life unscripted

the plan...

2010-05-01T21:08:00.003-05:00

about four years ago, i graduated from high school. life was planned. go to this university. get this degree. live this life. i had everything mapped out perfectly. everything was in order and made sense.

had i stuck with the plan, i would have graduated from college today.

but sometimes, life throws you curveballs, and the plan...well...it goes to hell. but you know what? the me that sits here tonight writing this, thinks that's okay.

2500 miles and a few years separate the girl that had everything planned, and me. that girl stuck with what she knew. she was smart and funny, and beautiful...but she needed to escape...to explore something different. she was scared, but sometimes, you just have to close your eyes and jump in with both feet.

the journey has been strange. funny. hard. and a million other adjectives. and even the "plan" for the journey has taken detour upon detour.

today, i could have been standing with the class of 2010, receiving my degree. crying bittersweet tears, my mom snapping too many pictures, my family cheering me on. instead, i spent it sweating at a music festival. lyrics and guitars filling my ears. that concert smell wafting all around me. people pressing in from all sides, drinking and dancing, dying to be that much closer to the stage, to hear just that one song. and it hit me. today, i wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else.

sometimes you have to forge new ground. experience life...good. bad. easy. hard. you have to make choices, and live with them.

tonight, i stood in one of the biggest crowds i'd ever been in, eddie vedder singing better man. half a million people listening to what i listened to. and i knew i was right where i was supposed to be. it may not be the typical path, but it's leading to the perfect destination.

four years ago, i had a plan to stick to. going through the motions to get to the end. today, i've learned to let go a little. i've found what makes me tick. it's not glamorous or easy or typical. but it's my life. and i wouldn't change a thing.

mom and dad, i promise i'll get there. <3>

one weekend. one thousand miles.

2010-04-14T15:24:00.003-05:00

there's absolutely nothing like a long roadtrip to clear your head and just...take a breather.
one weekend. 1000 miles. 30,000 songs. 1 girl. one dog.
i feel like some adventures are about to be had...

theres nothing i'd rather spend a birthday weekend doing.
KC, here we come.

laughter.

2010-03-21T23:04:00.000-05:00

just so you know...

laughter really is the best medicine.
:)

introducing...

2010-02-24T14:52:00.003-06:00

the last few months have been...well...a little crazy. crazy roommate situations, crazy schedule. just plain crazy. my fall semester finished off really well. i did great in all of my classes and made some awesome new friends. for the spring semester, i loaded up on classes (22 credits! yikes!) so that summer and fall (fall 2010...my very last semester of undergrad...so exciting!) will be a little lighter. i'm working downtown whenever i'm not in class, and of course, love that too.

and on top of all of that, i added a new little guy to the mix. for the last few months i've been tossing around the idea of getting a dog...more security, and company. so i visited the animal shelter after telling myself time and time again that i was JUST looking. needless to say, i came home with the cutest little scruffy ex-street rat of a dog. not that an 8 pound mutt provides much more security, but he was just too adorable to leave there.

so...i proudly introduce to you, bear.

100 days. 100 new beginnings.

2009-12-09T18:13:00.003-06:00

a mixtape for the season...

can i stay ... ray lamontagne
strangers in the night ... cake
coney island ... good old war
summersong ... the decemberists
something great ... haley bonar
another travelin' song ... bright eyes
orange sky ... alexi murdoch
blowin' in the wind ... bob dylan
here comes your man ... meaghan smith
all is love ... karen o and the kids
lover ... devendra banhart
such great hights ... iron & wine
new slang ... the shins

who dat!

2009-12-06T21:44:00.005-06:00

new orleans is a city like no other...diverse in every possible way. working downtown, it's easy to see the many faces, cultures, values, and attitudes of the city i love. but it's not hard to pick up on one of the biggest uniting factors. especially on a day like today. sunday. game day. the city buzzes with team spirit, black and gold more prevalent than any other color. names like brees, sharper, bush and shockey stretch across thousands of shoulders. as usual, our boys keep things interesting, taking the outcome of the game down to the very last wire. the city holds its breath. people surround tvs wherever they can find them...bars, shopping malls, nail salons, because at that moment, nothing else matters. they talk to strangers about bad calls, missed chances. they groan together and cheer together. and for that last play, those last few seconds, it's silent. eyes are glued to the screen. silent prayers are whispered. and just then, like the trumpet riff after the dirge, the city erupts with joy, with cheers, with smiles. because this is our year. our boys have done it again. 12-0.

a city so diverse. with a common love. black. white. young. old. men. women. rich. poor. grown ups. kids. you just can't help but feel the excitement flowing through the who dat nation.

kansas is cold... :)

2009-10-14T17:50:00.001-05:00

i got to spend fall break with my sister in kansas. brrrr! this is me...freezing my buns off...

thanks for a fun break, sis!

awesome!

2009-10-04T12:15:00.002-05:00

in a world where there's so much negativity, i find this sort of thing refreshing. someone finding the good in life? i love it! and i kind of thing you should check it out...

AWESOME!

this one is my personal favorite...so far
the-moment-at-a-concert-when-the-crowd-figures-out-what-song-theyre-playing

ramblings of a sociology student...

2009-09-30T23:25:00.003-05:00

i think i was born in the wrong era. you're probably thinking to yourself, "girl, get a grip!" but i kind of have a point. back in july i started working for a company that prides itself on being a leader in ethics. and just over a month ago, i went back to school full time pursing a degree in sociology, looking a lot at social problems of the day. and let me tell you, this is a really, really interesting time to be doing that. i'm sure you agree...

but all of that has got me thinking. my mind wanders to what goes on in the world everyday. war. capitalism sucking the life out of people, poverty running rampant, the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer. and that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. i hate the way our society functions. i hate the individualistic view the majority of people take. and i hate that the people don't stand up, collaboratively, to do something huge.

i long for the days of activism. for the days when students and young adults took a stand for what they believed in, for peaceful protests, for rock music that really stuck it to the man...for the days when people didn't just bitch and moan about what was going on, but took action.

bob dylan once said...
"people seldom do what they believe in. they do what is convenient, and then repent."

i really hope this generation...my generation, is one that will do what they believe in, that we will be a generation of change...change the lasts...that we won't be complacent or selfish, but a generation that loves on people, respects the world, and takes a stand for what is right.

one year ago...yesterday

2009-07-13T10:49:00.001-05:00

yesterday was the one year anniversary of wearing the bubblegum-princess-pink dress. aka, my big sister's wedding. a lot has happened in that year. looking back on it, i can't help but smile...and laugh a little. congrats to eric & jen for one year down. here's to a million more. cheers!

sisters...

the four...

and of course...my toast. i'd been trying to come up with something interesting to do for my toast for months! and yet the wedding came, and i had nothing. so...on the way to the reception, eminem's 'lose yourself' came on the radio, and inspiration came. i rapped the toast to the beat of lose yourself. i'm not going to lie. it was pretty amazing. :)

surprise!

