black friday

So this was my first year out with all the CRAZIES shopping on Black Friday. Yes, CRAZIES...its insane out there!! I was at the Ontario Mills Mall at midnight the day after Thanksgiving, along with about a million other people! I swear, it was a fire hazzard in there! I stood in a 2 hour line for COACH and got two purses that are going to be returned (as I realized they're nothing special), went to Bed Bath & Beyond, Bath & Body Works, and H&M...then headed home at 4:30am. I woke up at 9am and continued the Black Friday shopping at Target, Walmart, Aaron Bros, and Pier 1. It was a long day!! Never again will I go shopping on this day...its way too crazy for me! I'd much prefer to wait a day or two and shop with the more sensible people, and still get the same sales!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what God has done for us, and give thanks back to Him for all His provisions.

This year I was blessed by being welcomed into the Bethany Baptist Church family. This church, the wonderful people, have been such an encouragement in my life. God led me to them, and they showed His love through their welcoming arms. The words of encouragement, the inclusion in the Sunday night Bible study, boot camp, the women's ministry, and the young adults group...I haven't had a church feel like a family like this since I was in high school! I am so thankful! This family of believers is exactly what I needed in my life! Without all of them, and without my Rock, my Savior Jesus Christ...I would be lost right now! So THANK YOU! Thank You, Jesus, for loving me and giving me this precious family that I needed in my life!

This Thanksgiving I was also able to spend the day with another family that is so very dear to me, the Matlock family. They are such wondeful people, and I truly feel like part of their family. With my immediate family spread out across the country, the Matlocks have welcomed me into their family. What a special day this was, eating yummy turkey and all the fixins, and hanging out with such wonderful people. Thank you, Matlocks, for loving me the way you do! I am so blessed by you all!
Me & Judi Matlock
I am so very thankful for all my family, all my friends, and all that God has provided for me. Sometimes I get down and feel depressed, that things aren't going my way. When I finally realize how selfish I'm being, I see how truly blessed I am! God has given me so much to be thankful for, I can only pray that I will continue to have open eyes, and an open heart to see all He has blessed me with.

women's lunch

Today the Bethany ladies got together for lunch at Vince's. About once a month, the women at my church get together to spend time getting to know one another better and to have fun! This time we spent a couple hours enjoying each other's company over some yummy Vince's Spaghetti. I was able to meet some new ladies, visit with some old friends, and have a wonderful afternoon. I always enjoy it when the girls get together!

Sweet Friends...Another Year Older!

K R I S T Y M A T L O C K Happy Birthday Kristy! You are such a dear friend and I feel so blessed that God brought us into each other's lives. I have enjoyed so much getting to know you these past years and especially this past year. I am so looking forward to more fun times together and growing our special friendship. Thank you for being such a great godly woman and example in my life. I love you and hope you had a very special birthday! I'm so glad that I was able to celebrate with you on your birthday, with lunch at Vinces! Big hugs to you, sweet girl!

L I Z S H O R T S I also had the pleasure of celebrating Kristy's birthday a second time on a double birthday dinner party, along with my lovely friend Liz! A few of us girlies got together and went to dinner at Lucille's BBQ and got our grub on, celebrating birthdays for two sweet ladies! Liz, you have also been such a great friend over the years! I love you so much and am so glad that not only have we had the great opportunity to be friends, but co-workers as well! I do feel blessed to see you at least twice a week still, even though we don't work together anymore! :) Thank you for being a friend that will be straight up with me, no matter what!...who looks out for me and has my best interests in mind. I so appreciate the fact that you love me despite the bad choices I've made, and you continue to encourage me! You are so special to me! I hope that I can be the same friend to you that you've been to me over the years! I love you chica! T H E B I R T H D A Y G I R L S

time with family

My Uncle Marvin and Aunt Joyce were in town for a few days and I was very excited that I was able to spend a few nights hanging out with them. We, along with the Matlocks, had a super yummy lunch at Vince's Spaghetti... and a great dinner at Hometown Buffet with the Matlocks and my Aunt Joyce's mom Olga. We also all met up at The Sideboard Christmas Open House.I truly enjoyed seeing them and look forward to their next trip out to So Ca! :) I love you guys, thanks for thinking of me while you're in town!

Christmas @ The Sideboard

The Sideboard is a cute little shop in downtown Upland that is a must visit! They have the cutest things, that are must haves for all women! Well, this evening was their annual Christmas open house. They had super cute decorated Christmas trees out, carolers singing, goodies to snack on, raffles (which I sadly didn't win), and Santa even made an appearance! It was a great evening! My gramma and I made a night of it! We started off with dinner at Vince's Spaghetti, and then a fun evening shopping and visiting with friends at The Sideboard. Here are a few pictures from our fun Christmas night at the cutest store in Upland!Me and My Family - Tom & Judi Matlock (two of the owners of The Sideboard), Aunt Joyce & Uncle Marvin (in town from SC), and my Gramma Vasquez

tree decorating

Today was so fun! After church, and lunch with friends...a few of us ladies went to The Sideboard (the cutest store in Upland) to decorate Christmas trees! Every year we get together and have the most fun helping the owners get ready for their Annual Chistmas Open House by decorating all the trees in the store. This year, my friend Kristy and I got to decorate the tree in the Paris section. Our cute white tree was decorated to the gills with the cutest ornaments! I loved our tree! We had a great time visiting with each other while decorating, which was the most fun for me! I just love this girl so much, she is awesome! Anyway, the day was a success and we look forward to the open house coming soon! Ya'll better be there! :)

trunk or treat

HaPpY HaLlOwEeN!
This year, I celebrated Halloween with my church family. We had a "Trunk or Treat" in the church parking lot, where everyone's car trunks were opened, decorated, and filled with candy for the little kiddos in the community. We had a great turnout! So many cute, scary, and unique costumes were strutted around the parking lot saying "trick or treat!". So fun! There was food, fellowship, bounce houses, candy...and a super yummy Chili Cook-off! My 'angelic' friend Cindy won for the Best Chili! Congrats chica! After the "Trunk or Treat" the College & Young Adult's Group had a little party. More food, laughter, dancing, and fun times!! I am so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life!