Tonight after work I went to Thriftway to get some groceries, and made the unfortunate mistake of turning down the baking aisle. I went in search of raw sugar, for this tea that I like. I didn't find any raw sugar, but I did find Rainbow Chip frosting! And of course, what goes better with it than Rainbow Chip cake mix? So now, about 2 hours later, I am sitting here in my apartment surrounded by the smell of freshly baked cupcakes! Of course, most of you who know me know that I rarely eat baked goods, so after my 1/2 of a cupcake I won't be having any more. But wow, was that frosting good!
So, there's a lighthearted anecdote as introduction to my first blog in awhile. A lot has happened in the last 3 weeks or so. My new job is going well, I am getting in to the swing of things and adjusting. Trying to do everything right, and do the best I can. I am definitely ready for spring to be here. Teaching for 5 hours in an arena with an aluminum cover is VERY difficult when it's raining. I am getting good at shouting loudly at my students! We've had some crazy weather-- snow, rain, hail, sleet, etc, and I am for sure ready for spring!
Last weekend my mom moved from our wonderful house on K Street to our temporary home in University Place. It has been an emotional week or so. Although I haven't been too upset throughout this process, it was definitely stressful and emotional. It didn't make it any easier that we had to fight snow, rain, hail, thunder, and other eventful weather throughout our weekend of moving. I feel blessed that the move was relatively painless- we survived generally injury free, and most of the major things are unpacked. We are so blessed to have this great house to live in in the interim... But it was hard moving out of the house that we all loved so much. Yesterday I went back to check the mail, and went inside, and walked through each room, remembering all of the fun, and good and bad that happened in each place. Although I didn't spend a ton of time at that house, because during the time we lived there I was in college, it was always a wonderful place of respite that I enjoyed coming home to.
However, one big lesson I have learned in my life is that "home" is not one specific place. Home is where you make memories with people you love (i.e. family or college friends), it is a place of warmth, quiet, LOTS of laughter!, and sanctuary from the outside world. In my life, my home has been in many places, and each place I have lived has truly felt like home. Walking through the empty shell of our house yesterday reminded me of this. The young couple who bought our house must be thrilled to begin the journey of their first house, which will take care of them as it did us.
Okay, that's about as much nostalgia/tears as I can handle for tonight! Thanks for reading. I promise I won't go so long in between blogs next time. And Rachel/Kara, Shanon, you need to update your blogs as well! :-) love love!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
A Little Fun
So a few of my friends have done this, and I thought it was fun! Also, I needed a distraction from doing my homework.... haha!
DIRECTIONS:
- Go to Google image search.
- Type in your answer to each question.
- Choose a picture from the first 3 images.
- Use this website (http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php) to make your collage.
- Save the image for use in this note.
- Post and tag your friends.
DIRECTIONS:
- Go to Google image search.
- Type in your answer to each question.
- Choose a picture from the first 3 images.
- Use this website (http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php) to make your collage.
- Save the image for use in this note.
- Post and tag your friends.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is your name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What is your hometown?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. What is your favorite movie?
6. What is your favorite drink?
7. What is your dream vacation?
8. What is your favorite dessert?
9. What is one word to describe yourself?
10. How are you feeling right now?
11. What do you love most in the world?
12. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Recent Pictures
This blog is going to be just pictures I think. Here are some fun shots from recent events. Mom's birthday, CHA Conference/Clinic, etc.... 
Me, Katie, and Keebler at the Feb. Donida show
Me, Mom, and Tracy during Mom's birthday celebration
Me riding in the "getting your horse soft in the bridle" class at the CHA Conference
Attempting to help Embry patiently stand still... It was harder than it sounds! :-)
Me, Katie, and Keebler at the Feb. Donida show
Me, Mom, and Tracy during Mom's birthday celebration
Me riding in the "getting your horse soft in the bridle" class at the CHA Conference
Attempting to help Embry patiently stand still... It was harder than it sounds! :-)Monday, February 9, 2009
some changes
So most of you know that I was doing AmeriCorps through the Northwest Leadership Foundation (NLF), and I started in Septembe. I had signed up to be a part of the ProTeen team, working with a program called Street Behaviors. Unfortunately, the school district has not funded the program for the current school year, so I have kind of been in limbo for the past 5 months. It has been a frustrating and emotional experience, and hadn't been doing anything really that I could call "service". It was so awesome to get to be around NLF and get to know so many awesome people that are committed to making a real difference in Tacoma. It took me awhile, but about a month ago I made the difficult decision to leave AmeriCorps/NLF. My last day was a few weeks ago, and although I am no longer there, I still treasure the friendships and connections I made there.
