Saturday, December 12, 2009

ski and ride...

This week has been fun, but I think I would have appreciated more hours than more time off. I'm on another three day weekend, my second in two weeks. It's been great getting to know the resort, taking a lesson and watching a snowboarding competition, but I still don't know my job all that well, or even where I will be working. It's very frustrating.

I've made a few more friends with the others in my training class, and yesterday we took advantage of the free skiing lessons they have for employees. It was great to strap on skis again, and it reminded me of how much fun it is. It's a blessing, living three hundred feet away from a lift, I'll be able to ski everyday for free, if I wanted to.

All week, Copper has been hosting the Grand Prix Olympic Qualifying Snowboarding Championships. Today were the finals, mens and womens. Sarah, Carolyn and I got a front row seat along the half pipe to watch the action. We got a chance to meet the snowboarders as they walked back up the hill alongside the pipe. After awhile my feet started to freeze, but it was so much fun.

Tonight, there's a free concert in the village at the Burning Stones Plaza, a little celebration for the competition. Tomorrow, I'm going to check out a church that meets in a movie theatre. I'm excited to see what it's like, and if I'll find a home there.

I sometimes feel homesick, because it's so close to Christmas. But then I remember I'm surronded by others who are also without their families for the holidays and I don't feel so bad.

Friday, December 4, 2009

-9 and smiling...

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson.

I made it to Colorado, and it is cold. The journey out here was not as exciting as my Yellowstone journey, but you cannot blame Iowa and Nebraska for being who they are. I'm very blessed to have a father that enjoys roadtrips almost as much as I do. He shared the driving, the bills and my excitement at starting over in a new place. It's a giant leap of faith, but well worth the risk.

Copper Mountain is a beautiful place. Nestled between the peaks of towering mountains and route 70, about an hour west of Denver, Copper is not quite big enough to be considered a town. But it has it's own post office, town center, and enough resturants and shops to keep me busy for a while. Not to mention a beautiful ski hill, that I get to ski for free.

My room is tiny, barely enough to fit all the clothes I brought with me, but it has a great view. No roomate yet, but I'm praying that God will give me the very best one. I completed training this afternoon, and now have a long weekend to explore my new home. I'm thinking a run down the mountain followed by a driving tour of the nearby town of Frisco.

Last night, the chapel here at Copper hosted an employee dinner. The spaghetti was delicious, and I made some new friends at my table. I'm returning to the chapel on Sunday for the community church service, and I'm excited to meet fellow christians here at Copper. I've made a few friends that attended training with me, but I'm still praying for God to bring me some really close friends.

Overall, I love my new surrondings, and I'm confident that God will bless my time here.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009


Just returned from Boston last night, from a great weekend with two very good friends, Stef and Becca. We had some fun watching a regatta, strolling around Harvard, thrift store shopping, playing on the beach and making new friends. Sharing the ride home with Stef, we talked about everything under the sun, family, friends life, music and the like.

I've missed weekend roadtrips. I used to take alot more of them. Life as we know it has changed. People have drifted away to bright futures, our circle of friends is diminishing. My mom says that as we get older, our friendships become less important to us with distance. I don't want to stop being friends with someone just because we are far apart. I don't want lack of effort to be the one thing that makes a relationship or breaks it.

Monday, October 12, 2009

it's been months since i've written, and with good reason, i had no computer and internet was scarce.

i posted the updates i sent to my friends and family on facebook, to complete the story of my adventures in the great state of wyoming.

i am currently home, collecting unemployment until my next job begins. november 16, i will start work at copper mountain ski resort in colorado. i have no idea what i will be doing, but i will be there with my friends jordan and kellen, and cannot wait to meet more awesome people.

yellowstone taught me alot about myself, how i need christian friends around to support and encourage me. how i need a church body of some sort to lean on. how i can survive on very little possesions, as long as i have great people to talk with and hike with. how you don't need to go out to dinner or coffee to have a great conversation with somebody. how church can be just me, god and the bible. how beautiful god's creation really is, and how we can preserve it and make it last. how out of shape i am, and how much i really like hiking. i learned alot this summer, and some of my world views have changed. god has shown me that love is not currency that you give away, expecting something in return. how withholding love from someone can hurt everybody around you.

i completely stepped out of my comfort zone and did things i never thought myself capable of. i tried things i would have never done before. i think it has made me into a better peson, and will continue to make me a better person.

i hope this next adventure will be better than the last, and that i will continue to grow. i pray that god will bring more wonderful people into my life, that i become braver and bolder. that i try new things, and that i won't let fear keep me where i don't want to be.

dear jen...

I just received the best card from Jen, asking me what was going on in my life. I've been lax in keeping y'all updated. I apologize, and here is the update that's been a long time coming.

At the end of July, Xanterra gave an employee appreciation event for the whole park. It started with a steak dinner in the EDR that was served by our managers, and ended with a Wolf Night dance (basically Halloween in July). I had met two guys in the sunroom the night before, Todd and Chad, and invited them to the dance because they were bored and needed something to do at night. We had a good time.

This month I have hiked Avalanche Peak, Mt. Washburn, Pelican Valley and a few shorter day hikes to Riddle Lake and the canyon. I also attempted to hike Pine Creek (which is actually a mountain trail) but Megan and I decided to call it quits halfway up and go to Chico Hot Springs to visit our friends Jordan and Brandon, who were fired from Yellowstone.

I have been making many trips to Bozeman to take friends to the airport. Daina, Charlie and Megan all left this past month. It has been sad to see them go, and many more will be leaving soon for school, but I still have alot of friends who will remain until the begining of October, like me.

While working in the sunroom one night, I met James and Iain, two bristish blokes who are travelling through the US from August to December. They had met some amazing people and had some crazy stories to tell. They stayed two nights and we had a great time hiking Elephant Back at midnight and hanging out at the lodge. They were travelling with very little money, and living on the hospitality of others, and I think that's making for a better trip.

We have discovered that Jackson Hole Whitewater gives trips to Yellowstone employees for free, so that is our new weekend activity. We have been twice just in the past week, and plan to go again this Friday. I think everybody must whitewater raft before they die, it is too fun! I haven't fallen out yet, but Megan, who can't swim, fell out at the Big Kahuna, which is where they take your picture. We purchased the picture of Megan in mid air, for memories sake.

My cousins MIke and Gena, where in Jackson Hole for a conference, and I had a wonderful lunch with them. It was great to see famaliar faces this far from home.

Daina and I went to the International Dance festival in Rexburg, Idaho (not really a fan of Idaho) and we had a great time. There was a parade with dancers from many countries and at night a DJ played music so we could all dance in the street. Daina and I got henna on our hands, and camped on the way back to the park.

Yesterday, the park celebrated Christmas in August, a tradition started by guests who were stranded at Old Faithful during a snowstorm on August 25. They thought the date appropriate, and decorated a tree and sang carols. This is still done today, and Santa and Mrs Claus made an appearance. Catherine the piano player played carols most of the night, which drove me and my co-workers crazy.

