss though before i take off for colorado. :) hahaha. 1 week and counting! so stoked to see all the litto cuz's, auntie's uncles, and grandparents. which reminds me: PLEASE PRAY FOR MY GRANDPARENTS AND I! I will be attempting to share with them this winter. I'm praying they already are saved. :) either way, i just gotta know. haha.

but yeah. time for bed now. gots work + lotsssaa baking to do! yay for finally updating with a REAL post. <3

payce y'all.

<2 days until winter break.

gosh it's late. i'm up drawinggg. like a fiend! gots tons of sketching due on Thursday, and I'm not feeling so hot. =/ at least i get to sleep in a bit tmro. eee!

but yeah. winter break is right around the corner! it just snuck up on me so fast. i'm really excited, but not as anxious as i usually am. maybe it's because we just had thanksgiving? i dunno. but dang i have so much to do! (so little time).

i have a photo show tomorrow.
my portfolio due on thursday.
and 2 programs i need to finish/fix by thursday.
YIKES.

i think i got this though? i've been having this extremely dry throat as of late, so that's been kind of lame. but i found out today that it's not strep, so i'm pretty stoked about that :) and i also got curious and had 2 flu shots today! even though i physically feel the same, i somehow mentally think i'm somewhat invincible. hahaha. figures?

anyway, really need to update this soon! got lots of thoughts to blog about. just been so busy! anyhoo. good luck to everyone this week & next<3

SAN FRAN!

i'm in the bayyy for the weekend. :)
visiting JOANNA, TAMMY, and KOHO!!!!! (well, koho's visiting us. haha)

it's furreaking cold up here though, i must say. anyway, that is all!

supah stoked to be here. chee!

so much to do, so little time.

sooo it's been a while! it's because i've been super busy. with birthday stuff & halloween and whatnot. MAH BAD. but i will soon update on that, i promise!

as for now, i just gotta get this out. i'm getting anxious, stressing, all of the above.

i've been starting to plan my winter break. and so far it includes going to Colorado to visit relatives and going up to Tracy for New Year's Eve.

But along with that, I'm trying to keep in perspective that this might be one of my last long vacations here in the mainland for a little while. Isn't that crazy?! so i'm thinking, I've always wanted to go to an NBA game (you would think I've been considering my uncles and brothers...but no one ever wants to take me. haha), I need to spend time with my family, I may not see my relatives in CO for a while, and my friends from home!

All this is just kind of nuts. It makes me sad, yet excited at the same time? I'm going to be going through a lot of changes in the next year, and it's all a bit overwhelming.

I'm still praying and waiting on the Lord about summer project, and how that works with moving to HI.  If I do both, I'd be leaving JUNE 30TH! That leaves only 6 1/2 months here in Cali. And to be honest, that's a lot less time than it sounds. 

anyway, i'm just rambling now. but being a senior puts a lot of things into perspective. like jobs, and the future. i don't know if i'm ready for either, but i guess i'm going to have to be.

time to get back to hw now. more on this later!

speaking on wednesday.

and i'm scared, yet OH SO excited.

BUT! i need prayer.

so please pray for me? KAY THANKS. :)

my heart grows daily.

today was a ridiculous day. god has placed a lot of feelings on my heart. 

i'm praying for those who need it the most. it's not always easy to love the ones who persecute you. and moreover, those whom you don't even know.

i have A LOT to say. and i mean A LOT! but that will come later. i'm a busy bee.

♥

2 WEEKS UNTIL MY BIRTHDAY!!

that's 14 days to a T, my friends. and yes, it'll be my 21st! BOOYA.

i slept in til 10:30 today. amazing. but i think im getting sick. =/ blahhh. anyways. gotta finish up my project before i run off to class to bs it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN TAGLIAMONTE! ♥♥♥

mm whatcha say.

hahahaha. i think this phrase was used over any other this weekend. :) anyways. EPIC weekend. retreat in long beach. have SO much to write about. butttt. i am on the verge of getting sick, so i think i need to sleep instead.

BUT. i do have to say. that i want new lens. The Canon EF 50mm 1.8 in particular. :) they're affordable and will add some spice to my photos. haha. i think i shall purchase them SOON! i also want an off camera flash. but i think i need to figure out how to do lighting better before i attempt purchasing that.   so yeah. randomness! but that's me.

and lastly, I LOVE MY EPIC FAMILY. praise God for every one of you. you complete me<3

feeling the same way all over again.

it's the thing that which cannot be said. the one thing that always gets me. and of course something needs to be said. i've known that, and i've been there. but still the words are unable to leave my mouth. still, i am unable to articulate how i'm feeling.

maybe i'm misinterpreting. maybe it's all lies. but what i do know, is that this feeling is all too real. i want to give it up, i'm trying to (believe me), i just don't know how.

this can't be happening. again and again, it seems like i'll never know how to fix this one. i'm thinkin the solution is love...God's love, through me. but how? that is the question.


and then at the same time, i find myself juggling just about every other thing in life. i'm feeling lost more than ever. and it's funny, because that might be one of the last things that i ever feel. i'm a girl who usually knows what she wants, knows her plans, knows her life.  yet strangely enough, i feel as if i've stepped out--and am watching myself through a window. like my life is happening right before my eyes, and i can't feel a thing. everything is moving too fast--and i simply can't keep up.  i'm sitting here trying to enjoy my last year, yet i find myself struggling just to get through each and every day.  so i feel lost because time is running out. and it's becoming an all too scary reality--that i don't know what my life will look like in just a matter of 6 months. i don't know where i'll be, what i'll do, or what i'll want.

although i have every power to make those decisions for myself, i remain stumped by the latter--i don't know what i want.  and more over, i don't know what God wants.


i'm struggling. and i'm not afraid to admit it... it may not seem that way, as i find myself laughing, smiling, & genuinely having a good time with everyone around, but behind closed doors i find myself alone and truly struggling. i still can't find myself beneath the layers.  i'm not even sure if i've even discovered myself to begin with.


