Random Musings

This One's For Gina

2006-11-04T13:38:00.000-08:00

As per Gina's request...this is Margarita Nate. It's not the best of all pictures, but it works. Enjoy!

He's so pretty :)

Smart or Stupid???

2006-10-31T17:10:00.000-08:00

So I had this idea...but I need the validation of whether or not it is a GOOD idea. So, read the scenario and let me know if it would be something worth doing, or something I should avoid like the plague...and be honest.

The great thing about the part-time Master's program that I am in is that according to Financial Aid, I am a full-time student, and therefore receive full-time student loans. The financial aid package that I was offered comes to $18,500. For this entire school year my tuition fees are only going to be about $7,500. Should I...

A.) Take the reimbursement checks and send them straight back to the lenders.

B.) Take the reimbursement checks and piss them away on useless things that I don't really need?

C.) Take the reimbursement checks and use them to pay off my credit cards and what's left of my car payment so that I am only paying back one establishment rather than many at a MUCH lower interest rate?

My vote would be C...but the jury is still only about 90% sure. That's an added 10% wiggle room for anybody who wants to start swaying my opinion another direction.

Three Thoughts That Actually Connect

2006-10-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

I started a new job as a coffee slave at the PDX airport Starbucks several weeks ago (come say hi if you're passing through). Since starting said job, I have had a complete lack of social life combined with high sleep deprivation. My days typically start around 2:00 AM when I wake to shower and get my hiney out the door by 3:00 so that I can get to the airport employee parking lot and ride a shuttle into the main terminal in order to get there by 4:00 AM. I get back to the apartment usually by 1:30 only to do whatever heinous homework assignment that I had procrastinated on. On the nights that I have class I am up until 9:00 PM just to do the same schedule the next day. On the nights that I do not have class, I'm in bed by 6:00, just in time to miss all of my normally scheduled friends getting off work and starting their evening escapades. I'm stuck in the middle of actually liking my job (shocking, I know) and wanting some normalcy back to my day. It's a tough call.

Second on in the list comes a very embarrassing topic. I have had some major pain on my left lower side lately. My mom FINALLY convinced me to go to the doc on Friday to have him check it out. The doc couldn't give me a definitive answer. All he said is that he's pretty sure it's a kidney infection, but that there's also a very high chance that it could be that my body is passing a kidney stone. WHAT!?! I had never heard of a GIRL passing one of those before, and oh by the way, OUCH!!! So he decided to treat said pain with some antibiotics (which he pieced together with samples he had laying around the office since I don't have any insurance right now to buy any drugs). I asked the doc if there was anything I could do to help the healing process along. All he said was, "Stay away from the beer." Thanks a lot of help.

Lastly, do you remember back on My First Day of School I mentioned making a new friend that thought I was funny? Yeah, well... what I failed to mention is that this boy is B-E-A-utiful. I mean, really...it's just not fair to be so good looking. Okay, I feel shallow. He's got a great personality. There, I feel better. So I get off work today and I get a text message from said colleague asking me if I was hungry. Several texts later we had decided to meet up because he really wanted some Mexican food and a margarita. So I hurry home, change out of my java slingin' clothes and into something a little more not on the mourning side (I have to dress in COMPLETE black), and head off to meet him a few blocks from my apartment. I hop in his brand new car (I tell ya' it's just not fair) and we head off. The first place we try is closed. So this newbie to Portland starts to drive off and I realize that he knows Portland 100x better than I do and I've lived here my entire life. He goes straight to his second choice restaurant on a side of town that I had never even been. We go in, look at each other, realize that neither one of us is really all that hungry, but he is bound and determined to get a pitcher of margaritas to share because it's been "one of those days." I think to myself..."It took this long for us to finally hang out outside of the classroom and I can't even enjoy it due to said kidney." He poured me a glass of margarita but then went to the restroom. While he was gone I poured about half my glass back into the pitcher so it had looked like I had drank some by the time he got back. When he got back he declared that no margarita was complete without some chips and salsa, so he got up to get some while I poured the rest of my glass back into the pitcher, creating the illusion that I had finished my drink. When he got back he offered to pour me another one, and I smiled and said, "No, that's okay...one is good enough for me." A little witty banter, some big laughs, and an hour and a half later he dropped me back off at my car and I said I would see him Tuesday in class.

Good day.

How many times can a person say "said" referring to something else in one post?

Froo.ih.shun

2006-10-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

It all happened about mid-January. I had this crazy idea. It started out as kind of a crazy dream that I would like to see happen, but didn't necessarily see myself as the one who did it. So I told a friend. "Hey, guess what I thought," I said. "We should do this." It sounded good to her as well. So we did what anybody would do when they were trying to plan a big event. We procrastinated. In June we revisited the idea and made the final decision that this was something we were definitely going to do and plans were on their way.

October 6-8 marked the first annual Teen Girl's Retreat...and it was a BLAST! It was a small gathering, but I don't think Wendy and I could have asked for more! We had 18 girls and 4 of us adults that spent the weekend exploring the theme, "Lights! Camera! Action!" The whole weekend revolved around Hollywood including Mann's Chinese Theatre, a Walk of Stars, and lots of speakers and activities for the girls. All in all the weekend was amazing. The girls had a GREAT time, made some new friends, and told us that they're all planning on coming back next year!

Here are a few pictures from the weekend...

Brooke the Movie Star Rachel explaing the "Grab your neighbor's butt and run" game.
More butt grabbing fun.
Jenna's Game Face!!! Wendy with our Mann's Chinese Theatre behind her...the hands and feet glowed under a black light. Pumpkin carving fun...they had to carve a Hollywood themed pumpkin.

Be on the look out for the Teen Girl's Retreat of 2007.

2006-10-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

I don't need the Simpson's version or any other odd variety, just give me the original Monopoly game. I had forgotten how much fun this game can be. As a kid I refused to play (largely because I didn't understand the rules and my sister was a cheater). As I've grown up (at least a little bit), I LOVE TO PLAY...any board game, really...but Monopoly. I'll be the first to admit it, though, that I lose every single time. My wild competitive side comes out in large, flaring amounts...but I still lose...by a lot.

Friday night the room mates and I went over to a friend's house for a little Monopoly time. It was by the far the luckiest game I had ever played. With almost all properties having hotels on them, and I only owning a couple of them, the dice were very kind by always placing me on my own land or even on a Chance or Community Chest (and I landed on Free Parking TWICE). Plus, for the first time ever, I actually got to put hotels on my properties...big step for me. Who knew that Connecticut with a hotel was worth $600??? Even though it was a lucky streak, I still lost...by a lot. But I came in second...out of the four of us, and I did not go bankrupt.

Maybe I have a promising future in real estate.

Even though my fortune cookie at Chang's last night told me I had a promising future in medicine. Maybe they were just confused.

Wake Me Up When September Ends

2006-09-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness September is almost over. It's been a rough month, folks. Between moving back to Portland, starting school, being unemployed trying to get employed, Gilmore Girls Season 6 coming out, and a looming birthday, September has been a month of exasperated sighs. But it's all good in the hood (literally...I live in the ghetto). The apartment is coming along nicely, my first class of grad school is almost finished, I have found a job, I got my grubby little hands on the 6th season of Gilmore, and after today I won't have to worry about another birthday for an entire year.

Now most of you are probably wondering, "What's so wrong with a birthday?" I will tell you what's wrong with having a birthday. What do you do? Some people are really decisive and know exactly what they want out of their special day. I am not one of those people. I never know what to do or how to celebrate. It's frustrating. But thankfully, plans have been secured for this year.

So...if you would like to celebrate with the birthday girl tonight, make an appearance at Salvador Molly's at 7:00 and we'll get our pirate on. (I just realized that I really can't pull off lines like that, I'm just not cool enough).

First Day of School

2006-08-29T23:42:00.000-07:00

So when I was a kid the first day of school was both very exciting and very sad. Sad because the summer had officially ended, but exciting because I had brand new school supplies. Yep, I love school supplies. Mom and I would always go shopping about two weeks before the first day to get the necessary gear. Every day after that my parents could find me on the living room floor organizing and re-organizing my supplies in my backpack. I would be by far the most organized kid in the class...until the second day of school when my desk looked like a hurricane had hit it.

Tonight was the "first day" of Grad school. Who would have ever thought I would make it this far? I sure didn't. I'm not afraid to say that most of the things that we covered tonight were over my head, but I'm excited about pushing through and figuring everything out. I even made a new friend tonight. He's alright (for a Canadian), and he thinks I'm funny...so we'll keep him around. Mostly I'm excited for the new intellectual stimulation. It's been a while since I've really had that. I'm also looking forward to studying my tushy off in the local coffee shops. There's a Peet's Coffee within walking distance from my new apartment. I have a feeling that they will know me by name and drink order very soon.

I'm on my Way

2006-08-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

to where you might ask? Good question. When I find out, I'll be sure to let you know. Life is still a bit confusing, but it's slowly unraveling. So for now I will revel in the fact that at 2:00 pm, Monday, August 21...I, Christi,

was accepted to graduate school.

Yay!

It has been an exhausting process which started in February. Exhausting, but more than strenuous the last few days. On Friday of last week I came home at 9:30 pm to see that there was a message on the answering machine. "Amy, is this message for me or for you?" "It's for you, and it's REALLY important." I push play. "Hello Christi, this is Amy from Concordia University. I just wanted to let you know that we still have not received your second letter of recommendation and if you are still interested in the program our final day for interviews is Monday. Give me a call and let me know what you're thinking." BRAIN EXPLOSION! All these thoughts were instantly filled in my head...
1. I'm gonna punch Andy in the nose! He was supposed to RE-send that stinkin' recommendation weeks ago!!! He's on my poop list for sure this time.
2. Interview? What interview? Nowhere in the application process did it say that I needed to have an interview!!!
3. I HAVE TO WORK MONDAY! How am I supposed to go to an interview if I have to work!?!?!
4. Interested? Of course I'm still interested! It's only the thing that I have been my revolving my entire world around for the last few months! It's the only reason that I am moving back to Portland!
5. Oh NO, they're not going to let me in without that second letter...GAHHHHHHHH!!!
*Side Note: I tend to be a bit of a worrier. End side note*

Fast Forward to Monday (which I got off work by the way). I'm sitting in "Jane's" office at Concordia while she looks through my file. "So, Christi, tell me why you want to be a teacher." Crap, this is the question that I had been rehearsing in my head all day. Brain fart. (insert very clever anecdotes as why I would be an amazing teacher). Phew, pulled that one off. "So do you have a second letter of recommendation?" Sheepishly, "No." "Do you plan on having one?" "Well, I had planned on having it here in April when it was written, but the author of said letter is now out of town." "Hmmm...okay. Well, let me read the one you have." Jane reads the letter and then looks up at me over the top of her glasses. "It must be very nice to have someone think so highly of you. This is one of the most personal and genuine letters that I have read in a long time." (Insert silly grin on my face). "Well Christi, I would like to extend an invitation to you to join our Master of Arts in Teaching program. Classes start next week, you'll need to be ready by then. I'm going to make a few exceptions for you so that you can start on time...(she's still talking but it just sounds like ramble to me because my brain is going...)
WHAT? Wait, what just happened here? Classes...next week? I didn't think they started until late September!!! Financial Aid? Moving? Job? Two nights a week for three hours each? Deep breath...deep breath...deep breath.

Several thousand deep breaths later I'm doing okay. So yeah...there you have it. Christi starts school one week from today. She also happens to be moving into her new apartment in P-town on Saturday. So like I said, I'm on my way somewhere. Prayers, please.

