Top 25 Favorite Movies (so far...)

1.) The Lion King

2.) The Dark Knight



3.) Shawshank Redemption



4.) The Matrix



5.) Toy Story



6.) Forrest Gump



7.) Jerry Maguire



8.) Gladiator



9.) Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back



10.) The Pursuit of Happyness



11.) Terminator 2: Judgment Day



12.) GoodFellas



13.) Braveheart



14.) Blue Valentine



15.) The Sandlot



16.) Fight Club



17.) Training Day



18.) Crash



19.) Ray



20.) White Men Can't Jump



21.) Cinderella Man



22.) Catch Me If You Can



23.) Road to Perdition



24.) The Wrestler



25.) 500 Days of Summer

Thanksgiving Love

        DAD

Nobody every shows dad any love. Lol sorry for all the years we neglected you or didn't give you props for being the man of the house. I've looked up to you for as long as I can remember, and I always will. Just to make sure there's never any confusion, I am so thankful for all that you provided for our family over the years. I tell people all the time that I had the best childhood ever, and I genuinely mean it when I make that statement. All of that is due to the way you and mom raised me over the years and provided everything I could ever need. The late nights you spent on christmas eve putting together our gifts, the basketball goal you built for me in our old driveway, the way you always bragged about your kids in your messages, and the countless times you were there to offer advice when I needed you most. Those are just a few of the ways you showed your love. Things got tough and times were hard on you but you never quit on our family. It's because of that endurance that I've been given the opportunities that I've had in my life. Mom used to always tell me I should thank God for a father who always wanted to spend so much time with me, and I haven't stopped thanking Him!

 

 

MOM

 

You truly are the definition of wisdom and grace. I thank God for a mother that ALWAYS put her family above all else. My desire to have a family someday was stronger than any one else I knew, and I feel like that was due to the fact that you placed so much importance on family. You laughed with us, danced with us, joked around us, and even fussed at us when we needed it! Haha there were some days you got so mad I thougth you would take us all out and start a new family. Lord knows we gave you some headaches, and I'm sure the favor will be returned when we have kids of our own. Whenever you lost it or got upset with us, you always immediately came back and reminded us that you loved us dearly. Those gestures always meant the world to me! I'm extremely grateful to you and dad for never being the stereotypical christian parents that tried to shield us from every little thing in the world. You gave us your opinion and let us live life. Some of the most important lessons I learned in life were a result of you sitting back and allowing me to let me make my own mistakes. I treasure every second of those days we get to spending in the kitchen just talking about life. Thank you for being the strong woman of God that made such a strong impact on this family.

 

 

APRIL

It's crazy to see how much can change when you go to college. I know there were a ton of times where we fought and argued over the years, but I really am thankful to God for you. I've never met a person that is as funny and selfless as you. Time and time again I've seen you go farrrrrrrr out of your way to bless someone else. Most of the time you get absolutely nothing in return, and yet you STILL continue to bless people. Watching you has been an amazing depiction of the way that Christ cares for the church. Many people would say it's crazy to do so much for nothing in return, but we can never fully comprehend the love of Christ. You've grown into an amazing, hard-working, and independent woman of God. I'm honored to call you my sister and I love that you'll get to be an aunt to my children someday. Don't ever let anyone tear you down or allow you to believe that you are anything less than perfect. I love you so much and I know that you have an incredibly bright future ahead of you. Thank you for everything that you have done for me over the years. I've done nothing to deserve your generosity and i'm humbled to my core with your kindness!

AMANDA

"HE BOSSED UP!!!" lol I don't even know where to start with this one. I can't think of a single person that I've laughed til I cried with more than you. I think that we have a lot of similarities and the same quirky take on life. When you were first born, I always thought that you'd always be too young for me to really be able to relate to you. Turns out that you're the one that understands me better than most people. I brag about you all the time. I didn't even realize it til my friends started picking on me for how much I mention my sisters. The truth is I can't help it, because I'm so stinkin proud of you! I mean you got a job and saved up enough money to buy your own car in high school!!!! There are only a handful of teenagers I know that were able to accomplish something like that. Usually the youngest child is the most spoiled, but you still managed to gain my respect in ways I never thought possible. You're a creative talent in so many ways and I absolutely cannot wait to see the ways that God is going to use you in the future. I know I'll be able to brag about you in all kinds of ways for years to come.