2009-07-13T10:36:00.000-05:00

over fourth of july weekend, i flew up to seattle to surprise my mama for her birthday. i got a surprise of my own when my old roommate from george fox called and said she would be in town too. hanging with family and friends, staying up late talking and laughing, and having coffees and donuts kept me crazy busy, but i loved every single second. thanks everyone back in the northwest for making a quick trip so meaningful!

the beach...

2009-07-13T10:32:00.000-05:00

last month, i also took a little retreat to the beach...a great time for lots of quiet and stillness. i definitely think the beach is one of god's very best ideas. easily.

replanting...

2009-07-13T10:26:00.001-05:00

last month we spent three weeks working on a friend's yard...kind of reclaiming it from the aftermath of the storm. we took out crazy amounts of debris, built a deck, painted, tilled the ground, created plant beds, planted grass, and did a lot of sweating. the yard went from this...

to this...

quite the transformation...

freret market

2009-06-29T14:38:00.001-05:00

yes, i know...it's been a while. my bad. i guess i'll catch you up chronologically. back in june i had a booth at a local art market, selling some of the screen printed things i'd done. for being my first market ever, i think i did pretty well.

first sale of the day...

wonderful visitors...

2009-05-29T12:28:00.001-05:00

for the last week, my mom and dad have been in town visiting. we spent lots of time together doing stuff around the city. swamp tour on an airboat, visited the ww2 museum, went to mardi gras world, and ate at a few delicous restaurants. mom and dad, you are the BEST! thanks for doing what you did to make this trip happen. <3

new screens...and stuff.

2009-05-21T15:11:00.001-05:00

i made a few new screens today...and printed some of the bags i ordered. they turned out pretty. good. although, i have to say, the messenger bags are definitely my favorite.

a new hobby...

2009-05-18T15:28:00.001-05:00

so, in this bit of transition time i have at the moment, i've been filling the hours by experimenting with screen printing (see last post). i've kind of expanded my idea of printing a few bags for friends to doing a bunch of different kinds of bags, aprons, and onesies to sell at art markets in the area, and to really anyone who is interested. here's a few i did today.

by next week i'll have a bigger selection, including messenger bags, sling purses, tote bags, aprons, and possibly some more kids shirts. if you, or someone you know is interested, let me know and i can give you the details.

screen printing

2009-05-15T15:56:00.001-05:00

for the last few months i've been experimenting with screen printing. the youtube video i watched made it look SO easy. but let me tell you, it's harder than it looks. my applause to people like thomas jefferson and ben franklin for doing experiment after experiment and not giving up. seriously, i just about threw in the towel. but today, i figured i'd try one more time. and wouldn't you know...everything finally pulled together and WORKED! so exciting! so i printed a couple bags and they turned out pretty good. but practice makes perfect...so i guess i'll keep working at it.

FINALLY! something to show for hours of work...another bag...

the screen i used...

the workstation...

jazzfest...

2009-04-27T22:33:00.000-05:00

"What is it you love about music."

"To begin with, everything."
-Almost Famous

In my life, there are a few constants. One of those, is my absolute love for music. There's just something about it that so captivates my soul. Maybe it's just the way I grew up...listening to all kinds of stuff, from classic rock on vinyl to country music on the radio. Here's a shout out to my mama and pops for educating me so well on the joys of the beatles, elton john, ted nugent, pat benatar, captain and taneal, cheap trick, and so many others.

New Orleans has a great music scene. And I happened upon an opportunity to work at JazzFest, a yearly music festival that brings thousands of musicians to 12 stages to perform for two weekends. Kind of like Woodstock, except that this is JazzFest's 40th year, and Woodstock only happened once. I'm a dressing room manager for the blues tent, and let me just tell you, it's great. It's been awesome being part of the behind the scenes, backstage crew. It's been amazing meeting musicians that have been playing for decades. It's been interesting seeing the lifestyles and personalities of all the musicans that come through my stage. It's definitely busy, draining, exhausting, but totally worth it.

a birthday and a visitor...

2009-04-22T16:47:00.000-05:00

last friday was my 21st birthday...and my cousin jacob flew in to celebrate with me. he got to see new orleans and treat me to one of my first legal drinks. here's some pictures from when we went to cafe du monde. (sorry for the silly pic, jake, but you totally asked for it when you made that face...)

before...

after...

cabin camping...

2009-04-22T16:36:00.000-05:00

over easter weekend, the gang went cabin camping at tickfaw state park. it was nice to get away for a few days and just rest. here's a few pictures from my time there.

and for those of you who thought they only existed in the movies, a real life piggly wiggly. i think everyone should experience shopping at one of these stores sometime in their life. :)

that time of year...

2009-04-08T10:32:00.000-05:00

it's that time of year again. the grass is cut, the fields are lined, the bases are out. yep. baseball season. and i couldn't be more thrilled. i've always loved this time of year. i guess that's just what happens when you grow up in a family that starts the countdown to opening day as soon as the world series ends. what can i say? it's just how we roll.

new orleans doesn't have a major league team...but between the colleges and the farm teams, there's lots of chances to see some good plays, some good hits, and go through a bag of peanuts. and seeing is great...but what i've really missed these last few years is being a part of the game. after playing fastpitch for 10 years...i've started going through withdrawls. so...this season i'll be assistant coaching an 11-12 year old girls team, and i'm stoked!

and just in case you're not full of baseball spirit yet, here's something that might help. ken griffey jr is back in seattle playing for the M's. the prodigal son has returned and he even hit a homerun in their first game. what can i say? i've gotta have a little hometown pride. :)

banksy...

2009-04-03T15:39:00.000-05:00

have you ever heard of banksy? he's a pseud0-anonymous english graffiti artist. originally trained as a butcher, he became involved in graffiti during the late 80's. his art is often satirical and he uses topics like politics, culture, and ethics to convey a message. he came to new orleans in late august 2008, the third anniversary of katrina, and produced a series of works, mostly on buildings left derelict since the storm. but he was also making a statement about a man from new orleans dubbed "the grey ghost". he's known for his trademark dull grey paint, used to cover up any and all street art and tagging in the city.

banksy did 14 pieces in new orleans. today, i found a few. hoping to find more soon, although a few have been completely covered, courtesy of the grey ghost...and others.

this piece...

looks like this now...

this piece wasn't originally all red...

and this one is my favorite... (it's also protected with a thick clear plastic cover)

i personally, love what banksy has done in new orleans. he's not just tagging to tag. his street art is just that--art. beautiful, impactful, sometimes harsh...but he's making statements, and it moves people.

march...

