Oh Thank You Lord!

I am officially 100% DONE with Financial Accounting *Hallelujah Chorus*

I'm sitting at work...counting the minutes down till I can leave to start the preparation for Hume Lake! YAY 

We leave bright and early (actually, 6:30 am is more dark and early) Sunday morning, and I am thoroughly looking forward to the week. I read a blog a few minutes ago that Rob (middle school pastor) wrote about being at the church for 8 years now, and how his first Sunday was the day we left for Hume. I say "we" because I was going into 8th grade. 

It was a little bizarre to look at the photos on Rob's blog, and totally remember being a camper when, come Sunday, I will be a counselor...

Hope none of my girls are TOO scared of clowns...

Time to go!

-Bre

Anyone know how to order more memory for my brain?

I actually forgot that I had a blog. It just totally slipped my mind...until now

Summer so far has been so crazy and not very summer-like at all. Summer school is zapping my energy. Financial Accounting is an evil, evil thing. Listening to my professor babble about it for 2 and a half hours......I want to stop talking about it.

I also started a new job, which is exciting...but still...a job. I am the receptionist/admin assistant at King & Wood law firm. Its a pretty slow job, but its fine. At least I get paid to sit around =)

And my boss is letting me go to Hume =) Whoooopeee!!!

I am very excited for Hume Lake for the following reasons:

-its Hume Lake

-I will be done with my financial accounting class (4 days before haha)

-I will have a week off of work

-Luke is going too

-I will get to hang out with silly jr highers (aka: turn into a silly jr higher)

I think I am really looking forward to that last part. The whole not-acting-like-a-grownup part. I mean...ok I have to be "the grownup"...duh I get that. I'm going as a counselor...parents of the campers want me to be a grownup (I will...), but at the same time, I get to be a silly grownup.

My mom was just in Europe for 10 days so I was pseudo-mommy for 10 days...and I don't like being a grown up. I'm really tired now...... Going to school, and working, and doing everything my mom does was crazy. My brain pretty much checked out. lol If I was given instructions...they would go in one ear and out the other. 

And it made me think...how am I going to do this someday? How am I going to do everything? I concluded that I will eventually (hopefully) get better at time management, I will not have a perfectly clean house every minute, I will not cook amazing meals every single night (take out= stress reliever), I won't be perfect (gasp), and I won't do everything. *sigh*

I am such a perfectionist. 

Almost a month...

I realized tonight that this blog has sat here for almost a month with absolutely no attention. I have been so busy.

I've just been buried in homework and life. 

Things I have accomplished:

-finished one of two online sessions of driver's ed (yes, two. So ashamed to have a lead foot...I have learned my lesson though....for now)

-changed my major to Business: Human Resources (and I was informed by my advisor that I should do very well in HR because there is "just something about you"...I shoulda said it, but I didn't.... it's Jesus, dude)

-begun job hunting for the summer etc (I may have a few options which is good)

-analyzed my diet (interesting assignment)

-learned to make gum paste orchids (the picture above is actually from the website of the place we went to. I haven't taken a picture of mine yet, but it really did come out just as good...so you get the idea...they look real. I went with Megan. It was fun.)

-introduced to and talked to music pastor at Venture (so excited to be getting involved

 again where I feel called!!!)

Exciting things coming up on my calendar:

-May 8-10: Santa Barbara for Shelly's graduation from Westmont (after only THREE years...smarty pants)

-May 13: I turn 20...(tonight at 678, Paco and Teylor learned that I only had days left of teen..ness and I informed them that it basically means that I have a few more days to act 

like an idiot and blame it on the fact that I'm a teen...apparently, that isn't a great idea lol)...oh this is also my last "official" day of classes (its kind of a bummer for the last official day to be on your birthday because you feel like you have to go. I would love to skip class on my birthday, but I would probably feel guilty for skipping the last official day.)

-May 14/16: I might (emphasis on the might) be practicing with my highschool ensemble on the 14th for a reunion-ish thing at their concert on the 16th...I don't really know if I'm going yet because they have not communicated very well, and I am quite confused...but I do love them so I would love to.

-May 23: LUKE GRADUATES FROM SJSU (how exciting! I'm so proud!!)

-June 1: Summer session starts.....oh joy... Financial Accounting :/

-June 4: San Francisco with Luke for our TWO YEAR Anniversary... (I feel like it was just yesterday that I met him at the My Former Self concert... amongst the emo and scene kids... me in my high heels, he in his white sunglasses...INDOORS in his sunglasses........lol I love him)

-July 12-18: HUME LAKE.........there's not much more to say. I just can't wait to have a cabin full of ecstatic junior high girls =)

And now....I sleep

-Bre

Made 2009

Ok, I'm finally going to write about Made! I haven't had the energy to yet because the weekend was so crazy, then I got home, and it was a homework frenzy.