Don't You Wish Your Dog Was Cute Like Mine!?!?

2006-08-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

God is faithful! Once again he has managed to provide for me. I now have a housing arrangement for when I move back to Portland. Check that one off the list. The good news is that I will be sharing a two bedroom apartment with two other girls (I get my own room) which means that rent will be split three ways...big YAY for that. The bad news...is that I can't have my puppy at the apartments. If you know me at all, you know how hard she is going to be for me to let go. Just look at that face!!! How could I possibly be parted from one of the only things that has kept my sanity this year? Thankfully, my parents have agreed to doggy-sit for me until I manage to get out of the apartment scene and into a house.

Next on the list...FIND A JOB! And that can wait until all the hustle and bustle of Kelsey's wedding is over.

I don't wanna grow up...

2006-08-06T11:22:00.000-07:00

I've had the Toys R'Us theme song stuck in my head all morning.

It has been a very long couple of weeks. Two weeks ago we had a very large Hindu group out at camp. Women were not allowed to be around (Hindu priests = Swamis (pronounced Swaw-mees) are not allowed to acknowledge women, especially white women)...so I didn't have to work in the kitchen. Rather, I got to work out on the challenge course with the Hindu girls. It was pretty much amazing. I wish I could do that all of the time. Stories for another time.

Now I'm back in the kitchen (sad face). It's been pretty rough lately, which is just encouraging my decision that it will be time to leave very shortly (horror stories for another time). Please continue to pray for some sort of direction I'm supposed to take. I'm still working on getting into school, I still need a job in Portland (if that's even where I am supposed to be), and I still need a place to live. I know God will take care of me and that I will be provided for...I'm just impatient.

This next week is going to be crazy because everyone will be focused on Kelsey's wedding. So many things to get done and figure out...dress alterations, mani-pedis, bachelorette party, etc.

Lame post, I know...better ones will be coming shortly.

Awkward Sarcasm and a True Love

2006-07-24T18:05:00.000-07:00

I love my family. Let it be known...I.Love.My.Family.

I've recently had a few days off so I decided to make the hour and a half trek to visit with the fam. On the evening of my arrival it was like the stars had aligned and the moon was full because there inside my living room was the whole gang, together. My mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, niece, nephew, and even hermit grandmother greeted me like I had gone missing and my body had just been recovered. We enjoyed a very nice BBQ by the Pops and as we all sat around afterward, the dreaded question of all single people came up. Typically it's my grandma that brings it up at every family function, but tonight it was my awkward (atheist) sister that graced me with,

"So, what's the deal with you? Are you ever going to get married?"

Glaring a subtle glare, "Maybe...if that's what God has in store for me." (Said partially because I know it's the truth, and partially because I know it would really tick my sister off).

(Out of the corner of her mouth to her husband in a hushed voice), "Yeah, because that's the way to get a man, wait around on something that's not there."

(Really too frustrated to create a productive debate in my head, I turned to my defense mechanism...sarcasm), "Besides, there's only two men I need in my life anyway. Have you met Ben and Jerry? They know how to treat a woman really well. They comfort, console, and they make one heckuva movie date."

(In sarcastic tone), "Oh that's alright sweety, you just wait around on 'god'."

(Proudly stated), "I intend to."

***

Today my mom went to the store and came home with the look on her face that says, "I just did something and I'm really proud of it."

"What's up, mom?"

"Oh nothing. I just thought I'd drop by the store and pick you up a boyfriend." (As she pulls out the newest item on the Ben and Jerry's menu: Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Cones (three to a package).) "As a matter of fact, I picked you up three." (At this point she is laughing so hard that she is snorting).

I start laughing of course at mom's attempt at being funny...because really, only my mom could have pulled that off.

So this afternoon I curled up with a cone in my favorite recliner and watched a chick flick...

...and was perfectly content.

I Hope...

2006-07-22T23:57:00.000-07:00

...that I can pay my bills next month.

...that I am not wasting my time with "you."

...that people start reading this blog again.

...my dog doesn't die from being overweight.

...that I can find a place to live after the summer is over.

...that I can find a church to call "home."

...that my tan lines will disappear before the wedding.

...in God to answer my prayers...even if he says "no."

...that Gilmore Girls Season 6 comes out soon and that it was worth the wait.

...that I am being obedient.

...that I can find a job that not only pays the bills, but makes me happy.

...that they start making Cherry 7up in the can form.

Passive-Aggressive People...

2006-07-22T13:39:00.000-07:00

PISS ME OFF!!!

Mainly because I'm one myself.

So what do I do? I blog about it and don't tell the people I am frustrated at (who are also frustrated with me) that I am actually frustrated. Because I am just as much of a passive-aggressive wimp as they are.

It's a vicious circle.

Learning to Pray with Faith

2006-07-18T12:57:00.000-07:00

I'm a wimp when it comes to prayer. That's right, I'll get it out there for the whole world to see. My prayer life is weak. It's not weak in the fact that I don't pray often, but rather that I don't ever articulate to God what I'm really feeling/asking for. Generalization is the name of the game. I also don't share my prayer needs with people very often. Who knows if it is because I am shy, self-conscious, or just a little nervous to make myself vulnerable to people.

But here, today, folks...I am asking for your help! If you are the praying type, I have some big requests that I need God to take care of.

1. Come September I have no idea what I am going to be doing in order to pay the bills. I have no job lined up as of yet for when I leave camp and that is very scary to me.

2. Come September I am homeless. I don't know where I will be living, but I need to find a place in Portland so that I can do the whole Graduate school thing. Along with the place to live, please pray for a room mate to share the cost of a place to live.

3. School...please pray that I get accepted and that it is the right decision.

There's probably more to come, but these are the pressing issues as of right now.

Rule #86

2006-07-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

Everyone has their limitations.

Unfortunately, one of my limitations revolves around one of my most beloved events...

Going to Dutch Bros.

It has been discovered that I am not as immune to caffeine as once previously thought to be. DRAT! It turns out that drinking a Dutch Freeze gives me intense euphoria along with a major case of the giggles and it keeps me awake for many hours at a time. Therefore, I had to create rule #86...

There will be no drinking of the Dutch Bros. after 4:00 in the afternoon.

Movies as Real Life

2006-07-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

Since I consider myself to be a movie buff/addict, I think it is fascinating when a scene from a movie actually reminds me of my own life, or vice versa. I was at work today thinking about some of the events from the last couple of weeks, and I seriously had a Jerry Maguire moment, which just happens to be one of my favorites.

Imagine with me if you will when Jerry and Dorothy are married and he is on the telephone in the back yard. She comes out, sits down, and he tells her that he has yet another business trip coming up. They have a long discussion about how things are not working and Dorothy pulls out the line, "It's my fault. I pretended that the proposal by the car was REAL, and maybe it was just hypothetical."

Enough said.

Whew...it's been a while...

2006-07-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to get back into the habit of writing more, I thought I would use one of my favorite writing prompts from my good friend Dayna Jean.

***Say something, anything, to any five people you'd like. Be real, be honest, be raw, but don't use names***

1. You will never fully know how much I love and cherish you. You are a my pearl among seaweed. Whatever the problem might be, you have the ability to make everything better with a simple hug/phone call/smile/sarcastic comment. I have messed up and hurt you so many times, and yet you have never judged me - EVER! Everything I go through, you understand...because you've been there too. You are the epitomy of patience and endurance for all that you've dealt with and I admire you so much for the life-changing decisions that you made later on in your life. You frustrate me so much, however, when you don't see your own self-worth. I wish that you would stand up for yourself more. But I love you, nonetheless, because you are my dearest friend, my confidant, my counselor, my joy, and my mom.
*Whoops, guess I gave away who that was about*

2. You, my dear, are one of the strongest people I know...but you never see that. If I had to deal with the amount of crap that you have been dealt in this life I would not be able to handle it with half as much grace, dignity, and faith as you have displayed. I know things suck right now. There's no other way to put it, it just sucks. Keep on keepin' on though, you're going to make it through. You have an ability to love even in the most difficult of circumstances. You know absolutely everything about me - my failures, my successes, my faults, and my every insecurity - and yet you love me still. We have done our fair share of pissing each other off and there are times that I just want to punch you in the face (and I know you've wanted to punch me in the face as well)...but no matter what it is, we always work through it. Maybe you're incredibly loud and little rough around the edges, but you are also one of the most beautiful and compassionate women I know.

3. Umm...I never expected you to come along. You weren't supposed to have this kind of effect on me. When you walked in my whole way of being and thinking got thrown for a loop - but a good one. You allowed me to be nothing more than who I really am. I never once put on a show for you, but you accepted me...quirks and all. Never have I felt the "zsa zsa zsu" for someone so quickly and strongly. I know I run the risk of scaring you with this, but you need to know the impact that you've had on me. I can only hope and pray that someday we fit into each other's plans. You are amazing. I hope you know that. May God bless all your upcoming adventures.
PS: I played the "ice cream cone" card last night, thought of you, and giggled.

4. I thank God every day for knowing what he was doing when he put the two of us together as friends. A friendship like ours can only be described as "God inspired." I miss you so much it hurts sometimes. It is my own selfishness that wants to yell at you for leaving, but I know that it was something you had to do. No one else fills me with as much hope as you do. You break down all the barriers I try to put up and you flush every last one of my insecurities down the toilet. You inspire and uplift me. I am so blessed to have you in my life. Now get your hiney back to Oregon!

5. Get over it. Move on. You are your own worst enemy. Stop dwelling on all the petty things that hold you back from all that you want to do. Be bold, you've always lacked that. Make strong decisions for once in your life - stop playing it completely safe for once. Take a chance and step out of your comfort zone. Do something that will actually make you grow instead of stay stagnant. You have so much potential to do so many things, now all you have to do is follow through.

Contentment...

2006-05-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

Because of the nature of my job right now I haven't been able to regularly attend church. But as my schedule would have it, this last Sunday I got to go...and it was like God hand-picked the sermon just for me. For the first time in quite a while the message struck every chord in my body.

I have heard several sermons in my day on the topic of contentment - specifically coming out of Philippians 4. But this sermon was different. It wasn't vague. It didn't leave me feeling like there was something wrong with me because I haven't felt content in a while. And I feel one of the most remarkable things about this sermon is that it was given by a man who would have every reason in the world to be discontent with the twists and turns his life had taken him, but there was a glow in his eyes that said, "Those things aren't going to keep me down."

A few things that I learned about contentment...
1. Contentment is a LEARNED state (Philippians 4:11). That's right. It's not given. Nobody OWES you contentment in your life. It is a DECISION that you make for your life. It is a decision to be at peace with where you are and who you are in Christ.
2. Contentment is NOT found in circumstances. You got a promotion at work? So what...the contentment that you feel because of it is only temporary because sooner or later you're going to want another one. Contentment is not about what we do or do not possess. It is an attitude of gratitude. GO...RIGHT NOW...and listen to "Gratitude" by Nichole Nordeman and you'll see what I'm talking about.
3. Contentment is learning to appreciate what we have in Jesus Christ alone. Compared to knowing Christ, everything else is rubbish.

A few ways on how to be content...
1. REFUSE to compare yourself with others. There is always going to be someone who you feel is better than you, smarter than you, prettier than you. God made you the way you are and that should be good enough for you because He doesn't make mistakes.
2. Accept people the way they are and not as you would like them to be. You, me, my mom, your sister, we are all being transformed into the likeness of Christ and that is a process. It doesn't happen overnight.
3. Learn to act better than you feel. Let your mind and not your emotions control your behavior. It's like Tom Buchanan always said in choir, "You have to make the decision to smile even if you don't want to because the emotions will soon follow." Alcoholics Anonymous has a saying "Fake it 'til you make it." "Be patient and stand firm" (James 5:8).

