A new adventure in a familiar place

If you have read any of my old posts, you would have read that it was my dream this year to go traveling here and there. Even though I haven't gone to any of the countries that I listed so far, I have gotten to go back and forth to the East Coast, once to the South, and the Northwest (or would Montana be considered the mid-west?). I'm so grateful for the opportunities (even if it involves work) that I have had to go travel and see new sights and meet new people. What a treat!

So I just got the news today that I'm going to Maryland to take a class at our training center (it really is a beautiful campus). And this time I get to stay at the Residence Inn instead of the Holiday Inn. Yippee! (trust me)

I may extend my stay and hang out with my friend Sean and his boys this trip around. He's getting his house ready for sale. It looks like he's going to be moving to Texas in the near future.

So yay!! Another trip!

That's my cool news for the day!

Home, Home on the Range, where the Deer and the Antelope Play...

Awww, Montana! What a beautiful part of the United States it is. I only heard how beautiful it was until I got see it up front for myself. I made a quick decision to go to Montana with my sister to go to her friends' wedding. I was suppose to go last year but that's another story. I'm so glad that I finally got to go. It's called big sky country and that is what it is.

Sometime last summer, I picked up a bridal magazine, because I was in that state of mind at that time and I frivously brought the magazine. Hey I might as well get ideas, I might be getting married sometime soon. I haven't stopped dreaming of the possibilities. In the issue that I brought, their was a couple that got married under the big blue sky on their families ranch. It was beautiful and it had me dreaming especially since I was just talking to a guy that I had know for awhile from those parts and I thought that there was something happening between us.

Well, fast forward to this summer on August 1st, Laura and her beloved Cody, got married under the big blue sky. It was lovely! You could see the love in their eyes. So they got married on his parents piece of land and it was hot!

They are in the process of having their house built on the "piece" of land his parents gave them. That's them walking on their piece of land. A piece is the understatement of the day.

Anyways, the next day we drove to Cheryls' Master teachers home about an hour or less south of Glacier Park. Needless to say, it was also very beautiful there too. As I sat on a part of their wrap around porch, I imagined myself retiring there or just living there. Why wait until retirement?

I'm going to make a long story short. As Cheryl and I were saying goodbye to her teacher Denise, she peaked inside our car and saw a binderlett (new word) of CDs. She asked if they were a book on CD or the Bible on CD. We told her the latter. She said that it would be neat to have that while she was gardening or walking on her treadmill. And we smiled and agreed. Cheryl gave her another hug and we said goodbye. As we sat in the car to leave, a lightbulb popped over Cheryl's head (imagine that) and she told me to wait. She took the CD pack (that belonged to my dad, by the way; but he had already copied them to his computer at home) and went back to Denise's garage door and delivered them to her. Cheryl came back to the car a little emotional. We sat in the car and prayed for her teacher friend and her family that they would one day come to the Lord.

Not only did I get a wonderful taste of Montana, the big sky country, but I also got to taste a little bit of what God has begun to do in someone's life that is searching for Him. (Jeremiah 29:11-14b)

And that's my cool news for the day!

I was kissed by a prince...

The day before yesterday my boss came to my desk and told me that if I wanted to, I could take come and take a picture with someone. I said, Okay. He said, "Be sure to dress nicely", to which I thought to myself, "Do I dress like a slob?" This is coming from a man who has complimented me on my dress and when his parents came into town, they also complimented me and he agreed. So I just rolled my eyes and continued with my work.

So the day came, yesterday, to go take a picture with this very special person. I got ready that morning, making sure I looked decent, put on a smile and rushed out the door (like I usually do on my way to work, at least the rushing out the door part).

Me and my two co-workers left around 12:30pm, to make sure we got there at the appointed time of 1:00pm. When we arrived at our destination, we were unsure of where to meet our contact. So with a couple of phone calls, we were finally escorted behind the scenes.

We were told by our boss to head off to the side of the room to watch the rest of this individuals' interview. I just stood there and took in the scene, wanting to take a picture, waited there in expectation.

Finally, the event was over, people started to get into line to meet this person. I was hoping that we weren't forgotten. My boss, came to the spot to where he told us to go and escorted us to several tables for us to take a seat and wait. Wait for 200+ people to take a picture with this individual. So we waited. I chit chatted hear and there, with this person, with that person. I watched this guy who was standing outside the curtained area and thought how boring his job was. He was just standing outside, keeping watch. As we continued to wait, I decided to talk to some of my co-workers who were also working the event. We talked about this and that, and thought what very interesting stories they had. I told one of them that they should write a book.

