oh my goodness..

I am having a hard time believing that today is only Wednesday. I feel like Easter was forever ago...

Lately, my life has been this exactly: wake up, try to get exercise, school, work directly after, study 4-6 hours directly after work, try to get sleep... repeat.



My social life right now is this coffee shop, saying hello to people I run into here or talking to the employees for the few seconds that Im ordering a drink. I dont think I have ever missed someone so much. Since my birthday over 2 weeks ago, Jon and I have only been able to see each other a few times because of our schedules. Thank God that is about to change; we've both been picking up more work than usual, but next week will be much more mellow... hurray! I dont know how much more I can take of this.

Thank goodness I have a lot to look forward to coming up, otherwise I dont even know how I would be lasting right now.
May 6th- I get my official birthday present from Jon going to the Fleet Foxes concert! :)
May 12th- we are going up to LA for the day and then he has a show up there at the Roxy later that night.
May 15th- weekend of service with North Coast
Late May- END OF THE SEMESTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 5th- Independence Jam!!

Although I have now been at Vinaka for 4 hours, its actually been really nice! Practically everyone I know flooded in and out of the cafe all day. So fun to be able to see everyone :) Definitely made my day just that much better.

I hope everyone is doing alright out there!

Xoxo,
Hill

I exist so I can love you.

Happy Easter, everyone :)

Almost two years ago, I fell in love with God. I dont like remembering any time before that because it wasnt me; the real me is someone who exists to love God. I have never known a greater love... I am reminded every day of God's love just by looking around. Sometimes we get caught up in the stress of every day life and it can be hard to see through clear eyes the bigger picture, but when all is set aside, it is one heck of a breathtaking picture.

God wants the best for us. He wants us to be in love with Him, to show love, to be love, to be light, to be happy.

We all go through a lot in a lifetime and with us being such a ridiculously distracted generation, it can be easy to lose sight of what is important, even though in the depths of our hearts we always know what is important. But something that is so incredibly vital to always remember is that God will never, ever let us go through something that is too much for us to handle. We think we know ourselves better than anyone but the truth is that we will never know ourselves better than God knows us. He knows our limits because He created them; He knows what we can handle and He only lets us experience certain things because in the end, they make us grow and make us stronger. I think that with this mindset, we can begin to see everything differently, in a different light. Realizing that, regardless of how cliche it sounds, everything happens for a reason and trusting it adds to the light that we are meant to be. Everything that we are given adds to the love we are meant to show, and just knowing how much God loves us adds to the happiness He wants us to experience.

Remember to love every day, and in return we are loved.

Have a wonderful Easter, everyone.

Xoxo,
Hill

If you give a little love you can get a little love of your own.

I mentioned recently in one of my posts that I have been feeling the need to be there for my friend who is expecting, so yesterday on my way home from Coronado, I picked up a box of baby clothes and such from my small group leaders house, a bag of baby socks from my other friend's house and put them all in a box for her along with some maternity shorts and yoga pants that another friend of mine gave me.
Being a nanny has taught me so much about motherhood; what you need, what brands are best, what everything even is (like the stuff you see on the shelves at Target in the baby isles), etc. So, even though Im really trying not to spend my money right now, I figured this is a whole different situation. Putting my new motherhood knowledge to use, I went to Target this morning and picked up a few things that I know are absolutely vital to have in those first few months of having a new baby. I was actually laughing at myself in the isle becuase of how much of a mom I felt like looking at everything going "Oh I love these, these are the best!" or "Oh man, I use these all the time, she will definitely need them!" Hahaha..but I was just so excited to see my friend today that I felt buying her those few little things was just really special..

Again, even though Im trying not to spend, I treated her to tea this afternoon at the Old California Coffee House; my second favorite coffee shop after Vinaka :) We had so much fun cathching up and opening gifts and just talking about the past and future and all that. I felt that even though I was going out on a limb and spending money today, I was blessing someone else so much and it was just the best feeling. Plus I found out that the things I picked out for her were exactly some of the things she had been wanting most from Target for her son.

I missed my friend and I love knowing that God has us in each other's lives for a reason. So happy to be back in her life!

Xoxo,
Hill

Coronado, best friend, look-a-likes, iced chai lates, and Marilyn Monroe.

Today I went to Coronado with one of my best friends, Leesha. We never get to hang out, so today was especially fun. We had intended on going to the Earth Day festival in Balboa, but when we saw how many people were there and how little parking there was, we decided to drive to Coronado instead!

Coronado was holding an old car show today; one of our favorite things! And of course on the one day that we go down there. So fun. After the show we went walking around the island and came across this little 1960's style coffee shop and wanted to go in so badly! But it was so crowded had such a long wait that we decided just to keep walking.. but as soon as we walked around the corner...

There was a barista window! So. cute! So we ordered the world's most delicious iced chai lates and sipped on them as we walked around town and looked in little vintage shops.

