New Blog

So, for many reasons I decided to switch/create a new blog. I am retiring ABOUTFUSION, which I never was really thrilled with, to something that is my own. The new address is www.socaltexan1.blogspot.com Check it out! I am really excited about it...it's mine!

Get-Away

There are a lot of things to do in Waco and there are MANY things that occupy my time and keep me busy. This weekend was the usual...many things to do and a strict order in which I had to do them. After spending a very busy Friday at school and serving the community with my church on Saturday morning, I decided...on a whim... to head to Hillsboro to visit the outlet center.

I had a gift certificate that I had to use at Nike (and I did) but I really had no other purpose to go. In fact, after driving there, I really only had about 30 minutes before I had to drive back to Waco, to be somewhere else. The purpose in me saying all of this is simply because this trip was an unexpected blessing!

About 4:00 I hit the road... I stopped by McDonald's and got a Coke and then turned the radio up high and listened to K-Love. I sang and worshiped to the positive songs and just felt the joy of the Lord move upon me. I would pause between songs to drink my refreshing Coke and then belt out the next song that was played. I was having such a wonderful time that I really didn't want to get out of the car! If it wasn't for something that I HAD to get, I might have just turned around and drove back. After my short jaunt into Nike, I drove to Braum's and got an ice-cream cone. The ride back was just the same, maybe even more enjoyable with my ice-cream in hand.

There are so many things that I could thank for this experience. I could thank the change of weather, the large Coke (which I only paid a dollar for), Braum's for serving such delicious Orange sherbet ice-cream, Honda for making such a relaxing luxury vehicle , K-Love for their "positive and encouraging" music and on-air radio, and SO much more. It could have been the community service and mission work that I did early that morning. Or, I can chalk it all up to the glory and majesty of our Lord who has the power of creating such a world and who blesses me with the simplest joys of life. Through all of this I can become renewed and draw close to Him even in a hour's time to Hillsboro and back. My soul is filled and it is not with Coke, orange sherbet ice-cream, nor is it clothed in Nike apparel, it is home to the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ and it is because of this that I can feel the way I do!

All in all, it was such a rejuvenating trip. My soul was lifted and now there is a huge smile on my face and upon my heart for this upcoming week of school. It's amazing how the Lord tends to reach us and has the power to lift our spirits even in the smallest acts and shortest minutes of our lives.

Salado, Texas

There is a town South of Waco, known as Salado. In my 8 years of living in Waco I have never made it down to visit this quaint little town, so you can imagine how excited I was when Jennifer called me at 8:30 am last Saturday and said she and Jason and Hannah were taking a trip to Salado. I threw on my hat and went along with them. Here are some of the sites that I took in on my visit. It really is a neat town. They are famous for their Christmas displays and holiday atmosphere in December. Now that I have been to Salado, I can't wait to experience this town at Christmas time!!! P.S. - I found some delicious beef jerky here!

Farm Day

Waco has an organization called The World Hunger Farm. It's really a great organization as they teach people all around the world how to farm and eat off of their own land. I am sure there is a lot I am over-looking as I try to describe this great ministry, but to be honest I had not have even heard of it until this year. A couple of weeks ago, The World Hunger Farm hosted Farm Day. It gave citizens of Waco and surrounding communities an opportunity to tour the farm and help to understand all that they do. I went with Jennifer, Jason, and Hannah to Farm Day and it was a fun little outing.

Fun April Day

Today I had the day off from work. It was a Bad Weather Day that we never had to use, so here I was with a Monday with beautiful weather and nothing to do. We (we, meaning Jennifer, Hannah, Caleb and Crystal) decided to go to the Mayborn museum today and we ALL came out of a FUN experience.

I don't know who had more fun though. Maybe you can decide...

Was it Hannah? Who chased birds, had a tea party, looked for her friend, even climbed a tree!




Was it Caleb? Who chased Hannah around all day, rode a horse, had some tea himself, and made beautiful music with his mom!

Was it Crystal? Who played the giant piano with her feet and got herself trapped in a bubble.

Was it Jennifer? Who created this amazing bubble and this cool drawing.

Or was it me? I climbed in and through everything the kids did, got stuck in a car, and took all of these fun pictures!

Whatever you decide, we all had a great time and were sad to leave.

Bye, bye museum!

Too Darn Cute!

We have been having some amazing weather this week and Crystal and I were watching both kids while Jennifer went to a dinner party. In order to occupy our time we took the kids for a walk in the wagon around the block. They LOVED it!!! Check it out for yourself...it was one of the most adorable things I have ever seen. We had SO much fun!

After awhile Hannah started saying, "All Done! All Done!" We were still a block from home and she started trying to standing up in the wagon. I got her out to let her walk with me and that didn't work. Come to find out...she wanted to pull the wagon herself! She did really well, and Caleb had a blast! These kids are so cute together!

Are these kids not adorable?!?! Just so you know...NONE of these pictures were planned!

Wouldn't life be great to be a kid again?!

I love every second I spend with these kids and I am so blessed to have them in my life!

Spring Break

Spring Break just began. I was a little upset that I couldn't get home to CA again, but so far this break has been amazing! I kicked off the vacation with a road trip with Jennifer and Hannah Whilark. We stopped and had dinner with Jason in Burleson, at Outback, my favorite! Then we went up to her Dad's house in Gainesville, TX. It was so much fun to be there again. What an amazing house and such wonderful people! Even though Hannah wasn't feeling well, we did have fun with her in the pool, on the swing, and in the Mule.

