19 days...

... I think. I THINK that's how many days left... numbers aren't my thing though.

so, Christmas was good: not gonna' lie though: it was sad. Have any of you awoken on Christmas morning by yourself? Not looking for pity here: truly, I'm not. But it was a really weird, overwhelming feeling: that I don't wish for anyone. anyways: but it turned out to be a good day!! that afternoon, I went to my friend's house and ate AMAZING food and watched movies allllllllllllll afternoon and evening: it was good!! (and one learns all that they're truly thankful for....)

So... we have these winds here, called the Santa Anna's: and yeah: they TOTALLY remind me of PEI winds... gotta' be at least 30-40 mph.. and with those winds come warm weather: so it's TOTALLY beautiful here. Usually will rain during the night: so you wake up and it's all crisp and clear and windy and nothing but BEAUTIFULness and the ocean is ABSOLUTELY spectactular.

yup: no lie. the #1 thing I will miss the most is:

the OCEAN.

I'll Be Home for Christmas... If Only In My Dreams...

Hello all!!

So, I have about an hour and a half of work left (no worries: I'm on lunch break:)!!! SO excited for some time off... and just chillaxin' in my apartment for the last few weeks that I'm here... watching WAY too many movies and WAY too many episodes of Gilmore Girls. :) and probably even going to be eating WAY too many carbohydrates, lol... as macaroni and cheese is always the easiest thing to make, lol. :)

Anyways: so thanks for the prayers regarding a place to be for Christmas! I'm going over to my favorite family's place... so I'm STOLKED: Christmas Eve may be a bit lonely, but it's all good. I have 4 Christmas movies to watch: So Christmas Eve it is! LOL!!

The Talent Department has reached some pretty hott goals: One of them having the reward of a VERY nice STEAK dinner in Beverly Hills (check it out: http://www.lawrysonline.com/theprimerib_beverlyhills_gen_info.asp ) on the 15th: So that's where I'll be on my last night in California!!

Can't believe I leave so soon!! Just 7 days of work left... I have a women's retreat that I am STOLKED to attend in Murietta Hot Springs, CA from the 5-7th, and what else: I don't know. that's it I think. Anyways, it's JUST CRAZY. I'm soooooo excited to go see Bethany! and HOPEFULLY: see you ALL (PEI'RS) in just a few months!

If you're ever droppin' thru NH... give me a call!

Good Evening World...

Hey all.... back again...

well, basically: just here to say that I leave in exactly 4 weeks.

that's a bit much for me... seeing as I have half of my life yet to pack and ship off... only to pray that it by a miracle gets there... every package... safe and secure... not that I have much.. but I do have some stuff....

so no pictures today folks.. but I did spend most of the day in a quaint little area known as BEVERLY HILLS, CA. I went with some friends from work to go to the new HandM (I think that's how you spell it): anyways, its a European store w/ amazingly awesome prices for folk like me... :) and then we went to the Hard Rock Cafe... (never been to one), which we discovered is to actually be closing Dec. 31st... and being shipped to a different location in LA... how sad, eh? Anywho... and oh! then we drove down the famous Rodeo Dr... I felt like I was supposed to pay just to drive down it--it's that glitzy!! ;)

So, that's about it. Works going well... so that makes me happy. My final home group was last Thursday... that makes me REAL sad... but oh! At work we had a "tiered" incentive... and it began w/a personal goal: and for each person that reached their personal goal: was to receive an ipod!! So, guess who did last Thursday?! that's right: ME!!!!!!!!! and we also reached another goal: So, off for a niiiiiiiice Steak Dinner in Beverly Hills... the night before I am to fly out!! :)

Closing remarks: please be praying about my Holidays... wee bit sad.. and just who to spend Christmas with... thanks all. :)

...discombobulation... as usual.

