2 Corinthians 5:14-15

"Either way, Christ’s love controls us.Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them." New Living is so much easier to understand sometimes...

Boom dee odda

Boom dee odda, Boom dee odda. Its so catchy!!
I love the world - What I would give to travel the world.

Ryan Cabrera - Say

Koinonia

(Warning: Long ‘and-this-is-what-I-did’ post) Family Retreat! I have to be honest; my trip up to Mission Springs, Santa Cruz wasn't as productive as I thought. I couldn't grasp hold of God or find his voice. I don’t know why but it was just very difficult, on the contrary, when I got home, I took the time to reflect a bit and that’s when I truly felt His presence. It felt warm and comforting - it made me very content with life as He knows all and will lead me onwards. --- Anyway, let’s backtrack, we all met up at church one scorching hot Friday afternoon and made way to Santa Cruz. According to Tiffany, the temperature peaked up to 111 degrees; luckily, it cooled down to a toasty burnt degree of 97 by the time we arrived. Aside from the weather (and crazy bugs EVERYWHERE), the area was quite peaceful - we had dinner, worshipped, and listened to Sharon Huey's message of unlearning old ways. Later on that night, after much cold-showers, some of us came into our cabin to play cards - very funny as we discovered that SOME of us are cheaters, but I still love you guys. The next day, we hiked up to the ropes course area. Sadly, most of up weren’t able to climb the trees due to the unexpected thunder clouds - so we went back and spent the rest of the day in the pool full of sweat and saliva (Goodie!). Towards the end, Tiffany, Neilson, Thomas and I went over to the deep end and started diving, and then EVERYONE came over. We did some entertaining stunts (Ill post some pics and videos as soon as I get them). During one of my cannonballs, my shorts were inching away as I tired to surface, so I was panicking underwater. Hahaha. After that we listened to another one of Sharon's message about Peter and Cornelius. That night, we went up to the campfire to share our experiences that weekend. I enjoyed Aaron's analogy of the ropes course event. There was this course where you climb 50 some feet up a tree and take a leap of faith as you try to ring the bell floating in midair. The analogy behind it is that we climb up the vigorous tree, not knowing where it takes you and trying to get the top, and once we get there we take a leap of faith as we try to reach for our goal (bell). And if we miss, God will slowly guide us down and let us try again. I thought it was very interesting. Finally, on our last day, we had Sunday communion, followed by Pastor Mark's message as he weaved in and out of topic. Hilarious. A couple of us, me included, have to leave early for the team's softball game. So we headed back up to glorious foggy San Francisco before lunch. I recorded the game as promised and went home EXHAUSTED. Took a 13 hour sleep, but enjoyed every moment of retreat. Fellowshipping, friends, cards, eating, swimming, worshipping, hiking, nighttime star field, even the insanely amount of bugs (okay, not really). <3

Waterfights & Sleepovers

(Dear me, how stupid of me. I had meant to post this entry up but forgotten about it completely.) So I’m super late with this but a couple weeks ago Kathleen forced me to let her sleepover at my place. >< We started our adventure at the cinema - gazing at the gorgeous face of Ben Barnes, though Skandar Keynes looks pretty hot too, even if he is very young; he's getting there. We went back to my place, only to find Mandy and Alberto there. And when you get multiple amounts of people plus warm weather .. water-fights are bound to happen. But really, that water-fight came out of no where; it was rather quick and random but still a good soak. Good times. The rest of the night was mindless loitering. We took a bunch of fun photography shots and messed around on the computer. Who would have thought karaoking to youtube would so entertaining.

Bunny!

LOL.

Hiking trips

Gaah! So much has happened these past two weeks. I don't even know where to begin. I don't really want to write out everything, so little nibbets will do.

San Bruno Mountain State Park

Macho.

Waiting for sunset.

Neilson jumps funny.

Sunset~ Beautiful.

Golden Gate Bridge & Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Dorks on a bridge.

Cause walking down is just so overrated.

Caught Neilson. Didnt caught Alberto & Mandy. >XD

Wandering in the woods.

Glen Canyon Park

Throw your hands in the air like you just don't care.

Our model shots ...

On the prowl. Lost a sibling that day.

What a view!

Payce!!

Sunsets

Last weekend, Steph, Neilson, Alberto & I took to quick random hike up this quiet secluded hill top just further up from my place. It’s where the mission condos are located and in a sense someone's backyard - but not really. It is nothing adventurous with steep steps or crazy wild animals popping from bushes; although Alberto did claimed he saw some kind of animal rustling around the bushes as we went up. It is a very simple walk with your occasional thorny plant but that’s it. We went up there around 8:00 in the evening because we had plan to watch the sunset; which sets around 8:30. We hiked up, gazed down on San Francisco, and took a bunch of fun jumping silhouette pictures (FYI: Neilson jumps funny). The whole experience was breath-taking as you take in the majestic view. I'll get Steph to upload pictures soon enough, but it truly is beautiful. I wouldn’t mind going up there by myself some day, just to absorb God's wonders. It would by kind of dangerous though - going alone. But, for sure, I’m going up there to view the sunrise one of these summer days. I just have to get my butt out of bed in order to do so. >__< I just realize that Blogspot have a horrible spell-check.

