Seattle!

At last! I found time to post pictures of our epic trip to Washington/Oregon!!

It really was a wonderful trip...and here are the highlights...

The Space Needle!

Meeting up with the great Roos Family!

Pikes Place Market(Not my favorite...too fishy)

First Starbucks!! Mmmmm Coffee...

The Underground Tour!

The Fremont Troll!!

Getting to meet George's grandparents for the first time. great people. : )

No. I'm not a PC Microsoft.

Making our own album cover at the Music Museum in Seattle

The beautiful sunset ferry ride to the peninsula after finding out I didn't make a reservation anywhere for this night. But not even the cold misty water could dampen our spirits.

Walking through the Olympic National Park rain forests.

Most beautiful beaches I have ever seen

Forks!!! Minus the hot werewolves, vampires and all around coolness.

Great food!!

Especially Chipotle burritos, local mexican food and especially

Henry's 12th St. Tavern in Portland!!! (Seriously, best place ever)

And of course. Great coffee. Really great coffee.

I also got to meet up with my cousin whom I hadn't seen since I was 16, got to go to an authentic japanese garden, went to the first spaghetti factory, watched a lot of the Food Network and "Say Yes to the Dress".

2,500 miles later

and a handful a memories...

Best trip ever.

Fool me once, Shame on you. Fool me twice, Shame on me.

I have heard this saying about 20 times in the past 3 days.

Why?

Because I have successfully been robbed from 3 times.


Robbery #1: Summer of 06'

It was a hot summer day! So I decided to stop at a gas station in Kaysville to get a Frazil. If you don't know what a Frazil is, they are amazingly wonderful slurpee drinks. But anyways, I went into the gas station carrying my keys and wallet and started serving myself a frazil. Well, a man came up next to me and also started serving himself a Frazil. He said "hi"very kindly and asked how my day was. I said "good" and continued to focus on my Frazil. Well when I went up to the counter I realized I didn't have my wallet! I was like, Oh, I must have left it in my car. But while walking out to my car, I realized "NO! I didn't leave it in my car, I had it with me when I was getting my drink" Just as I realized that, I see the man and about 2 other guys drive off in a white truck.

Crappy huh? It actually turned out ok. I guess the guy who seemed very nice and gentlemenly just was looking for cash. Once he grabbed my wallet and saw there was no cash in it, he shoved it in a random mailbox and drove away. A few days later someone called me and told me they sent my wallet to the police and I could pick it up there.

All turned out ok.


But shame on him!




Robbery #2: Thanksgiving 2007

Me, George and our friend Mike decided to drive down to Vegas and have Thanksgiving with George's mom. When we arrived in Vegas the night before Thanksgiving, it was really late so I left a few things in my car(my mistake). On Thanksgiving day, I think around the afternoon, I finally went out to my car to grab my stuff. Well, you guessed it. My stuff was gone. My friend Mike left the backdoor unlocked so my stuff(ipod and accessories, a watch, and worst of all, my laptop) was easily taken.

ARRRG!!! I was hysterical. I went to the police and since it's Vegas, I am sure a stolen laptop is the least of their worries! But I was so upset. Mostly because it wasn't just a laptop, it was the device that stored ALL of my essays and homework that were due.

But even through all of this, I knew it could have been worse. How could it have been worse? Well, I had a spare key sitting on the passengers seat of my car. So, the person who robbed me wasn't that smart because they actually could have just taken my whole car.

But the story gets better. The next day while we were driving home from Vegas, my car got a crack in the header and died.


Shame on me.



Robbery #3: March 15th, 2010

This one is the most vague. Mostly because I don't know when or where it happened... But this is what I do know.

Monday evening: I take my friend Anna out for dinner and ice cream. After we went to get ice cream(I paid with my card), I dropped her off and went to the church. On our way to the church in Syracuse, I put lotion on(important I promise). My car stays at the church for about 2 hours until George takes it to our friends house in West Point. We stay in West Point until about 11 than drive home.

Tuesday morning: I leave the house at around 9 to go to the gym. On my way to the gym I was going to put lotion on but looked down and couldn't find my lotion. "That's weird" I thought to myself. Before I get out of my car to go to the gym, I make sure my doors are all locked because there was a guy in the car next to me.

