katie virginia

wanderlust.

2012-02-06T09:58:00.000-08:00

i think i have a wanderlust gene.

i think about travel, a lot.

i research travel plans, a lot.

i dream and dream and dream about moving to europe.

sometimes i think paris.

sometimes spain.

sometimes austria or prague.

often italy.

because i am italian.

half.

no a quarter.

i don't know i get confused.

but i am. though i look about the opposite of it.

that's beside the point though.

i want to live in europe for a year so badly.

i will eventually. i know i will.

here's the problem:

my nephews.

they are 2 and 3.

and i have a niece on the way.

i love them more than i thought possible.

i LOVE being an important person in their lives.

so how do i up and leave for a year?!?

i just honestly don't know if i could.

what if they forgot about me? :(

so in the meantime...

i am planning a europe trip wth my friend.

hopefully in april.

and TODAY we find out if he got the time off work approved.

please please please let him get the time off approved.

superbowl food!

2012-02-04T14:34:00.000-08:00

now anyone who knows me knows i'm not exactly a sports girl. i mean i can appreciate a big game as much as the next person. but knowing names and stats and who's good and all that, i just have no idea. and i'm okay with that. "athletic" and "sporty" are not titles i feel inclined to own.

but where i do get excited is the food! over the last couple years i have really started to enjoy cooking for people, so having an event to choose food for, that's something to get excited about.

this year i'm not having people over. but i am going to a party. so i've been scouring pinterest trying to decide what to bring.

i'm thinking white chocolate dipped pretzels. sweet and salty. yum.

and then also some pepperoni roll ups.

gosh i love food! :)

the looove month.

2012-02-02T11:01:00.000-08:00

i love february!
there’s something so fun about a month focused on LOVE.
i am also single.
“what?” you say. a single person loving february. impossible.
but it’s true!
do i get sad on the big 14 when i’m not out on a perfectly planned, over hyped, sappy romantic date?
absolutely.

confession.
i have never had a great date on valentines day.
oh sure there’s been those “i guess we’ll go out because we don’t have anything better to do but nothing too romantic because ‘this’ is not a serious relationship” dates.
or there was “we’re in a long distance relationship and it’s not worth the ticket so please accept these flowers and a phone call.”
and there’s definitely been a lot of “i’ll just stay home and watch the notebook and eat half baked ice cream and take a bubble bath and pretend i’m better off.”
but a good old fashioned romantic valentines date?
never.

so why would i love february/valentines day?
because love is something to be celebrated!
and appreciated.
and hoped for.

and even without prince charming, i have a LOT of love in my life!

and i know that one day,
i’ll never have another lonely valentines day again.
and that’s worth waiting for.

goodbye 2011. hello 2012.

2012-01-01T10:40:00.000-08:00

well it’s a new year.
2011 was full of changes for me.
big changes.

i quit my job as a flight attendant.
i went back to school to get a teaching credential.
i moved out of a beautiful apartment with my best friend and into my parents house, in a town where i knew no one.
i got a job as a long term sub teaching kindergarten.
i made new friends.
i consistently miss my old friends…

my world has kinda been turned upside down. and as crazy and lonely and hard as it’s been at times, it’s also been fun and exciting and pushed me in ways i wouldn’t trade for anything.

and when i really think about it, my life has kinda always been full of big changes. being still and content has never been my strong suit. there’s always been something in me that wants to keep moving, keep trying new things, find the next adventure… and i don't think that's a bad thing!

i could list a million things that i’ve been learning the last year and i’m still learning now. but mostly, i’m learning to embrace my restless spirit and use it to grow as a person and to serve God more. to take that “what’s next” feeling in me and channel it into ways that matter… because it’s okay to want more (this side of heaven we always will), but it’s not okay to waste today on trivial things or worldly things or stupid things because of it (and i am definitely guilty of doing this!). i want to spend my time doing things that matter, even when i’m not “content” with everything in my life. it’s been fun discovering ways to do this!

i am looking forward to soooo many things in 2012. to list a few:

finishing school, again!
getting a job (hopefully).
moving out of my parents house (no offense mom and dad).
traveling europe with one of my dearest friends!
figuring out where i’m going to live.

and maybe, if the mayans are correct, we’ll all even get to go to heaven this year!

so hello 2012, nice to meet you. i can’t wait to see what adventures you have in store for me this year.

i'm back!!!

2011-08-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

i haven't updated my blog in a loooooong time. i know, and i'm sorry. i have no good excuses. but i'm going to try to get back into updating this! so we'll see how that goes ;)

now that i'm looking at the last time i posted i realize a lot has happened.

for starters i am no longer a flight attendant. this was a big change for me, and not an easy one actually. i loved my job. it could be long hours, and stressful, and sometimes people drove you CRAZY, but i really did love it. i count it such a blessing that i got the spend a couple years working as a flight attendant. and i'll never forget it. but ultimately, the lifestyle wasn't what i wanted. and i felt convicted that i could do more and be more and push myself further than i was in that job. (which is definitely not to say anything negative about people who have that job, it's a LOT of work). but the more i thought about it i just knew i needed a change. i actually applied to my two "dream airlines" while i was considering what change i was going to make. one offered me a job and one didn't. ultimately, i said no to it all and walked away from the aviation industry. there are definitely days that i miss it. and of course i miss the flight benefits! but i am confident it was the right decision for me, and i'm excited about where i'm at now.

so where is that?! well, i'm still working on getting my teaching credential. school starts later this month and i'll get right back into student teaching (i'll do another post with more about that later)! so most of my time is spend around lesson planning and schoolwork.

also, i moved. yes, again. i'm actually living in northern california in the south bay area now. it's great! my parents are up here and one of my brothers and his wife and two kids are only 2 hrs away. so i'm loving being near family!

anyways, that's a short version update of a long break from blogging!

and just for fun, here's a picture of my siblings and i on vacation in june up at the lake house in montana! :)

miss gudgel

2010-12-15T14:11:00.000-08:00

pretty soon that will be me!

in january i will be starting the process of getting my teaching credential and i can't wait! i've wanted to be an elementary teacher for quite a while, but the timing was just never right. but i really feel like it is now and i'm so excited to get started

it will be about a year and a half process, and most likely i will be student teaching all of next school year. then will hopefully have my own classroom the following year! that feels like a long way away right now, but i'm sure it will all go fast.

but for the time being, i'll be working full time still and going to school full time as well. a little intimidating but i can do it!! i have a goal and i'm excited to work towards it! :)

and soon enough i'll have my own one of these!

ohhhh anne.

