Such a great group of friends! So blessed to have them celebrate with me for my lingerie / bachelorette day! Thank you @amynavarra and @julesmagee007 for helping make the day so special! #hollsandry #1moreweek #artdeco

My beautiful ring! Great job @rhambone !!💍💎💍❤️ #nofilter #blingbling

My date for this rainy Friday night. 🐶💚💦

#tbt to our Long Beach ride yesterday. #realmencarrytheirgirlfriendspupsinbaskets 🐶👍 @rhambone (at Long Beach, CA)

🎈Happy 2nd Birthday to my favorite pup, Dexter!! 🎈

We found fall in SoCal! 🍁🍂#nofilter #JulianCA

In the words of Ron Swanson: "You'll get plenty of job offers in your life but you only have one home town"... Thank you #parksandrec for the wisdom. Looking forward to the day God opens the door to go back home. #fabfour @amynavarra @maryannm3

Happy Halloween! 👻 #acoupledayslate #pussnboots #sandyfromgrease #redridinghood @jskinnyj @katejohnston111

"What, @katejohnston111 ... can I help you?" #mynewlifeinla #roomies

Direction is something I must ask God for daily. Often I wish direction from one day would at least last through the next. Although my wavering heart and mind torment me, I am blessed with unfathomable peace.

Happy 30th Birthday to my favorite brother!! So proud of you @dsumpter and love you so much!

I used to be much nicer.

Truth of an Ugly (Sinful) Heart

It shouldn't come as a surprise to me that my environment effects my values. I also should not be surprised that my current environment has had the quickest negative effect on my heart and my values. 

Daily, I am surrounded by images of perfection. I know we are told that this is also the case by watching TV, but living in the world where TV is made is another story. The vast majority of the people I see (outside of work) drive the latest model of the fanciest cars (or just a car nicer than mine -- to me that's the latest model of the fanciest car), wear the latest fashions and have the "perfect" hair, skin and makeup. Additionally, the people I meet, even in church, are after "the next big thing". They either relocated "to pursue the acting thing" or work for a production agency. I'm not saying these people aren't wonderful, God-fearing (the ones I meet in church), kind people. They are. The mind set is just very different.  

I have never been one to be very pursuant of "the next big thing" or cared much about perfection... yes, i like to shop (ask anyone -- my favorite stores are Ross, Marshall's and TJ Maxx. I justify that I can shop as much as I want if I only spend $7 for a shirt!) and I definitely wouldn't mind a new car; however, I have noticed a difference in the way I view and value these things.  I drove a 10 year old minivan for 3 years and I had the hardest time justifying selling said minivan to buy a 2 year old used, base-model Mazda3 (complete with manual locks and crank windows... it was the best!). My most recent example is when all I could think about is how I wanted a new, fancy car and i should have one because my current car sounds awful. And there is my problem. Things get ugly when my motive turns from need to should. 

I have realized that since I have moved to LA LA Land, my mindset has gradually shifted from working toward and pursuing the things I need, to wishing I had the things the billboards (or what the majority of people display around me) tell me i'm entitled to (or should have). Ugh, gross. This is a mind set I must challenge in myself several times a day... and I hate that. God does not call us to a life of entitlement or even luxury. Yes, hard work pays off and blessings are definitely welcomed. The difference is the state of the heart and the source of the value we place on the things we want or may even already have.

How I ended up here in LA is not anything I will ever be able to take credit for. It was solely because of Jesus (okay, I pressed "submit" on the online application... but I also did that with 3 other northern California jobs). Because of that, I believe that His purpose for me here is good.

As hard as living here is, I am thankful for the opportunity He has given me to seek after Him. I am amazed at how He graciously and gently reveals the ugly (sinful) portions of my heart in order to mold me into the person He created me to be. 

Officially reunited. 💙💙 #mynewlifeinla (at Beverly Hills)

Life Decision

I’ve decided I am going to live small so I can travel big.

I sent this picture to my landlord with the symptoms of mold exposure I was beginning to experience and it wasn't until she paid someone to come into my apartment to test for mold that she believed it was there. 

I'm now living in a hotel for either "5 days or several weeks". 

Excuse me, sir, if you're going to pay for the operation, please have the decency to pay for the appropriate undergarments.