AND. the saddest part of it is. i KNOW the solution. the solution is God. but why can't i pick myself up? why can't i run to the one person who truly makes me feel whole again? there's something missing. and i think it's me. i'm hidden beneath the activities, the schoolwork, the stress, the drama--LIFE. i need to find a way to get out of this hole.

tonight hit me like a ton of bricks. im not that happy. plain and simple. i let everything else in this world effect me.  my friendships, my work, my pride, my life. but these THINGS, these worldly things, are fleating. God is eternal. and i know the solution. though i have both parts of the puzzle, it's just a matter of putting them together. but somehow i just can't do it.

yes, this is a pathetic cry for help. and no, i don't care. but i know God does, and that's the only attention i need right now.

in the meantime, i'm still lost.

i need to chill out.

non stop. all day everyday. i need a  b r e a k.

and i'm still transitioning.



but i do it all for His glory ♥

jfdlsafj a MILLION thoughts runnin through my mind.

so it's WAY past my bedtime. and i only have a few minutes to write. but i just need to say that.. GOD IS SO GOOD!!!

i had quite possibly one of the best nights tonight. and it's funny, because it was so unexpected. but i guess that's just how god rolls. haha. he makes those divine appointments, that we don't even realize are happening until after they've already happened!

but we had our first epic meeting tonight. now that was AWESOME. so many people. so many new faces. SO MUCH LOVE! i am stoked for this year. God has just been working fervently with and through us. i am just thrilled that he has chosen to use me to help expand his kingdom.

on the whole, i'd say it went REALLY well. even got to chill a bit afterwards with some of the people. :) always a good time! going through ephesians was really refreshing too. russell's part about us being comfortable, and falling into the pattern of thinking that we don't "need" a savior hit me hard. also the part about us being so caught up in the current that we often forget to keep an eternal perspective. it just made me realize that my fast pace life is not a bad thing, but i do need to remember that this is just a short term thing. i am not home yet. and that i do in fact need a savior. i can't do this alone. and i certainly don't want to. i need him...in all aspects of my life.

and THEN. we went to the zeta sis potluck. really late. but then again, it's never too late. (; haha. brought nina with me, which was so great! i love that girl. haha i know i keep saying that, but i honestly can't say it enough (:  had the most unexpected yet AMAZING conversation with chris, and man. god was just moving tonight. we didn't just get to talk with chris, but sal as well, and even met another girl named grace who will be coming out to epic too! oh man. sorrry. i still am processing what happened tonight. so i might need to continue this more later.  all i know is that God was there. i could feel his presence. and it just felt...so right. it just reaffirmed every reason i ever had for sharing the gospel, for reaching out to people, for loving God. these are the times when it becomes a true reality. the love that God has for each one of us, and his divine and interconnected plans he has prepared for us! i just feel so blessed, so excited that he used me.

im still trippin out. but i need to go to bed. eee! i don't even know if i'll be able to sleep. haha. but anyway. lots of prayer please. i have a crazy long list of people i want to pray for, but please pray for these people. pray for more divine appointments, rekindled passion for god, those who still don't know, epic, and yeah. haha i could pray for hours with all that i have to give up to god!

i'm just stoked. and so in love. i find myself just thinking about it all the time now... how much i truly am falling in love with God. more and more everyday. and i really do hope that i can one day share that with each and every one of you ♥ ♥ ♥

GNIGHT! (:

p.s. i am also stoked about my wonderful phone call with jo. it was the perfect way to end the evening :) i miss her so much though! i really can't wait to visit in novemberr. but chyea. awesome phone call. i hope we continue them, cuz it's really refreshing to hear from her!

i had forgotten how much i loved this song.

until last night at real life. mm. soo good :)



that is all. k thanks bye!

one foot on sand.

i don't know what's come over me these past few days, but i've been SO sad as of late. i haven't felt this way since i left hawai'i.  maybe it's a combo of seeing jo this weekend and all the new hawaiian music i have now acquired...but all i know is that i am rather melancholy. =/

i'm still feeling pretty lonely, and it's just tough. i feel like i'm just floating. i wonder if people notice me.  and so it makes me miss this summer. it was perfect... i miss the weather, the food, the culture, the people.  maybe that's where jo's visit comes in. it was SO good to see her. but i'm sad now that she's gone.  i think above all, the people are what i truly love about hawaii.  they just, get me.

i keep waking up feeling like this. i carry through the whole day like this. i go to sleep like this.  i feel in a sense, "homesick". i'm just ready to move there already!  i think i was always meant to live there. i've got that hi-life in my heart. hahaha. or at least i've been told.

but don't get me wrong, i am so stoked for this year. God has been providing and providing. in the past week, i've had 2 girls contact me about joining my bible study. THEY came to ME! i didn't have to do anything. but God is good, he provides.  Not only that, yesterday was an amazing day tabling (my first time!). we got to talk to a lot of cool people & i am really hoping they'll come out this week.  nina and i also went to do followups at the dorms, and God just blessed us there again. we met this AWESOME girl named sharon who is searching for a church out here! i think we're going to take her on sunday :) we got to have a great conversation, and even saw her again later last night at AACF's ice cream social.