The buffalo are in their rut season, and are making the worst noises in search of their mates. We now have a whole herd that moved in yesterday, and will not shut up. I won't walk to work because they are everywhere, and really scary.

Work is going great, and with so many people leaving, I will be working more and more hours, but I knew this was going to happen, so I don't mind.

I plan on returning home in early October for a few short weeks, then coming out to Colorado to work at a ski resort for the winter. I've applied at Copper Mountain, Winter Park, Steamboat Springs and Aspen/Snowmass. I'll keep you posted as to which one I decide on!

Love and miss you all, and can't wait to be home in October!

July is almost gone, and soon August will be here. August means goodbye to several of my close friends whose time it is to go home.

Daina and I were all set to go camping on Friday night, but when it came time to go, we decided to be lazy and stay home instead. We had bought a tent at Walmart, and thought that we had to pitch it, just because. We set it up in my room, (it fit perfectly) and set the camp chairs out in the hallway. Using colored paper, we made our own campfire and read scary stories by flashlight. It was the best camping trip I have ever been on, no bug bites!

Two Moons, who lives down the hall, decided to barbecue on Saturday night, which sparked a bonfire on the volleyball court. Everybody came after work to roast marshmallows and warm themselves by the fire. Sunday night, we all went to the pub for salsa night. I played cornhole with Richard and lost.

Getting my oil changed is an adventure around here, I learned that on Monday on a trip to Cody. Nobody drives German cars in Wyoming, because they didn’t have a filter for my car. Also, my hubcap was stolen in Bozeman while I was in Target. My car has gotten a lot of abuse lately.

This morning, Carrie and I made the trek to Fishing Bridge. We walked along the shoreline of the lake and spotted an elk and some bison. The water was calm, and the geese and pelicans were swimming. The sun shone low over the Absaroka mountain range. It was just the perfect morning. Tomorrow Daina, myself and a few others are camping on Shadow Mountain for real this time. On Saturday we plan on making it to Chico Hot Springs to go swimming.

Miss ya!

away we go...

I’ve been told the weather here is better then what I’ve left behind. It’s been in the seventies and sunny for the past two weeks. We’ve had a few summer storms with power-outages and white caps on the lake. The rainbows that follow console us and remind us that there is beauty in the aftermath.

This past week has been one of my favorites of the season so far. My dearest friends Jen, Rach and Michelle came to visit me one the first leg of their cross country road trip. They arrived late on Tuesday night and slept on my tiny dorm room floor. Wednesday I took them to Jackson, my favorite little town just past the Tetons. We shopped and tried on cowboy boots, then ate Mexican food at the Merry Pigs. I took them to the shootout, and afterwards a character asked Michelle for her number. I think I embarrassed him when I laughed too hard as we were walking away.

Thursday I showed them around the park, we went to Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring. I had to work later that night, so my friend Daina took them to Artist Point and buffalo watching. We then hit the pub for some pizza and salsa dancing. They left Friday to drive 13 hours to visit Nick in Washington.

Friday Daina, Carrie and I drove six hours to Missoula which is in the western part of Montana. We attempted to camp, and found a perfect spot by a little creek with a sandy beach. We left to get supplies and returned around 11 pm, only to find the campsite locked with our tent inside. After a run in with the caretaker, we packed up our tent and left. We ended up at a Courtyard with comfy beds and TV, which was much nicer then camping with the mosquitos.

We spent Saturday shopping and enjoying civilization. We saw Transformers 2 and explored the University of Montana campus. We sped home Sunday to get there in time for work, driving through the Gallatin Mountains.

The past few days me friends and I have been on a Lord of the Rings kick, watching them right before work and after, too. Tommorow Daina, Dara and I are going into Cody to catch Harry Potter and to get some real coffee.

That’s all from here, time is moving so fast, but having a blast.

Hello y’all!

Can’t believe it’s July already. Time is like a mosquito that does not want to be caught between my hands. We have a lot of them out here, mosquitos, that is, and they really like me. I am covered in bites, that is my own fault because I have yet to buy deet.

On a sad note, Cory, the friend I asked you to pray for, passed away on Wednesday, his 22nd birthday. A celebration of life was held in the pub for all the employees. Please keep his family and friends in your prayers.

My friends and I have been up to the usual things, hiking and rowing and exploring the park. Friday a few of us returned to Moose Falls to catch some rays. The water was really warm due to the thermal features at the top of the falls. Later that night, a few of the girls and I had a movie night. It was the first time I had popcorn since leaving home.

I spent the Fourth of July in Jackson with a big group of friends. We carpooled down through the Tetons and shopped and attended the Jackson Hole Music Festival. The local shot-out was amped up for the holiday, it featured a bare-back shooter and audience participation. My friend Carrie and I attended the rodeo. We then met up with everybody for the fireworks, which were the best I’ve ever seen. We finished the night with McDonalds, because most of us haven’t been in a few months, and TV, which we haven’t seen in a few months. It was heaven.

Daina and I walked to church on Sunday morning, and it was great to attend a service again with live music. We then met up with everybody else to eat breakfast at the Bunnery, which is famous in Jackson for the best breaskfast in town.

On Monday, Daina, Victor and I hiked Natural Bridge, a nice three mile hike that ends at a waterfall covered by a natural rock bridge. The mosquitos got me good. We took tons of pictures, I’m getting really good at using the self-timer and getting my face in the picture before it goes off.

Tomorrow, Jen, Rachel and Michelle arrive to spend a few days with me!!! I cannot wait! I have awaited their arrival for so long. It will be great to see friendly faces from home again.

Love and miss you all!

Time is flying by, one day blurs into the next, and the weeks cease to matter. We have no real weekends here, our Fridays may be our Tuesdays, and our Thursdays our Mondays. Nobody knows what day it is, it is a common thing to hear in the EDR, ‘what day is it?”. Don’t even ask about dates, we haven’t a clue.

Tuesday, as is our custom, we set sail in a rowboat to catch a few rays of sunshine. Getting out of the bay was the easy part. We strayed far from our course, so the way back was a little difficult. We did make it back, with only a few minor sunburns and blisters.

Wednesday and Thursday were lazy days for me, I slept in til 11 both days, and watched movies until work. Thursday night, a friend from work was weightlifting without a spotter when 250 lbs fell on his chest, then rolled to his neck. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he remains in critical condition. I believe he is still in the doctor induced coma, as we have had no update. Please keep Cory, his family, and my fellow employees in your prayers.

My weekend days are Friday and Saturday. I share them with my friends, so we always plan things to do. Friday it poured rain, so we sat in the lounge and planned out the rest of our weekends. We scheduled a few camping trips to the Tetons, a whitewater rafting trip, horseback rides and trips to Jackson Hole, which is our favorite little western town.

Saturday morning we drove down to Grant Village for a guided kayaking trip on Lake Yellowstone. Originally the price in $95 per person, but for park employees, it was only $15 ( I think that’s a bargain). It was so cold when we first started out, but the sun soon warmed us up. We were two to a kayak, and that made things very easy. They took us along the shores of West Thumb and to the nearby geyser basin which is right on the water. All the tourists on the boardwalk snapped our pictures as we floated by. It was a 4 mile round trip, and it took us about 3 hours. By the end of the trip, we were ravenous.

