Another year has gone by...

I can't believe that this is the last blog I shall be writing in 2007!! :)

It's kind of amazing how fast this year has gone by... and how much I have changed and grown in the process. I think at these times, people think about what they have learned this year and what they can expect in the year to come. It's crazy to think that your life can change so much in just 365 days...

God has taught me sooo many things this year. He has taught me who I can really depend on, and He has shown me how great things can be if you just put your faith in Him.

So, here's to a happy, healthy New Year for everyone! May God bless your life this year as he has continued to bless mine!!! :)
<333

2008 Movies!

Here's a list of movies I am DYING to see in 2008!! :)
woop woop!!!

-Mad Money (Jan. 18)
-Over Her Dead Body (Feb. 1)
-CLOVERFIELD :) (Jan. 18)
-Vantage Point (Feb. 22)
-The Other Boleyn Girl (Feb. 29)
-Horton Hears a Who! (Mar. 14)
-STOP-LOSS (Mar. 28)
-Leatherheads (April 4)
-THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN (May 16)
-Indiana Jones & The Legend of The Crystal Skull (May 22)
-SEX & THE CITY (May 30)
-KUNG FU PANDA (June 6)
-You Don't Mess with The Zohan (June 6)
-The Happening (June 13)
-Wall-E (June 27)
-HANCOCK (July 2)
-THE DARK KNIGHT (July 18)
- SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2 (August 8)
-SAW V (October 24)

And that's about it for now... haha

inspiration!

I love visiting my cousins.

Random, I know. :) But I really do! We (myself, Gabriel, my mom, brother and his girlfriend) went to my cousin's house in Pinecrest for Christmas Day, and I remembered what I want out of my life. They have a good life... ok they're better off than most people. But its a good life!!!! :)

Her two kids are 5 and 7, and they remind me soooo much of my brother and me at that age! Santa was extremely generous this Christmas and brought them a Wii.... and needless to say, the adults were more into it than the kids. ha! ;) It's just really cool to see these kids grow and learn, and it was so weird because her son was telling me about his mom... and I had to remember he was talking about my cousin for a minute! It's so cool to see a family grow in such a beautiful way.

Even better, I think, is seeing a Christian family grow like that. They are there for each other.. my aunt, my cousins, the kids- they're all there for each other, whenever they need it. My cousin is still very much in love with her husband, who she's been with for about 15 years now... that was so inspiring! :) I started thinking of my future with Gabriel, and knowing that we would still be as in love as we are now, 15 years down the road. And we'd have the kids and the big family and everything to make it better! :)

Ahhh.. refreshing and inspiring!


In other news... I watched "P.S. I Love You" today.
Oh. My. Goodness.
What a SAD movie!!!!!

If you are depressed, I strongly recommend you go see this! Especially if you want to kill yourself!!!
Ok. Not if you're suicidal. That's not cool. But its pretty much THAT depressing. :(
Don't get me wrong.. it was romantic.. but I don't know how I would possibly deal with a loss like that!!! And writing letters to me from the grave?!?! I'll pass, thanks.
It just makes you grateful for all that you have in your life at this moment. And I am one of the most grateful of them all... I have the things I need, the best friends I could possibly ask for, a boyfriend who loves me, and best of all, a God who provides! :)

What could top that?
:)

and now, the wait..

I'm so anxious to find out my grades for this semester!!

I have a 2.6 cumulative GPA so far... I just need a 3.0 to be considered for UF!! I'm so nervous... I think since today is commencement at FIU, I'm imagining myself at commencement at UF :D
The future is scary.. especially when you don't know what's in store for you! I'm like checking out housing info and student involvement.. even sororities lol! I think I worked as hard as I could this semester, and the one thing that got me through finals was UF. I had that in my mind pushing me forward, reminding me exactly WHY i need that B in math! I really gave it my all this semester. Even through everything that was going on in my life, I knew that school came first, because if not, I wasn't going to UF.

And that, of course, is not an option.