2009-03-22T10:03:00.001-05:00

i feel like march just started and all of a sudden it's almost over. what's with that? it feels like i've been busy...but i've really just been up to the same old stuff. i did make it to an arts market earlier this month. they always have a ton of really cool artsy things there. this is a picture of a band playing at the market.

i did get a nice surprise this month. my cousin madison came down to the city for spring break with a group from her college to do some demo and rebuild stuff. how grateful this city is for people like them! we got a chance to get together and have dinner. it's always nice to see and catch up with family! i'm so glad we found time to hang out.

the gentle breeze.

2009-03-08T15:44:00.000-05:00

I love that it’s early March and here I am, sitting on the back porch in my beloved rocking chair, short sleeves and rolled up jeans. I love the cool breeze that is blowing through our neighborhood. I love the feeling of peace it brings. It’s a peace that rests the soul. What a treat.

what i'm listening to...

2009-03-01T16:18:00.000-06:00

a playlist inspired by my recent trip...and some totally king arthur ryan adams stuff a friend happened upon. i guess the songs just make me think of bohemian culture, public transportation and the smells of stumptown coffee. also, laughing.

hey there mrs. lovely (live) - ryan adams
sweet sweet thing - mxpx
why don't you kiss her - jesse mccartney
walking downtown - copeland
the ocean - mae
i want it that way (live) - ryan adams
you make me smile - blue october
in your atmosphere (live) - john mayer
factory girl - whiskeytown
the one i'm waiting for - relient k
for nancy - pete yorn
damn, sam (i love a women that rains) - ryan adams
to be alone with you - sufjan stevens
let that be enough - switchfoot
crazy about you - whiskeytown
wish you were here - ryan adams
blue jeans and a rosary - kid rock
bold as love (live) - john mayer

a quick trip...

2009-02-25T16:17:00.000-06:00

visiting portland last weekend was fabulous. i did a ton in 4 short days. drank a ton of coffee, met up with a bunch of amazing friends, saw the pacific ocean, went to my favorite places in the city, and even got to have lunch with my parents. overall, a wonderful little reunion.

i got home lat monday night and woke up early tuesday morning (mardi gras!) and of course, went to a couple more parades. good times...

vacation...

2009-02-18T22:55:00.001-06:00

so, i leave in just a few hours for a quick vacation in the northwest. what am i looking forward to? old friends, stumptown, the most wonderful iced mocha ever (thank you coffee cottage!), the ocean, girl talk, quizzes, and some wonderful new memories. :)

the loot...

2009-02-17T21:55:00.001-06:00

two days. four parades. and this is what i've got to show for it.

busy busy busy...

2009-02-16T11:26:00.000-06:00

life has been busy the last few weeks. lots of visitors, work, school, mardi gras parades...so blogging hasn't exactly been a priority. pictures of parades and throws to come soon...but until then, here's a shot of the singles celebrating a trip to sam's with some ice cream. yum!

thank you!

2009-01-23T17:16:00.000-06:00

to everyone who made this room possible...from funding to building to donating to the cause. thank you, thank you, thank you!

366...

2009-01-23T16:41:00.000-06:00

366 days ago (because 2008 was a leap year) i rolled into new orleans, ready to start life in a new place. what a crazy year it has been...full of changes, laughs, tears, growth, and adventure. i moved here last january to be part of something bigger than myself...the rebuilding of a city and her people. in the last year, i've gone from substitute teacher to starbucks barista, to nanny. i experienced my first carnival season, what you all would know as mardi gras, turned 20 years old, watched my sister graduate from college and get married, went back to school part time to get a degree in fine arts, moved a block down the street, evacuated for a hurricane, came back to minimal damage, hosted a few friends (thanks for coming!), learned to cook for large crowds, helped build my new room, moved into my new room, and have learned more about myself than i ever thought possible. truly, what an amazing year it has been. my hope for 2009...and for all my years to come is this...to listen for God, and to simply follow where he leads.

James 4:15 ...if it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that...

art.

2009-01-16T16:29:00.000-06:00

i've never been that kid that really enjoys going to school. sure, there were parts of school i absolutely loved. reading, music, and of course, recess. but as we all know, recess gets the boot when you get to middle school, reading becomes forced, and music gets considered an extra-curricular. welcome to real life, right?

well...in august i signed up for a couple classes at the local community college to finish some sort of degree. in what, i had no idea. so i landed in a drawing class. and something clicked. art. finally, i was excited...really excited, to go to school.

here's a few of my assignments from last semester.

stippling of starry night

crosshatch of starry night

ink wash of starry night

final project...colored pencil, ink, and charcoal
inspiration: augustana & a sweet tattoo i saw once

next week i start a painting class. so...more to come later :)

retreat to the beach...

2009-01-13T14:48:00.001-06:00

last weekend i retreated to a beach in mississippi. i love how beaches lack people when it's cold out. it was a gorgeous sunny day, and the alone time served me well. i came home to my newly finished room (pictures to come soon...i promise!) feeling much refreshed. honestly, i think beaches are one of God's most wonderful creations. for sure.

profound thoughts from nirvana...

2008-12-25T22:12:00.000-06:00

i've been listening to a lot of nirvana lately and there's one line from one song that is just...i don't know, hitting me. and it makes me ponder.

"come, as you are"

simple as that. it makes me wonder...what if everyone came as who they are? or how about this. what if...prepare yourself for this...we loved and accepted each other in that? hmm...

the gang...

2008-12-22T17:58:00.000-06:00

all 15 of us...

carolling @ jackson square...

2008-12-22T13:24:00.000-06:00

last night a bunch of us went to the 62nd annual carolling in jackson square. super cold, but definitely fun.

snow...

2008-12-19T10:24:00.001-06:00

i've been hearing a lot about the crazy amount of snow up in the northwest this week and figured i'd put up a picture of the snow we got down in NOLA. that's right. it snowed. it was fun watching people react to it. you could hear the school kids screaming with joy and there were a ton of adults just standing outside, staring up into the heavens. pretty magical.

tis the season...

2008-11-30T18:53:00.000-06:00

well, it's christmas time at the yellow house. it is, afterall, the most wonderful time of the year.

turkey bowl 08'

2008-11-27T10:37:00.000-06:00

today we had our first annual turkey bowl at octavia street park.

po-boy festival

2008-11-24T14:35:00.000-06:00

yesterday was po-boy fest on oak street. wall to wall people, tons of po-boy stands, and lots of fun art stands.

a balcony of hipsters...

tons of people

typical new orleans art...be nice or leave!

flipping through the playlists...

