You should read...

Into Thin Air -- Jon Krakauer (for adventure seekers)

The Twilight Series -- Stefenie Meyer (for those who like love stories and could overlook the realization that it is about vampires and written to target 12 year old audiences)

All Harry Potter -- J.K. Rowling (because if you don't, you are totally missing out on the best series known to man kind... maybe not best, but still)

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close -- Jonathan Safran Foer (i found the 3 different story lines quite confusing, but avid readers claim this their favorite book... thus they have inspired me to read it again when I can apply more concentration and appreciation)

That's all I've read since graduation... but i plan to delve into the works of C.S. Lewis beginning with Screwtape Letters (which i have heard is quite "freaky" so I have decided to not read it at night, or alone in the dark...) and Problem of Pain (< started this one and found it profoundly difficult when watching over a cabin of bouncing, bubbly 11 year old girls... probably needs some intense concentration and use of study habits...)

Update on me for you girls:
I've decided to save my money on TP and use less squares.
I have found the perfect way to eat goldfish and attain as much of the "flavor blasted" powder as possible into my mouth
My job has yet to start so the previous statements are a direct result of boredom

This may be a double for some of you...

Figured I hadn't posted in a while and I typed this whole darn thing for Facebook, might as well copy/paste it here...

1. I like my ice cream warmed up a little with an obscene amount of rainbow sprinkles

2. I have a strong love for Coffee, Hot Tea, and Skim Milk

3. When I get dogs I want them to be muts off death row at the pound...they need saving too...

4. I am completely and utterly in love with Camp Olympia and all that it has done and who it has brought to my life. It is currently my "happiest place on earth"

5. I want to speak Spanish fluently (I hope the Rosetta Stone is all it's cut out to be, and MORE)

7. I have 5 people visiting me this semester, and I can't express how special and loved I feel... it makes me so so happy

8. I want to make rock climbing my new life-long hobby... no Mt. Everest or 7 Summits, just like Mt. Rainier or inside... :)

9. If I moved to another state right now, it would be Utah (perhaps Salt Lake area), and I have NO IDEA WHY

10.favorite color is Blue (any shade, but preferably navy or cerulean)

11. I have shared a seat with my dad in the back of a police car (after we were both frisked)

12. I want to go overseas to help people so many times that those in small villages know my name year after year and look forward to my visit

14. I love home-made gifts and snail mail

15. I want to be sure that my entire family is going to Heaven, like no doubt

16. I have commitment and trust issues

19. iI am absolutely, positively not a small town girl. Unless I'm overseas...I think I could handle a small village of wonderful, Jesus-seeking people... as long as I had a buddy

20. I thought I was independent before, and then I moved to Seattle and became SO MUCH MORE independent...

21. i LOVE pictures of friends... esp. funny camp pictures

22. I learned to walk in Hawaii, my first time talking came out in full sentences, and I slept in my parents bed until I was in middle school

23. I love acoustic music, my favorite artists include Jack Johnson, Ray LaMontagne, and Coldplay

24. I am closer in age to my nephews than I am to my sisters

25. I dream of camp almost every night and miss my friends back in Texas, but can't imagine still living there

Generation Y

I attended a church service tonight in Seattle that catered to my age group, finally. For the first time since I've moved here I heard a message given directly to (and for) 20-somethings. Not to newlyweds, families, or 3-10 year olds... no, this time it was for me.

The challenge the pastor left us with was this:
What is your well? Find it, and give it to God (and don't secretly ask Him to take care of it but then go and try to take care of it yourself... as we all do)

To clarify, someone's well refers to something that is leaving them thirsty (i think i'm explaining this right) and they go to their well to quench their thirst. However, this is not the living water we truly long for, these are our own desires.

Examples of wells:
- if i could just be a little skinnier
- i just need to get that next promotion
- i could win this race if i just kept doing this or that

It may seem easy to define your well, but it is only half the battle. Once you define it you must give it away and pray for it to be taken care of. Then we must not expect it to be solved as we imagined because it could appear in a way that we would have never believed.

"...For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Habakkuk 1:5

Unveiled Beauty

My adventure to Seattle has been remarkable. I've had space, time, family...

I just started rereading Captivating and came to a realization. Stasi talks about the heart and desires of a woman, one of which is to be part of a grand adventure. Of course, within context, she refers to an adventure with Christ.

There is opportunity to unveil your beauty, be the star of His adventure, and learn what it means to have a woman's heart. My adventure began long ago, but I've been leaving my hero hanging. I haven't acknowledged what I have already gained: the opportunity to venture with Jesus and be the heroine in OUR adventure.

Of course there are things I long for, including Africa, South America, Taiwan, Southeast Asia... Nursing, marriage (yes i admit it), heaven... and I pray that these are part of the adventure He has planned, and if not it must be so much better.

"Then the time came when the risk it took
To remain tight in a bud was more painful
Than the risk it took to blossom.
Anais Nin

J-O-B

Finally, I've gotten a job!

After my 2 1/2 week constant search for a measly serving position, I have finally found one! It will be at a new restaurant that hasn't quite opened yet. It is local to seattle and they are just now opening a second location in my quaint, ritzy suburb. The girls that interviewed me seemed very down to earth, fun, and young!

I also think i'll be taking a very small part-time position helping at the church with kids while their moms are in bible studies. Easy chump change I suppose.

Hope all is well in your respective worlds and that you are encountering daily adventures that you wouldn't trade for anything!
I miss you girls like crazy.

I love music

One of my favorite artists has this song that I thought was appropriate with the new climate I am experiencing...here are the first couple stanzas

I Love The Rain The Most:

Well, I love the rain the most when it stops
We can see the big white houses, yeah, and the docks
And we can jump in the river, don't know if the water or sky is clearer
But I know that I love the rain the most when it stops
Yeah, when it stops

No more grey today, we gonna celebrate
You know Miss Sunshine, she starts to paint a perfect picture of this river parade
And I know that I love the rain the most when it stops
Yeah, when it stops

haha, today it didn't rain. mark it in the record books ya'll

Dreams

“Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.” -- Leon Joseph Cardinal Suenens

Dreams Come True:
Graduation
Seattle
Blessings
Camp Olympia

Still Dreaming:
Africa, Asia, South America, etc...
Nursing School
No More School Loans... haha

North West Knowledge

Necessities:
scarves
coffee in the morning
hot tea in the afternoons
windshield wipers

They weren't kidding when they said:
it rains
there is a starbucks on EVERY corner
it is beautiful
the seafood is awesome

So, when I got up here it was layered in snow and ice and the entire area was recovering from their worst snow since the early 70's... but it soon melted away from the rain and I was able to drive my 2WD not equipped for snow vehicle...

I have somewhat learned my way around, but I still get lost everyday. Some days it is frustrating, other days it makes more sense and I learn from it.

There is a "post-college singles group for 22-30 year olds" at the church my roommate and sister attend that they think would be fun for me to get involved in. (I'm still getting used to the idea of post-college and the grouping of me with 30 year olds...)

I have been desperately job searching for a little over a week with no success, but i shall persevere and hopefully find something to last me through may.

I'm relinquishing some baggage from Texas and really focusing on God's little idea he has for me. It's exciting and fun, but i'm anxious to know what's ahead, who my friends will be, and where I'll be working...

Hope all is well in Texas, Virginia, Florida, Peru, etc...

Advice from an old friend...

Find a good church so you can have fellowship and encouragement. Guard your heart, stay in the Word, and stay close to Jesus...