How do I make the nothing in my wallet into something?

well, i no longer work for Kelly's coffee shop. they relocated and said they would call me when they were settled in again. however, i don't want to stay with them since they're so sketchy. so i didn't make it to marina's wedding like i had hoped i would. i am currently completely broke. school is still the same, i'm doing much better with it though, i'm staying more focused but i still hate it. me and Rendell have been dating now for 1 month 11 days. it has been going really well too. we celebrated our one month anniversary by going to Bj's for dinner and planned on seeing fame but we were both too tired. we have been working on the christmas play for a while now too. the practices are going well and most people know their parts now but the girls need to be in sync for this to work correctly. halloween is also this weekend. i think i'll probably just go 50's for the church party. apparently i'm dressing like a cop for chelsae's party though. should be interesting...i also found out that the first russia meeting was this last sunday. i was a little upset that i wasn't informed about it but amy caught me up. apparently its march 20-april 2 and its $3200. ouch. i have no idea how any of this is going to work because i still don't have a job. i know that russia is where i'm supposed to be though so it'll work. i'm being told by someone that it won't work until i break up with Rendell because i'm not doing what God wants me to do by dating him. what's that about? i'm so frustrated by that but its still in the back of my mind... crap.

Thanks a latte for the job offer..

well its been a little while since my last post. school is well on its way now once again. carissa moved out about a week or two ago to live with her mom again. its kinda sad actually, cause we never see each other anymore and never talk. i'm not a fan of this new found distance. i have a job once again in a coffee shop. i work at kelly's at the mall. i'm happy to be working with coffee again, its such a good fit. even though the owner's son is a total weirdo and i get like no hours. i'm thinking about getting a second job becuase i really need to be making money, especially since i want to go to florida for the wedding, though i know it wont happen. i need to start saving for english camp too, its not far away at all! as always, i'm struggling to keep motivated and interested in school but i'm doing better than i used to so that's good. i really wish i was a good student who studied hard and did really well. i need to do well if i want to transfer anytime soon too. the relationship status has changed as well, chelsae's roommate's best friend rendell proved to be really cool actually. we were in this weird transitional state for a while but we went official sept 18. so we've been together for a little while now. its been really cool. i'm really impressed with him actually. its hard to explain it but the way he treats me is something i have never truely experienced. he's so tender and careful with the way he acts and treats me. i hate to admit it, but i'm totally falling for this dude. we'll see where it goes, i'm excited for the adventure either way. Praise Him always!

I Have Joined the Race for Knowledge

well the eternal, or yearly in this case, search for knowledge has begun once again. yes, school has started. while i generally find school a rather distasteful place, i rather enjoy my classes this semester. i'm a little concerned about my statistics class cause i struggle with math but i think i'll be ok with jorgen's help. also my reading class is a complete and total waste of time but again, nothing i can't handle. however, my world religions class is always an interesting one, full of new information for me to dive into. as well as my english class, where my professor continually finds these captivating stories. let the learning process continue! things have once again settled in temecula. the girls are gone, and carissa is back. even though at times, this might seem slightly mondain, i'm glad to have things back to normal and have some stability again. today after school me and carissa spent some time translating and working out the choreography for a sign language performance in the play. it was very stretching and frustrating to try and choreograph a piece to louder music (awake and alive by skillet) but overall i'm pleased with the outcome. it'll definitely get the point across. also coming up this weekend is One God, One Voice. apparently its kinda like a one day retreat over at calvary chapel south bay. i'm really excited to be going up there again, that church is such a blessing to me in so many ways. its going to be awesome getting a day of renewal and just total filling of the spirit as well. this is a golden opportunity for fellowship and for hearing more of the word. Praise Him always!

Timing is everything

well some of my questions have been answered. my desent towards land has finally begun. today has been a very good but unplanned day. this morning i had to drive all the way back to temecula from hunington for a skit at church. then i made my way back up to south bay to attend the service, where i ran into rigo. i was kinda upset about it because i wanted it to just be a time for me to focus and hear from the Lord but God used it. we were able to talk and made the decision that friendship is better suited for us. i was glad to finally have the resolution i was looking for. i feel a weight off of my shoulders. the strange thing about the situation is that, just as rigo is kinda moving out of my life, jake suddenly starts moving back in. i can't help but notice the strangeness of the timing, especially with him not knowing anything about rigo. anyways, the rest of my day was a huge encouragement. i was totally fed in the sermon and then me and marcely were able to hang out and just totally fellowship and talk about things in our lives right now. God has totally placed us in each others lives for a reason. we also went to the high school service tonight and that was a blessing too. God was just pouring Himself into me today and i'm stoked about it. tuesday is the beginning of school again and friday is the end of the girls visit. it seems so long and short at the same time. its been a blessing either way and i look forward to our time spent together in Russia in the spring. Praise Him always!