Well, this Saturday, I finally did it: I finally mailed my FIRST 3 BOXES back East... poor Bethany/Andy who have to carry them to their place.... ahaha... insanity. It was amazing actually, how much relief it actually took off my back. and I have some friends from work that are going to be looking at my bed, lamp, chair, etc.... seeing if they want it: so then neither I, nor my roommate and her fiancee will have to worry about all that stuff. I'm just really thankful I didn't buy anymore than what I did... and it's weird ya' know (well, technically a Divine thing) on how I didn't buy MORE... 'cause I could have. I never bought curtains... I never bought a frame for the painting that my room is based on... i never... well, honestly: I don't own much, to be realistic. Not for a 24 year old woman.

wow, 24.. I'm like, almost a quarter of a century old... that's a bit much really.

tomorrow night I have an Office Christmas party to attend here at the Pierpont Inn (the above is supposedly a night view from it: I've never been there: even though it's like a 5 min. walk from the house... but it IS one of those fancey places where only tennis players go;).. anyways. I'm quite excited. only problem being is we're doing a White Elephant Gift Exchange: and I am, like, TOTALLY NOT a girly girl: and I hate shopping and have NO idea what to get a person: never mind the fact that you don't know if it's a man or a woman that's going to receive it. and gift cards--well: I know others are doing that ... ahaha.

Well, that's about it for now... I think I'll dive into the book I'm reading by Frank Peretti, "This Present Darkness"... and, if you ever get the chance: "Blue Like Jazz"--it's an eye-opening book. It's real: and that's what makes it hurt so much when you read it. It's amazing.... I don't agree with everything: but that's not the point. It challenged me. Definitely a 4-Star book in my eyes.

Just a wee bit of an update... sorry!

well, the above is Diana: She was one of my Young Con. recruits that I had the privilege to see perform!! Below: is Koby and I--I spent Thanksgiving with him and his family..... I love them!! Someday.... I'll get more pics of that family, LOL!! :)

Just remember that today is DECEMBER 1st, which, = THE FACT THAT I LEAVE NEXT MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! SO much to do... so much lazines.... and too much sickness. :( BLAH!! Is the flu goin' round where ya'll are?

So, that's about it. The new Arise cd is to be released just after the new year... so I'm pretty excited about that!! The office Christmas party is this coming Tuesday--I feel so OLD--now that I finally get to attend a company party!! ahaha...

and Bev--UPDATE. gosh... at least after your WEDDING this coming month..., Erin... miss ya' LOTS... Shirls--EMAIL. and jonny b: I'm SO pumped you went to Everest man. I'm LOVING those pics!! and to the rest: aw... I miss you guys!! Hopefully I'll see you this Spring or Summer.... :)

A Wedding and Christmas... :)

Alrighty.... these kids: yuppers: love them. This is Koby and Sophie... They are my friend Stephanie's kids... Her eldest son was the cause for the wedding, lol... as he and my friend Terah wedded at, you guessed it, 10:15 am... INSANE, I tell you, insane. No, it was actually, quite breathtaking. I should have taken a picture of the wedding: 'cause it was so elegantly beautiful: with all of Santa Barbara in the background, but of course... I had shut my phone off for DURING there ceremony:) Anyways... so yeah... these are my kids. Love them. I get to spend Thanksgiving with them... so that's QUITE exciting... we're all going to go watch Santa Clause 3 at the movies!! INSANITY! I LOVE IT! :)

The following is regarding Christmas... well, and fall and winter. So basically: I love the weather here... I really do. Getting to wear flip flops and sandals pretty much all the time.. but guess what guys: I've come to miss the rain... and the snow... AHHHHHHHHHHHH. can YOU believe it... 'cause I can't. I just miss the "essence" of... well: everything. It will be like 3pm in the afternoon: and I can just picture all of the leaves that have fallen: and the smell of freshness and OXYGEN.... and the future coming of snow... but there is none to be had here. So: even though I am a HUGE fan of NOT listening to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving: I have begun to listen to Christmas music already. I made that decision yesterday. I had wondered why people are "christmasy" already out here: and I think that's why: they have to put themselves in the mood!! ahhhhhhhhh. craziness. well, must flee. love ya' all.

