Nowadays we hear the term "YOLO", you only live once. Do it cause you only live once. Live life like its your last day; live with no regrets. We hear these mottos and we feel empowered to take a risk, to try something new, to take on a dare but soon enough we have forgotten all about it.
What does it actually look like in your day to day life? It's not like everyday life is a scene from fear factor... It's deciding to go for a swim even though you partially feel like it. It's you swimming in the lake even though nobody wants to because you won't be left thinking "I should've..." "What if"... It's you being scared of jumping off that bridge but you do it anyways because you now have a story to tell, it's you saying "yes" instead of replying "maybe" or "later". We tend to put things off with "later" hoping that there will be a next time. But living with no regrets means you do it then and there so if there isn't a next time then you really will have no regrets. It means sitting to watch that movie together, to do that puzzle together, saying yes to painting with someone, to accepting UNO with that loved one, it means cherishing your parents every moment because you don't know how long you have them, it means letting go of all anger and resentment and filling yourself with love and positive vibes.
It's not always easy, it doesn't always come naturally but let's live with no regrets daily. Our loved ones are borrowed, we don't know how long we have them or they have us... Let's make it count. 💕

** This post is dedicated to my sister. I want to love you with no regrets. I'm just so thankful for having you in my life.

While surfing the web I came upon this challenge. The challenge is to hike 6 peaks, increasing in difficulty, in between January 2016- October 2016. Now I know I don't have much hiking experience. All of the gear and the lingo is new to me. But I have decided I want to do this challenge. I have officially signed up on the website and registered. I know we are about to begin August which leaves me about 90 days to hike 6 difficult peaks. It's a bit nerve wrecking due to my lack of experience but very exciting at the same time. Reading posts and blogs online from the hiking community I can't help but feel that this is the beginning of a wonderful journey. I'm looking for new hiking buddies, as its better to go with a bigger number, and I'm looking for new trails and mountains! Feel free to share your experience, tips and advice are all welcome! Where there is a will there is a way! Let's hike!!

Cedar Creek Falls

• Ramona, California
• 5.2 miles
• Permit required

For this hike you start at the top and end at the bottom. So the hard part is coming back. It's a really hot area so I recommend starting very early. I did this hike with some friends during a heat wave. Thankfully, we started early so we weren't out in the sun that long. However, I would recommend starting earlier like 6am. Also, bring lots of water and be willing to get in the water! It's definitely a must do. Some other hikers decided to jump in. For me, swimming across was enough. The water is cold but definitely refreshing after a hot hike.

P.S. Beware of rattle snakes.

En Memoria De Mi Tata

I lay sleeping on the couch when I faintly heard the clock strike midnight. Mumbled voices. My sister crying nearby. Buzzing phone. My sister crying louder. The news had reached us, my tata had left this world and gone to heaven. Messages beeping on the phone. He's gone, he's really gone. I sit there shocked. Gone, forever gone from this earth. I get up and ask my dad if he's okay... I still can't get that thought out of my mind, he's gone. No longer suffering. No longer in pain. Goodbye Tata.

Querido Tata,
Que paz siento que tuve la oportunidad de despedirme. Doy gracias a Dios por el tiempo que nos presto juntos. Me quedan muchos lindos recuerdos de usted y mi nana. Gracias por todo su amor y su cariño. Recuerdo cuidando a las gallinas de los gavilanes, y saliendo a caminar juntos con mi nana. Recuerdo dejandole tarea cuando yo iba a la escuela, recuerdo que cada año venia para ir al campamento. Recuerdo su risa, recuerdo sus historias de como conoció a mi nana. Lo extrañare pero espero el día en que nos reunamos en el cielo. Lo quiero mucho y saludeme a mi nana. 

April Highlights
- Winning our court case
- Visiting Korea
- New steps record
- Traveling back in time

Seoul

They say one needs to travel alone to learn more about themselves. Well I wouldn't say I learned more about myself per say but I did learn a few things here and there. I can't believe I was able to visit Korea for a second time!! What a blessing! It's funny how so quickly time passes and things begin to fade into a distant memory. Many things were the same but many things were different as well. Writing about it surely helps to relive it so here we go:

Lesson #1- Korea is not the best country of choice for a solo trip

You end up taking selfies with the KFC guy

But it's too hard to take a selfie with your kakao friends.

You end up eating ramen by yourself because all your favorites are served for two people or more.

Then you end up sitting on the sidewalk lost, playing with the fallen cherry blossom petals (which by the way are very soft).

Lesson #2-  Distance and time can't break beautiful friendships

We met 2 years ago in this country and went our separate ways. I saw you in Vancouver and again here we are in Korea together. I'm so thankful for you <3

My youth group leader and another friend I studied with 2 years ago.

I wish we could've spent more time together but it was so nice seeing her after all this time. 

I met with more friends but we didn't capture the moment photographically. It's amazing how you can meet up with someone years later and it can still be like it was before. Thank you for taking some of your time to hang out :)

Lesson #3- Life is full of surprises

Korean dramas are what brought me to Korea the first time around. I'm finally over that addiction butttt... It was still amazing to watch one being filmed.

