monosodium glutamate

this word: monosodium glutamate... i never put two and two together to realize that this is a.k.a. msg. msg which is in many of the foods i consume from vietnamese pho noodles to chicken broth powder to even dorito ranch chips! it has occurred to me more than ever that i believe i am experiencing side effects from consuming high quantities of this additive. here is more info on it: monosodium glutamate. my hope is that you read about its effects and to be aware of the many foods you consume (in your pantry and out at restaurants) that use this additive as a major ingredient!

merry christmas!

merry christmas everyone! we truly hope you are spending today with loved ones and rejoicing in their presence.

i like this song :)

the need to recognize blessings

instead of pondering about how having a job would make me just a bit happier, i'm trying real hard to be present, love those around me, and give however i can. i came up with the idea just now to post my blessings here and there to remind myself that we are blessed in ways unimaginable.

today's blessing: today i will be hanging out with my mentee. she is 15 and attends a charter school here in la jolla. she commutes nearly 3 hours on school days to go to a school that is known to prepare students adequately and successfully for college. at her young age, she is wise, smart, and fights for what she believes (ie. justice, education, equality, etc.) i admire her!

rocking chair

dp has wanted a rocking chair for a while now. had a difficult time finding one... fortunately our friends were recycling theirs! blessed are we! dp has been attached to it. this is him reading the economist... his exciting delivery every friday :) i love my hubby. the simple things make him happy.



seeking the good

happy birthday little bro!

... it has been a while since i've posted. i would like to report that things are going well. everyday dp and i discover all the wonderful blessings we have in our lives. i know i am one who seems optimistic, happy, and grateful all the time... and i apologize if it is repetitive and maybe even frustrating. but i must say that what are we to complain about? we have a home... we have a wonderful family/friends... we eat healthy food... we have provisions that are above our needs... it's easy to notice the things we may not have (ie. me not working) but the reality is that there is a purpose for why i am not working. in turn, much greatness has come out of this experience the last 3 months. i think everyone should go through this experience. it helps you to relook at yourself, as a person and defined by a job title.

as for other things. Christmas is around the corner and we are spending it with friends from church. we will miss our family from home :( dp's job is going well. he is very happy so that makes me happy. dp is going to begin mentoring a high school student (at the school i currently mentor at) come january (how exciting! it is his first time). that's really it. this weekend we are heading to newport beach and going on a friend's yacht and watching a boat parade! new experiences = fun times!

thanksgiving

hello! i hope you had a marvelous thanksgiving! dp and i did. we were blessed to be invited to a couple's home along with members of our life group and another couple. they also have a young one, so he was nice fun to be around. the food was yummy and the company was warm.

thank you everyone for your amazing love, grace, support, and open arms. dp and i are so thankful in general for the support system we have here. san diego is actually beginning to feel like home to us...3.5 years later! :)

can't complain!

this past weekend i volunteered as a mentor-for-a-day at a young women's leadership conference for middle and high school goals. it was nice to be there for the girls and it was very inspiring! the rest of the weekend was spent hanging out with friends. thank you friends for taking initiatives and wanting our friendships to grow. you guys rock :)
happy thanksgiving everyone!

cruise-y

this past week my good friend lori came to visit! it was nice to have a break from trying to find work and be a tour guide. we had the chance to visit the pretty sights of san diego and really take in the beauty of our surroundings. i am thankful to live here. thanks lor for visiting. i enjoyed your company and friendship!

i got to lead for the first time at the high school girl's youth group. did a lesson on beauty and really thought it went well. i walked away thinking "wow- this is what i was meant to do! lead groups like these to serve girls in their walk with Jesus and discovering themselves! i really enjoy this kind of stuff." i would love a job like that. does anyone have one for me? ;)

right now we're preparing for friends to come over. we really enjoy having people over for company and love the intimacy of dinner and chatting. dp is at work with making 2 pizzas!



time apart helps

dp was away this past weekend spending time camping/surfing with the boys' in youth group. we've been a part several times before this parting, yet for some reason i really missed him this time around. needless to say, i am very happy he is back! it's always so nice to reunite after being a part, even when it's for a day. not that we need time a part, but it's always refreshing.