I have been meditating the last couple of days on this subject and I have to admit that it is hard. There are so many excuses I could make for not being content, but none of them hold firm against the truth that God has given me. So hard as it has been, it has been a peaceful couple of days and my heart is at rest.

Finally an Update

2006-03-26T20:16:00.000-08:00

First of all I am going to apologize for those of you who actually stop by this semi-abandoned site every once in a while. It's been a crazy couple of months, but things are finally starting to "simmer down nah" (SNL reference).

Well, I got out of the job I hated. It felt great to walk through those doors for the final time. Unfortunately, afterward, I spent several weeks as a driftless wanderer. I applied and interviewed for several jobs and did not get any of them. But a wonderful thing happened. I went out to Camp Yamhill for Winter Retreat as a chaperone. I spent the weekend with some of my favorite teenagers in the world. They encouraged and uplifted me in a way that I hadn't been in a long time. It was there, as I was praying and journaling that I started to feel a God-nudge.

That nudge has led me in a new direction that I am so excited for. In September I will be attending Concordia University part-time as I study to get my Masters of Arts in Teaching. I will be studying to get my endorsements at the Jr. High and High School levels. I always knew that I wanted to work with this age group in some capacity, I just didn't know how. At Cascade youth ministry was really the only option for a major that had to deal with this. Now, even though life has done a 90 degree rotation on me, my education will not be going to waste. It will become a valuable tool for the next stage.

In the mean time, the lease on my apartment in Salem is almost up and I have been working and living at Camp Yamhill full-time. They offered me a position back in February that will take me through late August when I will move back up to Portland to find a job and attend classes. The situation is actually perfect. I'm living in a three bedroom house with one other girl RENT FREE! That is going to enable me to save some money for the next move. The one downfall is that I won't be able to counsel at any of the camps this summer. But for those of you that will be counseling, you can count on me to have your meals ready for you...and I do accept tips in the form of cash, Starbucks gift cards, and Arizona Iced Sweet Tea (88 cents at WinCo).

As I read over my last post I have to sit back and sigh as I realize God really has taken care of me. I am so grateful for the many blessings, encouragement, and directions he has sent my way during a time when I had so little faith as to how things were going to work out.

***By the way...yes, I do have internet out at camp...so maybe this will be updated a little more often...keep stopping by***

A Bold Step???

2006-01-04T19:58:00.000-08:00

Well, tomorrow marks my last day at a job that I absolutely despise. No more white lab coat, no more cubicle, no more having to write in either blue or black ink (I was made for colorful writing utensils).

I have to admit, it was a pretty impulsive move by putting in my two weeks notice, especially when I had no other job to fall back on right away. But for the last two weeks, my shoulders have felt 100 pounds lighter. I've even gotten a few really good night sleeps. My head doesn't constantly hurt and I do believe that I have smiled and laughed quite a bit more than previous weeks.

But what do I do now? I quit my job with the belief that God was going to take care of me and provide something...somehow. I still hold that belief, but I can't help but worry. What if I can't pay my rent in February? What if my dog starves because I can't buy her food? What if quitting was too impulsive of a move to make in the first place? What if I can't put gas in my car so that I can see my family? What if they shut off my electricity? What if...

I could go on forever. But rather, I'm going to sit back, drink some hot cocoa, and look heavenward...asking my awesome God to take care of me and believe WHOLE HEARTEDLY that He will.

'Tis the Season...

2005-12-13T17:03:00.000-08:00

...for my neighbors to put up creepy holiday decorations. So my two neighbor guys caught me putting up my Christmas lights and made the comment that they should bring out their decorations as well. I encouraged them to do so...not knowing that the very next day I would come home from work and stand face to face with this...

They hung it right inbetween our two doors, so every time I walk up to my apartment, I feel these unbearably bright blue eyes staring at me. What's worse is that if you get too close to it, it makes the creepiest "Ho Ho Ho" noise. It sounds like something straight out of a horror movie.

So I apologize if you come to see me if this little fella creeps you out as well. There awaits for you much more pleasant Christmas decor on the inside of my place.

Meet the Newest Member of My Family

2005-11-22T20:54:00.000-08:00

Isn't she cute??? This is MacKenzie...or Kinzee as I call her. That's the name she came with. She is a 6 year old pure-breed Beagle...and the love of my life right now. She is professionally obedience trained (so she does some pretty cool tricks), house-broken, microchipped, and the best thing...SHE WAS FREE!!! Even though she's 6, she still has the heart of a puppy. Her owner had to give her away because the dog was not responding well to a new baby being in the house (jealousy gets the better of all walks of life). She loves playing catch, which you see her doing with her "dirtbag Santa." This is her favorite toy, even though she's ripped the guts right out of it. She is a fantastic dog and I am so excited that she belongs to me now. I came home from work tonight to something so happy to see me...it made me feel so great.

Who says you can't find anything good on Craig's List?

A Tribute to Two Cute Kids

2005-11-22T20:53:00.000-08:00

Spencer is the PRO at saying "cheese." That's all I gotta say about that.

Tell me a story...

2005-11-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

So I'm on my lunch hour, sitting in Starbucks, drinking a cup of coffee which tastes burnt (like usual), and thinking to myself, "Man, right now would be a great time to blog about something." But what??? My mind is a blank. So now, it's your turn, dear reader, to write something to stimulate my mind. As Brian Simmons says, "Tell me a story." Here's your prompt...

Your postman is at the door with an unexpected package. What is your pre-opening package routine? Do you shake it first? Whats in it? Who sent it? Is it important? What will you do with it?

Whoever tells me the best story will get a surprise :)

3 Straws = 1 Java Jacket

2005-10-17T23:28:00.000-07:00

I love Sundays. However, this Sunday was better than most...and thought provoking as well. After a VERY rough few months and a stressful week, I was finally able to hand some baggage over to God that I should have a LONG time ago. I also started reading a book that has changed some of my thinking as it pertains to church and I. For the first time in months I attended church without even a trace of anger or bitterness. I was finally free of that bondage. It was a new and incredible feeling...a hurdle that had finally been jumped and cleared.

After church I made my weekly trek up to Portland (to take advantage of my family's washer and dryer). I sat in the living room and began to thank God for the dysfunction and fun in my family. My mom and I tried to play Yahtzee with my 5 year old niece who skips the number 13 every time she counts. It was a slow game. My atheist sister was playing on the floor with my 2 year old nephew as my dad tried to speak louder than the baseball game that was on the television to her about church...an act that is NOT appreciated on her part. Awkward tension does a family good. The afternoon ended with pizza, clean laundry, and a free for all wrestling match in the living room between my mom, sister, niece, nephew, and myself, as dad laughed from the sidelines. I lost of course...my mom may be small, but she grew up with three older brothers, she's TOUGH.
I knew that I loved my family...but I really truly appreciated them this day, kinks and all.

No Sunday would be complete without a trip to see "the girl" (Megan). We decided that we were going to hit the big city and go to the coffeehouse that we had dubbed our favorite in high school. It's called CoffeeTime on NW 21st. It's small and a little creepy in places, but it was the perfect atmosphere to play some cards. We were soon joined by a girl that we went to high school with, but that I have not spoken with since freshman year in college. It was awkward. It reminded me of previous times in my life and made me realize all the more how thankful I was for the place in life that I am at right now. It never ceases to amaze me, however, how one person can change the entire atmosphere. The conversation between Megan and I shifted from life and God, to absolutely nothing at all as we began to play poker with this other girl. We knew she would not join in the previous conversation, so we stopped.

Our poker game was a little unorthodox. We had no money, so we used materials around the coffee shop. Stirring sticks were worth the least. It took 5 stirring sticks to be equivalent to a Splenda packet. It took 3 Splenda packets to equal one straw, and three straws was equivalent to one java jacket. The guy behind the counter was a little less than pleased that we had put our hands over all these supplies which had to be thrown away afterward. It was over this ridiculous game that the negative outlook on life that I had been carrying around for the last few months finally made its final transition into a more thankful and content outlook.

Praise God for tension, awkwardness, family (church and blood), clean laundry, revelations, changed hearts, coffee, a best friend, and simplistic poker games.

Because it's Trendy...

2005-09-24T22:50:00.000-07:00

Take my Quiz! and then Check out the Scoreboard!

Hahaha...just taking my cue from other brilliant minds. This will test how well you think you know me.

Sorry for the lack of inspirational musings lately...my brain has been reduced to mush.

I love baseball...

2005-09-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

Just what the title suggests...I LOVE BASEBALL!!!

I was sad that I joined the Volcanoes so late into their season, but I did manage to make it to two of their games - they even won one for me.

Even though my Mariners have played less than acceptable this season, I still thoroughly enjoy watching their games as often as I can.

There is something about this sport that just really makes me get excited! I love losing my voice because I scream at the top of my lungs for the players (or the umps in the case they make a horrible call). I get little chills every time "my" team (aka the team I am cheering for at the moment) makes a great play. Whenever a new pitcher steps onto the field it feels like a brand new game. I can't help it, I get sentimental...I'm a girl. I also miss playing this fantastic sport...memories for another time and place.

I woke up the other morning to find my 5 year old niece in the front yard holding a big plastic bat while my mom threw a ball for her. When the shock of seeing the most beautiful sight ever left, I walked out and was able to teach my niece the proper way to hold her bat and take her stance. It was a great morning.

Needing a Favor...

2005-08-23T22:40:00.000-07:00

I realize that the majority of my readers are male...so GO GET YOUR WIVES real quick for me.

I have just been put in charge of a wedding shower. Now I've been to these things before, never hosted one though. So I need some ideas.

Ladies, what fun things have you done at wedding showers? What are some stories that you have from your own shower? I know some of you will have some great ideas.

I've Been Tagged...

2005-08-23T22:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks Bry for pulling me into this whole tagging business...but hey, that's alright, it gives me something to post about.

These questions were made by Charlotte, answered by Bry, and then sent to me to answer...

First memory... Umm...probably my 3rd Christmas. It was when my sister first introduced me to the Christmas morning ritual. We would get up at 4:30 in the morning and make a pot of coffee so that we could wake mom and dad up by 5 to open presents (the rule was that we weren't allowed to wake them up unless we had a cup of coffee in hand for both of them). Now that I'm older and wiser...I STILL carry on the tradition.

First kiss... Oh man...7th grade, neighbor's house (didn't kiss the neighbor though), guy named Dennis. How embarrassing, now the whole world knows.

First concert attended... I think my parents made me go to some really lame ones when I was too young to make a decision for myself...but the first concert I CHOSE to go to was Jars of Clay with opening acts by The OC Supertones, Relient K, and Switchfoot. It was the BEST concert I have EVER been to.

First love... Yikes...I probably shouldn't answer this knowing who some of my audience is. I'll just say an old boyfriend...sigh.

First thing you think in the morning... "Ahh crap...do I have to open my eyes?"

First book you remember loving... I was/am a BIG fan of the Curious George books. There is a book out there that contains every single Curious George story in it, so if you have an extra $50 to drop, pick it up for me...my birthday is coming soon!!!

First pet... Well, my family's first pet was a cocker spaniel named Penny, but MY very own first pets (which meant that I had to be responsible for them) was a turtle and a rabbit (I got them on the same day). I don't remember their names though.

