KT, Twilight, Halloween and HSM3

This past Wednesday, October 29th, marked the four year anniversary of the Lord calling Katie Springer home through a traumatic means. Last year, on her three year anniversary, I had texted Cheree, Court, Ashley, Megan and Kim something about the date, and I only heard back from Megan. This year, I didn't even bother with the text. But I did post a facebook status quoting Job, "The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord". That song by Tree63, "Blessed Be", was a song that resonated deeply with all of us who knew Katie after her death. "Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering...My heart will CHOOSE to say, "Lord blessed be Your name"". That evening, because I posted that status, I did hear from Rachel Garcia. One of the five girls that I grew to know and love because of Katie's life and then death. Rachel was a big part of St. Mary's InterVarsity group, where I went a few times with Katie, and continued to be supported by after her passing. I miss those times of having close Christian friends just a 20 minute drive away...or shoot, even just a phone call away. I think about how much my life was changed by one young lady who loved the Lord. I wouldn't even consider myself to have been one of Katie's best friends, but the impact that her sudden death left on my life has been so dramatic. Who knows where I'd be if not for the Lord calling Katie home at that point in time. Maybe I'd still be living at home, not in debt, working at Tabernacle. Which actually, thinking about it now, that is exactly where I'd like to be... But at the same time, if I wouldn't have went to college, I would still be in the dark with so many things that I believe and know to be true now.

Anyway.

I bought the Twilight movie companion guide at Borders yesterday, and on page 113, it says that the dry, arid filming (that's supposed to be Phoenix, AZ) took place IN VALENCIA, CA!!!!!! THAT IS WHERE I LIVE!!!!! I am still in shock from discovering that. Sure, it is a small portion of the film, no doubt, and the people of the Northwest get ALL of the filming done there. I have just a fraction of what those people must feel, but I have it nonetheless!!! Woot woot, go Valencia!!!
I am so so so stoked for the movie to come out. I really want to see it at midnight on the 20th/21st, but I have some fears. First, that means I wouldn't be getting to bed until 2:30ish, which as a preschool teacher, I'm not sure is too responsible. Second, on that Friday, I may be leaving right after work to drive 5 hours up north for Bonnie's memorial...another reason being tired on that Friday may not be a good idea. Which if I am driving up north after work, that wipes out Friday evening for seeing the movie. However, if the memorial winds up being on the 14th, then potentially I could get tix when I get home from that for the 21st after work/night. But then, I am also worried about what time to get to the theater when I do see it. I definitely have to see it opening weekend...but if I am up north grieving with friends, is it rude to go catch a 2 hour movie? DILLEMA!!! Maybe if we left like midafternoon on Sunday, we (Megan and I) could see it when we got back to Valencia. And then she could head back down to Tustin when the movie was over. That could be a plan. It's frustrating not having a set plan in this case, because of the deep desire to see this movie ASAP. But it is also very difficult to plan someone's death/memorial. We are not the ones in control of how much longer she lives. Although, honestly, for Bonnie's suffering sake, I am praying that God alleviates her from the suffering in her broken down heap of a cancer-filled body. Cancer is so freakin' weird. Something that attacks and kills you from the inside.


Halloween was pretty uneventful, but a lot more fun than last year's. Last year, not only was I alone, but during the day, there was absolutely no Halloween festivities at the Y. (Lame-o Y) At Sunshine, we had a class parade, which is where all of the cute kids in their costumes get to walk around to all of the other classrooms in the school and trick-or-treat. It was fun. We got to carve a pumpkin on Thursday, and there were a lot of the kids who had never carved a pumpkin before! (Sad!) That was always a tradition in my house growing up, a few days before Halloween we would carve the pumpkins and put them on the front porch. But I guess that is not everybody's tradition, for even Amanda had never even carved a pumpkin and she is 23.
Strangely enough, I also did not have a single trick-or-treater come to my apartment door. I find that so bizarre, because I would think an apartment complex (townhome style, nonetheless!) would be an excellent place to go trick-or-treating. The maximum amount of doors to knock on in the least amount of time and with the least amount of walking/energy. Oh well. I didn't really have much candy anyway, just what I had been given from a generous Sunshine parent. I think over the past 5 days I've only eaten 4 pieces of candy. Which is kind of weird, but good at the same time.


Me and Amanda with our cute little bear class and our pumpkin.


And last, but not least, I saw High School Musical 3 yesterday. It was just as good as the previous two. It's funny seeing the similarities in the dancing throughout the movies. There was a basketball scene in this one that brought me right back to the first movie. The moves are cool, but I feel like they are the same ideas, just tweaked a little. The song that Troy has on his own- so full of angst and confusion was probably my favorite. I remember going through a phase just like that toward the end of high school. I couldn't decide which way to go in life. There were a lot of young adults/parents in the theater, and that is the great thing about these movies. If you're going into high school, are in high school, just out of high school, college, or even a parent reflecting back on high school, these are timeless feelings and issues. Sure, it is presented in a bubblegum sort of way, and with music (man, that would've been cool in real life) but the underlying themes are common uniters.

Life keeps on keepin' on. I wish someone I knew would invite me to their church. I miss church. I know I'm so lonely lately because I'm not connected anywhere. I'm praying for some sort of miracle with being reconnected into a church body.
Here's to hope!