One piece of paper.

///So my first official assignment for school was to take an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper and tell about who I am. We were allowed to do whatever creative thing we wanted. Here is mine:

Getting settled.

So I am slowly getting more and more acclimated to Seattle. I’m learning where places are. Learning how to dress so I don’t get soaked every time it rains. Learning how to take the bus. Learning that not being a coffee drinker is a cardinal sin. Learning that when I’m wide awake at night I shouldn’t text my friends, because they are asleep. Learning to put my phone on vibrate at night so when my friends text me in the morning, they don’t wake me up at 5am. Learning that its better to drive towards the right side of the lane on the highway because the concrete hasn’t been worn with tire tracks yet.

I’m getting there. School starts on Tuesday. WHOA! Excited to go. Scared out of my face to go. But I’m here, so let’s go!!

HOW I AM DOING.

thought: I need to do something more productive than play on my *new* mac all day. Even tho it is really fun to play on ….

hero: still jesus. always Jesus.

contemplation: Nothing specific, just trying to get mentally prepared to start school next week.

film: I haven’t seen anything recently, but really wanting to see Into the Wild again. I keep listening to the soundtrack…its addicting.

shame-inducing guilty pleasure: Recently, playing on the mac.

color: blue and green

wish: That my best friend lived in seattle.

song: Aaron Shusts “My Savior, My God’ LOVE it.

book: Began reading for school, The Art of Scripture and the gospel of Mark

triumph: I’m actually in Seattle, and loving it.

celebrity crush: still Joaquin Phoenix!! ha. (always.)

indulgence: lately, chocolate toffee almond things. mmmmm

story: Christine (who is about to have her baby) sent me a picture on my phone yesterday. It was a picture of Camden (5 yrs old) dressed as a dr. with many plastic tools in his hand. He came into her room early one morning and said “I’m here to get the baby out.” And then proceeded to try and get the baby out by using a blow up toy and trying to “suck” him out. He is special. Makes me laugh so hard!

surprise: I live in Seattle, and don’t like coffee. AHH!

field trip: yesterday to Mt. Rainier, today to Mt. Vernon

feeling: happy, sad, missing folks, meeting new folks, excited for school to start, scared out of my face for school to start

I’m here!

Well after a ridiculous amount of driving, we’ve arrived in Seattle. Actually, got in last night around supper. So far so good!

Sunday we were able to drive as far as Madison, Wisconsin. Monday made it to Kadoka, South Dakota. Tuesday to Cody, Wyoming. Wednesday to Spokane, Washington. And Thursday arrived in Seattle. The trip totaled about 2800 miles … which was only 100 miles over what we estimated … and for all the detours we took, that was pretty good!

Some highlights of the trip:

-We got to see the amazing sites of the country. I found places I want to live in : South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington. So, sorry East Coast, I may never live in you ever again.

-We got to stay at some really sketchy motels, which makes for great entertainment. My favorite was the Dakota Inn in Kadoka, South Dakota. Looked like something right out of a serial killer movie. GREAT.

-We got to see some of the most majestic mountains and rivers and lakes that you would ever see in your life. Driving through the Cascades in Washington was the best, Yellowstone was pretty amazing too.

-We got to see Mt. Rushmore … pretend that we were in National Treasure 2. I giggled alot, it just wasn’t what I expected.

-We managed to get along with only one minor car problem … a huge stone blasting a crack in my windshield. GREAT!

All in all it was a great trip! Glad to be here. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

The U S of A

I have not had time to sit down and write anything about the trip … but it has been amazing and I will certainly write and share stories once I have time! In the mean time, click on the picture above and you can view some of the pictures I have taken along the way. Enjoy!

In Hindsight.

It’s so hard to have somebody in your life constantly and then wake up one day and not have them anymore, or at least not in the same way. I’ve been moping around a bit the last two days. I miss my friends. And I don’t think I can take any more goodbyes right now. But I still have a lot to get through over the next couple of days. Pray for me if you think about it.

Hope.

If you haven’t had the chance to check it out, watch these video clips of Steven Curtis Chapman & family on Larry King Live.  What an amazing witness to Jesus Christ and the hope that is within us.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Sucker City.

If you can’t read the fine print, click on the picture to go to the site.  PURE HILARITY.