2010-09-25T22:33:00.000-07:00

so the pioneer woman, a close personal friend of mine, gave me a few tips on blogging.

actually i've never met her, i'm just an overly obsessive fan, but she did post some blogging tips. and one of the big points was to blog often, whether you have anything to say or not.

i definitely don't blog often. but maybe i'll work on it! no promises though.

however, i DO have something exciting coming up.

i'm turning 25 on friday. that is not the exciting part. i dislike birthdays. actually, i like birthdays in theory. but in reality, i tend to be disappointed on my birthdays, which leads me to dislike them. particularly this one, 25, because i feel old. and single. and nowhere near the married with children i desire. but that's another post for another day! :)

so, for this birthday, my mom and i are taking a trip.

a trip to prince edward island!!!

now i adore anne of green gables. i have often wanted to be anne of green gables. that first kiss on the bridge between anne and gilbert at the end of anne of avonlea after they talk about marble floors and sunbursts...

(sigh). enough said.

so between being an anne fan, and also a fall fan (fall on prince edward island is supposed to be gorgeous), i am extremely excited for a girls getaway/birthday trip on the island!

3 days an counting...

making moves.

2010-09-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

i moved into a new apartment last month. i absolutely love it! once it's all decorated i'll put up some pictures. but it's looking super cute!

i'm living with my best friend since childhood, caitlin. which is great. we each have our own junior suite with our own bathroom and walk-in closet attached to our rooms. there's a fireplace in the living room. a balcony. a dining area. and a great kitchen! i've also been cooking up a storm lately which is fun!

i am also thinking pretty seriously about beginning the process of getting my teaching credential started in january. i'd keep flying while i'm taking classes, which is totally doable. but i really just can't wait to have my own classroom!!!

i've been going through a lot of emotional ups and downs lately, and dealing with some big decisions... but I am excited to see where God is going to take me next! and i'm learning and being challenged more and more everyday to put my trust in Him!

i've been gone.

2010-06-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

sometimes i am a very bad blogger... oops!

i've been very busy lately...

flying places!

and not flying places...

and learning to be betty crocker.

and going to dodger games

and of course, spending time with these little guys!

so things have been good! but, i HAVE missed my blogging world.

hopefully i'm back! :)

disney world!

2010-04-21T10:26:00.000-07:00

so my family had some RCI points (time-share type thing) that were going to expire, which meant it was time to book a vacation! so my parents and i decided to do a last minute trip to orlando! it was a lot of fun. i definitely missed the rest of the family, especially those two little boys i love who were constantly missed. it would have been fun to experience everything through their eyes. but just the same, it was a great trip!

we went to disneyworld, the kennedy space center, and just spent some days relaxing. it was a nice break from the busyness of life.

here's my mom and i at the magic kingdom.

i am so thankful that God has blessed us with the opportunity to enjoy vacations. it's something i take for granted a lot. and i am even more thankful that He has blessed me with a life i love, and am excited to go home to.

:)

packing up.

2010-03-02T19:32:00.000-08:00

well i'm in the process of packing up my pasadena studio apartment. i'm going to be moving in with some girls over in redondo beach. i will be both closer to work, and saving money. so it's a good thing. but i'm not gonna lie, i'm sad to leave.

i have loved living here. i have loved having my own little place in the world. all mine. not to mention how freaking cute it ended up being!

i felt so much pride whenever i would have a new guest over and they were so impressed with what i had done with the place. my place.

i've only lived here a little over a year, but so much has happened. my first time living alone. finding a job i love. so many guests and friends and memories. i feel like i've grown up more in this little apartment, on my own for the first time, more than i ever had before.

and while i am excited to see what God has in store for me next... i'm really gonna miss this.

comfort food.

2010-02-16T21:27:00.000-08:00

comfort food: food that is simply prepared and gives a sense of wellbeing; typically food with a high sugar or carbohydrate content that is associated with childhood or with home cooking.

i wonder what it is about comfort food that makes it so... comforting.

for example, sometimes when i'm stressed, i just "need" a big greasy bacon cheeseburger and fries.

even just looking at it makes my mouth water a little bit. i could care less how many carbs, or calories, and fat is in it. i just LOVE it.

i wonder what your comfort food is...

circus love!

2010-02-15T13:23:00.000-08:00

now some of you may know this about me, but when i was little i was obsessed with the circus. i kid you not. in my mind, if i could somehow convince my family to join a traveling circus and spend the rest of my life traveling and performing, i would have been the happiest kid in the world!

my favorite tv show as a child was "dumbo's circus". for a flashback, go here.

i incessantly searched for a kids circus camp i could attend, to no success.

i dreamed of the circus convoy unexpectedly rolling into town and setting up their tents for a show full of animals, entertainers, "freaks", acrobats, and girls in sequins standing on elephants and waving at me.

but alas, my circus dreams never quite came to be.

HOWEVER... today i discovered hollywood aerial arts!!! i can take trapeze classes! i think i'm gonna get a group together and set up a class for one saturday next month.

maybe my circus dreams haven't died after all... :)

update from the bell.

2010-02-09T11:54:00.000-08:00

well i'm pretty much settled into my simple little life here in bellingham, wa. so far i haven't worked much, well one day total. but it's looking like i'll be working much more the second half of the month, so i'm enjoying getting paid to just sit around for the time being.

my days consist of continental breakfast, quiet time, the gym, and then lots of free time. which i've been spending either watching tv shows online, working on my book, or reading. it's been extremely relaxing. i wish i had remembered to bring my paints so i could do that, but c'est la vie!

one of my best friends ashley is up here visiting me right now, and we've been having a lovely time. she's always been my kindred spirit. so obviously this morning we decided to watch anne of green gables/anne of avonlea. LOVE anne. she inspires me. anne that is, but ashley too. :)

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"

i do miss LA though. surprisingly more than i thought i would. sometimes i guess you have to get away to realize how much you actually appreciate the things you have. i'll be excited to be back!

a little dose of change.