AUTUMN

It is unbelievable to see how the past year and a half of my life has changed so drastically. I'm thankful to God for bringing you into my life at exactly the right time! I don't believe that any single part of our relationship is a coincidence. God knew exactly what I needed. He may have placed that blessing a little further away than I would've liked, but I'm grateful nonetheless lol. You've been a huge support for me and given me the motivation to be the best version of myself possible. There has never been a time where I doubted your love for me, and you've had patience with me even through times where I acted foolishly. I've said a million times before that I don't deserve you and you find a new way to confirm that belief every single day. I'm blown away by your commitment and passion for this relationship. I'm praying to God every day that he can give me the wisdom and strength to become the man of your dreams. Thank you so much for believing in me. I can't wait to see all that is in store for our future. I was raised with enough good sense to know when I have a good thing in my life, and I promise I'm never EVER letting you go! Love you sweetheart!

 

TIM

My brother from another mother. I know you were blessed with an abundance of brothers but I was stuck in "sister land" lol. Over these past several years you've truly become like the brother I never had. It's been so awesome watching the way that we've both changed over the years. I'm proud of you and all that you have accomplished. I still think we should visit the Marbles museum and browse around drinking a gallon jug of orange juice. "Look at me now suckas!" hahahahahaha. But seriously, watching your unwavering faith in God has been an inspiration to me. I've seen you go through some seriously tough times and yet there was never a time where I didn't hear you say "God will provide". I always kept that phrase in the back of my mind whenever things got difficult. You've always been a loyal friend and I am so thankful to God that I have a friend for life. I'd love to be old men someday sitting in a park talking about all of our road trips, girl drama, and parties. We can be the 70 year old guys that are still going to midnight movie premieres lol. If I wasn't already apart of such a great family, I would've opted to put myself up for adoption into the Gonzales fam years ago. Thank you so much to you and your fam for showing me so much love. You're an incredible friend!

DAVID

"just so you know, I love waffles"..... Man if someone had told me that quiet freshman who showed up at IV would end up being one of my best friends, I'm not sure I would've believed them. I've heard a ton of horror stories about bad roommates, but luckily I was blessed far beyond measure. I believe there are only a few times in a person's life where they get the opportunity to establish a genuine friendship, and I KNOW that I've found that with you and Tim. These past three years have flown by because I was enjoying every single second. The most important lesson I've learned from you is to be comfortable with yourself and the rest will take care of itself. I was never too self conscious but there was always apart of me that was scared to be myself. Watching your example over the years has helped to me realize how much more fun I can have with life. Like I told Tim, you guys have become my brothers. You've done so much to help me out and offered SO much support over the years. I will always be there for you if you ever need anything. I don't what our lives will look like 5 years, 5 months, or even 5 weeks from now but I do know a lifelong friendship when I see it :)

 

KHRIS & CARLA

Khris I met you when I was in the 8th grade. Which means that I've known you for over a decade!! Sorry if that makes you feel old man but I had to give a shout out lol. Whether you guys know it or not, you have a serious impact on my life. Getting to watch Khris go through the years as a bachelor, to a husband, and now moving into a fatherhood has been a blessing to witness. Through every stage that I've seen you go through, you've been a strong example of what it means to be a man of God. My parents have always had an incredible blueprint for marriage but the downside to that model is that I didn't get to see it form and evolve over the years. I was so wrapped in "Derrick world" that I never really paid attention lol. Gettting to watch the way that you two love each other and look to God for guidance has been proof that there are still solid marriages in this world. I love the time that our family gets to spend with you guys, and I'm so blessed be surrounded by genuine people such as yourself. Thank you for the support and motivation that you've given me over the years. I know you two will be incredible parents, and that child has the world at it's feet with you two guiding him/her through life. You guys can teach them about following Christ in life, and I can work on infiltrating the Williams' household to recruit a new Lakers fan muahahaha. Love you guys! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

In a perfect world...