After stopping to get some food, we drove down to Moose Falls, which is a popular spot for swimming. It had warmed up to 66 degrees, and for us that is summer! We hiked down the ravine to the creek, and sunbathed on the big boulders right near the falls. The mist from the falls kept us cool, but I received a wicked sunburn that still hurts. Next time, I’m wearing sunscreen.

That evening, a few friends and I droved to Lake Butte overlook to watch the sunset. We missed the sun actually setting, but the sky was still beautiful, and that mad it worth the drive.

After church on Sunday morning, we went hiking on Elephant Back Mountain. The trail is right outside our door, and we plan to hike it every week to get in shape for one big hike at the end of summer. This was our second time hiking the trail, and it felt easier than last time, but we still have a ways to go. We had packed our lunches and ate them at the top of the trail, which is an overlook of the lake, Absaroka Mountains and our hotel. The hotel looks like a dollhouse from the top.

There is a grizzly that likes to hang around our dorms, yesterday he was taking a nap in the field behind another dorm. Tourists love seeing a bear, and will stop traffic for miles in what we call a bear jam (there are also bison jams and moose jams). The rangers are trying to route Gus (that's what I call the grizzly, the are many names for this bear) so that his trail circles the dorms, and he won't cut through the parking lots. I think he's kind of cute, and harmless, unless you threaten him.

Miss you all!

Another fun week has flown by. We had a few days of sun, but it’s been mostly wet, wet, wet.

Tuesday a few friends and I climbed Elephant Back trail for the first time. The guide book said it was an easy 2 mile hike with “sweeping views of the lake”. They were right about the sweeping views, but the hike was not easy. I would say moderate to strenuous sounds right. We took a well deserved break at the top, and gazed at the lake and the hotel, which looked like a dollhouse. On the way down I fell and hurt my knee. I blame it on my weak ankles.

Wednesday was my good friend Carrie’s birthday. We went to the marina, and hit the open water with a row boat. It’s been awhile since I rowed a boat. I couldn’t get away from the dock, and everybody was shouting at me to pull. I couldn’t row because I was laughing too hard. Daina had to take over for me. We finally made it out to the lake and just drifted. It was so nice and relaxing, not having to think about work.

Before work on Thursday, a few of us hiked to Storm Point and soaked up the sun on the big rocky shore. The sun decided to grace me with a massive sun burn that didn’t hurt until the next day. I started my new job cocktailing on Thursday. Christine, another good friend, was my trainer. The string quartet started playing that night as well, which made us quite busy. I enjoy the job, it’s not hard, and I get to meet so many nice people. Plus I get to listen to the musicians all night.

Friday was my second night of training, we were a bit slower than the night before, but I still had a good time. That night after work we went to the lodge for some drinks and sat on the front porch sipping and talking with a few co-workers. On the way back to the car, we stopped to star gaze. I have never seen the stars brighter than they were that night! And so many of them! The milkyway was also very obvious.

Saturday was my only day off this week, so Daina and I went hiking on the Lava Creek trail, which is 7 miles round trip. We didn’t park at the trailhead, so the hike down to the trail added another mile. Halfway up the trail it decided to rain, and rained on and off until we reached Undine Falls. We parked ourselves at the top and made some phone calls, because we had service. On the trek back, the rain started to fall in buckets, drenching us and the trail, which turned into a muddy mess. All we could think about was dinner, which was waiting for us at the top of a huge hill. I have never felt so exhausted in my life. My legs were screaming at me in the end.

Today is Sunday, which means a day of rest, but for me rest means church, then cleaning my room and doing laundry. Tonight is my first solo cocktail shift, but I’m really looking forward to it. Miss and love you all!

uno crazy week...

Another busy week has gone by, can’t believe it’s been a month already!

Becca’s visit was a helpful in curing homesickness. I had so much fun showing her my summer home. As soon as she came back from her visit with friends in Montana, we set off to hike Storm Point with Christina and Megan. We had a great time teasing the marmots and playing on the rocky cliff overlooking Lake Yellowstone. It’s our new favorite spot, and we have vowed to return for sunbathing and reading. On the return trek, we found bear tracks in the sand. Don’t worry, Mom, we just saw the tracks, not the bear.

Wednesday, Becca and I went to Lamar Valley, and on the drive there we saw one black bear and one grizzly bear. The grizzly was just sitting there, staring at all the tourists snapping away at their fancy cameras. I think he thought us a bit ridiculous and amusing, and sauntered off in search of something less humorous. Lamar Valley was beautiful, the sun was shinning and there were plenty of buffalo grazing. After driving back through the valley we stopped for lunch at Roosevelt Lodge. While waiting for a table, we sat by the fireplace reading Death in Yellowstone, and scared ourselves with tales of buffalo goring tourists and idiots jumping into geysers.

That evening, we got all dolled up and hit the pub for the disco, which was in full swing by the time we got there. We only stayed for a half an hour, but Becca had plenty of time to show off her “shopping cart” and “lawn mower”.

I had training for my new position on Thursday, but after that Becca and my friends Daina and Emily joined us for a few hikes. First we hiked .5 miles to Wraith Falls, then unsuccessfully tried to find the trail to Lava Creek. It was a beautiful attempt. We then hiked a short distance up Beaver Ponds trail, but after going only a mile, decided to call it a day. The hour drive back home was very interesting, we talked about God, church and life in general. It has become one of my favorite car rides.

I had to return Becca to the Jackson Hole Airport Friday morning. My roommate Dara came with us, and after leaving Becca we went into Jackson for breakfast. Jackson has quickly become my favorite little western town, complete with stagecoach rides and a five o’clock shoot out everyday. I purchased a cowboy hat, it will be needed for the rodeo in Cody in a few weeks time.

Yesterday marked the return to civilization, Bozeman, Montana! Daina, Dara and I stopped at the mall, then saw Up, which is the cutest movie I’ve seen in a long time. I recommend everybody see it. On the drive back I was struck again by the beauty that is the west. Everything is so big and awesome, you really have to see it in person to understand it.

Now for the good news, I found a church! It meets in the sunroom of the hotel and is run by a Christian organization in Yellowstone. Daina and I went to the second service today, and although it was very brief, it was still good to fellowship with other believers, if even for a short time.

Time to check my laundry. I start training this week for cocktailing, which seems to be a very easy job. Keep me in your prayers, I’m trying to be a great witness to my roommate. I’ve been sending tons of postcards lately, if you haven’t received one, I don’t have your address, so post it here for me.

Love and miss you all!

greetings from the land of the summer snow. yesterday it snowed 5 inches. in june. the 7th of june. the good news is it all melted by 5 pm. the bad news is it's snowing again. oh well. it could be worse.

this past week has been great, becca came to visit me on friday, stayed through saturday, and will be back on tuesday. it's been awesome seeing a friendly face from home! it makes me miss everyone so much more!

we spent friday in jackson, which is the coolest western town you will ever see. we stopped at mcdonalds for my first time in a month. then we drove to Idaho, just to say we were there. on the drive back to yellowstone through the tetons, we talked about God and life. it was great being able to fellowship with another christian again.

