Back to Blogging...

...And we're back! Sorry for the lack of entries as of late, my very important assignment at work this past week (one which I decided to perform heartily unto the Lord) was to organize and execute a scavenger hunt in Disneyland for a recruiting event held at the Grand Californian Hotel for the firm that I work for.

Yes I know, it was a tough week of work (I actually had to be at Disneyland all day on Friday).

I know that many of you are wondering which picture has been decided to be prominently placed above the dish rack in my kitchen (no it isn't the one pictured above). Well, the answer is the Trail to the Placerita Waterfall. Many of you may wonder how this photograph was chosen when it did not seem to receive the most votes. Well, it was kind of a weighted-average voting system and Cory voted Placerita Waterfall. Thus I am going to be placing my order at Samsclub.com (of which I am a member) and it will be delivered to my apartment shortly!

Some thoughts for today's post....(totally random)

Who is doing better in their brackets- Billy or Matt Rehrer?

With the help of my parents and Ken Flower- I successfully cooked Tri Tip on my grill this weekend (It was good).

Proverbs 16:9- "The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs His steps."

I was thinking about this verse today as I sat in my cube. I am at a point in my life where direction has become something that I think greatly about. The overall direction of course is pursuing the Lord and His glory, but the sub-direction of that is not yet clear.

I am at a point where there is the possibility of opportunities opening up that I would love, opportunities that would lead more guidance to that direction. However, God has not chosen to make those opportunities available quite yet. I have sought to be wise and seek much counsel and plan, but here is the point- whether I walk in Rainbow Sandals (as pictured above) in brown dress shoes (that I am wearing right now) I want the Lord to direct me. I don't want the course of my life to be mine.

The answer to which direction my life will take at least in the short term is not in my hands right now, it is in the Lords. It is comforting to know that as long as my desire is to serve and glorify the Lord, whatever direction He chooses will be the best.

I must go now, but please join with me in praying that God would make his direction clear.

Blakey, out.

Which one???

So here is the deal. I have this spot in my kitchen that is just dieing for a sweet picture. So I went to IKEA and got a sweet frame for it, now all I need to do is decide which picture to blow up and put in it.

So two questions for you. #1- Over the next two posts, there are 10 pictures that I have taken. Which one do you like the best and #2- I can either do an 11 x 14" picture with a border around it in the frame or I can do a 15 x 19 option without a border.

Please! Give me your thoughts!

From "The Endless Spring"

TMC Baseball Pitcher Dan Beaty warming up (look closely at the ball).

A beautiful path, perhaps? Trail on the way to the Placerita Waterfall.

Sunset over Palos Verdes.

The Montecito Country Club

Which one??? (Part Deux)

For your perusal- part 2. (Not quite as good as part one.)

Sunrise over Garden Grove Ha! Like I would ever put this picture on my kitchen wall! (If you look closely, however, you can make out Bobby Blakey, Andrew Keuer, Danny Parker and Lavar Simmons in this picture.)
Sunrise over Garden Grove (Deux)

San Juan Train Station

Vintage Bike

Cory and I

Seeing as how it has been some time since I had blogged, I thought I would let you see some of the most recent pictures of Cory and I in black and white.

This pose is intense- like camping.
This picture was taken at the bench in front of Sarduccis.
Again, like camping.

Sarducci's

Recently Cory and I had lunch at my Aunt and Uncle's fave spot Saruduccis. Here are some of the pics. Enjoy.

Good looking kids. Both of them.

Cool candid shot of Bri. Hunk Papa Himself.
Aunt O.

Crystal View No Mo!

So here is the deal. My living quarters have markedly improved. Within the last month, I have moved from the place that I affectionately nicknamed "garbage grove," to a sweet haven of home known as the Brookwood Villas.

My old apartments were known as "The Cyrstal View Apartments." Most of you know that the crystal that I have a view of really isn't Crystal, it pretty much stands for everything that is fake. (A view of the Cyrstal Cathedral is pictured at the very bottom.)

My new apartments are located in the "circle city" of Corona. I live in the Brookwood Villas. (Villa meaning the often large, luxurious country house of a well-to-do person). Life is good. The apartment is slightly smaller but my room is bigger and everything about it is nicer. It is brand new remodeled. I have no worries that my neighbors might mug me. I live 60 seconds from some of my very good friends- Ken and Beth Flower.

Just thought I would update all of you on my new digs. I thank the Lord for it.

You may think why would I work in Orange County and then want to move to Corona? (A substantially longer commute). My answer- a mocha frappucino. Think about it. Have you ever had a frappuccino that was, shall we say, not blended so well? I have. And it is not as enjoyable as it could be. Your straw gets clogged with a piece of ice. You are constantly having to pretend you are an amazonian headhunter to clear your straw of obstructions. Some sips taste like coffee, some like mocha. Not as good as it could be.

That is what I felt about my life. I felt like I mostly lived on the 91 freeway between Orange County in Corona (not the best living quarters-people drive there.) I would be going out to Corona three days a week at least and on the weekends too. I would fight the traffic out there after work and then have to drive for a half an hour home after college group.

Now, I still encounter traffic (I still take the 91 freeway). But when I get home and after high school group, my apartment is 3 minutes away. My girlfriend Cory is 7 minutes away, I could roll out of bed at 7:40 and make it to church by 8 if I wanted to.

My weekends are much more relaxing and I feel I am able to get a lot more done. Before I was torn, I wanted to be in Corona but didn't want to be a burden to anyone or "that guy" who is always hanging around, but I also needed to do things near my apartment such as -buy food, do laundry and such.

So, all of that to say. I like my life now. God has richly blessed me by allowing me to move to Corona.