Tall & Skinny

Tall: see, I love you sooooo much that I'd kiss your bearded sandwich
Tall: If that’s not love, I don’t know what is
Skinny: it's not a beard! It’s a mustache
Skinny: big diff
Skinny: I hate beards
Tall: so if I grow one, you're going to hate me?
Skinny: no... I'll just hate the beard
Skinny: and shave it off for you
Tall: I’ll get your mustache then
Skinny: don't you dare
Tall: double dare
Skinny: triple fudge sundae
Tall: pickle you kamquat!!!
Skinny: doo doo head cootie queen!
Tall: who are you calling a cootie queen you lint licker!!!
Skinny: Stinky McStinkface!
Tall: what the french toast!?!
Skinny: KEN LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Tall: ROFFFLLL!!!!
Tall: alright, you won this round
Skinny: YES! *pumps fist*
Tall: FTW!!!!!

Regina Spektor - The Call

From The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Soundtrack



This song made me tear up in the theater - well, the whole movie did. I enjoyed it very much. I kept looking for all the biblical significances in the movie and is very pleased with how Andrew Adamson approached it. Two thumbs up!

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. --Ephesians 1:5-6

Interesting ..

Twilight [Again]

Oh duh!! How can I forget the heap load of Twilight news this past week!! Firstly, the new book cover art for the fourth installment of the twilight saga - Breaking Dawn - was released!! Faint* The cover displays two chess pieces. I did some chess symbolism research and found some interesting links/facts. Chess in Europe became one of the seven probates of the middle age knight, and popular fantasy built on chess romances and epic poems were related by the minstrels to entertain their Lords. Chess is also a symbolic meaning to the last act of life, sparing no one - 'the final battle' - so in a sense, you can relate this to the final chapter/book to Bella's story. Furthermore, you take a good look, the chess pieces are arranged in a manner that is what professionals call the 'promotion'. It is an almost impossible move and very rare. It happens when the pawn gets up to 8th rank and can become bishop, knight or in this case, a queen. You can guess what this shows. Bella undergoes transformation. Yaay!! I've also caught hint of color symbolism. I took a class the semester before where we discussed about colors and what they mean. In some cultures red is a sign of life - so think of the pawn as Bella, full of life and blood. The pawn is positioned that is in check to the queen thus taking over that new life which explains the white, or death of Bella (No blood and immortality). So that was my take on it... There are a bunch of interpretations, I like this one more.
Later on that week, MTV hosted their 2008 Movie Awards - and along with it came the first exclusive clip from the Twilight movie. Fangirls were screaming around the world. I on the other hand didn't. I don't know why. I was very excited and full on ready to tackle the consequences of indoor screaming, but I didn't react. I was still very excited - I watched it like 20 times, but not my with my usual fangirlish behavior. I don't know whats wrong. On the other hand, I must say that Kristen Stewart is an amazing actor. I was in absolute awe watching her preform. On that note, I also watched the preshow interviews. I really got the sense that RPattz (now Spunk Ransom) has a very sarcastic personality. But don't get me wrong, I love sarcasm. It was just interesting to figure out.

Playtime begins

Lots of happenings since my last journal entry. Lets see how far I can tap my brain at past memories... Gaah!! That was of no use - I didn't get anything. Well for one, I went hiking up around the Sutro Baths area! It was very fun. Trina gave me a bunch of historical nibbits - I learned quite a lot that day. We went down to the baths first - took a look around the ruins, rocky shores and cliffs. It was very secluded; just how I like it. I took the time to relax and just absorb the surroundings. We hiked our way up to the Coastal Trails and then back down to the Mile Long Beach. Got some very fun shots and spent a long time just watching waves crash. It may sound kind of cooky and rather boring, but quite the contrary - its entertaining. I could watch them all day. Its around noon when we got hungry so we hiked through steep hills, insanely long stair cases, dangerous wilderness and golf courses to get to Quicklys!!! What an adventure! Walked back to the car afterwards and went up to the mansion area. Nice views up there. I love it! --- FLASHBACK! I remember now! I went to the movies on thrusday night. We watched Iron Man! Awesome is the only word I can describe it. No other word can compare. It was indeed awesome. Awesome. Oh and lets not forget my fangirl moment at the theater. I went gah gah over a Twilight poster outside. People (or just staffs, it wasnt a busy night) stared, but it was a fangirl moment. Surely that is a legitimate excuse... SUNDAY - I went to cheer on the softball team at their game after church. I had fun - though, I was on the verge of losing my voice, but well worth it. Played with Thomas' pomeranians - they looked like little lion furballs. MONDAY - Went shopping with Kathleen dearest. We discovered that I was her always-find-something-when-shopping charm. She's going to take me everywhere she goes now. My benefit is free lunch. Bwuahahahah.

Photo-spam!! Courtesy of Trina.

Sutro Baths.

Trina takes a lot of pictures of my butt ....

Rock Labyrinth

Professional wave maker.

Murdered by rats with wings.

Eating Edward's meal. >XD

Breathtaking.