This year, I didn't make time to create Christmas cards like I have in previous years. But, I also didn't want the the holiday season to go by without sending something to family and friends. I decided to go the digital route and send out a 2016 recap. Feel free to check it out!
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Friday, December 30, 2016
December Noteworthies and Book Reviews
I really didn't do much this month except for a pleasant discovery of a new hiking trail. I've only conquered half of the trail, but am looking forward to completing the full 8 miles sometime in the new year.
I can't believe it...I actually read 12 books this year, one every month! I am going to continue this goal through 2017 because I really do enjoy reading.
In November, I read Trusting God When Times Are Tough by Ed Hindson. I had been working on this book a while and finally finished it last month.
I didn't find that this book had a lot of new insights as someone who has ready many spiritual books. At the end of the day, it's just important to keep perspective and stay focused on God and not on our own desires and understanding, but trust that God has a plan and that His timing is perfect.
My December book was a long anticipated book written by my favorite chick literature author Emily Giffin.
Her books area always light and fun reads. This one was no exception. It's about two sisters who lost their brother in a tragic accident and 15 years later, they find that his death is interlaced with their current circumstances and independently, they work through years of buried emotions and secrets. I finished this book in two days, so obviously I recommend it!
Till the next book!
I can't believe it...I actually read 12 books this year, one every month! I am going to continue this goal through 2017 because I really do enjoy reading.
In November, I read Trusting God When Times Are Tough by Ed Hindson. I had been working on this book a while and finally finished it last month.
My December book was a long anticipated book written by my favorite chick literature author Emily Giffin.
Her books area always light and fun reads. This one was no exception. It's about two sisters who lost their brother in a tragic accident and 15 years later, they find that his death is interlaced with their current circumstances and independently, they work through years of buried emotions and secrets. I finished this book in two days, so obviously I recommend it!
Till the next book!
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
November Noteworthies
November, November, November. It frightens me how quickly you've come and gone. This month, there was a lot of celebrating! From baby showers to birthdays, wonderful things are happening all around.
My little nephew (left) turned 1! We celebrated with family at my sister's home and it was just such a blessing to see just how loved the little guy is. The cutie on the right turned 4, and I just love him to pieces! He's the boy of a close friend of mine and I am so happy to have been able to just watch him grow into his own so far.
I also ran in an annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. I only did the 5K this year and came in slower than I usually do, but faster than I anticipated.
Echo has been making great progress on his agility classes! I love watching him happily running through a course. Oh how it warms my little heart!
As far as my book review is concerned, I shamefully admit that I have not finished this month's book yet! But, I WILL double up in December and achieve my goal of one book per month for 2016. Stay tuned!
Monday, October 31, 2016
October Noteworthies
This month, I coordinated not one, but two weddings! The first wedding was at La Venta, a beautiful venue overlooking the ocean in Palos Verdes. I truly felt blessed to be a part of this couple's wedding. The Bride and her family were so gracious and sweet and they made my job so easy because they were so organized and go-with-the-flow. I was also really fortunate to have my sidekick by my side partnering with me throughout the day. It's amazing how well we work together and how much fun we have - it hardly feels like work at all!
My second wedding was at Figueroa House in Los Angeles. It was raining pretty hard in the morning, but I promised the bridal party it would stop come time for the ceremony to start, and praise the Lord, it did! Everything went according to plan with no major glitches - whew! Now, I do have to say that I do not recommend this venue. The venue coordinators were not pleasant to deal with as they were "fake nice" the type of nice where it's obligatory with an underlying tone of arrogance to boot. They require onsite pre-production meetings, the couple to buy wedding insurance, the couple to rent basic 6' tables and trash cans (yes, even trash cans!), and the staff was just overall very hands off with everything, and complained when the bartenders had to bus the empty drink glasses because the caterers weren't cleaning up their glasses quick enough. Ack, so high maintenance!