First question you'll ask in Heaven (If that's allowed)...This was probably meant to be serious, but I have way too many serious questions I could ask. But one question I must know will be phrased like this... "God...body odor? Body hair? Why?"

First place you think of when you hear the word vacation... Either the beach (so cliche, I know) or a snowy mountain. I would love to be at either place right now.

First best friend... Channin and Sharon (they were twins).

Last time you dressed up... yesterday and tomorrow. Today was my day off but I have to dress up everyday for work.

Last CD bought... It's not a newly released CD, but I just got Bebo Norman "Ten Thousand Days"

Last time you cried... Umm...three weeks ago?

Last time you told someone you loved them... Tonight...I was hanging out with some of my favorite people in the world.

Last really fun thing you did... Ropes Course training (see previous post).

Last thing you watched on T.V... An episode of 7th Heaven like a week ago.

Last Halloween costume... I didn't dress up at all, but went around getting candy by saying that my costume was "a college student."

Last thing you ate... a really HUGE peach. It was delicious.

Last time you had a really moving spiritual experience... tonight. I went to the TNT to hang out with my teenagers, and even though I was in the middle of some really distracting kids, I was able to focus and praise God the way that I needed to, and the way that I haven't for a little while now.

Bumps, Bruises, and Scars...OH MY!

2005-08-18T20:25:00.000-07:00

I realize that it's Thursday, a few days past when I should have written this, but I just have to write about what an amazing weekend I had.

First of all, it was yet another time that I was able to go out to the fabulous Camp Yamhill. This time, however, for different reasons. This weekend was a training weekend on how to facilitate the ropes course that they have out there. Let me just say that I walked in with a completely distorted idea of what all was going to happen. I guess I really didn't know what to expect, but I didn't realize that I would actually be doing EVERYTHING as a PARTICIPANT as well as a FACILITATOR. That means that I was learning to belay, rappel, clip, glide, string, rescue gear, rescue people, and a multitude of other tasks. I walked in knowing absolutely nothing, and walked away knowing just as much as people who have been doing this stuff for a while. A few picture examples would include belaying as well as climbing and walking the Catwalk (a log attached between two trees at about 30' up)... Another example would include the High Circuit, which has many different elements to it, but one element being the swings at about 25' up... And of course there's the rock wall...climbing, belaying, rappelling, and ziplining from it... Needless to say from the title, I walked away from the weekend with a large number of battle wounds. But they were SO worth it.

The second reason why this weekend was awesome is going to sound a bit weird at first, but let me explain before you come to any hasty judgments. This weekend was great because I was the ONLY girl in the midst of several guys (told you it would sound funny). It was so wonderful though because I was in the midst of guys that I have known for years, and FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, was treated AS A GIRL! I've always been better friends with guys rather than girls. I've always been "the best friend" or "just one of the guys." A girl can only take so much of that before she starts to doubt her feminine qualities. This weekend, however, was completely different. Now I know how these boys are in real life...but when I was around they watched the crude jokes, they held in their bodily functions, and best of all, they continually praised me and told me how proud they were of me. It felt so nice. They did teach me to play poker with them, but I'll let that one slide.

So if any of you wanna go climb a rock wall, just let me know!!!

***NOTE: These pictures were borrowed from the Challenge Camp website and are not actually of me...but used to illustrate my point.***

Apples and Oranges

2005-08-15T21:33:00.000-07:00

As I've spent the majority of last week (as well as the remainder of this week) back up in Portland due to my job training, I've realized some remarkable differences between my hometown and my new residence of Salem...

1. NIGHT LIFE!!! This is probably one of the biggest reasons that I miss Portland. With the exception of one or two key places, Salem is a bona fide ghost town at night. If you're driving past 9:30 pm, you realize that you're maybe one of three cars on the road and the other two cars are policemen. Because of the aforementioned ghost town quality, there is also a lack of people watching (one of my favorite things to do). Portland, on the other hand, is a night owl's playground. Even at 1:00 am you will always be able to find something to do. You will also be continually amazed by the variety of people walking the streets (especially down by Pioneer Courthouse Square). And best of all, there is ALWAYS something new to be discovered or something you've never done before in Portland, even if you've lived there your entire life.
***I have to admit that the last statement is also true of Salem at this point because I am a newbie to town and have much to experience.

2. LOCATION. Portland is nestled inbetween many great features. An hour and a half to the East and you have Mt. Hood, an hour and a half to the West you have the beach (I sound like a Cascade commercial right now for all of you who have ever been recruited their). Beaverton, Vancouver, Gresham, Clackamas, and many other great suburbs that have fascinating attributes are only minutes away. Salem has Keizer and I suppose I could include Corvallis (which are both super cool towns in my mind), but then all the remaining perimeter seems like desert land. Salem is actually closer to the beach than Portland, which is definitely nice, but to really get anywhere from Salem is at least an hour drive.

3. FRIENDS. I have amazing, wonderful friends in Salem. They have been awesome and have helped me a great deal since I've been there. I haven't known them all that long, but they hold a special place in my heart. But I have to confess that there is something more to be said for people who have had such a huge impact and a special meaning in my life for at least the last 4 years, if not longer (all of which live in the Portland area). When you're the only person of a group that lives a significant distance away, no one wants to drive all the way to see you...but rather expect you to make the drive to see the rest of the group.

I did NOT in any way intend for this to sound like a Salem-bashing post. There are many things about Salem that I love. This was just my attempt to relay how much I miss Portland right now and that the adjustment I made to Salem hasn't quite kicked in yet. I thought I would adapt quicker, but that is okay...and change is good. I know that when you're outside your comfort bubble is when the most growth occurs, and that I am ready for.

A Summer Update

2005-08-03T17:17:00.000-07:00

I wonder just how many people actually still read this blog, considering there has been no activity in the last couple of weeks. To my faithful readers (whoever you may be), thanks for sticking with me. To make up for time lost and express how much I value each of you, I will now post some very embarrassing pictures of myself for your viewing pleasure.

These pictures were taken at the last camp I was at (Jr. Teen for middle school kids). We had a slip and slide that was at least 35 feet long that we used. We had what we affectionately called "The Slip and Slide Olympics" on Thursday. In order to even qualify for the semi-finals, you had to be able to (without stepping on the plastic to begin with or pushing yourself with your arms) slide off the end of the plastic into the grass. It was an intense competition. I was the only girl that qualified for the semi-finals, but alas, that's where my glory died. I didn't make it into the top 5. Congratulations goes out to David Rude for his second winning year!

This summer has definitely been interesting. It's had it's share of amazing, inspiring, God-filled moments, but in the same breath I can tell you that it has been the most difficult time in my life. But, inspite of the negative things, God has also opened many doors. I continue to thank Him for being faithful (even when I don't want to be). A few other updates would include...but are not limited to...

*It feels like a sauna in my apartment.
*I haven't worn my Chacos enough this summer to get the cool tan line that I wanted.
*I am, however, burnt to a crisp on the upper half of my body...and am peeling (gross).
*I get to start a GREAT job on Monday.
*My good friend Kelsey Ann is now engaged!
*I want a puppy very very badly (but realize that it would be a very bad idea right now).
*Friends Season 10 has just been announced to be released November 15...who's excited??? I AM!

That's all for now. Until next time...

Challenge Camp...

2005-07-11T23:55:00.000-07:00

Yet another week passed where I was able to soak in and enjoy the beauty of Camp Yamhill. This time, it was Challenge Camp...a camp fully devoted to climbing trees, strapping on harnesses, and flying through the air with (not so much) the greatest of ease. It was such a great week full of some memories that won't quickly escape my memory. I know that I learned a ton, as well as the campers. Here are just a few things that I (or my campers) learned while at Challenge Camp...

1. It is OKAY to set high goals for yourself. It pushes you to be always be better. You'll regret it later if your goal was set too low and that's where you stopped.
2. Sasquatches are tame creatures...they are more afraid of you than you are of it. We had several Sasquatch sightings this last week...it must be the cool weather bringing them in.
3. Revenge is sweet. AKA: If you toilet paper and plunger Christi's car, she will make sure that Sasquatch is waiting for you in your sleeping bag at night!!!
4. Every once in a while, it really is okay to break out in the Hammer dance...dun dun dun dun...dun dun...dun dun...can't touch this. Olivia was the pro...
5. We all learned that it's better not to get the stars in your eyes...because that means that you're in Looooooooooooove. And that means that Andy will sing the Twitterpated song to you...
6. It doesn't matter how many times you've seen it in your life, a baptism can still move you to tears. Chloe, I'm so proud of you for your decision.

These are just a few of the MANY MANY lessons that were taken away from Challenge Camp this year. It was a VERY uplifting and powerful week.

Camp makes me happy...

2005-06-30T17:50:00.000-07:00

So I'm going to take my cue from Bryanna and write a little (or rather large) blurp about how amazing Sr. Teen camp was this year. Camp has always been a place of total release for me...to leave my cares and worries behind. It's a place where my Creator and I become very very intimate. It is the place where I first learned about Jesus, and the place where I gave my life over to Him. It has a very special place in my heart. Aside from all of the super deep, meaningful stuff that Camp Yamhill reminds me of, it also reminds me of some really great, hilarious times that have been had. A few of the highlights from Sr. Teen would include (but are not limited to)...

1. Spencer Drew. This kid cracks me up. He spent a week of his life perfecting the Napolean Dynamite dance and he performed it in front of the entire camp. It was SWEET!
2. Taiped (pronounced Tape-Head). What you do is get one contestant from each team to put some nylons over their head, and then wrap their head completely in masking tape...sticky side out. Once the contestants all look like mummies, they race each other to a pile of garbage and see what they can get stuck to their head. There are point values for each item. Here is yet another picture of the infamous Spencer Drew with his nylons on his face...
3. Ethan Woods. My goodness this kid is so funny. I was in charge of dismissing tables during mealtimes, and somehow this kid always convinced me to let his table be one of the first ones. Once he finished his plate, he would put it away, and then go through the line that he hadn't already been to and get another helping. And look at him!!! He's so tiny!!! Oh yeah, for all of you who know, he IS one of the infamous Woods clan (Greg's son...but don't tell him I told you, he hates the publicity).
4. My cabin was AWESOME!!! Girls 6 rocked my socks!!! Deborah Busch, Erica Euen, Nikki Bourgo, Sarah Mears, Kirby Killen, Christiana Cha, Mary Stutzman, Lindsay Jones, Torey Edwards, Shannon, Emily, Sarah Klatt, Brooke Aus, and anyone else I forgot...I LOVE YOU!!!
5. Emeshea Petty...my cabin partner! Not only is she such a super cool girl, she is cousins with one of my very best friends in the entire world...Miss Rachel Maria Hess.
6. Watching the entire camp smash raw eggs on eachother was part of a pillow fight...how cool is that? What's even better is coming out of the ordeal completely clean...I was hiding in the staff cabin and watching from a distance...muah ha ha.
7. Jennifer Reed...one of the girls from my cabin that I forgot to mention in #4. This girl is probably one of the most spaced out kids I've ever met. She is so intense about everything and so hyper all at the same time. I didn't know how to handle her most the week because she just wouldn't get out of my face. She perfected her robot dance, however, and gave nightly performances of her skills. I will never be able to hear the "Mr. Ro...bot...o" song again and not think about her.
8. Basically just hanging out with some of these cool kids...they were so much fun... And it was so much fun watching the girls swoon over the Richardson brothers with their insanely intense blue eyes.
9. Do I even have to mention the baptisms??? See post directly below this one.

