it's a wonderful life

this is parker after i scolded him for eating the tree

last night my room-mate and i decorated our christmas tree. i love this time of year now i know everyone says that, but honestly do. it is is the little things that makes this time of year special.

the way shelton smells like christmas trees, it isn't called christmas town usa for nothing
the bakery next to my work smells like ginger bread

egg nog and peppermint ice cream hit the shelves

the crowds at the mall

the bell ringers outside of all the stores

the hustle and bustle of traveling

watching it's a wonderful life, might be my all time favorite thing.

my dad still has my sister and i leave cookies for "santa", and writes a letter from "santa"

he then wakes us up at 6am because he can't wait any longer to watch us open presents, before we are even in the living room he has the video camera with the brightest light you have ever seen right in your face. this is what makes my christmas special.

and i am thankful

so lets see here. thanksgiving break was great. i talked my boss into taking two days off for the holiday. i am thankful for that. it gave me a chance to go home and really spend time with my family and shelton friends. on friday my dad decided to keep his office open so i thought it would be fun to go "work" for the morning (since i worked there for 4 years). while i was there, i was able to see some of my favorite patients which was such and blessings and i am thankful for them.
clyde and lynn- my second grandparents
greeta- my 97 year old favorite lady, who cried when she saw me, which in turn made me cry
bob- who was so excited to see "maggie". (aka me) he has called me that since he met me and still thinks that is my name. (if you knew bob you would understand)
i love my dads office and miss working there sometimes.

i love shelton also, urraco makes me smile and all the girls there too! i got to hang out with becky, elisabeth, and kristen while i was home. i am thankful for them! my mom, sister and i went to see enchanted while i was home. now this film isn't some great movie that will win tons of awards, and it won't win the heart of "indie movie folk" either, but who doesn't love a good princess movie every once in a while...i know sure do. it was also just nice to spend some time with my mom and sister. i was thankful for that. (my dad didn't want to go to the movie, but who could blame him?)

on sunday i went to fbc with my family. last time i went to church there the sermon was from nehemiah and mars hill was going through nehemiah at that time as well. this time the service was from philippians which is the book mars hill is going through right now. they both have completely different approaches to the book. which was really interesting to see. i honestly like that mars hill goes through the book completely and i feel like i understand that part of the bible so much more. i am thankful for that.

yesterday at community group i brought my friend matt. which made me realize that i now have too many big brothers (i am thankful for that, for the most part) and am never going to bring a guy (even though we are just friends) to group again. also last night at group our leader told us he is leaving mars hill so he won't be able to lead our group any more. but before any more rumors get spread about my church let me explain. taylor is leaving because he feels God is leading him to serve else where, not because he has any problems with the church. it is sad and i am really sad to see him leave. taylor has been such a great leader i am thankful for all he has done for our group and i will really miss him.

tonight i went out to sushi with my friend kelsey. who is just such a awesome person i love getting together with her. i am thankful for that friendship.

wyld life

this is the wyld life group i work with. this last friday we took the kids to the q-cafe to listen to mark wagner. who is awesome. such a nice guy, and i really loved his music. also playing there was elijah grindstaff. who played at rock for sudan benefit show in shelton. i was able to talk to him after he played and he remembered me as the "shirt girl" apparently i helped him make his "rock for sudan" shirt. he also says he wears it all the time....which is awesome! he works with my friend wesley, so we are all going to hang out soon. (after kat and wes are done getting married...which is this saturday by the way! and i am so happy for them)

i love all these kids and i am loving to get to know them more. i was able to hang out with 4 of the girls when i drove them home. there were pretty excited that they met a girl (aka me) who can drive a 5 speed. i told them they need to meet more girls. but we had fun rocking out to school yard heros new cd. the girls are only 12 and 13 but they have gone to like 3 of their shows, which really shocked me. (if you have ever been to their show or listened to their music, it is not a place i would recommend for a young girl) i like their music but would for sure never take caitlyn (my younger sister) there. i am hoping the girls i drove home join my small group. they were fun, and i think we would get along great.

peter parker

parker is one year old today.

parker when i first got him

i love my puppy.

even though he is only 10lbs he protects me on my late night runs around green lake (or tries)

this sunday colin and i will hopefully take parker to the dog park. he thinks he is tough, and enjoys running with the big dogs, and loves to swim at magnuson park.

who doesn't love some johnny cash?