I'm so determined to make it there... just to show everyone (and, most importantly, myself) that I could do it. I felt comfortable with my exams but you never know... I'm thinking positive thoughts and I'm envisioning myself at that commencement 2 years from now... :)

Pray for me through this week and next, people! The moment of truth is upon me! :)
<3333

it is DONE!

I've never felt this relieved!!!

I feel really proud of myself... I told myself when this semester began that I would do my best, and I really think I did. I was incredibly stressed this semester, there was definetly a lot more to do. But I stuck to my guns and I didn't go out on some Friday nights, as much as I wanted to. :)

Life is good!!! I have 3 weeks to myself with no homework looming overhead!!! :D
yayyyy ♥

Friendships.

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately.

In between all the craziness of finals week, I just can't seem to get some things out of my head. I recently had a falling out with one of my (now ex) best friends. The falling out itself isn't the problem; the problem is that she drug my very best friend down with her. We hardly talk anymore, and lately I've been the one that has done all the calling, all the texting to see how she was doing. I guess I'm just bummed because I know how she is (or used to be, for that matter), and I know that this is not her. Or maybe it was her all along? :/

I just feel really bad for her more than anything else. As much as I love her, I don't think things will be quite the same anymore. She's obviously made it clear who's friendship she treasures more... and what a pathetic excuse for a friendship! (sorry, I slipped... :x) Every time I envision my future- getting engaged, getting married and starting a family- I think of her, for some reason. I think of all we told each other we'd do (be the maid of honor, godmomma, etc.), and then I think about how there's a good chance she probably won't be a part of these milestones.

You see, she's been becoming more and more concerned with the material things in life (on the outside at least), and as nice as they are, I think she's forgetting the God that put them there. I hate to sound holier than thou, and that's not my purpose. But it's sad when you see someone who used to be so involved with church, and used to be so close to God, just slip away. This goes for both of them... my best friend and my ex-friend. I've reached out so many times to get her to come back to church, but she's always so busy.... work & leisure seem to take precedent.

So I guess what I'm trying to get at is, what do you do when you miss someone so deeply, but don't see things the same way? Do you think that someone like that deserves a second chance? Is the relationship important enough in your walk with Christ?

What do you do when your friends become complete strangers to you?

Sorry for the emo- ness, but I just needed to vent. :(

whew!

I had my math test today and I think I actually did pretty well! :)
That's 2 finals down, 2 more to go!
I'm so relieved!!! This is like a HUGE weight off my shoulders!

Anywhoo... I am still on the hunt for the missing USB cable for my camera! :( I'll try to get the pictures and video from the concert as soon as humanly possible... in the meantime, I heard this song on vh1 and I love it! I love the Christian undertones, it's great! :)



Matt Kearney
Undeniable

It's undeniable how brilliant you are
In an unreliable world you shine like a star
It's unforgettable now that we've come this far
It's unmistakable that you're undeniable

February 5th, Friday morning, purple dawn,
Broke a yawn, as I stepped through the fog, like I stepped to a song
A moment like a poem, you wish you could hold it
I shut my eyes like it's frozen, it's gone when I open
It slipped past the clouds right there where it lingered
Like your band and a girl could slip through your fingers
My feet hit the ground like a beat for the lonely
On a path beaten down by the crowds in the morning

If only I could touch past the phony
If only they were there now to hold me
As the questions keep droning

You're the only one who stuck it out last night
The only other one who caught the other line
You're the only one when this world collides
The one that I can't deny

It's undeniable how brilliant you are
In an unreliable world you shine like a star
It's unforgettable now that we've come this far
It's unmistakable that you're undeniable

It's my last year here
My first class moved to portable 'A'
Under construction since summer
And it's cold today
I can see my breath, and what's left of the west parking lot
And all the spaces that we fought
And it all seems forgotten, left in the bottom
In past piles of rubble, in puddles of rain water
That hurt last night when I left like that
When I won't come back
Speaking my peace to the past
I can't help but wonder. who is this wind at my back
A whisper to walk on, come on from all that

You're the only one who stuck it out last night
The only other one who caught the other line
You're the only one when this world collides
The one that I can't deny

It's undeniable how brilliant you are
In an unreliable world you shine like a star
It's unforgettable now that we've come this far
It's unmistakable that you're undeniable

How am I gonna take it away in this winter wind
You found me on a summer breeze
How am I gonna run away when the autumn breaks
Now that you found me in the spring
Come on and sing it out

Keith Urban! :)

sooo i just got back from the BEST concert EVERRR!! :D

Of course, I'm talking about the fabulous Keith Urban! (Nicole Kidman's hubby, if you've never heard his music....) The concert really was amazing! He was so interactive with the crowd and at one point he actually got down from the stage and into the crowd!!! Let me just say that I never wished so hard to be in that section!!! lol.