I also attended mid-week service at Angelus Temple to see Nick Vujicic speak. This guy is truly amazing beyond words. He has such a wonderful spirit despite the fact that he does not have any limbs...yes, you read that correctly. He is truly a testament to how wonderful God is and how He can use anyone who is willing to follow Him to reach millions of lives. I highly encourage anyone who has never heard of him to Google him. Even if you aren't religious, you will still be inspired.
And, time for my book review. I read The Girl on the Train literally in. one. sitting. I don't think I am going to see the movie because I can't imagine the movie being able to top what I imagined in my mind while reading. This book leaves you in suspense until the very end and is very difficult to put down. It is a good mindless read if you want to just "get away". It's basically about a woman who has gone through some rough times and finds herself single, barely existing, but rides the train to and from every day. The train stops at a particular stop most days where she is able to observe a couple whom she idealizes in her mind until one day, something changes and she finds herself getting involved and way in over her head.
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Finally, hoping you had a Happy Halloween! I was disappointed that I didn't get one trick or treater again this year. Gone are the days where kids trick or treat in their neighborhoods, but instead, their parents drive them to the popular streets where houses are fully decked out and swarms of children are going door to door where homeowners don't even have the time to close their front doors before their doorbell rings again. Sad.
Friday, September 30, 2016
September Noteworthies
Fall is upon us! Hopefully this crazy hot weather will start cooling down. I escaped the heat for a super quick 36 hour trip to Seattle to visit one of my good friends. Staying at her beautiful home was similar to staying at a resort. She lives right on Lake Washington and the weather was perfect! We had dinner at my favorite restaurants in Seattle - Purple Cafe and Potbelly, took an early morning walk to Starbucks, went for a 3 mile run, and had a delicious hot pot meal her Mom prepared for us.
Taking a moment to relax at the end of the pier that extends from her backyard (seriously!)
Kayaking on the lake! Her 6 year old had to teach me how, lol!
View from her living room!
So, BOOK REVIEW. I read the most amazing book this month, best out of the nine I've ready so far for 2016! The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah! I had been waiting for this book to become available for over a month now at the library, so I finally ended up buying my own copy, and am so glad I did!
Seriously, do yourselves a favor and pick up this book right away. It is so beautifully tragic! The story takes place during WWII in France and centers around two sisters who struggle to stay alive and resist the German occupation of France. They are both estranged from their Father and have walked different paths in life which extends into the roles they play during the war. One of them met her husband early on in life and has built a family living simply on the countryside. The younger of the two is rebellious and spontaneous. Both do everything they can to persevere through the most trying times, witnessing tragedies along the way, but always finding strength to move forward. Read it now!
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
August Noteworthies
This month, I want to start with my book review for a book recommended by my sister in law.
So heartwarming. This is a story about a man who suffered the loss of his son, is a recovering alcoholic and decides to spend his summer traveling to different national parks with his late son while spreading his ashes along the way. His RV breaks down and through that event, encounters two young boys who grew up in a troubled household and ends up taking them with him on his journey. It was so beautiful to see their relationship unfold and how they unexpectedly changed each others' lives forever. After finishing this book, I feel inspired to rent an RV and drive to the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce Canyon with Echo (although dogs are only allowed in limited areas at these parks, boo!). And there was the cutest dog, Woody in the story as well and of course, I pictured him to look like Echo. If you're looking for a book that inspires you to get out into nature and leave you feeling warm inside and bursting with love, this is a book for you!
This month was all about birthdays. Happy birthday to my sister-in-law, my brother, J, and most importantly, my Mom who turned 60! My brother and I took her to Mastros a day before her actual birthday and then we celebrated with the rest of the family on her actual birthday.
I was also quite spontaneous this month taking two less than 24 hour trips just for the fun of it! Earlier in the month, I flew up to SF and visited my old stomping grounds from when I used to work up there (i.e., ferry building, Miette's cupcakes). Toward the end of the month, I went to Chicago and covered all the touristy stuff in one FULL day. Think Navy Pier, the Bean, Buckingham Fountain, Soldier Stadium, architecture tour, Hancock building....yes, everything!