still trying to figure my employment life. i wish $ weren't a factor and people could simply pursue what they are called to do. i really can't complain though what's been going on. been keeping quite busy and productive. at the end of the day i actually do feel like i've worked!

check out my quilt!

lucky me has been blessed with the friendship of a former co-worker who i get together with about once a month to quilt with! yesterday we neared the finish line of the below quilt. so proud of our work. she claims i did most of it, but yet it's hard to believe it. anyways, it's two sided and the hard part was the side with the different patterns because you have to picture what you want it to look like with varying cloths and patterns.

fun times = growing moments

this past week had a few cool points. dp led his first junior high bible study group! meaning, since the guy who usually leads it was sick, dp rose to the occasion. with a few encouraging words and ideas, and his ability to lead (though he naturally doesn't gravitate towards that role), it sounds like it was a success. i'm so proud of him and his willingness to challenge himself and do good for others. this friday we helped out at the church's harvest festival. it was so cute having the kids throw rings onto the stumps of the pumpkins. some of them didn't speak english and it was great modeling the objective and having them repeat the action or watch their interpretations. today for our "quality time" and date time, we attempted to make boba tea! first time and it wasn't shabby. aside from all this, i'm just trying to stay upbeat about finding a role that fulfills my purpose and actually pays me (that's the tricky part) and dp and i always looking up and being thankful for what we DO have.

boba teas AND our fish Jacob, had to introduce him somehow :)

nice deeds and upsides of no job

just sitting here reading and thinking, "wow, i don't have a job, yet what's great that i mustn't forget is how helpful people have been!" and it made me realize- i have gained so much during this trail period (that is still going). i have strangers from church who i meet for the first time try to get me jobs at their employers. they don't even know me, yet they believe in me. i have had the great opportunity to share intimate convos with women (and men) that i wouldn't otherwise do if i were stressed out or time limited with a job. i have people thinking of me in their day-to-day and calling me about how someone they met can maybe shine some light into my path. i have grown in awareness of what my passions are and have gained some insight as to what i believe my purpose is. i mean, don't get me wrong, this job-searching journey isn't all happy smiles, but i wrote this post to remind myself that lots of greatness has and is accruing from this trajectory. my point- i am thankful.

monday life group rocks!

what would we be doing on monday evenings if it weren't for our life group peeps? not only are they great company, but they're loving, supportive, funny, and smart Christians! this is the group members (minus two of the gals). so thankful for them!

tofu cooking!

tofu, eggplant, tomato

dp wanted some tofu so i delivered! my first time cooking tofu and it wasn't so shabby!

pizza time and qt time!

as i write this i can't remember exactly what we've been up to, but all i know is, i am glad that it's friday and dp and i get to spend time together! we are making pizza right now... well, actually he is orchestrating the dough and making the actual pizza part. i, on the other hand, am here typing, listening to a Christian music online station, and i actually contributed by slicing the goodies on the pizza! the goodies: chicken, tomato, mushroom, green onion, and bbq/ketchup sauce. below are some photos!

a little insight to what we've been up to:
- i went to laguna for a night/day to help a friend with her event planning business. it was a cool experience!
- i have been to the doc's, had a blood test, and an ultra sound to see what's up with my stomach pains
- dp is enjoying his new job and is still training and looking fwd to actually doing his job. people are nice there to him.
- i've been keeping busy being a homemaker (haha), self-reflecting and networking.

this is dp making another pizza ages ago

pizza from ages ago, forgot its ingredients

life is pretty good. we are so thankful for where we are. thank you God and thank you friends and family for being an amazing support system.

date night

have you watched this movie yet... date night? it was pretty funny! dp and i watched it tonight... too bad i didn't realize there were guns in it bc i wouldn't have otherwise picked it.

