Update

School started back today. It came sooner than I wanted it too. Here is what I have been up to the last several weeks.

Josh's Grandma passed away earlier this month, so we spent some time in Idaho. I didn't know her well but she was an amazing and beautiful woman of God. Her and her husband pastored for over thirty years and while in Idaho I was blessed to hear many wonderful stories from people whose lives were touched by Darleen and John Kell. John passed away several years ago and I never had the chance to meet him. A picture of Grandma Kell is below. She is bottom row in the middle.

Also while there I had an epiphany. I was speaking to a friend of Darleen's and he mentioned that many of his friends had been passing, as he was at that age. At first it was sad to me but then I thought about how neat it was how we go through life with others. God brings us to others that are going through the same things. Currently I am in the marriage and baby phase. Many around me are getting married and having babies. I see others who are raising their school aged children together. My parents and their friends are all going though the empty next phase. It reminds me of this verse (one of my favorites!):

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Also I moved. Most of my house is still in boxes, but this new place will be such a blessing. Thank you to: Randy Rice, Sarah Howsen, Danny Stift, David Rude, Shawn Garrett, Alyssa Miller, Naomi Hunsaker, neighbor #14 in new apartment and neighbor #23 of old apartment, plus BIG thanks to Josh and my mom.

And I finished Harry Potter book 7 - not my favorite one, but still glad I read it.

Come one, come all . . .

To help me move!

The time has come for me to move! This saturday I am going to try to get the bigger stuff over to my new place. If you can help - load or unload that would be great! The rest of the week I will be moving stuff as well. Any help is much appreciated.


Go ahead and call to let me know if you can come anytime. Times are unsure at this time, and I don't know where I will be when - so give me a ring! Old place is out toward Gresham and new place is in Tigard

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

Since I have had more time on my hands lately I decided to read a book. ‘The Spirit Catches you and You Fall Down’ by Anne Fadiman caught me when I saw it was on the required reading list for my social and cultural class this fall. (So not only did I read a great book, I also got ahead for next semester!)

Fadiman’s book contains the true story of the clash between a Hmong family whose daughter (Lia Lee) was diagnosed with severe epilepsy and the American doctors that treated the little girl. Both parties desperately wants to do what they believe is best for Lia Lee. Unfortunately both ideas are polar opposite and their lack of understanding of each other leads to tragedy.

It was easy for me to have a connection with Lia Lee, who was born in Merced California on July 19, 1982. I was born an hour north of Lia just about one month earlier. While Lia and her family were struggling to understand and compromise with the doctors I was growing up in a very white town where such conflicts did not even enter the minds of most of its citizens.

Fadiman’s empathic story telling leads you to more fully understand both sides of the story. Her dedicated work is truly magnificent, eliciting years of her time which she spend with the Lee family, Merced doctors, social and state workers and Hmong educators, interpreters and cultural brokers. This unique book is a part historical, part cultural, part medical and part therapy book. In the preface Fadiman states “I am sure that if I had never met Lia’s doctors, I would be a different kind of patient. I am sure that if I had never met her family, I would be a different kind of mother.” Having read this profound book has made me a different kind of person.

Sugary Sweet August

In the spirit of Jason Hill's monthly challenges , but inspired by my boyfriend I am not eating sugar this month. It is a challenge we are embarking on together. We know he can do it because he has done it before, me on the other hand . . .

Today is day six. The first few days I literally thought I was going to die. This did not happen. I am starting to feel better, but again it is only day six.

Note to the Reader: I am still using some artificial sweeteners. And, many foods contain sugars that I am still eating. So basically it's the candies, cookies, pop etc.

Schools out . . . .

for the summer! I just finished my first year of graduate school (and my summer semester)! So I have one whole month to do before I start back again. One whole month to do whatever I please. Well beside work. So what should I do for this one month? What do people who have lives do?

P.S. Ikea opened in Portland today! Anyone want to go within the next month?

My New Passion

Tennis; my new passion. Josh and I started playing last summer, and this summer I am hooked. I love the andrenaline that flows through my veins while playing. I love the feeling of power after hitting a difficult ball. I love the anticipation of a returning ball. I love the sound that the ball makes as it connects with your racket. And I love the sigh of relif after winning a point (although this does not happen very often for me.)

