End of 2010 is Coming!

First off, sorry for not updating in like 2 weeks! Life around the holidays is CRAZY, as I am sure you all know. Let me just catch you up speedy quick on the past two weeks... I now hold the position as Community Outreach for my FCA club on campus. The goal is to get out into the community more with volunteer work as well as spreading God's word while we serve for Him!  I'm really excited about it all.  Finals went better than planned, much better then planned. Grades come out January 3rd- so hopefully all the hard work paid off! I'm home in Redlands until January 20th and since being home I've just been hanging out with my family and old friends and working at MyGym again to keep myself busy while I am here.  We had our annual sugarpalooza when I got home, and I will post a picture of that for everyone to see- this year my team made Santa's getaway island. :)  Christmas came and went quicker then I could process it, but the day was wonderful. Considering I didn't ask for anything I got everything I wanted and then some, so it was good. I was just happy being with my family and surrounded by those who love me.  New years is coming up and boy did this year go by SO FAST! I feel like it was a fast year, but it could have been because I've been keeping myself busy busy busy!  Recap of the year...I'll go by months. (if i can remember everything I did- so much!)

JANUARY- New year! My New Year's resolution for 2010 was to become closer with my walk with God. I feel like I did a pretty good job on that. :] Much better then I would have done on ANY diet or workout plan like everyone else. :) Started my second half of my second year of college in January 2010...crazy how time flies!

New Years!

FEBRUARY-  Just a normal month in the life of a college student, classes and work! Although we did have our school's homecoming dance this month, and I got puked on! Gross- but the worst part...this isn't the first time it's happened to me! YUCK.
I still continue to volunteer at the aquarium as an overnight camp councilor- which is a blast might I add. :]

Aquarium Staff

Homecoming Dance

MARCH- Spent every weekend at the baseball field this month cheering on the boys! The family had to put spooky- our family kitty- down in March because he got too sick. R.I.P Spooky, we miss you everyday.

Wasting away our weekends on beautiful days watching baseball

Spooky <3

APRIL- Came home for a weekend this month to help Mom with her annual Monopoly tournament and celebrate Easter with the family.  <3 Sometimes a break from school- even for a weekend is paradise.

My Easter Basket. Simon <3

Monopoly Tournament slaves

MAY-  My intramural bowling team took first place! School ended for the summer break...made the Dean's list grade wise this semester- forcing Mom and Dad to pay 75% of my tuition for the fall semester. :)
Went to a Laker's game- but before heading to staples center we ate at Luke Walton's BBQ restaurant, and then stalked his house. :p  Proof....I am standing in front of Luke Walton's house in the picture below.... IT WAS AWESOME.

CHAMPS

Luke's House. <3

Laker's Game with Daddy!

JUNE- Started working at MyGym again for the summer (missed it SO much!) Went to Spirit West Coast in San Diego-AMAZING music festival! John Cooper- who happens to be the lead singer of one of my favorite bands gave us his autograph. And I fell in love with 10thAveN during this festival. LAKERS WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP! :)
- This month was difficult in the sense I found out people are going to leave you when you chose to become real with you walk with God. It was so hard to lose one of my best friends over the fact that I'm choosing a better lifestyle for myself- but in the end, if she doesn't want a better me then she doesn't need me at all I guess.  LIFE LESSONS are hard to learn!!

MyGym Kiddos. <3

SWC

Tenth Avenue North

Austin and I waiting for Skillet to come on!

JULY-  I turned 20! My big brother got engaged! First trip to VEGAS! :)
-I also had my cancer scare (check-up in mid January-watch for updates! and pray please!!), hopefully it was my one and only one for my lifetime.

Little Bro and I in Vegas

The Strip

AUGUST-  My parents rent a beach house for a week in San Diego for the summer, so my final week of vacation was spent relaxing in the sand. :)

Life is GOOD

Transformed into a mermaid.

Bike riding in SD with Austin

SEPTEMBER- Fall semester started- meaning the hectic lifestyle started again! Moved into my awesome apartment with one of my best friends LAUREN (below). I love it! 2 bedroom, 1 bath, living room and kitchen, and on campus! It's perfect and pretty, wish I could live there next year too but we are getting kicked into a house because next year we will be SENIORS.

First week in our new place!

OCTOBER- Probably my favorite month this year. I was BAPTIZED! My older cousin got married! And my brother and his fiance asked me to be a bridesmaid in their wedding. :]] And we can't forget about Halloween...which got celebrated 4 times this year, yes 4. All with different costumes. I was an M&M, Snookie, a sailor, and finally a 6 year old complete with footie pajamas.
-I did break things off with my boyfriend of the time, BUT we are still close friends and it was for the better.  When one door closes another is opened.
October is the month I also started going on some dates with a new amazing guy who I continue to still go on dates with (I guess watch the blog for updates on that)  ;)

Being Baptized! :)

M&M's (halloween bowling tournament)

Soon to be all Harshmans! Welcome Kelsey!

Jeremiah Papaya. :D

Aquarium Halloween celebration

NOVEMBER- FOOOOOD. All I can say about this month...
(Simon was sent to be in Heaven with Rusty and the rest of our kittys :[ R.I.P Simon, we love you so much baby boy!)