today i went to the doc's. i have this random stomach issue that has been here for weeks and just needs to peace out! the doc doesn't think it's anything but i'm still going to get testing. so i was a big girl and did some blood work. to most of you, you'd probably think this is nothing... but to me, it is a big accomplishment. the tech woman got nervous with my nervous laugh and lack of breathing that she made me stay longer, haha. too bad my dear friend caitlin wasn't there to sing and dance for me this time! (miss you!) pray for me that i don't have anything crazy going on please.

as i'm writing this now, my lovely husband is reading the economist. yes, 10pm, friday night, and dp is loving his economist and smiling as he engages in the affairs of the world. so lucky to be married to a man who loves to read about world news (half serious, half joking, haha). he gets so excited that his feet actually start moving (kinda like a dog's tail wagging). and btw, as i write this he has no idea! let's keep it that way... :)

so life's good in our hood. everything's dandy and we can't complain... thank You God. (and OH, we bought a Brita! i know you are excited for us as i am excited. yay- hopefully i'll be consuming healthier h2o!)

i'm married to an insurance license holder...

hehe, that's right! dp passed his insurance license exam and pending his background check, he soon will be licensed to sell insurance! congrats to him and his diligence in studying bc i sure wouldn't have been as studious :) he only had to go through 30+ hours of classroom instruction and the exam to get his license. i, on the other hand, have had 800+ intern hours and passed the national exam and yet school counselors aren't licensed! what is this! dp's instructor thought it was funny that hairdressers need to go through a lot more hours of training just to receive their license in cutting people's hair. whereas one can go through the course dp just went through for the short amount of time and then is able to go provide advice that may mess up someone's life! there's something wrong here...

question for anyone who can answer me by email... if you recall or participated in any girl empowerment programs (ie. girl inc., girl scout) and/or diversity education program, please email/text me the name please.

as for everything else, i'm glad to have my dp back after he's been committed to this training for the last 1.5 weeks. i went from spending too much time with him to no time. lucky me, i get him back maybe tomorrow evening!

you all rock!

just simply want to say that life without you all would be empty and lonely. thank you all for your unconditional love, encouragement, and support. more than ever i am overjoyed knowing i have people in my life who know my heart, appreciate me for me, and encourage me to reach my potential! (dp feels the same way too but he's just not this sentimental ;)

smiling because life is good.

dp and i are just at a happy place in life... me unemployed and all. we are enjoying each others' company and are just laughing a lot and just embracing each others' love languages. it's pretty funny; apparently one of my love languages is physical touch... so he just (seems to) excessively give me hugs throughout the day leaving me asking "dude... what's up with all this lovin'" and his response is "well... gotta fill your love tank!" hehe... if you haven't read "love languages" by gary chapman then you're missing out. apparently i'm missing out since i haven't read it yet, but dp just finished it. the concept in general is pretty cool and beneficial for any relationship.

dp is in insurance training this week...sounds so exciting! not. it's a week long and then he has a test. i am sure he will do well. i, on the other hand, have been enjoying this time to spend time with people i wouldn't otherwise have a chance to. really loving the people i'm meeting and hearing their stories. if i could have a job meeting and greeting people i'd take it! wish me well as i discern what my purpose is here on this lovely planet we call Earth.



this past weekend dp watched the miramar airshow with some friends while i attended a women's day retreat on "trashing the lies". it was nice and i got the chance to hang out with some lovely elderly ladies. sunday we had a beach day with our friends which was nice company. here is a photo of the surfer and our amigo...



da and dp

qt for my qt - santa barbara

don't you love that motto in my title? dp came up with it recently while we were driving. qt (quality time) for my qt (cutie). i liked it so much i thought we should use it as a business motto. dp didn't think it'd be wise to start out a business with the motto first with no such idea... :) i gave that one up easily.

this past weekend/week was nice and relaxing. it was filled with my friend's birthday party, hosting my bro's friend at our place, a trip to see my friend in newport beach, and then santa barbara for a few days! this past week with dp being home has been so nice. we truly got to relax and have no agenda. today is his first day of his new job and i miss him already! it's like dropping your kid off at his first day of school, haha.

here are some recent purdy pics. while we were there i decided i wanted to pretend i had some photography skills so you can see some of my attempts in the photos, hehe.

thought it'd be cool to take a photo sitting on a tree

view from the scenic drive in SB

view from atop the SB courthouse

@ shelley's fiesta

hehe, thought it'd be cool to take a pic of the color contrast of our feet with the water ready to hit them.