So heartwarming. This is a story about a man who suffered the loss of his son, is a recovering alcoholic and decides to spend his summer traveling to different national parks with his late son while spreading his ashes along the way. His RV breaks down and through that event, encounters two young boys who grew up in a troubled household and ends up taking them with him on his journey. It was so beautiful to see their relationship unfold and how they unexpectedly changed each others' lives forever. After finishing this book, I feel inspired to rent an RV and drive to the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce Canyon with Echo (although dogs are only allowed in limited areas at these parks, boo!). And there was the cutest dog, Woody in the story as well and of course, I pictured him to look like Echo. If you're looking for a book that inspires you to get out into nature and leave you feeling warm inside and bursting with love, this is a book for you!
This month was all about birthdays. Happy birthday to my sister-in-law, my brother, J, and most importantly, my Mom who turned 60! My brother and I took her to Mastros a day before her actual birthday and then we celebrated with the rest of the family on her actual birthday.
I was also quite spontaneous this month taking two less than 24 hour trips just for the fun of it! Earlier in the month, I flew up to SF and visited my old stomping grounds from when I used to work up there (i.e., ferry building, Miette's cupcakes). Toward the end of the month, I went to Chicago and covered all the touristy stuff in one FULL day. Think Navy Pier, the Bean, Buckingham Fountain, Soldier Stadium, architecture tour, Hancock building....yes, everything!
The weather in Chicago was absolutely perfect!
Finally, I ended the month with an amazing time at Outcry where Kari Jobe and Hillsong Y+F performed. I always love worship - it is when I feel most connected and at peace!
Friday, August 12, 2016
Book Review: Big Little Lies
I finally finished my book for July. I read Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. I heard that she has written a series of books and this was one of her first ones. After having finished this one, I'm not sure if I am going to check out her others, not because it wasn't good, but because it wasn't amazing like some other books I have read. Maybe it is my lack of brain cells but I found it difficult to follow so many different characters, remembering who was married to whom, and who's kids were whose. I also wasn't sure about the synopsis of the book until I was halfway into it...seriously is it just me? Basically, this book is about a group of women whose children go to the same uppity private school from all different walks of life. You can expect the typical real housewives drama until someone is killed. The parents of the school recall the events leading up to the night of the incident as the detectives try to identify who the murderer is. If you like murder mysteries, this book will give you a good run for your money!
Sunday, July 31, 2016
July Noteworthies
This month was an exciting month for me because my brother got married! I was both a guest and a coordinator for their beautiful wedding at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu. I had no idea that they had an entire resort area there that's dog friendly! I am definitely going to check it out one of these days when a staycation is required!
Yay for family shot!
It was really great to see extended family
LOL, my grandma in these photobooth photos
I have always been a huge lover of live music, especially if it's a cover band. During my walks with Echo, I have hard my neighbors playing in their garage and found out they were playing a show at a nearby restaurant. Of course I went! It was so much fun eating Argentinian food while watching these guys jam.
I also rode the Santa Fe Dam trail for the first time and let me tell you, it was so much fun! It felt like a much needed escape for an hour or two, the road was wide, and the path was fairly flat. It was perfect for a beginner rider.
Other noteworthies that I didn't take photos of was that my girlfriend and I went down to Palm Springs for a full day of shopping for her birthday, we celebrated my sister's and brother in law's birthday (yay!), and went to the 626 night market for the first time (it was just meh).
As far my book review is concerned, I ashamedly admit that I am only halfway through July's book because I forgot about my goal, hence got a late start! But I will catch up and will review my book once I've finished it!
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Book Review: Sandcastle Kings
As June was quite uneventful with the exception of Vous Conference which I already blogged about, I'll jump right into my book of the month. This month, I started two different books, both of which I could not get through! This has never happened before especially with my goal oriented mentality where once I start something I must finish! Seriously though, I couldn't get through the others, so I settled on Sandcastle Kings by Rich Wilkerson which I got as a gift from Vous Conference!