Simon and I <3

DECEMBER-  End of the year when everything starts to calm down and come to an end.  Wrapping up finals Lauren and I held a Girl's night to make gingerbread houses- that backfired on us when the boys got jealous and tagged Lauren's car! Once home-we had suaglarpalooza, and of coarse our team won. :) Spent a night with an old, old high school friend who I rarely get to see now days. Got to spend a day in the mountains snowboarding with Dad. :) Fall semester ended and now I am on winter break waiting for my crazy lifestyle to pick back up when I head back to Monterey.  What a great year!!

Girls Night gingerbread houses!

Lauren's car got tagged

Clever boys....we will get revenge one day

Santa's getaway island!

Andy with his girlies

Daddy and I at Bear Mountain :)

That was 2010 in a nutshell! Everyone have a safe and happy New Year's!

I wonder what my New Year's resolution this year should be..... Hmmmm  <3

From fast lane to 90 year old grandpa driving

Well, the 5th semester of my college career is DONE. And I gotta say, it feels good...but I am going stir crazy with all the free time I have had in the past few days. Sleeping in past 8am is throwing off my scheduling.  Which I guess is good, I've been trying to spend the time relaxing and now worrying about much. Spending more time getting to know my Bible and trying to catch my body up with some good old fashion R&R.  I feel like I finished the semester strong and hopefully my grades will reflect it well and all will be dandy.  I was however, super excited that my finals we not as stressful as I was expecting them to be. I really just tried to take it a day at a time and not worry too far in advance and take care of one thing at a time and I feel that really worked for me. Or at least I hope it does when my grades come out in January.  Keep your fingers crossed! :)
Aside from the semester being over, I've just been working and relaxing before getting ready to come home. For all you Redlands people I will be back in town Friday afternoon. :)  Sarah and Jake come into Monterey Thursday night and the three off us take off for home Friday morning. Can't wait! I haven't seen Sarah in 6 months and our skype dates do not serve our conversations much justice. And as for Jake- I can't wait to hear all his crazy freshman in college stories. Should be a good time, I missed them!

I have something to gloat about, not about me at all but about my little baby brother. If you don't know, he's an amazing soccer player and has a great love for the sport. This week I found him on "max preps" and looked at his stats, NUMBER ONE in the nation! He is amazing! 2 games and 10 goals! I'll post the article at the end of this post for all to see, but I just love watching him improve! Can't wait to watch him kick some butt over the break when I get to see some of his games! Good thing I taught him everything he knows ;) .... I wish.... hehe

Home soon....I'm feeling bittersweet.   I'm excited beyond believes to be able to spend time with my family, and being able to re-connect with my friends from high school and I'm going to work a little but at My Gym again, and I am really looking foreword to not having class and loads of work or stress to worry about. However, I really miss my God community when I am away from Monterey.  I have a church I go to when I am in Redlands, but it doesn't feel like a "home church" and some of my friends don't believe which is fine, but I do miss the environment. But what doesn't kill me makes me strong, an these 5 weeks at home could help me grow one on one with my relationship with God and then I will come back an even better Christan. :)

Well, I am going out with my roommate for a little bonding before we part for some time. Redlands-I will see you soon, and Monterey- be good while I am gone.
XOXOXO

http://www.maxpreps.com/list/leaderboard_list.aspx?state=All+States&teamtype=player&leaguetype=overall&category=%2Cgoals&position=-All-&classyear=-All-&ssid=2d99a06f-9057-4b6f-8409-c7648c5c2edb

FINALS WEEK!

You know how I can tell it's finals week? There is three ways to tell- ONE: I've been to the gym 3 times in the past week.  TWO: The library has become another home.  THREE: I've been getting sick, and I always get sick around finals.  This semester hasn't been tooooo bad with finals, I've been able to deal with it to a point, I think I am just so over this semester that I'm at an "I really don't care right now" stage.  There is no motivation to want to do my best, and I feel like the minimal requirements of my assignments is what is going to get me through this week. Luckily- Almost all my classes have their finals this week, when really they are supposed to be next week. So I'm getting all (but one test next Monday) out of the way. Then I can just frolic around, relax, and work during the week of 'finals'.  Currently- I am in the library, and I do have my final paper open on my computer, but I'm stuck with a direction to go and my professor has not e mailed me back yet. So I have no idea which way to go from here and I'm just stuck like a sitting duck right now. Which I guess is okay because it makes me have to calm down and breath for a minute but at the same time, I really just want to get this paper done so I can sit and breath all next week.
On a happier note!- My little baby brother came into town this past weekend! He came up for a soccer recruitment camp our school was hosting and stayed with me for the weekend, which was fun. I loved having him up and he seems so adult-like with the questions he was asking about college and they way he was acting while he was on campus. Where is this maturity level when I'm home?! I'm excited he is getting excited about college. I wonder what weird hobbies my parents will pick up when they have no children to watch over next year.  I see house remodels being done, boredom hitting them, and lots of baking from my Mom.
Well, I guess I should find something, anything to do to be productive and get busy work out of the way so when I do know what direction I'm going in with this paper then I can just go for it. I hope everyone survives finals week and we all make it home to our families not tooooo stressed out for the holidays!
XOXOXO

Today I am Thankful For...