We stayed the night and while driving back Saturday night we stopped for Braum's. Orange Sherbet ice-cream! My favorite! Not to mention they had a deal... a double-scoop for the price of a single-scoop, so of course I got a double!

I woke up Sunday morning to a Sausage McMuffin that the Whitlarks had bought me. I made it to church that morning, and what a blessing it always is to surround myself with such wonderful people! I made my choir debut Sunday morning. Our Prison Ministry group sang some of the songs that we sang in prison on Sunday morning to the congregation. That was a neat experience. We followed church up with Rudy's BBQ and it was delicious. That night I had a delicious dinner with friend's at On The Border. We sat on the deck and talked for a while after the meal. The weather was great and I had the best time!

As for today, I did everything I wanted to do! Absolutely nothing! I slept in for the first time in months. Watched TV. Caught up on some matches of Word Twist on Facebook. Took a few naps. Currently Harry Potter 2 is on the Disney Channel and I am flipping between that and CBS Mondays! Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, and Rules of Engagement. So far this is looking to be a GREAT spring break!

Hannah was so tuckered out so fell asleep on her favorite swing!

Fun on the Prison Trip!

Rain, Rain, DID NOT Go Away!

My brother poses with his groomsmen in front of the limo.

The umbrellas were not a prop, but rather a necessity. The men are on their way to the ceremony. Unfortunately it rained at the ceremony, but it was so wonderful and such a memorable experience for all in attendance. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of the ceremony because I was a part of it, but as soon as I get a hold of some, I will post them!

My Brother's Wedding

What a great time! Don't be deceived...the day turned out nicer than it started.

I will post more pictures as the days go by.

The Wedding Party

Steven with Ronna's Family

Ronna with my Family

The Levesque Children

Snowboarding

Over Christmas break I was able to go snowboarding for the first time. I've always wanted to go, but an injury snowboarding was never worth the sacrifice of softball. With my softball career 4 years out of the picture, Bear Mountain here I come!

I did pretty well! Everyone falls, including myself as you will see in some of the pictures that follow, but for the most part I caught on pretty quick. I guess my athleticism still comes in handy!

Thanks to my brother, Steven, and my soon-to-be Sister, Ronna, for taking me up the mountain. I had a great time!!! Looking forward to the wedding come soon...

Tagged Again...

My friend Maggie tagged me again to do this blog. It was just for fun, but seeing that today is my birthday, it might be fun to do as I embark on my 27th year of existence. Or as some of my friends and I say it... one score and seven years!

8 T.V. Shows I watch:

1. How I Met your Mother
2. The Office
3. Psych
4. Monk
5. Two and a Half Men
6. Big Bang Theory
7. Eli Stone
8. Hannah Montana

8 Favorite Restaurants:

1. Chipotle
2. Outback
3. Chili's
4. Cracker Barrel
5. Pat & Oscar's (in California)
6. In n' Out Burger
7. Johnny Carino's
8. Any good, So Cal Mexican food

8 Things that Happened Today:

1. Took my brother's dogs for a walk and Lolli pooped 5 times on the Tennis Court.
2. Both dogs jumped in the 50 degree waters of the pool as if it were July
3. I looked endlessly for the missing piece to our 1000 piece puzzle and came up empty
4. I went to 2 antique shops with my parents and bought a set of pearls and a broach!
5. We ate lunch at Applebee's and it took forever
6. I realized that there is a BIG difference between Pepsi and Coke and that I prefer the latter.
7. I have gotten 15 Facebook messages, 6 text messages, and 2 phone calls from friends wishing me a Happy Birthday!
8. The parents and I are out the door to see The Tale of Desperaux at the movie theater!

8 Things I look forward to:

1. Getting back to Waco and seeing my niece and nephew and my amazing friends.
2. My brother's Wedding on February 7th.
3. Rejoining my Sunday School class, and my small group.
4. Picking out my new prescription sunglasses (my birthday present from my parents).
5. The upcoming Baylor softball season.
6. Getting my apartment organized and set, finally.
7. Harry Potter on July 17, 2009!
8. Seeing what the Lord has in store for me in 2009!

8 Things I wish for:

1. A safe and healthy 2009.
2. A Wii!
3. A man that will love me and care for me.
4. A house with a yard so I can have a puppy.
5. A family of my own, someday.
6. A wonderful husband and health, happy children.
7. My student loans to be paid off.
8. For the Lord's Will to be complete in my life.

People I tag:

1. Jennifer
2. Janice
3. Tara
4. Brooke

Christmas Cards

I have been extremely busy this holiday season, and the thought of making cards, even filling them out was the farthest thing down on my to do list. SO, my good friend Jennifer took this picture of me, so I thought I would send the infamous "picture card" this year. I know these cards only are done with families and cute little kids, but for this year it will have to do... So, with no further-ado, here it is...
I know the picture isn't the best, but the thing I like most about this card is that I made the background! With the help of a really great friend (Jennifer, again) of course. It was my first time really playing around and learning the ropes of Photoshop!

Look for your card in the mail!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!