This book was an easy read and I enjoyed the personal stories Pastor Rich shared throughout because they were relatable and quite humorous! I enjoyed the format of how the book was written by telling a few stories from the Bible and then highlighting Jesus' character and Christian values from those stories. I most appreciated him explaining the meaning of Jesus dying on the cross for us as I think for those who didn't grow up in the church, that could be a difficult concept to grasp so having it dumbed down brings a little more gravity to the sacrifice that was made. I recommend this book!
Here is one of my favorite videos of Pastor Rich describing his shopping experience with his wife. So ridiculous, but oh so true!
This book was an easy read and I enjoyed the personal stories Pastor Rich shared throughout because they were relatable and quite humorous! I enjoyed the format of how the book was written by telling a few stories from the Bible and then highlighting Jesus' character and Christian values from those stories. I most appreciated him explaining the meaning of Jesus dying on the cross for us as I think for those who didn't grow up in the church, that could be a difficult concept to grasp so having it dumbed down brings a little more gravity to the sacrifice that was made. I recommend this book!
Here is one of my favorite videos of Pastor Rich describing his shopping experience with his wife. So ridiculous, but oh so true!
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Balayage Debacle
This past weekend, I decided to subtly lighten my hair for the summer with a trendy balayage. I have done it once before at a salon that specializes in balayage, but due to distance, I decided to ask my stylist whether she could color my hair for me. This lady has cut my hair for at least a decade, but I have never asked her to color because frankly, I didn't know whether I could trust her. I am one of those who will cry if my haircut turns out poorly. I guess my first mistake was still moving forward after she said she didn't know the term balayage. I proceeded to explain to her what it was I wanted...lighter highlights that didn't start at the root of my head, but blended into my natural color to minimize future maintenance. She assured me that she knew what she was doing. 4.5 hours later, I went home with the worst hack job EVER. The color was not blended in at all and my hair looked like it had grown out over the past 6 months and I had no time to touch it up. She spent 2 hours trying to fix it, and I finally asked her to stop trying because I could tell it was hopeless.
The next day, I bit the bullet (well, I really didn't have a choice) and headed to the salon I had once been to before and asked them whether they could fix it. This young girl was so confident she could, so I decided to move forward. 2 hours later, I think I'm almost blonde and though it was better than the previous day, you could still see the blunt line that was there before. The stylist told me that I would have to come back multiple times to break through that line since it was so prominent. Why didn't she tell me that to begin with?! To which she responded was her bad...well her bad doesn't make up for the fact that my hair is still not presentable and I would have to live with it for a while to let it recover from the 8 hours of damage it had just undergone! And of course, she took my money. At least the stylist the day before had the decency to just charge me for the products she used since I wasn't a happy customer. Here are the photos:
The next day, I bit the bullet (well, I really didn't have a choice) and headed to the salon I had once been to before and asked them whether they could fix it. This young girl was so confident she could, so I decided to move forward. 2 hours later, I think I'm almost blonde and though it was better than the previous day, you could still see the blunt line that was there before. The stylist told me that I would have to come back multiple times to break through that line since it was so prominent. Why didn't she tell me that to begin with?! To which she responded was her bad...well her bad doesn't make up for the fact that my hair is still not presentable and I would have to live with it for a while to let it recover from the 8 hours of damage it had just undergone! And of course, she took my money. At least the stylist the day before had the decency to just charge me for the products she used since I wasn't a happy customer. Here are the photos:
(Left) Seriously, I think I could have done a better job!
(Right) Look how much lighter my hair turned out and you can still vaguely see the drastic color change even after the "fix"
So, I have to attempt to hide the hideous by curling my hair everyday
Or putting it into a braid, which seems to be the popular look these days
Lesson learned: Do not be lazy when it comes to hair. Pay the extra $$$ and travel the extra mile(s)!