i truly am excited for this year. Although Epic still has a lot of unknowns, i am thankful that God is sovereign--that he's leading this movement, and not me. i don't need to take the weight of it all on my shoulders, but He will. i know lately i've been feeling really stressed about it because i don't know where everyone's at, but the Lord has just been so gracious with providing. i know we can get through this. i'm stoked to be leading women's bible study with nina. she truly has a heart after God, and i love the way she worships Him with her life. it's definitely encouraging!

tonight we have a spam musubi/game night. our first event of the year. and i couldn't be more excited/stressed. stressed because 2 of my co-core leaders will not be there, and i'm afraid i won't be able to handle everyone, but more importantly, EXITED because of all the new people i will meet tonight! and hopefully some awesome conversations.

but backtrack to this weekend. JO'S VISIT. can i just say, that it was epic?? haha. that girl is awesome. we are seriously on the same page on just about everything. goshh. we have the same taste in fashion, guys, GOD, hawaii, foods, music, etc! it's too crazy. she came in late friday night & i picked her up from the airport. although it was a far drive, it was SO worth it. we had soo much to catch up on, we ended up chatting at McD's for a while even though we were supposed to head out to Mikey's! haha. We eventually got to Mikey's around 12:30, and just cruised til basically 5am. HA. i felt bad because Mikey had a football game the next day & even gave up his bed for us. what a good guy! and i also felt bad cuz we had to leave somewhat early the next day =/ but it's okay, hopefully there will be more trips. After that we trekked it out to hollywood where we spent the day at the walk of fame, mann's chinese theatre, the mall, etc! it was a lot of fun. you'd think that after i grew up only an hour away from all this, that i would've gone to these places... but NO. i am a loser. haha. so it was a new experience for the both of us! we then proceeded to head all the way back to SB where we met up with Tom & Darrell for dinner. at Takenoya. nom nom nom. :)

next day we got up supah early early to go to church. SO good. i'm glad that i got to take Jo there! worship was awesome. Dave Lomis spoke, which was cool too because he's going to be the pastor as reality SF where Jo might be interested in attending when it opens! so that was saweet.  thenn. it was WEST BEACH FESTIVAL. fdjksafjasldkjf. oh em gee. most amazing concert EVER > soja. pepper. sashamon. rebelution. iration. slightly stoopid. and i think anyone would agree, this is one of the meanest lineups you could pick. ahh, it was so good! although, 2 sad panda moments. :( we MISSED iration. yes. MISSED. the band we wanted to see the most! and sadly, it wasn't because of some external factor, but because of our own lackadaisical-ness. we chilled downtown for FAR too long, and underestimated the parking. so as we were looking for parking, we heard my favorite--wait & see while driving by. =/ 2nd sad panda moment was that i accidentally deleted my video of rebelution's lazy afternoon! ugh. i still haven't forgiven myself for that. anyway. forget all that bad news. THE CONCERT WAS SO SICK! outside, on the sand (although it made things real dirty, real fast), and with multiple stages. they were really good about being on time. mannn. it was awesome. i can't believe more people i know didn't go! it was such a good deal too--ALL THAT for the ticket price of $35. booya.

then monday. finallyyy slept in. little bit though. haha. i was still beat from the day before! anyway. got up and went back down south to Santa Monica this time :) we're quite the adventurers, i know. haha. anyway, went to the Santa Monica pier (although we were trying to get to Venice beach? FAIL.) i've never been to the Santa Monica pier (SAD, i know. i live in socal, you would think i've been...), so it was a really cool experience for me too. Attempted to do a photoshoot, although i've been hardcore sucking lately. i am such a NOOB. gosh. anyways. it was absolutely beautiful. 3 other photoshoots were going on at the same time! we had a good time. Then we went to 3rd Street Promenade to enjoy some walking around & a bite to eat. Afterr, it was time for Jo to go. sadness. But it's okay, because I will soon plan my trip up to the bay! so we can reunite once again♥

anyways. i should go. work time.. haha. i want to add pictures in here though, so be on the lookout! i'll just post the text for now. ya feel me?? anyhoo. payce!

PS-- shout out to Isaac. hahaha. (:

weird morning.

so i just woke up a bit ago. feeling different. weird, perhaps? i don't know.

just thinking, i want more. things have been a bit slow lately, yet so fast in my mind. more on this later. but just thinking about this new school year has got me goin crazy!

after going to core retreat with campus crusade, it was awesome getting to know all the other core leaders. and i'm stoked that kathryn, jennie, and i finally got to plan for epic & this upcoming year.

however, i felt a little overwhelmed. overwhelmed because, well...it was just us planning. and thinking, we can't do this alone. to be quite honest, i'm scared. it seems like barely any members, let alone leaders of epic will be here for welcome week, which might just be the most crucial time of the year. maybe the "i want more" feeling is coming from wanting to do everything. wanting to reach every student. i want this year to be a success, but only God knows what the future holds. and i like it that way, it's just a bit difficult to deal with reality during the time being. i'm just wondering a lot. and wanting help.

lately, i think i've been a bit frustrated. frustrated with reaching people. i really can't understand why people don't respond to texts/messages. it's like, i know you got them, why don't you just say something to let me know? it doesn't have to be what i want to hear, but just give me someeething, ya know? blah. i guess it's just cuz i'm not like that. and it's especially tough when what i had to say was important.  i'm trying to be cool, but some issues are going down, and to be honest, it's kind of annoying.