Well, this was a large enough update I think. Camp is F...U...N. And I get two more amazing weeks out there this summer...praise Jesus!

It's Been Too Long...

2005-06-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've sat down at a keyboard...but I assure you it's for good reason.

Last week I was so incredibly blessed with the opportunity to hang out with 155 screaming teenagers out at Camp Yamhill. It was an amazing week, but the best part came Friday evening. For the Christian audience to this blog...be sure to send up a prayer for two more members to the family!

Kirby...

Sarah...

These are probably two of my favorite girls ever. Yay for new life!

Simple Things #8

2005-06-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

The Joy of Pain...is what this post should really be called.

Not just any pain, mind you. A very specific type of ache. It is the ache in your body when you have withheld certain movements from it, then you do them and your muscles remind you that it's been a while since they last did that.

This is the kind of pain I like. When I first started using the big ball (see post directly below this one), I got a few of these aches, nothing major (mostly from my back since it had been a while since I really stretched it). But today, my arms are screaming at me, "Christi! You haven't swung a golf club in two years!!! This is your payback!!!" Yesterday Dwayne, Trevor, and I hit a few balls at a local driving range. It felt AMAZING! Even though my arms are aching pretty good and saying, "Wow, we haven't used that range of motion in a LONG TIME," I have this insane itch to go out and play a round.

Have I mentioned that golf is one of my very favorite sports (to play, not to watch)??? It's right up there with volleyball and softball. This is my game. This is where every shred of aggression I have bottled up inside of me can come out. James has been blogging about third places...the golf course is my third place!!!

Note to Commentors: There will be no golf bashing in the comments to this blog. Yes, it is a real sport. If you disagree, go to another blog.

The Miracle of Plastic...

2005-06-08T22:52:00.000-07:00

I have a confession...

I have always loved the idea of working out...but when it came to the execution part of the plan, things never quite work out the way I had originally intended them to. I thought that I had gotten into a good habit back in January. I, along with two other friends, vowed to work out together three times a week during our lunch hour (since we didn't have any classes at that time). That worked out GREAT...until the end of April when we graduated. Graduation and moving to Salem = no more weight room for use at my disposal. So I've been in a slump lately with the working out...

UNTIL NOW!!!

This little baby...

...is my new best friend. I've only had it for a little over a week now, but I've used it everyday and I already feel so much better. It even comes with a nifty little poster of all the different exercises you can do and how to do them. I no longer feel guilty sitting on my couch watching Friends...because as I'm still watching Friends, I am working out at the same time!!! And when I'm not working out (and still watching Friends), I try to balance on top of the ball in the Superman position.

Let's take a moment to thank God for the wonder of plastic!!!

2 Genius Points

2005-06-03T21:34:00.000-07:00

After all this time, I finally discovered how to put some links in my sidebar!!! I tried a few months ago and was very unsuccessful and very frustrated by the end. I feel like I've just conquered a huge feat!!! Be proud of me!!!

Pampering Time

2005-05-31T21:42:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday evening Cascade Hills had a "Guy's Night" and a "Girl's Night" at the same time. Who really knows what the guys do...I don't think I want to know...

But the girls had an amazing foot spa hosted by Jacque! Summer recently became a rep for The Body Shop and showed all of us girls the great products! We all had our own foot spas! It was quite a relaxing night.

Toward the end of the evening we had a couple of visitors, though. Trevor and Dwayne, weren't you supposed to be at the Guy's Night? But what is this???

Are those foot spa buckets you have at your feet gentlmen?

I guess it wasn't just the girls that walked away with silky smooth feet.

If anybody out there wants to throw an awesome girl's night, invite Summer to show off her Body Shop stuff...there is some very cool things!

Simple Things #7

2005-05-26T22:54:00.000-07:00

I've never known what this feels like until just recently...
but Simple Things #7 is going to have to be...

Getting into the double digits of comments left on one blog posting!

Yeah, that's right...15 comments on my Men's Health dilemma. That's a record for me! Y'all are great! Thanks to everyone who made a comment!

I think there was some healthy man-bashing going on in there.

Who's the Wise Guy???

2005-05-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

So I recently received a very interesting piece of mail in my small cube of a mailbox.

When I first moved in, I would consistently receive stuff for Larry Wheeler, who was the previous resident of my apartment (and by the smell of my carpet and walls, an avid smoker).

Last week, however, I received something a little different. It was not addressed to Larry Wheeler, or Christi Glasco for that matter. It was addressed to...

Harry Glasscock

What the? Who the? Huh? Is it a combination of the two names? I dunno. Oh yeah, you're probably wondering what it is. Well, the newest piece of literature to hit my life is the June 2005 issue of...

Men's Health

That's right. So if you're behind this shananigan (that's a fun word), fess up! Out with it!

Muah ha ha...

2005-05-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

To spare any of my readers any embarrassment, I will not be creating a top ten list of signs that you are WHIPPED!!! (cough, Eric, cough).

Summer's Coming...YAY!!!

2005-05-14T23:42:00.000-07:00

In honor of summer approaching, I thought I would come up with a top thirteen (I couldn't narrow it down to ten) list of things that I am looking forward to over the next couple of months.

13. Sprinklers
12. Slip and Slides
11. Ultimate Frisbee games in the park
10. It will be a couple months closer to Rachel coming home from New Zealand!!!
9. Friends Season 10 coming out
8. A new job? It hasn't happened yet, but we're still hoping and praying.
7. Spending time with my favorite teens (Deborah, Sarah, Kirby, Brooke, Mary, etc).
6. Taking my first grad school class in Memphis
5. Chaco tan lines!!!
4. Sr. Teen Camp out at Yamhill
3. Challenge Camp out at Yamhill
2. Jr. Teen Camp out at Yamhill
1. Meeting new teens in South Salem as part of my awesome call from God to work with Cascade Hills.

I'm sure I could come up with TONS more, but this is the brief, condensed list for your viewing pleasure (all three of you)!

Public Speaking Career?

2005-05-09T18:06:00.000-07:00

So I was asked to give a speech at the Baccalaureate service before graduation on Saturday, April 30. My good friend Carly Hodge and I decided to tag team a speech. For your viewing pleasure, here is what the crowd heard...

THE ABC's OF WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AT CASCADE COLLEGE

Intro: We were inspired by the faculty and staff ABC chapel where the students are given appreciation, blessing and counsel from our wise elders, so we have decided to expand on the alphabet and give our version of what Cascade means to us.

A is for all nighters- pulling them frequently during freshman year and then realizing that by senior year you’re too old to do that kind of thing anymore.

B is for broomball- A good way to let out the aggression from paper writing, also a good form of entertainment as you watch Jonny B hit the ice and need to get stitches.

C is for clean check- the one day a week that you could eat steak off your bathroom floor.

D is for dumpster cats- if people would stop feeding them…maybe they would stop coming around!

E- The grade they left out of the grading scale - leaving one more step before failure.

F is for finals feast-in four years here I’ve never won a prize!!!! F is also for fountain - and the fact that they only turn them on when parents come to visit.

G is for giving speeches about water and boating safety in English Literature Survey class. It is also for Graduation- the day we never thought would come! (and the one we are sad to finally see is here)

H is for happy meals…because what college student can actually afford a real meal?

I is for initiations weekend - the smells, sights, and lack of sleep…Oh the wonder of it all!

J is for juvenile behavior, especially from the seniors

K is for kickboxing, which should be offered by Dr. E next year

L is for the last class of girls who never had to live in York.

M is for money sent from home - (so we can afford the happy meals)

N is for num-chuck skills

O is for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival- knowing that as soon as you get in the van with Dr. Tandy, you will inevitably be getting lost.

P is for pranks on professors - ask Dr. Granberg how he got a lifetime supply of toilet paper and parsing forms.

Q is for quiet hours OR LACK THEREOF!

R is for rockin’ chapel chats-have you ever seen Dr. Lynn turn nine shades of red in a matter of about three seconds?

S is for squirrels in the courtyard -too bad we aren’t allowed to have BB guns on campus

T is for trips - trips to Applebee's, trips to Starbucks, tripping over your own feet when you walk to chapel, taking a trip to the beach at 1:30 in the morning...

U is for uninhibited laughter for no reason-(cough) Alyssa Miller (cough)

V is for vicissitude- (yes, that's right, I just said vicissitude). It means a condition of constant change or alteration. Cascade at its finest.

W is for the Welcome Back Show and Dr. Tandy not being able to control his language.

X is for x-egetical papers - you know you've all written one, and you know that you waited until the night before to write it!

Y is for yelling at the top of your lungs when finals are finally over

Z is for zoology- a major Cascade doesn’t offer, but should (preach on Docta Marler!)

Conclusion: In four years at Cascade, we have learned to drink a lot of caffeine, write excellent papers, throw a Frisbee and maintain a 3.5 gpa in the process. A special thanks to Willie Steele for teaching us all anyone ever needed to know about making PowerPoint presentations. Thanks to all of our professors, especially Kevin Woods, for putting up with us in our most immature of moments and “you’re welcome, Kevin” for putting up with you in yours.

So what do you think? Should I take up a career in public speaking? Oh, and by the way, we had an AMAZING powerpoint to go with it. It was like something you would see straight off Sesame Street.

Simple Things #6

2005-04-28T22:53:00.000-07:00

So I've been doing A LOT of driving lately. And in the last two days I have been stuck in three pretty herendous bumper to bumper traffic jams. Today I was on I5 south for an hour and half and only moved 8 miles. In the midst of all this time to think, ponder my thoughts, and people watch...I have found the next item on the list.

Simple Thing #6 is going to have to be people who rock out or sing very dramatically along with their car radio (especially if they are alone). This not only brings a smile to my face, but allows me to realize that I am not the only one out there who does so!

You know you do it too!

I am officially a Salem-ite!

2005-04-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry to all my loyal readers out there that it took me so long to post something new to cover up the stupid guy's face when you come to my blog . It's been a long, busy couple of weeks, but well worth the hassle.

As the title suggests, I am finally moved in to my very own apartment in south Salem!!! Yay! Loud applause please! Thanks to my awesome team of movers the job went so quickly (Eric, I guess I can forgive you THIS TIME for not helping since you were helping your parents...evil laugh). (I wish it were easier to type sarcasm).

I have to say that it's a beautiful apartment. I'm a little bias, though. The greatest thing is that it is HUGE for just lil' ole' me. So if you ever want to just get away, COME VISIT ME! You'll always be welcome! This is especially for all you Cascadians who will still be stuck living in the dorms next year! I might even cook for ya', now that I'm getting all domesticated and such.

Wow...I really am growing up

What in the World!

2005-04-08T00:34:00.000-07:00

I am 30% Idiot.

I ain't too bright. But all those other idiots annoy the hell out of me. I may not be the brightest bulb in the bunch, but at least I know my limits.

Take the
Idiot Test
@ FualiDotCom

I am 27% White Trash.

The white trash in my blood will not keep me from becoming a doctor or a lawyer, but it will keep me from a good haircut and any sort of fashion sense.

Take the
White Trash Test
@ FualiDotCom

Refund?

2005-03-31T11:46:00.000-08:00

I've come to the conclusion that for every class that a professor is not there (whether they cancelled it ahead of time or if something just came up to where they couldn't make it) then the school should reimburse you the money that would have gone into that one class.

I once had a friend who refused to skip class because she had done the math and figured that for every class she skipped, she had wasted about $60 of her tuition money (maybe more, I can't remember exactly).

With this logic, if a professor is absent for class for one reason or another, they should forfeit over the $60 that they would have made for that day per student. It only makes sense to me! Plus, if this was in effect, I would have A LOT of money coming back to me!