Monday, June 20, 2016
Vous Conference
I randomly decided to attend Vous Conference, a conference held by a church led by Rich and DawnChere Wilkerson in Miami, FL this month. It was the quickest long distance turnaround trip I have ever done, and in many ways it was worth it. We heard from 4 amazing speakers, and I mean AMAZING where even I wanted to stand up and yell "Amen!" or "Preach it!" all whilst pumping my fist, but of course shy me kept my bum glued onto my seat. The Vous Church blog gives a great summary of the weekend, but here is my quick snippet and what I got most out of Vous Conference. All my photos were pulled directly from their blog.
Friday night started out with worship and then we heard from Pastor Rich Wilkerson who preached on the topic of Even If...
On Saturday, we heard from his wife Dawnchere who preached on the topic of "Let It Shine". Let me tell you, this young lady can preach!
We also heard from Robert Madu who preached on the topic of "From Water To Wilderness".
Next up was my favorite pastor of all time, Erwin McManus. He leads Mosaic, a church now based in Hollywood. He was the first Pastor I ever heard speak and I followed him for several years. It was such a treat to know that he was making a special appearance at Vous Conference. It really moved me to see him thanking Pastors Rich and Dawnchere for inviting him there, but more importantly, he professed that until his last breath, he would be forever grateful for their role in his son's life, who had fallen away from God/Church until they spoke prophetically into his life, changing the course of his life completely.
Friday night started out with worship and then we heard from Pastor Rich Wilkerson who preached on the topic of Even If...
Pastor Dawnchere and Rich Wilkerson
- Sit with someone. Stand for something because if you don't stand for something, you will fall for everything. Walk through everything.
- When life heats up, that is when God shows up
- You can't change what you can't tolerate
- Worship from a blessing, not for a blessing
- Favor is not found in where you are, it's found in who you are
- If you are too big to serve, then you are probably too small to lead
On Saturday, we heard from his wife Dawnchere who preached on the topic of "Let It Shine". Let me tell you, this young lady can preach!
- Most people pray for patience, self control, understanding, etc...but what they don't realize is that these are all fruits of labor from a relationship with Jesus and are not "sold separately". So we have to ask ourselves, do we want a relationship with Jesus and what do we do to build that relationships?
We also heard from Robert Madu who preached on the topic of "From Water To Wilderness".
- Water was likened to getting Baptized, or the beginning of your walk with Jesus. Wilderness referred to your life journey after making that commitment, meaning that just because you devote yourselves to God doesn't meant that everything is smooth sailing from there on out
- After you experience in the water, how are you going to win the war in the wilderness?
- You have to know where you are (what season of life are you in?)
- The word is your weapon
- You have to know what's at stake
- Know where your help comes from
Next up was my favorite pastor of all time, Erwin McManus. He leads Mosaic, a church now based in Hollywood. He was the first Pastor I ever heard speak and I followed him for several years. It was such a treat to know that he was making a special appearance at Vous Conference. It really moved me to see him thanking Pastors Rich and Dawnchere for inviting him there, but more importantly, he professed that until his last breath, he would be forever grateful for their role in his son's life, who had fallen away from God/Church until they spoke prophetically into his life, changing the course of his life completely.
- What do you want from God and what do you have? Ask God for what you want and let Him let you know when you've asked for too much. Don't limit God!
Finally, we heard from Christine Caine, whom I haven't heard of but the audience seemed to really look forward to her sermon. If I were to pick one moment that resonated with me the most, it would be a moment that came from her message which I've written in blue in my summary below.
- You're going to live out a story for a while before it becomes a testimony. The devil isn't afraid of a story, he is afraid of a testimony
- Being more than a conqueror means you come out of the battle, then you go back in to bring other people out
- Favor is for service, not for purpose
- God will always interrupt your own plans with His purpose
- What you have to fight is the "what if". Replace what you don't know about the future with what you do know about God
- Impossible is where God starts
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
May Noteworthies
This month was quite a busy one for me! Aside from coordinating a wedding (more to come on that in a later post) and celebrating a friend's 40th, I kicked off May with one of my wonderful friends' wedding in Palm Springs. I was flattered to be asked to deliver a speech during the reception, and though I was nervous, I was able to speak off the cuff and from the heart thanks to my many years of public speaking practice from Consulting.
