Dang it.

Well, I found out today that I did not get the job. I'm not sure who it went to yet, although I can almost be certain it was to someone with more experience. I know it was a long shot: a first-year teacher, a 4-5 combo, in 2 languages. But I have never wanted, nor imagined wanting, something so much. Needless to say, I'm heartbroken... quite literally. I fell in love with the school, the kids, the idea of working there but God has a different plan. I know that and I trust it but I wish that wasn't the case. I'm confused and a little at a loss of what steps I take next. God is so good at knowing what I need to learn: patience, surrender and grace through it all. Please continue to pray if/when you think of it. And know that I am so very grateful for all of your prayers and encouragement up till now. It has meant so much. I'm sorry to be such a downer in this one... believe me, I was definitely hoping it would be a pose of excitement! Even still, I look at what God has done in my family just this year and am slapped in the face with how faithful He is. Thank you, dear friends. I love you all.

JUST SOME NEWS...??!!

DEAR KACEY:

YEAH GIRL!

LOVE,
BECCA

Slowdancing in A Burning Room

Ladies, Kacey especially, I must first add an excited HELLO to all of you!! (KACE gets the biggest one because she's the first to get engaged and all- only fair :)) !!! I love reading about all of your news- Hil how did the interview go?? Becca, my life has slowed down and I would love it if you came to visit!! Anyone else is free to hop on board too! I just moved like a week and a half ago to a little smaller pad, but my bed is always open for you ladies. On a note of updates and prayers, I think Nate and I are breaking up in about an hour... We haven't been dating long, and only really met at the end of December so its a tough thing to say goodbye to so soon. It basically comes down to the fact that he is just entering into the post-college depression we all had once "real life" hit us hard; 2 jobs, bills, loneliness without roommates etc is just setting him over the edge, and our relationship is suffering. "We" were the last thing added to his plate, therefore I think, in his overwhelm, lightening his emotional load will keep him from sinking. I am obviously bummed about this because it feels like he's shooting our relationship in the foot before we've started the race. Either way, I know the Lord has a bigger plan than I do, and I'd rather His than mine any day. But prayers would be graciously accepted as I heal from this, and of course a phone call to make me laugh is welcomed anytime! Love you all, and... thanks

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's all I have to say... oh, and CONGRATULATIONS! I love you and am so happy for you!

Love,
Hil

Aloha!

Let me first say WELCOME BECCA!! I was thinking about you today and decided I was going to give you a hard time in my next post to encourage you to join in on the fun. I am happy to hear about the excitement of your life!
As you may or may not have known, I am currently in Hawaii with my parents and Alan for what serves as my spring AND summer break from school. I realized that some of you haven't even seen a pic of the man that has stolen my heart (cheesy, I know) so here he is. Try and figure out which one he is (hehehe). Brett and Andrea aren't here due to their wedding being in less than a month. OH MY GOSH huh?!
Alright my dears, I hope you're all doing so well and try not to pity me too much sitting on the beach for the next few days.
Love you

first blog posting EVER...so glad it's with you gals!

Holler!!! I guess it took me a while to jump on the blog train, but I have truly been thinking about all of you SO MUCH as of recently. I was previously "borrowing" the internet from the neighbs and then I guess they set a password, so now I pretty much never get on the internet. Except at work...to look for other jobs. Haha. Anyway...I love hearing about all of your lives - it puts a smile on my face to know that we haven't all lost touch in these strange and eventful days of our mid-twenties. Brief synopsis of my life right now (for those of you that don't know): still at Blue Bee...been trying to leave for like, 3 months now...kinda hard to do when you're not entirely sure what it is you want to do next and all you have is retail experience; live dt in a supe cute (that's for you, Elyse) studio with my fish, Leonard; my boyfriend, Todd lives downstairs in the same tiny apt complex and we're kind of in love. This is the first serious relationship for both of us and I never knew I would learn so much from it! But it's great and he's great. I never would have pictured myself living this life when we graduated 2 years ago, but here I am, and as curious as I am about the future, I am loving life. I'm trying to keep a level head and trust the God that I know is good through some of this uncertainty and the more significant decisions I need to make (career path, grad school, possibly moving, etc...and how the bf fits into all of that). I think most of it is stuff I need to figure out on my own and for myself, but prayers and encouragement are obviously welcome:) I am really going to make a big effort to keep up with this thing and stay in the loop on all of your lives and adventures. I am so grateful just to know such beautiful spirits like all of you ladies.

Modified Speed Bump

What in the world, you might ask, am I talking about? Well, you're in luck... I'm going to tell you. Remember that awful speed bump right outside of 915 La Paz? Yeah, it's about high time someone noticed how many cars bottomed out on that thing. They've modified it, painted it to be visible and last night I experienced this new - and wondrous - one might add, modification. About time. In other 915 news, Marisa informed me that rumor has it that a young professor and his wife will be moving in to rent The Home. I think they should have had an application process personally - that we reviewed. Alas, apparently people don't care about us. Whatever.

