11 Odd Questions

This is a challenge from my friend Patti. These questions were posted on her blog which is simply divine.

1) Do you hit the ground running when you first wake up or are you slow to warm up? I hit the ground running! I usually give myself 20 minutes from the time I wake up to the time I am out the door.
2) What is your favorite movie of all time? The Notebook because I believe it en captures the love story I am going through. The last half of the movie will hopefully be the next half of my life.
3) What is the best vacation you've ever taken, and why?
I liked going to Hawaii and going snorkeling. I got to see coral, dolphins, large fish and taste pineapple ice cream.
4) Do you have a hero in your life? Who and why? God is my hero because he won't give up on me.
Patti is my hero because she has stuck by her man. Tylor is a hero because he has stuck by me.
5) Cat person, dog person, or other?

Cat person. Purrrr, dogs are kinda intimidating. Cats are gentle and they like to sleep. So they are like me.
6) Favorite subject in elementary school?
English! I love words. My second favorite would be technology.
7) What is your favorite kind of food?
Chicken nuggets. I know its gross, but its what I grew up on. Nuggets and ketchup!
8) If you could ask God for ANYTHING what would it be?
If he could give me some heat in my apartment to keep warm.
9) What do you like to do in your spare time? Don't have
any? Pretend. I like to curl up and read a good book and drink some hot chocolate or tea.
10) What helps you get your creative juices flowing?
Journaling or day dreaming.
11) What genre of book do you tend to read the most?
 Right now I am reading Cake Boss and I am learning about business, life and cooking.

My questions for you are:
1. What is your source of heat in your house?
2. Is that heat source expensive?
3. Which one do you like best? Hummingbirds, dragonfly's or butterfly's?
4. If you could be free from one thing what it would be?

Bringing Hope To the Suffering

Acknowledging that there was pain in my life was a tough realization to come to last year. But last year I had to start over and take a hard look at myself. In September 2011, I found myself living at home, working part time, scrounging for money, barely being able to hold onto the idea of hope, and running (in the literal sense) from any pain I might possibly feel while living out my life.

I think it was fair to say that while I did have a home, friends who had a home that let me in and a boyfriend whose family welcomed me into their home, I had my bags packed and was ready to run. It sounds cowardly, but it was the sad truth.

Granted I still struggle with communicating and responding to people, rather than just reacting, fixing, and fleeing from painful situations. But in July, 2012, after graduating from a year at Freedom Session at Faith Assembly of Lacey, taking a self employment business class that taught me how to hone my skills as a professional, learning to budget money, and examining in my heart what I wanted to do with my life, I ended up finding, applying and subsequently taking a position with the Red Cross in Tacoma as a (Listener/Story Teller).

I also became a facilitator's assistant and signed up for an other round of Freedom Session. I am still the secretary for Lutheran Women's Missionary League, and I am going to be on the Board of Evangelism at Trinity Lutheran Church come January. Life and Times as my mom always says!

My Red Cross job entails bringing hope to the hopeless and alleviating suffering endured by those affected by a natural disaster or emergency. Just recently, I was creating a flier about our Holiday Giving Campaign and the graphics on it that were created by National, said Let it Hope, Let it Hope, Let it Hope. I just smiled knowing personally that for me, hope is the result of faith and faith is something I realized I had to hold onto last year when times were bleak. Faith & Hope is what I cling to now to stay sane and healthy.

After a year of getting to know my mom's passion for healthy living, I now leave my apartment every morning with a vi shake in my hand and vitamins in my pocket. I want to lose weight and know that I can if I eat healthy, drink my vi and exercise. I look forward to holding Challenge Parties at my apt complex's community room soon too. What I am really excited about is that I have my own apartment now (#B52, wifi is titled "Rock Lobster Network" and it looks like a pink bomb went off when you come in).


Life has suddenly become fast, furious and fulling, but I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to say that my life's entire work whether it be Mon-Fri or on the weekends is to bring hope to the hopeless and alleviate people's suffering. God is surely an amazing God who is full of grace and mercy and will use what you have been through to help others.