1.) lacking the ability to grow a full beard would be considered sexy
2.) the courthouse, not the church, would be considered the most judgmental place in the world.
3.)  wedding cakes would taste as delicious as they look. 
4.) I wouldn't hear car doors locking whenever I walk out into parking lots.    
5.) the cure to cancer would be cheesecake.
6.) ice cream trucks would take debit cards.
7.) mean and impatient drivers wouldn't have the christian fish symbol on the back of their car.
8.) my 2 year old blackberry would posses all the capabilities of an iPhone
9.) radio stations wouldn't take your favorite song and play it so much that you eventually want to stab yourself at the thought of the song.
10.) street signs would be the size of billboards so people wouldn't have to cause a fifteen car pile up after realizing they've almost missed their turn.
11.) all water fountains would come equipped with an ice blue raspberry lemonade kool-aid option
12.) people wouldn't be able to count the number of friends they have of a different race than themselves.
13.) Will Smith would've never agreed to do 'Wild Wild West'
14.) if you had an upset stomach, you could use the bathroom at someone else's house without worrying about the toilet getting clogged.
15.) all little children would have a thick southern accent.
16.) Nemo's mother wouldn't have died.
17.) nap time would be incorporated into every person's work day.
18.) a grown man could go to a restaurant and order a glass of apple juice without his manhood being questioned.
19.) I'd get a dollar for every time Obama said "uhh" in a speech.
20.) people could be imprisoned for not washing their hands after using the bathroom.
21.) June 24th would be considered a national holiday in honor of the release date of the greatest animated movie of all time: The Lion King
22.) kids in elementary school wouldn't own iPhones.
23.) everyone would get a second chance at a first impression.
24.) 'Roots' would be required reading in every school system.
25.) GloZelle would be banned from YouTube.
26.) all farts would be silent and have a french vanilla scent.
27.) Stevie Wonder would sing at my wedding.
28.) Will Smith would've won an Oscar by now.
29.) you'd be able to use a gas station bathroom without feeling like you're going to catch an STD.
30.) cantaloupe would be in season year-around.
31.) christians would be the best tippers at restaurants.
32.) every gym would come equipped with an emergency case of rocks that could be used to stone any individual who decided to yell while they lift weights.
33.) we'd finally know the truth about what Rihanna did to piss Chris Brown off that much.
34.) we wouldn't trust technology.
35.) people on American Idol would actually be able to sing.
36.) out of shape people wouldn't wear Under Armour
37.) everyone in the world would have a family and a girlfriend as amazing as my own.
38.) O.J. didn't do it.
39.) kids in elementary/middle school wouldn't be more knowledgeable about sex and drugs than most adults.
40.) I'd be doing something much more productive with my time than making this ridiculous list.
41.) I would live within walking distance of Wet n' Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park.
42.) friends who haven't talked to you in years wouldn't call you just because they need something.
43.) David Edwards would be our fearless leader, and married to the most beautiful princess in all the land.
44.) I could fill up my gas tank on hopes and dreams.
45.) a news station could make it through an entire broadcast without one piece of negative news.
46.) my white friends wouldn't turn to me and say "no offense" before they're about to complain about Tyler Perry.
47.) the line "you got an angel with you right now" would be used as a comforting tool before every colon exam.
48.) people would stop taking farmers for granted.
49.) a child leash would've never been invented.
50.) my first kiss wouldn't have been with braces.
51.) black people would make it to the end of a horror movie.... or at the very least, have a role other than 'comedic relief'
52.) "man" and "perm" would never be used in the same sentence.
53.) you could smile at random people without gettting the 'stank eye'.
54.) one of my friends would've given me footie pajamas for christmas.
55.) we'd finally find that deserted island where Tupac has been hiding out.
56.) people wouldn't use vague and depressing facebook statuses whenever they wanted someone to ask them how they're doing.
57.) every other song on the radio wouldn't be talking about all the ways some dude is going to take your girl.
58.) bubble baths would take place EVERY night.
59.) random movie knowledge would actually be useful in life. 
60.) people wouldn't ride their bikes in the middle of the street.
61.) you could walk into a Wal-mart, buy exactly what you came to get and nothing else.   
62.) a person could sneeze while driving without having to worry about losing their life.  
63.) finding out if a girl was interested would always be as simple as the elementary classic checkbox "yes" or "no". 
64.) there would've been a class in college that teaches guys how to walk like Denzel Washington.
65.) candy stores would adopt the pizza shop delivery option.
66.) Hollywood wouldn't be obsessed with making 3D movies.  
67.) everybody would have a neighbor like Wilson from 'Home Improvement'.
68.) Michael Cain and Morgan Freeman would have a t.v. show where they did nothing but read bed time stories every night. 
69.) we'd all be able to live on what we NEED and not what we WANT.
70.) I would own a pet lion.
71.) TBS wouldn't have sold its soul to Tyler Perry.
72.) people would care about humans more than animals. 
73.) Tina would've never met Ike. 
74.) News channels wouldn't treat Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton as the representatives for the entire black race.
75.) a pair of Jordans wouldn't be considered more valuable than someone's life. 
76.) the 'LOST' franchise would pay me a commission for all the free advertising I've done for their organization. 
77.) learning Martial Arts would be as simple as it was in 'The Matrix'.
78.) you wouldn't be able to count on your hands the number of teachers in your life that actually had a passion for teaching.
79.) everyone would be able to do the job they love.
80.) you would never get cold fries from McDonald's.  
81.) you'd always be able to find your car keys.
82.) whenever people would ask "how are you doing?", they would actually care about the answer. 
83.) Facebook game requests would've never been created.  
84.) Chinese food would keep your stomach full for longer than half an hour. 
85.) Pixar would be capable of putting out a new movie every month.  
86.) you could have a personal photographer that would follow you around to capture all the special moments in your life. 
87.) Dr. Pepper would have the exact same nutritional value as water. 
88.) nobody would send an "ok" text message  
89.) Steroids would be legalized in baseball, just to make things interesting.
90.) Christopher Nolan would announce that he's making at least ten more batman films. 

