i think i like you

Thankful, for Kelly

2009-11-26T16:01:00.000-08:00

I am Thankful for

God
My loving husband
My loving family, old and new
Graces in my life
Free time to learn new things
Greenlake, because it gives me a great place to run
A great church that I can call home
All my beautiful nieces and nephews that fill my heart
Having time to work out, helps relieve my stress
The bible, because it teaches me so much every day
The ability to learn and do what makes me happy
Reconciling
Laying in a cold room and snuggling close to Josh to stay warm
My first holiday season as a wife
Cooking meals
Having people to talk to, who listen to my struggles and actually care
Being able to talk to my mom every day
My new boots
Our beautiful wedding in August
Our wedding pictures that captured every moment
Wonderful friends who help me grow more in Christ
A husband who tries to understand my need to make the bed each morning
2 reliable and paid for vehicles
Our 550 square foot apartment, constantly being around each other will be a great memory some day
Learning to trust God to get us through this trail
Learning that I can trust God

:)

wordpress

2008-09-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

so my blog has moved.

but i hope you continue reading, because i know i will continue to read yours...

so find me here and keep reading..

happiness

2008-09-09T11:05:00.000-07:00

is getting my mac book tonight!

blog update very soon.

i am very happy these days.

i think

2008-08-27T15:14:00.000-07:00

today should be over because i am excited for tonight.

i also think it should be friday because that would mean my family is coming to visit and i miss them.

it would also mean that i am going to bumbershoot which i am excited about for a couple of reasons. one too soon to mention.

welcome to my lonely heart

2008-08-13T09:05:00.001-07:00

latley i have been feeling very...lonely, and i have been trying to place the source of my loneliness.

here is what it isn't from..
it is not from not having friends, and it is not because i live alone now.

what i have come to realize is loneliness is a mysterious emotion, and just because you are surrounded by tons of people who love you, doesn't mean you can't feel completely alone.

part of my loneliness is that i am missing God. i started going back to church regularly and the first few sermons were on prayer, they were powerful and i didn't realize how much my prayer life was missing. i missed talking to God, and i missed His constant surroundings. i seem to have more non-Christian friends then Christian, which can be a very lonely place to be. so i joined a new community group, with this i have met some great people who love Jesus, and having just having that around me makes me feel...less lonely.

another part of my loneliness was losing someone i love.
rachel moved to china, as many know. but being so close with her made it hard, when you lose your best friend you feel a little more alone in the world filled with liers and betrayers. being able to trust people is a huge issue for me, and i don't trust easily. so to lose someone i could trust is hard.

so welcome to my lonely heart.
i am not sad about feeling this way. it just makes me think, even though things are changing and that is hard for me to except, i know that i have people who love me and most important i have a stronger relationship with Jesus. maybe i am supposed to be lonely at this time in my life so that i turn to Him for strength and understanding? or maybe i am just reading too much into this.

i wish..

2008-08-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

i wish i had a computer to blog about all that is exciting in my life.

such as...
moving to fremont in my own little apartment
not driving my car ever
capitol hill block party
putting together my ikea furniture all by myself first try
and how i am going to be an auntie of two!

i am holding out to buy a mac, i am getting so close!

it's alright...

2008-06-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

i know i have the cutest niece in the world.

she says mandy now, and it makes my heart melt every time.

her new favorite word is "no". if you ask her anything the answer is a big "NO" even if she wants it. i know it drives my sister crazy, i think it's pretty cute.

anathallo stole my heart

2008-06-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

they might just steal yours too

last wednesday kat and wes invited me to the nectar to see kat's favorite band anathallo.

i am always up for new music so i thought why not?

i was in for a very special treat, and like my title says anathallo stole my heart. the best live show i have seen, and the nicest people you will ever meet.

they will be coming again around november. i suggest you don't miss them

donate to the mandy needs fund

2008-06-10T17:37:00.000-07:00

i am moving in about a month and a half.

i haven't found a place yet, but i am working on it.

my room-mate is moving out in two weeks along with all his stuff. tv, couches, computer. basically i will be left with a huge empty apartment.

things i need.
tv (not a huge need, but i do like to watch movies)
couch (maybe)
kitchen table
chairs
computer
computer desk
ipod station (so i can play my ipod in my apartement)
book shelf

feel free to donate!

dear rachel

2008-05-27T17:07:00.001-07:00

this is rachel recker.
she moved to seattle in september to nanny, and became my best friend. rachel went to art school and challenged me to think differently.