2008-11-10T16:47:00.000-06:00

music is an interesting thing...kind of like a universal language. definitely my favorite language. my favorite thing is when you connect, and just drown in the melody, the lyrics, the song, the album. do you ever find that certain songs just match your life sometimes? i do...

i tend to make playlists that go along with life at the moment. i've got a playlist for basically every major event or period of time for the last, oh, i don't know...five years? it's interesting to flip back through all the old titles...almost like flipping back through pages of a journal. old playlists and old songs bring back old memories. it's great.

what i'm listening to now...blue shutters...which consists of:
one way road, five times august
chasing pavement, adele
fire, augustana
title track, death cab for cutie
geraldine, glasvegas
give a little bit, goo goo dolls
stellar (acoustic), incubus
83, john mayer
champagne supernova, matt pond PA
if you leave, nada surf
turn off my heart, rich price
publish my love, rogue wave
oh my god, whatever, etc., ryan adams
ruthless, something corporate
drama summer, the starting line
sentimental spell, five times august

the latest haps...

2008-11-05T13:40:00.000-06:00

well...it's been a busy last few weeks. a few saturdays ago, we got my new room all framed in. this week, a friend of ours has been working on the electrical...and there's talk of starting to sheet rock next week. i am super excited! many thanks to everyone who has put time, money, and energy into this project!

in other news...halloween was last friday. we had a great time hanging out in the front yard. kiddos that came around got to dig for candy in a kiddie pool full of shredded paper and yummy treats. parents enjoyed a hot drink stand we had set up. it amazed me how many people came by!

also...this week has been one with a few departures. tuesday, christian headed back to australia after spending six months with us. and this morning alex headed back to the northwest to finish up some schooling. seriously guys, you will be missed.

bouncy houses and new rooms

2008-10-18T13:17:00.000-05:00

i've been up since 6 this morning, even though we got yards done yesterday. but waking up early today was more than joyful for me. you see, today, a friend from the community and i set up and will take down 3 bouncy houses to earn a little extra cash--cash that the community has decided will go towards building my new room in the basement of the yellow house. in late august, the carlson's so graciously moved around their upstairs so that i could move in with them and had the idea to actually build me a room in their basement, which has been down to studs since Katrina. little by little, things have been getting done. first, my bed got moved into the temporary room upstairs. then, the space where my room will be downstairs got cleared. and next week...well...the building begins!

i feel so incredibly blessed to have people down here that really want me here...enough that they'll build me a room. not that it took that for me to know they loved me :) but every time i think about it, it just feels more and more shocking. i'm so grateful for the carlson's, and the community as a whole for their eagerness, willingness, and longing to do this project.

so with saturday half gone, and a few hours before we go to take down the bouncy houses, i'm still finding myself reveling in the fact that these people...communitas...are so tangible with their love...even for one of their own.

seasons and such

2008-10-06T15:28:00.001-05:00

if you know me well at all, you might know that forest gump is one of my favorite movies. mostly because of the music. you know that song, turn! turn! turn! by the byrds? well...its in forest gump. i mention this because the song talks about seasons...how to everything their is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. lately...the idea of seasons has really resonated with me...the changes that come with them and all. they've inspired me enough to make them part of me and portray them in my art...

in my life...there are a few changes going on. my time at starbucks has ended because i came upon a better opportunity. starting this week, i'll be nannying for one of our neighbors. i'm SO incredibly excited to be able to hang out with kids as a job again. i've really missed that. i've also started tutoring one night a week...which kind of takes me back to my days at Youth Outreach in Newberg. I think of all the things (besides friends of course) that i miss from the norhtwest, YO is one of the things i miss the most. but these new opportunities are allowing me to act on things that make me me...who i am at the very core of my being.

retreat...

2008-09-18T14:12:00.001-05:00

the women spent the beginning of the week retreating in Mississippi. it was a good time of relaxation, fun, crafts, and getting to know each other better. there was also a lot of good time spent down by the lake...just pondering life and God's beautiful creation.

home...FINALLY

2008-09-05T16:27:00.000-05:00

we left florida yesterday at 9am and arrived home a little after 2:30. there wasn't a whole lot of damage. some small trees down...a little bit of siding coming up. but the biggie...no electricity. back in seattle, this would be fine. but down here, it is HOT. no electricity means no air conditioning, which led to one sweaty night. this morning i got up around 8. still no power. so we all ate breakfast out on the stoop. it's different stooping in the morning. not good or bad...just different. :)

after breakfast, clean-up started up again. we got plants and lawn furniture out of the basement, inside furniture off of blocks, etc. when it's hotter inside than out, this is not a pleasant chore. but around noon, the whirring of the air conditioner became music to my ears. the power is back!

later today, we found out that ice and MRE's (meals ready to eat...what the military use when they are in the field and can't cook) were being given out downtown, so we piled in the big white van to load up for the next storm.

closed...

2008-09-02T11:19:00.000-05:00

good news. we've heard from our one neighbor that stayed that there was no flooding on our street. that is AMAZING, because even in regular rainstorms, this isn't generally the case. as of right now, the city is still closed so that damage can be assessed, power lines can be fixed, roads can be cleared, etc. that means we are still in florida, hoping and praying to be able to get home soon.

evacuated...

2008-08-31T17:03:00.001-05:00

we left last night at midnight and finally arrived in pensacola, fl at 9:30 this morning. that drive usually takes four hours. there was a lot of traffic. but we all got here safely, and are a little more rested than when we first arrived. i never knew preparing a house for a hurricane was so insanely busy. the storm is supposed to hit tomorrow afternoon-ish. obviously we'll all be watching and waiting...

please pray for our city.

the latest...

2008-08-30T21:15:00.000-05:00

quick update: with contra flow starting tomorrow, we won't be able to drive east. SO...we're taking off tonight...mid-night. heading to florida. more news to come later...

evacuating...

2008-08-30T16:09:00.000-05:00

Gustav is now at a category 4. Needless to say, we're evacuating to Florida tomorrow. I appreciate everyone's calls, emails, texts, and prayers. Please know that preparing for a storm is hectic and that there are a lot of things to do. I need to establish with everyone that no news is good news. I'll try to keep this blog updated, so check back if you're interested.

too close for comfort

2008-08-27T23:47:00.001-05:00

Friday is August 29th...the three year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. That's one of those events where people remember where they were. I was in Kansas, counting my blessings that I wasn't any closer to the Gulf. But I remember being sad, feeling pain and grief for the city...a city I'd longed to go to for years.