Saturday was spent roaming around the old faithful area. we missed the first eruption, so we had bible study in the inn. while having bible study, we missed the second eruption. so we decided to take a walk around the upper geyser basin and catch the third eruption, which we caught just in time. after lunch/dinner, we made the short hike up to mystic falls, which is my favorite hike so far.

Becca will be back on Tuesday, just in time for the disco at the pub! I doubt anybody will be totally decked out (who brings their disco gear to yellowstone?) but it should be tons of fun.

I had my interview for cocktail server today, and was informed two hours later that I got the job! I will still be a host for three days a week, and cocktailing 2 or 3 days. It will be nice to have more guest interaction and time to listen to the pianist and string quartet that palys in the sunroom. I'll get tips too! Mostly it will be a nice break in the routine.

Today I met a lady who is retracing the steps of her great aunt, who traveled to Yellowstone from Laramie WY. In 1906, the trip took 4 months. Today, it takes one week. This woman has her aunt’s diary to guide her. If anybody retraced my journey out west, they would have to stop at marriott and long john silvers.

missing you all, but it's great out here, you should visit!

three weeks...

saturday will mark the three week anniversary of my stay in yellowstone.

it's been crazy busy with work and sightseeing, plus i haven't been able to log into to facebook. so here's an update, a few days late.

i worked seven days straight, dinner then breakfast shifts. the work is easy and fun, and i meet so many people from all over the world. i've met a few people from rochester, and a gentleman who went to rit back in the day.

memorial day i went hiking with a bunch of people to mystic falls. it was supposed to be a 16 mile hike, but after hiking 4 miles uphill in the swamp and 3 feet of snow, we decided to call it a day. i aquired a nice sunburn on one half of my face and some on my neck.

yesterday was another day off, an i went exploring with my friends maggie and laura. we went to mammoth hot springs and walked around the boardwalks for a few hours. then we went to the pub to say goodbye to a few friends who are already sick of yellowstone.

today should have been laundry day, but i am much too lazy. saturday, a buch of us are going to cody to go to walmart, then out to dinner for some real food. maybe a rodeo too!

i'll write more later, as i am on a borrowed computer. love and miss you all!

so i was trying to write an update on wednesday for everybody, but the power went out just before i could publish it.

i arrived at the park on saturday morning, around 7 am. checked in at Gardiner, which is just outside of the park. drove into the park for orientation, and saw my first ever buffalo, followed by my 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th. they are HUGE! and all over. they really like to walk on the road and cause "bison jams". i have been in 2 bison jams so far.

after orientation, i drove down to lake to sign in and meet my roomate, whose name is Dara. she's really nice, she completely surprised me today when she told me she really likes having me for a roomate. it was really sweet and unexpected. we get along really well, and like the same music and movies. our room is really small, but comfortable. we are in osprey, which is the over 21 dorm. sometimes it gets really crazy, but i have found a few people to don't like to get drunk at night, and we hang out and watch movies or play cards.

this past weeek we have been stuck in training, preparing for the grand opening of the hotel, which was supposed to be today. my job as host seems easy enough, and i like my coworkers alot. there's this one old lady named harriett who has worked here for 28 seasons and kows everything about the park. she is so sweet, and has the best sense of humor. the lake hotel is the oldest hotel in the park, and we have alot of standards to uphold. our uniform is a white shirt, black tie and cumberbund and ugly black pleated pants. it's not the worst (if you have seen my disney oufit) and i don't mind it except for the pants.

the food here is really bad, so i have been eating alot of salad. it takes alot of courage for me to go to the dining room when my roomate cannot go with me, but i have yet to eat alone, for i always meet somebody who invites me to sit with them. i meet about 5 new people everyday.

the power went out on wednesday, due to high winds. we had to be emergency evacuated to a different location for heat and electricity. we were put up in a hotel, which was kinda nice. the power was off for 3 days, so we spent 2 nights in the hotel. they shuttled us back ad forth by bus.

on the way back to our "home" we saw a grizzly bear just off the side of the road. it was my first ever sighting, and it made me happy for the rest of the day. due to the power outage the hotel is delayed for opening til tomorrow. i however have until monday off.

communication is really hard here, i have no computer and am at the mercy of my roomate who lets me borrow hers. we also have no cell phone service, so i have to drive 10 miles away to make calls and send texts. so if you don't here from me, don't be offended. it's not you. in my down time i usually read, watch movies or take a walk around part of the lake and pray. i plan on tomorrow taking my bible to the dock and enjoying the nice weather (45 degrees tomorrow!!!)

i went with my roomate and a few friends to cody, which is an hour and a half away. we went to walmart and subway for some real food. the drive was amazing, wyoming is so pretty. i then walked to the post office to sign up for mail, and picked up a package from my mom. she sent me some snack bars and cheese mix and carrots, of course.

this is getting long winded, so i'll wrap it up. i miss you all, but i'm having a blast! hopefully, i'll get some pictures of artist point put up tomorrow after i visit!

road update

I cannot tell you how having my dad on this trip has made all the difference. He's a sport, and I'm glad I have someone to share this with.

We left arount 8 am on Wednesday, and about 10 minutes outside Buffalo, we got a flat tire. So we called AAA and they came 20 mintues after we rang them. if was all very fast. Good thing I had a full sized spare, or we could have really be behind schedule. Pennslyvania and Ohio were pretty unadventerous. We stopped just past Cleveland to eat at King Wah's Chinese Palace. King Wah himself greeted us at the door. Our waitress was caucasian, which really disapointed me.

I'm not a fan of Ohio or Indiana. They are both flat, flat flat. We did pass the RV hall of fame, but we had no time to go in. We passed the rime by listening to Gomez, Howie Day and an Ian Fleming book on cd. It's casino royale, and I like it just as much as the movie so far, but we shall see. Side note: Gary, Indiana was the ugliest city I have ever seen. If anybody I know moves there, I'm sorry, I will not be visiting you. If you're from there, I am truly sorry.

Spent about 2 hours in Chicago rush hour traffic in pouring rain. We made the best of it by dancing to Radar Love and Always Be My Baby and making jokes about Gary, Indiana. After dinner at Long John Silver's, we drove one more hour to Madison Wisconsin in rainy construction surrounded be semis. not my favorite driving conditions. We checked in to our hotel (which was a very pretty courtyard, of course) and slept like babies.

Day 2 was spent driving through the rest of Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota. Wisconsin was surprisingly pretty and Minnesota is nothing by farms, as far as the eye can see. That got old real fast. As soon as we entered into South Dakota, a million billboards sprang up, literally. Every 100 feet there is another billboard advertising Wall Drug, which is 350 miles away, to the Corn Palace which was 100 miles away. Half of South Dakota is flat, and the other half is beautiful rolling hills. We passed the sign for the Laura Ingals Wilder house, but we had no time to stop.