this is the kind of friend you can count on to be there for you, and the one who will totally kick your ass if you are being an ass. this is the kind of friendship were you can go out and have a great time, or sit in silence together. this is the kind of friendship where you can spend every day together and not drive each other insane, it's really hard to find a friend like that.

last week she moved to georgia for the summer to be a camp counselor with her brother. (who i decided i want to marry) after the summer is over she is moving to china for a year to teach art and english. hopefully after that she will be back in seattle.

we went to shows together....a lot
the blakes (twice)
angels and airwaves
shim (twice)
thunderbird motel (um lots)
thee emergency (twice)
the hands
the submarines
bell x1

we played at the park together

we bouldered together (rock climbed)
we ate sushi a lot
we cooked together
we watched movies together
we went salsa dancing

she is my best friend and i miss her dearly.

there come a time when i should learn not to operate a automobile

2008-05-04T10:03:00.001-07:00

i have been in 5 major car accidents since i have been 16. (let me point out that i was not at fault for most of them, i swear i am a cautious driver)

the 5th accident occurred april 29, 2008. i was coming to a stop because the person in front of me was turning left but yielding to traffic, the person behind me did not stop and SMACKED. right into me. thankfully my car is drivable, but it will be going in to the shop this thursday. $3000 of damage, my most minimal accident yet.

let me just add that the 5 car accidents mentioned above, don't even count the times that my cars have been wrecked when i haven't even been in them.

i love my bike. i love the metro. and i can't wait until i do not have to drive my car on a regular basis.

wristcutters- a love story

2008-04-23T15:51:00.000-07:00

saturday night rachel and i decided to have a "in" night. most of our weekends we are going out to shows. but since nothing we were interested in was playing we made fondue and watched a movie.

rachel uses netfilx and do to her past rentals netflix recommended "wristcutters-a love story".

plot:
after zia (patrick fugit) commits suicide by cutting his wrists, he finds himself in an afterlife limbo that is much the same as his former reality, just slightly worse. this strange realm is populated by people who have committed suicide, such as eugene (shae whigmam), a russian rocker who lives with his mother, father and brother (all suicide victims). eugene is partly based oneugene eugene hütz of the band gogol bordello, whose music features in the film as that recorded by character eugene's old band. he kills himself on stage by pouring a beer he is drinking ("dead guy ale", brewed by rogue brewing company) onto his guitar. together they waste most of their death in bars, until zia learns his ex-girlfriend has also committed suicide. he and eugene take to the road to find her, picking up hitchhiker mikal (shannyn sossamon) along the way. she insists there's been a mistake and she is seeking the "people in charge" in order to be sent back. this trio of lost souls forms an uncommon bond, road-tripping through the afterlife and meeting memorable characters including an undercover angel named kneller (tom waites).

i was really enjoying the movie, yet sitting there thinking "what"? after i wasn't sure i even liked the movie. however now that i feel like all the strangeness has sunk in, i really love this movie. i think i will make it part of my collection.

go green safely.

2008-04-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

most of the world right now is on the "green kick" love your mother she is the only one you have. and i agree, and do my best to do my part. (although i KNOW i could do better) but i think some people in the effort to be green can be putting themselves in danger, and not even realizing it. at church this sunday i glanced around the room and saw about half the people in the room had reusable water bottles. ranging from nalgene, to alpine water. and i wondered if people knew the harmful effects that plastic bottles have on your body.

the chemicals in Lexan (plastic #7) bottles are enough to scare even the most committed environmentalists from reusing them (or buying them in the first place). Studies have indicated that food and drinks stored in such containers—including those ubiquitous clear Nalgene water bottles hanging from just about every hiker’s backpack—can contain trace amount of Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical that interferes with the body’s natural hormonal messaging system.

The same studies found that repeated re-use of such bottles—which get dinged up through normal wear and tear and while being washed—increases the chance that chemicals will leak out of the tiny cracks and crevices that develop over time. According to the Environment California Research & Policy Center, which reviewed 130 studies on the topic, BPA has been linked to breast and uterine cancer, an increased risk of miscarriage, and decreased testosterone levels. BPA can also wreak havoc on children’s developing systems. (Parents beware: Most baby bottles and sippy cups are made with plastics containing BPA.) Most experts agree that the amount of BPA that could leach into food and drinks through normal handling is probably very small, but there are concerns about the cumulative effect of small doses.