Garbage Men

I consider the trash men a great blessing. Once a week they come to my apartment complex and take all the smelly trash away and I don't really have to think about it. But this morning, they were outside my house at 6:30am! I've been sleeping with the windows open because it has been hot. At 6:30 AM I hear the beeping, and idling and dumping. I was so irritated! I was just thinking about why they needed to be doing that at 6:30 in the AM. And if they did need to do it at 6:30am why don't they invest in some quiet machinery?! But all in all I consider the garbage men a huge blessing!

Isn't this a cool birthday cake!

Sleeping Patterns

I feel like I should justify where and what I've been doing all this time. But I'm not going to, at least not at this point.

What I want to share with everyone now is sleeping patterns and behaviors. I have always been interested by sleeping. How people sleep. Do they sprawl out? Sleep with fans on? Snore? Sleep walk? Talk in their sleep? All sorts of things. Today I am going to share some of my sleep patterns. Some of them may be bizarre, some of them not.

• I like to sleep (even in warm weather) with heavy blankets on. The weight is comforting.
• I have been told that I talk in my sleep about everything from dead fruit bats in the pantry, to inquiring what someones name is.
• I have on occasion been told that I snore, although I choose not to believe it.
• Sometimes I am a wild sleeper and will wake up with blankets completely turned around, or pillowcases off the pillow.
• I wear this heart ring with the point facing me. Every now and then I will wake up and the heart arches will be facing me. Which means that in the middle of the night I am taking my ring off, turning it around and putting it back on. Pretty weird, hun?
• Last semester during finals I was waking up and my hands and fingers were so sore. After some time I figured out that I was clenching my fists while sleeping. I had to make an effort to lay my hands flat when going to sleep. I think this fist clenching had something to do with stress.
• Most recently the balls of my feet have been hurting upon waking up. I think this is because I have been curling my toes while sleeping. So now I am making and effort to not do this. Very strange

Now that I just shared some personal sleep habits and oddities, what are some of yours?

Snow Shoeing

The crunch of fresh snow under my feet. The misting of more snow falling and embracing my figure. The cool air whipping around me. Sounds of laughter, chatter and "where is the path?" When all is calm you can hear your breath and each flake fall. Peaceful, serene, magnificent. Enjoying God's creation. How beautiful this earth is, how can heaven be even more beautiful!? Oh, How glorious to imagine!

My friends thought it would be a good idea to stand under this tree and shake it. I thought it a good idea to stand where I was and take pictures.

The Crew. Kind of a goofy picture!

A couple of weekends ago I was able to enjoy nature, while snowshoeing. We had fresh snow, gorgeous weather and good company.

The Begining of the End of a Good Thing

Ok, so I LOVE Grey's Anatomy! It is the best show ever (in my opinion). But everything is starting to go downhill. It all started with one cast member calling another cast member "gay." Or something like that. Ok, so it was not right and caused a lot of friction, but when you work so intensively and intimately you are bound to have friction. But now, Now, the greed, bitterness, and hostility has began.

First we have Katherine Heigl asking for more money. The media says she is upset because she does not make as much money as some of the cast members. If this is all true, it is ridiculous! Really people you did not even know if your show was going to succeed at first. And now that it has, you have to go and get all greedy! Really?!!

Next we have Kate Walsh who is supposed to be getting to star in a spin off show. First of all, have we not learned from history that spin off shows do not work? With the exception of "Cheers" and "Frasier" (although I did not like either.) Second of all, why is the whole cast mad about it? Well, I know why but I think it is just plain silly. Why would you want a spin off show that probably won't do well, when you are already in a fabulous show!? And why can't you just be happy for your co-worker and support her?

I will continue to watch but if the cast gets too much more ridiculous I will quite them! I will! The drama changes the way I view the drama.

