It's me...Sam

Ok, so I have been in East Asia now for about a week and it has been so wonderful! I have had the privilege to get to know so many people and you are seriously treated like royalty here. I don't get it but I kind of just go with it. For example today we were treated to a really expensive lunch just because we are American. The lunch was over 500 U.N., which is A LOT for people here. Sweet huh? The only downfall is that we all know i'm pretty high maintenance about food and I only ate rice and some questionable fruit :) everyone else on my team enjoyed it though! Anyway, things have been amazing here and the best way I can describe how I feel is through Ephesians 3:7-8. Oh yeah, I have managed to snap a few shots at these park area here and now lets be serious i'm no Tyler or Trever Hoehne but hope you enjoy! (obviously I didn't take the first shot nor am I at the park we are just on the streets)

Summertime Favorites

Iced tea, chips and salsa, and a view of the beach, it doesn't get better. Below is Taylor refusing to smile :)
Main Street in Huntington Beach...my favorite summer time place. I know it is crowded and can be full of bros....but nevertheless I love this overcrowded sea of cars and people who smell like a conglomeration of sun screen and beer.

Here's to summer time! We welcome you. Sunbathing, swimming, sleeping in, barbecues, 4th of July, and Jack Johnson, they're all back. 

Sam is gone!

Our beloved roommate Sam is off in East Asia for an International Service Project through CBU. We are very sad and will miss her dearly. If you think of it, be praying for her. This is a picture of the last time she traveled across the world, and she is wearing one of the terrible backpacks that we took with us to Europe last summer. We hated those backpacks. Anyway, we love you Sam and we are looking forward to hearing all about your trip.

Audrey is here!

Audrey is here staying with us for two weeks and we are all thrilled to have her here. We of course have hit up all of our favorite spots...80's dancing and #2's :) We also added a new event to our summertime festivities: the driving range! Here is a picture of Jenni, Hannah, and Natalie. They actually were pretty good.

This is a group shot of all the girls that went. You can just imagine the scene we made. 

Brooke, Whit, and Sam. Check out Sam's golfing shoes, she is hardcore.
Audrey and I really just hung out there, drinking iced tea with me trying to shade her from the sun (she is allergic), no I'm not kidding. We had alot of fun, and it is great to have Audge home with us for a while. 

Amidst the Wedding Craziness

This is Sam writing.
Well there are six of us here in P.Vill Apt. #2 and of the six...three are getting married! It sounds like chaos, and it kind of is, but it has been one of the sweetest times of life that I have encountered yet! I could forgo the comments like, "Don't worry your Mr. Right is just around the corner" or "I just want you to know...you are taking this really well" I know the comments are said with no bad intentions.. it just makes me realize that some people really don't know me at ll and i feel like saying to them, "I AM 21!!!!!!" Some people make it seem like I am an old maid.. its actually quit entertaining, I have more recently been contemplating making a huge scene the next time someone says something like that, breaking down into uncontrollable tears to see how awkward the other person would feel...i'll let you know how it goes. No, in all seriousness though I love where God has me right now. I am about to leave for East Asia and I have just joined the Starbucks softball team. Now that is pure entertainment! Our games are every sunday night.. and I AM NOT GOOD!! But I make everyone laugh so I'm ok with it and I get to meet new people from other stores that I don't know, which I love! Well, this is getting rather long... I am slightly shocked how much I actually enjoy this whole "blogging" concept.. its like I get to say all my thoughts with absolute disregard to trying to make conversation, entertaining people or any-sort of formality. It's nice

As Promised...

...The WHOLE story. Since it was my birthday, Taylor took the day off and we spent the whole day at the beach. We had breakfast on Balboa Island, and took the ferry over to the Peninsula. The weather couldn't have been more beautiful. All day long we laughed and talked, enjoying our first trip to the ocean this summer.  

We also went to his Grandpa's beach house and borrowed the bikes. We rode everywhere we went that day, so fun!
At the end of the day we went back to his Grandpa's house to freshen up for our dinner reservations at Abbondanza. For those of you who may not know, I LOVE this restaurant. When we got in the car, he told me our dinner reservations were actually a half hour later but he wanted to do something a little more sentimental since we are on a "birthday spending budget." He took me out to "Spot P", a lifeguard stand where we tried to watch the sunrise one time when we first started dating. It was there that he said he had gone a little over budget, and before I knew it he was down on one knee, asking me to marry him. I was shocked to say the least. I laughed for a long time, and then burst into tears as I began to realize what was happening. It was the most surreal moment of my life. We headed over to Abbondonza, and when we walked in all of our closest family and friends were there for a surprise party for my birthday. Of course I thought they were all there because of the engagement. Taylor leaned over and whispered, they don't know! I helped up my ring, and the screaming could be heard for miles. It was so sweet to be able to see my family's reaction. (Of course our parent's knew, he had asked them!). Anyway, T had rented out the whole restaurant and had specially designed a menu of all of my favorite things. It was amazing. I have never felt so loved. And now I am thrilled to be marrying him! (I apologize for the cheesy nature of this post, but come on, it's about our engagement, did you expect less?)

This is me and my future father-in-law. He gave such a sweet toast welcoming me into the Neece family,
All of my new family!
My sisters, with the classic pose. Whenever one of us gets engaged we put our hands like this, and the new bride puts her ring on top! 
One of our dearest and funniest friends, Polk.
My best friends, Whit and Sam. I love you girls!
Us four girls and our dad.
Me and my future husband....
The five of us. Life couldn't get any sweeter.

You're Welcome

Well this is Sam posting right now I am an official roomate of the apartement, it may seem like some what of a surprise there are other roomates aside from Brooke and Brittany, but there are three more of us. I just wanted to introduce myself. My posts may be nothing exciting I will more than likely just be posting all the funny things that my roomates say and do and by funny I mean their thoughtless moments. K bye!

I'm gonna be Mrs. Neece!

For those of you who haven't heard, Taylor proposed! I am so excited. The full story and pictures will be coming soon. We are so happy :)