Blessing

Allan K. Chalmers once wrote, "The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for." For the past couple months, I have been incredibly joyous and happy. At first, I thought that with the really good, had to come the bad. I thought that my life was becoming "too good to be true." After everything I have been through in the past year, I found that when I handed my life back to God recently... he gave me contentment and peace, but most importantly he gave me hope.

I have been spending a lot of time with Cory, which I absolutely love. He is one of the best parts of my day and one of the reasons why I laugh and smile so much. I think one of the things I really enjoy about my time with him is that it's effortless. There isn't a moment that I am around him that I know I can't be myself, he just brings out the best in me. The other night, he took me to church with his parents which was just absolutely wonderful. The sermon tied together perfectly with my church's series on prayer, and it spoke right to my heart. As I closed my eyes during a worship song,  I allowed the words to captivate my heart. I sat there and realized just how extraordinarily perfect my life was. My heart, my mind, my soul, and my God are aligned and my path is directed toward a goal.

I once heard a quote that read, "All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness within." Not only do I have happiness, but I have the power of God glowing in my heart and flowing through my veins. The seasons of life are all different, some good and some bad. God is blessing me with a season of pure joy, and carrying him within... every season of my life that I enter, I know I will be more than just okay. I know I'll always be blessed, even if it's just opening my eyes in the morning. We have a tendency of thinking that happiness comes from these objects and people that we don't have, instead of realizing that it's appreciating and acknowledging what God has placed in our path, who God has placed in our lives, and what he is doing in your life.

I encourage you to look at what you have, instead of what you want. Ask God to show you, and he will.

God Bless <3

86,400

Albert Schweitzer once wrote, "At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have relit the flame within us." Today is Thanksgiving, a whole day set aside from our busy lives to be thankful for what we have. My question is, why do we only set aside one day out of 365 days to be truly thankful for what we have? Why is it that with 86,400 seconds in a day, we cannot take a few of those to just pray and be thankful?

Recently, I have realized how truly blessed I really am. When I handed my life back to God, he has done nothing but bless me. I long for a relationship with him, for his forgiveness and his grace. He has given me a family that is more incredible and beyond words and friends that guide me and love me. In the past year, the fire in my heart went out... My passion, my faith, my hope. Today, I give thanks to a God who has relit the flame in my heart and who has put people into my life to keep that flame going.

 I wish I could sit here and write out all the things I am thankful for, or give details of every moment in my life... because it truly has been amazing. Instead, I will just post some pictures that are recent that make me happy.

Happy Thanksgiving :)

LA Kings Game :)

Beautiful surprise from Cory

Egg Nog!

Addi visiting at work

Thanksgiving Feast

Part of the Fam

Enjoying some quality time :)

Walk on the beach with Soph <3 

Enchanted.

Nicholas Sparks once wrote, "If conversation was the lyrics, laughter was the music, making time spent together a melody that could be replayed over and over without getting stale." Tonight, I had such an enchanting night. After a rough day of issues with friends and a long day at work, I had something to look forward to. Although my plans for tonight had previously been different, THIS night is what I needed most.

After coming home from work, I showered and got ready to head to Cory's house. I couldn't help but be slightly nervous because I was meeting his family for the first time. The moment I stepped inside the house, I just felt welcomed. I met his mom and dad, who I both adored, and his older sister who was so sweet. We ate pizza with his family and watched Elf to get us in the mood for Christmas. As I sat there with his family, I enjoyed the moment of just being content. After finishing the first movie, we put in another. Cory and I sat there on his couch and just enjoyed each other's presence. There is just something about him that I cannot quite put my finger on... he continues to surprise me and make me happier than I have ever been. After the movie ended, he put on some good oldies music and asked me to dance. As he took my hand, I stood up and he wrapped his arms around me. We danced for a couple songs and I just melted in my own happiness. I didn't want the night to end, but I knew it had to. On the way home, I couldn't stop smiling and I quietly just thanked God for what he is doing in my life.

I put my iPhone in, put on the song enchanted by Taylor Swift. The lyrics just matched my life perfectly at that point, "This night is sparkling, don't you let it go. I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home. I'll spend forever wondering if you knew, I was enchanted to meet you." Tomorrow I get to wake up and go to breakfast on the beach with Cory, then a girls day with Natalie and Sarah follows :) and to conclude tomorrow, I'm going to see Cory play in San Marcos.