Today of all days I feel we should all feel thankful not only to be alive in this moment, but also for the small and simple pleasures we all have but take for advantage.  I feel like I'm a pretty simple person, and so I always enjoy the small things the best. Sometimes I think we get so busy with our lives everyday that we forget to just stop and realize all of the things we have that others don't.  Like a safe home to go to at the end of a long day, heaters in the winter, the little bit of money we have in our savings accounts, or even food in the pantry.  All things that most people in the world don't have, yet we expect all of these things to be there for us when we get home.  We get so comfortable in knowing we have all of these things and forget to be thankful for them.  Today I thought to myself and asked, how many times a day, week, or month do I say "it'll work itself out" because life these days is easy sometimes to the fortunate but how many of the less fortunate thing things will just work out? I'll put money down to say a lot don't say that. 
Today I am thankful for the simple things in life, and the love that fills it.

I'm also VERY grateful for the fact my mom can cook! Dad's words today were, "This holiday is like the NBA Championship and your Mom is the Lakers- she is the Kobe Bryant of cooking." Which then just makes Grandma Phil Jackson for teaching her all she knows, Dad to be Jack Nicolson since he is her biggest fan, Kevin to be Luke Walton since he sits around while all the work is to be done, Jason has to be Shaq since he moved onto greater things for the holiday, and me to be someone like Shannon Brown because I come in when help is needed but I'm not a key player.  That is our Lakers team of Thanksgiving within the family!  Besides our families sports metaphors, dinner was delicious and as I'm eating my way into a food coma I couldn't help but think about how lucky I am to be surrounded by family, love, laughs, food, and happiness!

Everyday I am happy for all I have but today I really, deeply thought about the things we take advantage of everyday and that we should always be thankful for what we have.

I hope everyone else had a great time today! Hope your holiday travels are safe and we all take time to just think about what we have and how blessed or lucky we are to have them. After all that is what this holiday is about.
XOXOXO

The sweet smell of HOME!

I looked out the window of my delayed airplane last night as we started our descend and noticed all of the smog we were flying into- I was home!  Southern California was right below me and I was only minuets away from  holding my family.  As I rushed off my crowded airplane my stomach was in knots I was so excited to be back in the town that I grew up most of my whole life in. This town is my hometown, it's where all my childhood, adolescence, young adult, and a few adult memories are.  It's weird to come home and still see everything in the same place, and remember where everything exactly is- almost feels like I never left.  When I drive down streets I used to take to the movies, or to practices all I can think of are times I used to drive these same drives in high school with a car full of friends and laughs.
Besides being reminded of some pretty rockin' memories with this town- being in my house itself has a comforting feeling.  It's raining outside right now, and I am on the couch in sweats, dogs laying next to me, eating homemade cheese fondue, and watching a little tv with my Mom. Life is so GOOD in this moment in time.  As I typed this I have no worries, no drama, no homework to worry about, nothing to do but sit and enjoy the feeling of being home.  I just feels so nice to relax and to be surrounded by this feeling of love and comfort.
This week is going to be amazing and filled with love, laughs, and relaxation.  I really can't even describe the calm and comforted feeling I have right now. All I can do is live it!
I'm feeling like it's a good time to bake some homemade cookies- I think I'll go do that now.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Enjoy your days off, your times with family and remember to thank God for everything he has done for us this year! I'm not sure about you guys- but my year has been AMAZING, and this past month alone- even BETTER. :]]

XOXOXOXO

5 MORE DAYS!

5 days. a single handful. Roughly 120 hours- until I am home.  I dream of the moment I walk off the plane and run to baggage claim, pushing old ladies and children out of the way so I can get my bags as fast as possible, then jet outside to see my family waiting for me to just jump into their wide-open and loving arms. I know when I get home the house will be filled with the smell of Mom's cooking, the dogs, an probably Kevin's smelly feet- all of which are smells that make me miss being in Redlands.  Since moving away for school, it has become a tradition in our family to decorate the Christmas tree while I am home for Thanksgiving break since I come home for winter break too late to do so- which is awesome because decorating the tree is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I love it so much!, mainly because every year we get a new ornament for the tree that has to do with something we accomplished or did together, then Mom writes the year on that ornament. Sometimes we get more then one a year- depending on our activities, but one thing stays the same- every year when we decorate the tree I'm reminded of all the wonderful things I have done with my family. I love being reminded of all those times, and it's great because the whole family does it together, so we are all reminded of fun, goofy, awesome times we've done together. The ultimate family bonding moment. 
Besides being excited about that moment next week, I'm looking forward to again having the continued lessons on how to cook Thanksgiving dinner, since one day I will have my own family and need to know how to cook some bomb turkey. Although, a HUGE majority of me wants my Mom to cook it for the rest of my life, maybe if I make it a tradition in my future family to visit Grandma and Grandpa for Thanksgiving. I think that would be great- I don't have to cook and can enjoy great food, plus my parents can see their children.  Can you tell I just really miss my Mom's cooking?
FYI Mom- if you're reading this, I hate to do this to you but I'm not feeling like going out to any meal while I am home because I miss your cooking sooo much...except maybe Bravo Burger breakfast burritos. You are off the hook for that one. Mayyybe you can teach me a few things as you cook me dinner every night, I will help you out, that way it doesn't seem like you're doing all the work and I get to learn how to cook. :)  Good plan.
Dear family.... See you in 5 days.
Dear Monterey....I will not miss you during the week I am at home, harsh I know but I just want to be with my family right now- there are things you can't offer me that they can.

