Happy One Year!

Happy one year since I have failed miserably to post,write,chat,converse,babble,prattle, mummble jummble on this blog! I know, this is not something worth celebrating but hey better late than ever right? I was sitting in bed the other week in deep thought after wrapping up a good and much needed conversation with a good friend and all the sudden this urge to write just came over me. I was pleasantly surprised. I really thought to myself that wow I haven't felt the urge,want,or need to document anything in the past year, what has changed? So after fighting the urge to get out of bed at 12am and start writing, I took a minute to reflect over the previous things I have choosen to document here on my blog and came to realize that each post had something in common. Each post was an event that cracked my heart open, weather it was a little or big crack, a bad one or good one,that allowed words,thoughts, and feelings to seep out unto here.

Anytime I am faced with anything bigger than my own understanding ( which is pretty much always) I tend to run to my favorite verse.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. 

- Ecclesiastes 3:1

And as I was reading over this last week, preparing for a very big season up ahead, something caught my eye; the next verse. 

A time to plant,

    And a time to pluck what is planted

What?! Why? Why would you pluck anything that you planted?! That make no sense? Wouldn't you want to water and tend for something you planted? Why would there be a time to pluck it? 

Maybe it refers to pluck something that is dead? Can you pluck a dead plant? If something is dead, its gone, you really cant pluck it right? If something has no roots how can you uproot it? Then it got me thinking. 

How many things in our lives have absolutely no roots and are really dead things, yet still take up space in our lives, hearts, and minds? How many dead things do we have planted in us that do nothing more but simply take up room, room that can be used to plant a new seed. I have focused so much on planting new and healthy things in my life. Things like habits, words,actions,thoughts, friends, jobs, sacrifices, activities,trips, anything and everything good for me yet when was the last time I went through my life to pluck something out? And I am not just saying this metaphorically as a new "motto" to live my current season of life by. I mean it! What do I need to PLUCK out? What is taking up room in my life where something better can be planted? It is so much easier to pick up a new habit then to stop one. So much easier to start a new thing than to let go of the old. So much easier to plant and water rather than to get dirty and sweaty, plucking what was once planted. 

And lets not mistake plucking for pruning. Pruning is merely just cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, to increase fruitfulness and growth. Plucking is the complete removal of something. It is to take hold of something and quickly remove it from its place. I have done much pruning in my life, God has done much pruning in my life but I am not sure how much plucking I have truly done.  

And once we take the challenge to examine our lives and pluck things we have once planted, even the ones planted with good intentions, we have room for new things to be planted. And as I meditated on this verse over the last two weeks, the words of a dear friend rang in my ears. God can sprout something new in our lives, something that we never knew was there. And how unbelievably beautiful is that? That we never know what God is waiting to plant and sprout in us, if we only make room for Him to do so. If we only make room for His many blessings! 

Happy gardening friends! 

And may your compass always be pointing North! 

The Car Ride

There are two parts to any adventure. You probably all ready know what I am going to talk about just by my title haha. There is the adventure itself and then there is the care ride, or better known the journey.

For the past couple months my only trips up north have been to Flagstaff. It has been a busy school year and other than a day or two I don't have much free time. What's amazing about my last few trips to Flagstaff is that even though I was headed towards the same place, each time the journey there and back was different! Same road, same distance, same scenic view, even the same people, yet not once was the car ride the same! This to me is simply amazing! Can it really be that life is  really this sweet? That it never stops giving and even when your traveling on the same road you are greeted with new things, new memories, new connections, new journey? I don't know how many of your car rides are but, there are some things that each car ride have in common. For starters if your riding shot gun you can't be on your phone, burnt peanuts are the ultimate road trip snack, you are not allowed to skip songs without getting yelled at, and lastly prepare to share every dark deep secret about yourself because that's just what car rides do to you haha. 

