Some good news...

On Friday evening of last week I received a letter from the LA job that I applied to a long time ago saying that they wanted me to come in to take some test to see if I qualify for the position. So its the best lead I've got in this whole job search thing. I am sure many people will be there as well, testing and hoping for the position. I think this would be a great opportunity but I can't put all my eggs in one basket:(.

As for my projects and something new that I am learning to work with is chocolate. I actually thought of opening a shop and becoming a chocolatier. Then I was brought back to reality. What I made was chocolate truffles. They were delicious! I took some to church today and they seemed to enjoy them.

Lastly, today I went to the Cheesecake factory to meet up with last year UP Women RA staff, well the part of us that are currently in the country. It was a baby shower for Kharvena. It was a good time to catch up and see how each one of our lives changes so much within a year frame. All I can say is Whoa! People are getting married, having babies, applying to Med school all great and wonderful things so well see what this next week brings. I think I might apply for unempolyment:(

Learning well waiting....

Okay, so really I am not the type of girl that can sit home all day and not have things to do. Besided having a quiet time, looking for a job, and meeting people for lunch, reading, running, I've started to some projects. Without having a huge source of income things can get a bit creative. One of my first projects was I learned how to sew on a machine. The reason is because a lady from my church asked me to tell my testimony to a group of girls she is disciplining at CBU so I wanted to make a small gift for them. Then the idea of making a memory verse pack came to my mind. So I went to Joanns to get some fabric and I asked Sarah Pate to teach me how to use the machine and I made them!




Technically, this wasn't my first project it was my second. My first project was a painting mixed with a little bit of scrap booking. I painted a whole canvas black with some pink, yellow, gold flowers. Then I put 1 Peter 4:3 on it using the Cricut machine to make pretty letters:). I would post a picture but I am very self conscious about my art. Someday I hope to over come that.

Any who this past week I've been expanding my culinary and baking skills. Well, I am going to a trainer and am running on a pretty consistent basis so I decided to get some recipes from Women's Health Magazine. On the baking end I've made some whole wheat banana strawberry muffins, apple sauce oatmeal cookies, and granola. The kids ate it all so I imagine that it was relatively decent. Now on the cooking end... I love to cook:)... I really got into some Asian recipes. On one night I cooked chicken with snow peas and broccoli with sticky rice. It was delicious. On Friday the kids requested that I make empanadas (Colombian dish). Then on Saturday was another big Asian meal. Well, Sarah and Amy were raised in Thailand so they are very custom to spices and different sauces. There other sister Elizabeth, is a cook as well, so we made three different types of dishes. We used different types of Asian veggies which I don't recall the names but I do remember the spices/sauces and how to put all together. It was a splendid experience!

Month 1 of being unemployed...

So far being unemployed I have applied to about 25 different jobs (I think it may be more, but I've lost count) pretty much ranging from LA county to the Inland Empire, two interviews which resulted in call backs saying that they were not hiring after all (I was confused). I am not going to lie, I have broken down twice which is pretty lame, but nonetheless I was broken. So God provided for a couple of things that would make unemployment go much smoother....

Got a massage (unfortunately not in this scenery:()


Watched these movies






Ate at ...
(Las Campanas at the Mission Inn).

Spend a day at...



and listened to...



currently reading...
not so interesting books about legal translation. (I won't name them).

I guess I can't complain. God has definitly blessed me during this tough time (as you can see). Although, I don't have a job I do have my basic needs like a bed, clothes, and food:) So I am very greateful and thankful for all that He provides both big and small;)

Job Hunting

First of all I want to begin with a little scripture that has encouraged me for this season in my life and it is Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

The thing is that God is going to be glorified and I will glorify God in any and every circumstance in my life.This verse really just reminds me of that. Okay well that's just a little of what's been going on in my time with God. As for job hunting well there is really not that many jobs to hunt:(. Today I found this position online where the company gives training to become an administrative assistant. This is exactly the position that I am looking for because it's a two year commitment so that will insure stability. Also many positions that I have applied for I don't qualify because lack of experience so this will be a great opportunity to obtain the experience I need. The only problem is that it is all the way out in LA. The good thing is that it pays enough for me to live with some roommates. So as Proverbs 16:3 says commit your way to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. So I plan to do just that.

The other route I can take is the education field which is not uber appealing to me but hey if it pays the bills then I can get use to it. So I will apply to the majority districts around me to be a substitute teacher or bilingual aid for teachers. Either way my trust and hope is in the Lord so we will see what happens!!!!!

Budget:(

Unfortunately the budget crisis of our state has effected me directly. I did not make the budget cut for the DA's office and now they can't hire me because there is a freeze. It's been such a blast working there. I'm not only going to miss my stress free job but the people I worked with. Now I must continue to find another job being some sort of Bilingual Assistant.

The good about loosing a job is that it really makes you think about life and future plans. Now I kind of know what I want to do and that is to become a translator in the courts. I love to communicate and I guess I have a skill that I guess bridges the gap between two cultures through language. Anyway I hope to move out toward LA area sometime within the next year. My church family and relatives live out that way so I will have to say good bye to Riverside. That won't happen for a while though.

New Years!

I forgot about New Years.....

Well New Years Eve I spent it at my Uncle and Aunts house in the city of South El Monte. Every year they throw a party and this year it was a Masquerade. I invited my friend from work and we stayed up till very late dancing and enjoying the company of other friends and family:) Here is another picture

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years:)

Well last year was very eventful especially being that I'm most definitely in a transition stage of life where I really don't know what my role is. Any who it's been a while since I posted anything but I'll give a little sneak peak to what my holidays looked liked. First of all I spent Thanksgiving with my big crazy Mexican family which I absolutely love. I think there was about 50 of us or more. I have like 24 first cousin or so. Well coming from a big family there is always tons of food I think they cooked like three turkey's and two hams and all the other non-mexican food:). It was tons of fun we played Loteria after dinner. Loteria is kind of a Latin American Bingo. My family gets very serious about playing this game I wish I could record them sometime. That wraps up my Thanksgiving.

Well Christmas was fun as well. At church we put on a Christmas service and it's always a joy to go early and help set up for everything. I really enjoy serving and seeing people serve. At the end of the service we get to take Christmas pictures by a tree and I took one with my brother. He is a pretty sweet brother:). I'm not sure if it's all Mexican families that do this but we celebrate Christmas by staying up on Christmas Eve and then we open presents at midnight. So we did and it was a bit tiring. I don't remember being so tired when I was younger though. Oh I almost forgot about my near death experience on Christmas Eve. On my way to my aunts house I was driving on the 15 going to the 60 W listening to a pretty sweet I Tunes mix when all of a sudden my car loose control (I think because it had lightly rained not sure) well all of sudden I do a 180 off the ramp and my car gets stuck on a slope. The funny thing is that I was not afraid at all. I just got out of my car and was really grateful that it did not do a 360 with a flip. Well I called AAA and my brother of course, CHP came to make sure I was safe. It took me like three hours to finally get to my aunts house. I think what frustrated me the most was all the expenses but like always God provides.
On Christmas Day I got to see my mom and it was a true blessing to see that she was doing well. I was just excited to be with her, my sister, brother, grandma and the rest of the fam. I guess the holidays are enjoyable because one is able to see everyone they love all at the same time. Well here is the pic of me and my brother...