July

I've still got two more days before I completely miss posting in July, so hopefully I finish this tonight.  I have had an incredible month, starting with a trip to Cali to see Grandma and some well-loved family members of mine.

 

Taking the train down.  I think it's the first time it's actually been on time, and we got there early!

 

My "burger" at an awesome place in Roseville where we got to customize everything.

 

It's the attack of the crochet club! This is in front of a yarn shop, and apparently appeared overnight.  Go yarn bombers! :)

 

Mom in front of her favorite roses :)

 

 Fireworks in Sacramento at the mall.  The traffic was so bad Mom and I got out and walked around for a while, but they were pretty :)

 

Ben's awesome "bear den." Berkley is pretty neat, and has awesome food on every corner, but I don't think I could live there.

 

What the start of every meal looked like- "Quick, take a picture!" Haha

 See!  See!

 

What we did on looooong car rides...

 When we weren't being a little crazy ;)

Cute :)

 Really yummy, especially the asparagus.

 A fun visit to Auntie June's :)

 Mmmm

 I want more!!!

 And my latest project (no, I didn't make it, I'm just fixing it)

  Oh, and I don't have any pictures, but my room has a lot more floorspace than it did.  When Mom and Dad (and Lara) were here they helped me move a lot of my stuff over to Monmouth, and then we took apart one of the beds.  It's yet to be seen if I can keep it uncluttered now, but it's been nice to be able to move.  I sure does seem empty around here though :-/

  The Oregon Jamboree is this weekend, so cops and crazy drivers everywhere in this normally sleepy corner of the universe.  I'm not going, but I did some volunteering at the craft fair, and so got to witness some of the madness first hand.  And now preps tomorrow, and Saginaw coming up fast!

 And a couple more:
-smacked myself with a hammer for the first time
-bought a doll house
-tried (and loved) gellatto
-ate a lot of frozen yogurt
-played volleyball in 90+ degree weather
- locked my keys in the truck (and had an awesome conversation with a random stranger while waiting for grandma to rescue me)
- learned to sing alto an octave up
- decided to learn to play the piano
- registered for too many classes (Ahhhh!) haha
- I can't think of anything else

I'll try to update a little more frequently this month, and hopefully even eloquently or something ;)

Happy Mom? Haha

My month in pictures

Right now I ought to be packing, cleaning, preparing, and sleeping- in that order in fact.  What am I actually doing? Procrastinating on my computer... sigh.  Well. I suppose something had to induce me to blog again.  Rather a lot has happened since my last post, but you'll just get a few highlights ;)

 

A couple drawings I've done for kids at the club (Ones I remembered to take pictures of that is)

Grandma and I at the strawberry festival

It's a Mila! :)

Yummy pigs in a blanket for a potluck

What I did with the extra dough... so unhealthy but oh so yummy :)

Driving to Mt Ranch- the Dutch Bros was a must ;)

 Tips for assembling one of the yummiest desserts ever:

Start with amazing strawberries, washed and blotted.

 

Slice them up your favorite way.

 Pile them around a thick slice of angel food cake.

 Drizzle with heavy cream... or whipped cream if that's what you like.

Sugar and drizzles of chocolate would be nice too, but this is fast and simple.

 Oh yeah, and delicious :)

The "display" wall of my room, can you tell I work with kids? (and am a kid at heart ;)

And my latest project... teaching myself to crochet.  It's fun! :)

Next up, last day of school tomorrow! The kids are crazy! I'd like to run and hide, but I don't want to miss saying goodbye :)
Oh, and Parma, thence "should be packing"
Sigh
Ps- The pictures aren't in chronological order, except the strawberry picts :)

Partly Cloudy

  Have you ever felt like crying, but not been sure why? I did today, and I'm still not sure why.  It was silly, because even though there were some disappointments, I had a truly lovely day.  This morning I got up at an unreasonably early hour and drove to Monmouth for the transfer student registration.  I even got there early, because there was no traffic at all and it wasn't rainy.  The talks were very helpful and informative, and there was an impressive amount of one-on-one help for registration etc.  I'm all registered for classes (although I might be tweaking  my schedule a bit) and it seems I'll have a pretty light load.  Afterwards, I found some cute things a mall, and retrieved a Craigslist purchase.  Well, I picked it up, getting it home was another matter.  You see, a bought a bookcase from a nice lady who is moving to Florida, but I didn't remember to bring anything to secure it in the truck, and it was threatening to rain.  I did eventually manage to wedge it in the cab, but it made for an interesting drive home :)

Things that didn't work out:
1. My cookies- no clue what I did wrong, but they weren't any good
2. The second half of the registration fair- I got delayed, and missed it completely
3. Hanging out- no one was around (and no kitten)
4. The purchase- I managed to not have exact change, and had to drive to the nearest store.