Patience is a virtue... that I don't have

well the Russians have been here for about a week now. alot has changed i must say. we've already done disneyland, the beach, and cara's boat. The girls seem to be having alot of fun and really enjoying themselves, minus natalie fighting with Rigo. it feels like things have been nonstop since they got here. is it just my imagination? possibly. it doesn't help that i am currently sharing a bed with Carissa and haven't been sleeping most of the time they've been here. i need relaxation and His peace. so many other things are going on that i have no control over. things i need to stop stressing about and just let go of. i can't make him call me anytime sooner. i can't make God's decision for myself. i can't make sure that this semester of school will go well. i can't make sure my mom keeps her job. and i can't make someone hire me. i feel as though i'm in a suspeneded position, hanging above all my decisions, waiting for that one missing piece of information i need to finally land. i so desprately want to land in whatever place it is that God has me but right now, i just need to wait. patiently. oh so patiently. God help me to do so.

This is your Wake up Call, Put on Love!!!

Well, I am finally back in Temecula. This past week has been awesome. God really worked up on the mountain, as He is always faithful to do.

The junior highers were alot of fun and alot easier to keep track of. They were really good about sticking with me. We goofed off, played dead cockroach, and shouted the Bref Stank song. Most importantly though, God worked in my girls lives. The girls mostly learned about how we need to be prepared for the Lord's return and stop sleeping. Some also learned about how to love your enemy when they hate you. Another learned that she needs to be a witness to her dad. In the junior high camp, I relearned a simple lesson. God reminded me how important my Christian friends really are. We need that encouragement and accountability we get with good fellowship. Even luke-warm Christians can bring you down, its not just nonchristians. He also reminded me of His faithfulness in answering prayer. He answered even the silliest prayers up there, just to remind me of His love! Prais Him!

The high schoolers were also really good. We had two get sick but that's the only real problem that we had. I was able to really connect and talk to some of my girls in a way I haven't before. Because of my girls openness and willingness to be change, God did just that. He totally broke them, overwhelmed them, and renewed them, we even had a kid get saved!!! How awesome is that!? God really reminded me about meekness on the high school retreat. I had already finished the junior high retreat and I still had another one to do. I was exhausted and my patience was wearing out. God showed me that I need to not be making comments or fighting back if someone annoys me. "Let it just roll off your back" God is faithful to teach us if we are willing. :)

When i got home from the high school camp, me and Leanna had to drive over to Disneyland to meet up with my mom and Denise. I only lasted a couple hours because I was exhausted but it was good to hang out with them for a while and see them on their birthdays. So at about 12:30 last night, I have finally returned home, changed and renewed. Next step, clean my room and house before the Russians arrive on Wednesday. Praise Him always!

How many Teresa's does it take to complete the next few weeks?

well my best friend has now been wrongfully fired from starbucks as well. i find it dishearting to know that these things can continue to happen and nobody can stop it. she'll be leaving for Fiji tomorrow on a missions trip and i wont see her for two weeks. its sad to think i wont see her for that long but we'll both be really busy during that time. today i'm supposed to meet up with one of my old co-workers for lunch, meet up with another one to stock up for the retreat, go visit another friend who's injured, and spend time with Carissa before she leaves for Fiji. i think it's gonna be a busy day. tomorrow i will have to pack and clean up a little bit because sunday, right after church i leave for the retreats. i was only supposed to be the counselor for high school but the jr high counselor backed out. so i'm going up the mountain with the jr highers and then staying there until the high schooler leave a week later. once i finally get home from the retreat, i'm supposed to turn around and go up to anaheim to go to disneyland with my mom for her birthday. then i'll have a day or two to finish changing my room before natalie and irina get here. then the fun times will begin))it's going to be a very fun next couple weeks but its going to be very long and tiring. please pray that i will have patience with the people around me and the energy to accomplish everything i need to up at camp.