There is just such a beauty about being confided in a small moving object for a few hours with friends. It really just brings friendships to life! Looking back I see how throughout the years I have connected and built deeper friendships during car rides. I have debated the meaning of life multiple times. I have cried . I have sang like a complete idiot. I have shared all my life's dreams. I have listened ( to conversations and snoring haha). I have talked about all the cute boys. I have changed my mind. I have eaten a weeks worth of food. I have made some great memories. 

The true beauty to me about this whole car ride thing is that it reminds us that even when we sometimes  get inpatient of where we are in life, of always traveling on the same road, that the journey to our destination can be beautiful. Can the same road really be filled with so many beautiful things no matter how many times you have traveled on it? 

YES! This is the beauty of God. That he blesses every step we take, with joy, peace , and love. We however must remember to direct every step in the right direction;His direction, and the journey will be beautiful! So enjoy every car ride and know that not matter how many times you have traveled the same road it has something different to offer each time. 

I'm heading to flagstaff this week again but you all ready know haha 

May your compass always point you north.

                                                                  

Silence

I went to Flagstaff again.

I know, I'm doing a horrible job making you guys fall in love with Arizona when I've only been going to Flagstaff. 

I really should just rename the blog "Always head to Flagstaff" haha

Silence is luxurious 

I have felt very overwhelmed in the past few weeks. I think this overwhelming feeling has engulfed me because of the sharp contrast between my latest trip to Flagstaff and the past few days of my life.

To our surprise our latest trip up north was accompanied by a new friend; a trusty grey truck. Thanks to our new "adventure vehicle" we were feeling extra adventurous one night and decided to load the back of the truck with a bunch of pillows and blankets and head into the woods to watch the stars make their appearance. AWESOMEEEE I KNOW!! A friend and I decided to ride in the back, while we drive around in the woods to find the perfect place to camp out. We bundled up, got cozy, and the next thing we knew, we were flying through the forest with nothing but an open sky above us.

Silence.

If you think about it what is silence? You can't exactly hear silence because the true essence of silence is the absence of noise. So what was the silence that all the sudden began to make itself present?

A silence of the soul.

A silence that made the whole world dissapear and left nothing in its trace but peace. 

Quietness and minimalistic things  have recently become the best company and that's really uncommon for a person like me who's energy comes from social interaction with others. 

I wish I had a picture for you guys to help paint the incredible scene before my eyes. Crisp air, dirt road, rows of pine trees, the quietness of the night, and million of stars mapping out the sky to what seemed like infinity and beyond. It was incredible! 

With that being said sorry for the quietness here on the blog. However spring is coming soon and I am looking forward for many things to begin blooming. 

And speaking of blooming, I am on the search for the perfect field of wild flowers this spring, I hope to share it with you guys soon.  

May your compass always point you north! 

The little things [1]

Making :  Custom quote canvas 

Cooking : Nutella croissants

Drinking : Sparkling apple cider.. yummmy!

Reading:  [Captivating; unavailing the mystery of a woman soul] [ Jesus is____] [Radical] [ Mark of the Lion book 1] [ 2 Kings; book of the bible] If your impressed don't be. It a chapter of each a week haha and if you weren't impressed...let me see you read more! hehe (; 

Wanting: to give the beach a visit soon

Looking: forward to working on a personal photography session at a new location sometime this month

Playing: my editing soundtrack on Spotify. Currently playing- Argonauts by The Little Ones

Wasting: hours of sleep! Soooo tired this past week

Sewing: Thinking about sewing a new camera strap. Why are there not enough hours in the day?!

Wishing: to see the next upcoming full moon rise. It probably is one of the most amazing sights!

Enjoying:  POMELOSSSS! I am obsessed with this citrus fruit! 

Waiting: for some DVDs to burn. The only time I have some free time to kill on the computer lol 

Liking: this one guy.. hahahaaaaaa no what I am really liking is having so little homework this month! woo

Wondering:  when I will ever get the energy to download pictures from my camera onto my computer.. 