Our time came to wait in line. So with my camera ready, sort of (the battery was threatening to be out of power), we made our way through the line. We, well, at least I did some people watching. There we all were waiting to get a picture with this person and get a word in edge wise.

The closer we got, the clearer this person was to me. My eyesight is not the greatest, especially with flourescent lights. Bleh! It was then that I asked my boss could we use our camera to take a picture and he blandly said no. Just plain no. How disappointing! He just said to trust him to get us our picture when they come into the office. I said, it's nothing like having it on our own camera. We got even closer and what do you know, there was a crack in the curtain for me to take a picture. So I grabbed my camera and to no avail, I got one blurry picture. It kind of looks like a George Washington painting, with George Washington standing next to a flag, from far away. At least, that's what came to mind.

Anyways, we stepped closer and closer and closer. Finally, it was my turn. He stuck out his hand and I stuck out mine for a handshake. I didn't know what to say. Everything that people wanted me to say to him, came to my mind and I had to find a way to shorten it. So he pulled me to his side so we could take a picture and I quickly said, "You are in our love and prayers." We turned toward the camera and smiled.

It was then that he kissed me on my temple and said, "Thank you" with obvious appreciation. He let go of my hand and I walked away.

I was smiling. And with respect and admiration, I write this. Thank you, Mr. George W. Bush, it was finally very nice meeting you!

And that's my cool news for the day!

So here I am again in transition..

As you see my page is in transition.

I haven't been here for awhile but I got this really cool idea to start up my blog again. One reason is because for a couple of days I started writing down the little (or) big blessings that God gave me that day.

For example, on my way to church, I rolled down my window to get some air flowing. Well, I came to a stop light and was waiting for a tiny bit when my light turned green. Out of my peripherial vision, I saw something coming my way and instead of going through the green light, I waited until this thing passed. This car whooshed by, through a red light. I had a flash forward. Just think, if I would have just went through the green light a split second before (because I was late getting to church), I could have been side swiped from the driver's side, end up terribly mangled or dead. The little things people, the little things. Car window rolled down so I could hear the air swishing through this cars body, side peripheral vision so I could see what was coming toward me. Those things I can thank God for. Believe me, I was thanking Him on my way to church for sure!

So here I am starting my blog, "That's my cool news for the Day!" I hope you enjoy!

I am His Beloved and He is mine

I dream of travel

So here I am about a month later?! Really...I admire those who can keep up with their blog. I really can't all that much since I don't have a home compter hooked up to the internet..oh well, se la vie (spelling?)

So much has happened. For one I turned 33 on April 21st! I'm movin' on up, to the sky...(think of the Jeffersons). It was a good birthday week! Yes, I say birthday week, because that's how I like to celebrate. A little bit before I turned 25, my dad and I decided to take a trip to go visit our family in Texas. We were gone for about a week and we arrived back on my birthday! So from that time forward, I decided to take at least a week off for my birthday. What a great tradition! I thought every year, I would go somewhere different, whether it be visiting friends or going with friends somewhere. Well, this year, I decided to stay in town and visit with friends or just hang out doing nothing!

My actual birthday, started off kind of weird because I expected to woken up by at least one of my parents (particulary the woman who gave me birth, my mother) wishing me happy birthday. 7 am passed, 8am the church bells rang (I live across from a catholic church), nothing, 9 am I popped out of bed wondering what happened...

So like the daughter I am, I called my parents wishing them "Good Morning and it's my birthday, yay!" message on their answering machine. After I left them that message, I sat on my bedroom floor pouting and asking God what happened, pout, pout and it was then that my daddy called! He wished me a happy birthday, reliving the day of my birth 32 years ago (I had to remind him I was now 33, which he exclaimed that he was getting old) and he assured me I was going to be okay at my age. I only thought that at my age he was already married and had 3 children. But it was soooo nice hearing from one of the most important people in my life. Then I talked to Hillary, which was so very wonderfu. It was nice catching up with her. Then from there, I received calls from friends here and there. One of the couple of calls that I received that I found to be funny and cute, was from my Auntie. She was watching Solomon (her grandchild) that day and the message she left along with Solomon was so cute, I had to keep it! She put her phone on speaker and sat at the piano with Solomon by her side and sang "Happy Birthday" to me. So cute!