Health advocates also recommend not reusing bottles made from plastic #1 (polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET or PETE), including most disposable water, soda and juice bottles. According to The Green Guide, such bottles may be safe for one-time use, but reuse should be avoided because studies indicate they may leach DEHP—another probable human carcinogen—when they are in less than perfect condition. The good news is that such bottles are easy to recycle; just about every municipal recycling system will take them back. But using them is nonetheless far from environmentally responsible: The nonprofit Berkeley Ecology Center found that the manufacture of plastic #1 uses large amounts of energy and resources and generates toxic emissions and pollutants that contribute to global warming. And even though PET bottles can be recycled, millions find their way into landfills every day in the U.S. alone.

Another bad choice for water bottles, reusable or otherwise, is plastic #3 (polyvinyl chloride/PVC), which can leach hormone-disrupting chemicals into the liquids they are storing and will release synthetic carcinogens into the environment when incinerated. Plastic #6 (polystyrene/PS), has been shown to leach styrene, a probable human carcinogen, into food and drinks as well.

Safer choices include bottles crafted from safer HDPE (plastic #2), low-density polyethylene (LDPE, AKA plastic #4) or polypropylene (PP, or plastic #5). Consumers may have a hard time finding water bottles made out of #4 or #5, however. Aluminum bottles, such as those made by SIGG and sold in many natural food and product markets, and stainless steel water bottles are also safe choices and can be reused repeatedly and eventually recycled.

article from. www.naturescrib.com
also check our articles from dr. mercola

so to all my friends! i love you!
pcc, trader joes, and whole foods all have stainless steel water bottles. you can make the switch and still be green.

think local

2008-04-04T23:25:00.001-07:00

lately i have been going local shows around seattle. here are my favorites.

the blakes, chop suey. my favorite seattle band! a fun show with a fun group of people. i got a chance to chat to bob (the drummer since we had met before) they are a nice group of guys. all was well until some idiot thought it would be a good idea to shake his beer then dump it on us. (sure glad i didn't get pulled over that night).

thunderbird motel, at the high dive. i always enjoy seeing those boys. fun rock music that rachel and i just like to dance.

fast friends uk, at the high dive. they played with thunderbird motel. they were very good, their guitar player was amazing! i wish they would have played longer. i will definitly see their next show.

angels and airwaves, showbox sodo. (not so local) but still an amazing show! they used so many different lighting affect it was crazy, and even though i am pretty sure tom delonge was high the whole time the energy on staege was great and it was once of my favorite shows i have been too. david, brian, rachel and i went to this show together and all was well until i got knocked around enough in the center of the "mosh pit" (if you want to call it that) i got sick. i SO never want to get sick in a public restroom again. but a GREAT show despite that fact!

shim, high dive. this band is definitly very close in the running to being my new favorite local band. i think you should listen to them. they had a nice little light show that rachel and i enjoyed and i think i broke my shoe from all our dancing. they played with a band from san diego called bird monster surprisingly they were really good. they had one guy dedicated to tambourine who doesn't love a great tambourine player?

the submarines, the nectar. a two person band, husband and wife. she sings, plays guitar, piano, and xilaphone. while he sings back up, plays guitar and mixes their electronic sound on the mac. they place flowers all over the stage before they play, makes me feel like i went back to the 70's. if you like postal service i feel like you will like the submarines.

bell x1, the nectar. this band is from ireland, and apparently sells out huge venues. they are trying to make a break here in the states. so this huge european band played at the tiny nectar, all their equipment didn't even fit on the stage. someone was running on and off stage switching their guitars for them. if you like snow patrol you will love this band.

tomorrow night i am going to see the hands, at the funhouse. should be a great show i am very excited!

i love seattle and its music.

make room for hollywood

2008-03-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

in seattle free parking is hard to come by, and free parking that isn't limited to one or two hours is truly a treasure to be found. luckily i work by a residential street. meaning free unlimited parking for me! however this week i have had to make room for hollywood. something i am not too fond of.

apparently jennifer aniston is shooting a new movie here in seattle, and has decided to take over all of fremont. they completely cut off any source of free parking in fremont, and though i do love movies i can't remember the last time jen put out a good movie. maybe this new flick "traveling" can change that, though i highly doubt it.

plus the $30 i have had to pay in parking and the $50 ticket i got this week will most definitely not be worth it.

i want fremont back, and i think the residents that live in fremont that was bombarded with porta-potties agrees.

hollywood must not of have had time to clean up the garbage they left behind, however they did have time clean the fremont troll before shooting. interesting.

where do i draw the line?

