Well here we are. Twelve more days until 2014. Incase I either run out of time to send Christmas cards or they get sent late, here's a rundown of the year's highlights..
My family started off the new year in a bittersweet fashion. We had to leave the home we made in Norwalk of nearly 20 years abruptly. Unfortunately lost a lot or had to leave behind a lot. But thankfully another door opened in the literal nick of time here in Cypress.
The new city brought new opportunities for myself as I found a job with AEG as a Team Store Associate inside Angels Stadium. I actually also spent a couple of months at a clothing boutique called Chico's in the Shops at Rossmoor, Seal Beach. That job didn't work out so well, so I chose to leave. But I'm confident AEG will continue to provide me with opportunities and skills for something greater in the future. It's a great company, excellent management, and my co-workers are awesome. Working with AEG exposed me to working with sports fans from all over the world, and gave me the opportunity to experience working my first concert. Kenny Chesney and the No Shoes Nation Tour rocked Anaheim in July with Eric Church, Kacey Musgraves, and the Eli Young Band. I managed to work a level where I could watch some of the concert after the rush of guests buying tour merchandise calmed down. It made a new fan out of me and I can't wait to go to a concert of theirs one day. And even though I was on the clock per se, it sure didn't feel like work. I had so much fun!
As we know, the Angels did not make it to the playoffs this year. But fortunately, my last days at the stadium in September intertwined with a new job at Ulta Beauty. A new store opened at Lakewood Mall, and although I applied to be closer at the Seal Beach location, I figured this could be my way in if any opportunity arose at Seal Beach later on. The first month and a half at Ulta went very well. But lately, as the store has been open and unfortunately not doing so well at its Lakewood location, corporate has had to cut the store's budget. That means the schedule gets cut, and my position as a stock associate is one that is hit hardest. I did not work from early October until Black Friday. Even then, it was a mere four hours. No shifts scheduled since then. As much as it pains me because it's one of my favorite stores and I love everyone working there, I may have to find another side job before the baseball season starts again. Unless there's a spot in Seal Beach, I may have to leave Ulta. Because if it's this bad now, it's likely to get worse after the New Year when holiday shopping ends. Oh, how I don't want to let go of that 25% discount! Eh, we'll see what happens. In the meantime, Angels Stadium has Monster Truck and Moto X coming up for every Saturday in January and the first week of February. I've already signed up to work those events, so those should be quite interesting.
Austin began Pre-Kindergarten at Valley Christian Preschool in September, and so far is flourishing. He missed the new September 1 cut-off for Kindergarten, so he'll be one of the older Kindergarteners next year. But he's still with his little crew of Jackson, Joshua and Finn, who he's been kickin it with since last year, and even added a couple of more new buddies named Asher and Cooper. Turns out that Asher and Cooper are the sons of the Youth Pastor and Young Adults Pastor at our church, Cottonwood Church. So we've had the chance to begin bonding with their families which has made our blending into the church much more enjoyable. As far as the lil ladies are concerned, Austin certainly has not lost his touch. He still has Samantha hanging around from last year, and now he has 2 new lil ladies added to his list, Avery and McKenna who are also sisters. Play on, playa.
Getting back to the church subject, that was another place in which we spent more time getting situated with. We had been going to Light and Life Christian Fellowship in Downey while living in Norwalk. Louis personally knew Pastor Kevin there as he grew up with that church while living with his mom in Long Beach, and Pastor Kevin was at the Long Beach campus back then. So getting back to Pastor Kevin in Downey was very nice for Louis, and I had a great time getting to know him and the church as well. Everyone there was wonderful, and because it was somewhat of a small church, it made it even more so. However, once we moved to Cypress, we felt we were going to have to find a church closer to home. My father is usually the one who gives us a ride to church, and being that we're now a bit of a further distance from Downey, we didn't want to burden him with the drive. We found Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos a short 5 minute drive just a few blocks away, and began going there in February. Granted, the size of the church is somewhat intimidating to newcomers. But everyone is very welcoming and there are so many ways to get involved in small groups or volunteering that it really doesn't feel so overwhelming after a while. Pastor Bayless Conley is absolutely wonderful, and we are so inspired by his story and his teachings. His family are just as great as well, and the connection to Austin's friend Asher continues there--Bayless is Asher's grandfather, Asher's father is Harrison Conley, the Youth Pastor. We had the opportunity to meet Bayless and his wife Janet at Austin's program for Grandparent's Day this past September at the school. It was also there when we found out that Valley Christian Preschool will have their graduation on June 6 (my 36th birthday!) at Cottonwood! We were so thrilled to hear that, very much looking forward to it. I believe that means we can invite as much friends and family as we can since Cottonwood's large auditorium can provide the space.
My mom was given the greatest opportunity she could be offered at this point in her life with a new job at Hansen and Adkins Auto Transport, just a hop-skip-jump over in Los Alamitos. No more freeway commute, more pay, and much more opportunity and benefits. It's a bit larger operation than what she experienced at her previous job, but it's nothing she can't handle. She was personally recruited by the owner of the company, which says a lot in itself. This owner was/is a client of her previous employer and he developed a very good work rapport with my mom, which is why they became so well acquainted. When she came home in August to tell us that he wanted to meet her for lunch, we just knew he was gonna offer her a job. As a matter of fact, he created a job title just for her! The company is very well off, and she's the happiest she's been at a job for a very long time. She was recently given a very generous Christmas bonus from the owner and co-owner, who she said walked to each and every office and cubicle to personally thank each employee and hand over their bonus checks. And it wasn't a quick, "Hey thanks". These guys stopped and took the time to personally acknowledge every employee. Now that's management!
In January, my dad will celebrate 44 years with Disneyland. He's still hanging in there, working hard, and I give him mad respect for that. He's had quite the experience there, and of course we are very grateful to have the advantage of Disney perks. Even after he retires, we'll still reap benefits, so we're a Disney family por vida.
Louis advanced in his classes this year and has been getting more exposure to his chosen degree in Hospitality Management. He finished out his Spring semester at Cerritos College, and moved on to Cypress College in the Summer up to the present. Cypress actually has a Hospitality Management program which Cerritos did not, so at least now he can get moving a little faster towards his degree. He's been having fun learning about the business and spending more time in the kitchen. It's always good to be exposed to all ends, as he's come to realize. I believe so too, as I told him to keep his options open and also consider Event Management. We're right next to Anaheim, total Disney country, resort heaven, the opportunities are plenty. Other than school, Louis still worked with Staff Pro this year doing security. He did the annual Long Beach Grand Prix assignment, took on an overnight shift working a rave at the San Manuel Ampitheater in October, just to highlight a couple. But he's in the market for working closer to his degree field, so if you know anyone or anywhere that's hiring, let him know.
All in all, we've had a pretty pleasant year. New experiences, new friends. Some things may not have improved like we would have liked them to. But all we can do is keep moving forward and keep looking out for those opportunities. For personal reasons, I had to take a break from my studies. But I plan to get back on that horse very soon after the New Year. The length of time until I finish is a concern for me. Yet I know it will be better for me in the long run to complete it. I have to get away from retail and plant myself in a more fulfilling environment. I know I'm meant for so much more. And again, all in all, I can't complain too much. There's still a lot to be grateful for.
It is what it is, and it was what it was.
To all of my family and friends who shared in the good times this year, love to you all and thanks for being there! To those we shared with from afar through social media, love to you all as well, and here's hoping we can get together in the New Year sometime!