Loving: the field of work I decided to work in. Occupational therapy; this month has made me realize how much I ttruly love it! Lets hope it stick and I can get through the next 6 months haha

Hoping: for cloudy weather for the rest of the week! (:

Marveling: at how complete opposites my parents are; we had one of those late night kitchen talks and they left me speechless at how goofy and opposite they are! 

Needing: CHOCOLATEEE!   

Smelling:  my sharpie pen I've been writing with, sitting at my desk

Wearing: no socks! YOLOOO! haha 

Following: the coolest group of photographers who have decided to embark on a weeks journey through Arizona to capture its hidden places full of beauty. if you wanna follow them along you can find them at #lostdiscovered 

Noticing: my dying plant next to me... 

Knowing:  I should really start eating less chocolate... 

Thinking: about the exciting plans for this weekend! 

Feeling: like a ball of sunshine! My exam got canceled for tomorrow! (: 

Bookmarking:  my calendar for a rental order I need to place in next 48 hours. 

Opening:  different types of chocolates.... no joke Im starring at a wrapper as we speak. YES ITS THAT BAD!

Giggling: at my fellow classmates. Simply hilarious weird bunch of friends! 

A Happy New Year

When many of us come to the realization that the year is over and we take a moment to look back on the year we have just conquered I picture a bunch of exclamation marks in everyone's head. For some reason whenever we talk about a new up coming year we sound something like " WHAT A GREAT YEAR!!!! I LOVED 2014!!! I CANT BELIEVE ITS OVER!!! AHHHH!!"  

Makes me wonder why we need to express ourselves so loud and excited and over the top. 

I mean really January 1st will be just like any other day. 

Other than the calendar, nothing will change. So why the big deal? 

" WHY THE BIG DEAL?!?! HELLLOOOO!" 

Something does change. 

Something more important than our calendar. 

The minute the clock strikes midnight we take our hands, mind, heart and everything else we are made up of and with the most joyous smile we push a big fat button that has REFRESH written across it. 

REFRESH: give new strength or energy to

We as humans seek to be given second chances, to be able to redo certain things, to start again, to refresh. Wether we seek that refreshness at new years or any other day of the year every human repeatedly seeks to  revive parts of their life.

This is the true nature of our heart because in doing so we really seek our Creator.

If we were internally good, did good, and created a good life for our-self why would we need to refresh certain aspects of life? Because we know that deep inside there is a better verison of ourself. A more loving , more caring, more patient, more of everything we are not at the moment version of ourself. Without even realizing it our very soul craves to be more, and that more is to be more like Christ. 

I have taken for granted every time God gave me the opportunity to refresh certain aspects of my life and give me another chance to be a better version of myself. I started things with new energy and strength thinking I myself have created that second chance for myself when really it always is Christ refreshing us and giving us a second chance for the 567th time to become less of us and more of Him. As King David says in Psalm 23 " He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his names sake." 

The very first day of this year I placed a mason jar in my room along with a pen and a pad of sticky notes. Throughout the year I began filling the jar with the things I was most thankful for or with experiences that touched my heart deeply. I would like to share the most beautiful memories I hold dear to heart from this year and thank God for the beautiful seasons He has walked and carried me through this year. 2014 has been absolutely the most amazing year and because of it I will never be the same again. 

-January 1st 2014: My all my close relatives that live in Phx came over for lunch. It has been over 7 years since we've all been together around the table. Grateful that the year started off gathering with our loved ones. 

-September 19th 2014: An elderly couple were having trouble ordering and paying for their food at Chipotle. When they werent looking I paid for part of their meal then helped them to a table and grabbed drinks for them. I brought me so much joy to know I helped a pair of adorable love birds enjoy their lunch date. I was reminded of love and saw its power in them. 

-February 14th: Thankful for the bible studies I have ( and did) partake in this while year. Food for the soul. 

- Summer 2014: Thankful for the Dennisa and Lorene. I was blessed by their friendship this year♥

-November 2014: Thankful for strong woman in Christ like Lisa Neag who always encourage you to fight the good fight!