yesterday was exactly 1 month since i left hawaii. i can't believe it's been THAT LONG. it makes me sad...because it feels like longer. which means the rest of the year is going to take forever as well. haha. but soon i will be reunited! i think moving there is becoming more and more official everyday, as my parents are telling EVERYONE i'm moving there. haha they're in full support, and for that i am SO thankful! my dream is actually becoming a reality. i just need to start figuring out roommate stuff and whatnot. and get on that research/job ish. man. i miss it so much. now more than ever i feel so out of place. weird that after a full month, i still feel so alone. maybe it's because i don't think i've fully assimilated? or maybe that i actually have been alone for more time than i'm used to? i don't know. i guess it's just been tough. i'm harboring a lot, and i really need to give it up to God.

blah. worktime. i will continue more of this later. perhaps at work. pray for me please.

ps. reminder to myself to talk about this later--i am a fish out of water.

it is 7am and i am still up.

who would've thought i'd pull an all-nighter while not in school? haha. i certainly didnt.

i've spent the past..hmm 10 hours or so? creating the new epic t-shirts and flyers. and i must say, i'm quite pleased. i just only hope that everyone else agrees! hopefully this long night will make everyone happy with the end product. :)

anyway, off to the beach tmro with tom, kristin & darrell. i'm stoked! we had a lot of fun last night doing dinner at our place. i love cooking for people! sadly, even though it's only been but 2 days, i'm already craving beach. look at what hawaii has done to me! haha. oh well, only a few more hours until beach timee ♥ ♥

goodnight/goodmorning :)

not like me.

in just 1 day, i realized a lot about myself and my family. not that this is a good or bad thing, but what i came to realize, was that they're not like me. not that anyone is quite like me...but it's just that this time, i really noticed the differences between.

it especially hit me yesterday while i was driving my younger brothers to dinner. we got into a conversation about college, since one of my brothers is a senior in high school. i got soo flustered talking about it, hearing him be so unmotivated. he was talking about how C's are fine in college because you'll still get your degree. because there's nothing more after that. and i thought to myself, i would just die if i got a C in college because i thought "c's get degrees".  man, i can't imagine how easily your gpa would plummet.  it's not like high school, where one honors class could potentially bump your gpa with it's weighted difference. no, no. in college, once you receive anything below that A, you can kiss your 4.0 goodbye. there's no making up for it, and it's quite a fight to just raise your gpa even just a little bit. it saddened me, that my younger brother had lost the motivation i thought he'd had... i'm not sure what it is, but all 3 of them tend to think that they are invincible, that they can get by with the natural intelligence that they have. in fact, sometimes it seems that they truly believe that they don't have to work for what they have. it just startles me, because my mindset is that you have to work for everything--that nothing will be just handed to you. in fact, i'm almost never over confident. haha. anyway, i felt terrible, but i haaaddd to break it to him. my brother seemed to think it'd be a piece of cake to get into ucsb with just a 3.6 gpa. sadly, i did not want him to be shocked when the time came to hear back from colleges. nowadays, a 3.6 is just not going to cut it. in fact, i read in the nexus that the average gpa of incoming freshmen was about a 4.0! now that's crazy. i can't believe how tough admissions are now, even 3 years later.

anyway, my point is. i think i've been very narrow-minded all my life. i tend to think that my values are what's right. but that's wrong! not everyone thinks that the things that i think are great (haha crazy sentence, i know), and not everyone is going to see things the way i do. maybe college isn't for my brother. or maybe he wants to go to community college. i don't know. but what i do know, is that i'm trying to understand. maybe the way he sees things has a completely different meaning to him? i guess it's just not the path that would take, or have taken.

aside from that, i also went to a church with my mom in newbury park yesterday. it was living oaks. pretty good, overall i really enjoyed the service. it had a great message. every time i come home, i at least try to go to a different church. i'm trying reeeeallly realllyy hard to get my family to go. it's tough though, when my youngest brothers have no clue, my dad hasn't been a member of a church in like 35 years, and mom is still trying to understand. i wish i could be there to show them, to explainn. but i can't. and me trying out different churches isn't for me...it's for them. i have a home church, and it's in carpinteria. i just only pray that they would find what i've found. please pray for us?

but again this all made me realize how different i am. i want completely different things in life than what they want. and i think it's Jesus that separates us. and not only that, it's my age. i'm at a very pivotal point in my life, where my possibilities are endless. buttt. despite all this differences talk, it's definitely not a bad thing. i'm never going to find someone just like me, and nor do i want to. (i can't handle more of myself than i already do! haha) i'm learning to embrace these differences, and seek to understand the way my family, as well as others think. i think that's the beauty of being an individual. and i'm just thankful that i am able to express it.


back to this weekend though. spent most of my time with my amazzinggg best friend! haha. we always have a good time together. been best friends since we were 4, and seem to grow closer every year. i can't believe she's leaving for LONDON today. and gone for 3 whole months! i'm so stoked for her, but i'm definitely going to miss her. we had some goood times this weekend. haha. from vchatting with MARIO! to our failed beach trip to malibu, and to making up for it by trekknig it down to NEWPORT for the entire day. :) had soo much fun. i'm sad i didn't get to spend more time with her this summer!

