Quote of the Day 2/6/14

we are a funny bunch. 

"You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."  
[Desmond Tutu]

Quote of the Day 12/13/13

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her."    [George Washington]

getting it together

Every time I wrote I can't believe how much time has passed since I last blogged and I always get upset with myself. I love to write; I love to receive y'all's messages and emails and I even love the hate mail. I heard once that if you are offending someone, you must be doing something right, so I hope that perhaps I am doing something right..

Year 3 finished the first week of May and I enjoyed a few days at my parent's home before heading out into the big ole 8-5, Monday to Friday, business attire clad world. My 6:45 alarm calls are a consistent reminder  (or annoyance) that this is the real world. I've had jobs consistently since I was 15, but something about working a solid 8-5 block has really put things in perspective.

That being said before I dive in what's really been on my heart and mind, Id like to say that despite everything, I am beyond blessed and incredibly lucky to live the life I live. San Diego is beautiful, my home is welcoming and inviting and every day I am learning new things about my city, my friends, myself and life as a whole. I can't forget to mention that for a foodie as myself, San Diego is a food Mecca. It has every type of food and cuisine you could think of, whether you spend 5 dollars or 155 dollars, there is something delicious to be tried. I am working on a huge blog post of everything I have the chance to eat and the things my stomach is jumping for joy to try! Check back soon for that. Warming: don't read on en empty stomach or you might find yourself in your car en route to San Diego :)

Now that I've got that off my mind (or my plate), I can share a little bit of what I've been thinking, learning and maybe even messing up. Come summer vacation, I felt great, I looked great and I believed that anything was unachievable. I was high on life, and it was such an indescribable feeling. Yet, happiness came to a halt a little over two weeks ago. My health is as stable as the stock market which meant that as things seemed to get better, things evidently  crashed. It felt like all the progress and effort put in was worthless. It's as if I was stuck on a stationary bike. All that energy  put in and no matter how hard how hard you push, you are exactly where you started. Naturally, the first reaction was "Seriously? Again? Can you just cut me some slack God?" My cloud 9 had withered away and I was back on the ground.

Ironically, as physically and emotionally hard the past days have been, I feel like I have been awakened. While my body seems to still be confused that its only 22 years young and not 92 years old, I feel like my mind and eyes have never been clearer.

All my singles ladies (and gentlemen)

My adorable grandparents, Joseph & Maria 
(photo courtesy of Vitaly M Photography)

“Marriage has the power to set the course of your life as a whole. If your marriage is strong, even if all the circumstances in your life around you are filled with trouble and weakness, it won't matter. You will be able to move   out into the world in strength.”

                                                              -Timothy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage
  There are two things in life that scare me: liberals and never getting married. The latter is worse, of course. I am NOT the type of girl with binders of wedding ideas and florists on speed dial. But, I do have a wedding Pinterest board, sue me, so does every girl capable of accessing the world wide web. In my life I have been blessed to be surrounded by living examples of what exactly a marriage is supposed to look like. My grandparents, parents, aunts and uncle have marriages that people should be documenting. They are imperfectly perfect. I know that they are not perfect because every individual is inherently flawed, but other then that, they rarely fall short of perfection. These people have demonstrated what grace, forgiveness, compromise and ultimately love look like. After years of observations, only one explanation stands: these were matches made in heaven. Literally.
     I am not naive to believe that there is absolutely only one perfect person out there for you. Rather, I have learned that the most critical component of marriage is for the union to be perfect in God's eyes. The man and woman preparing for holy matrimony must indefinitely know most and foremost their relationship with God. They must feel complete and whole through only Christ. Marriage is not about finding someone who completes you. This is arguably the biggest intangible threat to the institution of marriage today. People search for someone who completes them because they themselves feel incomplete. They enter marriage thinking that this person can fill all the voids and gaps they themselves have not been able to complete. When the other person fails to do so, marriages dissolve, precisely what we are seeing happen in society today. Your husband or wife will help you change, evolve and grow as a person, as they absolutely should, but you cannot expect them to complete you wholly. Some of those voids are too big for any human being, only God is big enough to fill those. 

Life Lessons With Lydia (and a Nov/Dec update)

The past few weeks have been exhausting, exhilarating, and educational:exhausting because you run on minimal sleep, exhilarating because life always throws a curveball or three and educational because well, you never stop learning. I have not written in a few weeks but in the meantime, I have been thinking and reflection about what I want to write. There is so much I have experienced and wrestled with the past few months but along the way I have discovered life lessons to abide by and things that naturally, I also struggle with. Ignore my cheesy title, I promise you will find these life lessons very applicable.