Thank you God, for your continual blessings in my life. Help me to glorify you in everything I do and that I may be a light in this dark world. Continue to work in me and through me so that I can follow out your plan. Thank you, for this enchanting night you blessed me with.

xox,
Jewels

I See the Light.

The past few days have been incredible for me. After the rain passed through, it left a cleansing feeling for me. I always love days after storms, or mornings after rain because everything just looks better. As I was driving home the other morning, I literally stopped my car on my road and just let the scenery sink in. All the golden-brown leaves had fallen onto the street, and the sun was at the perfect point in the sky. I just sat there and just said thank you to the Creator of this beautiful place.

Following a relaxing morning of watching my nieces, I went to meet Kd for some coffee and time to do our nails. It was really nice to just spend the afternoon together catching up. I told her how excited I was for the night that followed. When I got home, I helped my mom prepare dinner and made some delicious pumpkin bread for my movie night with Cory. It was also really great because it was our traditional Callahan tamale night :) After Cory arrived, we just hung out with the family and watched the football game. It was a really relaxing afternoon and dinner where my family got to get to know Cory a little bit. Following the football game, I was lucky enough to watch one of my favorite Disney movies, Tangled :) I had the best night spending quality time with my family and getting to know someone I've been spending more and more time with. 

After spending the day at work with Kristen, I feel so refreshed for the week ahead of me. We spent the day working on the same project and laughing at each other and it was really good to spend some time with her. We laugh at the most ridiculous stuff and take embarrassing pictures of each other, like she did of me when I looked like a total nerd when I was trying to concentrate. 

Afternoon babysitting with Kristen.

Nerd Alert.

Although I didn't even have to post the picture, I take pride in embarrassing moments and pictures. I finished off my day with homework and baking cookies with Sarah :) we caught up on some classic girl talk and laughed at ourselves as we made fun of each other. Now, I am just relaxing in my room listening to a sermon from Hume on trust. 

Thank you God for what you are doing in my life.

Thank you for having a plan.

Thank you for helping me understand that your plan is better than mine. 

Thank You. 

Stepping Stones

I feel as if I have been blessed to a great extent, with great moments. I have been thinking a lot about change and I remembered a quote written by John Steinback where he said, "Change comes like a little wind that ruffles the curtains at dawn, and it comes like the stealthy perfume of wildflowers hidden in the grass." In reading this quote in my journal, I ask myself a question I have heard before: "What measure of time does it take to change a life?" Is it in a day? A year? or within a single moment?

Looking at my life and my past, I find the stepping stones it took to get me where I am today. Some of those steps weren't easy, some of them I never paid any attention too... but all of them brought me to this step of where I am right now. Charles Bukowski once said, "Some moments are nice, some are nicer, and some are even worth writing about." I write because it is my passion, I write because it is something that God gave me, and with that I do it to bring glory to Him. And looking at my life right now, I couldn't be more thankful for the blessings he has placed in my hands. He has gifted me with new friendships, an extraordinary family, uncontrollable happiness, and unbounded faith.

As I look at my life and what he has blessed me with... I feel overwhelmed. I feel as if my words can't comprehend my happiness, and that no matter how I try and explain my contentment... it just doesn't cover it. God changed my life... and the time in which he did, is immeasurable and when he did so, he gave me moments worth writing about.

One of the many beautiful sunsets God designed.

Left me speechless.

Cold Rainy Day  <3

<3 

Rain :)

A few of my Favorite things

Got the idea from a friend to write out a list of my favorite things... and I have SO many... but I kept it down to 40 ;)
Enjoy...

1. God
2. Sunrises and Sunsets
3. Apple Candles
4. Iced Caramel Macciato on a warm day.
5. Little surprises
6. Gardenia Flower Bushes
7. Owls
8. Nail Polish :)
9. All kinds of chocolate
10. Writing quotes in my journal
11. Driving with the windows down, during the day AND at night (with the heater on, if its cold)
12. A good Song
13. Spending hours at the piano trying to figure out a song, and then the feeling I get when I get it down.
14. Christmas music, both listening to it and playing it.
15. When people surprise me with little things.
16. Getting presents for people.
17. Smiling
18. Making someone laugh.
19. Waking up to a "Good Morning" text :)
20. Holding Hands <3
21. Watching movies on rainy days
22. Making funny videos with Kathleen Diane Horne
23. The California Coffee House Dessert Drinks
24. Baking
25. When my parents cook amazing food, which is like.... every night.
26. Getting emails from my Grandfather
27. Seeing God in little moments.
28. Giving advice
29. Hearing what my Dad has to say about situations in my life.
30. When my mom is in a bubbly mood.
31. When I get phone calls from my nieces.
32. Photography
33. Laying under the stars, bundled in blankets.
34. Getting lost in a book, and seeing the world through that specific novel.
35. God's surprises in life.
36. When someone proves me wrong.
37. Prayer and worship music.
38. Antique and Thrift Stores
39. Coffee.. iced, hot, black, sweetened... I love it all.
40. Quality time with people.