The trip went so well, the girls had fun, and the counselors did too! Most memorable part of the week for me: this hike that totally killed me (I don't do well with altitude lol)

Anyways, Saturday morning, the Hume staff had planned a "team building" exercise that was a total surprise to the girls, and partially to us too. They had the girls join in a circle by holding on to broken pieces of rope and told them not to let go....and then we hike. 

They took us up this mountain and everyone was gasping for air. (I don't consider myself to be completely in shape, but I am also not entirely out of shape. Hiking in high altitude, I discovered, is a little bit tiring)

Anyways, we get to the top, and the counselor get to relax as the girls play this game...it was 

hysterical (at least, we thought it was...the girls didn't find it very funny)

First, they split the girls into 2 groups on either side of this field and told them that the field was "lava".

Game: Use a few paper plates to cross the "lava" and back. If you touch the "lava" then every person on your team goes back to the finish line. 

Oh ya...and a few of your team mates are "blind" so you'll have to carry them...

Now the "blind" ones aren't blind, but a few of you "can't walk".....

now you all can walk, but only 3 of you can speak.....

Ok you get the picture...I would say that the game took about an hour and a half, and some of the girls looked like they wanted to punch someone, but that was the point of the game.

The point: to learn how you respond to "life" when "life" is frustrating. Very annoying for the girls....and very entertaining for the counselors (yes, we are mean).

Anyways, the thing that surprised me most about the weekend was how honest the girls ended up being throughout the entire process. During the game, a few of the girls got really frustrated and tried to cheat in order to finish quicker, a few of them lied to the leaders in an attempt to not have to start all over, etc, but in the end, most of the girls realized those things about themselves....it was an interesting experience. All weekend, they had really honest questions too...they all seemed to let down their guard and let the Holy Spirit move...which was cool =)

Ya know what else was cool? Allyson's and my cabin! yaaaaaaaa lol

-Bre

Just real quick!

I really need to sleep, but I haven't had one second to blog and will be gone all weekend!

I actually had a really good week =) I got to see Tessa on Monday... you know you're good friends when you can go 3 months without having a moment to catch up and STILL remain good friends lol We saw Duplicity...which was not what I expected, but pretty good 

Tuesday, Luke and I had our meeting with Rob (Venture Middle School Pastor), and we are officially staff! yay how fun =)

Wednesday, my mom and I spent hours in target etc getting me ready for Hume =) Fun fun fun

Today, I had lunch with Jen...I don't think I had seen her for two months...I really don't like that I have a weird schedule that allows months to go by as quickly as they do without me being able to balance in some social time....I should work on that whole "balanced life" thing one of these days (ya know, when I get 5 minutes)...but we had fun, Jen is always so easy to talk to about ...um everything haha I love her

Anyways, the rest of my day consisted of class, buying cowboy boots at DSW, and packing for tomorrow when I go to ....HUME! 

Very excited, but very anxious or something...I don't know... like Luke just went home an hour ago, and I started feeling very anxious

I really hate leaving Luke...I know most people would say we spend too much time together, but I really don't like spending very much time without him...it makes me anxious

My analogy to him was that its how most people feel when they are separated from their cell phones...only different because I'm in love with Luke ....I'm not in love with my cell phone.... my logic clearly reflects the hour that I am blogging...

I'm sure my attention will be fully consumed with the lives and minds of jr high girls...hmmm

ok bedtime 

-Bre

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully MADE; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Ps 139:14

So today I found out that I will for sure be going with Venture's middle school group to Hume Lake's all girls conference (Made)!

SO excited! I leave Friday morning (....that's really soon haha) but I'm excited because this is a great opportunity for me to bond with the girls =) Venture is taking 32 (I think?) girls, and I guess we are going to be almost the only ones up there so they're kind of doing the conference all for us...haha

yay for Hume!

Kind of strange to be going as a counselor and not as a camper heehee 

I think that the name of the conference ("Made") comes from Psalm 139:14, and I really hope that the girls who go this weekend will really grasp this passage of scripture and know that they are special and that they are God's princesses! Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

yaaaaaaay...expect lots of pictures =)

-Bre

So neglected

Sorry blog...I have neglected you for a few days...

Here's what I've done since I got back from Arizona!

On Monday, I re-organized my room (and actually unpacked my suitcase! I usually have a fully packed suitcase sitting in my room for...at least a week) 

Tuesday, Luke and I went to see the fishies at the Monterey Bay Aquarium! We had so much fun =) Neither of us had been in awhile...then we got ice cream from Ghirardelli (soooo good)

Tuesday night, we checked out Venture Church's Jr. High group. They played games and had small groups and the kids are cute haha (I know...I say that now). Luke and I have pretty much decided to become counselors! Its funny because I was really involved at Los Gatos (pre-merge with South Valley) when I was in jr high, and some of the counselors are still there haha

Last night, I spent the night at my Grandma and Papa's house =) We watched Australia and I really loved it...even though it is almost three hours long and fakes you out fifty times (they fade out of scenes toward the end and it makes you think "oh...the movie is over" but its not lol it gets pretty comical after awhile) My favorite part would have to be the scene with the kangaroos....just watch the movie and you will know why...