Rock Out

I love Concerts!I have lots of goodies in this blog for you about my last concert experience. We went to a really good one the other day. We saw
Silversun Pickups
(I had never heard of them but they were really good!) and
Ok Go
(if you don't know who they are check out the treadmill video below) and
Snow Patrol
(just plain awesome! Also a video below)

New Neighbors

I was gone over the weekend and when I returned I returned to the smell of french fries.

Why does my entry way smell like french fries?

Because while I was gone people moved into the apartment across from mine. I had been enjoying peace and quiet but now I have neighbors. Some of you know that I do not do well with neighbors!

It appears that they are a young family, father, mother and two children and a dog. So far there has only been one awkward encounter which went like this:

The father and I walked out of our doors at the same time. In a very chipper manner father says "hello."

Grumpy because I did not want to work, nor did I want neighbors I say "hello."

Father waves his hand in a broad, circular motion (somewhat like The Karate Kid, when learning to wax on and off) and says "We're your new neighbors!!"

"Nice to meet you" as I skirt past him and hurry to my car.

Anyways so far they seem okay, but this said dog barks every time I leave or return home. Really people, if you are going to have a dog in an apartment you need to learn to keep him quiet!

Oh, and also I had a dream that new neighbor family was really the Capital One Vikings and were after me, so that's not good!

* Note: This is not a real Capital One Viking because I could not find a good picture of them, so hopefully you have seen the commercials. Also I could not get a bigger picture so hopefully you get the point. You don't want a Viking as a neighbor, at least not in your dreams.

It's happening . . .

It's starting to happen again . . . I am having writers block. I love my blog. I love other people's blogs. I just need stuff to put on my blog. Actually I need time to put stuff on my blog. I think of things from time to time but then never post. I want to post more. I find it very therapeutic. Sometimes I read other peoples blogs and think it is so thoughtful, funny, wonderful, etc. I want that for my blog!

Just felt I needed to share these feelings. I want to be interesting enough to have things to share and thoughts to reflect on!

Graduate School Made Me Boring . . . .

If you noticed I have not posted in a long time. That is because grad school has made me boring . . . . At least I thought that it had.

I just finished my first semester of graduate school and it was rough (actually I just started my second semester.) The first semester was intense and I was wrapped up and involved in everything I was studying. I couldn’t really talk to anybody about anything other than course work, what theory I was considering or how to integrate spirituality, psychology and theology into my practice. Once I realized that this was all I had to talk about I realized that I was big dull dud. At least I had other grad students who were interested in my dudness.

Then came a glorious Christmas break. Having three weeks away from school blessed me in so many ways and by the end of it I was able to see that I am not boring! I realized that I am a creative, fun and interesting person. I had moments where I could carry on conversations about things other than grad school. I started to see good photo ops and remembered that I like to take pictures and have some talent at it.

I realized that grad school does not define me. God has created me to be many different things and with many different talents. School is one strength that I am learning to integrate into my whole self. I think that so often as people we define ourselves in these ways. “I am a mother.” (well, I’m not a mother, but you know what I mean) “I am a pastor, a social worker, a student, a whatever . .” We define ourselves by our roles. Yes, it is a part of who we are, but only a part. I am a child of God that has been created to do and be many different things. I am a student, a daughter, a girlfriend, a friend. I am creative, intelligent, one who serves others and serves God. I am learning more about who I am, but I am not boring.

So my prayer for this semester is that I can remember other aspects of myself and take time to be a develop those strengths and talents as well. I hope that I can include my academic knowledge into who I am, but that it does not take over my personality or my conversations!

One year . . .

So I have read people's blogs and seen their truibute once they had been blogging for one year. I loved the idea of having a "happy birthday blog." I was going to do some fun and exciting contest or something but guess what? I missed my one year birthday! It was November 14th! At least I caught it before the month was over! So happy birthday to me!

Its a hot air balloon!

Tribute to my Neighbors

My neighbors that moved in two summers ago just moved out. Hallelujah!! Its one of those situations where I don't really know who exactly lived there as there were people in and out of there all the time. And I didn't really see any of them, just heard them.

But there is this one guy who I had several odd encounters with. Not that he is odd, but I believe I may be odd.