2008-03-07T14:36:00.000-08:00

i work in fremont and there is this homeless man who hangs out there. i am not sure if he is mentally challenged or if he has done too many drugs, but he walks around and has random out bursts of yelling, body convulsions, dancing, and singing. however at the same time he can be perfectly normal. him and i have held many normal conversations. which i think had lead to my problem. latley he has been hanging around my work more. knocking on the window trying to get my attention, coming into the office, pacing out side on the sidewalk, and most recent he walked me to my car at night.

this is where i start to get a worried. he has never said or done anything inappropriate to me. but i don't feel safe alone with him, especially at night. i don't want to be the rude person who is mean to him, but i want to protect myself. where do i draw the line? and what do i say to him?

it's not like i can say "hey, i am not comfortable around you. please leave" i feel that would just make him mad. or can i say that? dr. mike says i am naive and he has decided to walk me to my car from now on when he is here. but there are times i am at work alone.

so am i being over dramatic? like i said above he has never done or said anything inappropriate. however i wouldn't let a sane man walk me to my car at night.

perfect weekend

2008-02-25T15:57:00.000-08:00

tulips the first sign of a northwest spring

i had the most perfect weekend. which included going down town both saturday and sunday.

saturday i caught the 28 bus and headed downtown to pikes place. i spent the day by myself, it was wonderful, i love days to myself. i bought a new book, went to local color and read, walked through pikes place bought some veggies and fresh fish. after hanging out downtown renzo called asking me if i wanted to go to a "christian rap show" so i did! i might have felt a little out of place, but it was fun.

sunday i decided to go downtown again. this time i caught the 74 bus and headed to lower queen ann to make a short stop at easy street records to buy the shackeltons. then caught the 13 bus and headed to pikes. once there i was joined by rachel at local color. we were shortly joined by kristen, lindsey and marianne and shared a nice cup of coffee.

rachel graduated from art school this last year. she sketches beautiful pictures. so she sketched while i read my book. the sun was shinning in the shop and the coffee was just right. part of a perfect sunday afternoon.

i love seattle in the sun. this is only the beginning to a wonderful spring!

wipe the tears from your eyes-U23D

2008-02-08T16:12:00.000-08:00

last monday i went and saw U23D, it was one of the coolest things i have done in a long time. now to be honest U2 has not always been my favorite band, i actually had some resentment toward them. i did always apprecaite the good music they produced, but wouldn't listen to them unless my dad or brian put their cd in the player. i think U2 always reminded me of my dad. (not that this is a bad thing) but when i was little he might have put on some bono and cranked up the stereo. which i am pretty sure mortified me as a child. no one wants to be dropped off at school in junior high by your dad cranking what you think at the time is "old man rock". this is where it think my slight resentment to U2 came from. but my eyes have been opened, the clouds are clearing and i can see what i have been missing. i have a new found respect and love for bono, the edge, adam clayton, and larry mullen jr.

the whole experience was amazing, you walk in to the theater with your 3D glasses in hand. the first thing see you notice is the 6 story screen, and then the show begins....it starts with the crowd cheering in anticipation, then bang! there is bono and who would guess? you right there on stage with him. you are singing "sunday bloody sunday" with bono! then when they sings "wipe the tears from your eyes" bono reaches out his hand to wipe the tears from your eyes. the whole 90min i sat in awe. in awe of the great musicians, in awe of the excitment crowd, in awe of the stage show, in awe of the light effects.

i think i am going to go again before it leaves town. if you have a chance to come to seattle to see U23D don't let the opportunity pass you by. you might have end up leaving with more love for bono in your heart then you sat down with.

ps. new nada surf "lucky" rocks.

this is a good idea!

2008-02-07T11:22:00.000-08:00

Dear _________

Some Valentine’s Day perspective

The economics are simple. In 2005, Americans spent 13 billion dollars on Valentine's Day.

Human Trafficking/Slavery generates around 32 billion dollars every year. That's less than what we spend on three Valentine's Days. Three days... If that doesn't bring you hope, I don't know what will. We have the means. If we have the will...the impossible is possible.

I wish you could meet Joy. She is 14 yrs. old, and was the first child to enter our new safehome in the Philippines this year. To read about Joy's incredible journey please read our blog entitled "The Joy of our Home."