I met the groom when we were both at Deloitte and became insta-friends sharing the same sentiments over long and boring meetings. I could tell there was something special about him and I was right! I became his career counselor and he excelled in his job and even after I left Deloitte we remained close friends. He is one of the few whom I can pour my heart out to over hours and hours of conversation or just be completely stupid together playing poker or taboo for two. I am so thrilled he found his soulmate, a wonderful human who has the biggest heart.
I also celebrated my birthday! Another year older, yet none the wiser. I am grateful to have spent it with good friends and family. The word that describes that day is peaceful which I am so thankful for because Lord knows I have had some pretty crappy birthdays in the past! I had brunch, went to an Escape Room and closed out the night with KBBQ.
Finally, I went to a Hillsong worship concert at The Forum by my lovely self. I really feel most connected to God through music, so it was a very rejuvenating experience for me. Though I was alone, I never once felt alone.
I met the groom when we were both at Deloitte and became insta-friends sharing the same sentiments over long and boring meetings. I could tell there was something special about him and I was right! I became his career counselor and he excelled in his job and even after I left Deloitte we remained close friends. He is one of the few whom I can pour my heart out to over hours and hours of conversation or just be completely stupid together playing poker or taboo for two. I am so thrilled he found his soulmate, a wonderful human who has the biggest heart.
I also celebrated my birthday! Another year older, yet none the wiser. I am grateful to have spent it with good friends and family. The word that describes that day is peaceful which I am so thankful for because Lord knows I have had some pretty crappy birthdays in the past! I had brunch, went to an Escape Room and closed out the night with KBBQ.
Finally, I went to a Hillsong worship concert at The Forum by my lovely self. I really feel most connected to God through music, so it was a very rejuvenating experience for me. Though I was alone, I never once felt alone.
So, for my book review this month, I read Me Before You by Jojo Meyes. This book caught my attention after seeing the movie trailer on TV. I fully expected to go into an ugly cry toward the end of the book as so many of my friends had warned me, but I didn't. But, it definitely was sad and I do recommend it! The book leaves you with conflicting feelings...sympathy toward Will and Louisa, the two main characters and it makes you think about what you would do if you were in either position.
Friday, May 20, 2016
No Green Thumb Here!
I have never been able to keep an orchid alive and even with the money tree my parents gifted me and my siblings, I was the only one who killed it. Needless to say, I do not have a green thumb. There is a section in my yard where there is just dirt, so after 3 years of ugliness, I decided to fill it with drought tolerant plants and wood chips to make it more presentable. If I cannot keep these plants alive, then I have no words for myself because they are supposed to be very low maintenance!
Saturday, April 30, 2016
April Noteworthies
Why is it that as the year progresses, time seems to fly by more quickly? I can't believe we are already in May! Aside from running the half marathon , April was pretty uneventful.
Echo has continued his agility classes and I have continued to fund it, le sigh. I just don't have the heart to quit because he has his happiest moments there! In fact, he has improved tremendously!
I have also taken the train more because I save on gas and parking. I also get to squeeze in a little bit of reading along the way. Double win! This month, I finally finished The Story. It essentially is the Bible, but rewritten in a way where it reads more like a fictional book. I learned a lot more than I knew before, but truth be told, it was still rather confusing and a little difficult to get through. I think I have been working on this book for over a year - eek!
Hopefully I will have a better update in May when there will be more happening!
Echo has continued his agility classes and I have continued to fund it, le sigh. I just don't have the heart to quit because he has his happiest moments there! In fact, he has improved tremendously!
I have also taken the train more because I save on gas and parking. I also get to squeeze in a little bit of reading along the way. Double win! This month, I finally finished The Story. It essentially is the Bible, but rewritten in a way where it reads more like a fictional book. I learned a lot more than I knew before, but truth be told, it was still rather confusing and a little difficult to get through. I think I have been working on this book for over a year - eek!
Hopefully I will have a better update in May when there will be more happening!