I was planning to put off a post until Friday, to tell you how NOLA has come a long, long way, but that she and her people are still pretty devastated. I wanted to tell you how even amongst the PTSD and the buildings, shops, and homes that are still empty, we are overjoyed by the little comebacks; the streetcar on Carrollton up and running, finally. A neighbor just about to move in to a house they bought the day before Katrina but never had the opportunity to sleep in. We even rejoice over potholes being filled.

But at the moment, I'm thinking about Gustav, the latest storm headed into the Gulf. Conditions are just the same as they were three years ago, and the storm has a lot of similarities to Katrina. They are predicting it'll be here by monday evening. One of our neighbors is already borded up and headed out.

We all knew there would be other storms eventually. But the city hasn't exactly gotten over the last one. I went to fill up on gas tonight, and the lines were ridiculous. I went to get some cash from the atm...same story. Anyone can see that the people are a bit nervous, sitting on the edge of their seats watching "the cone". Will Gustav come right for us? Will it turn? Will is dissapate? Will our city be spared from another beating? Being so close to the anniversary of Katrina, I think we're all a little on edge...

back to school...

2008-08-13T16:06:00.000-05:00

"back to school. back to school. to prove to dad i'm not a fool. i got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight. i hope i don't get in a fight. ohhh, back to school. back to school. back to school. well, here goes nothing." -Billy Madison

That's right friends. Next Tuesday will be my first day back to classes after taking spring semester and the summer off. I'll be attending Delgado, a community college in New Orleans in order to finish up my associates degree. And honestly, I'm kind of excited to take a few classes.

In other news...
I got back from the Northwest a few days ago. It was great to see so many of you! Moving into our new place hasn't quite happened yet...so we've been crashing in the other houses in the community (thank goodness for them!). It's nice to be home!

moving...

2008-07-28T17:16:00.001-05:00

Yep, it's true. Moving day is coming quickly. And although we're only moving down the block, packing is still crazy. Having lots of good friends to help, though, is awesome! Times are busy these days. This week, we have to pack and move all our stuff to a friend's basement. This weekend, I fly out to Portland for a conference, then up to Seattle to visit family and friends for a few days. When I get back, stuff will make it to its final destination...our new flat! And then the unpacking begins... :)

a quick update

2008-07-17T14:24:00.000-05:00

I've just sent out my second newsletter of the year. The first one may or may not have gotten to some of you. If it didn't, I'd love to email it out to you. Just let me know :)

In other news...I spent the last week in Kansas, playing the role of maid of honor in my older sister's wedding. It was beautiful. Now that I'm back in NOLA, life is back to normal. In less than a month, we'll be heading to conference, and then my roommate and I will be moving down the block to a new flat. We are stoked.

One Year Ago

2008-06-25T10:46:00.001-05:00

One year ago this coming Friday, I got on a plane with this crazy awesome group of people and headed for New Orleans. I originally wasn't planning on applying for, let alone actually going on the trip. But somehow, I ended up on that plane.

Throughout the few days I spent there, my heart was broken time and time again for the city and her people. I never imagined myself living in a big city. In fact, I always thought I'd end up out in the sticks.

But here I am, one year later, writing this while drinking iced tea at a local New Orleans cafe. I love living in this city. I love living with the community I live with. I'm thankful for those days spent here one year ago.

T.I.N.O

2008-06-16T11:46:00.000-05:00

It started raining at 6:30 yesterday morning. Thunder and lightening...a great storm. I love sleeping through storms. Around nine, I looked out my window. Water was halfway up the tire of my jeep. You couldn't see the streets. You know that saying TIA...this is Africa? Well, T.I.N.O. This is New Orleans. Maybe the pumps were turned on, and just couldn't handle the 6 inches of rain in 2 hours that we got. Or maybe the pumps were off, being repaired, during hurricane season, by the way. Who knows. Either way, water is just something we deal with. Move your car to high ground, then maybe wade around the neighbor hood to see if anyone else needs help. Thanks to one of our neighbors, none of our cars were flooded.

This is the side of our house. Water came right up to the bottom of the steps.

Here I am...in the middle of the street.

One of our neighbors biking the neighborhood.

Cars decorated front lawns so they wouldn't get flooded.

There was so much water...and even a current.

This is a main road...Jefferson Ave. It was also flooded. You can see the water coming over the side of the neutral ground.

Flood waters deep enough to kayak in.

By 1, the flood waters had receded. We were able to make it to the creole zydeco & tomato festival. By then, the sky was blue, and it was hot as hell. The french market was packed with people.

This is New Orleans.

imperfection

2008-06-13T11:05:00.001-05:00

so i've been reading in luke lately...and i've been picking up a little nugget of truth over and over again. theres a special place in god's heart for imperfection, for screw ups, for mistakes. somehow, he finds a way to make it beautiful.

just for laughs...

2008-06-06T14:56:00.001-05:00

this ones for julie & sandra...and a few others. :)

augustana!

2008-06-06T14:53:00.000-05:00

on monday i got to see one of my favorite bands of all time, augustana, play at the house of blues. it was an amazing show. and thanks to adam, i got a set list...AND i got to meet all of the band members...AND get their autographs. such an amazing night...

swamp tour...

2008-06-06T14:46:00.001-05:00

just last week i went on a swamp tour. we got to see real alligators in the wild. pretty cool!

on our way to the swamp...goofy faces!

andrew and i on the boat...

an alligator...lured with delicious marshmellows! why marshmellows? because alligators live in marshes! haha...

the captain of the boat told me this is the dock that forest gump's shrimp boat crashes into when forest jumps in the water to see lieutenant dan

i go to witchita...

2008-06-06T14:42:00.000-05:00

a couple weekends ago, i was in kansas, seeing my sister graduate from college. way to go girl!

thoughts for the day...

2008-05-19T11:26:00.000-05:00

it's a cool morning, sitting in the shade of some trees next to the mississippi river. the breeze is slight, the water moving just enough to crash lightly on the rocks...music to my ears.

things i'm loving lately:
a full gas tank
the shade & low humidity
peace & time to myself
leather journals
laughing
clean laundry
painting
stooping

comics from the sunday paper
sweet tea lemonade
weezer

the neutral ground...and pirates

2008-05-17T15:30:00.001-05:00

the neutral ground is a coffee shop we visit quite often. it's an interesting place...lots of quirks. a cat named bob lives there. and lately, there have been dogs visiting. also, there is live music. every night. one of my favorite nights is uke night...when a bunch of people that play the ukulele come and play. my favorite uke song? the asparagus spear. that's right...it's a song that teaches you how to dance the asparagus spear. basically, you stand with your arms at your sides and be as still as possible. as you can imagine, it's...fun. :)

here's a clip from a musician we heard a few nights back. he's singing "the pirate song".
enjoy!

catching up...