2010-01-30T08:29:00.000-08:00

those of you who know me know i am a bit of a change addict. it's not something i'm necessarily proud of, but when the going gets tough, katie gets a-changing. this has frequently taken the form of me moving to a new place, new state, or perhaps just a new hair color. change. it's my greatest vice.

soooo, i have been working really hard the last year to not use change as a cop-out when i'm feeling discontent, etc.

but i found a little loophole!

with my job, i can actually get PAID to move somewhere new for a month and live in a hotel. what?!? seriously. i can! and then afterwards i'm right back in my normal life. (okay, actually i'm moving when i get back, but only across town and it's a good thing financially.)

so for the month of february i will be living in bellingham, wa! i'm excited.

things i am excited about:

1. bellingham is located conveniently between vancouver (where the olympics will be) and seattle (where friends will be).
2. day trips to the above mentioned, plus the San Juan Islands and wineries!
3. RAIN! i love rain.
4. It's the Pacific Northwest, where twilight takes place. i'm a complete nerd, i know. but i'm excited to read the books while in the setting!
5. free continental breakfast every day at the hotel (with bacon and eggs and everything!).
6. time alone to read, reflect, write, work-out, and just focus on ME.

i leave in 2 days!

a girl for all states.

2010-01-14T08:56:00.000-08:00

i don't talk about my job a lot because, well i work a lot. so it seems boring to me. but lately i noticed a pattern that made me laugh.

people always want to claim me as one of their own!

what i mean is, when my passengers are from iowa, they tell me i MUST be an iowa girl cuz i'm just so sweet there's no way i could be from los angeles. then when they are from montana, i MUST be a montana girl. as far as i can remember, this has happened for washington, montana, iowa, arkansas, colorado, texas, and probably more.

and they never believe me when i say i'm from los angeles. born and raised! i guess we really have a bad rep here in LA. silly!

but i love my passengers! especially my montana passengers. i'll be a montana girl any day! ♥

get carried away!

2010-01-02T13:06:00.000-08:00

have you seen the new sex and the city preview?!?

and in honor, one of my favorite carrie quotes...

maybe mistakes are what make our fate... without them what would shape our lives? maybe if we had never veered off course we wouldn't fall in love, have babies, or be who we are. after all, things change, so do cities, people come into your life and they go. but it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart... and if you're very lucky, a plane ride away.

♥

goodbye 2009. hello 2010.

2010-01-01T16:34:00.000-08:00

the last year has been a big one for me.

the main events being that i moved into my own studio and i found a job that i love. but more then those, i think i'm a bit more comfortable in my own skin. i've learned to better accept the fact that life is messy. and whether i like something or not, it is what it is. i can't control every detail, but i can control what i do with what is.

this year has definitely had a lot of ups and down, they all do really. but i'm doing the best i can. and i'm getting better all the time. and i'm happy. and that's a lot, really.

i'm so thankful for my family who truly is my strength every day.
and my friends who love me completely just as i am.
and my God. above all my God,
who's unfailing love and forgiveness continue to humble me daily.

we get one chance to make the most of what we've been given. i always want to make sure i'm doing that.

and the point is, to live everything.

2009-12-08T10:10:00.000-08:00

you are so young, so much before all beginning, and I would like to beg you, dear sir, as well as I can, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language.

don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. and the point is, to live everything. live the questions now. perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.
-rainer maria rilke

christmas time is here!

2009-12-04T10:54:00.000-08:00

i looooove christmas. the decorations and music and lights and food and family and baby jesus! it's just great. i always get a little christmas crazy!

but, this is the first year that i have had my very own place for christmas. sooo, check out my first christmas tree!!!

yes, there is a bird on top. :)

and in case you need a little christmas cheer. here's my go to christmas cheer song!

thanks.

2009-11-28T08:30:00.001-08:00

did i tell you that i got TEN DAYS off for christmas?!?!?! TEN DAYS! i have no idea how that happened, because i certainly don't have the seniority to hold that line... but i got it!!! thank you Lord!

lets see, catch up time.

i've been traveling quite a bit lately which has been nice! back and forth between here and phoenix a lot visiting friends. i am so blessed to have the amazing group of friends i do over in phoenix. i seriously love those people to death. i just wish i got to see more of them! here's a picture of some of the group at dinner, plus one of the girls and i by the fire.

now i know you are just dying to hear what i thought of new moon (perhaps sarcasm). so here goes: i thought it was wonderful! extremely well done. and i know a lot of reviews are saying it was slow moving and depressing and a downer, but these reviewers have NOT read the book. because the movie was extremely accurate to the book. and let be realistic, if you aren't a fan of the franchise, the movies weren't made for you. the movies are for the fans, who are doing a rather great job of making the movie money mind you, so we don't really need anyone else. suffice to say, i found it extremely well done and true to the book, i am pleased.

thanksgiving was great. very relaxing. missed my brothers/sister-in-laws though. i'll attach pictures when i have them.

hope you are doing well! be blessed!

half of my heart.

2009-11-11T17:47:00.000-08:00

well i just got back from visiting the family for the birth of my new nephew andersen david! he's absolutely perfect and i love him already. here's a picture of the love.

but now back to the real world.

tomorrow i'll be hopping flights throughout colorado and vegas and back again. it's my least favorite trip to do. it always feels like the day that never ends. but, at least it's worth a lot of hours! then friday i'll hang out with nick, then head over to my best friend's willy wonka themed b-day party! should be fun. followed by a couple more days of flying. then next week i think i'm gonna head over to phoenix for a couple days to visit my friends who i don't see nearly enough lately, a fact they consistently remind me of. thennn, back home in time for a concert, and the new moon premiere. yes, i am counting down the days. i'm not even ashamed to say it. i'm a fan. i am a fan of the twilight books. judge me. :)

november is pretty much a nonstop busy month for me. i'm liking it.

bids came out yesterday. i'll know on the 15th what my december schedule will look like. here's hoping some kind of miracle happens and i have christmas off!!! (fingers crossed)

also, have you heard this new john mayer song, ft. taylor swift?
i love love love it. so relatable.
listen below.

andersen david gudgel!

2009-11-09T16:17:00.000-08:00

my second little nephew, andersen david gudgel, was born today at 1:02 pm. he weighs 8 lbs 4 oz and is 19.5 inches tall. he's perfect!

what an incredible miracle. praise God!

time flies.