To celebrate Valentine's Day we have a goal to raise $140,000 in February. This will keep our safehome in the Philippines operating for the rest of the year. If each of our friends donates a minimum of $14 in February, we can reach this goal! We can continue to be a home for Joy.

We're not asking you to give up your Valentine's Day traditions, we are asking you to join us in incorporating more into that tradition. More Love.

I believe in the power of the individual. I believe in the power of $14. Please consider incorporating Joy into your Holiday.

You can give through our website {Donate Now}

With Love,

Desirea Rodgers
Co-Founder/Creative Director Love146

family

2008-01-31T23:47:00.001-08:00

i am wide awake and i have to wake up in about 5 hours to go to work. i am probably wide awake because i went out to coffee at 730 this evening. i had my mars hill interview today to finish up my membership process. the interview was funny considering it was done by my community group leader who i know quite well. but i am glad all that work is done now.

while i was lying in bed trying to force myself to sleep i started thinking about my family. mostly my siblings. so i thought i would blog about them since i miss them.

this is carissa. my oldest sister. she is marrried to scott and they gave me my beautiful niece grace, who is walking now! carissa lives in spokane and works as a waitress at tomato street. (a family italian restaurant in spokane) she went to school in arizona to become a chef and eventually own her own restaurant! but once she graduated realized she didn't want to own her own restaurant. she is however a amazing cook, she mostly loves to bake. i think she should move to seattle and open up her own bakery then i could be a full time live in nanny for grace! i miss them!

this is aric my older brother, he recently moved to detroit which i hate. he is too far away and wasn't even able to come home for christmas. he moved to detroit to work as a floor manager in the camping department at a sportmans warehouse that my cousin is the main manager of. i think he mostly moved to get away. he used to want to be a chiropractor like my dad and eventually take over my dad's practice, but right now he has put that hold. i think eventually he will go back to it. at the moment he doesn't have a girlfriend which is good because i really didn't like the one he had. for the most part i think he misses home. (he tends to call me a lot more now) he is coming to visit the end of february and i can't wait to see him. i miss him.

this is caitlyn. the baby of the family, even though she is 13 now, she will always be the baby. my baby. caitlyn and i are the closest since we grew up together. she watched me go through all my phases, and watched me get in to all my trouble. however she is the one i worry about most. right now being in junior high is such a hard time. i think she is trying to find herself. but in the meanwhile just doing things because it is the "popular" thing to do. i don't like this very much. i want her to do better then i did. she is an amazing writer for being 13 and wants to be a journalist when she grows up. i hope she goes for it. she plays piano and is also an awesome volley ball player. she actually made varsity this past year, and next year even though she will only be a freshman the highschool coach wants her! i am proud of her, and miss her.

grace and predestination

2008-01-28T18:08:00.000-08:00

grace. something i have a hard time understanding. something that is maybe just uncomprehending to me.

predestination. i don't even know where to being to understand that.
definition the decree of God by which certain souls are foreordained to salvation.

calvinism believes that predestination is God reaching to those to reached out to him first, therefore predestining them for salvation. it was explained to me like this. God can look down the line of time, and see the people who will reach out to love Him. so He in turn reaches down to save them. right? i don't even know if i am understanding this right. but calvinism also believes that God can reach down and bring salvation to those whom He choses with out them choosing Him first. like Paul, right? so if calvinism is what i believe (and i think i do) then i believe God can save whomever He wants. and those he choses not to reach down and save without them reaching to Him first are condemned for hell.

i know that God is just, loving, and faithful, and ultimately it was my choice to reach out to God to gain my saving grace. the same goes to those to hear the Gospel and turn away from God, they ultimately choose hell. even those God pursues sometimes turn away. example pharaoh. God came to pharaoh over and over again with warnings and love but pharaoh still chose hell. if we reject God that is our own responsibility not Gods. we are children of wrath, spiritually dead, we are enslaved by our own sin and cannot save ourselves we need Gods salvation.

i had a friend from high school die in a awful car accident over the weekend in shelton. and to my understanding she wasn't reaching out to God for His salvation. that is hard to stomach, when someone you know dies, not knowing God.

grace. definition the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.
so God has given me love, unconditional love, and grace.

electing grace, God chose me.
preached grace, God gave people in my life to help me grow.
regenerating grace, God gave me a new heart.
converting grace, God gave me desires for Him.
justifying grace, God made me righteous.
adopting grace, God became the ultimate father i needed.
ministry grace, God gave me the ability to help Him with His work.
sanctifying grace, God gave me motive to do His work.
empowering grace, God gave me the ability to do more work then i can handle alone.
provisional grace, God gave me everything i have.
finical grave, God gave me the money i have to live to and steward to Him.
persevering grace, God gave me the promise to never give up on me.
glorifying grace, God gave me the promise to be with Him for eternity.

i accept His grace, but i have a hard time comprehending it. God gave me, little insignificant me, all of that. when i denied Him, laughed at Him, and forsake Him. through all that He loved me first.