It was really amazing. He was just so down to earth (and I know its a concert but that's the vibe I got from him lol) and it was just so much fun overall! :)

Except for some old gringas sitting behind me who wanted me to sit down!!!! Excuse me abuelita but my boyfriend paid some good money for this concert and I am going to have me some FUN!!! :D And that I did have.. hehe.


AAAnyway... I have to find my USB cable for my camera!! :( it has gone missing and I need to show everyone my pictures and video!!! :)
As soon as I find it I shall share the sexiness that is Keith Urban with you!! :D
GET EXCITED!! :D
<333

An open letter.

I just have to get this off of my chest.


To be quite honest... I miss you more than I thought I would. I looked at our pictures today, the old ones, from the good days. And I really missed you. At least, I missed the person that was in those pictures. I feel like I don't even know you anymore. Isn't it scary to think that after so many years of knowing your deepest, darkest secrets, that I know almost nothing about the person I shared so much with?

I hope you remember all the times that I was there for you. When everything happened after graduation, and on the day of prom, who was there outside your house to make sure you were ok? Nope. It wasn't your "wifey". It was me. Who did you call to cry to? When he broke up with you, whose shoulder did you cry on? Do you even remember all the little moments like that? It doesn't (outwardly) seem like you do. But I do, and it kills me inside.

I will tell you just as I have told other friends: God will always be here for you, whether you like it or not. And so will I.

But you have to realize that the way you portray yourself, that wall that you're so scared will crumble, is the image you portray to others. You always have to be doing something. And that's fine, but don't forget that there are more important things in life. Like sisters. And, even more importantly, like God.

Please stop thinking that you can't open up to guys you like. Please do that. It's perfectly healthy. Even if he breaks your heart, you learned something. Move on and move up. That's life. But don't ever forget to take God as your partner in everything you do. That's really the only way you will achieve true success.

I'm not writing this to you for you to get mad. That's the opposite of what I want to do. But I never talk to you, and the times I do, it's extremely awkward. Do you know why? Is there something you need to tell me? Because I have pretty much told you everything that I have needed to say to you.

I really feel like a stranger in your life. Does that affect you at all?

Your actions speak otherwise.

The Golden Compass

So I've heard a lot about this new movie coming out called The Golden Compass. When I first saw the previews for it at the movies I wanted to see it... until I got an e-mail saying that the movie is based on a book. OK, so it doesn't sound like a big deal. The only thing is, the books (yeah, there's three of em) were written by an atheist author who basically shows the other side to The Chronicles of Narnia- where the children kill God so that they may do as they please.

You read it right. Kill God.

I was obviously disappointed when I read this. I mean, at first I thought it was another chain letter, but when I saw the article for myself, my jaw dropped.

So many children are going to see that movie... I wonder if they know the true meaning behind it?

I was particularly disappointed to know that Nicole Kidman is the star of the movie, since she's known to be a devout Catholic. I love her in everything she does... she's beautiful, she has impeccable fashion sense and she's married to the hottest man on the PLANET! (and i will be seeing him in concert this saturday!! yayyyy!!! ok... i digress...) I was bummed to see that she took part in this, and that they are marketing this as such a great movie. :(

Finals Week...dun DUN dun....

I've been so stressed with school lately!! Finals are next week and I have one on Thursday... there are so many that i think i lost track of them all! :/

I wish we came with an auto-focus button or something... so I can get everything else off my mind!!!!

So sorry if I'm in a cave this week people, but I'm overwhelmed!