Walking on sunshine =]

As I sit in the library thinking about the amazing weekend I just had I find it so hard not to want to grow up and move forward with life already.  I've been in college for 3 years now, classes are interesting with materiel but I gotta tell ya- there is so much more I want to do in my life then sit in class for another 2 or 3 years. (for those whose math is off- I'm thinking of doing a 5 yr program, with my credentials on top of that....yay?) I know that in 3 years when it's time to get a life and have kids, enjoy my career, and love my husband that I will be wishing I was back in the 'easy' days of college but I was talking about what I wanted with my future with someone special this weekend and I just really wanted to grow up fast. Be careful what you wish for because I'm going to regret saying I want to grow up sooner or later. School is just bleh right now I guess for me, maybe it's the semester because it's boring or maybe I'm ready to grow up, who knows but I know my life is going to be amazing and I'm excited to see how it turns out!
Any who....
Being that this was my first weekend off in 5 weeks, I didn't get much "Jessica" time,  yet it was so worth it. I spent the weekend surrounded in so much love that not having 'me' time didn't matter for 48 hours.  My friends, and God are just amazing and are working in my life so much lately that a lot of my worries, struggles, problems, and stress were non-existent this weekend.  I love where my life is right now, and am so incredibly happy with how things are going! 

The countdown continues for thanksgiving break! In exactly 11 days I will be jumping into my families warmth and love for an entire week! I cannot wait and am debating totally shutting off my cell phone so I can just emerge myself into family time...still debating about it, not sure how I will do without my cell phone for a week. But I guess only time will tell.

Maybe this weekend I will have time to get a bunch done, who knows. All I know is I am SUPER excited to come home and have no responsibilities besides making turkey dinner. 

Halloween Weekend!

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a very fun, but very safe Halloween this year! Mine was pretty awesome if I do say so myself....I got to celebrate it 4 times (each with a different costume for the occasion).
To kick off the weekend of fun, on Wednesday our intramural bowling team participated in Halloween bowling tournament- complete with costumes. We all got different colored shirts and painted an 'M' on the front- making us a handful of M&M's.  We were a group of pretty cute looking M&M's if I must add.
Friday night I had the aquarium camp-in for staff and volunteers. It was a bast because normally we're the ones who have to do a whole bunch of crazy stuff, but this night was so quiet and easy going. No rush, and even though we did a lot- it was all fun! Once we got to the aquarium we had dinner in the Jelly's, with only the light from the tanks to light up the room. Then we went on rounds to feed the sardines, kelp forest, bat rays, and trout. Next was desert- cookies and root beer floats. And then we all went to the auditorium and watched a movie. To this event, I was Snookie (from jersey shore).
On Saturday we had Andrew's birthday party- which was fun. His best friend from last year came up for the weekend so it was great to see him too- We all missed him! At midnight we sang happy birthday too loud apparently and the community directors told us we had to keep it down- that was kinda a kill joy but we still had fun. To Andrew's party I was a sailor.
Last but not least- Halloween day. Didn't dress up to go to church- probably would have been stared at in a weird manner. But I did go to a friends house for a little Halloween party and we played games, hung out, and had a bonfire. To this one I was a little kid-just wore my footie pajamas, carried my blanket, my stuffed otter, and put my hair in pigtails. It was sooo comfortable to wear that all night, especially during the bonfire. It was a great way to top off an eventful weekend. :)
That was my Halloween, it was fun- but I'm happy it's over and I can rest now!

This weekend is my first weekend in 5 weeks where I only have a few minor things to do on my schedule. I am so looking forward to putting on sweats and just cleaning, catching up on tv shows, sleeping, and just hanging around my apartment. I need a lazy weekend, so of coarse this school/work week is going so slow because I can't wait for the weekend! Friday at 5pm needs to get here sooner!!!
Well, I hoe you all have a wonderful week! The count down to Thanksgiving break and seeing family is on.... 16 more days from today I will be sitting on my couch with my family, petting my dogs, and smelling the warm, loving, delicious scent my mom's cooking seems to give.
XOXOXO

M&M's!

Snookie costume for the Aquarium

Construction worker, sailor, and sparta.

The view from Monterey on Sunday going to church. :)

This is why I need a break! 5 weekends of a schedule like this...

Feeding the kelp forest!

Dear....

As I go through my weeks, day after day, I always seem to find myself saying "Dear..." to a lot of different things in my life and telling them how I feel about the situation or the thing itself. I figured since I've been having a lot lately I might as well share some of them with you all....maybe ever a few apply to your life to.