The First One

I had been trying for about ten minutes to open this jar of minced garlic and for the life of me could not. I had whacked the lid with a butter knife, twisted it with ALL my might, used a towel to grip the lid and some other interesting techniques that I would not like to share here. After staring at the jar and trying to will it open with my eyes I decided I needed some help. Now I really did not want to be one of those neighbors that asks you to open jars or if you have sugar to borrow. But I had no choice. I timidly walked across the hall and knocked on the door.
Neighbor boy answers with blank stare.

"I am sorry to bother you but I can not open this jar for the life of me. Would you mind?" offers boy the jar.
Boy looks down at the jar then looks up at odd neighbor (me) takes jar and opens it with no problem. Hands jar back to odd neighbor girl.
"Thank you!" (Me) odd neighbor girl takes the jar and runs back across the hallway to her apartment.

The Second Encounter

After a great snow storm I realized I needed to get something out of my car. I open the door and neighbor boy is standing in the hallway looking down the stairwell at all the snow that had piled up down there. I step into the hallway and look down the stairwell as well.
Neighbor boy looks at me "Do you like all this snow?"
I look back at him, at the snow and at me feet and say "I think I need bigger boots" and turn around briskly, walk back into my apartment and close the door before anything else can be said.

The Third Encounter

One lovely Saturday I was doing laundry in the apartment laundry mat. The two washers and two dryers were surprisingly free (maybe because it was a lovely Saturday.) I had gone to take my two loads out of the dryer and put one load into the dryer. As I was doing so, neighbor boy comes to put his one load of wash into the dryer. I tell him that there will be one free dryer after I get my stuff out. So he is just standing there waiting for me to get all my stuff out and switch one load. I felt the pressure of silence and preceded to make small talk.
"Nice day hun?"
"Yeah."
I think he's still a little weirded out by me.
"I really like this sun a lot more than the rain. Are you from here and used to the rain?"
"I grew up here but just moved back and I don't really mind the rain.""It's funny how the clothes expand and get all fluffy after being in the dryer. And then they don't fit in the basket. "
Neighbor boy just looks at me and kind of nods.
"Oh opps" I say as I drop a bra on the floor and think about how awkward this encounter is.
As I start the dryer, grab my clothes and turn to leave I wish him "happy laundering!"


One last (of many) interesting encounters

One Sunday afternoon after taking a blessed nap I hear this knock on my door. I answer it and its neighbor boy. He is holding a cell phone. He lifts the phone slightly as to draw attention to it and asks if it is my phone. I look at him and at the phone and then behind me and then back at the phone and say "Yes."
He offers up the phone while I stare blankly at him, due to the fact that I had not even known the phone was missing.
"Oh, um . . . Where did you find it?"
"Just at the bottom of the stairwell." He points.
"Oh, well thank you." I say as I take the phone that he is now eagerly offering up to me.
As the phone passes hands it starts to ring and I am startled by it at jump slightly. I thank him again and close the door.

The call was from my mother asking if I had received my phone. So here is the back story:

Apparently neighbor boy had found my phone. Being the good citizen that we all now know he is he wanted to return it to its rightful owner. He browses through the numbers and runs across ICE (in case of emergency). And loosing your cell phone is defiantly an emergency! So he calls my mother; ICE. My mother had been enjoying a Sunday afternoon watching a program about young women being abducted from Washington when she receives a call that went something like this:
"I found this phone"
"What?" My mom is probably thinking that the voice on the other end doesn't sound like her daughter, but it's her number that showed up on the caller ID.
"I'm looking for the owner of this phone."
"Who is this? Is this Josh?" (a dear friend of mine) "Is this a joke?"
"Um . . No I just found this phone and don't know who it belongs to."
"Is this a joke, it's not funny."
"No, I just . . . Do you know someone who lives in (here is where he says my apartment name)?"
My mom who is slightly freaking out by this time say "Who is this? Are you a stalker?"
"No, I'm ____" My mom didn't quite catch his name.
So my mom reluctantly tells him I do live in those apartments and which number.
Neighbor responds joyfully "Oh, that's the apartment across from mine." I think he was joyful that he could now be done with the conversation with my mom.
So my mom had called to check that I was okay and had received my phone.