Oh and yesterday. HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY DAD! you are NOT over the hill. not yet. :) haha. i'm glad we could surprise him at one of his favorite restaurants, Joe's Crabshack (admittingly, it's one of mine too). had a great time, as a few of his best friends were able to make it, and the rest of our family as well! only one missing was ryan, but oh well. the show must go on! had a really good time though. love love love family. ♥♥♥

this week is going to be busy. just got back to sb last night, and today i have work. tomorrrow i'm SLO bound! going to visit the cousin for a few days and experience WOW week for my first time. haha. should be interesting? i can't believe all these years i've never visited! this is my chance. :) thennn, JOANNA is coming down to visit! eee. i am SO excited. i can't wait to show her around. perhaps disneyland, kayaking, WEST BEACH FESTIVAL, and more! can't wait.

anyways, i think that's about all i have to say. haha. lots of contemplating on my mind.. still keeping the faith, and waiting on the Lord. funny because I'm still not sure what He wants me to do, but i suppose that doesn't matter. I'm gunna follow Him anyway.

payyceee.

MALIBEEZY TODAY!

oh mann. how i've missed it. and it's gon be HAWT today. cheee!

first, kristie and i are going to pick up the BEST sub sammies you will EVER eat: D.Mongeon's. haven't had it in MONTHS, so i'm pretty essited to say the least. (:

THEN. the adventure begins! not sure which beach we're gunna park it at, but it's going to be amazing. that is all ♥♥

ps. i am freaking TIRED. koho and i stayed up til 4am vchatting! eesh. haha. but i'm pretty happy i've been making good use out of my fixed camera. and i got to chat it up with my one and only mario :D

p.p.s. photo above is the one i took at malibu pier back in high school. :) funny story to go along with it: i sold a print to a dad of one of the other art students at my IB senior art show, and he said he didn't have his checkbook, so he'd give it to his daughter for me... STILL have not seen my 40 big ones. 3.5 years later. lesson learned.

hi i'm random :)

last night i went to blockbuster. and happened to see the movie definitely, maybe for sale. wanted to buy, but fought the urge! but now i want it. :) SO GOOD.

anyways. just a thought.

today i'm going home after work. cheee heee! going to see my best friend kristie before she leaves for LONDON! crazy. won't be seeing her until january :( booo. but i know she'll have the time of her life. and she has skype, so we'll be a-okay.

hoping to get some mad coding in this weekend, some laundry, and good times with the fam. been missing the little broheims! then it's back to the beezy, for some more work and chillaxing.

and thenn. hoping to visit my cousin♥ in SLO! for wow week. never been up there to visit people, just to see the campus. sounds like it's a lot of fun. stoked, to say the least.

and to finish off my amazing summer, JOANNA is coming to visit me!! all the way from hi to sf to sb. :) i am a lucky girl. haha. i hope i can show her enough fun things here in SB while the majority of my friends are trying to salvage the rest of their summer after summer school ends and before school starts. haha. but more important than everyday sb activities, is WEST BEACH FESTIVAL! on sunday. get ready for rebelution, pepper, iration, soja and MORE. oh man. it's going to be amazing. gon get my skank on. (; ahaha, oh hawaii, how i miss you.

anyway. enough of this. hope you enjoyed my randomness!

overload.

soo much has happened since the last time i blogged. i don't even know where to begin. and nor do i know if i'm ready to talk about it?

all i know is, god is good. he never stops giving, loving, and blessing. and right now, i'm learning how to accept all of that from him. learning to breathe, learning to love. cuz quite frankly, i fall more and more in love with him as each day goes by. :)

as of right now, i'm in an interesting state of mind. i feel in between worlds. while i've pretty much adjusted back to life here in SB, i still feel caught between. i still miss hawaii like i did the day i left. and yet i'm embracing my life here as well. it's actually a really weird sensation. i think i'm still trying to find myself. seeking my place in this world, and how to live my life for god. i must admit, i am enjoying myself though. i've been going to the beach nearly everyday. and running too! i find myself just enjoying the simple things that life has to offer. like the smell of salty air, and sand between my toes. maybe this is where my life begins to unfold.

it's also become increasingly obvious to me that i have but ONE YEAR left in college! nay, 2 QUARTERS! i finish in march, godwilling. and i begin to think--how am i going to get EVERYTHING i want to do accomplished?! somehow it'll come together. somehow, it'll work. so here's a mini list of some of the things i want to do:

1. lead bible study
2. intramural tennis & soccer
3. polynesian dancing club
4. working out
5. real life
6. surfing

and the list goes on! in addition to the things i want to do, there's also school and my 2 jobs. eesh! i'm also considering taking on an internship. boy oh boy, this is going to be a busy year. [which is funny, but i say that right before every year] and above all else, i want to spend time with the people i love. we may never again have this opportunity to spend time together in sunny santa barbara, across the street from the beach, and living independently! oh man, all i gotta say is. LIVE IT UP. seize it all.

aside from thattt. i really need to buy a camera bag and a tripod. there is NO WAY i'm going to survive next year's intermediate photo class for the second time without those things! i'm really looking forward to it. i must say, i've developed quite a passion for photography :) which is why i am ITCHING for a new lens! i want something that'll allow me to take some macro shots. i really don't know much about equipment and whatnot, so if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know! although, i don't know if i'll be able to buy a new lens for some time...because they are so effing expensive and i'm feeling broke!

i also want a wetsuit. because every time i head out to the beach, i am anxious to surf. but it's cold. :( boo cali waters! oh well. in timeee.

