it’s a sunny day in my heart, even though it’s a rainy day outside!  sap!

hahaha!  good news to share:

- phuong got an award from his company at his christmas party last saturday.  unfortunately, we weren’t able to attend his party since he’s had gout since last wednesday night, poor baby!  he finally went into work today, but not without much difficulty.  at least he’s able to walk a bit, as slow as it may be.  i think he got it mostly because he has a quicker metabolism than most, and he doesn’t drink enough water.  WATER == VERY IMPORTANT!!!  i try to drink 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of coffee every day… that’s why i’m always going to the bathroom! (tmi!)

- miss mizuratha is engaged!  and i’m happy for her new-found love and happiness!  i pray to save enough money to make it to her wedding next year, november 2010.  she graciously asked me to be one of her bridesmaids, and i accepted.  however, she was also very kind to give me an understanding “out,” if i can’t make it to florida because of time, expenses, etc.  she only asked that i give her a 6 months notice, which is totally fair.  I’LL TRY MY DARNDEST TO BE THERE FOR YOU, NICE EYES!!!

- i cleaned my room!  it took a few days! i got rid of lots and lots of old bills, receipts, paperwork that i don’t need.  feels so good to purge!  hehehe.  i’m setting up my home filing system for next year and beyond!  gotta be more organized than i have been lately.  always strive to be better!

- i am so ecstatic about next year.  i dropped out early from tri-community, my court reporting program in covina, sometime in october/november to research whether going to downey’s court reporting program was the better course for me.  i thought it was… but then dug in deeper into other options.  i sought the pros and cons of doing an online court reporting program.  i found simplysteno.com and was sold!  doing the program online is so me since… i’m always on the computer anyway (as carla said)! with simplysteno.com, there’s a cap (about $3,000 max) if you turn in all your assignments on time (which i plan to do!), there’s a structured daily schedule which i need (it’s kind of a like a steno personal trainer who is with you every second of the way, barking out orders but only for your good), there’s amazing online support with the teachers and fellow students, and i’ve heard nothing but good things about it.  i plan to take the RPR (registered professional reporter) with simplysteno’s help, which will then qualify me to take the CSR (certified shorthand reporter) test.  the CSR is the official required certificate in order to work in california, although the RPR allows me to work in the USA anywhere.  weird, i know! california has higher standards or something like that.  anyway!  with GOD’s help, i should seriously be done in 2010… or early 2011 the latest.

- so i’ll be online doing the simply steno program every day, monday-friday, 6:00-10:00 p.m., from the comfort of my own home.  therefore, i’m able to find a better, higher-paying job!  WOO HOO!  this has got me really ecstatic! i can finally have a little bit more breathing room financially and start to really pay down all my debts, help with the family, and save, save, save!  i’m going to be applying to law offices in pasadena, glendale, and the san gabriel valley area.  20 minutes commute time max is what i’m after, plus a great hourly rate and benefits!  GOD help me!

- i’m enjoying my family and being home more often.

- i’m really looking forward to 2010!!!

my phuongy is so wonderful!  he spoils me so much!  i am very spoiled and contented!

just to share…

on sunday, even though he was super tired after working 80+ hours for a special project at work, he wanted to meet up early instead of at 5:30 p.m. to go to church by 6:00 p.m.  so he picked me up at 3:00 p.m. impromptu to watch “a christmas carol” with 3d at the imax theater in the santa anita mall.  he just wanted to spend some time with me.

after the movie, we went to church, and after church he let me choose wherever i wanted to have dinner.  i wanted thai original bbq in glendale, but it was totally packed.  instead we opted to eat at the new chipotle on broadway in glendale.  it was a nice and peaceful dinner.  i was so content just to sit by him.

then yesterday, he (impromptu again!) picked me up to have dinner.  he had to drive all the way from downey, pick me up in eagle rock, drive to san gabriel to eat at our favorite pho place, only to eventually come back to eagle rock to drop me off and go back to san gabriel where he lives.  he made a complete circle just because i wanted some pho. sweet, right?  even his mom asked him why he would do this round-about thing!  he answered, “because i love my baby.”  awww!

but before we went home, we drove around pasadena looking at potential future houses, which was super sweet and super exciting!  he said that he wouldn’t talk to me about mortgages unless he was absolutely certain that we’d be together… and i know we’ll continue to be together.