i love johnny cash, i think mostly because he reminds me of my grandpa eddie. johnny cash reminds me of sitting on my grandpa's lap listening to all his crazy stories, and the smell of tobacco and cars. i miss that smell sometimes.

seriously who does that?

last night after work i went to caffe ladro with a friend. we were sitting and talking when a homeless man walked in, bought his coffee and sat down at the table next to us. he wasn't bothering anyone, just enjoying his coffee and the luxury of being in a warm place. ladro was really busy last night and a group of people walked in looking for a table to sit at. yet all the tables were full. so they walked up to the homeless man and told (not asked, which still would of been rude) him to move. the homeless man looked at them, and moved. leaving him standing to finish his coffee. sean looked around seeing if there were any chairs available for the man to sit in, but they were all full. so the man left, to bare another night in the cold, and rejected by our snobby society yet again.

i am disgusted with those people, but also with my self for not saying anything to them. why was i sheepish and afraid to confront those rude people. why not say "who are you? he isn't bothering you, you should wait for a table to be free. he bought coffee just like you, and has every right to be here." but no, i just sit there. (awesome).

the more i think about this situation the more is breaks my heart, and the more i want to go back in time, step up and say something. just some thought for the day. next time i will remember this moment and try to be a good person.

i can turn tables.

this weekend i met a guy named gary. he has a small recording studio, and records bands for free. basically his a hobby. my favorite thing about this was he has turn tables in his basement! they were awesome! he taught me a few things and said i made a "fatty beat" (ha) maybe i found my true calling?

my second favorite thing about gary is he works at a sushi bar, and made some tasty sushi.

when shelton comes to visit

we roll in the leaves

we throw leaves

becky seduces the leaves

we like our shoes in the leaves

then we go to ladro for coffee

this weekend was fun...some highlights include...

• wlyd life was a blast
  
• i got new shoes (as i was walking to my transfer bus, my heel broke. it was like in a movie, and since i was down town and was going to be all day, i needed to get new shoes)
• had dinner with alex and morgan...(it was so good to see her!)
  
• went and saw band called brier rose with renzo
  
• my good sheltonian friends came to visit
• after church i went bowling with taylor, stephanie, rachel, and sean (i won! imagine that)

table for one please!

this is the first time i have been single since i have been a christian. and i just have to say it is amazing. i have never been able to be me and have a true relationship with Jesus until recently. nor have i ever understood why people would talk about being single as a blessing, but now i do. i feel like in a relationship you have to be strong. strong in your faith and with Jesus, so not to stumble. you have to have boundaries, which to be honest is hard. if you are not strong with these things you do stumble, and i stumbled, i also caused other people to stumble. for this i am sorry. and through all of it i was hurt. but i am stronger because of it, i have a better relationship with my dad, i have a stronger faith and relationship with Jesus, i learned a lot, and i have been able to find me. who i really am, and what i believe. i was talking about this with a couple friends, and they are feeling the same way. i have decided that i am going to use this time to get closer to Jesus, and find what He wants for me. i am still searching for who i am, but what a perfect time to do this. find who i am. so what that guy does come along i am strong and only bringing good things to the relationship. i am so glad that i did not jump right back a new relationship (i almost did). it would have just been another bad decision. plus i want someone who interests are first in Jesus and then in me, not the other way around. i have people around me who are willing to help me make the right life decisions. no one can do it alone. i tried to do it alone and failed. i have made so many mistakes, but i have salvation. obviously i will never be perfect, and i will continue to stumble. which is why it is so important to have people in your life to help keep you in line. it is nice to know that Jesus never loses a christian. this is the time in my life, where i get to decide my own future and what i (and Jesus) want. i don't think i have ever thought about what i want. this is exciting!

things the new year holds for me.

• getting my certification in nutrition and exercise
• being a crux leader
• new work schedule...never working later then 4pm (praise the lord no more 9 1/2 hour days)
• promotion at work, i will now be the rehab technician and financial advisor!
• maybe helping with worship for the middle school youth group(maybe)
• hopefully getting back into theater, which i miss so much!

in june i will be moving closer to the city...aka ballard, fremont, or queen ann with kristen...and maybe some other cool peeps. our newest idea is to rent a house boat on lake union. we would pretty much have the coolest pad to hang, and the best place to enjoy and nice glass of red wine. (which i am growing to like more then white)

"remember the time we lived on a house boat, yeah that was cool"