2009-10-29T14:45:00.001-07:00

i can't believe it's already almost over. october is my favorite month and it just flew by! sometimes it scares me how fast time passes.

but november is an exciting month!

baby andersen will be born!!!

dad, mary, danielle, and caitlin all have birthdays!

thanksgiving happens! i love me some pilgrims and indians and food!

and new moon come out! (i'm a nerd for twilight)

what a great month ahead!

battles

2009-10-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

i love this concept.

also below i've attached a couple pictures of me before the spike scream awards. we weren't allowed to bring cameras in so there are none for during the show.

it was a lot of fun!

the way i see it #287

2009-10-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

extreme. but, so great.

i have a lot of guy friends. always have. and one thing that has come up a lot lately when talking to them is the fact that women don't support each other like they should. we are often so quick to throw each other under the bus. not all women, and not all the time. but there is definitely a difference between the way men interact, and the way women do. so many of my guy friends are genuinely baffled by the way women treat each other sometimes. it's sad really.

i'm a katie girl.

2009-10-09T11:04:00.000-07:00

carrie said it best.

"the world is made up of two types of woman; the simple girls and the katie girls. i'm a katie girl."

do what you love.

2009-10-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

i adore my life. i do not have everything i want by any means. but what i do have, is pretty wonderful.

do what you love
and love what you do.

it goes a long way towards happiness.

birthday girl!

2009-10-04T08:48:00.001-07:00

i had a really lovely birthday. which was nice because the last couple years my birthdays have tended to be disappointing and involving tears. but this year was nice!

i went out to arizona to spend some time with my good friends there the week before, which was great. my arizona friends mean the world to me! here's a picture of my two ashleys and i when we all went out.

then back in LA i went out with work people (plus caitlin) the night before my birthday, which was also a lot of fun! here's a couple pics of my coworkers/friends and i from that night.

then on my actual birthday my mom came to town, i spent a couple hours at the day spa, and then went with family to a beautiful dinner out!

thank you Lord for 24 wonderful years of life! i am blessed!!!

these are some thoughts.

2009-09-29T17:53:00.000-07:00

sometimes i think i worry about too much. i've always been this way.

i tend to borrow not just all of todays worrys, but yesterdays and tomorrows as well. i want to know that everything is going to be okay. and okay tends to be some abstract concept of what i "think" would make me happy. i've been catching myself lately wasting times where i could just be happy, worrying about what i need in order to be happy. it's silly.

i have no way of knowing what God has planned for my life. there's that common saying, if you wanna make God laugh tell him your plans. let me tell you, i tell Him my plans ALL the time. and i'm sure He's just up there laughing away. "there's my katie again, making plans that are so much smaller than My plan for her... if she only knew." and it's not that i don't know. i truly do believe God has a plan for me. but sometimes it's so hard to hold onto that.

i think i live with a lot of fear. fear that my dreams may not become reality. fear that i won't be happy. fear that i somehow managed to "mess up" the plan and i will forever be short of it until i get to heaven. fear that His plan and my plan don't exactly see eye to eye. all of which is nonsense. but it's real to me.

be calm.

2009-09-28T17:41:00.000-07:00

life lately has been a bit rocky. i mean i'm still very blessed, and things could be so much worse. but i've been hit with one bad thing after another lately. locked out of house. locked out of car. cell phone stolen. money gone. refrigerator broke. food went bad... the list really just goes on. it's just getting ridiculous! and i'm beginning to lose it a little bit.

but, i just need to take it one day at a time, and deal.

{She} ...by Kobi Yamada

2009-09-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

She must be something special. She is. Celebrate her.

She loved life and it loved her back. Celebrate her passion.

She listened to her heart above all other voices. Celebrate her wisdom.

She pursued big dreams instead of small realities. Celebrate her priorities.

She saw every ending as a new beginning. Celebrate her resiliency.

She discovered her real measurements had nothing to do with numbers or statistics. Celebrate her self-esteem.

She was kind, loving and patient…with herself. Celebrate her tenderness.

She woke up one day and threw away all her excuses. Celebrate her accountability.

She realized that she was missing a great deal by being sensible. Celebrate her spirit.

She turned her can’ts into cans, and her dreams into plans. Celebrate her goals.

She ignored people who said it couldn’t be done. Celebrate her independence.

She had a way of turning obstacles into opportunities. Celebrate her magic.

She went out on a limb, had it break off behind her, and discovered she could fly. Celebrate her faith.

She discovered she was the one she’d been waiting for. Celebrate her self-reliance.

She added so much beauty to being human. Celebrate her presence.

She walked in when everyone else walked out. Celebrate her friendship.

She just has this way of brightening the day. Celebrate her radiance.

She made the whole world feel like home. Celebrate her warmth.

She decided to enjoy more and endure less. Celebrate her choices.

She decided to start living the life she’d imagined. Celebrate her freedom.

She colored her thoughts with only the brightest hues. Celebrate her optimism.

She was an artist and her life was her canvas. Celebrate her brilliance.

She ran ahead where there were no paths. Celebrate her bravery.

She crossed borders recklessly, refusing to recognize limits, saying bonjour and buon giorno as though she owned both France and Italy and the day itself. Celebrate her joie de vivre.

She held her head high and looked the world straight in the eye. Celebrate her strength.

She not only saw a light at the end of the tunnel she became that light for others. Celebrate her compassion.

She designed a life she loved. Celebrate her joy.

She took the leap and built her wings on the way down. Celebrate her daring.

She said bye-bye to unhealthy relationships. Celebrate her happiness.

She remained true to herself. Celebrate her authenticity.

She made the world a better place. Celebrate her.

fall must haves.

2009-09-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

my last post was sort of heavy. so this one's about clothes!

i love fall. it's my favorite season. really, it is. i love the leaves changing colors and the way the air turns crisp. and i love the fashions. summer is always about minimalism, especially for all my phoenix people. but fall, fall is when you get to bring out all the goodies!

here's what i'm loving right now...

brown leather jackets

short poofy skirts.

blazers

boots! always.

hair accessories

20/25

2009-09-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

i went to the eye doctor this morning. i don't know if i never knew before or just didn't really process it, but the best they have ever been able to make my vision is 20/25. i can't see 20/20. I probably never will. it's a strange thing to think about... and as i was sitting waiting while my eyes were becoming more and more dilated, and the room was becoming more and more blurry, i was thinking about perfection.

we're always seeking it, you know? the perfect spouse. the perfect job. the perfect home. the perfect place to live. the perfect timing... the list goes on and on.

but the reality is, we're never gonna get there. yet.

