Remember God is Good!

The past two days have been hard. We all have heard about the shooting that happened in Connecticut which resulted in many deaths. :( I was cleaning my grandpa's house today and suddenly a picture of one of the little girls that was killed in the shooting appeared on the screen and I nearly lost it! I don't understand how someone could walk into an elementary school and pull the trigger on many kids. It's heartbreaking but we need to remember that GOD IS GOOD! No matter the cruel behaviors of the world, God is good. I keep praying for the families of the victims. That they grieve and know that God has His hand on them through this hard time. He will never leave them and He will never leave us!

*****

Today was also a bittersweet day as well because it was my last day at Dion's. I am happy to be starting my job at Starbucks but it is sad to leave my amazing coworkers! :) It's time for a new beginning so here it is. New semester, new job. Bring it on! 

<3
Ali :)

I Am A Barista! :)

I know it has been way too long since I last wrote and I am very sorry about that! :) School has been kicking my butt and finals are in just TWO weeks! EEEEEEK!

Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a fantastic "stuff-your-face-with-turkey" day! :) I had so much to be thankful for. I have a great family, great friends, and a God who is with me every step of the way :) Every Thanksgiving morning, my family sets up the Christmas decorations while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! :) It was so fun to kick off the Christmas season with my family. After decorating, we ate a bunch of food and then went to a couple friends' houses to have dessert! It was a great holiday and a much needed break from school!

New Job :)

I got a new job! I am now a barista at Starbucks and I am so stoked! :) I also get to work with one of my best friends, Cayce! :) I am so excited. I will miss Dion's but it is time for a change. 

Can you believe December is just 3 days away!!!! This year has gone by so fast and so much has happened! :) Time to finish this semester strong and enjoy some time off!

<3 y'all!!

Ali

Aunt Ali :)

I got to see my baby nephew this weekend and it was INCREDIBLE!! :) 

On Saturday we took Nolan to the Aquarium and the Botanical Gardens. He was so fascinated with the shark tank and loved the turtles. :)

Daddy and son! :) It was adorable. Nolan just laid his head on Gil's head and was very content!

Nolan LOVED the shark tank! :)

Saturday night, Gil and Nolan came over to my house while Alexis stayed at the hotel and got some homework done. Nolan was crazy!! :) He is the complete opposite of other 2 year olds. When he gets tired he decides to run around and play because he knows that if he sits he will fall asleep :) It was so funny and I love hearing him call me "Aunt Ali."

He loved playing with Cosmo!!

When he saw his reflection in my phone he puckered up his lips. Gil said he "jersey shored" me! :) It was sooooo funny. I busted out laughing about 2 seconds after I took the picture. 

Sunday night, my mom, Kelly, and I went to dinner with Gil and Alexis and got a chance to get caught up about our family in Carlsbad and reminisce on the old times in southern NM. It was a lot of fun. 

Tonight, Gil and Alexis brought Nolan to our house again and he was running around, going up the stairs, asking about Cosmo over and over, and just being a big goober! :) I love this little man.

I cannot wait to see these guys again and am really considering taking a trip to Wichita Falls soon! :) 

<3
Aunt Ali :) 

God is So Good :)

I honestly don't know where I would be without my Lord, Jesus Christ. He is my rock, my strength, and my joy! 

It has been a difficult semester with a huge work load and challenging (but sometimes interesting) classes. We just had a couple days off and, may I say, that they were very much needed. Over the break, I read an amazing book by Erynn Mangum (who is a dear, dear friend of mine) called Miss Match. 

While reading this book, I started to truly think about God's sovereignty and this book mentions it numerous times. Like the main character, Laurie Holbrook, I have struggled with this thought; the thought that everything is for God's plan and He is in control of everything (the good, bad, ugly, and pretty). 

One of the verses that is mentioned in this book that I have never run across before but thought was incredible is Psalm 37:4. It reads, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Awesome, huh?

I have been thinking about my life a lot lately and I now have a pretty good understanding of the path God has set out for me at this moment in time. I am single and just praising God for this time that I have to build my relationship with Him and thanking Him for the dear friends and family I have around me. I have been so blessed in life that even through the bad God has always been there when I needed Him, even before I knew who He was!! What a great God! :) I love Him and He is all I need to be happy in life right now. I keep looking for more but I know the answer is always in my heart. 