after touring pasadena, he bought me windshield wipers for my car that i needed.  then when he dropped me home, he returned my laptop (which he gave me as a christmas gift 2 years ago) that he had sent to the manufacturer to get the caps lock and fan fixed.  he paid for and took care of EVERYTHING for me!  i seriously don’t have to worry about a lot of things because he anticipates them for me and gladly will serve me in love… which makes me want to anticipate his needs and gladly serve him in love in return. <3 sappy, i know!  but true nonetheless!

therefore, i am spoiled and contented!  i thank GOD for this phuongy — my best friend and first and only boyfriend.

I LOVE THIS SONG!  INSTANT HAPPY! ;D

phuong and i also love this movie, “500 days of summer.”  i absolutely adore zooey deschanel.  she has an amazing voice!  remember her from “elf”?  FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE EVER! ;D

I got some troubles but they won’t last
I’m gonna lay right down here in the grass
And pretty soon all my troubles will pass
’cause I’m in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town

I never had a dog that liked me some
Never had a friend or wanted one
So I just lay back and laugh at the sun
’cause I’m in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town

Yesterday it rained in Tennessee
I heard it also rained in Tallahassee
But not a drop fell on little old me
’cause I was in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town

If I had a million dollars or ten
I’d give to ya, world, and then
You’d go away and let me spend
My life in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town
la-la-la-la

this is for you, princess… since you asked that i update my blog… hehehe.

well, the most interesting, exciting news first. about 2 saturdays ago, i was at work (as usual) listening online to 104.3 “myfm” radio station. they were doing this give-away to mickey’s trick-or-treat party at california adventure. you had to be caller #20. i called in once. nothing but the busy signal. i didn’t sweat it. i knew it would probably be super hard to get through the phone lines. i continued to work. several minutes after my first call, the dj told us to call in again… so i did… AND I WAS CALLER #20!!! i won 4 free tickets to california adventure for the exclusive trick-or-treat event! they closed down the park to the general public and reopened it just for the various winners (such as power, kiis, and other radio stations). even the parking was free! TOTALLY AWESOME! i never win big things like that! GOD is so gracious because i’ve been wanting to go someplace exciting and fun without spending lots of cash… or at least without spending lots of phuong’s cash! hahaha!  CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE WAS PERFECT! i asked phuong to come with me (of course) along with charity and kimi. we had a great time!

other news…

i spent about 2 weeks out of school taking care of business with my finances.  there was a big mix up with a transfer fee that they charged me with, and i needed time to get all that settled. the end result is… frustrating. but i’ll leave it at that.

also, i was out of school for those days to log in my required court observation hours. i got it done finally. so i will go back to school tomorrow… and i’m REALLY EXCITED! it’s been a while, and i admit that i wasn’t on my steno machine the whole time out of school, though i should have been. bad!

it’s almost halloween time, and this year marks 3 YEARS since phuong has been in my life.  we were matched on eharmony around this time 3 years ago… then finally met face-to-face in december 2006… and have basically been inseparable since that time.  looking forward to all the new years GOD will bless us with.

i’ve been doing transcription jobs on the side here and there (whenever they can give it to me) because i’m saving to make the switch from my current school, tri-community in covina, to go to downey adult school’s court reporting program.  the program is so much better at downey, but also a bit pricier.  i’ll love the program at downey, but i know for sure i won’t love that drive on the 5 freeway!  oh well.

phuong bought seasonal passes for us to go snowboarding at mount baldy, although i’ve never gone snowboarding in my life… and i honestly don’t think i’ll like it much! but it was an awesome deal ($50/person for the whole season), and he said i should at least try.  hehehe.  so here’s hoping i don’t break anything! that wouldn’t be fun at all.

oh, i got my new eyeglasses!  i left my old eyeglasses in the backyard (i was watering the grass and forgot them there somehow), and the dogs chewed them up!  totally broken!  so i was without accurate vision for a good 2-3 SCARY WEEKS!  i was pretty much disabled during that time.  that was another reason why i didn’t go to school (night classes).  i could barely drive safely from glendale to eagle rock! i found out that my vision had worsened.  that explains the headaches i was getting if i wore my old eyeglasses too long.  so it was a real blessing in disguise that the dogs destroyed my eyeglasses. in the end, phuong took care of EVERYTHING for me.  he’s so awesome! and i’m spoiled… happily spoiled.