Author and Perfecter.

pastor mark gave 2 amazing sermons on both of these subjects you can listen to them if you want.

what to do?

2008-01-25T09:49:00.000-08:00

so i have bronchitis. its gross. i haven't left the house in 3 days, and i might be going crazy. so what do you do when you can barley sit up for more then five minuets?

you totally make yourself and m&m.

you also finish every book you ever started but never finished.
and you watch way to much day time tv, i am pretty sure that is what is making me go crazy

i have been outside twice since tuesday to walk parker. and after that very short walk i pass out for about 3 hours. he has been such a good puppy though. just laying with me. i think he can sense that i am sick.

so after this grueling long post i am so tired and i must go back to sleep.

if anyone wants to make me some chicken soup and bring it by, i wouldn't turn it away. being sick and not being home to have your mom take care of you sucks.

***my plea was answered...
THANKS wes and kat for bringing me soup, and tea, and snacks!

perfect health america

2008-01-22T16:36:00.000-08:00

this weekend i went to a nutrition seminar with my family. a little back ground story, about 2 years ago my dad read a book called "makers diet" and had me and my mom read it too, along with any patients he could convince to take the book home and read it. learn more about the book here. the book is about a man named jordan rubin who was diagnosed with chrons disease and was told there was nothing the medical world could do for him. he basically was going to be sick until he died. but jordan didn't want to accept that fate. so he decided to search other methods of treatment and found a man who helped him research the bible and eat foods that God intended for us to eat, in the form they are meant to be ate. after going on the 40 day diet jordan's health miraculously turned around. (it is an amazing story and i am only summarizing. so you should go buy the book) so this weekend we went to hear jordan speak. it was honestly the most amazing seminar i have been to. the whole weekend was based on biblical teachings on how to eat.

so many people buy the food on the shelves assuming because the FDA passed it, it is ok to eat. nothing could be more wrong. a little story, a man who was mixing toxic chemicals together accidentally got some on his fingers and accidentally licked it. thought to himself "hum that taste good" and tada the invention of aspartame (sweet misery)

there are so many things in this world that God never intended for our bodies that we eat. i liked how jordan put it... "tho shall not eat anything God cast demons into". pigs for example, were put on this earth as decomposes they eat anything, even there own feces'. a study was done. they stacked 5 pigs on top of each other in crates and only fed the pig on the top. one month later all the pigs were still alive. (get it...? gross)
ever heard the saying you are what you eat? you are also what THEY eat. pigs also have no sweat gland, meaning no way to extract all the toxins in there body. i hope you enjoy your bacon in the morning.

the same thing goes for shell fish. they are the pigs of the sea. don't eat them.

fish however is very good for you. as long as it is wild fish. the world has decided that everything needs intervention for us to function. and fish in a "farm" is not how God intended us to get our fish. all the nutrients the fish have they get from being in the ocean.

red meat. contrary to popular belief is also very good for you. red meat needs to be from grass fed cows, buffalo, or lamb (yes lamb is a red meat). not grain fed and stuffed with hormones to make them bigger.

dairy. is actually not that important to your diet (well milk isn't) you can get calcium so many different ways. but if you absolutely must have milk you should buy it unpasteurized and hormone free. but stores aren't allowed to sell milk that way. you would have to buy it from a local farmer willing to break the rules for your health. sheep milk is actually the way to go. but again. not available in the states.

i could go on forever, and will probably post more blogs about dieing america in the future.

i was planning on getting my certifications in nutrition from ACE. but after attending this seminar i learned jordan and his team actually offer a "biblical nutrition certification" so that is what i am going to do. i haven't been the most healthy person in the past, and i probably won't be in the future. but it is definitely a goal for me to always be healthier. i want to help someone feel better, and help them understand and how to supply nutrition to there families.

tonight for dinner
cod with lemon on a bed of brown rice. toped with stir fried veggies that will include peppers. squash, onion, and asparagus.