Thank you, Erynn, for writing such amazing books like Miss Match, Rematch, Match Point, Cool Beans, Double Shot, Latte Daze, and Sketchy Behavior. I love you! :)

Time to start rereading Rematch! :)

God bless!! :)

<3
Ali :)

Rodeo, Concert, and Football... Can You Get Any Better?? :)

This week has been great. My tests went well from what I can tell and everything else just fell into place! :)

Jake Owen Concert & Rodeo

The concert and rodeo on Thursday were incredible. It was so fun to see Bronc Riding, Bull Riding, Steer Wrestling, Barrel Racing, etc at the rodeo and it was amazing to get very close to the stage during the concert. Jake Owen opened the concert with "Anywhere With You" and ended with "Eight Second Ride." I would have to say the best part of the concert was when Jake Owen signed my hat! :) We were so close to the stage that we were able to hand him my cowboy hat and he signed the back of it. It was a truly amazing night! :D

It was a blast!! :)

UNM vs. NMSU in Las Cruces

Yesterday, my friend Kim and I went to Las Cruces to go to the UNM vs. NMSU game and it was so much fun. Other than getting thrown up on (yes, a girl who was very drunk threw up on me and Kim) it was a night to remember. The Lobos won 27-14 and I got to meet some great people. Cole, Weston, Jason, Kaitlyn, Ryan, Kim, and I all went to Applebees (after trying to go to 3 other restaurants haha) after the game and enjoyed some great conversations and some good food. It was definitely worth the trip down there and it was fun to make some new friends! :)

GO LOBOS! :)

See y'all later! 

<3
Ali :)

Here Goes Nothing

This week is going to be CRAZY!! I ask for your prayers as I push through it.

Monday: Spanish Experiencia #1 (kind of an oral exam)
               Physics Exam #1

Tuesday: Biology Exam #1

Wednesday: Checking the car I may buy (oh ya... mine is breaking down again so I may buy my friend's         Honda Civic)
                    Pre-Med Organization Meeting

Thursday: JAKE OWEN CONCERT AND RODEO at the State Fair!!! I'm so pumped! :) 

Friday: Rough Draft of a Paper Due for English

Saturday: I am going to Las Cruces for the weekend to see the Lobos play the Aggies :) GO LOBOS!!!

Sunday: Coming back from Cruces and church (MHC is doing a great series on Esther now and I love it so far ) :)

Wish me luck! :) 

Thanks,
Ali :)

11 Years Ago

September 11, 2001 is a day I will never forget. Although I cannot remember exactly what I was doing or what was going on, I do remember seeing the smoke rising from the towers on TV. 

Here is what I do remember: 

I was sitting in my mom's classroom at Carlsbad High School when someone ran in and told her to turn the TV on in her class. I remember seeing the smoke rise from the tower and not knowing what it was caused by. 

*****

That is all I can really remember about that day, but I was only 8 years old. What would expect? 

But now, it is one of my "favorite" parts of history. A time where the country came together. A day where everyone supported each other no matter race, religion, age, or gender. 

September 11, 2001. A day we lost thousands. A day our country changed. A day we mourned but also came together as a country. And a day we will NEVER forget.

Enjoy the day but remember to pray for those who lost someone on this day 11 years ago!

<3
Ali :)

Journey

Yesterday officially started my journey to becoming a doctor! :) I am a Biology major at UNM and I can definitely say that being a doctor is a career that I dream of. It took me a long time to realize this but I'm so excited about it! 

This semester is going to be a challenge but I say, "Bring it on!" Haha. I am taking 18 credit hours, working about 20 hours a week (I know that is not a lot but it is when you have a ton of homework already), and trying to keep my relationship with Christ as a priority. I don't want my faith to slip away because of being so incredible busy. I have to say that not having a boyfriend is kind of nice; one less thing I have to worry about I guess. Don't get me wrong, it would be nice to have that special someone, but I have so much to work for right now that I just need to work on myself, my career, and my relationship with God.

My classes have started off well. I had Spanish, Physics, English, and American Politics yesterday and they were all really interesting and should not be too hard. Thank goodness. I had my Physics lab this morning and we got out about 2 hours before the end of class, which was really nice. I am so excited for my class this afternoon though… Biology 201: Cell and Molecular Biology :) I am so stoked! I’m a nerd, I know, but I cannot help but be excited to start this journey in my life.