Simple Things #5

2005-03-31T11:41:00.000-08:00

I can't articulate into words the feeling I get whenever I...

HAVE A FULL TANK OF GAS!

Maybe it's as simple as knowing that I won't have to pay astronomical gas prices for another two days. Yes, I must fill up my tank on average every two to three days (because of all the driving I do).

Praise Him...

2005-03-29T23:12:00.000-08:00

Well, long time no see...it's been a few days since a good update was posted here. Sorry to my loyal fan-base of about 3. Last time I left you hanging with a little grumbling about life and irony that takes place.

You know the classic phrase that says, "Think before you speak?" Well, in this case I should have "Prayed before I blogged." After grumbling on my blog last week, I went to bed praying about how things were going to work out. Afterward, I came to the conclusion that God really likes to show off.

So my beloved Wendell crashed and burned on Sunday evening. Monday morning I woke up to find that the kitchen table was full of newspaper ads, all concerning cars. My dad sat me down and spelled out some of the options that we might consider (this was a really big shock because he was a very very upset man when I had told him about Wendell, so for him to be so calm and collected and reasonable at this point was amazing). To make a long story short, by the end of Monday I had made my first jump into a real adult life by buying my first car!!! I came home that day driving a 2004 Kia Rio. I no longer have to worry about my engine falling out on the side of the freeway when I drive back and forth to Salem. I'm finally in a car that I have full confidence will get me to my destination safely...it's an amazing feeling and one I haven't had in a very very long time.

On Tuesday of last week I made my second jump into a real adult life by applying for an apartment down in Salem. I found out yesterday that I was ACCEPTED and that I can move in on April 23, the Saturday before graduation.

All I can say is "Praise God!" Praise Him for his faithfulness in the midst of my unfaithfulness. I really do think that God likes to show off.

Irony

2005-03-20T21:38:00.000-08:00

My favorite quote (depressing and cynical as it may be) from the movie Bridget Jones' Diary is "It's inevitable that as soon as one area of your life starts going well, another part falls magnificently apart."

This is the story of my life right now.

I know how and can see how God has been blessing me in such amazingly abundant ways lately. Life is GOOD! Graduation is 41 days away, I have a whole new exciting life to look forward to in Salem, I've been planning on apartment searching this week (since it's Spring Break), I'm getting ready for grad school, I have amazing friends in my life, God is awesome!

With all of this going on, however, one thing was going to be of the most help...my '89 Mazda 626. It is the one thing (other than God) that makes a lot of things in my life possible right now. Today my precious Wendell had a turn for the worse. I can't bury him yet, he's still got some life in him...but I would call it car cancer, he's sick, and he probably won't make it much longer. He's been acting up for a while, but nothing too incredibly serious. Well, tonight, a series of things happened.
On top of my right turn signal not working,
One of the windows is broken and will not go back up (just as it starts to rain in Oregon of course),
The heater stopped working (which makes it quite chilly with the window broken as well),
The engine is consistently over-heated,
and whenever I try to gain momentum, the whole car sputters. It's almost as if the car really wants to die, but it just won't give up hope on itself.

Does anybody have a car that runs better than this one they would like to donate to a poor college kid??? Please!?!?!?

Ha Ha Ha!!!

2005-03-15T17:50:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I know that this is entirely inappropriate, and yet for some reason I have the undying urge to share it with the rest of the world!!! Check it out!!!

http://www.stud.ntnu.no/~alexann/

Make sure to turn on your sound to get the full effect!!!

Procrastination Gene???

2005-03-15T17:18:00.000-08:00

I've discovered that I can do a great many things in the name of procrastination.

It's like the episode of Friends where Joey is supposed to be writing a manuscript, but because of his writer's block, he invents the game of fire-ball with Chandler.

Maybe it's in the water...
Or better yet, maybe there really is a procrastination gene that is passed down through the generations of a family line. At last, I've found my ultimate excuse!!!
Supposedly there was a study done on this topic last summer. By tweaking some of the genes in monkeys around, they turned "procrastinating monkeys into workaholics."

Maybe if someone tweaks my genes around then I will get this paper done!!!

Check out the story:
http://www.betterhumans.com/News/news.aspx?articleID=2004-08-12-1

PS: By the way, this blog entry was the result of some major procrastination.

Simple Things #4

2005-03-08T21:16:00.000-08:00

After a beautiful day like we had today...I came to the realization that I had to put up Simple Things #4. Today, Cascade Hills ran a car wash to benefit one of the middle schools in Salem. It couldn't have been a better day for it. When it was all said and done, I took off my Chaco sandals only to find...

CHACO SANDLE SUNTAN LINES!!!

I know it's silly...but I really enjoy having the criss-cross shape tanned on the top of my foot. It makes me happy. It reminds me of being in Europe this last summer when I got my very first Chaco lines.

Yay for the sun being out!

Now if you'll excuse me, I must go rub some aloe vera on my face, because unfortunately it burned as well.

Senior-itis at it's finest

2005-02-21T01:22:00.000-08:00

That's about it...it's all in the title. I am suffering from the worst case of senior-itis EVER! Graduation in 68 days, including weekends and spring break.

Did That Really Just Happen???

2005-02-18T00:40:00.000-08:00

Instead of discussing something intellectual or thought provoking tonight, I've decided to share a little story about what happened to me this evening.

I've lived on the same dead-end road in Portland my entire life. I know the area very well. The freeway is about half a mile from my house, and in that period of time, the speed drops 10mph. I was about 50 yards to the freeway onramp when all of a sudden I have flashing red and blue lights tailgating me. "Oh crap!" is the first thing that runs through my head. So I pull over and turn my radio down and roll down my window and wait for the inevitable old crabby man to approach and say, "Can I see your license and registration?" However, what I found outside my window was a young, very attractive police officer saying, "Good evening, miss. How are you doing?" WHAT??? I've NEVER had a policeman ask me how I was doing before (not that I've really been pulled over that many times...wink wink). So in a smiley, joking voice I uttered, "I'd be better if we weren't about to have the conversation we're about to have." He smiled and took my license from my hand. He took it back to his car with him for about five minutes and then returned. He handed my license back to me and with a big grin on his face said, "I've just run a scan on you, and since you have a pretty clean driving record, I'm going to let you off with a warning. Be sure to get your tail light fixed, and remember that the speed through here is 35, not 50 (I wasn't going 50!!! I was only going 43). Have a wonderful rest of the evening, and by the way, you have some very beautiful eyes." Then he walked away.

Okay...holy cow. Did that really just happen to me???

Just thought I'd share my interesting story that in a weird way brightened my night. Is that wrong?

Windshield Worries

2005-02-16T22:18:00.000-08:00

On my way home from Salem this evening I encountered a bit of rain. It didn't last long, but it was enough to put several beads of water on my windshield. Because they didn't necessarily obstruct my view, I didn't turn the windshield wipers on them. As I drove in the dark, however, going between 80-85 mph, I realized that my eyes were focused more on the beads of water than I was on the road. I was so focused on the rain drops that the scenery behind them became blurry. I kept having to tell myself to watch the road instead of gawk at the rain. It captivated my attention for some unknown reason.

This got me thinking. How many times in my life do I focus on and worry about the problems right in front of me instead of looking out toward the bigger picture??? How often do we all do it? I know that I'm not alone in this. We become so wrapped up and focused on the "here and right now" of life that we seldom take the time to sit back and see the beautiful view just on the other side..."the not yet."

Once I was able to look past the rain drops, it was amazing how much bigger, brighter, and more clear my view was. It's also worth noting that all I had to do was put enough effort into flipping a switch, causing the windshield wipers to clear the path for my eyes to focus on what they needed to. Maybe it really is just that easy.

Ask God to wipe the windshield to provide you a view of what really lies ahead. Ask Him to take care of the worries that face tomorrow. Tomorrow is a new day with new challenges.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear...Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Matthew 6:25-27, 34

Simple Things #3

2005-02-11T15:39:00.000-08:00

In the effort not to divulge too much information at once, I've been trying to spread out these Simple Things posts. So here's #3 for your viewing pleasure.

One of the things that I appreciate the most in this world is a good nap in the middle of the day. I don't get to enjoy these very often, but that just increases the satisfaction when I do.
Taking a good nap could be construed as a beautiful art. I like to come home, throw my stuff on my cheap Target imitation papasan chair, and take off my shoes. One of the keys to a good sleep is having your feet at a comfortable temperature and relaxed. If you're just getting home from work, make sure you give your feet a few minutes to calm down before napping. The next step is to slip into a pair of sweat pants that are about three sizes too big. Now it's time for the fan to be turned on (since I am one of those weird sleepers who needs the noise to fall asleep). The next part is crucial. You have to un-make your bed. Ruffle it up a bit. Make some wrinkles. Now it's time to slide into the sheets and arrange the pillows. I'm the type of person who likes a lot of pillows. I have two under my head, two to my right, and two to my left. That way, it doesn't matter how much I toss around (like I tend to do), I will always have pillows under my head and pillows to snuggle with. Once you've adjusted your head to the most comfortable position, pull the blankets up over your shoulders so that they are tucked into your neck space. If you feel so inclined, this would be the time to have one leg come out from under the covers. Now it's time to fall into a deep, dreamful, wonderful sleep.

This is what I consider proper nap-taking technique. Try it, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

The Tongue

2005-02-08T23:02:00.000-08:00

This blog is based on the devotional that occurred tonight in the Delta meeting...

With a group of about 28 girls sitting around in a circle we began a game of telephone. Y'know the old game, someone starts a phrase and it is whispered ear to ear until at the end the original message has been so messed up that it doesn't make sense. I, being the devious girl in the middle, of course changed the entire message on my own. Don't tell the rest of the group. I just didn't like hearing about someone's doodoo smelling like Captain Crunch. So I changed it to the infamous line, "For your love I would kill a whale with my sandal." By the end of the line it turned out a little something like this, "A whale's blow-hole is like a sand-dollar."

The next thing that we did was close our eyes. Our chaplains walked around the room with something in a bowl that we were supposed to feel. I barely touched it before I came to the conclusion that it felt like a bald cat. If any of you out there truly understand my hatred of cats you would know that a bald cat would just freak me out. When everyone had touched what was in the bowl we found out that it was...
A WHOLE COW TONGUE!!!
EWW!!!

Relative to its size, the tongue is the strongest muscle in our bodies. A cow's tongue is probably like 8 times the size of a human's. Human tongues can either be used for good or evil. The same tongue that can be used to encourage a friend in a time of need one minute, is also the one that can tear down a person's entire reputation the next minute. As we think about the power that we hold inside of our mouths, I want to encourage each of us (including me) to be people of integrity. Let us speak sweet words of love and encouragement...being Christ-like in our words and deeds.

The Bible has several things to say about tongues.

James 3:5-10 "So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life... People can tame all kinds of animals and birds and reptiles and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God. And so, blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth."

Matthew 12:36-37 "And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak. The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned."

Ephesians 4:29 "Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."

Proverbs 12:18 "Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing."

Proverbs 10:20 "The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless."

Proverbs 15:4 "Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."

Proverbs 18:21 "Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life."

Chipotle - Restaurant Review

2005-02-07T17:23:00.000-08:00

Supposedly Chipotle is a very large restaurant chain in California (much like a Baja Fresh here). I had never heard of it before the other day. A good friend was telling me about it, and being the Mexican Food Enthusiast that I am, I agreed to try it.