We stopped at Wall Drug, which is world famous, for 20 minutes. It was a real tourist trap with a travellers chapel, cafe, museum, 20 specialty stores and enought kitsch to last a lifetime. After fueling up we drove past the National Buffalo Grasslands -no buffalo :( -the Badlands- stunning!- and the Black Hills- I want to live there.

We checked into our hotel which is connected to an indoor water park, and then had dinner at a steakhouse that was once a fire house. best steak I ever had, so good! Then bed, because we were weary travelers.

This morning we shall stop at Mount Rushmore, which is right down the street. Then coffee at the Dunn Bros (I hope we get a discount!). Later in Montana we will drive through a reservation. Only 500 mile to go to Gardiner!

Tomorrow I drop my Dad at the airport, then drive to Gardiner to check in for Yellowstone! all by 9am.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

i've been a little busy. this past week i have driven to wyoming, moved into my dorm and started my new job. it's been a heck a lot of change.

to say that yellowstone is beautiful is a vast understatement. i cannot describe the beauty i have encountered in just my first few minutes in the park. i was greeted by five enormus(?) bison, all grazing by the side of the road. a few miles further, i drove over a stunning waterfall tumbling down the mountain face.

i was assigned to work at the lake hotel, which is the oldest hotel in the park. when we arrived, sheets covered the stacked furniture in the lobby, and it smelled untouched. they put us to work, learning all the policies and safety procedures. the heat had yet to be turned on, so we would bundle ourselves in coats and scarves as we sat in the meager light of the sunroom.

the hotel itself is a sleeping giant. an old lady that groans as winter releases it grip and spring loosens her cramped muscles. she is yellow, and rests on the shore of lake yellowstone as if to say that she watches and guards over her lake. her floors creak, and are slanted in some hallways. a giant fireplace welcomes all who enter the grand pink lobby with it's wicker furniture. a grand piano stands majestic in the center of the room, begging to be played. once guest arrive, string quartets will serenade them with the tunes of old.

she is a cross between older lake resorts and the hotel from the shinning, spooky when uninhabited, and grand when used by those who return summer after summer.

we are told we are privileged to work here, that we should be honored to spend our summer in her shadows.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

9th post...

it seems i can only post 9 entries a month, according to my posting history, so i'm going to keep it that way.

i now have officially less than a week until i leave for yellowstone national park to begin my summer employment. my dad has decided to make the trek with me! this is a huge weight off my shoulders. in a way i was looking forward to driving by myself, but i was nervous about the distance and length of driving days. now i will have someone to keep me company and take over driving when i get tired. plus i will not have to talk to myself, and scare other drivers around me with the faces i make when i am alone.

i have a few items on my to do list, including some shopping and packing. i still need to get an oil change and vaccum the tacks out of my car. my main concern right now is finding a laptop, as it the only means of communication i will have with the outside world. this has been a constant prayer of mine, and i am trusting that God will provide one for me.

Friday, April 24, 2009

face of boces...

my friend graduated from nursing school yesterday, and i am so proud of her.

jen has fibromatosis, her body grows tumors, many of which are around her spine. she has had many surgeries to remove the tumors. she has also had surgery to place metals rods in her back. it has been a long and painful road, and it's not over. but you would never know, looking at jen, that she has gone through so much.

jen always has a smile on her face, she is always laughing and poking fun at herself. she is so filled with joy that not even pain can remove that smile. this joy only comes from one source, her saviour Jesus Christ. jen will be the first person to tell you about him.

to be a great nurse, you have to know what it's like to be a patient. i know jen with be a great nurse, because she knows how it is to be a patient. she brings that infectious joy into everything she does.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

pierced...

i recently added another hole to my face. my nose now sports a stud the sparkles in rainbow hue. my parents were adament about not going through with it. my mom said no, my dad said over his dead body.

i did it anyway.

not to spite, or show that i do my own thing. i didn't mean it as an act of defiance. i'm not a rebel.

it was a bonding experience. i went with my best friends, we did this together. my friend michelle has never had her ears pierced. that turned into my friend rachel wanting to get something pierced, i suggested the nose. we experimented with eye liner. drawing vaious spots on our faces we thought might be appropriate. it made for a fun game. we talked for weeks, building up the proper enthusiasum. between the desicion to go through with it and the actual event, i talked myself out of it too many times. i went back in forth; do it, don't do it, do it...

the day arrived, and i had decided i would go for support, not to participate. i went through the script i had rehearsed in my head. i can't afford it, or my job won't let me are two of the excuses i was sticking with. the whole ride there i sweated, wringing my hands together. i told the girls i couldn't go through with it, and gave them the speech. they protested, and loudly. meg even got mad. fine, i'll do it, was the ultimate answer.

during the wait to get pierced, i had to hold my head between my knees. i kept asking myself why i was doing this. we were led to the back room, and i was told to get up on the chair. he spent his time gathering his tools, and making sure everything was sterilized. that made me feel alittle better. he then snapped on his gloves, made a few noises, and before i could blink, i had a nose piercing. it didn't even hurt.

it looks very classy, that's what my mom said to me when she found out. my dad was silent. eventually he came around. after we read in church about issac's search for rebecca, and how the servant, who was sent to fetch her, gave her a nose ring...

Thursday, April 16, 2009

baby soft


I hope this puts a smile on your face...


Wednesday, April 15, 2009

freak out...

i just realized i leave for yellowstone exactly three weeks from today! i'm getting nervous, not the "i don't want to go" nervous, but the "i can't believe it's coming so soon" nervous. i have so much to do in such a short time.

i can only pray that God will calm my nerves, and that i can enjoy my time left with my family and friends.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009


just though i'd let you know...

i'll get the wagon...

and life lessons from Dr. Quinn. you know, that family friendly show featuring a female doctor post civil war. add some orphans and a buckskin clad mountain man, and you have the makings of an hour of goodliness.

the town is filled with interesting characters, all who seemingly sit around with nothing to do until there's a crisis. there's jake, who is a barber, and hank who runs the saloon with myra, the whore. horace runs the post office, and is madly in love with myra, the whore. loren runs the general store with miss dorothy, whom loren has the hots for. miss dorothy runs the gazette. the reverend is just what you would assume him to be, a man of the cloth.

the main girl, dr mike, is a doctor from boston who came west to help the people of colorado springs. mike winds up with three kids when her friend passes away. then there's sully, a man that has many layers to his soul. he let's dr. mike stay in his lean-to because he no longer needs it for his dead wife and child.

every episode features a medical emergency and a personal crisis for dr. mike or a member of her family. both situations intertwine around each other. what gets me is that the moment somebody rushes into town shouting "help" or "dr. mike!", the townspeople leave whatever they are doing and rush to help.

thats it, no questions asked, they just leap up and away they go. no excuses, no shortstopping, no "i gotta do this first...". their reaction is immediate. nothing could be more important than helping in a time of trial. i think of the times someone has asked for my help with something, and i've blown them off, or i took my time helping. maybe it's because i don't think anybody's crisis could be as bad as my own. to just jump when someone says "help", i think that is pretty cool...

props to you, citizens of colorado springs, fiction though you may be.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

reflect...

many of my posts come from my emails to my amazing friend, stef. here is todays...