Christ is perfect.
we are not. and this world is not.

which leads me to a confusing place of trying to figure out how that plays out in my life today. because i WANT perfect. i want 20/20 vision. and a perfect spouse, job, home, etc. not to mention for the timing to just magically fall into place. i want it all... but life is so much messier than that. and i think all we can really do is do the best we can, and make the most of what we've been given.

but am i doing that? i don't ever want to stop seeking perfection. because i think that's where the beauty really is, in the struggle. the daily fight to do better or to be better, even though we know we're never gonna completely get there. but at least we know where we're heading. i can't imagine being fulfilled in a life without direction.

and why can't i take an imperfect life, job, person, etc. and make something great out of it. i don't think the sin is the lack of perfection, i think the sin is in the laziness, the lack of trying because you know you'll never get there. i don't ever want to stop trying...

[i'm not sure if that made sense, but welcome to my mind today.]

califonia's burning.

2009-09-01T10:07:00.000-07:00

when in doubt.... check here. www.iscaliforniaonfire.com

my throat is on fire from all the smoke in the air! blah. and due to my lack of air conditioning i have to keep the windows open otherwise it gets in the 90's in my little home. on the plus side, i have a home.

update time.

2009-08-30T20:19:00.001-07:00

so it's been a while. i'm not a very good blogger. i tend to go back in forth from loving blogging, to feeling very exposed and not wanting to share anything personal. i'm silly.

lets see, things have been going well overall. work is lovely. i really feel blessed to have the job i do, and unless my energy level is too low, i tend to have a lot of fun doing it!

i've been flying a lot lately, which is great. but i'm finding that i'm more tired lately too. i've been working on balancing staying home at night because i work the next day, and going out because i am young and should be socializing. i'm not very good at balancing this so far and tend to err too far one way or the other, but i'm working on it!

i've been a little overwhelmed lately with life things as well: finding the right church. to date or not to date. attempting and failing to eat healthier. being content in my current place in life. you know, the usual stressors. the thing about me is i'm an overthinker, so sometimes i let these stressors effect me more than i should. and sometimes it's just hormones. :)

but really, overall i'm pretty darn happy! i have great friends. a great job. a great home to call my own. and an amazing family who loves me and supports me 100%. life is good! and as always, i feel very blessed!

i just need to remember to not dwell on the little things.

marilyn.

2009-08-07T20:39:00.000-07:00

i always knew i liked her.

everywhere.

2009-08-04T17:53:00.001-07:00

until i see You face to face
and grace amazing takes me home
i will trust in You.

the dena!

2009-07-31T10:22:00.000-07:00

so i suddenly found myself having 10 days off from work and nowhere to be. soooo, i've been enjoying the relaxing life here in pasadena. and i thought i would point out a few of my favorite things here!

the white hut

i looove the white hut. and during the lunch hour they set up tables in the shade outside. there is something about eating at a little hole in the wall that you can't help but love. you will often find me sitting outside with a book and some food just enjoying the day.

trio's swimming pool

i've practically been living there lately. so nice. thanks boys! : )

regency academy cinemas 6

who doesn't love a 3 dollar movie?!?

-to be continued-

spanglish.

2009-07-20T07:44:00.000-07:00

i've decided i need to keep a little notebook with me at work to write down weird things that happen to me. probably 4 or 5 times yesterday things happened while working that i remember thinking i should write about in my blog. but i can never remember! (those of you that know me know my life is a series of weird occurrences.)

i have begun bringing back my high school spanish skills, which were subpar to begin with, when flying to mcallen/mexico. pretty sure half of what i say is nonsense. i get a lot of weird looks. it's sort of a combination of spangish and spanish with terrible grammar and some made up words. i need rosetta...

lets see, what's been going on in my life lately. still enjoy my job. still don't enjoy the drive to/from work. ultimately i would like to move to marina del rey, venice, or santa monica to be closer to work. but right now i'm in a lease so it probably won't happen till february.

my cousin john and his fiance kala are getting married soon. i am excited because i finally have an excuse to buy a new dress! i am excited for them as well of course.

and did you SEE harry potter?!??? i love him.

montana pics!

2009-07-08T19:08:00.000-07:00

there are hundreds of pictures from montana, but here are a few of my favorites!

big sky montana.

my beautiful family.

my adorable nephew!

we had a giant slip and slide!

we all had so much fun!

my sisters and i.

much better.

2009-07-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

so, life is good.

i like my job more and more as time goes on. i really am lucky to have it.

my schedule is great in july. over half the month off. crazy!

and i'm genuinely happy.

i just got back last week from an amazing vacation in montana with the fam. pictures will follow as soon as i get them from brother #1.

love you all!

times in the sky.

2009-06-10T18:58:00.000-07:00

so i've been flying a lot. and by a lot i mean the last 6 days straight. which is the most they are legally allowed to fly us without giving us a day off. so today, is my lovely overdue day of rest. most of which i spent in bed due to an illness that i believe was brought on by exhaustion, combined with a cough that just won't go away.

people always want to hear stories of the exciting things that happen inflight... let me think.

there was some sort of generator problem on one of my flights. not a big deal really. but we were told we had to fly slower so nothing would overheat and to "watch for smoke in the back". great... an emergency landing was considered but ultimately unnecessary.

there was a tribal chief on one of my flights with a permanent frown/glare on his face. he threw his drink on the floor in front of me when i wouldn't take his trash immediately (i was serving food, taking trash while serving food is absolutely not allowed, and it's incredibly unsanitary.) so that was mature of him. i was mostly in a state of shock and then walked away.

an old cowboy man from texas who i like to think was wealthy and owned a ranch told me i was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, and then later asked me to feed him a mint. i politely declined.

and then yesterday some ridiculously good looking guy, who clearly knew he was good looking, wanted a drink but didn't have any cash. he then proceeded to say "can you just buy it for me then?" not in joking way, but in a tone that suggested the thought that i wasn't just dying to buy him a drink would be absurd. i once again was in a state of shock and just walked away. what a tool.

my job definitely encounters a lot of interesting characters. some days i absolutely love my job. other days it's just work. but the difference between those two is much more about my attitude, and much less about the people I'm with than anything. and the flight crew. a good flight crew makes all the difference in the world.

life lately.