-January 10th 2014: Taking part of a proposal set up and surprise for dear friends proposal tothe love of his wife. We had the most blessed weekend being reminded of what an amazing friendship is.

- 2014: Making a delicious dinner for my mom and seeing her smile so big. I love her. Our relationship this year has grown immensely and I am beyond thankful for the best woman in my life! 

-October 26th 2014: Thankful for a blessed weekend in Sacarmento celebrating a beautiful couple. I felt like part of the family and enjoyed being part of such a great love story! 

-November 2014: An old sweet man that is a friend of the family stopped to ask me if I have a boyfriend because he will like to prepare himself to give me a nice gift at my wedding LOL! Sadly he was left disappointed but I was so moved by this act of love!

-August 2014: I received the most undeserving thing from God; an apology from a friend. This yet again showed me how great His mercies are!

There are a few more notes in the jar but really me ram-balling on about things that are only significant to me can get a taddddd boring. I really just wanted to share that our life contains many seasons and each season is beautiful in its own special way. We must embrace each and every day and remember the most important thing; to love one another. 

May your compass always guide you north.

Merry Christmas

I opened up this post to begin writing but quickly closed it because I decided I just don't have the time tonight since it is 1am and I need to finish packing for  winter camp. I still don't have the time but I am siting here in my room with a haunting feeling I have felt all day on this Christmas Day.

Our house is in full celebration! 

Celebrating the birth of Jesus, celebrating my brother coming home from a month long mission trip to India,  celebrating finishing my classes with good grades, celebrating everyone having some time off and spending time together. We are rejoicing! Yet I am sad. 

There has been so much sorrow that has accompanied this years Christmas; Broken families, sickness, death, sorrow. What all these things have in common is that they leave you feeling alone in the situation and loneliness can be one of the most hideous thing. 

I was driving to a christmas gathering after church tonight and the whole ride I was fighting myself to not allow myself to start crying because the weight of these sorrows are just so heavy on my soul today. It made me sad to know that some people were spending their day in tears, in numbness, in despair. 

This brought me to think of the new and upcoming year. I began to think and decide of what changes I want to make in my life as I beging to take on the upcoming season and as I began to add a few changes to my mental list I realized that my list was getting quite lengthy. I have this much to change!?!? I had to make a mental break and stop my  list to take a moment and process what I had just came to the realization of? That I'm not ready! I'm not ready for this year to end because I had certain "levels" to reach physically, mentally, and spiritually and I haven't reached them! I really am not one to beat myself over things I have not yet finished because why bother over things that can't be changed. One of my favorite quotes is that "the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now". You pick up from where you left of and you keep going! But why was I so paralyzed by my realization that I am "behind on the game"? Loneliness. 

Loneliness in the sense of feeling that everyone is on their game and somehow I fell behind. 

And even thought that's not the case because most of the time if not all the time majority of us are in the same boat, we still let that wretched nasty feeling creep right in and if we don't act upon it fast enough it gets quite comfortable and begins to make itself at home. 

I wish I can spread joy, peace, and love around like confetti! Some for everyone! Not one more person to feel alone in this crazy world. Thank you Jesus for sending your only Son to bring us that peace, love, and joy that changes our world radically! But may we act upon that and come to God not holding back, ready to receive His free and perfect gift! 

I am looking forward to this winter camp I'm going to. Cram a bunch of teens in  tight rooms with enough space to blink and see how lonely a person could feel haha there won't be any room for any of that. So I hope for this camp to bring much unity for everyone and for us all to see that we are never alone and that we were given each other as friends to rejoice during the good time but also cry together during the bad times. I love people! (: 

Off to pack. Yes just pack not over-pack haha let's see if I can for once in 

my life not over pack! 

Merry Christmas Everyone! (: 

Always follow the star! 

Flagstaff, AZ

* Drum rolllll please*

FLAGSATFFF!!

My absolute favorite city in Arizona!

Thats really all I can say to sum it all up.

