What Would You Tell Yourself?

Have you ever looked back at your life and said to yourself, 

"I wish that I had known this earlier in my life."?

Up to this point I've learned some important lessons. 

Some of them include:

1. Don't "Kill Time." Time is precious, embrace every moment.

2. Growing up, you think your high school sweetheart is going to be the person you'll be with forever. Chances are, you're not. Each relationship is an experience. 

3. Don't be afraid of experiences.

4. Scratch that, don't be afraid. Don't let fear stop you from taking chances. Don't be afraid to trust.

5. It may feel like the end of the world. It's not. Life will go on.

6. When life gets the hardest, call up your best friend. Laughter is the best medicine.

7. Hold on tight to real friendships.

8. Don't spend all your energy on friendships and relationships that are one sided. You deserve better.

9. Don't cry over someone who's not willing to cry over you.

10. Forever is a long time to be without someone, don't walk away angry.

11. Don't regret. Past experiences have made you who you are today and led you to have so many wonderful experiences.

12. The only power that someone has over you is the power that you give them.

13. It's not what happens. No one can make you feel one way or another. No one can make you do anything. It's not the action, it's your reaction. You have the power to choose how you react.

14. Put yourself in their shoes. Where are they coming from? Do you feel any differently about that person now? 

15. It's not your place to judge. You are not responsible for judging anyone or their actions.

16. Don't accept things you don't think are right. You can affect change.

17. Hold yourself accountable when you are.

18. Allow others the space to hold themselves accountable when need be.

19. Don't blame.

20. Hugs, kisses and cuddling are wonderful things.

21. Love without bounds.

22. Find out what makes your light shine and do it. 

23. Don't do the things that make you miserable. Life's too short.

24. Don't fall into old patterns, figure out how to bring positive change to your life. If something had a negative outcome in the past, change it for the future. Don't fall back on habit.

25. Be happy, smile, it's a chain reaction.

If you could go back in time and tell your eighteen year old self anything, something you know now that you wish you'd known then, what would it be?

Two Years Jesse.

Two years Jesse. 

I miss your hugs, your smile, your laugh. 

I miss you.

Liver cancer claimed your life a mere 10 days after your diagnosis.

You've helped me learn to appreciate every day.

All of your "Blue Angels" are missing you here on Earth.

You will always be loved.

Rest In Paradise Jesse Rios. 

April 5, 1936 – February 22, 2008

I've Fallen in Love...

Meet Shayna. 

Shayna means beautiful and that she is.

She's my brand new Ashland guitar.

I'm in love.

My mom bought a guitar at the age of eighteen and as much as I wanted to get hers repaired so I could play it, it was more cost effective to buy a new one (though I will still get hers repaired someday).
I've been wanting to learn to play the guitar for years and am so excited to finally be presented with the opportunity to do so!

Shayna is a steel string acoustic guitar and with one of the smallest body sizes and fits me perfectly.

So far I can correctly and successfully play one chord which I'm excited about. 

Haha, the simple pleasures.

I bought her on the 15th, so she is my Valentine's beauty.

For Valentine's day I sent out 43 Valentines in the mail along with 4 packages that were swaps (though havn't received any of the swap packages in return from my partners yet, fingers crossed that they come! I've already had to deal with swapping and not having anything come in return which dampens the excitement of swapping.). I've received a bunch of cards (and stickers which I LOVE) and have so enjoyed running to the mailbox everyday for the last month and finding such wonderful surprises!

Valentine's Day weekend I went to a conference at my church with around 100 youth and adults 13-20 years old. It was incredible meeting so many new people, having beautiful and powerful midnight worships and just being surrounded by so much love. 

Valentine's Day didn't go quite as planned because the "Valentine" I was supposed to get together with ended up being sick and had to cancel.

I'm just glad that they're now feeling better!

My godmother is here for the weekend so I'm off to spend my last night with her and will update more soon!

Now for pictures!

Shayna <3

Buying Shayna..

These are some of the things I sent out...

Happy week behind and week ahead!

To Write Love On Her Arms 2010

Approximately 18.8 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, have a depressive disorder.

10 out of every 100000 Americans commits suicide

To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. 

Each year around Valentine's Day TWLOHA host a day (two days this year) as a worldwide event with the intention that "Love is the Movement" and that "Recovery is Possible."

This is my fourth year participating in the event, in this movement.

February 12, 2010

Join me today and tomorrow (the 12th and 13th) writing LOVE on our arms (literally or metaphorically) and show support for all the people around the world who are hurting, broken and in need of some Love.

(For more information on this incredible movement visit www.twloha.com)

Rainy Day Vineyards

In honor of my friend Sean Scott and the one year anniversary of his passing, I wanted to show you all the mustard flowers that are beginning to pop up here in the wine country!

It's Beginning to Look Like Valentine's Day!

It's beginning to look a lot like Valentine's day in my classroom! You can't really tell but some of the hearts are colored on by one of my little ones.

I love holidays!

The Art of Sign Spinning

So after a strange day, I was attempting to get back to my "happy place" and something managed to send me into hysterics. 

Have you ever seen those people dressed as the statue of liberty spinning signs? Well we have THREE of them in front of a store that are out there working it, every day.

Today though there was something a little different right next to the three statues of liberty. 

Someone with a mask, jail stripes head to toe and giant black feather wings was dancing and head bobbing.

The sign was for a bail bonds place.

Creepiest thing ever. And it sent me into tailspinning laughter.

So we had to go around the block just so I could get a picture to share with all my bloggy friends.

Wow.