...one of the best weekends of my life...

No lie. I just had probably had one of THE best weekends of my life. It was spent in Big Bear, CA... Big Bear is basically at the top of a huge mountain that terrifies you to drive just in a car: so imagine going up and down on a bus, lol.

Anyways, it was an 18-30's "retreat", lol, which ended up being not so much of a "relax and sleep" retreat, but a conference... and it was amazing. The theme of the retreat was "Soon...": symbolizing, the Rapture of the church. See, Reality and Calvary Chapel churches doctrinely teach the Rapture of the Church... (yay!)... so the weekend's focus was totally on that. And how we should be living right now... as He could return at ANY moment! Even before you finish reading this (or me typing) blog! HOW AMAZING IS THAT?! WHAT AN AMAZING GOD WE HAVE! AND HE CALLS US HIS CHILDREN. He is truly more than anyone can ever think, feel or imagine. Praise His name.

Oh yeah, and at church, we often sing this song, called, "Hallejuah Jesus"... and it's one of those songs that, you can't even handle singing it all... 'cause you can't: you seriously just in such awe and praise of Him that you can't handle doing anything more than just thinking. Anyways... so, just so happens: the guy that wrote that song was the Praise & Worship leader for most of the camp:

and so yeah. He's amazing. check out that song and more at www.myspace.com/evanwickham You won't be disapointed.

anyways, so the weekend was amazing. Definitely enjoyed seeing leaves on the ground and the (*Gasp*): 40 something weather, lol. But mostly: there were 2 moments that I honestly thought Jesus was going to come for us right then: 'cause I just couldn't hold in how much I loved Him at those moments. Amazingness. That's our God. My arms: seriously are sore from having them raised for so long. PRAISE HIM.

another, "IT'S OFFICIAL"....

I am legally allowed to drive on the roads--by MYSELF:

BECAUSE I JUST PASSED MY DRIVERS TEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:)

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW....

I can finally sigh relief and tell you ALL that....

I AM MOVING BACK EAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that's right! ain't lyin'!!!!!!

The Lord truly has me moving back East!! On January, 16th, 2007, I will be flying to Manchester, NH, to then move to Jaffrey, NH, to join the Arise Worship Team!!!!!!! That's RIGHT! my friend Andy's band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I AM TRULY TRULY TRULY GOING TO BE LIVING A PASSION AND DESIRE OF MINE! (on the weekends, lol) I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!

that's about it for now. That's why I haven't written sooner.... 'cause I would just want to tell you all!! :)

so, once again, check out his (our?;) stuff at www.ariseworship.com and www.myspace.com/ariseworship !!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Randomness....

Hello all. Guess it's been awhile again!! My apologies!!

So, I did get rid of my myspace.... praise the Lord. It was too distracting.... but... there were some people... such as my German exchange student friend... who... I now have no idea how to contact her... so that's kind of poopy... hhhmmm... anyways.

I shall be going for my license within a couple of weeks, I do believe. Before the end of October at least. Am I 100% comfortable? No... but.... well... the mistakes I make now are just the same that every other drive can make... so... I guess it's time to try!! :)

and... let's see... what else. I found my first hot drink at Starbucks that I like: Carmel Macchiato... or something like that. Impressive eh? ;) I do miss good ol' Timmy's though.... and the "roll up the Rim"--big time! :)

Went to a football game the other night!! Fun times!! Man--i LOVE sports and hardly anyone here does... minus my home group leaders... considering one of them IS a football coach... I guess that he SHOULD like football;)... which reminds me.. .the big Cross Town Rivalry (Buena v. Ventura) is this coming Friday... so maybe I'll see Costner there... ;)

And I found out about some more celebs in the area... a famous model goes to my church (won't say the name.. just in case some RANDOM person reads this and then goes to my church).... Ted Danson lives about 20 minutes away (the show Cheers anyone?) and Tom Selleck lives about 30,35 minutes away... fun times, fun times.

well, I must flee sorry so boring... but... I do lead a rather normal life. But... feel free to email me if you would like to know more! ;)

ps... check out www.myspace.com/ariseworship to listen to my friend's music: some is being considered for those NowWorship cds that you can get in stores and t.v.!