DEAR....
...Bed, I love our date nights every night.
...Washer, please stop eating my socks.
...Raccoons, stay away from me...I refuse to give up my food to you.
...Homework, do yourself.
...Allergies, you're never welcome, so why do you always show up?
...Family, I love you.
...So Cal Drivers, why must you be so rude?
...People who Beat Their Wives, one day you'll get whats coming to you.
...Technology, you rock.
...White Trash TV, you make America look so awesome.
...Jesus, you are my savior.
...Men, learn to know we are always right and stop arguing.
...Day Planner, I would be lost without you.
...Food, you rock my world.
...Veggies, you taste awful.
...Politics, you're dumb sometimes.
...Books, I promise never to replace you with an electronic version of you.
...Rude People, you ruin my day with your bad outlook on the world...why is that necessary?
...Target, stop taking all my money.
...Girls Who Wear Uggs With Shorts, if it's warm enough for shorts the it's too hot for ugg boots.
...Gas Prices, go back down please.
...Gym, you are my sanctuary.
...Wind, you're cold and mess up my hair- therefore I don't enjoy your presence.
...Peer Pressure, you're the most annoying thing in the universe.
...Hitting Every Red Light as my Bladder is Going to Burst, I'm onto you and I know you plan these things.
...Bladder, grow a little would ya.
...Mel Gibson, I don't care what people say- you make good movies.
...People who Litter, why can't you wait till the trash? I just don't get it!


This is just a few that I think about often in my day to day life. :]
Hope you all enjoy them!

Happy Halloween! Next week be sure to check out my blog if you want to hear about my very festive Halloweenweekend! It's going to be a blast! And I have 4 different costumes, for four different festive events! :)
Everyone be safe!!
XOXOXO

Life in the slow lane...

Everyone read my last post about how my life is just go-go-go lately? Which is fun because it is all fun and enjoyable stuff I am doing, however I don't have much time for 'ME'? Remember reading that? Well, found my 'ME' time...in my bed, since I'm sick! :(
I started really feeling it Saturday afternoon and today it just got worse. I came home from church and slept till 5 when it was time to get up for college group!
Which means no chores got done, but thank God I finished my homework for the weekend earlier in the week so I didn't have to worry about that. Life doesn't slow down when I am sick by the way...it's still speeding but my body is slowing down. Not a good combo.
Keep my wellness in good prayers! After this weekend I can slow down a wii bit and find more me-time but I have to get through this weekend! I hope to be better soon though, like tomorrow would be nice- if I just woke up and was magically better.
I hope everyone else's Mondays turn out better than mine has started! Have great weeks! XOXOXO

Speeding!

Happy Thursday!! 
As you all know, my blog is titled "Life in the fast lane" because of how busy my lifestyle is up here in college. Well, lately I feel like the term "fast lane" is being taken way to lightly. I am exhausted!  If any of you read my blog from the beginning of the month I talked about how excited I was to have something fun going on every weekend of October....I take it back now! Well, disclaimer- I do love everything that has been going on in October and it has been a lot of fun, but I am just exhausted. Usually between work, student teacher hours, and church on the weekends I have time to tie up lose ends on homework, do chores, relax, rejuvenate, and get everything ready for the upcoming week....but that is NOT happening lately. I've prioritized my extra time on weekends to homework or school work- therefore chores, and "me" time is not happening a lot.  And it's not like I am busy with hard things to do- my weekends are filled with friends, kickbacks, and other fun things...the only problem is it is go-go-go.  There hasn't been a break in all the work or play this month and finally it is all catching up with me.  I surprisingly finished my homework for the week at a decent time last night, so i went home and spend over an hour giving my apartment the cleaning it needed, and then finished off the night with my roommate as we just worked on a puzzle and watched a movie...it was so NICE! I felt so good today waking up!
Tonight Michelle comes into town!! I am so excited to see her, it is going to be so great to spend the non-stop weekend with her!! I will be exhausted to hang out with her....she is worth the little rest and "me" time i will not get!  We're going to go to the pumpkin patch and carve pumpkins, as well as have an early Halloween party because she wont be here next weekend for that. Should be a fun weekend! At least my homework is done for the week! 

PS...I tried to upload my baptism DVD, but are unable to. So sorry for that but if I figure out a way I will do it for all of you to see....Lauren did an amazing job with the video!

Have fabulous weekends everyone! Enjoy the winter weather! This weather makes me want to sit on my couch with my dogs watching a movie with my family and eating popcorn made fresh from our popcorn maker....as it rains outside.  <3

Love is in the air!

For those of you who don't know...my cousin got married this past Sunday on 10/10/10.  It was amazing to see everyone for the weekend and the ceremony was beautiful. I am so happy for my cousin and I wish her a lifelong time of happiness!
Also at the wedding I was asked by my future sister-in-law to be one of her bridesmaids in her and my brothers wedding this next year, I'm so excited about this and cannot wait for them to be married. I feel so included in their life and I don't really feel as if I am losing a brother, but more like gaining a sister. 

Other then the warm of being in my families love this weekend, this school week has gone by so fast! I can't believe it is already Thursday....my goodness. This weeken is going to be epic...epicly tiering that is. Friday i give a tour, hit the gym, then go back to work to put together 1,200 packets for our open house event on saturday. Then a slumber party with some tour guides and we al have to be up at 7am to get ready for open house! It's a fun...but very, very long day for us! I will sleep super well Saturday night! On Sunday I am going to a Tenth Avenue North concert (again!) and they are amazing so I am really looking forward to that!!