When I got home last night, I perused my bookshelf, looking for something to read. I was too restless to watch House with my Dad, which is my routine for Monday nights. I came across this little tiny book by Max Lucado that came with our study book, when I ordered form CBD. It's a tiny little book, with big type and pictures on every page. I thought it was one of those dumb books you give people for graduation or the like when you don't really know the person. It's called God's Mirror.

It's a parable of a big CEO, who works upstairs. This man is kind, loving and considerate of others. No one ever sees him, but they do see his daughter, who works at the company. She is mean to the doorman, the receptionists and the mail boys. They know she is his daughter, even though she never flaunts the fact. Though they don't even know the boss, they despise him, because they assume his daughter is mirror of her father.

The story changes, now the daughter is kind to the doorman, receptionist and mail boys. She is considerate, helpful and nice. She is a direct reflection of her father upstairs. You don't need to meet him to know that he loves others, because his daughter shows this love for him.

I think of all the times I have not reflected my father upstairs. How my actions have reflected me. Why would people want to know a God who acts just like me?


"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
2 Corinthians 3:18

Thursday, April 2, 2009

a time to mourn...

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.

my grandma passed away yesterday. the sadness i feel cannot overcome the joy i have that she is in heaven! i will miss her soo much, but i know she is no longer suffering.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

ac-cli-mate

verb (used with object), verb (used without object), to accustom or become accustomed to a new climate or environment; adapt.

i have one month until i get in my little car and drive across this great nation of ours and start work at yellowstone national park. i am stoked, really i am. i just have alot to do before i leave.

my to-do list:

buy shoes: i don't own any rugged, sturdy hiking boots. i hear these are necessary. i'll need a good pair of work shoes too...
get my oil changed: i have been to new york city twice, montreal, pittsburgh and ohio, since my last oil change.
pack: this is going to be hard. i'm not allowed to bring alot of stuff, there's just no room for it in my dorm. plus, i am supposed to dress in layers due to the ever-changing weather. so i need to pack 5 months of clothes in two medium sized bags. this is going to be tough.

the biggest thing on my list: get in shape so i don't experience altitude sickness. i can think of nothing worse then getting to yellowstone only to feel like a slug for two weeks.

i need to start acclimating myself to the thinner air. this means hikes, and many of them. up hills, down hills, around my block, and on the track. maybe i'll throw in some jogging and weights, to spice things up a bit. if anybody wants to help me with this, like keep me company or keep me accountable, i would greatly appreciate it!

Monday, March 30, 2009

stretch...

saturday i had the chance to stretch some muscles that haven't been used in a long time...

i woke up with the sun shinning through my window blinds, the warmth signaling a start to a beautiful day. i went to wegmans to purchase supplies for a scrumptious breakfast i planned on making my friends. i love supermarkets in the morning. not for any particular reason, it just feels like life is supposed to be done this way. i listened to phil wickham while preparing the almond french toast (you know you're jealous). these lyrics really stuck out to me:

The fullness of Your grace is here with me
The richness of Your beauty’s all I see
The brightness of Your glory has arrived
In Your presence God, I’m completely satisfied

in that moment, i was completely satisfied. and not because the sun was shinning on my day off, and friends were over to enjoy the day with me...it was knowing that God had blessed me so richly, i want for nothing. every need has been taken care of before i knew it existed.

breakfast was amazing...usually i use my saturdays to get my chores done, you know, taking care of business. not this time. this day was different. after breakfast we went to the park and played on the playground. i felt like a kid again...

then on to parkour, which is french for something... parkour is using your body and environment to get from place to place to place. why bother going around a bench, when you can vault it? i have never seen so many people rolling around on the ground before. hilarious. we were taught how to land on the balls off our feet for balance, how to vault over benches, and how to roll without snapping your neck off. i used muscles i never knew existed, and they let me know it. i'm still in pain today...

to quote a good friend, saturday "felt like living". that this was the way life was meant to be lived. enjoying God's numerous and undeserved blessings...

Thursday, March 26, 2009

my friend stef is the greatest...she writes the best emails.

my day hasn't improved that much, but my attitude has.

one of those days...

ever have one of those days where everything just falls apart?

today is that day. i woke up on time, got in the shower on time, but still ended up late to work. message on my desk right when i walked in saying i had double-booked an appointment, already a failure. call school to work out my loan business, basically ended up sounding like an idiot. did some addition, it's not so good. plus the weather is this nasty groggy gray that makes you depressed just looking at it. oh, and i forgot my sweater, so now i'm cold. it can only go up from here, right?

i'm going to work on rachel's prayer requests, and hopefully that will improve my outlook on the day and my horrible attitude.

p.s. i think i feel a headache coming on...

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

the big day


today I am telling my boss about Wyoming...pray for me please, i will need it!

Monday, March 23, 2009

long time, no write...

i'm 22! i feel older, wiser and prettier.

not really.

i feel like a little kid who really hasn't lived yet. like i'm 5 inches tall, tugging on the pants of a giant.

funny thing about milestones, once they've come and gone, you feel let down. all this hype leads up to...nothing. it's an abyss, a gaping hole. unless you make a big deal about them. like i do. i've come to realize that birthdays are what you make of them. if you sit in a dark corner and watch your birthday slink on by, you're not gonna enjoy it. throw yourself a party, because no one else will. nobody cares about your birthday as much as you do. i don't mean to be cynical, but thats the truth.

it's funny how different generations take my leaving. everybody who is older than me is encouraging it, saying that it will be a great experience, one i will regret not taking. all my friends who are my age are really discouraging it, or thats the impression i am getting. i think their motives are purely selfish, which i can understand. that fact i cannot stress enough is that i will be back. i'm only gone for a short time, and i know that time is going to fly by. God says to listen to wisdom, and i am not ignoring anybody's advice. but i am big on heeding my elders lately, you know, the whole live and learn thing.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

technology is sweet...

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

give me a sign...

When I got home form bible study last night, there was a big, white envelope waiting for me on the table. It was from Yellowstone. They offered me a job in one of their big hotels. I'm really considering it.

Before, I was getting frustrated, looking for the perfect opportunity to get away, and I hadn't heard from any of the places I applied. Then, on the way home last night, I prayed that God would give me a sign, anything to let me know what he wanted me to do. Then I get home, and there's my sign, right on the table.

I get so restless and impatient, like I'm waiting for life to start, or at least get exciting. I thought about all the missed opportunities, and what happens when I let fear grab hold of me. After praying all through the night, I feel a peace about my decision to go west. And I'm really excited!

This isn't me at all. I'm not outdoorsy, or one to take off cross country, alone. I'm ready to step out of my zone, and experience something completely different.