After I decided to leave, I felt a real peace with my decision. However, my second thought was, "okay, I have to get a job!" I emailed my old boss at Camp Berachah, where I worked for a few summers, and asked her if they were hiring. She told me that they had a hiring freeze until March because of finances. Then about a week later, I got an email from her and she said that YES, they are hiring for a part-time instructor. My good friend Dawn is leaving her instructor position at the end of February, so they needed someone to take her lessons. So, as of March 1st I am going to be teaching riding lessons! I am SOO excited! This is what I love to do! Although it has nothing to do really with my grad school program (yes, I am staying in school), it is where God has called me at the moment. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity.
Thanks for being so supportive in this journey. And happy Friday the 13th! :-)
After I decided to leave, I felt a real peace with my decision. However, my second thought was, "okay, I have to get a job!" I emailed my old boss at Camp Berachah, where I worked for a few summers, and asked her if they were hiring. She told me that they had a hiring freeze until March because of finances. Then about a week later, I got an email from her and she said that YES, they are hiring for a part-time instructor. My good friend Dawn is leaving her instructor position at the end of February, so they needed someone to take her lessons. So, as of March 1st I am going to be teaching riding lessons! I am SOO excited! This is what I love to do! Although it has nothing to do really with my grad school program (yes, I am staying in school), it is where God has called me at the moment. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity.
Thanks for being so supportive in this journey. And happy Friday the 13th! :-)
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
let's get physical!
I have been avoiding writing this post for a few months now. I’ve sat down and started typing several times, but for some reason or another I’ve always deleted what I’ve written and ran away from it. I think I thought that writing it would be too personal, too much information. But, this is my blog, and most of you know all about it anyway, so I decided that now was as good of time as any to write this post. So here goes.
Most of you know that I have lost a significant amount of weight in the last year or so. 53 pounds, to be exact! It is something I am working really hard for, that I really wanted, and I wish I had done sooner. However, it took me awhile to get to a point in my life where I was unsatisfied. Not only was I unsatisfied with my body, but I was unsatisfied with how it made me feel. I have always been very active, with dance and riding, and always loved eating my fruits and veggies, but I never really took working out seriously, and I never understood how or why people would willingly go to a gym and sweat for an extended period of time! In middle school and high school PE, I was always the one who would give lame excuses to get out of running, such as “I have cramps” (a classic), “my ankle hurts” (could have been legitimate, after my ankle surgery), “my knees hurt” (LIE!).
Fall of 2007, with the help and encouragement of my wonderful roommate, Jacqueline, I committed to eating healthier. Jacqueline and I started Weight Watchers (we counted points, but didn’t attend meetings). Following Weight Watchers helped me learn about portion size—how much should I really be eating? It also helped acclimate my body to eating less, but eating foods that made me feel very full so I wasn’t craving food. Like I said, the food I was eating before wasn’t bad for me, it was just that I ate too much. Snacking was my downfall, and unnecessary eating in front of the TV contributed to it! Jacqueline and I would watch the Biggest Loser, and do our ab workout while watching people sweat off the pounds! We walked/jogged Bloomsday (12K, about 7.5 miles), in May of 2008. Before graduation I had lost my first 20 pounds!
Also in the fall of 07, I decided I wanted to try running. I remember the first time I went running in my neighborhood in Spokane, my only thought being, “gosh, I hope that no one I know drives by and sees me…” I laced up my tennis shoes and set out in an unknown direction. I jogged a couple of blocks and had to stop, I was so out of breath! I kept persevering, and soon was jogging the loop of my neighborhood several times a week. One day, curious as to how far it was, I drove it with my car, and much to my surprise it was about a mile. During the winter I didn’t run, but as soon as spring set in, I laced up my shoes and went back outside. Running made me feel free. One day I had an epiphany while I was running—this was fun! Although I was sweating and working hard, I could still breathe. My body was doing something that I never believed I could do. I had built up so many excuses over the years that I had created a mental block. At the end of spring I was jogging 2 or 3 laps at a time, and was working on increasing my pace.
Over the summer, I became really committed to the gym. It was way too hot to go running outside, so I stuck to the temperature controlled gym! I worked from 8-5, and every day after work I went straight to the gym. My friends can attest to this. I was at the gym everyday from right after work until about 2 hours later. I ate a healthy diet, low-fat, low-ish carb, high protein, etc… I lost about 25 more pounds over the summer, in about 3 months. I have learned to LOVE the gym.
After moving back to Tacoma, I joined the YMCA, where I have lost about 8 more pounds since September. Although it’s taking awhile for the weight to come off now, this time has given me a chance to reflect on what I’ve learned through this process:
- I have learned that it IS a process. Change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes commitment, hard work, and perseverance.
- I have learned that I am still the same person, just closer to who I am trying to be—someone who lives a healthy life and has a healthy attitude towards food and exercise.