:(

hmmm

I'm slowly getting used to this thing! I changed the title of this blog... to "Happiness is a Journey, Not a Destination." A lot more appropriate. :)

2007, in a nutshell.

Somehow, I knew that this year would be better than the rest. I don't know how, but I felt it. As soon as the clock struck 12 on January 1, 2007, I knew this would be a year I would never forget.

And I was soooo right! :)

This year, God has let me experience the highest of highs and lowest of lows, and just about everything in between. I lost 25 pounds (yay!), I changed churches, I re-evaluated the important relationships in my life and I almost lost my dad in the process.

That old saying is true, though- "Whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger." Here we are at the end of November, about to go into December, and I find myself a completely different person than I was a year ago today. My priorities are clear- God, family, school/career (Mary Kay's too!! ha) This time last year I hated myself physically and was about to get a huge paycut. God hears prayers. And he sent me to Quick Weight loss, which, however much it cost me, helped my self-image with a much-needed boost. At the beginning of January I was still working two jobs and getting almost nowhere financially. Now I like to think I just work one and have fun selling makeup on the side. ;)

Speaking of that, being a consultant with Mary Kay has really helped me in so many ways. I will never regret that decision. Having my own business has helped me get organized and set my own schedule for myself. I've met so many successful women who just inspire me to be better, not only at selling a lipstick, but at life. I don't set limits anymore, I set goals. Goals for financial stability, goals for the future. :)

I think the major turning point this year has been one particular four-day ship expedition to Mexico in which alcohol in mass amounts became my best friend. I think you know what I'm talking about. But, however, I will never ever regret that trip. It really taught me how not to act. The only thing I regret is having acted that way in front of Jannelle's entire family.

But a few (OK, more than a few) lessons came out of the aftermath of that trip. I learned to never give up on a friend, no matter how long it's been since you last talked. I changed churches and, in a lot of ways, became a new person. Most importantly, though, I learned that being neutral ends at one point or another. Sometimes it may take a couple of years for your opinions to really be voiced, but let them come out. So you'll lose some friends. But were they really your friends to begin with? And will they help you in your spiritual walk? Think about this next time you tell yourself you don't have an opinion.

The one thing I am truly grateful for this year has been my dad. In June he was hospitalized and it was then, when I thought he might not make it through the night, that I stepped up to the plate. I called my half-sister, who I had never even met before, and told her the situation. She, in turn, called my half-brother, whom I had been close with when I was younger, but for some reason he stopped talking to my dad about 7 years ago. I think he realized just how serious the condition was and came to the hospital. We've been close ever since. I'm grateful for having him come back into my life, because he is so like me it's disgusting. :)

My relationship with the boyfriend is better than it has ever been, mostly for maturity's sake I guess. I will never try to put someone else above our relationship. That backfired. I'm so lucky to have him in my life! We really are a team. We'll go up to bat for each other any day, and nobody is getting in the middle of that again. We're a team and thats how it will be. If you hate him, you hate me. If you hate me, you hate him.

Take your pick.

All in all, I'm grateful for God. God has returned to being the center of my life. This is where he belongs. And I don't think that will change.

it is done!

yay!
so i followed Paula's advice and I created this blog. :)



I thought the title was pretty appropriate... seeing as I seem to be living my life vicariously through the girls of The Hills!!! hehe. So to start this off I thought I'd list a couple of quotes from this show that I love. :)



Enjoy!

"When you love people, you want to believe they're good. He did this to me and you want me to say he's a good person? Sometimes whether you did something, or you did nothing... it's just as bad. "
- Lauren

"Lo- What's wrong with Justin Bobby?
Lauren- I think he's mad cuz we keep on calling him "Justin Bobby""
- Me & Paula ;)

Audrina: Seriously, I’m done.
Lauren: I’m sorry.
Audrina: I’m done Lauren. I can’t do it anymore.
Lauren: I know sweetie. Look at me. Homeboy wore combat boots to the beach. I know you don’t want to call that your boyfriend, I know you don’t.

Friendship is a blessing and love is a gift. Do not let it go easily.
-Jason

I promise I'll try to make these blogs a little more interesting from now on!!! lol

<3