I hope you all have a great week, I'm off to fellowship for the night! :))

Reborn!

This past Sunday was a significant day for me...I was baptized! :D
The experience was unforgettable, wonderful, refreshing, holy, and I love it!  To start from the beginning... this is something I have wanted to do for a while now, but was just waiting for the right time and once that time came alone- I couldn't wait!  My bible study teacher Joe is the one I asked to baptize me because he has really taught me the most during my walk with God and I truly don't think I would be where I am now if it weren't for his teachings, guidance, help, advice, and helping me understand. The day of the baptism was overcast and a little cold...but not too bad- certainly sweatshirt and pants weather. However, I needed to be in the water...the cold, Monterey water in order to be baptized. The whole time I was walking out into the water with Joe i was FREEZING, and as we prayed I was shaking and not looking forward to being fully dunked in this water.  But once Joe threw me back and I was fully covered with the Jesus, I was no longer cold at all....it was the craziest thing I've experienced spiritually! I felt so good after, and there was no way that smile was coming off my face.
My friend video taped it and interviewed me about the experience so once that is edited I will post that up for everyone to see!For now- here are a few pictures...

OCTOBER!

Well tomorrow kicks off October for me, and I couldn't be more excited!! Every weekend has something incredible going on and it is going to be the best month of the year by far.
The first week: Girly sleepover at Lauren's! AND I'm finally getting baptized! It's super exciting, and I'm so ready for it! It's going to be at Lover's point (formally called "Lover's of Jesus Christ Point") in Monterey...in the freezing cold water. Ahhhh! But it's worth it, so bring on the ice cubes!
Week 2: My cousin is getting married! YAY! So not only is that exciting, but because of it I get to see my whole family! Who- I haven't seen my whole family together in so long, but I haven't even seen my intimidate family in about 2 months.
Week 3: Kelly is in town! Haven't seen her since she graduated in May! Can't wait to see her! Also, FCA is going to a concert- Tenth Avenue North. They're going to be awesome!
Week 4: My cookie monster is in town AND so is Michelle! This weekend is going to have so much missed love in it! I miss these too wayyyy too much that I don't even think a weekend will be long enough. Jordan might be coming in this weekend too, he's not sure on this weekend or the next...but he is coming end of October! YAY YAY!! :)
Week 5: Halloween! Which is also Andrew's birthday..so big party! FUN! It's also the weekend of the volunteer sleep over at the aquarium...now we get to be the crazy campers instead of watching the crazy campers! Going to be so much fun....hide-in-seek in the aquarium behind the scenes? You bet!
Jordan might be coming in this week, like I said..he's not sure which weekend yet.

I know you are all jealous of how wonderful this month is going to be for me! Can't wait!! :))
HAPPY OCTOBER!
xoxoxo

Sweet Saturdays

After the week I've been having, this sweet, lazy Saturday is exactly what I want and need!  Intramural started last week! So far our dodgeball team is 1-1 but I think the first week is going to be named the practice week because they have to re-do the schedule anyways. First week and a team gets disqualified.... but they deserved it. They showed up wasted, took the game wayyyy too seriously, and then fought the other team...oh and I was standing in the doorway between the two who started the fight and almost got trampled- yay first week of dodgeball.  We'll just say we're happy that team is no longer competing...who gets wasted on a Monday night to play intramural dodgeball? Like seriously? Oh well, their problem, not mine and I got a good story out of it. Back to our team...we need a little work- then again all I contribute to the team (besides being caption and running it all) is war cries, weak throws, and defensive distraction.  Not like I get hit at all, usually my ball gets caught or I'm the last one in on my team and can't catch the ball to bring more in...but it's fun all in all.
I can't wait for bowling next Wednesday! It's going to be a blast! Maybe we'll be the champs again?! :)
Yesterday I had my service learning for my student teacher hours. Remember I'm working in an all-autistic classroom for 6 hours on Fridays. It's so rewarding, fun, and exciting...especially after the day I had yesterday with the kids. We went swimming, and I was hanging with one of the kindergarten boys named Leo, and was trying to get him into the water.  One of the teacher warned me..."he never gets in past the steps and will just sit on the top on...he's stubborn."  You can't tell me something like that and not have me try to make him go further.  Let's just say by the time swimming was over Leo and i were moving around in the water, teaching him to push a floaty noodle in front of him as he kicks his legs, and showing him how to blow bubbles in the water. :) All the teachers kept complementing him and I during it, and it was the topper of the week! Can't wait to get in the pool next week with him!
Besides spending hours on end in the library, going to class, work, and everyyyything in between my week was long, slow, rewarding, great, productive, and almost over!! Today is a lazy day...work in 2 hours, cleaning the apartment, laundry, small amount of homework, watch my new netflix movie I received last night, and topping it off by going to watch our lady volleyball team kick some butt!  Today will be lazy, and great! Hope yours are too! And your week! :)

Not now...