This morning, my Grandma made me french toast =) and then I ran errands. I got fabric for a project I'm doing for my room and got random stuff at target that I was out of....and, while at target, I bought Twilight...like the girl I am. The movie is cheesy, the acting is bad, but the books were so good...you kind of have to like the movie (shh! don't tell anyone...I'm not proud that I like this teeny-bopper fad)...It is actually really sad because Australia came out at the same time as Twilight, and Australia really didn't get enough attention and Twilight got way too much =/

The end.

-Bre

Back to San Jose

I had so much fun this weekend at my Aunt and Uncle's. And the boys are so darn funny =)

I'm leaving the hot and dry for the cold and wet! Its raining at home...but at least I won't feel like a fish over there. It hit me Saturday morning...the Arizona weather zapped up all my water, and I had to drink 500 glasses till I felt re-hydrated haha 

I'm going to go home and get crafty this week! I kind of caught the bug from Aimee, scrap-book extraordinaire haha I need to finish up a scrapbook she sent me when I graduated. Its pages are pretty much complete...I just need to add pictures and stuff to it. Which makes me even more pathetic for not having finished it...since I graduated 2 years ago haha oops...

And I plan to hang all the pictures I have sitting on my floor and leaning against my walls on the walls. I need to accomplish things over the break...I wish it were all fun scrapbooks and frames that I needed to do...not drivers ed, laundr

y, and homework (why do I have hw over the break? ew)

Anyways, I'm just hanging out in the terminal with my good friend Tazo.....thank  you Starbucks.

Hey Aimee....it IS called damask! yay google:

-Bre

Arizona Bound

I'm sitting in the airport all by my lonesome so I figured I might as well blog =) This is my first flight completely by myself...awww I'm a big girl now *rolls eyes*

I'm going to Chandler, Arizona where it is currently 72 degrees....and its cold and overcast in San Jose so I'm happy to be beating the rain haha

lol security just came on the intercom announcing that everyone in the airport should check and make sure they are wearing their belt because someone left theirs at the security check point...50 old guys just grabbed their waists hahaha ....ok you had to be there to understand...nvm.

WEIRD...this girl just walked up to the terminal and she's got really dark hair like me and really pale skin like me and the same bag as me and a jacket like mine...I feel like I just watched myself walk up...

except I would never wear those shoes with that outfit.

lol ok...Starbucks time

-Bre

Almost there...

Why is it that the week before spring break always seems like the longest week of all time?

I think it is...I think they secretly add more time to the week... except for when you actually need more time in your day to accomplish everything on the "to do" list...then they speed up time...

who is "they"? I don't know...haha I'm just rambling

I'm super excited because I am flying out to Arizona this weekend to stay with my favorite

 Aunt, Uncle, and cousins =) I'm going to make them cupcakes and we all shall be joyful ahahaha

I just need to get past my two midterms tomorrow, which look less menacing and more annoying every second. I don't know how it happened, but I was studying for my geology midterm at some point...and then I just stopped. You know the point when your brain says "nope"....I hit that point. Geology is not my thing. Cupcakes are my thing tho...yup.

I want one....

-Bre

How did that happen?

Last semester I took 16 units at SJSU, and I was pulling my hair out. I constantly had something to do for school. Constantly had homework or papers to write or tests to study for. When midterms came around, I thought I was going to get an ulcer. 

This semester, I took 14 units. You would think that the load would be similar. Its not. I feel like I'm taking two classes. This is the week before spring break and somehow, I only have 2 finals. One is for my geology class and should be appropriately challenging (and obnoxious), but the other one is for aerobics...so that one hardly counts. 

This semester feels more monotonous (mostly). Nutrition (kill me), Geology, and Econ... epitome of monotony. Polisci/History is only partly boring. Aerobics is fun...in a weird sort of 80's techno way. 

I don't have to use my brain as much (which is comfortable if not educational). Maybe it is the same amount of work, but I just got so used to it that now it all seems like a breeze =P hehehe.....

With that said...I do actually still have some homework to finish tonight... here's a little 80's aerobics fun for you:

Work it ladies.

-Bre

I forgive you

I enjoyed church today for the first time in a long time. My family, Luke, and I visited Venture Christian Church today, and the pastor spoke on forgiveness. He had a way of getting the point across, and I remember almost everything he said. I was able to pay attention.

Being able to pay attention to a sermon and remember it may seem like very basic things, but its huge to me.