2009-06-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

well i'm officially off reserve and onto a schedule. we'll see how it goes! i definitely work a lot this month. all early morning shifts. bad news about having to wake up veryyy early 5 days a week. good news is i'm off early enough to still have an afternoon/evening to enjoy life.

how do you like your job? i get asked this constantly lately. lets see... i like it. i know i like it. it's long hours. and tiring certainly. but it's not a hard job. the tough stuff is the things hopefully you never have to deal with; medical emergencies, evacuations, etc. but a normal day, it's really an easy job. just tiring. and i love all the people i get to meet! people are fascinating. so i like it. it's a good job. [the commute on the other hand, not a fan]

ali left yesterday for oklahoma. she'll be there a month or two.
alex is going to europe at the end of the month for the summer.
and nick is going on warped tour.
so lots of my favorite people are leaving me this summer. sad!

but i still have lots of people i love out here! and i'm starting to get into some kind of normalcy. this is just sort of an uncertain time in my life. but i'm enjoying the ride!

still working out all the details on my schedule but it looks like i'll be in montana for 4 nights, 20th-24th. wish i could stay longer, but it will still be really fun to see everyone. family vacation time is my favorite! and hopefully later this summer i can get a week or two off to go on a long vacation!

i'm a nerd.

2009-06-01T16:28:00.000-07:00

but did you see it?!

now it's not everything i imagined the first trailer to be. but seeing as they only wrapped filming days ago, i like it!

i am officially a ridiculous twilight fan. how embarrassing!

the office

2009-05-23T19:53:00.001-07:00

update.

2009-05-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

so many travel benefits, so little time to use them.

travel deals are at their best right now because of the economy. travel deals for people in the airline industry are absurd. i just saw a 12 night southern europe cruise for 300 dollars. yes, 300 dollars. throw in free flights and that's CRAZY.

not that i have time off for things like that. but hopefully eventually. =)

---

i still feel pretty unsettled in my life lately. but part of that is because i haven't really been working this month, so i haven't been able to establish a routine. part of it is just life i think. it's messy by nature. things are chaotic and grey and unknown, and i'm just doing my best to keep up. and honor God in the process. it's a full time situation, life.

i've been working hard lately to be happy and enjoy life right where i am. things are by no means perfect, far from it. and i'm not where i thought i would be at this point in my life. or necessarily where i would have chosen to be. but i am where God has me. and that's not such a bad place. and i'm also incredible blessed, which i take for granted daily.

"we tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."

emerson

2009-05-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

to laugh often and much.

to win the respect of intelligent people

and the affection of children.

to earn the appreciation of honest critics

and endure the betrayal of false friends.

to appreciate beauty.

to find the best in others.

to leave the world a bit better;

whether by a healthy child,

a garden patch,

or a redeemed social condition.

to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived,

this is to have succeeded.

looking forward

2009-05-12T15:32:00.000-07:00

i have lots of things coming up that i am excited about. so i've decided to make a list!

disneyland with the family!!! (this coming weekend)

beach days (alll summer long)

family vacation in montana! (late june)

harry potter and the half-blood prince (july 15th)

caribbean cruise with caitlin (tentatively late august)

A NEW BABY GUDGEL!!!!! (november 19th)
[camden is standing in for his sibling]

new moon! (november 20th)
[i'm a nerd and very excited]

happy mother's day!

2009-05-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

hey mama. you're the best mom in the whole wide world (i think so at least). plus you're my best friend. and i am soooooo thankful for you.

i love you!!!

happy star wars day!

2009-05-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

so yesterday was my first day officially flying as a flight attendant without someone supervising. and though i actually am currently the most junior FA at the base, i was assigned to fly lead all day (meaning of all the FA's, you're in charge). it was a lot of fun. i like telling people what to do. :)

it was also interesting because we definitely did not have a mellow, everything goes great first flight. we had blind passengers (dogs accompanied). disabled passengers. lap children everywhere. people who were air sick. people walking around in masks to avoid the swine flu. a claustrophobic women who i thought might not make it. people angry because there was no alcohol (no license to serve yet)... the list goes on.

however, i have learned the cure all. gambling. we do a lottery on a lot of our flights, and people absolutely LOVE it. it makes up for a list of evils, including the slowest boarding process i have ever witnessed, let alone been in charge of (oh dear).

but all in all. my job is really a lot of fun! it's definitely tiring, which explains all the mandatory rest periods, but it's fun as far as jobs go... if only i could move the airport closer to where i live.

may the 4th be with you!!!

i'm back!

2009-05-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

back in my blogging world. AND more importantly, back home in pasadena!!!

being home is sort of strange. a good strange, but strange. everything feels like slow motion after vegas, where everything was on fast-forward. i was gone five weeks which feels more like 5 years.

but i am officially a flight attendant!

i'm on reserve this month so my schedule is a little up in the air. but i am for sure flying sunday. so that will be fun!

---

on other notes... my parents surprised me with a new kitchen table and chairs in the apartment, which i am sooo excited about! i love it. i really just love my apartment all around. it's charming. 2 days ago a friend came over and he said upon seeing the apartment, "it's different... it looks like movie set." i don't really know what that means but i thought it was funny.

and i found this cute thing.

i love you!

He is risen!

2009-04-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

happy easter everyone!

i'm stuck in vegas this weekend. i miss my family a lot...

but the good news is, Jesus rose from the dead!

poker face.

2009-04-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

things have been crazy busy here in the vegas. this is probably the most intense thing i have ever done. the hours are ridiculously long and i never get enough sleep.

basically my day is such: every morning i wake up before 6 feeling really sick, like i'm dizzy and nauseous and going to pass out at any moment (i have decided this must be a combination of lack of sleep and extreme anxiety). then i get ready and go downstairs and try to make myself eat something. at 7 a ride comes to take us to the corporate office. classes start at 8 and go till 5. (typically around 10 am i stop feeling sick.) we get back to the hotel around 6 usually. at which point i'm so exhausted the act of finding something to eat for dinner usually takes a couple hours. then i attempt to study. go to bed. and do it again the next day.

we started with i think around 27 people. there are 18 of us now. two left willingly due to family emergencies, everyone else has been asked to leave. so as you can imagine, things are tense around here. which consequently means the drama levels are getting higher. i mean we're 18 veryyyy different people being forced to live and work together 24 hours a day. it's craziness. and to make matters more interesting we're living in sin city, a block from the strip. drama.

but lets see, what are some cool things that have happened so this isn't all downer debbie:
- i have learned a great deal more about gambling than i ever cared or needed to know. but it's fun!
- i asked my roommate if she wanted to pray with me before our last test and 12 people ended up coming outside who i prayed for. so cool!
- i am being challenged in ways i never have before with regards to my faith and people different than me, which is exhausting but cool.
- i really do think this is a great job, it's just the means to it is pretty crazy.

i love and miss you all.

saturday morning blah.