Mission Field

I finished the movie Australia last night, and it made me want to go back. Back to when I spent a month there on a missions trip. I had an amazing time, and I am so very thankful that God allowed me to go, even though my heart wasn't in the right place. I wasn't going because God had told me too, I didn't even pray about it. I was going because I didn't want to be left out, and it was Australia! Then I met the people, who were all amazing. Australians have a way of making you relaxed as soon as you come into their presence. They shrug everything off their shoulders. I loved their "no worries" attitude.

God completely changed my heart about the whole trip, once I realized why we were truly there. Australia is not a poor nation in terms money, in that respect they are very wealthy. It's the fact that only 2% of the whole country attends any form of church. Not one of the kids who attended the VBS had ever heard of one before they came.

That made me think about helping people, not just those who need clothes, or food or shelter. But those whose hearts need saving just as badly as bodies. Jesus ministered to everyone, from tax collectors to rulers, humans who lives needed changing.

Then I think about my co-workers. They are my mission field. They aren't poor, hungry, or in need of shelter. But they need Jesus. I am with these ladies 40 hours a week. I only hope that my actions and words are a testimony of my faith. That when I speak, I am speaking the words of Christ, and that they will see Jesus in me.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

winter blues

I think I have the worst case of winter blues in history. It's bad, I don't want to do anything or go anywhere. When I'm not at work, I just sit around my house, reading or watching movies. I don't know how to fix it. I try different thinks, like crocheting or editing some photos, but I get bored easily and my mind starts to wander. Then I start to think about my life, and where it's headed and I get depressed.

My friend asked me a question the other day, the "what do you want to do with you life" one. That has always been a tricky question, because I never know the answer. I always feel like I should say something to fill in the blank, but I know it will be a lie. And I'm not very content with the "i don't know" answer. That's something that tops the "things to figure out list", which is getting very lengthy.

"It is always the simple things that change our lives. And these things never happen when you are looking for them to happen. Life will reveal answers at the pace life wishes to do so. You feel like running, but life is on a stroll. This is how God does things." Donald Miller

I want to run, not stroll. I don't want to take it easy and let God be in control. I want to do things my way. That's when I get into trouble.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

trust issues...


Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

Trust
in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Trust
in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.




trust is like jumping off a bridge, without any guarantee that you will be caught, just a belief that you will be caught. yet God tells us over and over again that he will catch us. and over and over again we don't believe him. so we never jump. we stand at the edge of the rail, looking over the water, and contemplate what will happen if we do jump. we think it through, decide it's crazy, and go back to whatever it was we were doing before. i'm beginning to think i'm missing out on something, and i'm ready to jump.



Saturday, February 14, 2009

v-day

hastily bought gifts, limp leftover roses, candy hearts with implying messages...oh yes, it's valentines day. the time of year when romance abounds and going out to dinner is impossible (unless you go to IHOP).

i'm not bitter, really i'm not. i like the concept of valentines day. i consider myself a very romantic person. i love displays of affection, romantic comedies are my favorite movies. i love great proposal stories. weddings, i love every aspect of weddings.

but valentines day, i do not get valentines day. one day out of 365 to tell your loved one you love them? what a gimmick.

one day to make singles more aware of their situation?
thats cruel.

what if every three to four months, couples had their own valentine days? we could call them "me lovee you" days and flowers would not be expected because they were given freely on a wednesday for no apparent reason.

no material goods would be needed to prove your devotion to someone. picnics would be random and happen indoors or out, despite of the weather. handwritten notes appear magically on pillows and breakfast is served in bed, at eleven at night or during the middle of the day.

spontaneous dancing (preferably a waltz, but anything goes) could happen with or with music.

only in a perfect world, i guess...

Thursday, February 12, 2009

bright colors...


yesterday i wore a bright pink skirt with blue and yellow flowers and a yellow vest.

why should you care? you ask...

i don't know why you should care, but it made a difference to my day.

the day started out sunny and bright. i woke feeling refreshed and cheered as the day wore on, rain started to pour, wind started to blow and sleepiness settled into my bones. it almost ruined me day, almost. but then i remembered i was wearing pink, and the day didn't seem so dreary.

the spa i work at is redecorating, and there are a million (literally, a million) paint samples all over the place. every color imaginable is in consideration for the honor of being on our walls. blues, greens, yellows, every shade is in the running.

i look at these colors and think, God is so cool. no really, he's cool. he came up with all these colors. God is the ultimate interior (and exterior) decorator. he created waters in every hue of blue, tropical rainforests are a vibrant green. flowers so bright and magnificent in various purples and pinks. God created everything, yet he took the time to make it beautiful. if that isn't attention to detail, i don't know what is...

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

quiet time

it's 8:08 am, and i have the place all to myself

this is my favorite time of day. it's so quiet and peaceful and right now, i don't answer to anybody.

i make myself a cup of coffee, lots of cream, and check emails and facebook, then i read everybody's blog. if i'm bored i check cnn, but that's only if i'm bored.

last night at bible study we talked about how God designed each of us differently, how we are each made for a purpose. i think that's cool. the world is all "you are a spontaneous combustion of particles" and God is all "i formed you, knit you together, i knew you inside and out before you even existed". i think that is most amazing thing i have ever heard. i am not some haphazard cells bunched together, i am knit, woven together. intricately designed by a designer who knows every part of me.

it's pretty sweet

Monday, February 9, 2009

i bought strawberry ice cream last night...and left it at the girls house.

bad move.

i had a craving for strawberry ice cream last night right before bed, and there was no way i could satisfy it. it was very agonizing.

i hate when i do that...

i have decided to challenge myself by taking one picture everyday. it's doesn't have to be of something special, it just has to be one picture. one picture per day for a year.

also, i have to write a list of my goals i want to accomplish this year

i have alot on my to-do list, maybe i should start on it.

the other day, in church, we talk about the sabbath year. the sabbath year happened when farmers in the old testament took every seventh year off-no crops were planted, no fields harvested. all work ceased for one whole year. the farmers would have to work extra hard during the sixth year, to ensure that they would have enough to last the next three years.

God promised the farmers they if they obeyed this, he would bless them. nobody did.

not one person decided to test God on his offer, nobody received any blessings.

i think that is sad. but then, i do that in my own life. God has promised me so many things, but how often do i let him bless me?

Friday, February 6, 2009

praise the lord...

Psalm 103:2-5

Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's


that is all we need today...


Tuesday, February 3, 2009

oil change...

i drive a brand spanking new volkswagen rabbit. i love it! that little thing is so zippy, i zig and zag through traffic. it's a stick shift, too, so i feel a little bit like mario andretti.

between driving to new york city twice, not to mention montreal, all in the past month, i have put a few miles on the car. which means i need an oil change, badly.

i'm not very good at maintenance, such as keeping my car clean, refilling the washer fluid, oil changes, even getting gas. i put everything off, then it piles up, until it's too big to deal with. i avoid the mess/lack of fluid like the plague. when i am forced to do something about it, i feel like a load have been lifted off my shoulders.

it's kind of like my relationship with God, i will let everything build up. i won't read my bible for weeks, i won't pray for others, i won't even think about God.

if i just took the time to maintain my relationship with him, i wouldn't get that build up . if i took the time to focus on Him, even for fifteen minutes a day, i wouldn't get that build up. i wouldn't need that six months clean up, when all the trash is disposed off, and my floor mats are vacuumed. i need to daily take the trash out. daily vacuum my floor mats, metaphorically speaking.

just a thought. now i need a coupon for an oil change...