Like I said, he spoke on forgiveness, and there was this one point that really struck a chord in me. He said that when somebody wrongs him, he goes to God and forgives the person. Just between him and God. He talked about how unforgiveness breeds bitterness. So being able to forgive a person who has wronged you, simply by raising it to God and choosing to forgive, will allow you to keep living, free from burden. 

However, he doesn't go to the person to tell them they are forgiven until they say they are sorry. He said he will treat the person as though they are forgiven, but he will not tell them "I forgive you" until they apologize. So they are forgiven, but unless they ask for it, they don't get the benefit of receiving that forgiveness.

Someone hurt me big time, and they never apologized. I chose to forgive them, but it has always bugged me because I can't just tell them "I forgive you." Sometimes I feel like I should just call the person and say "I forgive you." Because I have forgiven them, I made that choice. I just have never felt like I could say "I forgive you" without them first saying that they are sorry.

I think Pastor Dave is right though. I can forgive (truly forgive someone) without receiving an apology and without telling them that they have been forgiven. And I don't have to go back for more. I don't have to ignore what happened and walk back into the same situation. 

I can forgive, and I can leave. 

I felt like I could breathe again this Sunday. I felt like I could listen to God again without being afraid of where he'll tell me to go or how he'll want me to be used. I'm not afraid of getting munched in the process of being used by God...imagine that.

-Bre

Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus) - Chris Rice

Speeding Tickets and Headbands

Yesterday I was on my way to have lunch in downtown Morgan Hill with Megan, and I learned something new.

Apparently, there is a 35 mile per hour zone that I was unaware of...how frustrating it is to think you're not speeding...and be  speeding...

The officer asked me what I thought the speed limit was and I said "45"... obviously, I was caught off guard because I didn't bother to look in front of the spot I had chosen to pull over in at the "35 mph" sign staring me in the face AND printed on the road...

In all honesty, I think the ticket was a little unfair because he did catch me shortly after the 45 mph zone...

Whatever...I got over it with some yummy food at Ragoots and headband-making (yes, headband-making).

Megan and I decided to get lost in ribbons and buttons and stuff yesterday, and when I got home I started making headbands. I really like headbands. I really hate speeding tickets.

-Bre

The World is Watching

I had a bit of an epiphany this morning. I was watching a new reality show called Running in Heels on the Style Network (aka: the total guilty pleasure channel). It follows the lives of 3 interns for Marie Claire Magazine...its basically a real-life Devil Wears Prada. On this episode, the editor-in-chief, Joanna, and a team of editors go to Europe fashion week, and the 3 interns are given a "major" assignment to each pick a new fashion trend and design a spread. They spend 5 days at each other's throats, stressing over this spread, and ultimately, fail miserably at the assignment.

The show featured one intern breaking into tears over the fact that she couldn't fit into a jumpsuit she was using in her spread. Her photographer comforted her, saying that the jumpsuit is a sample from the designer and samples are always ridiculously tiny (agreed, but come on...tears?)

Also shown was Joanna and her stylist packing for Europe. They had a printed out schedule of her wardrobe (and when she would have a wardrobe change) because apparently, over the course of a day she has to change at least 4 times and that means about 30 different outfits in one week. She turns to her stylist and says something like, "thank you for doing all this, I just don't know what I would do without you." And her stylist replies with something like "oh of course, I don't know how anyone would do this without help"

I love fashion, ok, I reaaaally do...but at this point, I'm kind of rolling my eyes at the craziness this world expects. And then, the show plays a clip of music by Francesca Battistelli....a christian musician. Of course, they pick certain phrases to actually play, but the chorus of the song says "It’s your life, What you gonna do? The world is watching you, Every day the choices you make, Say what you are and who Your heart beats for, It’s an open door. It’s your life."

So yesterday was Global Food Crisis Day, and all day long, K Love was raising money for Compassion International, an organization that works to feed the hungry. 1/3 of the world doesn't get enough to eat, and for $156, they can feed a child for an entire year. 

Donating last night, and then waking up in the morning and watching Running in Heels was a little strange. I guarantee that $156 wouldn't pay for one pair of Joanna's shoes for one of her 30 outfits. It makes me sad to think that the world IS watching, a hungry world is watching, and what do they look at us and see? 

-Bre

Its Your Life - Francesca Battistelli

I don't like to write about myself

I realized that its really hard to write about yourself yesterday

And today I started a blog...hmmm

Did I just unconsciously start a blog in order to be able to write about myself better?

I don't think that people understand each other as much as they should. I don't understand people as much as I should, but I think its hard to understand someone if you can't get in their head

I think I'm going to let you in my head...I don't know, we'll see

I have the house to myself tonight (well mostly) so I'm going to make dinner and then I'm shutting myself away with my book

-Bre