Yesterday afternoon I passed a booth for the UNM School of Medicine and talked to them for a while. It seems like I am on the right track and I have faith that is God has this calling for me then I will succeed :)

One more note... I started going to a Community Group for Mars Hill Church | Albuquerque and I am so blessed to have found this group. To all who are in it, thank you for loving me as your sister in Christ and y'all will forever be in my prayers! I also started the Membership Process at MHC | ABQ and I have an interview with Hillary to see if I am qualified to become a member of the church! EXCITING! :)

Wish me luck!

<3
Ali :)

Recent Life

Hey y'all. 


There has been a lot going on in my life these last couple of weeks. I have been attending the Doctrine Class at Mars Hill Church|Albuquerque and it has been an eye opening experience. I am learning so much about my Father God and am growing in my faith and relationship with Him everyday. The first class was "It's All About Jesus" and I never realized how great our God really is. One of my friend described Him as the perfect friend that you want everyone to know. I thought that was perfect! The second week was "Authority and Organization" and it was great to hear about the Scriptures and gain more knowledge. This week is "A Mars Hill Member" and I am very excited. :)

After the Doctrine Class last Sunday me, Alex, Tyler, Patrick, and a bunch of other people attended the 5pm service at the church. It was great to listen to Pastor Mark talk about the gift of baptism and what it really means to be baptized. After the sermon we watched 12 or so people get dunked. One of them was my friend Tyler. Seeing him be baptized by his brother, Alex, was so great. I'm so happy for him! :)

Congratulations again, Tyler!


On Monday, I attended a community group that Tyler and Alex go to and I really loved it. I will definitely keep going :) I have been looking for one for awhile and it was a relief and blessing to finally find one that I fit in :)


After CG, Tyler, Alex (not his brother but another one), and I went to the see The Hunger Games. I finished reading the book last week and am so happy that I finally got to see the movie :) It was great and very close to the book, which made me relieved! Even with Tyler's jokes (one when he yelled "who let the dogs out" pretty loud haha)... It was so much fun!! :)


I'll give another update soon :)


<3 
Ali :)

Please Pray!

I just wanted to ask y'all to pray for my family. My grandma (my dad's mom) was rushed to the hospital this morning when she had difficulty breathing and some stomach pain. It's nothing too serious, just pancreatitis and gall stones, so she will be fine but it is still hard for my family!


Thank you so much! :)


<3
Ali :)

Skylines, Baseball, Theater, Shopping, Eating, and Surprise

From July 4-8 my mom, sister, and me were in Chicago, IL and may I say it was a blast! :) We did so many things.


On Wednesday, we went to Pizzeria Uno and then went on the Navy Pier, went on an architecture tour to learn all about the the buildings that make up the Chicago skyline, and listened to live music. We saw an amazing firework show that was launched from a cargo ship by the pier! :) Happy Birthday America! :)

On Thursday, we went the Chicago White Sox vs. Texas Rangers baseball game at U.S. Cellular Field. While I love baseball, I have to admit that this game was not very exciting. I have a strong dislike for the White Sox ever since they beat the Astros in the 2005 World Series and I have never gotten over it. It was fun to the watch the Rangers but it didn't help that the biggest banner in the stadium (even bigger than the American flag) was the 2005 World Series Champion banner! :p 


We also went shopping and then went to the John Hancock Tower and saw the best view of the city from the LADIES RESTROOM on the 96th floor! It was such an amazing view!

The banner...GRRR!

On Friday, we went to the beach in the morning and then went and saw The Amazing Spiderman in IMAX 3D. I thought it was such a good movie! :) And seeing it on a 6 story screen was even better. The night my mom started her conference so my sister and I went to the pier and had a delicious meal at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co. (Yes, it was based off Forrest Gump)

Saturday was the last day that my sister and I had a full day in Chicago. We went to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater to see Beauty and the Beast and it was AMAZING (my favorite part of the trip)!!! We also went to  shopping and just hung out for the day. We went to Dick's Last Resort for dinner so that was a blast, but they weren't as mean and rude as some of the other times I have gone. 

On Sunday, Kelly and I flew home and it was no fun sitting in the airport while our plane was delayed! :p At least we are home! :)

*****

Last night, we had a surprise party for Kaitlyn to celebrate her birthday! :) It was so much fun and we were able successfully pull off the surprise. One of the elements of the surprise was her boyfriend, Ryan, coming into town without her knowing. It was a blast and I'm glad she had fun! :) Happy late birthday, Kaitlyn. I love you

It has been a very fun couple of weeks. Next week I will hear if I got the job at the law firm I interviewed at!  Pray I do! :) 

<3
Ali :)