Raspberries & Homesickness

My first day living back in Irvine a few weeks ago, I bought a carton of raspberries from the Trader Joe's next to my apartment. I ate them paired with fresh mozzarella & evening air- but that's beside the point. Since that day I've walked through Trader Joe's probably another 3-4 times that same week. Each time, I've seen the same stand, with the same delicious raspberries. Each time, my mouth waters a little and I crave even just one berry. And each time, I've passed by the stand thinking- I'll get them next time.

Well today I made this familiar walk through Trader Joe's, and lo and behold, there was the stand! One problem: NO RASPBERRIES. Tons of blackberries, ripe strawberries, luminescent red currants- but not one raspberry. I missed my chance.

As most people living away from home will tell you, homesickness kicks in at the point where everything starts to feel familiar in the new place and you realize this isn't a short vacation; this is your new home. 
(Okay yes. I know I go to UCI- 40 minutes away from my home in Manhattan Beach... And I know I go home more often than I should. But... I STILL GET HOMESICK. Yeah I said it... SH. I'm cool.)

Now don't get me wrong- I love Irvine. My spot at my new Ambrose abode (Yes I've already claimed it my own), the quaint park next door, a communal friendly neighborhood and amazing roommates: it really feels like home. But when I was mildly ill and alone last week, nothing could have compared to lying on the couch, drifting in and out of sleep with my family and puppy by my side and the drone of dad's NBA basketball channel on in the background.

So what does this all have to do with raspberries???
Well when I went up to the stand to get those raspberries today and realized I'd missed my chance, it hit me that I already 'wasted' a week of my short time in Irvine wallowing over home and all its entails. Because the past just works this way, we can't relive days the way we wished we had originally lived them. And while it's the easiest thing to browse- Ok let's be honest: lurk- Facebook and my parent's Instagrams and let myself think about all that's going on at home, I am making a conscious decision to focus my attention on the here and now- the people, circumstances, and opportunities God has blessed me with right now, the experiences I'm about to have, and the joys yet challenges God sovereignly gives. (Oh and please don't get me wrong. Mom, Dad if you're reading this... You'll still see me every weekend! Hehe >:)

MORAL OF THE STORY?!

Buy the raspberries and enjoy them while you can- they could be gone tomorrow.

Summer Showers

Hello! I'm sitting in what used to be my brother's room. But since now that he has moved nearly 264,000 feet away... (If you calculate that it'll translate into a really long distance I'm sure of it) the room has transformed into something better. It is now our very new and blue study room! I find myself spending a lot more time in here when I'm home with my sister. The color BLUE is actually said to call to mind feelings of calmness or serenity and apparently research has shown that people are more productive in blue rooms. That explains a lot...

Productively night snacking on our latest finding!!! COOKIE BUTTER>NUTELLA+PEANUT BUTTER. But poor Ollie can't partake in our happiness. :( 

IN THE PAST 14 DAYS:
 I have been to:
A bridal shower
A baby shower
...The bathroom shower (my fav)
Oh, and speaking of showers... It lightly rain showered a few times last week in Irvine!!! YAY for all kinds of summer showers! =) =)

A Bridal Shower for Tammy!!! Congratulations again! Such a beautiful woman inside and out. :) 

A Baby Shower for ANGELA LEE! We can't wait to meet you Isaiah!!! :) 

I have seen:
Spiderman 3D &.. Peter Parker
The biggest spider in the world- now living at the guys' Berkeley apt (I refuse to put such a thing on my blog.)
The biggest dog in the world
Big Pelican-like creatures
My girlies
My b'friend... through my iPhone

Oh, Hello~

There was a crowd (of Asians) taking pictures of this famous puppy! It's only 4 months old!!!

... remarkable. 

Post finals celebration! :) 

Needy... sheesh. JK! Hello my good friend. :) 

What a productive hour! See?? The blue room has powers!!! :o 

Good night everyone :) 

#mindblowing

Today I sat in my car, at the park, and beside my bed for an accumulation of a few hours. I read, researched, napped, thought, thought some more, over thought; basically you name any function of the human brain- I did it. And it hit me- who does this? I mean who spends their time sitting in the stillness of his or her car, community park and room doing absolutely nothing? Probably one of the sweetest times well spent with the Lord. Reminded that the almighty, omnipotent Creator of this universe loves me- a love that goes far beyond the greatest human capacity- and that this faithful God constantly desires to pursue a personal, intimate relationship with me. We can come into a trustworthy relationship with this love and its Giver. What a wonderful Maker; what a wonderful savior! How amazing is our God! #mindblowing

We celebrated my beautiful grandmother's birthday today. It was a little different than usual since the boys are far away at college but thankfully we were all there to wish her the best birthday. =) 

Happy birthday Grandma =) We love you!

It's like they were there! Hehe :')

We miss you Jeremy! Come back to your sisters! :( 

Sleep and my sister are callin' my name. =) Bonsoir!