Ok... on a more serious note, though, I would covet your prayers this week. My interview is coming up on Monday, April 21. It's from 8:15-9:45. First, I teach in English, then in Spanish and then do my interview. While I have a great relationship with the students, staff, etc., I know that I am up against some pretty tough competition - most recently, a student from UCSB that I know, a girl who has taught in inner city LA and finally, a male with the last name Ramirez. It leads me to believe that his Spanish is better than mine, plus he's a male - which, as you all know - I am not. Ok, but to be honest: this would be my dream come true, quite literally. Not only have I wanted to teach since age 4, but in a bilingual school!? Are you kidding me? I want the job badly and have not admitted until recently that I will be very sad if I don't get it. I know that God has the perfect plan and a way to open doors if/when He wants me there, but that is hard to focus on right now. I would love your prayers for peace, comfort and rest over the next few days (I've had a few rough nights of sleep). And, I'd love them on Monday for confidence, patience, wisdom and grace as I teach and interview. Thank you all so very much from the bottom of my heart. I wish I could see your faces on Monday morning before I went... and when I came home. I love you and miss you and wish we had Brew Crew tomorrow morning.

Hil

True Confessions

When I saw everyone's awesome pictures, I decided to look through a few of my own. To my great enjoyment, I found this picture :) There was a night where Kacey and I had nothing to do, big surprise, and we decided to dress up and take pictures around Westmont. This is just one snap shot of our tour de westmont.

Holler Back Youngins!

Ladies!! Hello!!! I got busy this week and didn't check the blog, and then BAM there are like ten new posts- how fun!! I L-O-V-E hearing everyone's news- its such a great way to stay connected! I suppose I have a few things to share, ass well... Mom and I are moving this weekend, which has not been the fav topic of convo because we are forced to move cuz its so expensive right now. The reparations come slowly and the repercussions prolonged in divorce, I guess... :( So I hold fast to Redemption, instead, and for how the Lord is planning to make all things new in our family someday. That is why I am here in DP, to be with the woman and learn to live life in our oddly shaped family unit. And I am so grateful for this special time with my mom, at home, with friends etc. On the flip side, plans to get out of here are in motion too!! I hear back from the financial aid department of Richmond University, London next week about a Masters of Art History program for Fall! I also applied to a semester long program with Sotheby's Institute (founders of the internationally acclaimed auction house), which is also in London. No Masters there, but great training and exposure for resume. I will keep you posted! Main prayers this week are for patience with the move and grace if the new place doesn't quite fit my desires, because its perfect for my mom. Ky, praying for your family. Other ladies, thinking about you often. Ha ha and Kath, this one's for you.... !!

In Need of a Freedom Frolic!!

Hi guys, so I am studying for my finals...ahhh I have grown to hate the weekend right before finals. And then I thought to myself, "I haven't always hated finals weekend" and suddenly it occurred to me...I NEED A FREEDOM FROLIC!!
So I decided I would post an old pic, and follow it up with a current pic of me showing you just how desperate I am!
Ky, I am happy to hear your dad's surgery went well, I will surely keep praying.
Mags, I love hearing how much you are enjoying school...I am a wee bit jealous (especially with all of your new Ashie friends!)
Love you guys and miss you terribly.

Make it Rain...

I have decided to post some pics of my most recent Spring Break activities....making it rain! This past weekend, Ky and I got visit the Kougar in her new digs - Boise! It made me miss our times in La Paz of lounging, eating, laughing, and just, overall, making a scene.  I also got to meet Alan, who is FABULOUS! He did a great job of putting up with our antics and adding to the fun. Loved him! Ky and I also got the chance to resume our old habits of traveling around together and being awkward.....ie man on plane who was literally "drafting" behind us on the way to our next flight. I think Ky found another admirer :)  Also, my new obsession is taking pictures that is raining with bills...just like my life every night. haha So, I have posted some of my faves.  Last night, I also got to play with Becky and Shan...and the rain continued.  It was fabulous catching up and embracing the night life at the Spectrum.  So, all that to say, it has been a great break...and I am again reminded of what wonderful people are on this blog. Love it!

Ha-Ray-Roo-Yah!

so, here i am, week 2 at fuller. still loooooving it.

so last week, on thursday, my gospels class got out a half hour early so i went to the student lounge to get ahead on some reading (because i am like such a good student.)

turns out, korean chapel took over after i had been there for about an hour.

guitars, happy asians, singing "HA-RAY-ROO-YAH!"

i almost died and it was all i could do to refrain from calling kacey to hold the phone up for her to hear this glorious sound.

and now, here i am again, and there they are again. "HA-RAY-ROO-YAH!"

wow.

...whip cream shots on the sofa...

Remember that song? I loved it. And this morning as I was getting ready for school (yes, finally... I'm employed and teaching 5th grade at El Montecito), there was a picture of Kylea mouth opened wide being filled with whipped cream by none other than our favorite bartender, the Kougar. It made me smile and think of you all and admittedly, want whip cream.

Love you and miss you all.

Hil.

