winter walks

Lots of pictures being taken, lots of blogging to be done.

Here's some more:

my neice

Amazing.


FYI

Christmas!!

Although it doesn't feel much like Christmas with only half of our family at the house, it has been a very nice day. With only 30 minutes left before the 26th, the four of us (my parents, Jon, and myself) have done quite a bit while relaxing today.

First, we went to Salt Creek (my dad's favorite) to take a walk with our dogs, Hunter and Saddie.


A cute moment I caught of my parents when they didn't know I was looking.




It's hard to get a family photo when you are taking the picture. This is my solution.


Later, I decorated the little Christmas tree I bought myself. After making some little tags, I made my first ever oragami crane!! I am very proud, except that I can't do it again somehow.



After an amazing dinner, we played scrabble.



My mom was a little distracted by a project she was finishing, and I was by my camera. .oh well.







I hope your day was nice. May the Lord bless you this season.



And do not get stuck inside of an ornament.

Peet's: You want to be there

Christmas Eve I met up with my brother Jon and his friend (my friend, too) Kyle. As always, they were enjoying some Peet's coffee while doing work. Jon and I got Pei Wei for lunch, and were very encouraged by our fortunes, which is the point of fortunes, right? Right.





Kyle doesn't realize his photographer talent:

Lemonade is from Lemons

Tonight I am sick. Last night I said I had allergies as a psychological tool for not being sick, but was proven wrong as I grew more weary through my day (though a great day with Sarah, eating homemade Puerto Rican food at her friend Nico's and visiting Katie in LA).
Although I came home with no energy to do anything but lay in bed, it turned out to be a great thing. Forced to lay still, but not ready for sleep, I was able to think.


Things I thought of:

I want to make a skirt with pockets.
I want to spend time with children (i.e. nanny again)
This year has been rough
Running is something I miss
Action is necessary
I am loved by many, even when I think not
Hawaii is nice
God's story is an adventure
I want Tic Tac Toe wallpaper in my living room someday
Life is difficult, beautiful, complicated
I want to know myself more



My mom made me peppermint hot cocoa and brought me graham crackers. Sometimes it's nice leaving my independence behind.

Flashback

I finally scanned these from Nashville. Enjoy!

Friends in Hats -or- End of the Semester Friends

I am partial to the first, only because we are friends at times other than the end of the semester, but still, it is what it is.

END OF THE SEMESTER!




Sarah has been staying with me the last couple days. Quite the delight to the ending of my semester. It has been tumultuous (thanks FreeRice.com for learning words), but it has come to an end. We're going to celebrate by going to Disneyland. HOORAY! Or as Sarah would say, "BOOYAH!"


Happy end of the Semester.

As Sufjan might sing,

"Since the year is almost out, lift your hands and give a shout!"

Merry Christmas to be.

just a thought

Finals Week. Strange things happen. Drawing for too many hours, writing too many pages, listening to Simon and Garfunkel with my roommate, taking pictures of water fountains. Here's the thing about the water fountain, though. I just went to drink some and thought, "How nice that there is a water fountain in my dorm so I don't have to pay $5 to get a bottle from the vending machine." Quickly after that though, and a sip of water, however, I realized I may not be THAT excited about the water fountain. It's actually kind of weird, and I know water is water, but the water is kind of unappealing.

Does anyone else agree?

photo final

these are last minute, pretty unawesome pictures of my photo final. i might take the time to really photograph it this weekend, but thought i'd put up what i have.





it was a great time for me to be making art, with all that has been happening. although the primary purpose of art is not always therapeutic , it was for me, and i'm glad for it.

. . . .

Rain creates distance between my mind and the world. It leads me to 2 a.m. walks alone through campus to savor it's uncommon presence. I am always better able to concentrate when it's raining, enjoying each moment with some kind of unique adoration. Perhaps I will live where it rains regularly some day. That might be lovely. I would like to live somewhere where it snows, too, or at least I think so.

California is funny. There was an article in a magazine I read today about Los Angeles and it's role in the apocalypse. Are the evils and disasters of the city created by man, or some kind of punishment from God? Let me ponder that for a moment. . . still, not so sure.