Father's Day

It's been quite a while since my last blog entry, and what better occasion than Father's Day! I know this day is usually associated with pain and heartbreak, but this is one of my favorite holidays of the year. 

As I've gotten older, my appreciation for my father has grown tremendously. There are many fathers out there who believe providing for the family and putting a roof over their children's head is all that is needed to show their love. Those characteristics are definitely no small feat, and it is worth some serious recognition. However, there are so many more aspects essential to a child's upbringing. My father was much more than just a provider. He became a friend, a mentor, a protector, a therapist, and most importantly, an EXAMPLE.  A genuine model for how I should live out my life.

Throughout the years he has always been a friend that I know will never change and always be there to offer unwavering support. Many sons look up to their fathers, only to grow up and realize that the man is only a fraction of the "hero" they always envisioned. My reverence for my father has only increased as I've gotten older. From a staggering work ethic to admirable humility, he raises the bar in every way. He's in a position where people are constantly asking for his advice, and yet he is still just as willing to learn from others and make adjustments. He has loved my mother with a passion that is unmatched in any relationship I've ever seen. Every person that comes into his path is viewed as a friend. Whenever I am faced with any adversity in my life, I look to my father for motivation. 

There isn't a day that goes by where I don't ask myself why God chose to bless me with a father this amazing. What exactly was God's reasoning for putting me in this situation? I have to believe I specifically placed in this life in order to be a blessing to those around me.  My father has spent his life providing me the wisdom and advice needed to be the best possible man in this world. I only hope that I can live up to the standard.....

24

      I've said it before, and I'll say it again...... I don't have the slightest clue what I did to deserve this life. At 10:12am this morning, I officially turned 24. Thank you to each and every single person who took the time out of their day to wish me a happy birthday. I'm constantly thankful for your friendship, and each one of you have played a special part in my life. I still can't say that I'm completely satisfied with my life. 


     Of course, it's always natural for someone to take the time to revaluate their decisions every birthday. My life is constantly taking unexpected twists and turns. Some of the greatest people I've met over the years, are people who allowed God to be head over their dreams. Personally, I can't say that I've done that over the span of my life. There has always been a feeling in my life that I could've worked harder. 


     Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. He had an athletic ability that was clearly rare in the world, but what set him apart from the rest was his work ethic. I've been given a tremendously blessed life that could only get better if I apply the proper work ethic. I don't want to be another person known for their potential and not their accomplishments. God has given me these undeserved blessings for a reason. He knew that I could do amazing things for the kingdom if I actually took advantage of every opportunity in my life. 

If God treated mankind the way Americans treat Hispanics

All I wanted was some chicken nuggets. I'm not in the market for a new friend, and I definitely didn't want to become the sole audience for some guy  venting on a racist soapbox. Sometimes, God just finds unique ways to speak a word into your life. 


I was standing in line at a McDonald's (with a predominantly Hispanic staff) when a young white construction worker, probably in his late 20s, decides to strike up a conversation. He's gotten annoyed listening to the lady working the cash register. -- "Man I can't understand a damn thing she is saying. Really pisses me off! Everybody always sayin' how good and hardworking they are at their job. I know some guys in their 40s who could do the job way better. These Mexicans ain't nothing special."


