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This is 30

I am 30. At midnight, while watching Parks and Rec (currently my favorite show-who else loves Ben & Andy?) Kevin decided to surprise me with Wicked tickets. I've been wanting to watch this musical for years! If that isn't a great way to start my 30th year, then I don't know what is!

As the phone calls, bday texts, and social media comments come my way, I find myself reflecting on this past decade. God is so good! In my 20's, this is what happened in my life:
  • I graduated UCSB with a political science degree. I cherished my time being in that university...most people think of UCSB as a party school (because it is) but for me, this is where God saved me, and I find it to be such a beautiful place where my life TRULY began.
  • I moved back home in La Mirada and joined my church South Bay Christian Alliance Church (now named Pillar Bible Church). They say that you are like the people you surround yourself with, and there is truth in that statement. It was nice to be around like minded believers and to find a new family in my church. 
  • Kevin pursued me, and I said yes to marrying him. This was quite possibly the most thrilling season of my life. Being in love with Kevin was a high and everything was exciting. I smile typing this out. Our pastor said that once you're married there are some very high highs in life, but some very low lows. I didn't know what that meant back then but we would later find out.
  • I graduated American Career College and got a vocational degree in nursing. This took 9 months and I'm thankful I learned everything I did, because it would help me have more confidence in taking care of Evangeline's special needs down the road.
  • I married Kevin! Uncle John officiated, Auntie Susie helped me get ready...I'm so thankful we got to get married in Uncle John's church. It was a beautiful day!
  • I worked a little bit giving vaccinations. I then worked being a summer tutor/preschool teacher's aide/preschool teacher. I actually had no experience or clue how to act or be around groups of children. I remember praying really hard for God to give me the gift of teaching because I wanted to be a good mom one day. 
  • After 2 years of trying and lots of prayer, I got pregnant. Then I gave birth early at 6 months: enter Evangeline! This was the scariest season of my life, trying to keep her alive.
  • I became a stay at home mom and life was busy bringing Evangeline to many doctor appointments with her: cardiologist, ophthalmologist, pulmonologist, developmental center, occupational therapist, speech therapist, main pediatrician, etc. I also gave her 11 medications around the clock and she slowly weaned off of not only the medications, but most of those specialists as well! Praise the LORD!
  • We had Evangeline dedicated to God by Uncle John at her first birthday party. I cried because all I wanted was for her to be healthy physically and spiritually.
  • I started a post bac program for speech therapy but didn't get to finish. I got pregnant again...only to find out we also miscarried. If Evangeline was the scariest season of my life, Elianna's was the most difficult physical and emotional season I've ever experienced. I was so sick. Definitely a time I clinged to God, grieving the loss of life and thanking Him immensely that I still had one growing. 
  • Elianna's first year of life was basically me learning how to deal with the typical hardships parents face: lack of sleep, breastfeeding difficulties, and just juggling how to handle an active toddler along with a needy infant. I also decided to venture out on more playdates since Evangeline was older and healthier. 
  • I became a consultant for a skincare company called Beautycounter alongside my girlfriend Eunice. She introduced me because she knew my eczema was flaring and I'm forever grateful! I basically switched to only non-toxic skincare and cosmetic products now which has helped my skin so much.
  • Kevin and I decided to homeschool Evangeline with Classical Conversations! I'll write an entire blog post on this sometime in the future. We enrolled Evangeline in two co-ops this year (one on Monday and one on Thurs/Fri) and now I am working as an independent contractor as the main homeschool tutor for her Monday class! It's been 4 years since I had my own classroom so this is a welcomed change of pace. I always said that my ideal job going back to work would include my children and it's nice I can be with her in the classroom. Elianna is next door while I teach and tutor.  Elianna is super needy and clingy to me so this is kind of a nice break so I can educate Evangeline more intentionally and without distraction. Our first day of CC was this past Monday and Evangeline loved it, Elianna was happily snuggling with the childcare worker, and I LOVED the students in my class! Ugh, they are so sweet! Why are 4 and 5 year olds so precious? Every 3 weeks I have to volunteer in her other co op on Thursdays/Fridays and just finished volunteering yesterday. My body is adjusting to all the kid germs and I am feeling more tired than usual! I probably won't ever do 2 co-ops simultaneously ever again because it's getting busy and exhausting already. My girlfriend made fun of me and said that if I had sent Evangeline to public school, I would probably be the PTA president with how involved I am.
Here are some pics from this past week. I told Kevin all I wanna do this weekend is get a car wash and organize all our homeschool supplies. He thinks I'm crazy haha! A mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do...


so thankful for good friends and coffee to keep me awake ;)



some disney fun!

omg..how cute is this cubby from the thurs/fri co op?

first day of CC! So excited to classically educate our girls!
time to organize!

Thanks to everyone who greeted me for my bday! Praise the Lord for another year. I am so excited for everything that's going to happen in the next decade with Kevin and the girls. I know it's gonna fly by. 



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