2008-05-17T15:16:00.000-05:00

it's been a busy past couple weeks. some of what i've been up to:

the art museum...

jazz fest. i got to see santana and the neville brothers...

& hanging out at the fly...

visitors!

2008-05-03T23:35:00.001-05:00

last week, some amazing friends of mine from GFU came down to NOLA for a visit. we had a ton of fun adventures, and i loved being able to spend time with them. but i think our most eventful adventure was when my passenger side rear tire exploded on the longest bridge over water in the world! we had to drive 3 miles, with a police escort, of course, to the nearest pull off. luckily, there was a motorist assistance truck right behind the cop. thank goodness for people who know how to change tires, and do it for free! we even made a friend--Officer Kelly. Think the cops from superbad, and you'll basically understand him. like i said, it was the most eventful adventure of them all. :)what my poor, poor tire looked like

our new friend, officer kelly

we definitely qualified for this...

...because it was DEFINITELY an emergency

thanks girls, for visiting! i LOVED having you here, and can't wait for you to come back someday. don't stop believin'!

Birthday Adventures

2008-04-28T11:28:00.000-05:00

so, this is a little late, but i just wanted to throw out a thank you to everyone who made my 20th birthday so special. it was an amazing day!

at the botanical garden...

a delicious fruit bouquet from my mama & poppa

surprise!

2008-04-10T17:13:00.001-05:00

my cousin aaron came for a surprise visit this week. i took him to some of my favorite places. aaron, it was a fun few days and i'm glad you came! what a wonderful birthday present!

zoo day

2008-03-29T21:14:00.000-05:00

Thursday, I got to take the Carlson boys to the zoo. I'd never been to it before, and let me tell you, it is awesome! My favorite area was the Louisiana Swamp.

Among other native animals, they host an albino alligator.

The swamp also hosts a "swamp monster", as well as some little black bears.

After a long day of walking around the zoo, we got to go on the carousel.

The boys and I visited a few more animals before we headed back home.

retreat

2008-03-29T20:50:00.000-05:00

Over Easter weekend, the gang piled up in the big white van and headed to Mississippi for a community retreat. We stayed in a cabin at a state park.

It was nice to have some play time, and some time to just relax and be with each other.

During our time there, we found a turtle in the middle of the road. We pulled a rescue mission and saved him from potential liberation. Elvis (which is what we named him) was later released near the lake.

Easter morning the kids got to do an Easter egg hunt and we all got some time to reflect on the resurrection of the King.

cha cha cha changes...

2008-03-10T17:15:00.000-05:00

so...a lot of you know about my original plans for life in New Orleans. Well, those have changed quite a bit in the last few weeks. Subbing was great, but turned out to be quite inconsistent, as well as a long commute. So I started looking for jobs closer to home...in the neighborhood even. Last week, I got hired at Starbucks. I know...how crazy to move all the way to New Orleans from Seattle and wind up working at Starbucks. But hey, it's a really great place. Great environment, great people, great coffee. What more could you ask from a job?

I'm also taking a short break from school. I'd planed on starting back up in March...which proved to be extremely stressful. Now I'm planning on going back in the fall, which opens up time to officially intern with Communitas-New Orleans. It's a lot of changes, but I'm actually loving it...finding things that really jazz me. Ah life. :)

home

2008-02-25T14:46:00.001-06:00

i just realized that i hadn't put up any pictures of my new home yet. so...here they are.

this is the white house. we rent the bottom floor.

these are the rocking chairs on our porch. it's wonderful to sit out there...and a pretty good way to meet neighbors too...

this is my new desk & chair...i just got them yesterday and organized the last of my boxes. i absolutely LOVE being organized...so this has just made my week so far :)

our apartment walls were looking pretty bare, so we got some canvas and acrylic paint and went to work. i'll put the artists' name under their painting

me (amanda)

adam

beth

winnie

me (amanda)

hope that gives you all at least a glimpse of my new home.

a night out

2008-02-25T14:41:00.001-06:00

a few days ago, one of my roommates, Winnie, and I went down to Cafe Du Monde. We were feeling the need for some beignets Yum! Here are some pictures from our adventure...

us in front of Jackson Square

beignets...before

and after...

lots and lots of powdered sugar...

adventures in audubon park

2008-02-16T16:01:00.000-06:00

today was absolutely gorgeous, so i took andrew and nicholas to audubon park to play. there is a big pond that we walked all the way around. it was quite the adventure. we saw ducks and swans and turtles and got to throw lots of sticks into the water. we also saw people setting up for a wedding. so fun!

swans in the water...

a log covered in turtles...

to endymion & beyond...

2008-02-09T11:57:00.001-06:00

As of the 6th of February, carnival season 2008 is officially over. It was really fun going to multiple parades almost every night...but I can't lie, I'm happy it's over. It is super fun, but a super busy time of year. Here are a few highlight pictures from the many, many parades.

This is a flambo...they used to be the light for the floats...until the floats started being lit by electricity.

marching bands...there are tons of these in every parade.

the beginning of the endymion parade. endymion is a BIG parade that runs in mid-city. this is the first year it has been able to run that route since the storm. it was a big deal.

the grand marshal was the one and only, mr. kevin costner.

beads, beads, and more beads.

a group of us at endymion. from left top to right top: beth, me, jill, and kyle. bottom left to right, logan, jordan, and andrew

floats...

massive headdress...

stilt walkers & bubbles...

this is a Mardi Gras ladder. it's basically a ladder with a wooden box screwed to the top that children sit in. parents can stand on the back. pretty cool...

beads in trees...not that uncommon

train float...and people wanting beads..."throw me something, mister" is the mantra

we decorated the police barricade in front of us. a group of us stayed in the neutral ground (like, a big grassy median) basically all day to get this prime location...

more floats...

a band on a float...so much fun

and that basically sums up the parade experience. like i said before...super fun, but i'm glad it's over...for now.

catching ya'll up...

2008-01-31T14:47:00.000-06:00

As of yesterday I have been in New Orleans for a whole week...and it has gone by REALLY fast. Just getting things lined up for school and work and life have kept me busy. Yesterday I went over to the westbank (have you seen the movie deja vu? thats the bridge you cross to get to the westbank) to get my fingerprints done. On the way back, I got to take the ferry. It was fun...and I got to see the city from a view I hadn't seen it from before. As of today, I am officially a substitute teacher...which is so exciting!