Monday, February 2, 2009

it's monday.

i don't mind mondays that much. they tend to end pretty well. it's hard to get going.

my favorite part of monday is girls bible study. there are six/eight of us who meet every monday night for food and worship and occasionally we study the bible and share what God is doing in our lives.

we tried a study book, and that seemed to be working, but then we studied the book of esther using one of those devotional study guides, and that was pretty bad. some people should not be allowed to write bible studies.

in december our focus was on service, and we did ok with that. although the scarf i crocheted for the homeless is still not done yet.

we have great intentions, but we lag in the follow through.

next week, we will be reading cure for the common life, by max lucado. it's a great book, and it's something i think we all need right now. it's all about discovering what you like to do, then doing it. max says that God created each one of us with specific talents, gifts, abilities, and we should be using our abilities for God. if we do what we were created to do, we will enjoy it. we should like what we do, and do what we like to do.

now the hard part: finding out what God created me to do, and then find a way to do it...

Saturday, January 31, 2009

i want...

to see new places...meet new people...step outside my comfort zone.

i want to sleep under mosquito netting...
i want to stand under tropical water falls
i want to see the eiffel tower and eat real french bread
i want to see stonehenge
i want to stand on the great wall of china
i want to go on safari
i want to drive on the autobahn
i want to wake up with the sun
i want to tell people that jesus loves them...

my biggest fear is that i will never get to do any of these things...

Friday, January 30, 2009

obsession

so, i checked my email seventeen times in five hours. i should get to work...

what can you do?

since nobody follows this blog accept sarah (you're awesome), i am going to vent today. normally, i hate venters. i think people should suck it up , and get on with it. but all that pent up frustration just builds and builds, and thats not very healthy. especially if it's directed at just one person.

this one person meant alot to me a few years back. we were very close, and it hurt when we were no longer together. i went through a time of horrible pain and i never want to go through that again. looking back it was a good decision to go our separate ways, and i am thankful that God worked everything for good, he is so crafty that way...

needless to say, my feelings for said person are completely neutral, but i still have little flares ups of anger that surprise me. sometimes they are so strong, i wonder where it comes from. i know it's a problem with forgiveness, but i feel i have forgiven, then why do i still feel this way?

Wednesday, January 28, 2009


i have a severe case of the winter blues.

it's pretty bad

today i felt like crying when my car got stuck for the millionth time this calender year.

winter is hard. you have to dress in layers, wear boots, hats, scarves. gloves are mandatory. snow piles on top of you car, and it must be scraped off, if you can make it through the snow drifts at all. it's cold, sometimes so cold it hurts.

summer, on the other hand, is very easy. you can dress in the barest minimum amount of clothing. shoes are optional. the sun soaks into your skin. you can get into you car and it will be comfortable, you can even rool those windows down.

i wouldn't appreciate summer so much if we didn't have winter. i'm starting to see that God throws us challenges to open our eyes to the blessings in life. we can't have summer all the time, it has to get cold so we can enjoy the warmth.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

25 random things

i love these things,

1: I am terrified of heights

2: I have to read something, anything, before I fall asleep
3: I am the neatest person at work, yet my room is the messiest place on earth
4: I usually get up during the middle of movies and go to sleep, and never tell people goodnight
5: I have conversations with myself in the shower
6: I can't swim with my eyes open underwater
7: I hate green food
8: I have been to Australia, but never to Washington DC
9: I like to cook, but only when the mood strikes me, and that's never very often
10: I like to speed, and don't understand 30 mph speed limits
11: I'm taking Bollywood dance classes to prepare for my birthday party
12: I have always wanted to be a blonde
13: I have always wanted to go to Africa, but I know I won't like the food
14: I hate working a regular 9 to 5 job, and I hope there is more to life than this
15: I am trying to pray more for others this year, and so far, I'm doing pretty bad
16: Sometimes I eat a whole bag of chips in one sitting
17: I wish I had the motivation to excercise
18: I really like the taste of Slimfast
19: I wish I could take better pictures
20: Sometimes I am afraid to do what I really want to do
21: I just started blogging, and I'm not very good at it
22: I wish life was like a Coke commercial
23: I have always wanted to break out into song and dance with the people around me
24: I am painfully shy with strangers
25: Sometimes, for no reason at all, my face will turn bright red, usually at the most awkward times

Monday, January 26, 2009

oh, how i take my friends for granted. actually, i take everybody for granted. dad brushes of my car, mom is superwoman disguised as a housewife, my sister makes me laugh so hard i cry.

rachel and jen, they are two energetic, creative and interesting souls. my true bossom friends, to quote anne of green gables. the other two peas in our pod. where would i be without them?

partings

yesterday i drove my friend becca to the airport. she will be in kenya for four months. on the way to jfk, we listened to a few sermons, seeing as it was the lord's day. one of the sermons was on money, soething i struggle with quite a bit.

the preacher was saying that the bible puts alot of emphasis on money, so it must be very important to God. i always thought that when someone talked about money in a church setting, that they wanted us to donate it to the church. i never really thought of my money's as being God's, because that's what it is.

this speaker also said that when we are given a gift and we don't share it with the one that gave it to us, we are being extremely selfish. why can't we give just a small portion of that gift back to the giver? why do we find it so hard to part with are money when God gave it to us, and he can take it back anytime?

it'a all about the attitude. it's my money, it belongs to me, right?

not so. it's God's money, and he wants me to willingly give it back to him.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

iron sharpens iron

i am one half of an extraordinary group.

iron sharpens iron prayer warriors accountability just the two of us peas in a pod...group

that's right, long name, two members.

rachel and i meet for lunch every thursday at 2:15 to eat pizza and discuss our weeks thus far. we also share prayer requests and and struggles we both have. i use this time to practice my listening skills.

i used to take these meeting lightly, we both did. we wouldn't plan anything, just sit around and gab, then realize the time and go on to cooler things.

now i'm starting to realize the responsibility that accountability takes. it isn't something that should be taken lightly.

i should be praying for rach, remembering her requests throughout the week. praying for her when she hasn't asked me to.

accountability is a big responsibility, and i hadn't realized...

just another lesson God is teaching me.

New Day, New Year

January 22, 2009

8 am: check Facebook

8:17 am: check Facebook

8:43 am: make coffee

9:05 am: do some work...

9:13 am: check Facebook

i need to find something to do other than checking Facebook...

on the train to long island, becca, justin and myself made some resolutions. i hate resolutions, i hate making them, sticking to them, thinking about them...not this year, i made some.

here they are (drumroll please)

read my bible more
pray more
get off my couch potato butt and do more activities
learn a new skill

...and...

love people more

this is going to be very hard

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