A Summer of Experience and Growth

All I want is a nap, to get some peace of mind and rest as I am tired and sore.

All I can do is think of all the blog posts I haven't written, text all the people I haven't caught up with or want to talk to. All the Moments I want to create with people as this fall season has somehow arrived and settled.

and then, i feel it. The disruption I can't avoid.

A low blood sugar. 

So here I am, drinking pink lemonade and eating a gluten free snicker doodle, writing a long overdo blog post.

Lets see, Well right now my life consists of -

working as a busser at a little restaurant across the street from us called Inka Grill, I admit its a tough job, and my boss can be very hard on me, so it does add an element of stress to my life, but i find working very fulfilling and i love my coworkers, and apparently they love me too :) they are very encouraging and they really keep me going. 

I think getting out and doing something has been healthy.

I've decided that my checks are going into savings and my tips are saving up for a new computer, since this one is literally falling apart :p 

This all started mid August. I had been thinking of getting a job, and one night we finally decided to try the Peruvian restaurant across the street from us, since what, we had been here for almost a year and still hadn't tried it. We had a good experience and the next day, Michael had come home saying that they were hiring. So two days later, on a whim, mid-afternoon, I called. The owner picked up and told me to come on over. Surprised, I threw on clothes and a bit of make up, went in, sat down with her, and was basically told what the job would consist of, and that I was starting the next day.

So BAM, I had a job :) since then its been a bit rocky, frustrating, stressful, emotional and I've been in a bit of pain. But its also fulfilling, and healthy, with the exercise, getting out and being social. I've made friends, and definitely think God had me there for a reason. I was going to wait to find a new job before quitting, but yesterday I had an altercation with my boss and I quit. It was hard but I couldn't keep it together anymore, and just broke down.
I will be looking for a new job, but I am going to take a break until Michael and I figure out where we are moving to in the next month.

Also in August we found a church. The Crossing in Costa Mesa. We passed it time and time again heading to Newport, and finally when I decided it was time for us to find a community and start going to church, we decided to try The Crossing.

Personally, I was leery, the place was big, right on a main road, modern looking, looked like a lot of money goes into it and very showy, so i was personally worried they were going to be a more shallow and showy. More about getting people in, than speaking Gods word and although they are very big on getting people in and accepting everyone. They are also very big on outreach, and helping others through Gods word and through volunteering. Their band is amazing, and although they throw a popular song in there when it related to the weekly message, they sing stuff like Hillsong and others who are very deep into praise and worship. The messages although, not all of them are as deep as others, I found they spoke gods work, they didn't just uplift people and be nicey-nice to satisfy everyone, they said the harsh stuff and the stuff people don't always want to hear. but they also rounded it out to encourage and teach.

Personally I found that out of the 6-7 weeks we have been going, only 1 message didn't speak to me. The atmosphere is so uplifting and social, and bonding, and good. The people are open and they encourage others to communicate. Actually community groups are starting up soon, Michael and I signed up for a group for married couples between the ages of 18-26. So we are very excited to meet other couples, and not just other couples, but couples who share a lover for the Lord. People we can bond with and encourage and be there for each other. 

Community is very important and that is something we both have recently understood and agreed with.

(My mother took some pictures when we brought her last Sunday)

hmm....what's next?...OH

We celebrated out 3 year wedding anniversary!

After months of trying to figure out where we could go for the weekend or something to make it special, we landed on nothing, until the weekend of. and of course our anniversary landed on a Monday and we both had to work. So we wanted to do something special, so after taking our annual yearly anniversary photo (pictured)

We ate at Fig & Olive. 

http://www.figandolive.com 

One of those Restaurants with valet, and the valet parking lot is filled with Bentley's and Ferrari's.

The food is Franch food. there is a wall of just olive oil bottles, of their own olive oil. A couple tree's on the inside, so you can imagine it has a tall ceiling. and the place is almost all cream (it was night, so it could be white)

OCTOPUS A LA GALLEGA 

Thinly sliced braised octopus, marinated bell pepper heirloom potato, black olive, basil, arugula pimenton lemon dressing – Cobrancosa Olive Oil

FILET MIGNON 

8oz Creekstone farm filet mignon marinated with rosemary, thyme, garlic, haricot vert caramelized shallot, olive oil chive mashed potato – Arbequina Olive Oil Béarnaise 

and 

ANDREW’S TASTING & SHARING PLATE 

four bite-sized desserts

Dessert “Crostini” Chocolate Pot de Crème Crunchy Praline Raspberry Sorbet 

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Other then my mother visiting a couple times

Eat Chow

Finally seeing my cousin Doll play at Casa with my friend Nicole

Michael's 25th Birthday

and some other random stuff 

It's been a fairly life changing summer.