"Go Jessica, its ya birthday!"

Today: July 1st, my dad comes up while I'm washing my face and tells me that he is aware that my birthday is coming up and although "you guys do things a little different cause you don't always have birthday parties" he just wanted to let me know that he is happy to have me as a daughter, and that he is proud of me.

So my birthday has now passed, but in order to properly commemorate the experience I'm posting the events here. So instead of just a great birthday day I had a great birthday month which I was able to extend until the first week in August. [I'm good like that!] Anywho. Friday July 2nd, Telane, lil Ryan, big Ryan, my mom, sister, Aunt Ros., Aunt Joyce, Aunt Grace, cousins Brian, Briana, Lois and I all went to the Hollywood Bowl. Its an annual tradition that I am very grateful for, because no matter the type of music or the size of the group, the core members have always been the same and we get to share my favorite activity of watching fireworks. This year (unlike last year) the group did not consist of a bunch of couples (slight disappointment) but the one couple that remained (Lois and big Ryan) are a great, Godly team and I'm truly happy for the both of them. Our group had a great time we watched fire works, Drea and I had a drink, and I got Happy Birthday sung to me by most of the section that we were seated in. It was a great night.

July 3rd-4th was spent in Catalina Island with my mom and Drea. We took a boat out round 10 am on Saturday and arrived around 12 in Catalina, the weather was a little cooler than we were expecting but still nice. While on the island, we took in a tour of the city, a tour of "Lover's Cove" and one other feeding spot for fish, a walk down the "Strip" and checked out a few local restaurants. On the 4th, we woke up to a cool, drizzle. We had to pack our things cause we were leaving the island early that day. The residence of the island had a parade that day. Different people decorated their golf carts (by the way, its a 5-10 year wait to bring a car over from the mainland). I have a few pictures on my camera but I haven't' downloaded them yet. The USC marching band was their, apparently a lot of the residence are people that either went to USC or have some affinity towards the school. Either way, the band played its heart out and we got in one more tour of the city on a bus. It was beautiful, we were able to see a zip line that was set up. Gorgeous picture (to be posted later). We left Catalina round 4pm and got into Long Beach about an hour later. My mom, sis and I were going to spend the night and check out the fireworks. We got a little turned around but made it to the hotel where we were supposed to stay, after switching clothes we went to check out the fire works show. We could see it off the bridge close to the downtown area. After the fireworks, we walked to downtown LB, grabbed food then went back to the hotel to watch some tv and go to sleep. My dad got us the next morning and that was the end of the part one of my bday celebration.

Part 2-
July 6- we had a party at work (cake, wine, and cheese). The celebration was for Naureen and I, since we both had July birthday's and she (unselfishly) skipped celebrating her's the week earlier. July 16th- is Ghia's birthday, so we celebrated that weekend, by going to Kress with Loi, Ryan, Mo, Dominic and Drea. It was kinda weak (for the type of club nights that G and I had) but it was cool to be ouut with our folks together. July 30th, not sure where I went (its been a while now) but I know I went out with my sis.

What I've learned since my birthday, is that I have a great family and some really good friends that I don't mind celebrating with. I love my life and I am thankful for the time that I am able to spend with them.

Bumps in the road....

Happy New Years! It's now January 3, 2010, I and my family made it through the holiday season. For Christmas we went to Las Vegas, had a great time overall. My dad drove both ways and my mom paid for our place to stay and the car rental. We each had to pay for our individual meals and any shopping that we did. All in all it was a really good weekend. We left Auntie Grace's place on Friday night and then headed straight out to Vegas and came back on Sunday. The most amazing thing happened. Saturday night we were all going to walk the strip, since none of us but Drea had been on the strip we decided to just walk up and down just to see the sites. So at one point my dad got mad cause my mom kept asking him where he wanted to go. This goes on for about 20 min then my dad gets mad and decides he wants to go back to the hotel. We hadn't eaten or anything so it was kind of a damper on the evening cause the point was for all of us to hang out together. After we all get back to the hotel Drea and I kinda got into it but then squashed it and went with my mom to eat but then I continued to have an attitude cause I had wanted to just go out unsupervised, I guess, but that didn't happen. The amazing part comes the next day, my dad is driving back home and he pulls off the road and stops the car and apologizes to my mom and us for disrupting the evening the night before. And then he treats us to lunch. This is why I know that I need a Christian man in my life. I know that life, and our relationship wont be perfect but I believe that if we are both submitted to God then we are more likely to have a better relationship and apologize when we are in the wrong or show appreciation towards each other. The second thing that my dad did was told my mom that he appreciated her and the effort that she made to get the family together and put on the trip and that he would like to do it again when we weren't so busy. My dad is not the first person to be so vocal and appreciative so this was big for all of us. Like I said the trip ended well and I am glad that I was able to go.

Unrelated: Rachael just asked me if I love her. I thought that was cute! It made me feel good to hear that and I am sure that she liked hearing it too she asked me like 40 times and then sent me on a guilt trip cause I didn't go over to her place today. I will see her next weekend.

Last but not least, Dante is dating again less than 4 days after we broke up he was already out and dating (something he said he wouldn't do). I happened upon the Rosscast where he mentioned it, (another thing he said he would not do- talk about our breakup on the air). Its so hurtful but I guess I needed to hear that he had moved on so that I could move on... Anyway, daddy surprised me again cause he heard me crying and called me and asked what was going on, then came up an prayed for me. It wasn't a quick prayer it was a heartfelt prayer. Then he hugged me and later came back upstairs to say that he was hurt and almost felt like crying because he didn't like seeing Drea and I hurt... I am learning to love this man and I (with God's help) will def. pick a better man the next time around, someone that is caring and prayerful (similar to this new side of my dad).

Thank God for positive male role models... a lot of men don't have that and most women don't ever get to experience it but I am truly blessed to have my dad in my life. God, Thank You for my dad and the love that he is showing this family. It came right on time. Please help me right now, I need you to comfort me, I know you will never leave me nor forsake me, and I thank you for showing me love in the way I needed it today. You are SO AWESOME!