Now, of all times, now...my body decides it wants to be sick. The flu is going around CSUMB right now, and this morning I woke up stuffed up from head-to-toe, a sore throat, and on the floor of my room? Besides having class at 8am, I also had work, the apartment looked like a tornado went through it, I havn't been to the gym in 2 days (and wont be able to go till Sunday), had homework on my desk un-finished, and a bible study tonight. This is not a good time to be sick and out of function.  So, after much back-and-forth I opted not to go to the gym today so I could come home at 10am and sleep till work at 2pm.  My roommate- as wonderful as she is- gave me medicine for my cough and stuffiness. And my boyfriend packed me lunch and got everything ready for me to head to work. I'm not 100% sure what Lauren gave me, but around noon I felt so much better, I cleaned, showered, and got all of my stuff together for the rest of the day. I made it through work, finished my homework, and am now waiting for 7pm to roll around so I can top my night off with a wonderful bible study and some homemade beagles.
Thank God, hallelujah, praise the Lord- I'm feeling much better, and by much I mean I'm at least functioning. Still a little bit stuffed up and my throat is red and raspy but I'm out of bed and good to go. I feel like I snipped that flu right in the butt!! Trying to get me sick when I have too much to do....geeze, no fair! 
Pray it stays away!
So far...so good...so long "flu!"
:)

Nothing's hotter than an Otter!

So much school spirit! Now that I am in week 3 of my junior year and I have my weekly routine for school and work down it is time to throw in some fun activities!
I have one pretty much everyday. It's quite amazing I must say. My "stress-relief" activities go like this:
-Monday: Dodgeball Intramurals
-Tuesday: Fellowship of Christan Athletes Bible Study
-Wednesday: Bowling Intramurals
-Thursday: Beagle Corner Bible Study
-Friday: Monterey Bay Aquarium Camp-In Counselor (Fri or Sat...every couple weeks) 
-Saturdays: Blue Crew at sports events (tailgate, and be loud fans at sports events) (Fri or Sat depending on what day the games are)
-Sunday: Worship in the morning. Bible Study at church at night.
* I also joined "outdoor recreations and adventures" club, but that is about twice a month and they usually plan fun trips like hiking, tubing, rock climbing, biking....things like that.

Fun Right?! I know, it's a lot...but it keeps my sanity believe it or not!
Each one is sort of like the topper of my day. In the mornings I have school, then 4 days a week I have work after class, the I go to the gym and do homework, but my night is topped off with something fun and enjoyable! I love it! And I'm so excited to start intramurals at the end of this month! Going to be rockin! 

Aside from all that fun going on life in Monterey has been good to me this week. Weather is off and on. One days it's foggy and windy and the next the sun is shining. Can't complain because I like the sun so I will take what I can get. Yesterday we got the invites out for Andrew's 22md birthday in October, his birthday is on Halloween so it's always a big celebration. This year he is going to be a Spartan 300, and I am his Spartan Goddess/ arm candy. So we're looking forward to that!  Still don't know what to get him, any ideas feel free to thrown them my way! :)


That's about it for now- aquarium camp-in tomorrow night so I will be sleeping next to some fishes! Then I have a girl's day on Saturday with some friends, so a pretty easy going weekend ahead of me. :)
Much Love everyone! Miss you all! <33

Just keep swimming...Just keep swimming.....

This past week has been....I'm not sure what adjective I am looking for just yet.... Hectic, Weird, Indifferent, Slow, Rewarding, Unorganized, but all in all- TIRING.
Where to start?!

I guess classes is a good place to start- since I am here for an education and it seems to always come first and conquer my time before anything else can. My into to teaching class- the one where I actually get student-teaching hours fulfilled- is my favorite so far. This teacher is amazing when it comes to lessons. He is teaching us on how to become teachers and all we need to know but he isn't just standing at the front of class and lecturing, he is actually doing what he teaches. For example- today we learned about classroom configuration and all the things you need to think about when putting your classroom together, so he gave us a giant piece of paper, and some crayons and said to draw our classrooms for a certain age group. It was fun, but you don't think about all the little things that go into making a successful learning environment. (Did you know that aquariums have been proven to lower blood pressure and calm people down? We should all have aquariums in our homes, classes, workplace, etc..).  Also with this class I got into the autistic program I wanted to get into. So for my student- teacher hours I will be at an elementary school that has its own autistic program and classrooms! I'm really excited to start that up soon...hopefully next week!
My second favorite class this week was my dance class- Afro Cuba Hip Hop. This week we started out with our basic moves and getting our warm up down. And I learned something! I have no rhythm what so ever. I must really be a Harshman.... Most of the other people in the class do the same movement as me but theirs look smooth. Mine are more jerky...like I'm a box...I can't get my movements to 'flow' just yet...hopefully that will come to me soon!