anyway, plans for tonight include mucho alone time. everyone is studying for finals. and i am not. haha. someone play with me! ta ta for now. :)

um ya.

tomorrow cannot come any sooner.

random thoughts:
1. i hate vultures.
2. brave? not that brave.
3. we should all try to be a little more like jesus.
4. i want to run tomorrow.
5. hate brownies even more since i cut myself tonight trying to get them out of the pan.
6. i'm not stupid.
7. i'll be praying for you.

maybe you get it, maybe you don't. i don't care. they're random thoughts, and this is a place to get them out. that's why this is my blog.

in any case, ima give it up to god. because it's all about him anyway.
no one else.

if only.

if only we knew what God has in store for us. if only we knew what the future holds. if only.

do you ever think about that? if only i knew, i could make a better decision.

but that's what's funny about the whole thing. we were never meant to know. the truth and the foreknowledge is far too much for any of us to handle. that's why only God knows. and that's the way it should be.

however, times get tough. and we're faced with many many crossroads throughout life. sometimes we just wish we could have a little help, a nudge in the right direction. but i guess that's where faith comes in. and trust.

i'm trying so hard to follow God's lead, watching for Him to show me what His plans are for me. although that's the thing. maybe i shouldn't be looking. maybe i should be waiting. as in, waiting on the Lord. i've never been good at that. the thought of just waiting for the unknown is quite daunting if you ask me. but maybe that's what i need right now.

i'm so scared. scared to make the wrong decision. scared to lose. scared of change.. but i'm oh so willing--as long as it's what the Lord wants. this is truly putting my faith to the test. i wonder how i'll know. and if i'll make it through. i guess i can only put my trust in God.

so i'll admit it. i'm struggling. struggling with this huge decision. and i need prayer. not really wanting to talk about it, but please pray. pray for patience, pray for humility, pray for willingness. pray for a listening ear. and pray for love.

proverbs 3:5-6. trust in the lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

amen.

continuation.

back at the apartment. with some more alone time. which i should be happy about...but quite frankly i'm feeling a bit lonely right now. not sure why, but i am. surrounded by loving roommates, family, and friends, how could i possibly feel this way?! but i do.

maybe it's God speaking to me. it's time to seek him earnestly. time to spend more quality AND quiet time with Him. Maybe he's seeking me out.

this summer has taught me a lot about myself. i've learned how to read my own thoughts and emotions better, and work towards actually making sense of them! i'm learning how to live life in the moment. and just following with blind faith. trusting that everything will be okay. i think that's what Jesus has been trying to teach me all along. so even though i'm feeling a bit on the alone side, i am so thankful. i'm learning more about myself than i ever have before. and truly enjoying it. i'm starting to do all the things i've always wanted to do, think the way i've wanted to think, and j u s t b e.

i've come to this amazing conclusion that we need to cherish life more than we do. our lives are but a dot on a line, so minuscule to eternity and what God has prepared before us! with that said, i think we ought to be living it to it's fullest. not being tied down, bogged down, or anything of the sort. we need to live in the moment, take every opportunity, and truly enjoy all that life has to offer. i don't want to ever wonder if i only "coulda shoulda woulda". because when i look back, i will have done it.

i think i'll go on another run tomorrow. some thinking is in order for me! i have so much going through my head, that i've kept so balled up inside, it's time to let loose, and led God. praying that He will just lead me.

so as far as loneliness goes, maybe it's because i came home earlier than i expected. maybe it's because no one's here right now. or maybe it's because i'm hanging onto my old ways. but blogging has been helpful. :) and for that, i am thankful.

i gave the homeless guy off the freeway my sandwich.

i don't know why i haven't done that before. i see him without fail almost everytime i drive to work. so why don't i just pack 2 sammies? 1 for me and 1 for him. sounds like a plan to me.

anyway, it made me realize how blessed i am. i can make myself a sandwich and not think twice about it! i think God has always cultivated in me a place for the homeless. it's always been something i've been concerned about, but have only barely taken action for it. God is good. :)

so today i went for a morning run. MAN does it feel good. i usually don't like running outside, but the past few times it's just been fantastic. since being back from hawaii, i've been so anxious to be outside all the time. i hate being cooped up indoors now! haha. so running this morning was a good way to start off my day. it was sweet sweet me time. got to think and pray. two things i don't do enough of. just praying that God will lead me in whichever direction He wants.

okie doke. off to the beach! i'll finish this up later :)

meh.

work up the wazoo today.

save me!

oh sweet sweet reflection.

it's been but two days since my homecoming, and all i can do is think about the amazing summer i spent in hawaii.

how can this be any better.
it's like a picture perfect movie that i will forever replay in my memory. i'd have to say, i came into the whole trip a little scared, and a little nervous, but excited on the whole. but i never ever would've guessed i'd have as much fun as i did. quite plainly, i'd have to admit that it was the most amazing experience of my life thus far. and that's quite a statement! especially after being alive for 20.75 years now and all. (;

malama aina. malama kai.
ohhh hawaii nei, and your beautiful lush, tropical land. i don't think i've ever grown to appreciate my natural surroundings as much as i did while in hawaii. i've always been a bit on the environmental side, but i've never appreciated it or truly enjoyed it as much as i did this summer. first of all, the ocean was, is, and will always be my love. and to think that i've always enjoyed the waters here on the coast of california, but coming to hawaii?! lol it was almost too much for me! with the perfectly blue/green waters (which by the way is my favorite color), the clarity, and the warm temperature, i was in love. i already miss going to the beach nearly every other day, and tried to make up for it yesterday and today by going to our beaches. buttt...i'd have to say it was a fail. because we literally do have "doo doo water" (as many of the locals might say)--btw, i most definitely watched a dog crap in the ocean yesterday and therefore confirming the doo doo water--and it's cold, and just basically sucks. but then again, i was pretty spoiled for the past 7 weeks. aside from the water, the foliage and greenery on the island was to die for! going hiking was such a treat for me. gosh nature is b-e-a-utiful.