The true character of the loveliness that speaks for God is always unnoticed by the one possessing that quality. Conscious influence is prideful and unchristian. If I wonder if I am being of any use to God, I instantly lose the beauty and the freshness of the touch of the Lord. “He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).  And if I examine the outflow, I lose the touch of the Lord.

Who are the people who have influenced us most? Certainly not the ones who thought they did, but those who did not have even the slightest idea that they were influencing us. In the Christian life, godly influence is never conscious of itself. If we are conscious of our influence, it ceases to have the genuine loveliness which is characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring.

Taken from “The Ministry of the Unnoticed”

August 21 — My Utmost for His Highest

By:  Oswald Chambers

updates here.

’cause it’s too much for me to be updating two blogs! hehehe.

HAPPY 22ND BIRTHDAY (YESTERDAY) TO MY BROTHER — EMMAN/NOY!!!

HAPPY 21ST (FOREVER) BIRTHDAY (TODAY) TO CARLA!!!

i want to live my life like this…

ARROWS OUT

i LOVE christian assembly!

A Christian is someone who trusts in the knowledge and the wisdom of God,

not in his own abilities.

If we have a purpose of our own, it destroys the simplicity and the calm,

relaxed pace which should be characteristic of the children of God.

Taken from “The Bewildering Call of God”

August 5 — My Utmost for His Highest

By:  Oswald Chambers

life is definitely different.  i have such a hectic schedule.  usually i’m very on top of things, very automatic.  wake up, go to school, study hard, go home for lunch, go to work, work hard, go home, do some chores, study some more, go to sleep… and do it all over again the next day.  so routine.  so boring. 

i’m usually a machine, but i guess today was a little different…

i intended to wake up at 6 a.m., but i woke up at 8 a.m. instead.  i didn’t even hear the alarm go off.  i slept through my class at school! GREAT! i got so mad at myself.

so i went to the pasadena coffee bean to study there (i have a hard time studying at home; too many distractions), and all of a sudden i got very sad… 

i miss my friends!  i miss having fun!  i miss having time to do whatever the heck i wanted.  i miss all this…

life is definitely different now…

about 3 years ago i would literally be out and about with different groups of friends several times a week.  i would put school and responsibilities way, way back in my list of priorities.  but now i’m getting older, and it’s not so cute anymore to be partying or being such a social butterfly.  there are consequences to everything.  i’m paying for that now.

…but i also definitely know that all the sacrifices i make today will be so worth it in the future!

i’m glad that i have a summer break from school for the whole month of august.  i’m definitely going to be spending more time with my family and friends.  i miss you guys!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WONDERFUL ONE-AND-ONLY SISTER, CAROLINE FAITH!!!

TODAY YOU TURN 17 YEARS OLD!!!  I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW TIME FLIES!!!

PLEASE KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU… EVEN WHEN I DON’T SAY IT OR EXPRESS IT AS MUCH AS BEFORE… EVEN WHEN WE GET INTO FIGHTS OR AWKWARD SILENCES.  YOU ARE STILL MY LITTLE SISTER, AND I’LL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW HAVING YOU IN OUR LIVES ENRICHES US ALL!

I’M SO PROUD OF HOW YOU’RE JUGGLING ERHS SUMMER SCHOOL AND PCC SUMMER SCHOOL… NOT TO MENTION YOUR  CONTINUOUS DEEP INVOLVEMENT WITH YOUR MUSIC.  IF THAT’S YOUR PASSION (AND IT CLEARLY IS YOUR GIFT), THEN I HOPE YOU FOLLOW IT AND BLESS THIS WORLD WITH THE TALENTS GOD HAS GIVEN YOU.

I LOVE YOU, SISTER!!!  I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT, MEMORABLE 17TH YEAR… AND I PRAY YOU’LL JUST KEEP GROWING TO BECOME BETTER AND BETTER… AND YET NEVER LOSE YOUR JOYFUL ATTITUDE, LOVE OF LIFE, AND WONDERFUL SPUNK THAT MAKES YOU UNIQUELY YOU.

I LOVE YOU!

~ATE