It's also heading into the peak of carnival season here in NOLA with mardi gras just a few days away. I went to my first parade on Saturday. It was a lot of fun. There were lots of creative floats and good marching bands...and tons and tons of beads. There are a lot more parades to come, which I am really looking forward to.

Weather has been okay...kind of cold, but for the most part sunny. Today we're actually under severe storm and tornado warning...which is obviously a new experience for me...

here are some pictures from my adventures so far...enjoy!

this is a float (kind of blurry...sorry!) and people throwing beads off of it

Jackson Square on the left, Cafe du Monde on the right (long brown roof)
...from the ferry

cafe du monde...YUM!

a brass cowboy...really cool

in the french quarter...decorated for mardi gras

nola

2008-01-28T11:12:00.000-06:00

well, i've made it to nola and am starting to get settled. it's been busy...settling and getting things in order for school and work, but it's all really coming together.

white christmas

2007-12-28T22:10:00.001-06:00

yep. it sure was. just a dusting...but still, festive, and fun while it lasted.

coffee & friends

2007-12-12T15:40:00.000-06:00

Today is my last full day in Oregon...more specifically, at Fox. Everything is pretty surreal right now. I'm not sure it has really sunk in yet. The last few days have been spent studying for finals, yeah, but also making priceless memories with friends that have meant the world to me for the last year and a half. I'm so thankful for each of them. Over the weekend, some of my roommates and I did some maintenance-y stuff around the apartment. We discovered that there was an electrician, a plumber, and a baker among us.

Today...my wonderful friend Annika and I went to Portland to grab some coffee at Stumptown. If you ever get the chance, you should definitely go there. SO delicious!

Their coffee is delicious art...no joke.

New Orleans

2007-12-06T21:13:00.000-06:00

I've spent the last six days in New Orleans...cementing more details of my move and the next chapter in my life. It really seems like everything is falling into place (praise the Lord!). I've for sure got a subbing position, but am also looking for something that pays more. I've for sure got a place to live that is close to the Brantleys and the Carlsons which is wonderful.
Seeing how they do community was awesome and I'm so looking forward to being part of that. I can't even express how excited I am to go back down there and not have a "departure date" to leave.

Here's a picture of Cafe Du Monde...one of my favorite places down there.

the runaway

2007-11-07T16:55:00.001-06:00

I got the chance to run away to Kansas last weekend to visit my wonderful sister and to have some time to just rest. It was much needed and well spent.

thank you to my amazing hosts :)

sunrise...

2007-10-23T12:02:00.000-05:00

There's nothing like a sunrise to remind you that today is a new day...a clean slate...a fresh start. It's a great thing to be able to grab a cup of coffee, go outside to breathe the crisp fall morning air, and enjoy a renewed perspective on life. Praise God for that.

Psalm 90:14
O satisfy us in the morning with Your loving kindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

putting words to it...

2007-10-22T03:53:00.000-05:00

There is something wonderful about downtown Portland after midnight. It's hard to put words to, but just know that it is wonderful.

This week has been ridiculous, crazy, hectic, stressful, frustrating, blah. Sometimes it is just really, really hard to love or even get along with certain people. I mean, really.

"Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while."
-Jesus (Mark 6:31)

That's sounding pretty dang good right about now.

birthday wishes...

2007-10-17T00:31:00.001-05:00

happy 21st birthday to my...

trick-or-treating buddy...

my rodeo friend...

my dance pal...

...my partner in crime.
i love you sis!

home...

2007-10-14T20:18:00.000-05:00

Dorothy was 110% correct when she said there is no place like home...

Praise the Lord for the four day weekend I got to spend at home. I got to hang out with my family and friends, drink some delicious Tully's coffee, visit Seattle, and of course, watch the sun go down from the Kirkland waterfront. It was much needed.

rainy season

2007-10-07T18:36:00.001-05:00

well, it's officially the rainy season in the great northwest. but...that doesn't keep us from going to the beach.

the countdown...

2007-09-28T11:17:00.001-05:00

this is my completely awesome countdown calendar. i have a piece of paper for every week i have left at school. every friday, i have a little "one week down" party where i tear off the top number and rip it to shreds. it's quite fun. as of 2:45 today, this calendar will read 10 weeks! i can't believe the semester is already a third of the way over. so exciting!

the beach...

2007-09-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

Another weekend...another adventure. This time some friends and I took a mid-night trip to the ocean. It was weird to think that in a few months, it won't be the Pacific that I'm looking at, but the Gulf of Mexico. Crazy.

pictured (clockwise) me, julie, ryan, and sandra

wandering portland

2007-09-12T11:06:00.000-05:00

My cousin, Aaron, is in town for a week and we got to hang out last night. After a little confusion in finding the right roads, we made it to Pioneer Place in Portland. We had a wonderful Thai dinner and then headed to the Apple Store. But the real fun started when we left...and couldn't remember where we parked.

This is us, very much lost.

BUT...20 minutes later, and after Aaron started deciding which way to go, we found the car. It had been on 4th all along.

mid-night roadtripping

2007-09-09T18:03:00.001-05:00

So, around 9 last night some friends and I decided to go visit another friend of ours that lives in Bend, OR. What can we say...we missed her. Within 20 minutes we were in the car and on our way. Time was filled with talking and music, and of course, crazy awesome pictures. When we got to Bend, we called Cora (our friend) and asked her to come out and play with us. Little did we know we were waking up her entire family. But they were gracious and it was nice to meet them all. Cora toured us around lovely Bend...and it was oh so fun! Tired and bummed that we had to go back to school, we hugged our friend and piled back into the Ford Ranger we'd traveled in. The next three hours were filled with less talking, less music, but still, a lot of fun. AND, we even made it home safely. Weekend well spent, I'd say.

the apartment...

2007-09-07T12:50:00.000-05:00

settling in

2007-08-28T01:10:00.000-05:00

After a long night of packing I headed down to GFU last Saturday. As usual, the drive was great. There's just something about being in a car with blaring music and windows rolled down that I find relaxing. This completely baffles my parents...but for me, it works.

A few hours later I got to Fox, checked in with the RA, got my key, and with the help of some wonderful people (thanks mom and dad!) got everything unpacked and put away. I'm living in a teeny tiny, but super cozy (and well decorated, I might add) apartment with three wonderful girls. Surprisingly, everything we all brought fits.

Sunday, a roommate and I traveled up to Portland to go to Imago Dei. If you haven't been, you should go. For sure.