- I have learned that having that extra weight was keeping me hidden, which was a place of comfort for me. Losing weight has made me feel more vulnerable and exposed, which is kind of scary sometimes.
- I have learned that I am capable of pushing myself to my physical limits. I can run a 5K, I can do pull-ups… It has given me more stamina, confidence, and overall health.
Finally, I have learned that this is a journey I will be on my entire life. Once I reach my goal weight, I still won’t be done. It takes commitment to a lifestyle change. And I appreciate all of you who have supported me along the way, who have talked with me and walked with me throughout this process (both theoretically and literally! Rachel and Shanon, I miss walking with you!). Your friendship means a lot to me.
Congrats if you made it to the end of this post! Thanks for reading, and being a part of this process in my life. Whether you know it or not, YOU are amazing!
Most of you know that I have lost a significant amount of weight in the last year or so. 53 pounds, to be exact! It is something I am working really hard for, that I really wanted, and I wish I had done sooner. However, it took me awhile to get to a point in my life where I was unsatisfied. Not only was I unsatisfied with my body, but I was unsatisfied with how it made me feel. I have always been very active, with dance and riding, and always loved eating my fruits and veggies, but I never really took working out seriously, and I never understood how or why people would willingly go to a gym and sweat for an extended period of time! In middle school and high school PE, I was always the one who would give lame excuses to get out of running, such as “I have cramps” (a classic), “my ankle hurts” (could have been legitimate, after my ankle surgery), “my knees hurt” (LIE!).
Fall of 2007, with the help and encouragement of my wonderful roommate, Jacqueline, I committed to eating healthier. Jacqueline and I started Weight Watchers (we counted points, but didn’t attend meetings). Following Weight Watchers helped me learn about portion size—how much should I really be eating? It also helped acclimate my body to eating less, but eating foods that made me feel very full so I wasn’t craving food. Like I said, the food I was eating before wasn’t bad for me, it was just that I ate too much. Snacking was my downfall, and unnecessary eating in front of the TV contributed to it! Jacqueline and I would watch the Biggest Loser, and do our ab workout while watching people sweat off the pounds! We walked/jogged Bloomsday (12K, about 7.5 miles), in May of 2008. Before graduation I had lost my first 20 pounds!
Also in the fall of 07, I decided I wanted to try running. I remember the first time I went running in my neighborhood in Spokane, my only thought being, “gosh, I hope that no one I know drives by and sees me…” I laced up my tennis shoes and set out in an unknown direction. I jogged a couple of blocks and had to stop, I was so out of breath! I kept persevering, and soon was jogging the loop of my neighborhood several times a week. One day, curious as to how far it was, I drove it with my car, and much to my surprise it was about a mile. During the winter I didn’t run, but as soon as spring set in, I laced up my shoes and went back outside. Running made me feel free. One day I had an epiphany while I was running—this was fun! Although I was sweating and working hard, I could still breathe. My body was doing something that I never believed I could do. I had built up so many excuses over the years that I had created a mental block. At the end of spring I was jogging 2 or 3 laps at a time, and was working on increasing my pace.
Over the summer, I became really committed to the gym. It was way too hot to go running outside, so I stuck to the temperature controlled gym! I worked from 8-5, and every day after work I went straight to the gym. My friends can attest to this. I was at the gym everyday from right after work until about 2 hours later. I ate a healthy diet, low-fat, low-ish carb, high protein, etc… I lost about 25 more pounds over the summer, in about 3 months. I have learned to LOVE the gym.
After moving back to Tacoma, I joined the YMCA, where I have lost about 8 more pounds since September. Although it’s taking awhile for the weight to come off now, this time has given me a chance to reflect on what I’ve learned through this process:
- I have learned that it IS a process. Change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes commitment, hard work, and perseverance.
- I have learned that I am still the same person, just closer to who I am trying to be—someone who lives a healthy life and has a healthy attitude towards food and exercise.
- I have learned that having that extra weight was keeping me hidden, which was a place of comfort for me. Losing weight has made me feel more vulnerable and exposed, which is kind of scary sometimes.
- I have learned that I am capable of pushing myself to my physical limits. I can run a 5K, I can do pull-ups… It has given me more stamina, confidence, and overall health.
Finally, I have learned that this is a journey I will be on my entire life. Once I reach my goal weight, I still won’t be done. It takes commitment to a lifestyle change. And I appreciate all of you who have supported me along the way, who have talked with me and walked with me throughout this process (both theoretically and literally! Rachel and Shanon, I miss walking with you!). Your friendship means a lot to me.