Things that did:
1. I drove all around and didn't get truly lost once! (even if I wasn't always quite sure where I was)
2. I got registered
3. I did find some adorable things
4. I met some really nice people
5. I have friends and family who love me
6. I have a Father who keeps me through everything in life- good and bad, up and down, and I can always lean on Him :)

Looking forward to meeting tomorrow :)

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations 

also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience

Rom 5:3

But let patience have her perfect work, 

that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing

James 1:4

So Buzzzzzzzz.....

  Sigh, I can't quite decide if I like working this much or not. On one hand, it means money to travel this summer, and start school in the fall.  On the other, it means I'm tired, and miss out on privileges I really enjoyed.  I miss going swimming with the Garret cuties in the morning, and miss my kids at Foster.
  I am getting a lot of new privileges though.  I've subbed 7 days in the last three weeks, and met about a hundred new students (don't ask me how many names I've actually remembered though). Just Monday I got a reminder of how many lives we touch, without even realizing.  A girl came up to me at the club, and told me that I was her little sister's idol, and that she had been very upset because she was sick that day, and couldn't come.  The little sister had spent Friday with me, and because there weren't many kids we played Mancala (we tied), trivia games, and just talked.  I had no idea how much it had meant to her, but it kinda made my job seem more meaningful :)

On a side note: I finally finished my application! Now to find time to send it.
But more importantly, bed- morning comes very early :P

Lazing in sunshine

  There's nothing nicer than the smell of fresh mown grass and sunshine, well, almost nothing.  Summer is approaching, and the days are getting warmer, sunnier, and just plain better.  Tuesday I had a two hour break between subbing and my third job of the day, and spent it sprawled in the bed of my truck, reading in the sunshine.  It was glorious :)
  This was my first week working in the actual Boys and Girls Club, and it worked out pretty well.  I'm in charge of Power Hour/the homework room, so it's much less stressful than the chaos of the games room...
Eeew, spider on my bedside table!!!
Dead spider in my trash can...
Now back to our regularly scheduled program :)

  Um, I went and visited Grandma and various friends and family in California during my spring break.  It was fun, and relaxing, and just wonderful in general.  It was windy and rainy all but two days while I was there, but I spent those two days at the pool, so that makes everything better :)
  Last week I did my own taxes for the very first time, and decided that I <3 Turbo Tax, it's amazing! I'm currently working on applying... still... I know, but I'm getting closer!  I also worked three jobs most of this week, so I haven't been lazy, just tired.  Oh, and the best part of switching locations *sarcastic applause* I'm not immune to the kids, and now I have a cold.  Yippee.

We also had a lovely visit the last couple days from Keith and Barbara on their way back to Alaska.  It was so nice to see them again.  I'm sure they'll be happy to be home, and their Wednesday meeting misses them :)

Life is busy, life is good, life is full of love and laughter, life is better because of friends and family, life is for eternity :)

In like a lion

I vaguely remember something about March coming in like a lion and out like a lamb.  I'm not so sure about that, but we've had our fair share of both types of days this month.  There were the days when I woke up to scenes like this

Sunlight streaming in my bedroom window

or wandered outside to see this

But then there were the other days, the days where the rain seemed unending, and the cold leaden sky gave no hints of spring's approach.  On those days a cozy fire to curl up in front of, a cup of tea, and a good book make all the difference.

(sorry abt the quality)

And then there was yesterday.  I woke up from my between meetings nap to the sight of the huge old oak in front of the house WHIPPING back and forth in the wind.  The wind was so strong it blew down trees and power lines all over the state, and left it littered with plant matter.  Entire cities were out of power, and in fact, I heard about 70,000 houses total lost power in the storm.  Our power was out for about 16 hours, and unfortunately since we are on a well, we didn't have running water either.  I feel bad for the power companies, they must have had a horrid time of it, and I think they still are having trouble, because the lights flickered a few times tonight.

Anyways, I finally did an update with pictures, and now I shall retire to bed feeling accomplished ;)

I guess some things we don't grow out of

  Things like making crazy long packing lists every time I'll be gone more than a couple of days.  I'm currently "packing" to go to Cali for spring break and see my grandma and cousins and all.  I can't wait, but I am a bit disappointed by the weather forecast.  I mean, really!?! Rain, rain, more rain, and temps barely higher than here.  Sigh, oh well, It's not like I'm going for the weather :)

  Another thing I haven't grown out of... MOOOOOOOOOOM!!!! Haha, I woke up really sick on Thursday, and that was my first instinct.  Actually, come to think of it, I called her a lot that day, poor mom.  It's not just getting sick either, can't figure out my taxes? Call mom.  Something goes wrong? Call mom. :) I think we talk as much or more now than we did when I lived at home, and I for one am enjoying it thoroughly.  I kinda hope this is one that I don't grow out of. <3

  The fact that I'm writing this instead of packing or sleeping like I ought to be is ample proof of the third thing.  Now this one I wouldn't mind growing out of, but it doesn't seem to want to happen any time soon.  Oh well, I guess I can't have everything.