When I get out of the gym, I get in my car and get ready to go to the store. I look down and notice my cigerette burner is open. "That's weird, I think to myself." "Thats never opened"

Than I realize in a panick! "IT'S NEVER OPENED BECAUSE MY IPOD CHARGER IS ALWAYS PLUGGED INTO IT!" Thats when it hit me. My ipod, ipod charger and aux chord are gone. I freak out and call George, he said to call the police and everything should be ok. I was ok. Not too big of deal. Well I get to the store and go to grab my purse and realize. No purse.


By this time, I'm just exasperated.


Anyways, I am not going to go into detail but I concluded it happened at my church because there I know my doors were unlocked. I also concluded that the person who stole my stuff was just some kid who wasn't going to really try to use my cards.

I was wrong.

So through this whole ordeal I lost; An iPod, iPod charged, Aux chord, purse, $75 worth of eye contacts, work badge, $99 coupon for a facial, my wallet, drivers licence, debit and credit card, and social security card.

I am sure there were some other things that I'll realize and regret having in my purse later but for now. I'm mad.

What makes matters worse, The person who took my card used my card at 2 places. One at a gas station and spent $74.52. The other, I guess we'll find out in a few days.

I know eventually everything will work out but...jeez. I'm not going to lie. This just totally sucks.

I think it's time to get a car with automatic locks. And it's time for me to stop leaving valuable things in my car.

Shame on me.

A thought from Jessica

I just read this post from my friend Jessica that was begging the question,"What if you could go back and re-make decisions you had made previously", or "What if you could see where you would go if you made a decision?"

Oh man. Wouldn't that be great?

But it's not that way. Most of the time, we are all just shootin in the dark. But are we? Personally, I don't think so. The reason? Because I believe that God has a plan for my life.

If you are reading this and scoffing at the thought of pre-determaination well read my personal story and see if you still feel the same way after.

4 years ago I graduated High School. My life so I thought was going to be on a fast track to success. For my last semester of High School, I did an internship at America First in the Marketing Dept. The plan was, once my internship was done, they'd send me out to a branch where I can work as a teller. Life would be peachy.

Well it didn't happen that way. On the contrary, after I graduated and finished my internship, and America First wouldn't hire me as a teller. I interviewed with 4 different managers and they all were un-willing to take me as much as the HR recruiter Dan recommended it.


Life sucked.


I was graduated with no job. I felt rejected and lost. I spent a whole semester trying to shine so that I would be able to get a job(Because I had NO other job experience, I didn't think it'd be able to get a job anywhere else).

So, I ended up being a movie extra for about 2 months. I made good money but I knew I couldn't an extra for the rest of my life. So I started putting out applications anywhere that was hiring. One of the places was Barnes and Noble. Obviously, I was a little resentful about the whole situation because I really didn't see myself working anywhere retail. I had my heart set at working at America First.

Much to my disbelief and reluctancy though, I actually got the job at Barnes and Noble.

You're probably now asking yourself, why are you telling me this story?

Well... it turns out. This job CHANGED my life.

At Barnes and Noble, I met a someone who brought Christ into my life and changed my life forever. But that isn't it. If I would have done what I wanted to do and gotten the job at America First, I never would have met my husband, George.

I guess what I am saying is, 3 and a half years ago, I would have given anything to go back and try and change things so that I would have gotten the job at America First then.



Now, not a chance.

Weight of the world

Sigh. This is a long blog

I feel like writing is my theorpy lately. I am SOOO emotional lately. I really need to figure out a way to get it under control. I feel like it's to a point where whenever someone comes and talks to me, they have to be cautious of what they say in fear I might break down at them. It's awful!

That's not really what i'd want to talk about though. I want to talk about a problem I have. I don't know how many women actually read this blog but I hope this blog will change the way you think about yourself.

At my church we are going through a study about Fireproofing your marriage which is a study based on the movie "Fireproof". If you haven't seen it, you need to.

Anyways, today our study was about parasites in your marriage. Which is anything that comes in between your marriage. It could be something as small as a husband watching too much t.v. and something as big as pornography and alcoholism.

