"where did you come from??"

As many of you know... i'm home for summer. Back in the good 'ole t-town. Living the dream in the room I grew up in...the house I love so dearly...and all of the many faces that walk through the Komae house on a daily basis. Today my mother said to me (after I showed her the ridiculously cute new top I got from target)..."Where did you come from??" (yes, that is a direct quote) She was referring to the "hippie" style she sees my closet becoming...and my response.. "maaaaam (in annoying child voice) if only you saw the people I live at school with!" Now if you go to APU...you know what I mean. 

anyway...im rambling. my point is that its funny being home. Sleeping in my same bed, same room, eating at the kitchen table i've grown up around...and yet I can tell, and so can my mother, that I have changed. Through the past 3 years...the Lord has continued to mold me, shape me, and water my soul through His word and through the people He has placed in my life....and it's quite evident in this new... "you look like a San Francisco Kid bum" (direct quote from my older bro..who lived in SF for a few years) I am continually grateful for the people God has placed in my life...and the way they have, in many different ways, taught me that where the spirit of the Lord is THERE IS FREEDOM! even if that freedom means not really caring what people think of your clothes...or that you buy everything from a thrift store! hahaa. 

so. cheers to being home. to learning and figuring out who I am. to old friends and new friends...and people who have influenced me..and continue to do so daily. Cheers to routine, to tradition..but most off..cheers to change. to growing up even if its painful. and to the crazy cool path God has me on.. even if that means I dress like a hobo. regardless, I am thankful.

and to end with a quote I saw today...(dont know who its from)

"some people are so poor...all they have is money."

BAM. 

(now...for more people who classify as.."where did you come from??")

ONE YEAR.

today...Huntman/Hunter/Bunter/Buntbear Komae turned ONE!!

yowwwzahhhh!!

I can't believe it's been a year since the Lord blessed us with this little man...and what a fun year it has been! Today we spent the day at Dland (me, Russ, Jen, Hunt, and friends Helen, Joe, and their baby boy Alex) We had too much fun. Ate too much food. And are extremely tired! haha. So Huntman..happy first birthday :) we all love you so so soooo much!

love auntie chan. 

favorites: Nomessss graduates!

 Here are my favs from Naomi's photoshoot last week. 

I think its safe to say that her personality came out in some of these...hahaa

that last one cracks me up...HHAHAHA.

congrats nomes! graduating college...thats a BIG DEAL!! 

house update!

GOOD NEWS FOLKS.... WE HAVE A HOUSE!!!!!!

(thats it!!! can you believe it!???)

It is crazyyyyy how the Lord works! MAN! 

My good good friend (and one of the 8 roommies) found this house on the web about 2 weeks before school got out. When we all first saw this photo...we couldn't believe it - It was everything we had imagined! We all became very excited very quickly, and new that if this was the Lord's will, He would work it out. Funny thing was...a group of our guys friends had already looked at this house (competition) and went through the first few steps of renting it...until Grace (the landowner) stopped answering their calls/emails/etc. Mind you, Grace is this tiny Korean mom who doesnt speak much English. Anyway...we were suuuuuper uncertain if we would even get it after the boys scared us off by saying "did Grace go all Grace on you and stop talking?" 

So..my roommates and I had to refocus. We had to remind ourselves that if this house was to be ours, the Lord would provide. We had to remind ourselves to have very very thankful hearts no mater what the scenario - dream house or not. So after about 2 weeks of paperwork, figuring out how much we would each be paying..waiting for emails back from Grace...WE GOT THE HOUSE.

hallelujah!! 

Through this process, the Lord has shown up BIG TIME. And taught us a whole lot about His will and power. We had to give it to Him. Give our desires, dreams of a house, fears of not finding one...to Him. and WHAT DO YOU KNOw...He provided an incredible home...4 bedrooms...3.5 baths...5 minute drive from campus and a 3 minute walk to our favorite coffee shop + restaurants. AND...Grace is renting it to us for a full year June to June which is literally...PERFECT. 

I am utterly amazed at what the Lord had done for His daughters...the 8 of us...and this is just another sign of what is yet to come. I cannot wait to open up our home to our friends at school, to feed people good food, have incredible conversations as roommates, and ultimately to live in fellowship with 8 girls who LOVE LOVE LOVEEE the Lord...YOWZAHH!

thank you JEsus!!!

I don't tend to enjoy the American Idol band wagons.. bUUTTT Phil Phillips version of

Damien Rice's "volcano" is probably one of the best covers i've heard in a LONG time. 

have a hear. 

today's mission : CLEAN MY ROOM. 

aka...give away all my junk to goodwill and learn to live with LESS. 

my good friend Naomi is graduating from CSULB this Wednesday and asked me if i could snap some shots for her...mostly for her parents so they can frame em! haha. We spend the (hot) day in lb walking around campus and being goofballs (as usual). More pics to come. Gotta shoot my sis + ant today...and then i'll be back on the blog! 

congrats nomes!! 

(p.s that bottom pic depicts us quite perfectly.) 

roadtrippinn : Grand Canyon style

 ahhh...nothing like hitting the open road for a quick trip to the Grand Canyon. My friends and I decided that it was about time we laid eyes on this natural masterpiece...and called up a few friends in AZ to see if we could crash at their houses along the way. It pays to have friends in other states :) We dedicated our trip to my friend Ruth, the 98 year old lady I interviewed for one of my communication classes. While interviewing Ruth, I asked her what things stick out to her in her 98 years of life. (a lot can happen in a year...now imagine living 98 of those). Ruth told me that the she only remembers things that were either really sad, or really really fun. Ruth has also been in every single state, received a masters in social work, and was a head of the YWCA (young womens Christian association) for 50+ years. So I took the hint and went on an adventure. So thanks Ruth. Thanks for inspiring us to make some pretty rad memories. 

the crew: Liana (my roommate from this past year) Abbie (my roommate from freshman year and dear dear friend) and Colton (one of our best guy friends...hailing all the way from Molokai, HI) 

 shoes: $5 thrifted. 

 first view of the canyon.

 OOOO BOY!!!! 

 an incredible sunset. 

  We stayed at our friends house in Prescott (2hrs from the canyon) so on the way back he told us to drive through Sedona...best advice ever!!! 

 happy to be out of the car. in that sedona heat!! 

 after 2 semesters of classes...meetings every week...30+ residents always on the go...THIS was the ultimate vacation spot. We were fully ready to welcome summer. 

 stopped by the city of Jerome (thanks to Tyler for the hint). Jerome is this random little city on the way back to Prescott..apparently haunted or something. Anyway...it felt like a movie set, full of weird walls and cool doors. Best place for photos

The best part of the trip was that we really didnt have any plans. We decided to cruise on throughPrescott, the Canyon, and Flagstaff (visiting another friend) but besides that we wanted to take our time and stop if we wanted to. Stop if we saw a cool photo spot, or a person to talk to, or a cool place to eat. It was so liberating not being ruled by a schedule. We also made a rule on our trip...that no one was allowed to say "I dont care" or "I dont know". We challenged ourselves to be decisive. To pick something and run with it. To live off less money than we usually do, and to experience the beauty of spontaneity, adventure, and F U N. God kept us safe, He guided our paths and led us to some pretty unreal spots that we will never forget. All in all....an unforgettable trip. 

Thanks Ruth.