"...because we can"

dp has a week off before he transitions into his new job. boy, is he overjoyed. as we chill home together, our favorite thing to say (well, at least his is...) "...because we can". basically meaning that we can do nothing, have no agenda, take a walk, go to the hot tub... all during the day... because we can. dp thinks this is how it feels to be retired, haha. i, on the other hand, can't say i feel AS overjoyed as he is given today marks my first full week separating from my last job. it's been a pretty good week...

- dp went on our church's mens retreat up in lake arrowhead. he had a wonderful time and really bonded and met a handful of new guys that he can now have fellowship with. i'm glad for him since he has been wanting to more "wild at heart" doing man-ly things (ie. paintballing, rock climbing, etc.) i don't have a problem doing them with him, but it's just different doing them with men.

- while dp was out, i was able to have some wonderful girl time. had some sleepovers, dinner with the gals, watched a chick flick (that dp would've hated), and simply enjoyed the company of some lovely women.

- this past weekend marked our first weekend together (without having to report to work at 3pm until 9/10pm). it was awesome and boy did i loveeeee it. back to normalcy, yay!

- in the past month i have also begun a new project- quilting!!!! yes- me- quilting, hehe. with a past co-worker, we are making a cool looking Asian-themed quilt that dp and i will use to hang above our bed. i've included a pic... it's almost done. doesn't look too cool in this form though.



other news... dp and i are volunteering in the youth ministry at our church. dp has been attending a few of their functions, whereas i became available yesterday to join since i'm free in the evenings. dp is co-facilitating the junior high boys' life group and i am with the fresh/soph girls. we are both 1-2 meetings in, but boy are we overjoyed with the experience. i'm thankful that i can utilize my gifts in this capacity and be a part of this experience.

2 years anniversary photo!

We're looking the same, and acting the same :)

the meaning of being thankful (to me)

as some of you know, i ended my job last wed. instead of thurs. in a nutshell, one of my clients ran off into the street and when i tried to encourage her to return she turned on me and attempted to assault me twice. it was quite a scary experience and one that shook me pretty hard. i returned to the unit in tears and my supervisor (who happened to be around) allowed me to make wed. my last day. needless to say, i am overjoyed with being separated from that type of work.

i titled this blog thankful because after having gone through this past experience, i am filled with thanksgiving and joy over the littlest things... to be able to know that i have my nights and weekends free with dp, bible study time, and friends... to know i don't need to cut my day short knowing i have a 10 hours shift or that i need to be at work at 3pm... to know i won't be potentially assaulted at work.... and especially, being thankful that dp will support us in the interim.

lastly, i'm thankful for this experience knowing more what i don't want in a job and what type of job i am seeking to find. i've learned to not jump into something head first and am figuring out that i need to do a little more analysis (like dp does endlessly). i am hopeful, and am glad i am. i know that in due time i will rediscover God's will for me and be completing the purpose he has for me. it excites me. please pray for me as i transition into this new lifestyle (maybe for a while).

jobing

quick update that dp is moving to a new job opportunity- as a benefits analyst at an insurance brokerage company (I believe that is what type of company it is). we are thankful for this new career path for him. We are both excited and wanted to share in the great news with you.

exciting times!

hi everyone!

first off, i want to thank all of you for your continued support, encouragement, love, and everything else! i am especially thankful that i have a strong support system that can be there for me through small trail times... what i am referring to is my work situation. yesterday i gave my 2 weeks. i had a huge weight lifted when i finally told my boss. i couldn't ask for a better boss in this situation. he understood, supported my decision, and even offered to be a reference. today i had my interview for a new job. it went well and second rounds is next thursday! please continue to send positive energy/prayers for me!! i am excited.