Outside from my numerous hours of class and homework I did have a little fun this weekend. I did my volunteer work at the aquarium and for those who don't know this I am a camp counselor at the Monterey Bay Aquarium where I do overnight sleepovers with children. So I basically hang out in the aquarium all night then sleep next to my favorite fishes. It's pretty awesome, not going to lie. This week was the last night the Outer Bay Window would be open since we're closing it for re-molding, so we spent some extra time with the jellies, the sunfish, the hammerhead sharks, tuna, and barracuda. Shout out to my MOM- we just got about 8 new baby turtles in one of our exhibits- can't wait to watch them grown up...I'll send you updates on that! :)

Work is, well, work. Working for the school has its ups and down- UPS: work on campus, flexible schedule, free CSUMB gear, I can do homework on site, the list goes on. DOWNS: the state of CA has cut our school budgets yet again, which means the school has less money to pay me, which means my hours get shortened...which would be alright...if tuition wasn't raised too.  So I'm working HALF the hours I was supposed to be, and I can get up to 14hrs on a good week if I'm given enough tours to do. For those who don't know- if you are enrolled in classes, then you can't work more than 20 hrs a week. So already we are part time...but if I'm putting in half of that...what am I and 1/4th time worker?  It's a bummer...but hallelujah I have a job to complain about!  Besides hours being cut I definitely got yelled at during work for letting it slip to the boss that it was slow and I had no work left to do. (I had finished literally all the work to be done and my office supervisor told me to just do homework) Well, boss man goes to my office supervisor and yells at him for me not having work to do...the f-bombs get dropped on me for telling boss man I finished my work. All I did was be honest right? I hate work politics...

Besides all that- Fellowship started up again yesterday. I think my Dad and boyfriend were the only ones I talked to about this but over the summer I felt very distant with my faith and very guilty about it. I know I should read my bible everyday- even if it's just a few verses or pages or a whole book but I should be opening it up everyday...if I want to grow with my faith in God. But I was having trouble with the will-power of actually doing. For some reason I have this fear that I wont understand what my bible is saying without my bible study teacher there to walk me though it. So..today I challenged myself. I opened my bible to the first page and read. I want to read through my entire bible, no time limit, no restrictions, nothing...but I want to read through it word by word because of my own will-power. I'm excited about this, and I've come to realize that even though I might have questions doesn't mean I can't grow in my faith because it's not Tuesday night and I'm not at worship. I want to be able to grow on my own and I needed to trust that what I read and how I interpret the word is how I'm going to apply it to my life.
So everyday, I will read part of my bible, and I will understand it. And if I don't...I can take notes to my teacher on Tuesday. :)  Can I get an Amen!?

That was my week....told you it was a million adjectives in one. I hope everyone has a good week this week, and have a SAFE labor day holiday! Love and miss you ALL!  :)

Home Sweet Home.

On Friday my best girlfriend and new roommate Lauren moved her stuff into the apartment...it took until yesterday...but it is close to perfect now. We love our new place, its got 2 single rooms, a bathroom, living room, breakfast nook, and a full kitchen.  Our living room has a massive window in it, and we're on the second floor....prime people watching location. We've decorated it with art, pictures, and memories, and somehow our apartment always smells of food...it's hypnotizing. Anyone reading this (as long as i know you) is more than welcome to come and stop by for a visit. I can cook us some dinner, its not as good as Moms, but I'm not so bad.- Disclaimer--nothing is as good as Mom's if you have ever eaten in the Harshman household--she is not human with hoe she cooks--food isn't supposed to be that good.


Besides my awesome new apartment I am taking a a smaller class load, just 16 units this time around, but also am picking up as many as i can hours at work.  Classes so far are going good....books are killing me financially, but that is to be expected.

One class I am especially excited about is my "Afro Cuba Hip Hop" class. This class is four hours long! But well worth it; the first 2 hours we do a lecture about different cultures, their dance styles, what those styles mean, where they originated, and do a seminar setting environment about the readings we had the week before based on that weeks culture. The next 2 hours is the fun part- Dance! For 2 hours we dance, sing, learn new beats, and learn all kinds of movements affiliated with the culture we are studding that week.  It is going to be very interesting to not only learn about these cultures but also learn their different ways of expression through dance. I'm really looking forward to this class and can't wait to get started! I've already learned a song and some beats.

So far that is my first week. Between moving in, classes, getting the apartment ready, getting back into work, seeing old friends, and starting my new routines for the year- life is still in the fast lane!  This weekend I will be doing my volunteer work at the aquarium, tell you all about it next week! :)

First ones here! First ones here!

For those of you who didn't get the amazing movie reference the title was referring to stop reading this blog and watch "Chevy Chase Las Vegas Vacation."  I chose this title for two reasons- the first being it makes me think of my goody family...who I miss so terribly much, and the second is because this post is about my first week of school....and we were the first ones here.
Classic Harshman ways...first ones here...of coarse there were problems with the paperwork, since I moved in a week before people are allowed to be moved in. We also illegally drove the car up to my building to unload it, my access card to get into the building didn't work- so we illegally propped the door open. Anyone else sensing a theme here? Classic Harshman ways.....
Moving in was not quick, and definitely not painless. Riddle me this...why did Dad and I decided to bring the brother (Kevin) who has a broken arm with us to help move loads of things into my new apartment? But after close to 13 hours, 500 bucks, and numerous scratches all over the body later my room was finished and perfect for the school year.  Which sadly meant...Dad and Kevin would leave in the morning...leaving me to fend for myself for 5 days until my roommate moved in.