The Lovely Adventures of Jack and Jill in Olympia

Jill leisurely danced to a 90’s love song being sung by a soulful singer in the dark cove on the second story of The Pig Bar in Olympia. She nonchalantly swayed her hips from side to side and closed her eyes so that her ears could listen to the music being sung. Jill was enjoying herself and relaxing by the sound of Olympia.

Watching her was Jack who was seated on the black leather couch underneath the large flat screen T.V. in The Pig Bar. He took a bite out of his pulled pork nachos and then a sip from his cold beer every time she finished going side to side with her hips.

The bartender watched the two of them and silently smiled.  “It’s the time for love again I guess” He thought to himself and poured another glass for the gal and another beer for the guy.

Upon a bold move by Jack and help from the bartender, Jill released her phone number and a few days later the date was planned.

“We’ll go out to eat at Wally’s and then enjoy a sunset at the marina,” Jack spoke carefully.

“Okay sounds great!” Jill answered.

Jill felt butterflies turn in her stomach as she looked through her closet. To her surprise, she hardly had any good weekend date clothes. Luckily she saw a store that looked like a closet called Mandelins . So the next day she went back to the closet store to find an outfit for the date.

Upon entering Mandelins she noticed the twice worn clothes on the racks and realized it was a consignment store. But a pleasant surprise awaited her as she started to sift through the clothes…practically everything was a brand name piece. Torrid, BGX, AGB, Jones New York, Alfani, Karen Scott, Calvin Klein, and the names went on and on. The next surprise was pleasantly shocking…the prices were low enough on the pieces of clothing so that she could afford them.

“This place is great!” She exclaimed to the cashier.

“Yes, I love it. You’ve got a great outfit here too.  I love that you picked out the pink pencil skirt and white lacy, cap sleeved, top. You must be going on a date!”

“Yes I am,” Jill said while the color in her cheeks rose. “The guy who asked me seemed nice enough and I kind of let my guard down at this little place downtown so I guess I’ll just have to live with the consequences. Hopefully it will turn out to be a good consequence.”

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The Date
As Jack and Jill pulled up to Wally’s Sub and Sand which shop, the anticipation in Jack’s abs tightened as he thought of enjoying a good sand which with such fine company. Jill stepped out of the car daintily and put a simple smile to put him at ease.

Wally’s offered the two full sandwiches that they could each customize to meet their tastes in food. There was also entertainment because along the wall were drawings of scenes of local Olympians eating delicious meals at Wally’s.  Jack drew a drawing of Jill illustrating to her how beautiful she looked to him with her hair pinned up, eye lashes darkened, lips colored and white lace top accenting her feminine shoulders. Her polite smile turned into a real one as he pinned the napkin portrait on the wall with the rest.

While driving to Boston Harbor Marina, Jack and Jill chatted about their likes and dislikes, commented on the cold February weather and relaxed while watching the wide open sky, forests and fields pass by them.

Once they got to the marina, Jill interest sparked in the scenery even more.

“Can we walk down by the boats and get closer to the Puget Sound?” Jill asked.

“Of course, just be careful the wooden docks are a little wobbly.” Jack answered.

As they walked down the stairwell from the parking lot to the dock and then from the dock to the lower docks on the water, Jill thought of the local families who come and enjoy this place and how she might have one of her own someday.

Walking along the dock, a seal came up and greeted them both with a watchful eye. Boat owners tinkered on their boats and the masts on the boats chimed with the others. The cold air swooped in around them and Jack moved closer to Jill to make sure the wind wouldn’t cut through her light layers of clothing.

At the end of the dock was a bench. Jack offered her the seat and she took it. They sat together and watch the boats sail by, the kayakers’ row and the clouds move past the foot hills that sat just beneath the white capped cascades in the distance.

Jack sighed to calm himself down even further and then put his arm around Jill. She smiled expressing the tingle of warmth that she felt spark within her heart.

“Thank you Jack, I was getting cold and you warmed me up,” she said to break the ice even further.

“You are welcome Jill, you are a beautiful lady and this is the most beautiful place I could think to take such a lady.”