Anyways, the day went on. I found a cute dress and a pair of shoes at Ross (for those who know me, "Of course!") and went out to Longboards in Pacific Beach for yummy fish tacos and drinks. Those fish tacos were DELICIOUS! The people who came included Jaime and Brenda (who is about to pop with a child, if she already hasn't), my sister, Jeanna, Valerie, and Cherry's boyfriend, Jeff. We had such a good time! Laughter filled the air and it came from our hearts, not the drinks, really *clearing throat*. Afterwards, Cherry, Jeff, and I walked to Coldstone to get ice cream. When we got there, it was not yet 10pm and the lady had closed the store. "Hellooo?" We stood there for less than a minute when lo and behold she came to the door and opened it for us. How cool!! So we got our ice creams, yipee!!

I went home fat and happy and had a great sleep!

The next day was going to include laundry. I don't think I got to that. But I did go down to Chula Vista to go to the library and then I called my friend Maria's brother to see if he was available to do a tattoo that I have been wanting to get. He said that he wasn't but we could set up a near future date. He said that he would e-mail me. Then I called Maria to see what she was up to. We ended up renting the most depressing movie but eating some good food. It was a good day/night.

I had asked my boss the day before if I could take another day off. He said, "Happy Birthday! Of course! Enjoy your time off!" And that I did. So with another day to go celebrating my birthday, I celebrated yet another birthday week!

So what's up with the title of the post you ask? Well, the traveling that I have dreamed of doing this year is coming true in parts. Even though the first two trips are for work, they are trips nonetheless. Because while I am not working I can do other things, like explore or go out to dinner with a friend. So I will be going to Maryland in about a week! And in June, I will be going to Atlanta! I always wanted to go to Atlanta and now I get to! Possibly, I will be going to Montana with Cheryl in August for a friend's wedding. It will probably be a bittersweet trip but nonetheless, good.

Okay, now I'm off for now until next time!

Colds and Comedy

I need a good laugh right now. A nice, deep within hearty laugh!

I presently have a cold, that I thought was going away. It's now going on two weeks. Right now I'm on Dayquil Cold and Flu and it seems to be helping me currently. That's a good thing but what I need is a laugh. Too bad you can't buy those :)

In high school I did a research paper on the effects of laughter and Norman Cousins was a great resource that I used. He did a study on himself of the effect of laughter on an illness. He himself suffered from heart disease and a form of arthritis. According to his study he found laughter to be a form of anethesia and he was pain free for at least two hours. (info found on Wikipedia) It's something about endorphins. God knew what he was doing.

For those of you who know me, I love to laugh. And I have a pretty loud laugh too. I've been know to bust people's eardrums out...okay not that bad, but I knew I had an effect everytime my sisters would cover their ears, whine at me to stop, and give me an ugly look or when people who were sitting by me would jump. (That puts a smile on my face just thinking about it!)

So here I am sick and it would so easy for me to have a bad attitude, which does not help one get better by the way, it just makes them feel worst. It's amazing how for granted I take breathing out of both nostrils. As it is I'm freely breathing from one, thank goodness; so I'll be happy for that.

I'm going to look for something to laugh at today even it's something I envision in my head. You know laughter really does do a body good!

Why ask "why"?

This is not going to be a deep post but it's been awhile since I've written, so I thought I should. I had a super long post about my date with the Marine, Dwight that is, but that post is still on hold. Another story for another day.

Anyhow. Have you ever gone through times of questionings, endless analysis and afterwards you may feel better or you may not and the cycle starts over again. Well where do we start and where do we end?

All in all, I know that God is in control and things will work out the way they are suppose to but way too many times, I imagine how those things will work out- kind of like going ahead of Him and figuring it out, like someone who can't wait for surprises and just wants to know what gift their loved on has for them.

Example: When I was a teenager, our youth pastor or youth pastors would say things like, "God has that ONE person for you." When you say blank statements like that you create fear, especially when you are talking to teens who are trying to figure out life and wonder what it holds for them and what God would have them to do with their life, etc.