daniel is doing well. he has been the best with his unconditional support as i figure myself out with work and being cool when the place is a mess, dishes not washed, and food hasn't been cooked. phew. i wonder how long i can get away with this ;) his mystery thing is still in the process, so hopefully we can provide more info soon!

last thurs and fri our friends got married so that was a nice gathering to attend. it was a jewish wedding, so it was nice to witness a different style of wedding ceremony. monday was our 2 years! wow! and we went and had some yummy Moroccan dinner! (definitely recommend trying it). this sunday we are heading to seaworld!! should be fun since it's dp's first time. with us, nothing else really. i'm excited to find a job that doesn't require me to work evenings and weekends regularly so i can be home and see daniel! (he would probably prefer his book, but oh well) :)

hope everyone's doing well. please give us an update~!! thanks again for being there for us, always.

doing dandy

i find that picking a title is not easy...so therefore "doing dandy" will have to suffice.

this past week was my first week of working night shifts (with two days working morning shifts). so far, it was okay. when i had to work until 11pm my body was like "what are you doing to me?!" hehe. i won't truly get a feel for nights until maybe in 2 weeks since this coming week i have a changed schedule as well since i am taking time off for friends' wedding. anyways, most of the days went smooth. it is clear to me that i am meant to be in this position though much of me wants to peace out and seek a more comfortable job. there have been so many greatness and blessings already. i would go into it but i don't feel like it right now.

the news about dp is still hush so i'll share more when it comes into fruition. stay tuned!!

daniel and i are doing well. we went to a Leann Rimes concert on the green the other weekend... visited a winery... walks on the beach... and our regular church commitments. next weekend our friends are having a cultural get together, hehe. we are bringing dishes from all over the world for dinner. other than the aforementioned, the weather here in san diego is FINALLY feeling and looking like summer... it just took a few months to get there!

we're keeping you all in our prayers. if you have a prayer request, please do let us know. love to you all.

transitions, but it feels the same...

What is new with us? It seems as though we are at a stage of transition and changes, but yet everything seems the same... quite an interesting occurrence. What I mean is, I am in my 5th day of work/training today and tonight will be my first evening of work (3-9pm). I am interested to see when I do a full week of my regular hours (all ranging from 3-11, 12-9, etc.) and how I'll like/dislike it. I'm sort of anxious because 1- I don't know how productive and effective I can be in the evening with the clients, 2- daniel and I spend less time together, and 3- less socializing for me during the weekend/evenings :( OR, maybe I'll absolutely love it! As for today, I didn't feel as though I wasn't that productive awaiting my work start time, soo... who knows. I did explore other job opportunities (the ONE that they did have that's the closest to my edu/experience...)

I won't disclose now because it is too soon but there may be a transition change in dp's life soon!! Will keep you updated.

These past weekends have been really nice. Preparing for our future weekends together (less time because I work), we have been trying our best to spend quality time together. This past weekend we strolled on the beach, watched a movie, visited a winery with another couple, volunteering for the youth ministry, and are learning more about God together. We are overall very dandy and acknowledged our 5 years of knowing one another on August 6th! WOW, we're both amazed that we are still in love, hehe.

Other than that, dp is stepping out of his comfort zone and offered his time to the youth ministry without me (since I work those evenings). This is huge and I am so proud of him! Our Mondays life group bible study is flourishing and we are thankful for the friends that join us.

being present & thankful

a lot has happened since i last posted, but it seems at the moment i can't recall what is really new. all i can think about is daniel and i's last thought before we went to bed last night, which was: "we really need to take a step back and soak in the fact that we are living an amazing journey and truly taking risks in our lives and doing ok in all". basically, daniel made the point that amidst our everyday life tasks, we don't take a moment enough to think, "wow, we live in san diego, ca!" i have always wanted to be a cali girl, and daniel moved here from australia/london! we have been blessed with a wonderful support system, our faith has become stronger than ever, we have amazing family who support us, we have jobs, and we have fun!!!! (and of course love each other dearly still, hehe). side note- can you believe it, august 6th is our 5 years of knowing one another and august 30th is our 2 years wedding anniversary! wowsers! anyways, in short, we are appreciative of where we are compared to where we've come from.