Alright... Since You've ALLLL Asked;)

Here we go everyone: I ALWAYS get asked if I have seen someone famous:


NO.


(My friend saw Kiefer Sutherland at LAX though:( Too bad I wasn't there!)

HOWEVER... so, I saw the movie, "The Guardian" (A-mazing)... and so I'm talking about it with my friend Steph... and she's like, "Oh! Well, Kevin Costner is from here! He goes to basketball and football games here all the time..." LIKE, WHAT?!

So, we're gonna' go see him sometime;) Pretty pumped. No, well: maybe, ahahahaha. But anyways... there he is. (And yes; I DO realize he is human, and he's a sinner.. and all that: but come ON! He's amazing!!)

And, my dearest Erin (and everyone else), lol: I actually got rid of my Myspace.... so you shall be seeing more of me! (or, well, reading more of me)... So Shirls: get a blog! and you Erin! gosh... I can't comment! and jonny b: pictures.... aaaaaaaaaaaaany time now. And Nathan--it's been a while! anywho, peace out!

Amazingness...

“Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of Your universe. Delight me to see how Your Christ plays in ten thousand places, lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not His, to the Father through the features of men’s faces. Each day enrapture me with Your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all."--Rabbi Joshua Abraham Heschel

Mini-Vaca.

Hello all.
So, making it a short post: basically: I just went thru one of the hardest times in my life and needed to take an emergency vacation. So I did: to New Hampshire to be with my closest friend in the world--Bethany. And the above on the left is Mercy, her 8 month daughter:) She was born just 2 days after I moved out here... so I was EXTREMELY excited to meet her. And then this guy on the right: you've all seen him on here before, lol: That is Josiah!! But he's totally thinning out, lol... so that's a bit sad: but he's still as irresistable as ever! The morning I left (9/18) I capture him on my camero video singing the "Fruit Salad song" from the Wiggles!! :) That little boy has my heart... :)

Anyways... so yes. Let's see... not much has happened. I started small groups last Thursday, so I was really excited about that. Reality has too many people to really get to know anyone on a personal level--so they have small groups. So I'm really excited.

and oh yeah: my friend Andy: Bethany's husband, back in NH: his music (Praise & Worship) is being reviewed by the NowWorship company!! (you can get their stuff off of t.v. and in stores): How EXCITING is that!! :) So you can check out his stuff at: www.myspace.com/ariseworship and also, www.ariseworship.com (My favorite times ministering in music has been with Andy at Mondanock.... and he let me minister with him again last weekend, which was FABulous.) They are recording their 2nd album: So be looking out for that!!

That's about it for now. Sorry I don't update this very much. Myspace is kind of where I do a lot of my blogging and stuff now... 'cause there's so many people on there! Sorry... anyways.... feel free to leave a comment/msg or email me! Love ya'll!!

I guess...

I guess... that I am as bad as everyone else at blogging, eh?
Whoops, my bad... here are some pics: one over looks part of Ventura (you can probably see my apartment--you just don't know which one it is) and the other is a friend from work, Chantal and I: just before we started playin' volleyball...

Not a whole lot has happened in the last month... been a rough month though: in almost every way... I am going on vacation from Sept.14th-Sept18th... to go be with my best friend Bethany and her family in NH: please keep me in prayer, as I am flying out the night of the 13th.. and I am beginning to remember why I DISlike flying... but I am looking forward to having some time to myself while traveling and watching people... and seeing God's creation (though, that's a bit tough at night, lol)...

NO idea if I'm going back east for Christmas though... though I would love to see you all... :( hhmmm.....

please comment people! I KNOW you read! lol!! and, feel free to come visit me! My friends Nathanael and Lisa were just here for 2 days... as they're on vacation for 10 days... so THAT was FANTASTIC.... :)

and Bible Study is back in swing! Studying the Book of Daniel!! I'm Soooooooooooo excited... as studying that makes me miss the BI. and...