broke da mout.
can we say "nom nom nom"? oh goodness gracious was the food good! from plate lunches, to hawaiian food, to spam musubi, to korean bbq, japanese, and more! i never thought i'd grow to love asian/island food SO much. i'd have to admit i even enjoyed the poi. with sugar, that is. (; i miss mochiko chicken like none other right now. haha. if it was available on the menu, i ordered it. SO good. L&L is just not going to cut it! i loved branching out and trying new things. With the exception of bittermelon though. HA! thank you auntie bettie. i will truly miss all the amazing fusion of foods that hawaii has to offer. my tummy is craving it already! in fact, i think my roomies and i will be attempting to make spam musubi next week :) jackpot!


my brahs, my cous's, my friends.
although the weather was phenomenal, the scenery breathtaking, the thing that made the greatest impact on me would have to be the people. i don't think i've ever made such close and loving friendships in such a short period of time. man, i am blessed! right from the start--meeting matt and nicole. out here in cali, people don't ACTUALLY call when they say they will. especially when you've just met someone new. but MATT, you did! at 7:30 am the next morning in fact. hahaha. that will forever make a lasting impression on me. and then you took me "surfing" and taught me pidgin! and then became my unofficial cousin. i'll never forget. :D and to nicole, for being so gracious as to inviting us places and introducing us to your friends. you are SO blessed for having such a strong group of girlfriends! in fact that's something i've always longed for. then Jo, my partner in crime. oh man! i had SO much fun with you girl. you took me everywhere, got all my "list of things i wanted to do while in oahu" completed, and spent so much time with me! i loved our heart to heart, our jokes, and ADVENTURES! i can't WAIT for you to come visit for west beach. it's going to be epic. :) thank you thank you for all the rides and good times!

now i could go on and on about every single person i met and all the kindness each and every one of you showed me, but that would just take way too long. i hope you all know how much of an impact you've made on my life, and how truly grateful i am for it. from letting us cruise at your place night after night, to dim sum in chinatown, to paddleboarding, mocking my "yes's" in a fist, sleeping less than 4 hours a night, teaching me how to float, putting up with my poser pidgin texts, for naming me ne-yo, to taking us to the airport, to making us that AMAZING cityside cd, to night swimming, to family bbqs, to birthday bash skanking, to lanikai, to northshore adventures & honu land, to taking me to international marketplace on a limited time, to making us dinner when the dining commons closed, to introducing me to bubbies!, and getting us into level 4, for showing us the dolphins, slash basically the whole island, to carrying your butt in both bp and mini golf, to singing tearing up my heart with me at karaoke, to picking up sea cucumber POOP and not being ashamed, to getting pulled over, lying, and getting away with it, for letting me and becca dance on you, for putting up with my sucky volleyball skills, to poor hearing--"what? WHALES?", for sprinting to the bus one light before it arrives, for zippys all day everyday, for SANSEI's, to jammin on the ukelele, for late nights in the dorms, to d&b's & free tokens, for getting me a discount on clothes!, for helping me get through my embarrassment at yardhouse, for the cute honu shell gift, to westside sunsets, diamond head surfing, to your ridiculous swagger walk that you tried to blame on me, to smiles, laughs, and the TIME OF MY LIFE. thank you all. i will never forget. without each and every one of you, this trip would not have been the same. i hope we'll all stay in touch so that we can get ready for some more fun times when i return! (hopefully in mayyy. and hopefully if i get a job & move out there :]) much love. ♥





bumbye.
oh man, although all this reminiscing may sound sad sad panda, i smile and think, i will someday call this place my home too. it's been a dream of mine since i was in high school to one day move to hawaii, and once i graduate college in march, it is an actual possibility. i've never felt more comfortable in a place in LIFE. not newbury park, not santa barbara. i truly think i'm meant to live there. the nature, the food, the culture, the people--all a perfect match! soo, with that said, my hopeful plan is to come out again in may before the majority of the college kids get out and job hunt like crazy! and then who knows what will happen from there. :) i guess i'll just have to leave it up to God. i know He knows what's best for me anyway. but yeah, hawaii- i miss you already. i cannot wait to be back! garans bal barans. :)

♥♥♥summer of a lifetime.

it's never the right time to say goodbye.

just had our farewell dinner tonight..

had to say bye for good to jo, nicole, and nicole.

is this really happening?!


can't believe it. i'm actually really really sad...

4 days left in hawaii nei...

i am seriously getting EMO times 934829438 about leaving.

everyday i think about it. and all the people i will miss, the places, the activities, the FUN. and the way of life.

i've never felt more comfortable in a place. i feel so at home. haha i have a feeling i'm going to be "homesick" for hawaii when i get back..

anyways. i still have a few more things i want to get accomplished before i go! godwilling.