When I walked into the restaurant the first thing I saw was a woman walking toward her table with this HUGE thing wrapped in tin foil. I thought, "Oh man, I wonder what she ordered," and "Hahaha, I wonder how long it's going to take her to eat that!" I got up to the counter and the next thing I saw was some very reasonable prices listed. Carly instructed me that I first had to choose whether or not I wanted a burrito, quesadilla, or a fajita burrito. Once I decided that I wanted a burrito, then I chose the type of meat I wanted. It was all about the spicy beef for me (however, next time I want to try the chicken - they also have pork and something else I can't remember). Once they knew my order, they completely took over. Oh, and did I mention that this is the Subway of mexican food? You get to watch them put it together right in front of you!!!

So the lady takes this enormous tortilla and warms it up in their crisper, adds enough rice to feed several people, and then adds the pinto beans. At this point there is enough food in this burrito to last me a few days. But no, she wasn't done yet. She added the spicy beef, any vegetables that I wanted, and finished with a big handful of cheese, then the home-made salsa, followed by the drizzling of some sour cream. Before I knew it, I was carrying around the same thing I was halfway laughing at earlier.

Let me tell you, though, my tastebuds were forever grateful!!! I can't even express to you the yumminess that was this burrito. All I can say is that if you're ever driving around by the Lloyd Center, take a trip down Weidler and find Chipotle. You'll find two days worth of food for a price that is less than Baja Fresh, and food that is MUCH better!!! (This is coming from a HUGE Baja Fresh fan, just so you know).

Hmm...I wonder what I'm doing for dinner tomorrow night.

Broomball

2005-02-03T22:58:00.000-08:00

There's a tradition around Cascade...if you consider a couple of years a tradition. Once a semester the Student Activities Committee rents an hour of space down at the Lloyd Center ice rink for a game of Broomball (pretty much hockey). All the students will meet at the rink around 9:30 pm, get into two teams (distinguished by colored helmets), grab their what can only be described as hockey clubs (long wood sticks with square plastic tips), and duke it out with each other in their street shoes on the ice, hitting two heavy plastic balls toward the opposite goal. It's amazing that this tradition continues, as each year it is anticipated that some new injury will occur. Last year it was a fight between two gents because one could not control his aggression. This year there was bloodshed. During an amazing play, a chin collided with the ice, creating a nice gash in the chin (thus creating the need for stitches) and a nice smear of blood on the ice. It was a beautiful moment...in the most grotesque sense of the word of course.

It's always amazes me how an event such as Broomball (and many others) can bring together the masses. It doesn't matter the social status that you hold...when you're on the ice, you're part of the team. It also doesn't really matter what team you're on since everyone is slide-tackling everyone else anyway. Everyone is cheering everyone else as well, it doesn't matter what team you play for. Broomball is one of many things that puts the differences, attitudes, and bias' outside our living arena (pun intended).

This got me thinking about the church. Today in chapel our math professor stood before us and told a little bit of his personal testimony. He became a Christian late in life and he was, to say the least, a very gruff man beforehand. Through an act of divine intervention he became a believer in Christ. The very first Sunday that he went to church as a believer, some women made a snap judgment on him. Because he wasn't the most tidy and well groomed of men, they assumed that he was a drifter. "Oh he won't stay long, he'll be gone in no time," they said to themselves (later to tell him). Despite this assumption, today he is an incredibly faithful...man, husband to his wife, father to his two sons, and probably one of the most tender-hearted men I know.

I've been around long enough to know that snap judgments are made all of the time. They're in our workplaces, our schools, the places we work out, our coffee houses, etc. But the church? What? How many times have we in the church made a snap judgment on someone inside the church? I know I have. I'm guilty of it. Big time. There's a woman I know that I always considered to be SO needy. It seemed like every single week she would go to the front of the congregation during the invitation song and ask for prayers for yet another crisis in her life. It took me a long time to finally figure out that I was just as needy as she was. I had my own set of circumstances that I needed prayers and support for. Then it occurred to me that everyone in the entire congregation probably felt the same way, only this woman was the only one brave enough to do anything about it. I know I wasn't about to go up front and tell everyone what my problems were. No way. Everyone, however, is needy...and that's why they go to church. They are desperately in need of Jesus and the healing power that he provides in God the Father.

How can the church improve this area? This is something that I'm still trying to answer. The answer cannot be found in a tidy, pre-packaged box with ribbon on it. Since you, me, Joe Schmo, and even some of the people that I tend to dislike make up the body of Christ, the answer has to come with a transformation from within us.

For me...maybe the challenge will be to just imagine that life is one big game of Broomball...

Self-Acclaimed ADD All-Star

2005-01-31T15:07:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I've never actually been tested for and diagnosed with ADD (notice not ADHD...I don't have the hyperactivity). This minor fact does not prevent me from making a self-diagnosis, however. Even writing this blog up to this point has taken me a good 7 minutes because I keep thinking of other things...like how long it's been since I last painted my toenails.

If you could be a professional (or hold amateur status for that matter), I think I would kick some major hiney in the ADD Olympics. What would those events even look like? Would it be like who can stay on the rings the longest before getting so bored they switch to the uneven bars?
Mmm...Paul Hamm is an attractive gymnast.
I used to do gymnastics in grade school.
My gym teacher in grade school wore a toupee...which came flying off frequently.
Squirrels around campus fly from tree to tree.
Carly likes to chase the squirrels because she thinks they're evil.
I like monkeys.
They swing from tree to tree as well, even though I've never seen one in person.
I've also never seen Spiderman II.
Saryl was GREAT at being Spiderman during initiations...GO WEB GO!!!
Maybe one of these days Dr. Tandy will put some sour candy in his drawer.
I'm graduating in 89 days.
The bagel sandwich I had for lunch was amazing.
I like working out three times a week.
My back really really hurts (stinkin' kid jumping on me).
I bet my sword-fighting skills are better than his (even though he's 7 and I'm 22)

Wow...sorry for that tangent...now what was I saying???

Simple Things #2

2005-01-29T13:47:00.000-08:00

Continuing in the pursuit of revealing the little things that make me happy... my next thought has finally made the list.

Drum roll please...

Nothing feels better in the morning than a 30 minute, almost scalding hot shower.

Now, before you jump to conclusions about the correlation between girls and length of showers...well...go ahead and jump to that conclusion because I must confess that this is almost an everyday occurence for me. It's not that it takes me 30 minutes to do the normal cleansing activities of a shower, it's the fact that first thing in the morning (when it's still a bit chilly because you've been warmed by your blankets all night long), it feels so fantastic to just stand underneath the hot water coming down...doing nothing...just standing there.

It almost makes me want to start singing "When peace like a shower attendeth my morn..." Okay, that's cheesy, I know...but that's me.

The Unforgiveable Social Sin

2005-01-27T22:08:00.000-08:00

At the end of this blog reading, you may say to yourself..."She's single, she doesn't know anything about it. You'll see, it will change when she's put in that scenario." And to you I must bluntly say, "Grow up."

It is ever so apparent to me that I am caught in the middle of what Brian Simmons (in his Family class) would call the "Marriage Squeeze." Simply put, the marriage squeeze is the idea that a certain people group feels (and feels correctly) that there is no one of the opposite sex in their same people group worth their time, trouble, and affection in the process of finding a suitable marriage partner. Statistically speaking, church of Christ females in the United States within the college age bracket are in a marriage squeeze (because there are more single females in this group than acceptable males who are still single).

With this information fresh in my mind, I look at my surroundings and I really have to ask, "Are you stinkin' kidding me???" I see young men and women (CHRISTIAN young men and women) distorting and sculpting themselves into unrecognizable molds so that they will gain the attention and affection of the opposite sex. Is there such a desperation for marriage that people are willing to change their entire beings to find someone? Is the fear of being alone so great that you compromise everything you once held dear?

This is where my bias comes in hardcore. I am so tired of losing perfectly good friends once they have added the title "boyfriend/girlfriend" to their social resumes. Is there some unwritten, unspoken law that says once you find yourself in a relationship you have to forsake all those you once knew, and spend time ONLY with your significant other? Is the worth of your new found relationship equivalent to the cost of the people in your life you once cherished as friends?

Please do not get me wrong, I am not saying that I stop being friends with people when they get into a relationship. What I am saying is that once people get into a relationship, the trend is that they burn all bridges leading back to their previous social circle, never to be heard from again. My next question is, "When you break up with your significant other, who do you turn to?" I mean, you've already burned the bridges to your former friends. This is something that I struggle with. I don't believe that I am so petty that I would never forgive a friend who has done this to me. I would truly love it if some of my friends came back. But there will forever be a tension in knowing that something so temporary had the ability to replace me so quickly.

Now it's time for some application. I never want to become one of those people who complains about something only to one day turn into the very thing that she once complained about. So...please, as my friends, slap my wrist and shave me bald if I ever a.) become a person so fluid in the concept of myself that I have to change the very essence of my being to please the opposite sex, or b.) let a man into my life who is not strong enough to hold true to who he knows himself to be just to be with me. Any relationship that I may choose to pursue now or anytime in the future will consist of what I would like to call maturity and a mutual appreciation/respect for the individuals involved.

I've made a lot of very bold statements in this blog (which I usually try to stay away from), but this has really struck an emotional chord inside me and I needed to get it out. Feel free to agree/disagree. I would love to hear some input.

Finally Done...

2005-01-26T20:36:00.000-08:00

I'm finally done transferring the posts from my livejournal blog onto here. I wish I were smart enough to post the responses that have already been given to them...but oh well. I hope you enjoy...whoever you may be.
Stay tuned for more blogging goodness.

Free Education??? 01/25/05

2005-01-26T20:35:00.000-08:00

I don't really know if I'm excited...or a little ticked off...

I recently enrolled in an extra course on the epistles of John. I'm taking it through the Imago Dei School of Theology (Imago Dei is a 4-year old church plant in Portland). The School of Theology was created for Christians to come and further their knowledge (very simply put). Anyone can come, and the motivcation is that it's FREE!!! So when I signed up for the class I had a very fluffy idea of what would go on. I thought maybe some devotional readings of the epistles, maybe a little exegetical work (nothing too deep of course), and that would be it.

Tonight was the first class in the eight-week course. I was blown away! For two hours we dove right into the central themes of 1 John, the authorship of John, his theological standpoint, issues that are presented, criteria that we are expected to meet in the class, and everything else that we should learn to expect in the next 8 weeks. Oh, and did I mention that the class is being taught be a real seminary professor? Yeah, he's a full time faculty member at Western Seminary. He's incredibly knowledgeable, and very friendly which makes things all the better (and he already likes me because I've taken Greek).

So the question I pose to you is this...

Why have I paid, oh I dunno, a bazillion dollars to receive an education when I could have just driven down the road and gotten my Bible education for free (and probably just as high of quality)? (At this point in my ramblings, please do not look below to my Ode to Cascade blog).

All joking aside, I am really excited about the direction of this class. In one class I have already learned so much, so I can only anticipate what it will be like for the next 7 weeks.

If you're in the Portland area, you should go with me!

Hmm...01/25/05

2005-01-26T20:34:00.001-08:00

A question was recently posed to me that went a little like this...

Is it wrong to want to better yourself (to try to become a better person) with the wrong motives? For example...say you're a compulsive shopper, but instead of trying to stop your habit to gain financial control of your own life, you try to control your habit because you know the opposite sex of your choosing would never date/marry/elope/whatever anyone who was not financially wise. Okay, bad example, but the principles are still the same.

So...is it wrong? Technically, you are still trying to make yourself better. The jury is still out in my opinion.