Have I EVER mentioned how much I love my church?

:)

Some pics.. on the way to the Fair!

This is where I live!

Woo woo!!

Hello all...

Good afternoon and evening ya'll.

I have now worked for the Continental Singers, for exactly 7 months.

Which means... I have lived in C-A-L-F-O-R-N-I-A for....7 months.

Is this NOT insane to you all?

So when is everyone going to come visit?

That's my question.

Okay, update on my life... Driving: uh, kind of had a mishap the other day: so I'm driving for a few days... 'cause I just need a break, lol. just shook me up. No injuries, no damage: no worries: just my pride. (Isn't THAT typical, lol) Annnnnnnnnnnnnnd... no car yet either. Please keep praying for me that though... let's see....

Spiritually: ya' know, up and down. I've been going thru a bit of a stretch lately: the other night in fact, I was like, "I'm ready to go back east... I miss Bethany... I miss my PEI'rs..." yeah, all of that good stuff. But I realized something last night: one of my strengths is that I love moving and seeing different places and moving 3,000 miles doesn't quite bother me.... but, when the going gets tough: that's my escape: to just move, and leave. See: I've never been in one place, for so long. It was always camp for 3 months, school for 3 months, camp, school, camp, school.... see? I always had something on the horizon... then I had tour.... then I had coming here... and now I have...???????? But God is good--and Faithful. Not one thing that I go thru has He NOT allowed: for His glory, and my growth....

Now if I can just remember that...

haha.

and that's about it for now. sorry, no pics... for you, maybe later:)

Alright, Alriiiiiiiiiiiight people... GEESH.:)

Oh, how I miss hearing from you all! :)

Well, PEI'rs, I just sent you guys an email, so you should be getting that... as far as life...

mmm... not so much a lot. I DIIIIIID go to a Dodgers game----quuuuuuuite exciting. and then I performed two days later, w/ some office people, in Ojia, CA, for a luncheon for Seniors. Had a couple of solos--of course: I did NOT good, lol. No really: and I'm not just saying that. Like, we were all watching the video tape, and my co-worker Todd goes, "Shauna, yeah......... you're not going to like this part"--it WAS HORRRRRRRRRRRIBLE!!! I seriously think of it every day, and analyze it STILL--two weeks later! But to those of you that know me--now, that's no surprise, is it? ;)

Been tanning..... (whatever SHANNON, goooooooooosh:)

and yeah. been fiiinally getting back into the Word and spending time with Jesus. Been sometime now, since I've actually LOOK FORWARD to it: and I miss that. Why is that we have times in which we're like, "No Jesus... not now." Like, really: how DUMB can humans get? my word. but yeah.

and that's about it, people....

do Pray for me though.... I need P-A-T-I-C-I-E-N-C-E right now, in a certain area.... and it's NOT an area that I have a lot of patience with in the past....

and Deana Carter (country singer) was in town a few days ago... CRAZY.....

I leave you a picture of a picture, of my man Josiah, that I took. (yes, I took the original: annnd this one, lol:): (okay................... so did anyone notice that the picture appeared AT THE TOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY STINKIN' COOOOOOOOOOWS! I HATE BLOGGER SOMETIMES! UGUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHH! :)

Guess.

Guess where I'm going?

Hint: huuuuuuuuuuge baseball team out here:)

Experimenting....

just some experimentin' w/ the cell phone I just bought! and I'm sorry my "fellow" canadians: but it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to expensive to talk with you guys! but yes, I bought one. UGH! hahaha. I do love it though. :)

My Boppin' 'Siah:)

hehehehehehehhehehe.
This is my Bethany and Josiah! (She's the mom of 'Siah!)
Just imagine this: 'Siah boppin' his head w/ the pillow all the way down the aisle! hehehehehe:)