So on that note, I thought, "Oh my gosh, what if I miss the opportunity of meeting that guy? How will I know if he's "the one"? On top of that when I got to be in my early 20's, I went through this phase of buying dating books like, "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris, "Boy Meets Girl" by the same author (I liked both books), "Passion and Purity" by Elizabeth ElliotT (which made my teeth grit sometimes) and other books by several authors. I was told by some "friends" that my standards were too high and I just needed to give so and so "a chance". I was told that if I would just focus on God and what He had for me [to do] then "Wow!" it would happen. Well, I read the books, I went out with so and so and so and so. I gave so and so a chance. I surrendered my desire to God, I grabbed it back, I gave Him a time table, I acted out of my rebellion by dating guys I had no business dating, I repented, grateful and amazed at His forgiveness. Sometimes, I'm at a good place mentally when it comes to this part of my life and most other times I'm not and wonder where the balance is.

Sometimes I have seen God as being impatient with me, rolling His eyes and being like, "Really April just trust me, stop thinking about this" etc. Other times, I've rolled eyes at myself (I guess try looking in the mirror). I've tried to be okay about my singleness and I think I am. But I have my more than one moment, especially when another person I know is engaged or having a baby. One of my goals before I turned 30 (the age that I thought I would have it all together), was that if I was still single, I had hoped that I wouldn't be a pitiful 30 year old; I wouldn't pine over a man or of being single. Oh the pride...My thoughts when I've seen other single women were like, "I hope I'm not like that when I get older and I'm still single, I hope I'm not restless but settled okay with just being with myself if I don't get married." And on it goes.

And this blog posting could get all very long with my thoughts, some that probably should be left in my journal. So with that, I ask not for some magical wand to be twirled over my head and everything would be "okay" or that God would make my wanderings (or wonderings) go away but my hope is that I would grow more into the woman He made to be and be the woman He saved me to be.

I have to keep on reminding myself or being reminded that I am Beloved.

Things to look forward to

These past couple of days, I haven't been feeling too good. One of the thoughts that came to my mind as I was laying in the bed groaning yesterday, clutching my pillow was, "If morning sickness is like this for pregnant women, I don't know about that." Ugh!

Yesterday, I got some weird stomach sickness, it could have been a number of things, a) eating days old pizza that has been in my refrigerator (I thought it was still good), b) the burning smell of sage incense that my insensitive neighbor decided to burn at 3 something in the a.m. and I thought our building was on fire, or c) my nerves and irritation with b. Ack!

Granted I feel a little better and a little lighter now. My body aches just a little bit. But I hope to get better soon because there are several things that I'm looking forward to.

Let's see, my dear Hill is coming to visit. When she gets into town, we will then go and visit Jen, who is also visiting with her husband and child, and Kristen who lives in town. She will be here for the whole weekend! Yipee! And then on Sunday, after church, I will be taken out by a Marine I met last weekend. I talked to him last night, while I was having a reprieve from a naseous stomach. It was a good conversation. Some things about him is, he is the baby of the family, he is a Marine, and he is quite the adventurous spirit. He's been to several places (outside of his post in the Marines) and he would like to travel elsewhere including Antarctica. I told him he'll be my travel wikipedia in the future.

It will be a short, but fun weekend and those are some of the things that I am looking forward to!

Dreams for this year

I really don't like New Years resolutions but I do like New Years dreams.

My biggest New Years dream has TRAVEL written all over it. I would love to go to different countries even different parts of the United States. Now that I have friends or even friends of friends spread all over this world, I would really like to take advantage/the opportunity to go to some of these places.


These are on my list- In country, Phoenix (where I am at right now) to visit Chris, Becky, and chilren; Jacksonville to visit Jen, Clay, and Cayden; San Fran to visit Hill, Dan, and Russell; maybe I can go to Oregon to hi to Alysun and her family; Montana; Colorado to visit a long "lost" cousin; Texas to see my cousin. Out of country- Hawaii to visit Cassandra; Ireland; Scotland; Spain; South Africa (or Malawi); Uganda to visit Tad and Christy; Estonia (okay I just put that out there cause who knows, I may get to live there; for shock factor I e-mailed HQ to express my interest if they happen to open an office there. They sent out an e-mail to see who would be interested...and I sent one back say YES!). Just think of the countries I could visit around there *sigh*)

So I know there's ALOT of money involved with traveling and it even sounds selfish...but one step at a time...I should say Lord willing though. So Lord willing!