Santa Paula kiss my...

Well, if you're from Fillmore you know. Santa Paula is our rival. And when I say rival, I mean RIVAL! Tonight marked the 95th (ninety fiveth according to the Santa Paula announcer) meeting between the two teams and it's always exciting. Mostly because there's the potential for violence. I remember one year I was cheering and one of the Santa Paula cheerleaders got hit in the face with a bottle...awesome. This year we worked them over, rolled them up and smoked them. Man, it was such a great game. I love me some football.

JD plays tomorrow. Little kids, homecoming, more football. I doubt I have a voice left after tomorrow.

Evacuation complete

I got an email yesterday saying a fire had started and then about 2 minutes later another came saying we had to leave. The smoke was so strong, I really thought the office was on fire. I grabbed a few things from the office and was on my way home when they asked me to drive a van of preschool children to our evacuation site. I had to leave my car and everything else I own. I was pretty freaked out because when I drove off in the church van our church property was burning. As I got on the pass towards Simi Valley the flames were all around my house. I really thought I was going to lose everything. I got a call from Nate saying our houses and yes, my trailer was on the news. The fire was burning our property but not the structures. The skate park across the lot was a loss but at least my house is okay. I still can't get home and even if I could there is no power so I headed to Fillmore. I'm still rollin' 15 deep with the big church van, anyone wanna take a road trip? Kidding.

My favorite scar

This post is dedicated to Heather Nunn. She's been bugging me for months now to post about her. Probably because she knows I'm popular and people with read this...Only kidding. Since she's feeling down I thought I would brighten her day.

Top 10 reasons there are Nunn better than Heather:

10.She got rid of her cats.
9. She's a great driver. Especially in the snow with chains. I don't know why you kept going Heather :) Haven't you learned to not listen to me?
8. She's always up for adventure. We even rolled down the Joshua hill together.
7. We make a great team. We conquered the "hell hill" and did an amazing job with library maintenance.
6. She's faithful in calling to check in on you. She pretty much keeps tabs on everyone she knows.
5. She's my African sister in Christ.
4. She really is a Bible thumper. She once threw the Bible at my leg and left a bruise for over a year.
3. She's a pirate. She had to wear an eye patch during Joshua because she scratched her lens.
2. Her laugh is so great! It was entertaining every night at dinner in the J-dub building.
1. She truly is a genuine, caring and loving person.

Heather, I love you! Smile!

Crazy Church Girl

I've mentioned already that I'm feeling pretty darn unlovable and undesirable lately. Yesterday made me feel even better about myself. A guy in the office made the comment that I was a crazy church girl boys wanted to stay away from. It made me cry a lot. Even after I went home I cried a bit more, okay a lot. Wow, my eyes burn from all that crying. Please tell me I'm not crazy!

Can everything be rosie?

Rosie Thomas has become my great friend. She knows how to pen the words that are sitting on my heart. Thank you Rosie.

Can you just imagine this scene with those hay stacks on fire?

I got new pictures from Ethiopia and thought I would share the beautiful children with you.

Feeling Like The Ugly Duckling

I took a short trip to Fillmore this weekend. It’s football season again so I’ll get to see my family a lot more which is a good thing. I got to see my dad this weekend, which was great, haven’t seen him in a few months actually. My mom and David were in a motorcycle accident on Saturday. They were both thrown into the back of a van from their bike. Luckily the only real damage done was to the bike. The witness who saw the accident said she didn’t know how they were walking away from it.

I’ve had a hard time sleeping lately. I actually woke up at 2:58 am to the dogs howling and I got freaked out. Anyone seen The Exorcism of Emily Rose? It wasn’t gory but haunting. I forget so often that there is a spiritual battle going on.

I’ve been feeling pretty ugly lately. Not only physically but in every way possible. I keep thinking about how much more I could be doing. More studying, more cleaning, more journaling, more serving, more running, more smiling…I keep thinking shopping will solve these problems but I know it won’t. Actually it’ll only add to an already existing problem, debt.

Needs Time To Process

The introvert in me is dying to regain control. I hit the ground running this summer and it hasn't slowed yet. I went on a staff retreat but didn't get much down time. I think I came back more exhausted than anything. It was a great time and I think we all learned a whole lot about each other. I've always felt bad and somewhat stupid for needing a lot of time to process and give input or feedback. Well, I'm starting to accept that it's just part of my personality.

Amanda and Jasen's wedding was great fun. It was good to see people and talk to a few. It's always a bit awkward for me to talk to the bride and groom on their wedding day. I don't really know why but I just don't know what to say. I mean, congrats and all...Some times I don't think that cuts it.

I got to see the new installment of The Christian Real World...a.k.a Joshua. We dropped Meghan off and saw the newest member of the McW clan too. She is so precious! It was good to be on the mountain for a while and Nate and I had a great trip together.

I hate spam

What is up with this junk on my blog? I know you're all experiencing it too so I don't feel so bad but come on! I'll quit! Okay, maybe I'm too addicted.

**Explicit**

You probably think I'm talking about profanities and I am. But it was an accident! I accidentally bought the explicit version of a Kanye West album on I-tunes. The thing that sucks is that I already own the clean version. Oh well.

I went to check out a church last night in Vista and that was pretty cool. Tonight I get to chill, maybe watch some Netflixed movies. I'm starting The Divine Conspiracy so maybe I'll just read.

I feel like I've been going so fast with little time to reflect. I need my introvert time.

The topic running through my head as of late has been the idea of character. Not just because it's a topic being covered in staff meetings but because I sometimes wonder about how people view me, how I view people and if I really have discernment there. I think I can spot shady people, not a problem but how do I deal with that in ministry. I guess I've been a little discouraged by people claiming to be something they aren't. I guess we're all like that though.

Crazy kids

I love my brothers

My paper heart

I decided to stay at the church. I know it's the right decision and I'm confident this next year will be great. I just couldn't leave the way things were. I didn't want to be bitter at church ministry because of the first year experience. I know all things take time to adjust to, I just didn't think it would take a year. The money was a huge incentive to leave but after making the decision I didn't really think about the money again.

Does any one agree with me when I say liking someone can be so confusing? I'm joining a convent.

Ahh it's Friday

Friday and a long weekend ahead. Maya drove up to visit and I'm stoked about that. We're gonna chill and hopefully hang with some friends. I've discovered a large rat in my trailer although I haven't actually seen him, he did set off the trap without getting caught. He'll be dead soon...I'm out for him.

I feel like the crappiest human ever right now because of all this hurricane stuff and I really don't care to catch up on the news. I'm compassionate...Not.

Summer is over :(

Vernal Falls

The 2 Clan

A conversation that might change my life

Have you ever had a conversation with a person and then realize just how amazing they are?

Shouldn't have left you without a dope beat to step to

RIP Aaliah.

It's been way too long since I've let you into the mind of Alyssa Aguilar. I came home from Ethiopia, had about a week and then left for middle school summer camp. If you left me voice mail or even email, my apologies for not getting back to you yet. Life was thrown into a whirlwind Tuesday. I got offered a job and actually took it seriously. It was unexpected but a great opportunity. So yesterday I wrestled with the big questions. Like, am I called to ministry? What would I gain in this other job? Where am I even going? It took a lot out of me but I had the chance to get some good insight from people. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do but I'm sure it'll be clear soon.