When we first started talking I was like "Nah, I don't have any parasites I cause in our marriage!" But after really discussing what a parasite was, I found out that I do have a parasite. In fact this parasite is probably THE BIGGEST problem in mine and George's relationship and I have never even realized it before.

What is it?

My weight.

My self-esteem.

My self-worth.

All of these are self inflicted parasites that slowly take away from mine and my husbands intimacy and love. I am so concerned about how I FEEL that I never listen to when he tells me I'm beautiful. I don't believe him because what he thinks is beautiful, is not what is beautiful in my eyes.

Anyways, I don't want this to be a blog where I am wanting re-enforcement that I am beautiful.

THAT IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF THIS BLOG.

The purpose is, for fellow women, the majority of us compliment each other on the things we wear or the way we look right?! Well why do we do that? Personally, I compliment people on things that i'm jealous of. such as:

"I love your hair...it's so cute"

"Oh my goodness, that is such a cute shirt"

"You look so good, I would never look like that in that outfit"

First off.

This is so unhealthy. We are focusing on outward appearances instead of what really matters.

Secondly,

We are just comparing ourselves to one another

We all do it!

WHY!?

So, my challenge to all the women out there to stop complimenting each other on the things we SEE about each other on the OUTSIDE but rather things you SEE on the INSIDE.

Personally, I would take it much more to heart if someone told me "You're such a strong women." or "You have such confidence in yourself, I find that so inspiring!" rather than "Aw, you look so cute in those jeans"

Do you know what I mean?

I know i'm not the only one with this problem and I know we could all be there for each other and help us have a healthier relationship with ourself and ultimately, with our husband and God.

Please, just think about it.

On another note...

My best friend since 2nd grade had her first baby today. It's amazing how we are all growing up! Congrats to Meg and Ryan! Hopefully they'll pick out a name soon for their little boy! ( The first picture is my favorite because I caught her reaction to seeing her baby boy for the first time. )

Isn't it amazing.

It's hard to think I am having problems with my self esteem while someone else is bringing a life into this world.

A person so beautiful. Peaceful. And perfect.

Just the way they are.

: )

Siamese Cat.

So tonight was an interesting night. It started off much like most nights...George and I were just home playing a game... talking. Than we both start craving ice cream. After discussing for about 30 minutes where we were going to go get ice cream, we just decide to go to Wal-Mart pick up ice cream and take it home. (This is when the story gets interesting I promise)

So I'm driving on I-93 to go to Wal-Mart and all the sudden I see a cat in the road! But it wasn't dead! I saw it's eyes and it was sitting up! I was like "OH MY GOSH!!! THERE WAS A CAT IN THE ROAD!" George didn't think much of it because there are a lot of cats whose lives sadly end on that stretch of road so he figured it was dead. But I knew it wasn't! So, I did what my humanitarian self would immediately react to do. I turned the car around. George starts freaking out "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!". I replied, "I have to save that cat! It's going to get hit!"


Sure enough when we got back to where the cat was we found it just still sitting in the middle of the road! I was scared to death I was going to witness this cat get run over. But every car that zoomed passed it missed it by inches! So when the cars cleared I ran out into the middle of the road and grabbed that cat(really not thinking what course of action I would take next) and took it back to my car. The cat was definitely alive but very limp....but it started purring as soon as I grabbed it.

I hurried and took it back to my house! Since it was so dark I couldn't tell if it was bleeding or seriously hurt. When I got home I put the cat down and it kind of toppled over. So I then thought maybe it couldn't walk. But a moment later it dashed away into the kitchen and hid.


So now what. We have a seemingly healthy cat running around our house with no collar. My first instinct was to take a picture of it and post fliers all around the neighborhood and keep the cat in the garage. But after discussing it over, we concluded the best thing to probably do is take it to the part of neighborhood closest to where we found the cat.

So we took the street near the highway and let it loose. He looked around for a second than ran off(really looking like he knew where he was... or at least i'm really hoping)


I can't help but just wonder why it was just sitting there in the middle of the road. When we found it, it had what looked like a bloody nose so the only thing I can think is maybe it just got side swiped by a car or something and got to wind knocked out of it... regardless...I really am hoping and praying that cat finds it's way home...

I guess it's out of my hands now... but at least I know I wont be seeing that cat on the side of the road tomorrow...