anyways, i'm way too sentimental. so... for those who do not know (sorry if i've been bad at updating), i accepted and am excited about my new role/job! i'm preparing myself for the upcoming challenges and changes, so hopefully when they happen it won't be too hard. i have to wait until my background/drug screening passes, then i begin. i'm thinking next mid-week. since last week was my last week of camp, i have had the lovely opportunity this week to catch up with tasks/ people. it's been great and i'm thankful for dp that i have this chance!

dp and i are doing lovely. we've been able to have some more date time. last weekend we got some wine and went up to Mt. Soledad (which also serves as a lookout point) and had some wine and good convo. We also visited a nearby farmer's market, which i discovered that daniel dislikes for some reason (i LOVE them). this sat we are going to try to go to seaworld!! i've just been, but it'll be daniel's first time. i'm excited!

that's it our loved ones. we encourage you to be "present" more in your lives as we continue to try as well.

uncertainties but hopeful

a lot has happened since i've last posted and i am unsure where to begin...

first, i'd like to share that i have a job!!!! it's all been moving pretty fast. i applied 2 weeks ago, last week i had an interview, and this week i pick up my new hire packet. i'm looking to start end of next week, but more than likely the following week. the position does not take me down the traditional school counseling route. given the job market, i am trying to be creative with my degree. my future boss understands this and says he will support my efforts with infusing my counseling skills into my work. fingers crossed (and prayers) that this is the road i am meant to travel down. i am thankful though, that daniel has been very supportive through all this.

dp and i have been busy socially. weeknights and weekends just fly by like whoa. before i can catch my breath it is the weekend. i guess that's how life works when you're working full-time and trying to find a job in the evenings and hang out with friends on the weekend. i hope that it'll slow down soon... and i guess most of that is in our control.

this week also marks my last week of being a camp counselor. the experience has been fun and i've been able to visit the following sites: seaworld, wild animal park, soak city, the zoo, uss midway, bowling, legoland, rock climbing, etc. what better summer can i have (and get paid ;) i am thankful.

dp's work is going well. nothing too new to report.

aside from that, we are happy and counting our blessings, regardless of its size and worth.

quality over quantity

it dawned on me more than ever today that daniel and i have been blessed with the people who are in our lives, and have come through our lives. yesterday we had a game night and it was just fun to be in the company of our friends... just hanging out, eating food, having drinks, and of course laughing about our disclosures from the game "The Dirt" and explanations during "Catchphrase". it was a great night.

today i had lunch with a friend who i was acquainted with in undergrad. since we've both moved to cali (she lives over an hour away), a friendship has blossomed. it was so nice to see her and just share quality time and chit chat. it makes me appreciate my northeast routes. it's amazing the difference in conversation i have between friendships and values among cali people and east coast people. (of course there are exceptions).

daniel and i just went for a 40 minute run. i'm trying to get back into exercising to help my heart and daniel is coming along for the ride. it was nice to run together- i think it helps me push myself more. let's see how long this running phase will last :) wish me luck!!

2 more weeks until my job as a camp counselor ends... i'm starting to get unconsciously stressed about not having a job. but then again, there's no point stressing, so therefore i'm not going to speak too much about it. daniel is doing well with his job. he is bonusing which is a plus :)

we'd love to hear from you! post us a comment sometime. xoxo

malta photos

Malta

Nonnu, RP, DP, Jo, Nonna

All or most of the cousins in Malta.

around the house

it seems as though since getting back from vacation dp and i (especially me) love just hanging around at home. we love to just be home reading, chatting, and hanging around. it's not until this week/weekend that i have begun to arrange social dates. it's pretty tiring and when i get to be home i love it.

right now the apartment is in somewhat of a mess as we are trying to do odds and ends on our to-do list. tonight we're heading to a double date at my counseling supervisor's home, so that should be nice. they live in coronado so i'm interested to see how nice their place and scenary is. tomorrow we say bye to our new zealand bible study friends who are heading to hong kong and thailand. afterwards we have a fourth of july bbq at a friends' house. we'll be pretty beat after all is done but are thankful for the people in our lives!