Congrats if you made it to the end of this post! Thanks for reading, and being a part of this process in my life. Whether you know it or not, YOU are amazing!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Welcome to 2009
So I guess I am long overdue for an update. I don't know if anyone ever reads this (Allie, I know you do!), but it's probably time to update my *avid* readers on the last 3 weeks or so. :-)
Christmas was a wonderful time of SNOW, relaxation, and family. It was fun to spend Christmas day with mom and Tracy and some friends of ours. There was so much snow for the two weeks surrounding Christmas! I'm sure most of you experienced it too. One day I took Faulkner on a walk to the coffee shop down the street, only to find after trekking through a foot of snow that it was CLOSED... Tragedy! Needless to say, Faulkner and I enjoyed many walks/runs through the snow during those two weeks. I also got very good at digging my car out, and shoveling the walkway with a garden shovel. My cute little car is such a trooper in the snow, both in Spokane and over here on the west-side.
My winter quarter classes started last week. My Tuesday class is a Diversity class (if only it were more like The Office episode "diversity day"), and my Thursday class is a continuation of a class from last quarter, and we're focusing on Human Behavior and the Social Environment of Families (rather than individuals), this quarter. Should be interesting, and not too difficult. I realized I have made some friends in my cohort, so it's getting fun to get to know people better. I think in 2 more years we will all be good friends! I find that people who go through a common suffering tend to bond rather quickly! :-)
I would ask for your prayers for the next few weeks-- I am going to be undergoing a transition with my job. I will give more details in a future post, but please pray for peace and calm in my heart during this time.
I am taking riding lessons out at camp for this session. I had my first official lesson in over a year on Friday, and it felt so GREAT to be back riding. (Although I was quite sore the next day...) I am excited and feel blessed that I have this opportunity. I am also keeping busy with lots of running and time at the gym, and will be excited when the weather gets better and I can run outside again. (I guess I could run outside now, but I would rather not get soaking wet!). Creepy gym guy is nowhere to be seen the last few weeks. :-)
Happy start of 2009 to you all, and I hope the New Year brings you the start of something amazing.
Christmas was a wonderful time of SNOW, relaxation, and family. It was fun to spend Christmas day with mom and Tracy and some friends of ours. There was so much snow for the two weeks surrounding Christmas! I'm sure most of you experienced it too. One day I took Faulkner on a walk to the coffee shop down the street, only to find after trekking through a foot of snow that it was CLOSED... Tragedy! Needless to say, Faulkner and I enjoyed many walks/runs through the snow during those two weeks. I also got very good at digging my car out, and shoveling the walkway with a garden shovel. My cute little car is such a trooper in the snow, both in Spokane and over here on the west-side.
My winter quarter classes started last week. My Tuesday class is a Diversity class (if only it were more like The Office episode "diversity day"), and my Thursday class is a continuation of a class from last quarter, and we're focusing on Human Behavior and the Social Environment of Families (rather than individuals), this quarter. Should be interesting, and not too difficult. I realized I have made some friends in my cohort, so it's getting fun to get to know people better. I think in 2 more years we will all be good friends! I find that people who go through a common suffering tend to bond rather quickly! :-)
I would ask for your prayers for the next few weeks-- I am going to be undergoing a transition with my job. I will give more details in a future post, but please pray for peace and calm in my heart during this time.
I am taking riding lessons out at camp for this session. I had my first official lesson in over a year on Friday, and it felt so GREAT to be back riding. (Although I was quite sore the next day...) I am excited and feel blessed that I have this opportunity. I am also keeping busy with lots of running and time at the gym, and will be excited when the weather gets better and I can run outside again. (I guess I could run outside now, but I would rather not get soaking wet!). Creepy gym guy is nowhere to be seen the last few weeks. :-)
Happy start of 2009 to you all, and I hope the New Year brings you the start of something amazing.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
a winter wonderland!
Here is a little taste of the recent weather RIDICULOUSNESS (what is this, Spokane?!) and other winter-themed events...
We took Faulkner for a walk in the snow! At first he was scared of it, and then he started to like it...
Faulkner and I in the snow (first round of snow, before 5 more inches fell!)
Tracy and I made the cow and the donkey kiss in the nativity scene!
Our finished tree and little village!
Mixing up sugar cookie dough
Our street, with about 6" of snow.
Our backyard with SNOW!
Our house and the snow!
We took Faulkner for a walk in the snow! At first he was scared of it, and then he started to like it... 
Faulkner and I in the snow (first round of snow, before 5 more inches fell!)
Tracy and I made the cow and the donkey kiss in the nativity scene! 
Our finished tree and little village!
Mixing up sugar cookie dough
Our street, with about 6" of snow.
Our backyard with SNOW!
Our house and the snow!The end! Life is good here, very wintery! We are excited for Christmas in 5 days, and having fun baking cookies and watching football today. Mom and I walked to the coffee stand a few blocks down the street this morning, (wow, we were desperate!). Western WA is definitely getting a taste of the Eastern WA snow! I wish everyone a wonderful day, and enjoy the snow or sun (if you are in NZ!)!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
