aka Timothy St. John

besides brewing some of the best coffee known to man, TSJ is such an awesome guy. he started counseling/discipling me this past year, and hands down...top 10 for this year. the wisdom that he's been able to offer has been timely, and i think that his guidance has helped to further joy and perseverance in the Lord (to places i've never been). i love asking him questions and having him have the answers that i don't want, because they're the things that aren't the easiest to do, but produce the right results. and there isn't anything that is much better than being spurred on towards love and good deeds by a guy you respect, who has been through his own storms.

TSJ, i love you man.

edit: he just got engaged ftw.

20 of 31

something i've always loved are blogs.

from xanga to blogger i can't seem to shake it. a comparison is like reading the extra backstory in star wars, or watching the special features of movies that has spectacular writing or breathtaking special effects. it's the extra material that isn't necessarily guaranteed to be as blatant within the person who is writing them (in short, it's usually a raw, visceral manifest summary of the person writing them). whether you read them to gain valuable knowledge about random selected topics (such as the person themselves), friends, or family; or maybe reading them in downtime at work; or maybe its just you want to stalk the person a bit more before you finally work up the courage to meet them (think pre-facebook stalking), it had something in store for all who would venture into it's weathered lands.

anyways, i wanted to dedicate this post to people of recent days (especially this year) who have given me joy, entertainment, and fun within their unique blogs as each brings different things to the table. i encourage people to follow them and maybe you'll see what i'm talking about when i say unique.

leading off...

Scott Mizuno - www.scottmizuno.com

the reason i love scott's blog, isn't simply because he's the cousin of my former roomie, no, it's because his posts are always fresh and he keeps it pretty real on the whole for whatever he's posting about (meaning he doesn't exaggerate off the end about the warriors or giants. tbh it takes a lot of sheer honesty and self control that most people online don't possess) trying to find an unbiased opinion is like finding a needle in a haystack when it comes to sports blogging; especially bay area sports. people often try to be unbiased, or lie to themselves saying that giving a mere nod to an opposing team's league MVP is enough to satisfy the critics. basically, we'll go off a ebonics quote, "game recognize game." the kid's got an eye for talent so listen to his advice and you'll be on top of the sports theory and knowledge.

anyways, check out his blog if you love humor, sports and good times.

batting second...

Megan Terasaki - http://365megan.wordpress.com/

(for those who don't know her, she's in the totoro outfit...and mandy is hugging her)

her blog manages to capture a snapshot of her life, which is filled with family, friends and food, along with fresh music and funny stories (all wonderful things).

i've been following her since i started going to lighthouse and she kept asking if i had a blog...and then telling me how much she loves google reader and keeping up with blogs. as such, i've definitely been encouraged by her to post more, and it has had a positive effect on posting & content. tbh, her blog doesn't do her the justice that she deserves because in the few conversations that i've had with her, i've been blessed through the words of wisdom she's gained, either learned through life experiences or passed down from others (notably her parents); which have given me Godly encouragement and increased joy for the Lord. the way she carries herself is by being humble, devoted, and joyful to the Lord and it shows who she is and what she values. ladies, pull your notebook out and take notes, she'll give you a good example of what it means to serve God faithfully.

third up...

Jamie De Guzman - http://mizlaydeejay.blogspot.com/

honest. real. her life be like-. jamie is a poet (don'tcha know it) and a great one at that...it's mostly in the barrage of words that she hurls from the deepest parts of who she is onto her blog which i appreciate the most. she's always bent on keeping it real and keeping it all in perspective. she's not afraid of displaying her fears, failures, and insecurities within her blogs because through it, she's growing all the more. if you were to take jamie at surface for the sweet girl that she is...and fail to see her extensive, complex, and exhaustive thoughts, you're failing (and hard) at seeing the big picture at hand. the draw is that she's on top of her game, no matter what life's throwing at her and it's because she's living on the edge that she's gonna succeed in whatever she goes through. if you were to read her posts beginning to end, you'd see a gorgeous view of a girl into a woman by the unending grace of God in sanctification. just so y'all know, she's got "de gudz" manggg. ya heard it here.

batting cleanup...