And today was the first day of classes. I'm only taking four (plus a once a week night class) and they're all on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Because I'm leaving after fall semester I dropped all of my original classes (which were mostly for my intended major...and it would have been crazy busy) and signed up for things I thought sounded interesting. Therefore, my schedule looks like this:

Far East History (probably my favorite)
Child Development
Learning
French
Incarnational Youth Ministry

Honestly, I really, really like every single one of them. I have a feeling it's going to be a fun semester!

looking back...and ahead

2007-08-22T00:51:00.000-05:00

I absolutely LOVE reading over my old journals—or just flipping back to the beginning of the one I’m writing in now. Tonight I flipped back to the beginning of the summer. I’d written a lot about my frustrations and anger with God and questioning going to New Orleans. Some excerpts:

“God, I don’t understand why you put me at Fox. I just don’t understand. Some of the people I’ve met there are so great. My roommate, I couldn’t have asked for a better one. And some of the other girls were great too. But a lot of times I feel like everyone is living so safely. I love to push boundaries. I hate being roped in or stereotyped. I like doing my own thing and going against the grain. It seems like that just doesn’t happen at Fox… I feel like you’re leading me down this crazy path that could go in a million ways. I feel compelled to go and work with kids and teenagers—not sit in classes that, when it comes down to it, have nothing to do with real teaching. God, is this really the plan you have for me right now? If it was, would I be feeling this way?”

“I also turned in my application for the New Orleans trip yesterday. To be honest, I have no idea whether I’m going or not. I know I haven’t spent enough time prayerfully considering it…but I did feel the push to at least turn in the application. This was the first application I was weary about…and I took the longest to fill it out completely. Going to Louisiana would be an amazing experience. I can see myself ending up in the south. Yeah. Right now, it’s just all in the Lord’s hands. I know he will use whatever the outcome is for good because he promises that to us in his word. I’m really curious to know who else has applied for the trip. No one I know so far has even given a second glance at the application…so it’s going to be really interesting. Again…I’m trusting in the Lord to pull through here and I know he will. For me, getting back into church and “the God thing” has been weird. I really wasn’t feeling it at all at school. Maybe because people put me…and I put me…in that “bad girl” role. But I’m getting back into it in a different way than I’ve ever experienced God before. What our campus pastor said to my Christian foundations class…about getting away from being the “perfect Christian” to letting the spirit woo her back, that really hit me. I’m really hard and critical of myself when it comes to being a “good Christian”, so backing away from that and allowing myself to be wooed is kind of a new experience…and one that I find myself enjoying much more. It may not be normal for Christians to do that. I really don’t know. But I do know that it’s working for me. I can see God working in my life again and it’s a nice feeling. It’s kind of like those spoof MAC commercials Aaron was showing me. To be a Christian doesn’t mean wearing our Sunday best to attend church, or memorizing the whole bible, or buying into every new Christian fad. We can wear jeans and attend Saturday night service. It’s not about checking things off on the perfection list. It’s about loving God, and letting him love you back. After writing this, I’m starting to realize how much I’m excited for this summer—to see God’s work in my life and everything that is to come. Sounds corny…I know.”

“I now know that I’m definitely going on the New Orleans trip. YAY! To be honest, I feel like God really is pushing me to go. I’ve always been interested in the south and so I’m really looking forward to taking in that part of the country. I’m also looking forward to helping people—especially kids. AND…there’s always the God aspect of the trip. Feeling so pushed by Him makes me think that something incredible is going to be learned by me throughout the course of the whole thing. I’m really looking forward to it. Yeah, it’s going to be difficult to come up with money for that, my trip to Kansas, and $$ to pay off my freshman year college loan, but I’m definitely confident that God wants me to do all these things this summer. And how can you say no to God? Honestly.”

“God is a good thing to talk about. I can definitely see his hand in my life lately. I wasn’t going to apply for New Orleans, but it just kept coming to the front of my mind. Now, I’m more than excited about going. I’m way, way past excited! He knew I needed to be there. It’ll be an adventure…and one that I am really looking forward to.”

Isn’t it interesting how things make a lot more sense after the fact…when you’re looking back at it all? I love that. I leave for my last semester at Fox on Saturday. I’ve been dreading going back all summer—but when I think about it now, it’s more like a chance to take it all in for just a little bit longer before I have to say goodbye. I’ve met some great people there and have developed some really meaningful relationships both at school and at the teen center I work at. Truthfully, those will be the hardest things to leave—albeit just in the physical (wahoo for letters, the telephone, and the internet!) As Saturday gets closer, joy rather than anxiety, is what’s increasing.

On a sillier note, my down comforter is ripped. Therefore, there are white feathers flying around in my room. I have to laugh about it because it reminds me of the scenes at the beginning and ending of Forest Gump (probably one of the best movies ever)…and well…that just makes me smile. ☺

The Zoo

2007-08-19T20:47:00.000-05:00

This is Mackenzie...

...and this is Marley.

We were buddies at the Zoo. Here we are on the carousel.

Now that summer is almost over, I've decided that I really do love my job. Working at a daycare is just...fun. What other kind of job lets you go on field trips and spend the mornings making fun art projects? Where else can you be silly and everyone around you joins in? And then there's nap time. I just don't think it gets any better than that.

Last Friday we took all the daycare kids to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. It was a blast. I got to buddy up with two of my favorite little girls and we had the time of our lives.

Someplace to Start

2007-08-15T01:15:00.000-05:00

Okay, okay. So I've decided to get a blog. I'm not really one to go very in depth online, but with all the big changes coming my way, I figured, what better way to keep people up to date? Plus, blogs are all the rage right now...am I right? :) Ha-ha.

Just in case you haven't heard, God has definitely thrown me a curve ball this summer. For as long as I can remember, I've had a passion to work with kids--especially the difficult ones. What can I say, I love a challenge. But on a trip with the college group from my church this summer to New Orleans, He instilled in me a passion for that city--for those people. After a period of listening, prayer, and discussion, I've decided to pursue that passion. In January I'll be moving down to New Orleans with the hopes of becoming a teacher there. It may be a few years down the road--but that is the goal. In the mean time, I hope to find a job in a school...maybe secretarial, TA, and/or in an after-school program. I'll also be taking night classes at Loyola...I have to get that degree somehow. :) To be honest, I'm both excited and scared at the same time. New Orleans will be an adventure--one that I definitely feel God leading me towards. Then again, it's New Orleans...and I'm a teenage white girl from the suburbs. But like I said, God's hand is in this, and going is part of trusting Him. I love that about God. In so many differeny ways He just asks you to take His hand, close your eyes, and jump in with both feet. New Orleans, here I come!