We found ourselves in this little cubbyhole alleyway of cute shops and decided just for the heck of it to go in one of the most touristy of them.. and the second we walked in and looked at the guy working, we froze. It was Pen Badgley's twin. No joke, it was the weirdest thing ever... so I gave him Leesha's number :) Haha so ridiculous.

And speaking of famous people, we decided to take a visit to the Hotel del Coronado where Marilyn Monroe stayed and filmed. We walked around the entire hotel, on every floor and balcony... and let me tell you, it was a bit insane. The staircases are all slanted and crazy and every step you take, the floor creeks! But I have to admit, the ballroom would definitely be an amazing place for a highschool to hold their prom, or for a bride and groom to have their wedding reception. Amazing! The gift shop- yes, the hotel had a gift shop- was filled with postcards, videos, pictures, purses, etc of Marilyn.. so cute.

After a long day of crazy driving and walking forever, we were treated to a delishhh tempoura plate at Teri Cafe :) Such a fun day! Love you Leesh!

Xoxo,
Hill

Blogging and a cup of tea to end a very long day

Today was one of the longest days I have had in a very, very long time. I woke up at 5 this morning to be at work by 6:30.. Hawea, the 5 month old that I nanny, was in the best mood. ever. Thank goodness! We had such a good morning. I took her out for the day to get a Starbuck and then to visit some of my family where she got to play with my 8 month old cousin. So cute! I got back to meet the parents at their house by 12 to drop off Hawea, but it ended up that they needed me to stay cuz they both had so much they had to do.. I was there until 4:45, so a little over 10 hours. Im soo exhausted! I was like the mom today.. crazy. Thank goodness I love my job and get paid well :) So anyway, other than that, I figured Id write about my week :) This past Sunday was my 18th birthday, and its been the most memorable so far!

The piano vid kinda sucks.. that was my first time playing it all the way through. Ill get a better one soon :)

I dont like to go all out for my birthday, so we kept it simple. Dinner with the family plus Natalie and Jon, and then cake and ice cream after with my grandparents :)

I was surprised not only with the piano from my parents, but also a present from Jon.... tickets for the best seats at Spreckles Theater to see the sold out Fleet Foxes concert!!!!!!!! So. so. so. excited. Back to reality. Ive been really busy keeping up with school and starting to pick up more work nannying.

Im considering being a small group leader for junior highers at my church on Tuesday nights, but looking at my schedule I just dont know how to fit it in along with already being in my own small group Wednesday nights and starting to go to the Jordan on Thursday nights... so much church... haha but I really love it.

One of my best friends is 20 weeks pregnant and today I decided, after long of being on the fence about our friendship, I need to just be there for her. I asked the mom that I nannied for today if she had any maternity clothes that she doesnt want anymore so I can bring them to my friend :) Her and her new husband rented an apartment together so Im planning on going over there soon to visit them and drop off the clothes. Ive been praying about this a lot, and I know that God wants me to be involved in her life and that baby's life. Even though she is only 18, I know she is going to make such a wonderful mother to her son.. I cant wait to watch him grow up.

I suppose thats all for now... hope everyone is well!

Xoxo, Hill

so, so very in love

walking into my room and seeing a baby grand piano sitting against my wall just waiting for me... i couldnt talk, breathe, think.. all i could do was cry. i would have never expected for my parents to make my biggest dream come true... but in fact they did. i am so in love with it, its ridiculous.

its only 11:15am and i have already had such a wonderful birthday. i feel so blessed to have jon and natalie in my life.. they make me feel so very loved and i couldnt ask for anything more. this is by far the best birthday i have ever had.. but truly, i wouldnt have any of this if it werent for God. he is so wonderful, it just takes my breath away.. :)

the "big day"

ive been pretty independent since i was 14. i got a job and had it for 3 years, started paying car payments, paying for food (groceries and going out), gas, clothes, etc.. i moved out (to a different state) a few months after i turned 17 and paid for rent and everything that comes with living on your own for a few months and then moved home for various reasons. ive acted as if i live on my own (aside from paying rent, of course) since ive moved back home in november.. so you would think that turning 18 would be no big deal.. right?

im in college at a young age, but i feel perfectly in place. im not in the mindset of a highschooler anymore...but it just hit me that life is propelling forward.

i think im really excited. its just a rush of reality. crazy.

hope your all having a great week.

xoxo,
hill

i know everyone has off days, but i really dont like them..

i am not the biggest fan of today. i feel like something is off, i just cant figure out what it is.

im currently at vinaka working on my stats homework..without my book. this semester is so close to being finished and i cant decide if i should buy my stats book or not. i bought one at the beginning of the semester, but it got stolen :( soo should i spend another $100 on one for just the last month?? i feel like im going to fail without it even though i got an 80% on my last test.. so much moneyyyy...

there are a few other things that are making today just not the best.. :/ but hopefully tomorrow is better.

hope everyone is having a great week

xoxo,
hill