I have been to Flagstaff multiple times this year yet I have not had a chance to share with you guys how awesome this place really is! I'm also not quiet sure I can even capture the true essence of Flagstaff! So the best that I can do, as the year comes to an end, is share with you some of my absolute favorite places in downtown Flagstaff, some fun things you can do and see in Flagstaff and   a few videos and pictures from multiple trips.

Favorite Places

1.Macy's European Coffeehouse

My absolute, number 1, favorite coffee place! Not only is their coffee devinely

delicious but their bakery items are amazingggg! They use natural ingredients and create some of the best pastries I've had!

2. Fire Creek Coffee

Another really good coffee locations that has delicious coffee and teas as well as a cool atmosphere where you can find inspiration all around you! 

3.Criollo Latin Kicthen 

My favorite restaurant in Flagstaff. I really cant even describe how yummy their food is. All I can say is that this place is a must try! Anything on their menu is delicious I have tried a few of their dishes. 

 4. Diablo Burger

If your looking for a tasy burger this place is it! And I am a huge burger fan! I LOVEEEE BURGERS! So if in doubt this is your place to go eat! 

5.Shoes & Such

A small boutique smack in the middle of downtown. I have purchase one of my favorite shirts ever from this store and I have abused the shirt of how much I've worn it but I absolutely love their clothing! Check it out.

6.p.j Chillcotage 

Obviously a lot of these place are my favorite places so this here is my most favorite boutique in Flagstaff! The cutest little shop ever! Not only do they have awesome clothes but so many knick knacks that you want to spend every last penny on them! I just bought something from there few days ago (; 

7. AZ Pedal Tours

BEST BIKE RENATL IN TOWN! And there is no better way to explore Flagstaff than on bikes! We have rented bikes from here multiple times! Great prices as well as staff and have multiple types of bikes to rent. 

There are sooo many more places in Flagstaff I have yet to try so these are just a few of my favorites that I have tried so far. I am sure there are plenty of more delicious coffee places as well as restaurants so dont be afraid to try anything new, Flagstaff never disappoints (: 

To avoid writing a lengthy post about Flagstaff I will leave it to the pictures to do all the talking as I will most likely ramble on about Flagstaff plenty more in the future.
Every season brings out something great in Flagstaff and I am glad I had the opportunity to experience them all. 

JANUARY 2014
This was the first trip that started the snowball effect of heading up to Flagstaff and boy was it a good one to kick of this love for Flagstaff. We went for the day to take care of some paper work as well as do a photo shoot I've been dying to photograph. 

March
The month where coffee changed forever! Nothing has tasted as good to me as Macys European Coffee in Flagstaff! This trip was another first of many. We went to one of our friends cabin and since then we have never stopped! Really its thanks to the most wonderful sisters that I have had the opportunity to spend so much time in Flagstaff this year. It might just be becasue of them and our awesome memories we have made in Flagstaff, that makes this place so awesome! (;

May
My trip this month equates to this...

JUNE
In June we went up to Flagstaff two times. Im not joking when I say I cant get enough of Flagstaff!!
The first trip us girls went over night and the next day a few extra friends drove up. We went cave diving at a near by cave called Lava River Cave. This a definite recommended place to visit however make sure you bring a flashlight!

 The two awsome sisters that share their Flagstaff cabin with me! Love you two!

2nd trip

This probably was the most perfect day. I cant even explain the feeling!

And for those of you who haven't gotten sick of Flagstaff just yet from this lengthy post here is Flagstaff in fall; and boy does fall look good on Flagstaff (;

October

November

and lastly! We headed to Flagstaff for a very nice long weekend. Actually wait I kind of crashed in on a thanksgiving family weekend haha but boy was it a great one!

So if your looking for some good coffee, nice views, funny people, yummy food, awesome architecture, delicious bagels, cool trees, bike rides, hiking trails, crisp beautiful mornings, cute boys everywhereeee, cool libraries, awesome buisness names, even more good coffee, and just great memories.. Flagstaff is the place. 

Till next time Flagstaff..

Always head north!

(: