Big news

Hello! Big time Peace Corps update!
After a really long time, I've finally received my Peace Corps placement and it's Costa Rica. That's right, Costa Rica, I'm sooooo excited! I was beginning to have a lot of doubts about going and was starting to look into other options, but all along I knew that when I got my letter, I'd know what to do. It was just like that too, I opened the envelope and the first thing I saw was Costa Rica – Micro Enterprise Advisor and I just knew that I had to do it. I have a lot of emotions going on right now, I'm so excited I can barely contain myself, but I'm also sad to be leaving my family, friends and boyfriend. I think in situations like this you just have to trust that God knows what he's doing and that he will work things out. I don't doubt that it will be difficult to say goodbye to everyone, but I know that it will be worth it.

Obama

I haven’t really been blogging lately for a number of reasons, but mostly it’s because I have no idea what I’m going to do with my life and the does not lend it’s self to me writing about my life. It’s just a vicious cycle I guess. You don’t know what to do so you don’t know what to write so you don’t and blah blah blah.

Anyway, on to something of interest, OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m so happy, I feel like the US is waking up from a bad dream to find that we are still who we once were. It’s a great day in USA, we still have hope, we still have change and we can now take steps to re-establish ourselves on the world stage. Yesterday Americans told the world that we are listening, we are paying attention and we’re doing something about it. Yes we can!!!

Oh blogging…

I just got back from a week long backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon. While I was on my hike I had all these big dreams of posting pics from the hike and talking about the trail and all that good stuff. My intentions were awesome, however, now I’m not really feeling the motivation. I think I’m having a hard time coming back from vacation. I’m just not feeling it right now. Maybe this weekend I’ll find the time and motivation I need to do the post. It was after all a beautiful hike and lots of fun… I’ll do my best.

On a side note. I know in a past post I was saying how patient I was being with the Peace Corps and how I was just trusting that it was all going to work out. Yeah, so now I’m just getting pissed. I still haven’t heard anything regarding an assignment. I’m starting to look into other alternatives. How long can one be expected to keep their life on hold?

The Smell Test

Every now and then, throughout the course of a day, week, month or year, one may find themselves in a situation where they require a smell test. It could be that you didn’t shower that morning, it was exceptionally hot, you were stressing out and therefore had some underarm sweat issues or maybe you just forgot deodorant. Today and I was walking into my office after a brief visit to my car, without much though I gave myself a little check. This is not a discreet process, I’m talking arm up, nose in arm pit. Hey, it has to happen and I’m sure I’m neither the first nor the last to perform such a task. Actually, it’s out of love for those around me that I would do such a thing. If I smell, I need to know it because I know you sure as heck know it. Anyway, today, I got away with my smell test. It was out there for the world to see and no one saw. I’ve been caught before, I think it was Mandy who once asked me “did you just smell your arm pit” I replied “yes” and she then she said “just checking”. This has no point, but it’s at least funny… To me… By the way, I passed my test. I was afraid that I had forgotten deodorant today, but I don’t think that I did and I didn’t shower this morning, either way, I don’t smell bad so all is good. Now, I guess the greater question is; what would I have done had I failed the test? I’m not really sure, I know I’ve failed the test in the past, I think I just decided to shower the next chance I got…

Trust

Right now my mantra in life is: Trust God. There is so much that is out of my control, trusting in God is really my only option. For the past 3 months I’ve been on an “any day now” basis with the Peace Corps. I’m still waiting, but it’s not as bad as it sounds. I’m not worried or scared. God has not once failed me, not once. I know that I can trust God, because He has been there in both the big and the small, He has blessed me beyond measure and He has answered my prayers in big ways more than a few times. I’m holding on to God and trusting that it will all work out just as it was supposed to. All that being said, I would love to receive my Peace Corps invitation sooner rather than later, but all in good time. I’m sure there is a great reason for the delay and I’m sure in the end I’ll be happy that I was able to be here as long as I have been. Here is a list of positive things that have come/will come from this delay:

· I will get lots of skiing/snowboarding in before I leave.
· I will get to spend more time with new friends.
· I will be able to save up a little more money so I’m not totally broke when I get back.
· I will have more time with my family.
· I will get to make a trip up to Montana to visit some dear friends that I have missed so much.
· I will get to babysit my darling little nephew more.
· I will have more time to work with my new boss, whom I really like and respect.
· I will be able to do another Beth Moore bible study (they are really great!).

Well, that’s the short list. It never hurts to look at the sunny side…

Weightlifting for the Soul

Today I looked at the clock and had a very pleasant surprise. It was 4:30pm. I love it when the day goes by and I don’t feel each minuet tick by. Lately I’ve had a lot more to do, which while bad for blogging is really good for my sanity. I’m really enjoying the recent changes at work and really enjoy working with my new boss. I’m feeling really blessed right about now. I think it’s important to take a few steps back every now and then to evaluate just how much God had done. In my case that would be a lot. I feel like I could sit here and gush for the next hour on how great God is and how awesomely he has blessed me. I think that’s probably the case for most people, but recognizing the blessing can sometimes be a missed step. I went through some stuff to land me where I am today, at the time I was not at all happy with what was going on. But now, I can see that it was all for a purpose and I’d do it all over again. If you knew me in February, you would not have heard me say that. But I would, I’d do it all again. Hard times are just weightlifting for the soul.

Maybe the things in my mind are not so wrong…

My previous blog post was a total manifestation of stress in my life in regard to a specific situation. I needed to talk to someone about a difficult situation in which I was having a really hard time seeing how I could possibly do anything but lose. I think God and prayer, however, were somehow able to miraculously tip the scales in my favor. Against the odds, the situation has turned out better than I could have ever dreamed! Everything went so well and the conversation could not have been more positive. Not only was the person understanding, but they were encouraging and supportive. I was blown away! I knew that the person I was talking to was cool, but I didn’t know they were that cool! I’m so happy with the results. If there is one thing God has shown me in the past few months, it’s that sometimes you have to be bold and take a chance. Being up front and honest has turned out positively 100% of the time and covering tough conversations with prayer has also turned out for the best 100% of the time. God is teaching me to be bolder and to trust my instincts. These have been very stressful lessons, but I’m happy to have learned!

In my Mind...

So, I have this idea floating around in my head, it’s an idea that I’ve really lived by for the last probably 7 years or so. The idea is that everything can be explained, that you can work through anything and that there is no reason for anyone to get hurt. I know right? Naïf. The whole problem with my little idea is that it’s solely based on logic and unfortunately, human beings are emotional.

I fear that I recently hurt somebody in my life. The last thing that I wanted to do was to hurt this person and in my mind, logically I think to myself “I can make them understand, if I can only have the chance to explain, I can make then understand”. The truth is, I have zero control over how this person has reacted or would react to me if I did have the chance to explain myself. Emotions run very deep and past hurts cannot be healed with eloquent words. In the end, the entire outcome of any situation rests upon the emotions of the people involved. If you’re a more logical thinker, you can generally think yourself through it and come to some sort of conclusion that satisfies you. If you’re an emotional thinker, you will see how you feel and base your reaction and subsequent reactions on that. I’m coming to the realization that there’s nothing I can do, there is no way that I can fix the situation and I need to learn to be okay with that. After all, we can’t control others, we can only control ourselves. My lessons from this situation will be many, but for now what I can say is this: I never wanted to hurt anyone, things just happened and I pray to God that somehow, someway, he can bless this situation and take the hurt and turn it into something beautiful. God is the only solution.

Watching God work

I believe that God is constantly at work in our lives. Yesterday at a morning church service I watched God take a random girl who had just moved to the Valley by the hand an lead her right into a new group of friends. I’m sure she had come to church that morning expecting the usual service and then expecting to leave and go home. Instead, God showed up and got her plugged in instantly with a group of young women her age in the church (I’m one of those women). I’m excited to get to know her and I know how much it will mean for her to have a group of women to hang out with. God is good, he’s in both the big and the small. I don’t doubt that there was purpose in meeting that woman yesterday, and I don’t doubt that there has been purpose throughout my time in the Valley. And to think, I thought it was a mistake to have ever come here! I guess sometimes our vision can become clouded by our present state of happiness. God never promised happiness, if we can just hang on through the hard times and keep an eternal perspective, in the end it’s all worth it. Sometimes we have to walk through fire to know just how strong we are and also to learn, so that we can then share. Imagine if everything in life were easy… There would be no art, poetry or music, you wouldn’t appreciate good because you wouldn’t know what good was (because everything would be good). It would be totally unfulfilling.

And things begin to fall into place…

In a previous post I posed the question of whether or not I should have ever left Billings. I was thinking at the time that I had somehow ended up off track when I left MT and that it was where I should go ASAP. Well, after thinking about if further and as I continue to watch God working, I’m definitely seeing God’s plan at work. Had I been in Montana, I would not have been around to watch my nephew grow. Had I been in Montana, I would have not have met many of the great friends that have strengthened and encouraged me. Had I stayed in Montana, maybe I would not have never applied for the Peace Corps. Bottom line, even though the past few years have been difficult at times, they were worth it. I’ve learned so much and continue to learn so much. For the first time ever, I belong to a church that I love, a place that I love and that has supported me. It feels like time has started to fly by. Today I looked at the calendar and it said it was August 18. The summer is almost gone and any day now I’ll receive my Peace Corps offer letter. I can’t believe it. Life is such an intricate web. I’m grateful to be right where I am and I trust that God has been with me and will continue to be with me where ever I go.

Took it all Gone

In my house growing up there was a commonly sung song called “took it all gone”. Looking back, I realize my mom is really funny. Whenever my brother or myself would finish the box of cereal, my mom would break into a rendition of the song going something like this “Laura took it all gone, Laura took it all gone” or “Jeffey took it all gone, Jeffey took it all gone”. Being 3 years younger, I loved the song, but my brother hated it and would start to yell at my mom when she started singing it. It was a battle that took place often. My mom eventually decided to compromise with my brother and only sing the song to me when I had taken the last of the cereal, but in the end it just made my brother mad that he was no longer getting a song. That was a lose lose for my mom. I suppose my brother had been hearing the song for an additional 3 years compared to me and was sick of it. I just used to bop my head to the song and enjoy. There was however a song that I didn’t like, it was how my mom would wake me up in the morning. She would lift the blinds and sing “Good morning to Warwa, Good morning to Warwa”. I have always hated being woken up, I don’t think it was the songs fault. My dad had a different style for waking me up in the morning that I hated way more than the song. He would open my door and flick the light on and off and say “wake up, wake up, wake up”. It makes me feisty just thinking about it right now. I think the moral to my story today is: Don’t wake me up, I hate it.

Golfing when you don’t know how

Yesterday I went golfing for the first time in probably 7 years and before that I’d only ever golfed a few times. I guess you could say I’m not really a golfer. But all that being said I had a really fun time. I was in a group of 4, me and 3 guys that I work with and it was so much fun. They didn’t seem to mind that I was horrible and they didn’t count my “swing and a miss” against me on my score. I would totally golf again, except I have no clubs. I don’t plan to up take golf as my next hobby, I’ll stick with soccer and racquetball until I can’t play those anymore.

While I’m thinking about soccer… Last summer, soccer in the valley was so much fun. I loved it, we played 3 times per week and it was good quality soccer. We were putting together good combinations, making solid passes, playing smart defense, etc. This summer, soccer is just not working out. Nobody wants to commit to playing and when we do show up we aren’t working hard and making the runs. Hopefully we’ll pull out of this slump soon and start playing some good soccer again, I know I need it. Aside from soccer not going so well, my summer has begun to turn around… More to come on fun in the Valley.

The Sadness of an empty PO Box

Today I went to the Post Office all excited thinking that maybe my PC offer letter would have arrived. Sadly it has not. I think I'm going to have to limit the number of times I check per week, it's kind of a let down when the box is empty.

Idle Hands

I don’t think humans were meant to be bored. I think this may be the reason drugs came on the scene, a way to make the ordinary extraordinary (I don’t use drugs and I’m not encouraging it). Anyway, so I’ve had idle hands for some time now and it is a daunting task. I listen to NPR to stay current on the happenings in the world, I listen to music and maybe even bust out some awesome chair dancing in my cube, I look at online news, I listen to sermons, I look into my friends lives on facebook. Pretty much, I try and keep myself busy with stuff. But too much time to think can be a serious problem. You have time to think about everything under the sun. One of my main worries is that I’m becoming way to ego-centric. When you’re idle all by yourself you start to really focus on you, believe me, I don’t think the world revolves around me, I guess I’m just sick of myself. I would love to have some other things to focus on during the day, soon enough I suppose. I guess my point is that some time for self reflection is positive, too much, not so good, not healthy.

The other night at my Bible study we were talking a little bit about the book of Job in the old testament. I love Job so much, I love the trust that God had for him. I realize that Job’s entire world is wrecked, but just to know that God trusted him that much. God trusted that Job would not fold under the pressure. That is something to strive for, to be the kind of person that God could look at the devil and say “you won’t get him/her, their faith is unshakeable” now that’s something to achieve.

Dressing like a 12 year old

Today I managed to dress myself like a 12 year old. I rode my bike today and forgot to pack a different pair of shoes so that threw the whole thing off. Maybe you’re wondering, how could shoes somehow turn the outfit into that of a 12 year old? Well, the outfit is already kind of on the borderline anyway and then you throw in a pair of old running shoes and it goes over the edge. Every time I wear this outfit and wash it I think to myself “Laura, you should get rid of this. If Stacie and Clinton from What Not To Wear saw you they would totally bust you”. But in the end, for whatever reason, I don’t throw it away and in a moment of weakness after a sucky night of sleep I put it on. Again. Well I’m not even going to say that I’m going to get rid of it, I’m just going to try and restrict it to weekend around the house wear. Maybe dressing like a grown up will help me to become one…

So, here I am today. Another Monday that is following yet another Sunday of really bad sleep. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me, but I’m just not sleeping very well on Sunday nights. I’m going to try and not try to sleep next Sunday. Maybe that will help. Or the fact that I will have just played in a soccer tournament and will likely hurt a lot by Sunday night could help too…

Anyway, keep it classy Avon, Colorado!

Cry Babies

The other day I was working at my second job, my role that particular day was as a ticket taker. What did I do you may be wondering? I took tickets, it went something like this “Hello, do you have your ticket?” they would then give me their ticket and get their food. So I was pretty stationary, not a whole lot of movement involved. At the table directly in front of me there was a family with a little girl who was probably three and a half. This little girl was pretty on it, had her parent wrapped around her little finger. As I’m watching the interaction between parents and child I see that the little girl refuses to eat anything but cookies, the parents attempted to make her eat real food, but when it looks like little girl is about to really throw down a tantrum they drop it and little girl starts running about. During this little scamper around the table said little girl trips and falls and starts to cry, the parents can only think of one way to comfort this little girl and that’s with a cookie. Talk about positive reinforcement for a negative action! This little girl took one look at the cookie and all the tears were gone. Now I’m no super nanny, but I’m pretty sure that they handled that really badly. I think the true problem lies in the fact that the parents probably don’t usually take care of the child, she probably has a nanny and this was said nanny’s vacation. Anyway, any of you out there with kids, don’t reward crying with cookies, you will turn you kid into a cry baby and nobody likes a cry baby. Instead from the start when your kid falls, clap and say “oh, wow! What a big boy/girl” then they learn that it’s okay to fall down and they don’t cry for cookies. Just a thought.

PC Application

Good News on the Peace Corps application process, the blood test conundrum has been resolved and the hold has been lifted from my application, I’m moving again!!!! The next step from here will be an official offer letter that should have a country and a date! Those of you who have talked to me in the last few months know that I was ready to leave 6 months ago, so the sooner the better.

I recently took on a second job doing banquet serving for 4 Eagle Ranch in Wolcott, I’m loving it so much up there since during my entire shift I get to speak Spanish with my fellow workers. This job has really helped me realize how much I missed speaking Spanish and how much fulfillment it brings. Now who would have thought? Well, I should have, what’s wrong with me? There was a reason I lived in Spain for a year and there was a reason I got a degree in Spanish, duh to me! But I’d rather figure all of this out now rather than 8 years from now. Life’s path is pretty curvy and you just may encounter a traffic circle or two...

I'm baaack

Alaska… Let me just say that I really loved Alaska and looking back, had I been a little smarter would have planned on moving there for the remainder of the summer. Hmmm, next time I suppose. I had a great time with Bob and her husband and we had the hook up where ever we went. I feel really blessed by my great friends. I’m not mentally prepared to write all about the trip, though in the coming weeks I just may have enough time to do it. Once I get it together on the pictures I’ll post some of my favorites.

My Best Good Friend

YAY!!! I'm going to see my best good friend for a full week! Bob is a total freak and we just can't help but have a great time together. I believe that each person has a certain level of freak in them and that freak can manifest its self in different ways. Bob and I have the same type of freak and it comes out in the same way. Our freak is manifested into total dork and I love it, there is no better way to have a great time than to just not care what anyone around you is thinking. What's that, you don't think I'm cool, wealthy, smart, funny, etc? Well nobody asked and last time I checked nobody really cares! YAY, I can't wait to be an open freak for a week. Wow, for people who don't know me that could be a TMI, but for those who do know me, you're nodding your head in agreement and thinking "yep, that's spot on", HAHA, well have a great week everyone and let your freak flag fly, I know I will!

Alaska

I just now got excited for my trip to Alaska. I'll be leaving tomorrow and can't wait to see my friend Bob (a girl) and the Christal. Chirstal and I became friends in Spain where we went to school together for 9 months. We are kind of an odd couple and without Spain I don't know that either of us would have given the other a chance, but she has become a dear dear friend to me. Bob and I were and intant match. We both love to laugh and laugh and laugh. I love hanging around with her because we just can't seem to have a bad time together, even if what we're doing happends to suck. I can't wait to see them both!!!!

This is a thought that I was thinking...

This is a thought that I've been thinking... When I left Montana, I didn't really want to go. I loved it there and was happy there. I don't have anything bad to say about Montana at all. I love it there and I think about going back often. So here was the thought...With some back story because that's the only way it can be told.


While I was in MT I was volunteering for Younglife a christian youth organization. I loved doing it and had a really great time. The summer after I graduated I went to volunteer on summer staff at a YL camp in Canada called Malibu. To this point I feel like I was on track, like I was following my passion and listening to my heart. However, I felt the need to move back to Colorado during this time period because I felt that I would not be able to start my career in Montana due to a pretty bad economy. I didn't even really try, I just assumed that I wouldn't be able to find a good job there. Also, I was missing being around my family and wanted to be near them again so I moved back to Colorado. After a brief stint working for the county (only 3 weeks) I applied to work at another YL camp in Buena Vista called Trail West. My experience at this camp was not at all like Malibu, there wasn't a lot of spiritual growth and it seemed like work came first, spiritual growth second, where normally in YL camps it's the other way around. So while I was working there I started dating another intern. From the beginning I knew that it wouldn't work out, I knew without a doubt in my mind that it wouldn't last and yet I allowed that relationship to take me to Avon. We lasted less than a month after arriving in Avon, the added stress of having moved to a new town together was way too much for an already weak relationship to bear, so we called it quits.


Well, in retracing my steps and looking at my path, it seems like I got off the trail somewhere along the way. I think I may have taken a bad right turn, thinking that I was doing the right thing, but in reality was just allowing myself to deny what I really wanted.

So I guess the question is: Had I staying in MT would I have ended up in the Peace Corps? (I do think the answer to this one is yes, but who really knows aside from God)? And, for the next six months as I wait for the Peace Corps, should I go back to MT, since potentially that is where I should have been all along? I know the whole everything happens for a reason bit, and I do think God has done great things for me here and I have learned a ton about life, but I don't know that I believe I was ever meant to be here.

These are my thoughts, I'm going on vacation on Wednesday to Alaska where I'll get to see my best friend and chill it out. Maybe the trip will provide me with some clarity. If you have any comments please post them, I'd love to hear what you all think about the concept of finding ones self in the weeds...

Warning

This is a warning to all who read this blog. Those of you who know me well know that I'm pretty into God. I think God is bigger than anything we've ever been taught or could ever dream up. I was not raised Christian, though this is how I choose to pursue God in my life.

So, this is the warning, if you're one of those people who are offended by talk of God, you should maybe not read my blog as it will only piss you off. If you don't believe in God you don't need to tell me about it, that's your choice and it's between you and God. I'm just really into God and I can see him in every single aspect if my life both the easy and the difficult so I will probably relate most of my entries to God in some way. That's it, I'm not saying that by reading my blog you're going to only be hearing about God, as you can see from past blogs it's pretty hit or miss. But I just want to let everyone know what they're in for. That's all I've got for today, I'm pretty tired this week and I'm in sleep walking mode at the moment. I'm trying not to mess anything up too bad before I leave for Alaska next week...

They all wants my bloods

In the process of applying for the Peace Corps you really have to jump through a lot of hoops. For the past few months I've been jumping through medical check hoops. You have to take a form to the doctor and have every blood test that you can imagine run, then you have to get lots and lots of shots. I did find out some valuable information through all of this though, it turns out somehow and I have no idea how, but somehow I failed to have my final MMR vaccine. You are supposed to have one before you're allowed to go to college, it's the law. I have no idea how I slipped through the cracks, but either way, I've got it now.

So onto my actual topic, they wants more bloods. So initially my doctor ran the wrong blood test for me, I guess you can run a surface test or an internal test of the blood, she ran the surface when she needed to run the internal. So, I get called back in for another test and to have more blood drawn. A week goes by and I get a call, well, the test results are puzzling and they conflict with the past test so they are going to need more bloods. So, I go in yet again, this is time number 3 and give more blood and then they will let me know in a week if I have some freakish disease. Awesome. I'm sure I don't have anything and that's what the doctor said too, she just wants to see how or why I have a special immunity to things. I don't really know, I don't speak medical. They should provide people like me with a translator. I mean really, I spoke to the doctor for like 20 min. and in the end I'm not even sure what she said, something about antibody's and antigens and proteins and being immune to things... So that's all I've got for today. If by some crazy twist of fate I couldn't join the Peace Corps, wow, I don't know what I'd do, I don't really have a contingency plan. Nothing too fun, they all just wants my bloods.

Happiness…

Last night on 60 minutes there was an article on the happiest country in the world, Denmark. Yes, the Danes seem to have figured out the secret to happiness and what is it you may ask? Expectations. The Danish people are known for having incredibly low expectations and when interviewed they all said that you shouldn’t expect too much because then you’re always disappointed. If you had realistic expectations, when things turn out good, you’re very happy with the outcome. I think this is a really interesting concept. When I look at times and situations in my life when I’ve been the most unhappy, it’s always when my expectations were not met. Perhaps you date someone who you come to realize is not who you thought they were. Well, why were you thinking they were anything in the first place? How can someone ever hope to live up to an image you’ve created of them in your head? Within the workforce, you expect for your job to go a certain way, you expect to like going to work or to enjoy the people you work with…Does this ever really happen? I think the more realistic expectation to have would be this: I’m probably not really going to love what I do, but hopefully I won’t hate it too bad. That way if you actually like what you do you’ll be so happy with the outcome you won’t feel bitter at the fact that you don’t love what you do. This is the chronic American problem, we’re happy with our 1999 car, it runs, it’s reliable… But wouldn’t we love to have a new car? We could have a bigger, faster, brighter, louder car that make people think about us. Hmmm, lots to think about. I realize in the past 2 years, unrealistic expectations have knocked me flat on my back. I’m serious, I kicked my own butt with expectations, nobody is to be blamed but me. With this knowledge I’m attempting to spend more time just focusing on the present, focusing on what I’m doing, not what I want to be doing. This is a difficult task for me, but I’m guessing it will become easier and easier as time goes on. Regarding the Peace Corps and expectations… I’m a little scared. Of course I have already developed some expectations of what could be or should be or yada yady yady… But in reality, what I should hope for is: that is simply won’t suck. I’m attempting to change my expectation to a simple, please don’t suck, I can’t take any more suck so please, don’t suck.

Bringing God into the concept of expectation is also interesting. When we have our expectations for how something should be, are we not saying to God: my plan is probably better than yours? I know I’ve been more than pleasantly surprised with the outcomes of many situations in life that did not turn out at all the way I would have liked, but God just rocked it out in new and incredible ways. Sometimes I think God is watching me and thinking, Laura, you have no idea how much better I’m going to make that for you, just give it up. Oh well, something to work on…

The origins of "It's official"

The phrase "it's official" has a special meaning to me and because of this special meaning I use it a lot and think it's always really funny. I realize that 99% of the time, I'm the only one in on the joke. There are maybe 12 people who would chuckle at "It's official" and none of them live near me. This is also a cautionary tale...

So at the ripe old age of 18 I found myself in Billings, MT (the best place ever) preparing to enter soccer preseason as a Yellow Jacket. As a freshman on the team I thought to myself, don't say anything, these people are old (by old I mean 20) and they will eat you alive, don't say anything. I kept myself in check for the first couple of weeks knowing that I was in way over my head. I tried to only speak to the upper class girls when spoken to, it was my only defense. One of my fellow freshmen did not seem to share the same caution.

Before and after each practice we had to visit the training room for "treatment". If you were not hurt, treatment consisted of standing in the ice bath for 20 min. which actually helps with recovery and feels really good. There were two trainers, Pat and Todd. Pat was probably 26 at the time and was our first real exposure to men in that age group. Pat worked out a lot and was pretty ripped, not a bad looking guy, kind of a goober, but a very nice guy. I think most of us were thinking it, but only one came out to say it and it went down in MSU-B history. A very young KB approached the entire team and announces to us all "It's official, Pat the trainer is hot!" All of the older girls just cracked up. We all laughed uncontrollably and KB realized right away that she has said something she shouldn't have. It's 8 years later and KB still hasn't lived it down and every time we bring it up she denies ever having said it, but seriously, there were way too many witnesses. She knows what she said, but as time went on Pat had become an older brother to us all and the thought that she had said he was hot was just too weird.

The moral of the story: Never announce to the world that someone is hot until you know them
and the people you're with a little better. You just may end up the butt of a never ending joke.

I think this is still one of those inside jokes that even when you retell it you have to say, I guess you had to be there... I'm pretty short on sleep, sorry if you thought that was a sucky story, hopefully the next will be better.

Weekend

This weekend will be my nephews first birthday party and I am so excited. The circumstances surrounding his birth are hard to think about and reflect on, but in my opinion are a reflection of God’s love for us. My nephew was born with a severe case of phenomena and within hours of his birth had to be transferred from his birth hospital to the Children’s Hospital (luckily only 15 min apart). It was all very scary and the little boy ended up spending the next 13 days in the Infant ICU. Around day 8 in the hospital one of the nurses mistook me for his mom (he came out with brown hair so lots of people thought that), I was there to visit him after work and his mom and dad were taking a much needed rest. The nurse looked at me and said “ you know, it was really close with this little guy, really close, there were lots of times when we thought we were going to lose him” . That statement made my heart drop. All along I had been praying and praying and was just so certain that he would be okay because I had asked God, in my mind there had been no real possibility of ever losing him until she said that to me. In the end, the fact that he made it is a testament to how great God is. Anyway, so here we are, almost one year later and my little nephew is doing great. He is very big for his age and incredibly coordinated, he started walking at 9 months and by now is starting to run. I love that little guy to pieces and cherish every single moment I have with him. I’m sure I will miss him most of all when it’s time to leave for the Peace Corps.

It's official, I'm a Blogger!

My first blog, humm, where to go with this? Well I suppose I'll begin with something that just happened to me. As I was riding my bike to the bank today, two baby prairie dogs crossed right in front of me. They cut it really close, can you imagine hitting a little baby prairie dog with your bike? It would have been so sad. But anyway, they were both really really cute. This got me to thinking about a pet store I once stumbled upon in Spain. I was with my friend Sauce and were just kind of wandering around and we saw a little pet store so we walked in. OMG, there were tons of cages filled with squirrels!!!! Squirrels, like the kind that live in our trees outside of our homes, squirrels! It was like a moment from a horror movies, Sauce and I were turning around and around horrified looking at all of these poor squirrels in cages. In my mind I could hear the horror movie music playing RERERERERE. We didn't stay long in the store, it was just to weird and we never went back, at least I never went back...Maybe Sauce became a caged squirrel fan? Probably not. So anyway, many you're wondering what on earth do squirrels and prairie dogs have in common? Well both are very common where I'm from and you would never keep either as a pet, however, they are both really pretty cute. So, I wonder if I'll be traveling the world someday and find a pet store filled with prairie dogs. I mean really, what's the difference?