Happy Birthday Yana!

Today is a day worthy of great celebration.... it is the birthday of the wonderful, beautiful, inspiring, adventurous, spontaneous, loving, brilliant, virtuous Yana! 

more reflections in the airport

(I wrote this two weeks ago, but due to school ending, have not had time to post, nevertheless, enjoy)  


      It is 5:18 am, but perhaps for me this is the time of most creativity and elaborate thinking. Not to mention, I am also at my most visited destination, the Santa Barbara Airport, waiting for my departure back to San Diego. I was able to spend 6 days at home to celebrate Easter. It was so nice to be able to catch a break and enjoy time with my wonderful, incredible family.
     The funny thing is that when I was flying home, I was thinking about how I could finally sleep in, relax, eat some good food, run a few errands and call it a day. Yet, in the back of my head somewhere I did not know if things would go according to plan... and they didn't.
     I have learned over the past year that I have more time in college, then I do when I am at home. Honestly, I can not even catch a break at home. There are times when all I want to is an hour to just be able to lay on the couch and not do anything. A few times I got irritated thinking why wont life ever slow down? or when will the craziness stop? But all along, I knew the answer: never.
     My "family" consists of 16 people. My parents (2), little sister, aunts (4), uncles (4), cousins (2), and grandparents (4).  Because we love each other, we are constantly doing things for each other and as we all know, "things" require time. As much as I want to check off tasks off a list really quick, it never seems to work out that. Things always come up, the grocery store runs out of butter and there always seems to roadwork on the 101 freeway. The 6 days I spent at home, I was waking earlier then I do for class, and I still ran out of time. I had barely enough time to finish my family tasks, let alone do anything for myself or see some friends.
     Yet, I do not say this with a bitterness or annoyance, my mother has constantly repeated to me that "your service to others is what life is all about." Family is also the most precious thing in anyone's life. As much as I want to go see some friends or lay on the couch, there are things of higher importance. I love my family and my service to them, whether picking up groceries, throwing a baby shower or helping cook, is the best way to show my love and appreciation, don't actions always speak louder than words?
     I do have those moments where I feel like a need a pause button, I need a pause but life can never just stop, someone will always need something and being there is what life is all about. Putting aside plans and checklists and just being there in times of need. Ralph Waldo Emerson was famously quoted saying :"...To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”  Sometimes I wish I could be one of those people who can just do something whenever I want to and not constantly turn down reschedule lunch dates and movies and going out, but life is not about what I want to do, its about what others need. Our priority should not be our needs and desires but those of others. I am not saying we all have to be sacrificial lambs but in a way I guess we do have to be. There is a fine line between sacrificing and completely over-stretching ourselves. My family is the biggest example to me, they are whenever and for whatever I may need them. Yes they have their own needs and goals, but I have seen so many times when they sacrifice what little of free time they may have
     Anyone who knows me, knows just how much my family means to me. I honestly, cannot even put into words the bond that we share. We complete each other, what one person lacks, the other person can fill in. I wish I did not have to be that person to cancel on lunch dates, movies, nights out, etc, but I have a duty to my family. I love my friends, they are some of the most amazing people I have ever met, but my family is my number 1.
     I know I have failed them at times. I have had times where I just wanted everyone to leave me alone and let me be,  but I am glad that did not let me do that. Society may stress that life is about being an individual, but in order to truly live life, we need to be part of a community. Even the most independent of people need a shoulder to lean on and cry on. I guess if whoever is reading this could get one message is that no matter how great your life is going or no matter how fantastic your friends may be, do not devalue your family. They are the best friends you could ever ask for.

Quote of the day 4/21/11

“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”          [Theodore Hesburgh]