2009-03-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

i woke up today feeling a little overwhelmed. just kind of on the verge of tears. but i mean, i cry a lot in general, in life. =) but i woke up just feeling like everything is closing in a little bit. i'm really blessed to be where i am and i'm so excited about the opportunities ahead of me, but it's just a lot all at once.

the environment we are in here is incredibly intense, the expectations are so high, and there are people constantly watching us, even at the hotel. two people have already been sent home. so between all that pressure and the people... well the people are very different than me.

i've had an amazing, blessed, simple life. i've never had to doubt why i am here or what my purpose is. i have full confidence in that. and it's hard for me to be surrounded 24 hours a day by people who just seem so lost to me. who's priorities in life are so completely different than mine... i'm naturally an extremely empathetic person and i have to consciously separate myself sometimes, because i get so "in" things. i don't know if that makes sense.

anyways, tonight i am going to go to the night service at central christian church for some me time. plus, i just saw jamie tworkowski of to write love on her arms is speaking, so that should be interesting.

but right now, i'm headed downstairs for breakfast, a quick workout in the gym, and than a day of studying. miss you all!

waking up in vegas

2009-03-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

well here i am.

so far it's been good. i've met a lot of interesting people who are really different than anyone i have ever spent time with before. so that's been a lot of fun for me. i love new people! and everyone is really nice.

i'm definitely one of if not the youngest girls here. and between all the older women and the gay men i have in the last 12 hours been called almost every pet name you can think of. i'm not kidding. pumpkin. sweetie. honey. baby. doll face. love. sweetheart. it's really weird actually. it became a sort of running joke in my head all day as i kept track. at first it was kind of endearing, but as the day wore on i began to wonder if everyone simply couldn't be bothered to remember my name.

classes don't really start in full till next week so i have some extra time to study and such the next few days, which i'm extremely grateful for. we also drew seniority today and i did NOT get a good number. so it looks like reserve is in the future for me.... at first i was pretty disappointed/upset. but God is in control, so i'm just gonna trust Him that everything will work out how it is supposed to, and just roll with it.

this month is definitely going to be an experience, and i don't think i can handle more than 1 day at a time. so that's what i'm gonna do.

well, this day was a veryyy long one that started very early after i got about 4.5 hours of sleep last night, so i'm exhausted. were it not for LOST i would already be asleep.

goodnight moon.

two days and counting.

2009-03-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

i leave for the vegas in two days!!! i really have no idea what to expect. i've never spent any time in vegas before besides driving through (weird, i know). but i think it's gonna be great. i just love new experiences. and i mean seriously, it just looks exciting!

in the meantime, i'm still memorizing like crazy, attempting to see everyone possible before i leave, and continuously thinking of more things i need to get done.

life is good!

a new baby gudgel!

2009-03-19T17:30:00.000-07:00

so i'm going to be an aunt again!!! the atwater gudgels (brian, mary, and camden) are expecting another little one come november. i am so excited! although it's hard to imagine loving any little one more than this little guy right here...

but i'm sure that i will love our new little one just as much!

future flight attendant! (hopefully)

2009-03-17T22:40:00.000-07:00

well, since my last real post i was offered a job as a flight attendant!!! i am very excited, but for the moment also very stressed. everything i have heard is that training (4.5 weeks in vegas) is very intense and not everyone makes it through. also, before i get there i have about 60 terms and 177 airport codes to memorize. it's a lot, and most of it makes no sense so there's no easy way to learn it except straight memorization. i have exactly a week to learn it all and i'm definitely feeling the pressure.

BUT, aside from that i am very anxious/excited/nervous/still excited about everything. i truly believe this job is God's plan for me right now, and i'm excited to see where it takes me. i have no idea if this will be a year thing or a long career, or heaven forbid i don't make it through training. but it feels right. i see so many opportunities for myself both personally to grow, and to serve God in this job.

it's gonna be great.

here are a couple pictures of how i WISH the uniforms looked...

polyvore.

2009-03-17T18:13:00.002-07:00

cool site where people make creative things.

twilight !! - by MiCKEYMOOSE♥ on Polyvore.com

and i love twilight. ♥

my process.

2009-03-02T18:26:00.002-08:00

things i have learned recently:

-when planned correctly. one meal a day is plenty. light snacks can fill the rest of the space.
-doing dishes really isn't that bad when you have gloves on.
-unemployment is not nearly as fun as it sounds.
-not carrying cash in a city that seems to run on cash only can save you tons of money.
-not carrying cash in a city that seems to run on cash only also may cause you to spend your laundry money if you are not careful. (oops)
-losing your debit card and not carrying cash in the above mentioned city, is just a bad idea.
-if i ever really feel lonely, i just have to open my window. there are always plenty of interesting conversations coming from the women's rehab next door.
-if i ever feel like i have it bad, i just have to open my window. there always plenty of reminders that i don't have it bad coming from the women's rehab next door.
-and music is always a good idea. remember music.

so things are starting to come together. i have some work coming in. which means money will soon be coming in. this fact alone does my soul a world of good. i still have a lot of things i want/need to do here, but life is a process. the point is that i'm in it.

fruit!

2009-02-19T17:46:00.005-08:00

so seeing as i have had more time on my hands lately, i've taken to hobbies.

today it was painting.

this may not be the best career choice for me... :)

in the meantime.