He then goes on to explain a conversation he had with an Hispanic guy who was living in a house with four working people, cheated on his taxes, and still collected $500 dollars a month in government assistance.  This in turn led to the frustration he was feeling for his mother who wasn't able to work and had her government assistance reduced down to just $30 a month. -- "Don't get me started brother. The government is taking this country straight to hell. If you ask me, we need to drag all they Mexican asses right back across the border."-- And on that lovely note, this disgruntled man walked out of the restaurant.


Let's ignore the fact that the direction of racial hatred has changed so drastically that a young white male called me "brother", and focus on the point at hand. I'm not going to go into a huge political debate about where I stand on the whole immigration issue. Honestly, I'm sure both sides have relevant complaints and concerns. What bothers me the most is the way people can feel so passionately on a subject that has absolutely nothing to do with their eternal future with Christ.


Do you think for one second that we have done anything to deserve the blessings that God has placed in our lives? We "cheat" on God with the desires of our heart on a daily basis. Our prayer lives are nonexistent, bibles barely cracked open, and we can't even remember the last time we said a simple "thank you". There are so many people, including myself, that have never known what it feels like to go hungry, unclothed, or without shelter. One phrase I heard constantly from my mother as I was growing up is that "life's not fair". If God judged our lives based on what is "fair", we would ALL be dead.


We're quick to pass judgement on those we feel receive advantages that are undeserved or ill gained. However, our entire lifestyle is a complete mockery to the blessings that God has bestowed upon our lives. God would not place any obstacle or trial in your life that he felt you wouldn't be able to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13) . Stop seeing the disadvantages presented in your life as another reason to complain, and accept the challenge from your Father! 

"I'd really be happy if I could just have more"

It scares me to death that I can't remember the last time in my life where I woke up and felt content. I'm constantly in the midst of this juggling act, trying to fit everything into the perfect balance. How much is too much??... Seems like every time I get on twitter there is a new trending topic relating to people's past and childhoods. Childhoods were a lot of fun for most people, but I don't think that's the reason everyone misses it so much. When we were children we knew about less, so we cared about less. The greatest highlight of my childhood were random trips with my dad to the local "7-11" convenience store getting a slushie and a bag of skittles. To this very day, I still get excited when I drive past a "7-11" gas station. How crazy is that? A $2 trip to a freaking gas station is my best childhood memory!!! Have you ever noticed that whenever you get around rich/wealthy people all they want to do is reminisce on the days when they were broke. They always want to humor you with stories detailing all the ways they struggled, and the ridiculous methods they used to keep their head above water. They've finally achieved the lifestyle they envied for years, and now all they can think about is how much they miss the past. 

Jealousy finds a way to seep into every part of our personal lives, and manifest itself through any medium possible. It is the main reason Facebook has become one of the most popular sites in the world. We post pictures having a great time with friends/family in hopes that people will be jealous of our amazing life. We brag about a fun night out and inside jokes on each other's walls in hopes that people will be jealous that we've become that close with someone. We make sure to post regularly and often on a friend's wall so that everyone knows you've marked your territory. If you believe this isn't the case, then ask yourself why the whole invention of "E-mail" never took off like Facebook. I'm willing to bet you have more Facebook friends than e-mail addresses. Everything that is shared on Facebook could be shared through e-mail just as easily. What's the difference???.... E-mail isn't available for PUBLIC viewing. We care more about proving to people that we are loved, than we do actually being loved. 

Think of all the people who will never set foot in a church again because jealousy led to them being treated horribly. Think of all the crimes that have been committed in this world because someone was envious of another person. Think of all the marriages that failed because the couple couldn't stop comparing their marriage to everyone else. Think of all the good friendships that have ended because one person was too jealous to share THEIR friend with anyone else. 

For most people, there isn't a motivational speaker on this Earth that could motivate, drive, and push them more than jealousy. Our God is a jealous God, and we were created in his image. It makes sense that this is such a huge struggle in our lives. If only for one day, I'd love to wake up and feel like I have everything I could ever want in this life. I've grown so tired of my prayers sounding like I'm reading a Christmas list to Santa. It would feel so incredible if I   could spend time in prayer doing nothing but praising God simply for being God. Instead, I drone on and on and on about everything I need, then I throw in a quick request or two for loved ones so I don't come off sounding self-absorbed. If I'm sick of it, I can only imagine how God feels. Even as we constantly say that we are happy and content with life, our actions continue to state the honest feelings loud and clear: "I'd really be happy if I could just have more..."