Brian Chang - http://mahbad.wordpress.com/

(his exploitation of using little paige is shown in the pic) i think it's the number of books he's read, the constant updates, the continual connecting to the main point of the cross or maybe it's just that he's such an interesting guy. i appreciate his honesty, his hard work at showing thoughts, ideas, and life learned lessons on his blog so that others can learn from his own life experiences. he juggles his life posts with book reports and others so that it's continually fresh and new. I think, his strength, is the quality of length and post timing. he manages to post on relevant topics and things that actually have some weight in today's society. the main reason why he's on here is because he wins the quote of the year...

"You have to realize, we're all at different points in our sanctification."

::runner up Quote of the Year::

"There's still so much sanctification left for me."

(E Chabs quoting his accomplished seminary professor of late years)

a special thank you to these 4 bloggers. you've given me tons of things to think about and to further me along in my journey through life.

19 of 31

i was going to write about all these things and then i decided to just scrub them to here, write a smaller snippet about them, and then include more individuals in the blogs.

i apologize for not writing in here consistently over the past few days, i've been pretty busy to say the least and i think the climax was when i was driving to jwoo's wedding and my car's axel snapped and nearly shot a wheel off my car and thus sending me smoking into the right lane. thankfully, i was unharmed, as was everyone else and i still managed to get to the wedding.

1] my car - i love her, but she's finished, i think. we'll find out tomorrow, but tbh, she's kind of the epitome of what i've always wanted in a car. performance, looks, and all around fun. i'll miss her if i find out she's totaled tomorrow.

2] Disneyland - the best place ever. the happiest place ever. so many awesome, perfect, and fun memories from mt. hermon reunions to just chillin or dates. but definitely the one place that will make you feel like a kid again, just ride splash at night = insta-win

3] movies - besides the town being the movie of the year. i've always thought that movies were a necessity in my household because that's what me and my mom would do all the time. just sit on the couch and watch movies together, or go to amc and watch some movie with an icee and popcorn. i love movies because of the entertainment value, the metaphors and deeper messages and just overall fun.

4. Music - is what i will always love. because it's the thing that i can relate to, flow to, cruise to, and just dance to. there's something beautiful about it, and it's something will always make my mood peak and drop as it takes me for a ride. from bach to drake...hillsongs to gaga, pretty much anything that's catchy, has an ill beat, or just straight fresh i'm down to listen to it. i definitely appreciate lyrics but most songs nowadays could say watermelon watermelon watermelon and it'd be the same outcome. meh.

5. food - is the most amazing thing...and is definitely one of the biggest blessing of being born on this earth, and is why we use it as the bond in family ties (well fed = happy). haha, it's such an amazing thing what people can do with animals and plants. the above picture was featured in the best meal of my life (so far) as it was at le bernadin in NY with the bestie. i recommend it to everyone who goes, although it is a bit pricey, but when it's the best meal of your life, can you actually put a price on that?

6. video games - are pretty much the reason why i didn't do as well as i could've in school. but was definitely one of the things that i loved to do with or without my friends and it was games such as smash, that have forever changed what a party is all about. if you were to log the amount of hours we played all 4 years of college, or just my life...it'd be gross.

7. poker - you are both the greatest game, and worst game ever. i dont think i'll ever come across a more intriguing and fun game. thanks for ruining my stewardship of time in hs/college.

8. paintball - pretty much you were the one of the only things keeping me sane in HS. you allowed me to meet tons of great people and to be engulfed in a world that celebrates style and swag as much as skill. good times.

9. basketball - i think that ball was the best sport i ever played and it definitely was something i spent a lot of time doing. it facilitated the thing that allowed me friendships later in life. it's kinda crazy how influential it was, even though i hated it in HS, i miss it. mostly because i didn't care then, but i care now...and everyone older than me told me that. life lesson learned, enjoy and seize today, because it quickly becomes a distant memory soon.

10. college/ucsb - it was the unplanned best ever. i didn't think i'd love it. i did. i didn't think i'd stay much. i didn't. i didn't think i'd make a lot of friends. meh, toss up. but i had a great time and i definitely learned a lot during my time there.