In Good Company

It is now Tuesday, and my week has already started off wonderfully. Last night,  I got to spend some one on one time with someone I have been recently talking to a lot. He picked me up, and we went to the Old California Coffee House for some delicious dessert drinks. We sat by the fire and got to know each other a little bit since we never really had done so before, outside of the phone. After some good conversation, we went to go see Footloose, which I had already seen but was dying to see again :) And of course, it was just as amazing as the first time I saw it, maybe even better ;) My night was full of awesome conversation, lots of laughter, many strange similarities, and good company :) One of those nights that I didn't really want to finish, but I knew I had to wake up for classes the next morning. 

This morning when I woke up, I felt well rested and excited to start a new week. Although I have a lot of school busyness coming up, I can't help but be happy with my life. God keeps blessing me day in and day out with different things. Especially when the weather is sunny and cold, it's hard not to be satisfied with my life. I am really excited to see more that God has in store for me in the future :) Today I am enjoying the sunshine during my cancelled class, and going to enjoy the rest of my week!!

No makeup and Sunshine :)

A Blessed Day

Nicholas Sparks once wrote, "Life, he realized, was much like a song. In the beginning there is mystery, in the end there is confirmation,  but in the middle where all the emotion resides to make the whole thing worth while."You know when you listen to a good song, and there is just that part somewhere in the middle that just gives you goosebumps? That's like what my life is like right now.

Last night, I stayed the night at Kd's. We spent the evening eating homemade pumpkin bread, yogurt parfaits, and soup, accompanied by Dear John. After a wonderful full night sleep, we quickly got ready to head to Encinitas to have breakfast: my first Acai Bowl :) it was absolutely delicious. From there, we did some necessity shopping at Target and stopped at the mall for cases for our phones. That night, we babysat my little brother and his friends while carrying on our Nicholas Sparks weekend with A Walk to Remember. I made us some Mexican Hot Chocolate to finish off the night. 

Overall, it has been an amazing weekend and it is only Saturday evening. I have been spending a lot of time with Kd and its been great. I've been talking to new people, which makes me really excited and happy to get to know them. I am constantly surrounded by people who uplift me, and when I am put down for something... I find strength from the Lord. 

I hope he continues to work in me, so he can work through me... so I can work for him. I'll close off this short post with a verse from Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, "Two are better than one, because they have good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to pick him up!"

Friday Night Festivities 

Nala keeping my feet warm :)

Added a little color to my hair :)

Pure Contentment

Nathaniel Hawthorne once wrote, "Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." For the longest time, I searched for happiness in temporary beings, whether it be through people or objects on this earth, it wasn't satisfying. There is worldly happiness, and happiness brought by God... two completely different forms. Although the happiness of this world can be deceiving and thought to have been of God, true happiness from the source is beyond compare.

As I lay in bed tonight, I read from Philippians 4:11-12, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." As I take a step back and really pay close attention to the words of this verse, as I say aloud "whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Isn't that what God wants? We are either hungry for more of his love or living in plenty. With Gods love, we are able to be content in a broken world. As it states in Ecclesiastes, "When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad consider: God has made the one as well as the other."

He is the source of it all: love, hope, faith, grace...happiness. I do not want worldly versions of these things, they will never satisfy me without God. When I gave my life back to God, he gave me happiness... he allowed me to be content, he gave me hope. Faith, Hope, and Love... these cannot exist without each other. Everything here on earth that makes me happy, is just an overfilling of my cup. God empties me every day to fill me up with his grace.

When I chased happiness, I found that it was always out of reach...sometimes, even just inches away. But when I came to my knees to God, he placed it right in my hands.

He is unfathomable and unexplainable... a God who saves <3