And those are my interesting encounters with my neighbor. So after these encounters I didn't really see him anymore. I think he was so freaked out that he avoided me like the black plague. But I did hear many other "neighbors" coming in and out of the apartment, moving gladiture, playing satanic music and other things. I'm just gald that there will be no more of that stuff and no more encounters.

Panhandlers

There is a lot of political, emotional, satirically and other things that I could write below a title like 'panhandlers.' But all I have to say is this;

Today as I was waiting on the onramp I noticed one woman on the side holding a sign saying "Native American. Homeless and hungry. Please help."
On the exacte opposite side of the onramp was a man holding a sign that said; "Mexican. Homeless. Hungry. Gracias Amigos."

Here is my question; why excatly does it matter their nationality?

New Job

After many hours of searching and sweat and tears . . . I have a job! I'm actually totally kidding. I put in one application and had two interviews, but there was some anxiety. Anyways, I will be working at the Old Spaghetti Factory. I am so excited! I have always wanted to waitress. Seriously! And if you post, don't tell me how difficult waitressing is. I'm really excited about it and many people have told me it's difficult, customers suck and so on. But I am excited and I think it will be great! They are very flexible with my school schedule, offer some benefits and I'll get tips! I start training this week, so keep me in your prayers. And come visit me and I'll serve you some delicious food, with a smile!

Alright!

Ok, Ok I've been tagged. But this is starting to be, like the trendy thing to do . . .

A book that changed my life besides the Bible:
The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson

A book I've read more than once:
The Dream Giver
Cyrano De Bergerac by Edmond Rostand (A play)
And there have been other books that I have accidentally read twice!

A book I would take with me if I were stuck on a desert island:
The Bible
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook

A book that made me laugh:
It was on Fire When I Lay Down on It by Robert Fulhum

A book that I wish had been written:
I don't know. It probably has been written.

A book that I wish had never been written:
That's not really a fair question.

A book I've been meaning to read:
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (again)
I actually have a whole book shelf full of them.

I'm currently reading:
Family Therapy: A Systemic Integration by Dorothy Stroh Becvar and Raphel Becvar
The Practice Of Family Therapy by Suzanne Hanna and Joseph Brown
The Family; A Christian Perspective on the contemporary Home by Jack and Judith Balswick
The Developing Mind by Daniel Siegel
Exclusion and Embrace by Miroslav Volf
Genograms
Tired of Trying to Measure Up by Jeff VanVonderen
Facing Shame by Merle Fossum and Marilyn Mason
Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen
A Testament of Devotion by Thomas Kelly
Tales of a magic Monastery by Theophane the Monk
The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris
The Skilled Helper by Gerard Egan
Becoming A Helper by Marianne and Gerald Corey
Praying Like Jesus byJames Mulholland
Spiritual Resources in Family Therapy by Froma Walsh
Integrating Religion and Spirituality into Counseling by Marsha Wiggins Frame
Psychology, Theology and Spirituality in Christian Counseling by Mark McMinn

Yes these are ALL for Grad school, you people expect me to have time to read outside of school books?


Now it's your turn!
Tabitha Gentry - although I saw she had been tagged already by James
Josh Akers - but he doesn't have a blog. Maybe he should!?!
Rebecca Marie
And you know since this has become the popular thing to do, I'm not sure if there are other names that I have not seen yet. At least we will all have a list of books to read!

Workin' out

So since I have more time on my hands (or at least I am more able to choose how I spent my time, until I find a job at least) I have decided to start working out again. I mean I have this gym membership and I might as well use it. So yesterday I set out for the gym, expecting to pick back up where I had left off. Well! That was not the case. It was more painful and difficult than I ever remember it being. I thought I was going to die! Not even kidding. And I took it easy this first time. But this will be good for me. By working out I hope to lose some weight, be more able to take care of others because I am taking care of myself and eventually use less lotion. And for you my friends there may be some interesting stories and pictures in this deal for you!

I even got a class schedule! It’s on my refrigerator being held up by the Pizza Hut delivery magnet.