2009-02-17T21:56:00.004-08:00

well, i'm officially settled in my new home in pasadena. i absolutely love my little studio. and while it still lacks many things (such as a TV, area rug, couch cover, curtains, etc.) it is beginning to feel like home.

i love pasadena. i love how there are always people walking, everywhere. i love that everything i need is within walking distance or a very short drive. i love having the mountains and the ocean both nearby. i love that it's not the desert. and it's been so fun having brent and danielle so close. it's hard to imagine ever living away from all of my family. they are just too important to me. i'm pretty happy here. and my studio really is adorable.

on the other side, i still need a job. i'm getting ridiculously antsy. i hate not working. but it's been hard. there just aren't a lot of available jobs out there right now. i guess i've really only been here 2 weeks, maybe less. it's kind of blurry. so after settling in i really haven't been looking that long, but it feels like it's been forever. and so far i'm just not sure what's gonna happen. i would love prayer about all that.

so overall, i'm doing good. it's gonna take some time for me to find my place here, job wise, friend wise, and church wise. but i'm doing it. and i'm excited for the future. i know that God has a plan for me here... i'm just trying to learn to be content in the meantime, while i'm figuring it out.

pasadena.

2009-01-26T19:30:00.002-08:00

well, a lot has changed in the last few months. and very little at the same time. :)

i had a wonderful time over the holidays with family, friends, and a few trips. and now i am finally getting back down to the business of being a grownup.

i came to pasadena last thursday with plans to find an apartment and job. today i found an apartment. i'm still working on the job.

going into the apartment hunt my goal was to find something :
1. affordable (not easy at all in pasadena)
2. walking distance to all old town attractions (making #1 even more difficult)
3. in a safe neighborhood
4. a studio (not a one bedroom)
5. cute (no ugly)
(i also wanted to be somewhat near brent and danielle, number 2 should have taken care of that fairly well.)

i was able to find an apartment with all of these things, plus it's less than a block from brent and danielle! and while it's an old building and the studio is smaller than what i would have liked, the price and location are perfect and i am confident i can decorate it into something grand!

now this apartment decision was made very quickly and i'm kind of freaking out about it all, but i really do think it's the right one. it just happened so fast. and i kind of can't remember what it looked like. and i think i'll feel a lot better once i have a job to pay for the apartment. but i think it's gonna be good.

dear Lord, please let everything work out very well with this apartment. also, please open the right doors for me as far as a job here. and help me to trust you completely during this transition time. i love you. -kate

narrowing the options.

2008-11-11T12:12:00.000-08:00

well i'm almost done with my 2 weeks. i have very little to actually do seeing as people stopped giving me new assignments (obviously) and i have started passing off all my regular work to other people. so here i am, at my desk pretending to look busy because i feel weird about not working, but not really having much of anything to do. so i spend my time researching possible plans for the future, researching my dream trip to europe, and generally doing not much of anything. it's all kind of silly really.

speaking of plans for the future, a new option has emerged... fresno.

fresno??? as in the same fresno my parents so eagerly moved out of when they were my age?

yes, that fresno.

you see i have a LOT of family in the fresno area. and some wonderful cousins. one of whom would like me to come live with her, which would take care of my lack of a living situation. fresno would also put me closer to brian, mary, and camden; which would be so great. there would be a lot of details to work out such as the main one, a job. but i have a few ideas and my family has a few ideas, so who knows. it definitely could happen.

no matter where i end up it is basically going to be a starting over for me. new home. new job. new church. new friends. even if i go to LA i'm basically going to be starting fresh. i'm really open to anything at this point.

these are the main things i'm looking for:
-a comfortable, afforadble living situation
-a job that will pay the bills as well as not make me miserable
-family nearby

as of right now, the fresno option has 2 out of 3.
LA has 1 out of 3.
and Europe has 0 out of 3.

i wish i could see the future! i can't wait to see what happens!

life is a process.

2008-11-03T12:15:00.000-08:00

well, today is the beginning of a change for me. i'll start with some background.

i never intended to move to arizona, however a good job opportunity kind of fell into my lap, and so being the spontaneous person i am, i jumped in. so for the last 5or 6 months I have been working at that job. from the start i could tell it wasn't a fit for me, however i was learning a lot and determined to stick it out as long as i could.

since then things have been hard for me. between spending most of my awake hours at a job i am unhappy at, having very few friends in this state who are not married, trying to adjust to post college life, some unexpected relationship drama, and feeling a general lack of independence due to living with my parents; things have definitely been tough.

this last month i reached a place where i realized i just wasn't very happy, and it was getting worse not better. and i am a firm believer that if you are unhappy, it is your responsibility to fix it, not just sit there doing the "woah is me" dance. so that's what i'm doing.

today i gave two weeks notice, making the 14th my last day of work. i have no set plans after that except a long overdue vacation to go see my nephew, then thanaksgiving with the fam. december will largely be my "operation figure out my life" month. and hopefully january will be the beginning of a new chapter.

the options right now are pretty endless. i am 95% confident i will be moving out of Phoenix. beyond that, these are some things i'm considering.

-move back to LA
-go work abroad for a while
-do a ywam dts
-go back to school somewhere
-become a flight attendant
-become a homeless person (just kidding)

but seriously, there are a lot of big decisions i am going to need to be making in the coming months. i would be grateful to any of you who would be willing to pray for me during this time.

you can specifically pray for:
-that God would clearly reveal the direction He would like me to go in.
-wisdom and discernment for myself to hear God when He tells me, and obey.
-more faith. i can always use more faith. (i'm a worrier)
-that some "in the meantime" money opportunities would present themselves so I can at least be bringing some income in.
-my insurance/cobra would all work out so i can continue all the different doctors/meds/etc that are a part of my life right now.

thanks everyone. love you!

here i go again.

2008-10-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

now i realize that many of you are probably wondering why in the world katie has ANOTHER blog... well my last one showed up on page 1 when you google my name, which is slightly too public for my comfort, so i made it private. and THIS will be my public blog, for reals. in which i will make a serious effort to keep all of you who care (so family mostly) updated on my life. =)

for those of you who don't know, (though i'm not sure who that would be) i am currently working full time in phoenix doing HR at a major golf course management company's corporate office. it's a great job that i'm very lucky to have, and i'm learning a lot. however, i have come to realize i am not made for a desk job, and need wayyyy more variety/interaction. but for now, i am confident it is where God wants me to be.

i've been living with my parents which has been both amazing and very tough. it's amazing because i have the best parents in the world who i LOVE hanging out with (plus i'm saving a ton of money not having to pay rent). but it is tough because i'm an incredibly independent person by nature, and i don't feel the same sense of fulfillment that i do when i'm on my own.

but overall, i'm very blessed. God is faithful. i'm finding joy in the circumstances i have been given. and most days, i'm genuinely very happy.