Monday, April 18, 2016
Hollywood Half Marathon
My friend and I had been training for the Hollywood Half Marathon for the past 6 weeks. Every weekend, we dreaded the long runs....7 miles, 8 miles, all the way up to 12 miles the weekend before. On the day of the event, adrenaline was pumping and we were ready. My goal was to finish under 10/mi. Not only did I reach my goal, but I crushed it! I felt amazing the entire race and finished in 2:01 hrs @ 9:17/mi!
Yes, it is still dark! We got up at 3:30AM to take the train into Hollywood for a 6AM start time!
Here we are halfway through the race, still feeling awesome!
Here we are coming in at the finish line! The best part of this video is overhearing a man say "That's what I'm talking about! That's victory right there!"
We finished right before the rain started! What a wonderful experience and a wonderful race! And yes, we did decide to twin it!
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Wedding Coordination: Westin Pasadena
A couple weeks ago, I had a the privilege of coordinating a wedding at the Westin Pasadena. My Bride and Groom were extremely detailed oriented which made my job easy, yet a little more stressful since I had very little margin for error. Luckily, everything went as smoothly as possible given the amazing assistance I had and we stayed ahead of schedule throughout the day! I even met new amazing vendors whom I hope to work with again in the future!
Beautiful Bride taking a moment for herself on her big day
A traditional twirl at their first look
The two ringbearers decided to take a nap right before the ceremony! Luckily, we found two additional stand-ins!
Thursday, March 31, 2016
March Noteworthies
Gosh, where did the time go? The 1st quarter of 2016 has flown by and the only resolution I have been able to stick to is to read one book per month, which brings me to Redeeming Love.
This is a book I strongly recommend. It is story about a young girl who was born out of wedlock, unwanted by both parents, sold into prostitution, grows up with self hatred, lack of hope, and mistrust toward everyone, but then meets a man who feels called by God to make her his wife. Through his obedience to God, love, patience, and faithfulness, her journey to rehabilitation, to gain hope and trust in the world again unfolds. Quick and easy read - definitely pick it up.
I have also been training for my half marathon scheduled on April 9th, so every weekend has been consumed with long runs. Luckily, I have friends who join me in this endeavor to make the time pass by a little quicker. We've discovered that the long runs are much more enjoyable when you have a reward at the end. I recently starting utilizing the metro by parking my car at a station, running to a cute street with a lot of bakeries and coffee shops where we pick up a coffee after a run and then riding the train back to my car. It makes for the perfect Saturday morning.
I also coordinated another wedding at the Westin Pasadena and had the best team working with me that day! Believe it or not, everything was on time and everyone had a blast! I'll post a separate entry with more photos of their big day. Congratulations to the newlyweds!
I have also been training for my half marathon scheduled on April 9th, so every weekend has been consumed with long runs. Luckily, I have friends who join me in this endeavor to make the time pass by a little quicker. We've discovered that the long runs are much more enjoyable when you have a reward at the end. I recently starting utilizing the metro by parking my car at a station, running to a cute street with a lot of bakeries and coffee shops where we pick up a coffee after a run and then riding the train back to my car. It makes for the perfect Saturday morning.
I also coordinated another wedding at the Westin Pasadena and had the best team working with me that day! Believe it or not, everything was on time and everyone had a blast! I'll post a separate entry with more photos of their big day. Congratulations to the newlyweds!
Finally, I have been continuing Echo's agility classes because he just loves it so much. He can hardly contain himself when we pull up to the building and will whine the entire time waiting for his turn. I think agility classes really help build a dog's confidence, especially when they are able to conquer their fears.
He was so nervous getting on the bridge because it wiggles.
I know one day he will confidently walk through it.
I know one day he will confidently walk through it.
Here he is in slow motion jumping over a hurdle!
And this is my favorite video of all time. This was the first time Echo had ever tried climbing the bridge. I thought he would be really scared, but step by step, he quickly grew accustomed to it and I couldn't get him to stop! Every time I would release him to start climbing, he would let out a loud yelp out of excitement. It made my heart so happy to see him so happy!
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