1. WESTSIDE sunset. might be my number 1 thing i want to do. still have NOT ventured out to the land of mokes! haha. any takers?
2. international marketplace! i still am on the hunt for some cute & cheap earrings. and not to mention some goodies i'd like to bring back. (:
3. clubbing? this is just a "it would be nice if i could" but...totally not needed.
4.ward centre. oneee more time. haha got a few things to pick up, brah.
5. maunawilli..buttt given the current tropical storm status, i'm thinkin that idea is just a bit too dangerous for me. i guess it'll have to wait for the next time i return!
6. most importantly, i want to see everyone one last time before i go. you all have made such an impact on my life... i don't know how i'm going to handle the time and distance. sad panda.

but yeah. time to do homework. just a few random thoughts. peace yo!

waiting for church.

good morning all :)
i'm waiting to go to church with joanna.
so i figured i'd update some mo! haha.

so back to last saturday. quite possibly the most exhausting day of all! saturday we decided to hike pillboxes for sunrise. we'd been planning it for a few days, and i was quite ready to be adventurous! we tried to leave at like 5am, but clearly that wasn't happening. haha he we didn't quite have the directions. but it's all g, we still got there fine. :) after trecking it out to lanikai, we rushed up the mountain to the pillboxes! it was all worth it though--as we got to the top, the view was absolutely breathtaking. i just felt in the midst of God's beautiful creation. mm. AMAZING. i recommend this to anyone! it ended up being us girls plus matt f. and his friend kaiser. good group to go with. (: anyway, we were QUITE exhausted after to say the least. and MUDDY! so we decided to go grind at this onolicious place called boots & kimos. honestly, the BEST pancakes i've EVER had! i don't even really care for pancakes, but these were just ridiculous. haha. They served it with this macadamia nut sauce, that was thick and scrumptious. jo and i also shared some eggs and portuguese sausage! good choice for sure.

after boots & kimos we went to the swap meet! we were beattt, but we reallly wanted to go. haha. i ended up finding a pendent, and i've been wearing it ever since! it's a flower. :) swap meet was chill, lots of stuff going on. and very touristy. haha. all that stuff used to interest me, but now i think i'm upped my status to a kama'aina poser, so i'm not as excited about touristy goods. hahaha.

anyway, after thattt. i had to rush back to make it to the carnival at magic island with popo and aunite pat! haha barely made it. but it's all good. the fair was HOT. but it was good to see popo and aunite pat. :)

thenn. i was in GREAT need of a nap! so i took one. haha. and then had to get ready for the chong's family get together. it's so nice of them to invite us along to their events.. i really enjoy spending time with them. auntie raz and uncle bobby are just so welcoming, we feel right at home! it was cool meeting the rest of their extended family. i feel like i get along with them very well.

haha and to finish off my amazingly long day, we ended up going out to our friend kanes' house. honestly, his house is the nicest house i've been to since i've been here!! out in kahala, he's situated across the street from the beach, with an enormous pool and yard, and a luxurious house. i think i heard his neighbor is supposedly one of the richest people in America. haha. nuts, ya? i mean real estate is super high in california, but could you imagine a ridiculously large house in hawaii next to the ocean?! CRAZY. haha. it was a really good night though. for real kine.

continuing that weekend, on sunday we just did homework and restedd. didn't do much either sunday or monday, but we did go NIGHT SWIMMING! it's my new favorite thing to do. since we can't go in the ocean at night at home, i've been taking full advantage of it here. it's SO warm, and relaxing. especially since the full moon has been out. :) it's been a real treat. i'm really going to miss this...

tuesday. just did our thangg and went shopping. :) that was fun! didn't really buy much, but hey, i had fun. it was good to just get out and walk around. i like spending time with jo & becca. girl time fa shoo. haha. later that night we met up with some of the guys and went to likelike! i ordered too big of an omelette, but it really good nonetheless!

wednesday. BEACH BEACH BEACH. after our presentation :) we had lunch with kanes', leo, andrew, amanda, and some others at ala moana. that was fun! and then dat took becca and i to makapu'u! that was awesome. we finally got to sleep in the sun. haha. we'd been craving beach, even though we go basically every day. :P After makapu'u, dat took us to kahala mandarin hotel! and we saw DOLPHINS. and honus. and a stingray! it was so cool. honestly made my day. :)

thursday. BEACH BEACH BEACH. :) haha. went with Andrew, which was way chill. we traveled the coast, just exploring. went to makapu'u, waimanalo, and finally ending up at lanikai. where we actually saw a portuguese man of war! they're tiny little buggers, but oh so hurtful. so we peaced out quickfast. hahaha. all in all, really fun day with andrew.
alsooo. steve arrived! becca seemed quite happy. so it was cool to have him. :)

friday. class. BOO. haha. i shouldn't have gone. we didn't learn anything and we don't even have a final exam! haha. o well. i guess attendance is always good. right after that jo and dat picked me up to go hiking! we decided to go to diamond head. which i had done about 5 years ago, but had forgotten what it was like. ended up being super easyy. haha. which was cool. nicole ginoza met us there! hiked it pretty fast, and then got shave icee. nom nom nom. always good stuff :) then we proceeded to eat at yardhouse that night! i'd missed my ahi steak sandwich. it was soo good. the last time i'd been to yardhouse was during our senior trip in palm springs. just as good as i remembered. (; haha.

saturday. BEACHH. haha.

okay, i'm admittingly getting a bit tired of typing. plus church is coming! but hope that was a good enough update for y'all. :)

god is good. i've been so blessed with this trip. and i'm honestly grieved just thinking about only having one week left. i will be back though! and by back i mean hopefully moving back. ♥ ♥