the upside of change

     Fact about me: I do not really like moving. Moving rooms, houses, cities, countries... just the though of having to pack tons of boxes and then unpack them makes me cringe, throw in the idea of getting used to a new place called home, well I might just cry. Even though I usually do not cry, I cannot help but get sentimental. 
     This weekend, I had to go home to help my family do some packing and some moving around. As eager as I was to help, I could not dismiss the memories flooding into my mind at the sight of furniture leaving, and old things being tossed away. Now do not get me wrong, hoarding is wrong and i actually quite enjoyed tossing kitchen appliances and glass vases into a dumpster and watching them break into a million pieces... extreme home makeover much? But as I drove away, I could not help but think "things will never be the same."
     While part of that statement is true, I realized that I was not looking at the bigger picture. The fact is that so many positives things come out of change.  Change is the how we grow and how we mature. If we always stay in one place, in one town and with the same people, the more we will grow comfortable and resistant. Looking back on my big move Georgia to California, I realized how many countless blessings came out of that very, very painful move. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I would be a completely different person had it not happened and to be honest, I am not sure I would still want to be that same person. I was pushed beyond my comfort zones, to the point where it transformed, motivated me and because of that move, I am more bold, more firm in what I believe and know what direction I want to take in life.
     While I was at home, I realized even more how much I appreciate my family. My uncles Tim and Daniel, put so much heart in there work that it put tears in my eyes. These men worked beyond limits, beyond pain, wanting only to help us much as they could. Work was not seized till everything was done, and till we felt comfortable and at ease. Although I know they had a million other tasks and responsibilities, we become their number one priority. For hours they worked humbly without complain. They are men worthy of praise, I cannot thank them enough and I want to marry a man who is like one of my uncles.
     This past year has been an experience in its own. I have moved and live a new life in San Diego with friends that are incredible, loving and completely understanding. I have gained and lost things over the past year but looking back there is nothing I want back. Everything that has been lost, has been lost for a purpose. I know I may still shed a tear or too, next time change comes from around the corner, but those tears will only be tears of joy.

5 Amazing Women In My Life

From left: Vera, me, Anna, Mary, Mom, Yana 

     I dont know why, but sometimes I feel like God loves me a little extra. Not to sound selfish or proud but he gave me some pretty amazing women in my life. These 5 women are my mama, her sister Vera, Anna, Mary and my mom's sister in law Yana. My mama is the oldest, yet still so young, only turned 40 in July. My mama and I only have 20 years apart and i am only 7 years apart from Yana. These women aren't just my mom or my aunts. These wonderful women are my best friends. Each is wonderful in her own way, completing the missing pieces in me or someone else. 

     My mama, Lidia- I wish I knew how to put my thoughts into words. She is incredible, a true woman of God. She is 100% selfless, never exalting herself above anyone else. I have witnessed, first hand, her give up her health, time, money, etc in order to better the life of someone else. She is the most dependable person I have met. Okay, confession: when I was little, like those moody, no one understands me years, I thought my mom did not like me very much. Whenever I did something, she would say "good, but you can do better" or whenever I would clean the house or do chores, she would make me redo them. In my childish head, I thought she was just being mean. Yet, as I look back, I see that my mom pushed me because she loved me, she punished me because she loved me and she asked me to redo things because she loved me. She knew my full potential and wanted me to be the best that I could be and still to this day pushes me daily and I love her more every day for it.

     Vera-Vera leaves me feeling speechless. This woman has been through more hardships then some people will ever know but no matter what, her trust is always in the Lord. Her and I can relate on many personal experiences. When I have a hard day I can always call her and she knows exactly how I feel. She is so humble but she exudes this warmth and this sincerity. Her deepest desire to follow God's will. She has this beautiful spirit and one of those people who will be rewarded extra in heaven.

     Anna-Confession time: When I was little, I thought Anna was the coolest person ever, which I still think she is by the way. She lived with me when I lived in Chicago and she always made me the best sandwiches. Anna is the sandwich queen, nothing tops her sandwiches. What I love about Anna is how soothing she is. She's very maternal, understanding and never quick to anger. She is level headed and doesn't just rush into decisions. She has lots of patience, which is a wonderful trait which I always admire in her.

     Mary- There are many things I am eternally thankful for to Mary. Whether she knows it or not, she helped me transition from childhood to young adult hood. Mary is also one of the most creative people I know. She can literally make anything out of nothing. She is so outgoing, confident and never afraid to speak her mind, nothing scares her away. Mary draws people in, everyone wants to be her friend, everyone wants to talk to her. She's one of those people who lights up the room when she walks in.

     Yana-When I was younger, I couldn't help but wonder who my uncle Daniel would marry.. but finally the day came, and he married wonderful Yana in one of the most beautiful weddings ever. Yana is honest, direct and a straight shooter. She knows how things are suppose to be and is not afraid to say when things are out of life. And with sarcasm being my third language, Yana shares this language with me. We can joke around and laugh and make the best of any situation. Above all, Yana strives for perfection, she strives to make the most out of her day. She works day and night yet still makes time for her family. 
     Each woman, above all, loves her family, treats her husband as a prince and seeks to follow the will of God. God is the center of their lives, guiding them and therefore also guiding me on my life journey. They may be my aunts by birth or marriage, but they are my best friends by choice.