My favorite youtuber is also in Seoul right now. We both went to Korea at the same time! What are the odds, twice this has happened. I met him last time I went and this time around he replied to one of my comments saying he remembers me!! xD *fangirl moment*

God knows the desires of your heart. My flight was pushed back a good 8 hours but in exchange I had a direct flight with the airline I've always wanted to try. Their tickets are usually pricey so I've never flown with Korean Air but due to this unfortunate event I got to fly with them! & yes, I loved it!

Lesson #4- You don't take a vacation from God.
Had I visited Thailand I probably wouldn't have had the opportunity to go to church. I'm not saying I had plans to forget about God or anything, I know God is everywhere. The lesson here is that God makes himself KNOWN everywhere.

I walked into New Philly and right away I'm overwhelmed by His presence. The services were beautiful. I left feeling refreshed and loved. The Word spoken there was just what I needed.

The Garden of Morning Calm:

Just take a moment to take in that view. But really take in that view. Imagine an overcast and windy day. As the wind blows and shakes the leaves, pink cherry blossoms begin dancing with the wind falling gently like pink snow along with magnolia petals. The petals land on that pond and the wind moves to another tree causing that same scene, pink snow petals falling gently and blowing with the wind. 

You climb to the top and you see this majestic view. There is no doubt the Creator of the Universe is amazing! As we sat there in silence taking it all in, I just wanted to sing and worship. From the highest of highs to the depths of the sea, creation's revealing Your majesty. Awe. Splendor. Amazing. So much beauty to take in.

Just WOW. Breathtaking.

Lesson #5- Korea will always hold a special place in my heart

One of the girls I met at the hostel I was staying at said I must have an Asian soul. It's not even about the K-pop or the K-dramas, really. But both times I have visited have been very unique and special for me. You have to experience it yourself in order to understand it.

Fun Facts About Korea
- The towels are super tiny.

I don't know if it's a western thing or just in my family but we use bigger towels. I mean this tiny thing wouldn't even cover my hair

- the slippers.

Slippers everywhere. I think this is an Asian thing in general though. But they're even on the airplane!! Hehehe

- Koreans don't typically interact with Non-Asian foreigners

The fact that this ahjumma approached me to ask me a question was pretty big and significant. I don't really know if I answered her question but I loved trying.

- Kakao is the main texting app

The kakao characters are everywhere and they even have a store! That's where I bought my little Korean friend ^^ I couldn't resist!

- LINE is another pretty big texting app with several stores

- The food is delicious and a lot like Mexican food

- Stores don't open before 10am but they will be open at 10pm. It's about the nightlife

- You can find some amazing street performers in Hongdae

These guys were by far my absolute favorite!!!!

Overall, it was a great trip. I got to spend a lot of time exploring and shopping on my own. I learned to be comfortable on my own wandering, exploring and getting lost. Until next time...

God's Not Dead.!

This past weekend my sister and I went to go see the sequel to God's Not Dead. (If you have not seen this movie I highly recommend you watch it). The movie was about a Christian teacher who had to go to court and was about to lose her job and teaching credential for answering a question about Jesus in her history class. There were two main themes in the movie:

Silence is the enemy of Truth. 

 At first I thought this movie was a bit far fetched in the sense that really? People were literally scared to say the name Jesus, they were disgusted just at the sound of it. But as I continued watching I realized that this is where our society is heading. People don't want Jesus to be part of their lives. They don't want to acknowledge his existence whatsoever. My favorite part of this movie was the use of Lee Strobel and J Warner Wallace as witnesses during the trial. They are both authors of the books The Case for Christ and Cold Case Christianity, Both men were once atheists but after looking at the evidence, the undeniable evidence they realized there was no denying that Jesus was real. Jesus is real. We need to make a choice and choose where we stand. As Grace in the movie said, "I would rather stand with God and be judged by the world than stand with the world and be judged by God". A day is coming where we will give account to God for all of our actions. Did we deny His existence or did we stand up for Him? As Christians we need to get ready because there is a war in front of us. This is the battle mentioned in Ephesians 6:12 For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 

Silence is the enemy of Truth. I will make Jesus known. 

God is good all the time.

Despite the stress and frustrations of the trial we are able to see God's faithfulness. God is with her through it all. Grace is suspended from teaching and she can't talk to her students but they come and sing with candles at her door. This specifically spoke to my life since my family is currently undergoing stressful court hearings. Over the past few months we've been trying to get conservatorship of my sister but we've found it challenging due to a doctor who has been against us. This doctor made claims to the court that we were inadequate guardians for my sister and prefers a third party to intervene. It's been a lot of going back and forth but we know that God is in control. Back to the movie, God turned this trial into a victory. What seemed could harm her and take everything from her... God turned it all around. Grace's student who asked the question, accepted Jesus as Her Savior and this trial was an opportunity to let the jury and those in the audience hear about Jesus. Praise God!

God is good all the time and all the time God is good.