18 of 31

aka Marc "taka" Takamine

he's the cool guy, the popular guy, the fun guy, the pun guy and i don't know anyone else that rolls off my head faster as far as someone i wanted to be like when i was growing up (he's also my cousin). there are so many awesome memories with him, and my favorite was when he would babysit and hang out with me while i was young growing up because it meant the world to me for him to take out time in his life to chill...and it only got better as i grew up and he was more independent. he was always down for me to hang out with him (especially while i was in my tougher times in life) and he showed me the ropes while growing up (he is one person who i will listen to when i'm being stubborn and who will give me sound advice which i trust). as we've grown up and especially in college, that's where we became really close, and i praise God that he allowed us to really talk and connect on a level that isn't really something that you can just put into words (he knows me through and through...and i consider him the closest person probably in my life). taka has always been the guy i've looked up to and he's been nothing but kind, gracious, loving, genuine, real, and tbh, he's the guy who i know will always have my back, and i'll have his, no matter what and that's real talk.

taka, i love you so much.

17 of 31

aka Michael "Mike" Yamada

has been for the past few years, my best friend. and i think that's definitely up the ladder of things people wouldn't want to do if asked...probably one of the harder tasks of the century IMO (following WWII/Vietnam/[insert war draft]) as i'm not the easiest person in the world to deal with, but thankfully, he's gracious and loving enough to stick with me, despite me being a crappy friend at times. I think of him as the older brother i never had, and in a lot of ways he's just that, probably one of the few friends i have who is able shoot me straight when no one else would (and that was when i was at my lowest, most difficult points in recent years, he pretty much does the dirty work, the work that nobody wants to do but is so necessary for life, friendship, and overall growth). i know the guy pretty well at this point, and i know without a doubt that he is one of the most loyal, honest, and real bros around who is probably misunderstood due to his sense of humor and jokes (which i have definitely been the benefactor of his constant mockery). he's more of the personal type, and by that i mean the type who wants to actually dive deep and invest if the opposing person is willing to put in time as well and i think it shows in the way he cares for his friends (as he'll ask the hard questions, and be the person who gets you to talk about the things you don't want to, but need to.) his motivation for life, work, and God are the things i admire, and tbh&real, i've always felt i needed to impress the guy as i grew up seeing him from among the low ranks of mt. hermon and wpc/ebcsgv collabs as he was everywhere (super fun/popular and awesome guy); and the fact that i'm such good friends with him now is kind of weird and surreal, something i never saw coming, but has definitely been the biggest of blessings and changed me for life, and for good.

mike, i love you bro.

16 of 31

aka Stephen Tanizaki

the brother who i never had growing up, who was literally my second family in every regard. I probably spent the most nights at his house, seen the most movies with this guy, always having cool runnings on at his house, playing board games, eating super awesome food or doing something awesome like n64 or taking awesome family trips together (so much vg, so many great memories); i was blessed with a bffl, or a best friend for life. he's someone that i can always talk to, go to, for anything...whether it be simply talking about life, or even about what we've been going through in our walks. i can't say enough of his character, as he is probably one of the most legit guys i know, and this is probably why he'll be a successful man within the realm of law; i really respect him in short and admire his drive and determination to succeed in life. he is in every way, shape, and form my brother and it's the love that i've received from him and his family that's been a huge reason for why i am the way i am today.

i love you stephen.

15 of 31

aka Matt Sawasaki

tbh, i've always loved matt, ever since i've known him...he's been someone who i just love to be around [and i mean who doesn't feel this way?]; i think it must be his sense of humor, personality, charm, and wit that cohesively mesh together to create a person who is irresistible to enjoy [kind of like a fruity pebbles jamba juice]. {i wanted to also mention his family's done so much for me (from feeding me, to letting me crash on their living room couch, to pretty much adopting me as the third [probably unwanted] child)} if i could sum matt up into a category of a person, i'd say he's the all around go to guy for practically everything as he'd either know, or know someone who does know [fellow bff seminarians or josh kira]; and it's because of everything about him that makes matt, matt...it all starts with his love for God, to his love for his family and constant joking with them, to his love for friends through his support and conversation, and also his love for sc2[i threw that in ftw]. i think in more ways than one, he's been one of the most gracious and loving friends i have...& just to have a solid friend while transitioning into lighthouse is unmistakably one of the best blessings i've had this year. his friendship has been such a great one, super awesome, fun and meaningful...full of fruit, and i honestly don't know what to say to him other than thank you for everything; my heart is full of joy and gratitude towards God for him. thanks for being so awesome, aquaman, zealots and marines ftw.

i love you matt.

14 of 31