NOBODY but me is gonna love you like you ought to be loved on...

well, i admit, i have slacked on posting on this blog. i do have valid excuses though...first, i was in new orleans for a week with 25 high schoolers as a chaperone for our spring break mission trip. oh my gosh, you guys. it was such a great trip. to start with, the kids in our youth group are awesome, so it was easy traveling with them, and i enjoyed learning with them and from them. it was also really incredible being in that broken city for a week. it is such a soulful and beautiful place, but still so devastated from katrina. gosh, there were entire neighborhoods, both poor and middle class, which were still entirely abandoned. you could see the water line at about 12 feet, showing that the houses had been entirely under water for quite some time. it was really crazy, and broke my heart for the people who used to call that place home. not only were we able to do some cleaning and rebuilding projects, but we also had the opportunity to work at a spring break day camp with about 40 elementary school kids, which was pretty fun and definitely stretched me to the max of my patience at times. despite some pretty tough kids, and some pretty terrible leadership within the camp, the high schoolers and i managed to have a pretty wonderful time with those adorable kids. every single one of them was black, and more ghetto than i could ever dream of even pretending to be. it was awesome. i kind of wish i could go back. at the end of the week we also took a couple of days to just enjoy spring break in louisiana and took a swamp boat tour, which was like the best thing of my life...i even went to a crawfish boil and ate seafood willingly (totally out of character for me...) AND did the hard and disgusting work of cracking open all of those little guys before i ate them. and loved every second of it. if i was truly southern at heart before spending a week in louisiana, i am even more so now. honest to god, i think i should have been born down there, on the bayou...
also, i started grad school this week. 1 week under my belt, 9 more to go this quarter :) and i could not be happier. i love my classes, i love my professors, i love fuller...i even don;t really mind the hour and a half commute twice a week (i bought a blue tooth today, i know i know, so nerdy, but i have all the time in the world for catching up with people on the phone now, and better safe than sorry...so please. call me tuesdays and thursdays 5:30!am to 7:30, or 5:00-6:30 pm) but really. i think i waited just the right amount of time before heading back to school, where i truly get excited about going to class, i am on the edge of my seat the entire lecture, and then i can't wait to get home and do my reading! grad school is proving to be great like that, that you really get to study exactly what you want, with other people that are equally as excited as you about learning exactly that same thing. i am taking a gospels class (as part of the seminary theology core required for my degree, which is so interesting and great), cultural and ethnic issues in marital and family intervention, and child and family development. turns out that most of the cute guys in seminary are married, typical, but i will keep you posted on that front :) so, for now, i think that's it for my news. i really, really miss you girls.

love.

The Bako life...

Wow. I love that people are getting into this blog thing. I was excited to finally have something to do at work on those mornings/afternoons when none of my students show up to school, which deliquents have a habit of doing, which I guess is why they are in my class in the first place. However, it seems the powers that be have decided to prohibit me from actually logging on so that I can post on this beautiful blog....I guess they want us to actually work while we are at work or something. So I'll just have to do this on my own time. Anyways, I really have nothing exciting to add, but since my name is in fact on the list of contributors, I was feeling a little pressure to actually contribute. I have nothing to top the engagement pics you posted Kath--Lauren looks great!!! Let's see..I recently started playing softball along with soccer, which means now I have two reminders of just how old I am, and that all the injuries that you once had when playing soccer don't go away as you get older. In fact, it seems like they just might be getting worst..Crazy isn't it. Life is good here in Bako though. Thank you all for your prayers and kind words in regards to my dad. The latest doctors visit only brought more confusion, as now he has 3 doctors all with different opinions or when, what, how, etc. So please continue to pray for wisdom, guidance, and a quick conclusion so that we can begin to move forward. I look forward to more sharing and more reading!!! I always knew the Kougs was a genius...good job Kace! Love you all.

The News Continues...

Hi Friends,

I'm so glad we're all into this thing. Check us out - since when did we all become such techies? So, Ash got her wedding dress last weekend when I was home and Jen threw down at Gap Maternity. I'm so excited for this precious little baby to come our way, but keep Jen's and the baby's health in your prayers if you think of it. It's so fun to be able to say that I am confident that Jen will be the best mom - and I know because of how much she acted as mom while I was growing up. And... let's be honest, I'm excited to be the crazy aunt who comes to visit all the time from SB and brings totally awesome stuff.

In other news, I am taking over the 5th grade class at El Montecito (ELMO) starting this coming Monday (2 weeks earlier than planned). I started observing/helping this week and it's overwhelming but also really fun. Also, today I was invited for an interview at César Chávez Charter School for Monday April 21st. That would most likely be my first choice, but I'm praying through it all right now and would love it if you thought of that too in your prayers. Wow - so many requests. Sorry about that.

Kath- the pics are beautiful. Ky- I'm praying for you and your family as well. All of you- I miss you and love you and hope to see you soon.

Love,
Hil

Lauren Engagement Pics

Here is a sample of some of the engagement pics that Jacque and Lauren took this past weekend in San Luis Obispo.  Just thought you might want a preview :) If you didn't, well, at least you got to see some grass and what the under portion of a pier looks like.