my LAST first day of school!

 Book bags packed! Ready for my LAST first day of classes!

 Thinking...uhhh, do we really start today?

Here's to a great year filled with challenges, surprises, and memories!

Take your everyday, ordinary life and place it before God as an offering.

-Romans 12:1

TOMS

I thought I would be able to catch up on my lack of blog posts during my last two weeks of my internship.

However, I don’t think it is possible to explain the last two weeks in a blog.

Too many emotions, feelings, and thoughts of “did that really happen?”

I am so blessed to have interned at such an amazing company.

I can’t believe it is over. I can’t believe I did it.

I am a different person because of it.

Changed for the better.

Visit from giving partner

During my last week at TOMS, one of our giving partners, Cambodia Children's Fund, visited.

CCF was founded by a former film executive (he produced Titanic) who found his life changed after he traveled to Cambodia and saw the needs of impoverished children.

He gave up all of his worldly possessions and now oversees the whole organization.

He brought three of his students that have excelled in school.

This sweet girl here in the shirt "kiss me" was an absolute doll.

She got up on stage and thanked us in English for everything we do at HQ.

Such a neat experience to meet a child on the giving end of TOMS.

Disneyland!

We all waltzed into Disney proudly wearing our TOMS.

We rode lots of rides, ate lots of junk food, and enjoyed each other's company.

I know I have fallen off the blogging band wagon, but I am trying to jump back on it.

I stare at this picture of my intern class and pinch myself.

I am so fortunate to be part of such an amazing group of individuals.

California

I am back from California.

I will update my blog...soon...hopefully.

Disneyland!

Our intern trip to Disneyland yesterday was magical and memorable.

Only three days left of work.

I feel that I am living three different lives.

1. California life

2. Missouri life

3. Iowa life

I cannot wait to be back in the Midwest and surround myself with those who are near and dear to me.

What I am working on...

Yes, it is a blank board.

I can't show you what I had to put on it.

Today my roommates from college, my sister and her boyfriend are flying into LA.

I can barely contain my excitement.

Craft time

Craft time at HQ.

Decorating GIVE signs for the GIVE event.

Lack of blog posts?

Yes.

We don't have Internet at my apartment anymore. 

Chillin at an Internet Cafe. 

San Francisco!

Our weekend getaway to San Francisco was wonderful to say the least! We conquered the city in two days and made lots of memories.

The group in front of The Golden Gate Bridge

John Muir National Park with beautiful Redwood trees.

This is across from Lombard Street (the curviest street in the World)

I can't get that photo to upload for some reason...

Pretty purple flowers!

Little Italy - in front of Porziuncola Nuova - the 5th Papally declared "Holy Place" in the world

Before hitting the town to celebrate Blaire's birthday.

Breakfast at The Wharf.

We also went to Chinatown and a few other places.

Great trip and soooo many wonderful memories made!

Give

Today wouldn't be one of my favorite days of all time...

you know how it goes....

you didn't sleep the night before...

you're mentally and physically exhausted...

something goes wrong at work....

something else goes wrong at work....

you hate the lunch you packed....

someone misunderstands you.....

the Internet at your apartment doesn't work...

you find yourself complaining about the smallest things...

Today was one of those days for me.

I am mentally and physically exhausted.

I love my time out here, but I feel that I never have time for myself.

Now, I can continue my pity party that I am throwing for myself or I can think about why I decided to move my life across the country.

To give to others.

To serve others.

To challenge myself.

To learn.

Thanks for reading my pity party blog. Please tell me you have had a day like this before...?

Dinner for two

I had the most wonderful dinner last night with my fellow intern, Katherine.

We have been wanting to cook dinner for the longest time and we finally got around to it.

I am so thankful for her.

She is absolutely remarkable.

We had some in depth conversations about life, our futures, and the Catholic religion.

I know that Katherine will continue to be in my life even though she is staying in LA after the internship.

She has an incredible job opportunity with Dig Deep Water, a non-profit that is getting some spotlight on Capitol Hill this week.

Work work work

I sit next to this nice guy at work.

(When I say sit next to...I mean as in a foot away.)

His name is Dan and he is a Cali bro.

Dan goes to school at Berkeley in San Francisco.

Which is where I am headed for the weekend!

Yep, San Fran here we come!

He is telling us all of the good places to eat, see, and visit.

Marina Del Rey

Yesterday, after work Liz told me to jump in her car.

She had something to show me that she knew I would love.

Boy oh boy was she right.

The harbor at Marina Del Ray.

It was full of sailboats and the sun was setting at the perfect time.
Peaceful evening after work.