Lemme know what you think!

Simple Things #1...01/20/05

2005-01-26T20:34:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I force myself to take the time to think about the little things in life. The things that really make me happy deserve a little recognition. Every once in a while I will update this blog with some of those things.

Tonight is the first entry where I am choosing to reveal one of those little things that ultimately make me happy.

It is all found in a processed chicken breast sandwich. I know...ICK...right? NO WAY!!! Take a little sourdough bread, spread a thin layer of mayonaise on one piece, add some Tillamook cheddar cheese and a few slices of processed meat, and BAM! Eternal bliss...or at least until there is none left.

Stay tuned for further insight into some of the weird things that make my mind whirl!!!

God in Culture??? 01/19/05

2005-01-26T20:33:00.000-08:00

Tonight at Summit we discussed the idea of finding God amongst our sometimes strange culture.

I'm just curious...where do you see God in culture today? What movies have you seen that portray Christian ethics without outright telling you that they're there? What kind of music do you listen to with godly messages? How has religion kept its place in a society that claims to not be rooted in ethic?

Lemme know what you think.

Life in an Eggshell...01/18/05

2005-01-26T20:32:00.000-08:00

I've always heard the term, "(something) in a nutshell." Well, tonight I propose that my life is seen as an eggshell (which has no relevance whatsoever to the phrase just used).

This weekend I was part of the staff at a retreat for junior high and high school teenagers. It was amazing. One of the object lessons involved boiled eggs. Everyone got their own egg and was asked to take the shell off. Once we were left with tiny fragmentations of eggshell and a pugnant odor of egg on our hands, we were asked to put the eggshell back onto the egg. I thought I had it figured out since I was able to de-shell my egg in about 5 or 6 fairly large pieces. Hahaha...yeah...funny. As close as I came to rebuilding the structure of my egg, I noticed several small pieces still missing. My egg wasn't as pretty as before either. It was cracked and the shell just didn't fit as well as it had when it was whole. Some people had an even harder time putting their egg back together. Their (and my) egg looked more like strange mosaics rather than a systematic whole.

The point you may ask? There are times in life where our worlds just come crashing down. It's inevitable. A parent at some point is going to die. We are going to continue struggling with that ONE sin (in the midst of many) that we just can't shake. We are going to feel betrayed by friends. If you're anything like me, I feel as though when these trials hit, I can fix them on my own. "I know what I'm doing and I don't need any help from anybody," is the trick that I play on myself. I like to feel independent of everyone else. The problem comes when I look at my life (the egg) that I tried to put back together, and all I'm left with is dents and holes and cracks, and a more pugnant stench than before.

But there is One who is able to take our vulnerable, naked, shell-less bodies and clothe us again and make us whole. All we must do is turn to Him and realize that things can't be done by ourselves. It's okay to admit our faults to the One who created them. That's my challenge...relying on God more than I rely on myself.

God is Impressive...01/12/05

2005-01-26T20:31:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I would call it a lack of faith, but for some reason I am constantly amazed at how God works in His people. You'd think that by now I might have it figured out and come to expect such miraculous things from the One who can make them happen. But instead I find myself smacked in the face and in awe of what He does each and every time.

I recently observed a beautiful piece of Divine intervention and it dropped me to my knees. Okay, so say there's this girl who is questioning everything in her life right now. You know the deal: the "Who am I?" "What am I doing here?" "Do I really believe?" In the middle of a crowd, about 40 people, in a time where everyone in the room is worshiping the Creator of the Universe, God decides to use the least likely candidate to speak up out of the crowd and speak to everyone about having enough faith. The illustration came from the story where a woman who had been internally bleeding for many years pushes her way through a large crowd simply to touch the cloak of Jesus because she believes that will heal her. God is waiting for us to step up into a faith where we are outstretching our arms simply to touch his garment because we know that He is the one who brings healing. He is ready to take us in his arms, all we have to do is reach out.

Good story, eh? Well, the Divine intervention comes in because at the very moment that this young man spoke to the crowd about having enough faith, this girl who is questioning is praying, "Okay God, I know what I should be doing, but if I'm really going to do it, then you need to show me a sign. I know you don't really do that kind of thing anymore, but if you could just send a little somethin' my way, that would be great." Also, as I sit next to her pondering what she is thinking at this time, I begin to pray, "God, I don't know why she is going through this right now, but I just pray that you will provide her the answers that she needs." BAM...young man starts speaking about faith.

Thank you, God for the times where I don't think I have enough faith to make things happen. But I know that it's in those times that you take me by the hand and you lead me down the road less traveled. Thank you for your intervention in the life of someone who I care so deeply about. You amaze me, and I'm sorry that it catches me by surprise each time. Help me to have the faith to expect You to take care of my needs and worries.

Ode to Cascade...01/10/05

2005-01-26T20:30:00.000-08:00

Y'know, I've taken a lot of crap over the years for attending Cascade College. After a semester spent in a foreign land (Texas) I came home and took what many have called the easy path. Some may even consider it to not be a "real" education. This livejournal entry is to all of those people who have ever criticized anyone for attending a piece of God-blessed land in the Northwest known as Cascade College. To those people I must say, " BACK UP OFF MY GRILL!!!" :)

In my three and half years of attending Cascade I have learned more about my faith, my God, and myself than I have anywhere else. I have attained an education that has challenged me greatly and has also prepared me well for a life of service in God's kingdom. I value the relationships that have formed with professors like Dr. Tandy who will never be reduced down to just my Christmas card list because he has invested so much in my life that he deserves to know what's going on. It is on this campus that I have learned to think in a different light, to be able to see the God in everything.

Many have also criticized the service clubs that exist on Cascade's campus. Instead of sororities and fraternities, we have male and female service clubs. They exist not to throw parties, but to form a community in which members go out into the Portland area and serve people in the name of Jesus. I've seen people transformed by the love and sisterhood that they experience through what I know as Delta Sigma Rho. These girls have shared struggles, tears, triumphs, and joys with each other, and I know that my life has been richer through what I share with them.

I apologize for the sentimentality of this entry, but it just occurred to me today, as I sat in chapel and as I prayed with the Deltas afterward, that today was the first day of my very last semester. How crazy is that? In 12 short weeks I will have a college degree, I will be moving to Salem, and I will be closing this chapter of my life. Wow...it's been good. Thanks Cascade...for everything.

End mushyness.

Odd Versus Same...01/06/05

2005-01-26T20:29:00.000-08:00

"Someone once said, ' You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you odd.' Whoever made that statement understood what it means to be a follower of Christ. Followers of Christ are odd. Oddness is important because it is the quality that adds color, texture, variety, beauty to the human condition. Christ doesn't make us the same. What he does is affirm our differentness. Oddness is important because the most dangerous word in Western culture is sameness. Sameness is a virus that infects members of industrialized nations and causes an allergic reaction to anyone who is different. This virus affects the decision-making part of our brains, resulting in an obsession with making the identical choices everyone else is making.

Sameness is a disease with disasterous consequences - differences are ignored, uniqueness is not listened to, our gifts are cancelled out. Life, passion, and joy are snuffed out. Sameness is the result of sin and does much more than infect us with lust and greed; it flattens the human race, franchises us, attempts to make us all homogenous. Sameness is the cemetery where our distinctiveness is buried. In a sea of sameness, no one has an identity. But Christians do have an identity. We are aliens! We are the odd ones, the strange ones, the misfits, the outsiders, the incompatibles. Oddness is a gift from God and sits dormant until God's Spirit gives it life and shape. Oddness is the consequence of following the one who made us unique, different, and IN HIS IMAGE!

In C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the White Witch has turned many of the inhabitants of Narnia into stone, but Aslan, the Christ figure, jumps into the stone courtyard, pouncing on the statues, breathing life into them.
'The courtyard looked no longer like a museum; it looked more like a zoo. Creatures were running after Aslan and dancing round him till he was almost hidden in the crowd. Instead of all that deadly white the courtyard was now a blaze of colors; glossy chestnut sides of ccentaurs, indigo horns of unicorns, dazzling plumage of birds, reddy-brown foxes, dogs and satyrs, yellow stockings and crimson hoods of dwarfs; and the birch-girls in silkver, and the beech-girls in fresh, transparent green, and the larch-girls in green so bright that it was almost yellow. And instead of the deadly silence the whole place rang with the sound of happy roarings, brayings, yelpings, barkings, squealings, cooings, neighings, stampings, shouts, hurrahs, songs, and laughter.'

Lewis's summary of what is happening in Narnia is a brilliant description of what the church SHOULD look like: 'The courtyard looked no longer like a museum; it looked more like a zoo.' It is the incongruence and the oddness of our disjointed spirituality that ought to characterize every church. For God so loved the world, that whosoever believes in him will, from that point on, be considered weird by the rest of the world, which means the church should be more like a zoo than a tomb of identical mummies."

~Taken from Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli

Summit...01/05/05

2005-01-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

So tonight was the first official "Summit" event for Cascade Hills Church of Christ.

When you turn to the next page in the book of your life, you have to be able to expect completely new experiences as well. Tonight was a first for me. As the appointed youth intern for this new church plant reaching out to south Salem, it is my job to try and build a youth program. I've been a part of a few youth groups, working with them, hanging out, etc. The difference is...they already had an established group. The newness and the challenge comes when there is no formal youth group established, and I'm responsible for developing one. YIKES! This is where all the formal education I have received in youth ministry kicks in.

As I've grown and matured, I have realized several things about myself. One of these things and probably the largest obstacle that I am facing at this point in time is my deep rooted genetic make up to be shy! SHY! Me? YES! There is probably nothing more scary for me than to initiate a conversation with a complete stranger...let alone try to keep the conversation going.

Tonight at Summit I was able to make my first real contact with a teenager from Salem. It's true that I did not invite her there (she's Jason's cousin), but God granted me the boldness to have a wonderful conversation with this 15-year-old girl. Not only did we talk, but Brittany and I are planning on getting together for coffee so that I can get to know her better.

In a book that I recently read regarding mission work, the author makes a point that in a new culture that you are unfamiliar with, all one must do is make a connection to ONE person within that culture and they are the ones that reach the others that are the same as them. The same is true in the story of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. While the disciples were in town gathering food and supplies, the story does not account for them ministering to anybody. They probably didn't know how since Jews and Samaritans were never socially mixed. But Jesus, being the outstanding example that he is, ministered to one woman from that town and because of it, she went back to her people and told them of Jesus. It's that simple! Maybe Brittany is my in to the youth culture that resides in the Salem area. Hmm...thought provoking.

All of this randomness of thought to say, "Wow...God is amazing!" I don't think I say that enough. God knows what he's doing! Tonight was a perfect example of God's workmanship. Dwayne talked about how we see our world and the concept of reality. What shapes our reality? Why do we see what we see? As a Christian, we naturally realize that it's because of how we see God, his role in the world, and what he has done in our lives that makes us see the world the way we do. For a nonChristian, however, the answer is not so clear.

One more random thought for the night before I turn in. It's amazing to me that not only does the birth of this new church mean new believers coming to know the all-powerful God, but it (for me) also represents the new birth of a new phase in my life. The ministry that I have been longing to do has begun. Yay! :)

I've Converted!!!

2005-01-26T14:32:00.000-08:00

So I was using livejournal for awhile...but I find the style of blogspot to be much more appealing to the eye. Or maybe I'm just a sucker for peer pressure...hahaha...that can't be it. Sorry to all of you faithful livejournal users out there. BUT...I would like to keep all of my livejournal entries active, so I will be posting them on here very soon!