this coming monday marks our 4th meeting for our bible study. we are reading Romans. the group is really coming along and dp and i are happy to be hosting/facilitating the meetings. the group is filled with all very lovely people. we're excited to see what God's plan is for the group members and us as leaders.

this coming wed. we will begin our volunteer work at the church helping out with the youth group. i'm excited to see how dp likes working with kiddos as this will be his first time (i believe). i'm so proud of him as he tries new things that i introduce him to. :)

work is going well for both of us. with me, i am really growing to like the kiddos (3rd and 4th graders) that i have in my classroom and i believe i'm growing onto them. i just love being with kids and it always warms my heart when they ask questions (ex. "What is happy hour????" and actions (ex. a group of 7 kids meditating in a circle with eyes closed, feet crossed, meditation pose, saying "ooommm. oooom".)

dpand i are just so thankful and blessed for all that we have.

no news is good news :)

it seems the weeks are passing by quickly now that we're back. daniel and i have laid low these pass couple of weeks just staying in, enjoying each others' company, reading, and me- preparing for when i receive an interview. i haven't applied anywhere yet, so this weekend and this coming week i aim to.

today i went for a hike with a handful of women from the church, which was lovely. there is a girl from maryland (caity) who just moved to san diego a month ago so i've been spending some time with her. she is pleasant to be around. it seems east coast people are just different from socal people. right now i'm preparing to do some interview/job hunting stuff. daniel is out with some guys watching the world cup, so hope he is having fun.

other than that, life is good :)

i am a national certified counselor now!

to all of you who knew i was taking this exam, i'd like to share with you (and with those who i didn't know) that i passed the exam! i am now a national certified counselor! this exam was a supplement to our credentials and was not mandatory to become a school counselor. i'm glad i took the route of adding it to my plate the last semester, because the short stress means longtime gain. thanks for your support. love you all.

back into the swing of things.

hi everyone! the summer job is going well. it is pretty breezy, the staff is nice, and the kids are well-behaved and fun. today we went to the zoo all day- that was fun despite having to keep watch in six 5-6 years olds.

dp and i are doing well! we just had an early sushi dinner today that was yummy :) now, getting ready to watch a movie and have a chill evening. it's so nice to not have packed schedules (like i typically plan for us). we are just enjoying each other and thanking God for all that we have in this life.

back to reality and time for celebration!

dp and i just got back thurs evening from malta and madrid. we had an amazing time and truly felt we were on vacation and enjoyed our time with family and friends. we have settled in pretty quickly and life is already beginning to pick up.

on a different note, i believe it is necessary in life to celebrate accomplishments, whether big or small. with that said, I'd like to share some great news! i found out yesterday evening that i was offered the summer camp counselor position! i will be working right across the street at the private school with children ages 5-12. we get to learn, have fun, and venture on field trips to places i still haven't visited (e.g. SeaWorld, Wild Animal Park!)

i started this morning and it carries me over for the next 6 weeks, until july 23rd! i feel sooo blessed that i have this opportunity. this job will keep me busy (and sane) as i try to find a full-time role come august in the meantime.

please keep me in your prayers as i anxiously wait for the next big chapter in my life!

graduation, family, and abroad!

i guess i realized that i am not really good at blogging :) thought i might try it again and this time not write novels... i just want to get good at this knowing other people have been!

so... my parents just departed this morning :( we had a fantastic time together! it was nice and relaxed, but somehow busy each day filled with shopping, sight-seeing, my graduation, yummy food, beach, walking, etc.

my graduation was wonderful. it was nice to celebrate it. i can't believe have a Master's degree now! too surreal, and unsure if it'll ever hit me. thank you to everyone who wished me well. i am so blessed to have such thoughtful and loving family and friends.

next on our agenda- get ready to visit family in Malta and vacation in Madrid! dp and i are so excited though we have been soo busy to even have the reality hit us. i think we'll really be melting into the greatness of it all tomorrow. we are so thankful to have the chance to visit our family, spend time together, and get away from san diego. we truly deserve a break!