I also met a man tonight named Juan Jose. He was going through trash to collect cans for money. When I asked if I could help in any way he explained that the money wasn't for him, it was for a little boy and little girl he had recently met who needed help. This made me consider how I do ministry. Digging through the trash for other people? That is service. The check I used to write out every month, then decided they could take out for me to help feed a boy? Good, yes, but perhaps there is something missing. What if I let somebody on the street rest in my room while I slept in the rain? What if I was really willing to give of myself, not just boldly proclaim my unbacked passion. Maybe I would be more like Christ. Maybe I would be truly working in the Kingdom.



Rain Thoughts.

The Welch Computer Lab

Looking at lines and shape.

ARTS 100

This is the class I am in right now. The general education class that I thought I had forgotten about, when really I didn't need it, and found out 3/4 of the way through the semester. Fortunately there are outlets under the lecture hall chairs in thew new business building so I can hang out on my computer while my teacher sits in the front row listening to presentations. I actually like this class a lot, being that I like art a lot, but watching people read off of papers in front of them is not super fun.

Another not super fun thing:

My trip to Thailand has been canceled. I've decided not to blog about it, but ask me about it, and I will share with you the situation. It's been a hard week, and it is disappointing, but God is good. God is good. God is good.

I'll be working on my photo final tonight, which should be good, especially as a response to this week. Making art is definitely healing. I will put some pictures up soon.

In the mean time please listen to Sufjan Stevens. My group played it during our art presentation, and I think it pretty much made it. . .plus the great work of Katharina Fritsch.

something worth blogging about

Today in my photo class, my professor let us out saying,

"Go. Be fruitful. . . and. . ugh. . . don't multiply. [akward laugh] yea, be fruitful and don't multiply yet."

If you know Kurt you know what a wonderful moment this was.

a dream come true

This is my brother's friend Kyle. He wanted to be on my blog. Being that we are into the holiday season (and nothing else of course- kidding) I thought I would give him the joy of being on here. He is the one that introduced me to the hand hug. Well done!

Also, I did a photo shoot tonight with him and my brother, which I will be developing tomorrow night and putting on here as soon as I can.

Hope the full moon and cool breeze are treating you all well.

10:56 pm

and I am going to sleep. It's been a long week, one day in, but after tomorrow is break! A little bit of freedom.

Here's a pic I found from this summer.

Away again, back again

This time I went to Texas to surprise my friend Liz for her 21st. Keeping it a secret was SO hard, but SO worth it. Here's a little recap.







First of all Liz and Elise (and Lucas by living there, but maybe not decorating) have the CUTEST apartment! It is incredibly comfortable, yet very beautiful, which in my opinion is the greatest combination.









Being that it was Liz's 21st there were some glamed up shot glasses out, which were entirely cute, and entirely liz (namely: pink bows). Add some pink roses, sprinkles (amazing cupcakes mentioned in a previous post) and memories to the table and you have my photo obsession for the weekend.




This is me, Liz and Elise. If only Alison could have made it, there would be pictured the amazing quadfecta as we like to call ourselves (only in response to the three Mikes being the trifecta).



Elise and Liz's sister Caroline.





We went out on Saturday night to a dueling piano bar? Never been? You should. It was really fun, kind of in a surprising way at first glance. :) Put a bunch of Texans in a room with two pianos, song requests, and sing alongs, and you have yourself a good time. The best part: nobody knew me so I could dance as much as I want to and knew it didn't matter (I'm maybe not the most coordinated).




Here's one for you post-modern fans. It comes out in us all sometimes I guess.


A new goal: Scan my non-digital prints for posting pleasure. Expect it soon. . I hope.

I will miss the Office.

Because I like to get paid for my job, too, and I'm not even as good as these guys.

Nieces.

They are so wonderful. And so are sisters, as well as parents. My sister and niece came out for the weekend from D.C. (where I grew up) and I got to see them on Sunday. It was my niece, Jaklin (but we call her Jak)'s 6 month birthday so we got her cupcakes from this amazing place called Sprinkles. I think everyone should get cupcakes for their half birthday. We also spent the morning at Biola Fest, a centennial event for Biola, where Jak got her face "painted" for the first time. It was so good to see them!!