tomorrow for breakfast
my green drink (i always drink that anyway)
cultured strawberry milk ( milk without hormones) and grains with dried fruit
black coffee sweetened with honey, vanilla extract and a tiny bit of cream. (i eventually will be weaning coffee out of my diet. but this is a work in progress)

i challenge you to not buy the microwaved healthy choice(just because something says healthy doesn't mean it is), don't buy diet ANYTHING. and see how you feel. you can pick up a FREE copy of jordan's book at any super supplements store. (i think, if not i will send you my copy!)

a sad fact. more people overweight people living among us then there are undernourished. i mean don't get me wrong i am glad that less people are undernourished. however if america went a week with out potato chips, cookies, ice cream ect. we could feed the world.

i may be a tad-bit cynical today

2008-01-18T15:28:00.001-08:00

and for all those who have to encounter my cynicalness today i apologize.

bad breath grosses me out. and even more gross then bad breath is a person with bad breath that smells up the whole room with their bad breath. i should put a box of free gum on the counter.

i have come to realize that dating is idiotic. it is awkward and not fun! who ever said it was, they lied. the couple "dates" i have gone on have been guys that i kind of known, however i didn't really want to go to begin with. see i have a hard time saying no, i feel bad, even when i was dating brian i had a hard time saying no. not because i wanted to go on dates with these guys, but because i didn't want to hurt anyones feelings. i am pretty sure this didn't make brian very happy, and i think i should work on this so my future husband doesn't have to deal with my stupidity. yet i refuse to date from now on so maybe i won't meet my future husband.

another thing that i am feeling particularly cranky about is guys who try to play the friend card with girls they like. i really hate it when you tell a guy you just like him as a friend and he says he is happy just being friends with you. but in his head he is thinking eventually you will like him if he plays the "friend card" long enough. news flash, it usually just makes her mad and annoyed. if you are "just friends" with a girl. do not call her 3 times a day asking why she won't call you back. don't text her repeatedly (she might turn her phone off), and don't get jealous if she hangs out with other guys because she is not your girlfriend, nor does she want to be. (wow i am a bit more cranky about this then i thought, maybe i need some coffee)

ok, so on to a happy note.

this past weekend i went to see thunderbird motel (brian's band) and thee emergency. with rachel, lindsey and my room-mate nathan. both bands were awesome. i really love thee emergency despite the divaness that they have, and i have always liked thunderbird motel. but it is so funny my room-mate loves tbm so much! brian gave me on of their cd's and i actually haven't seen the cd since i brought it home. nathan says quote "i am so stoked for their next show!"

we are pretty much dancing machines!

another happy note. lorenzo moved back up to seattle. so sunday we are going to hang out downtown and then go to church. i miss that kid.

a world of wonder

2008-01-11T12:08:00.000-08:00

i wonder why people open their car door before they are ready to get out, leaving no room for others to pass by with out taking the car door off.

i wonder why the government doesn't make people re-take a drivers test every time your license expires.

i wonder why no one learned to only use the left lane for passing.

i wonder when the sun will be back.

i wonder how much i spend of coffee a year.

i wonder why i continue to drink coffee knowing about how much is costs me.

i wonder if i should continue working with youth.

i wonder why people insist on calling their husbands "husband" instead of by his real name.

i wonder where i will live in july.

i wonder if i can handle everything i put on my plate.

i wonder why a guy thinks he can ask you out after meeting you on the street and saying "hey".

i wonder what it would be like.

i wonder why my real dad is trying to be a dad now, when i don't need him.

i wonder if i will ever be an organized person.

i wonder why people listen to doctors, media ect. to give them information about health instead of finding it for themselves.

i wonder what the guys name at church is who knows me by name and hugs me every week.

i wonder why i don't just tell him i don't know him.

i wonder why i care so much if people don't like me. i should just be me.

i wonder why some Christians hate the "church" doesn't God love all, if working towards advancing the gospel.

i wonder what question pastor mark will preach on this week.

i wonder if the book "why people change" will be good.

i wonder why i continue to lock my keys in my car.

i wonder if today will be a good day. it has been so far.

so this is the new year

2008-01-02T09:39:00.000-08:00

i have had parker for one year!! (i love him) to celebrate i took him to the dog park. we had fun.

christmas and my birthday were great. so much has happened in the past two weeks i think i will just highlight them.

watching old family videos with my family ( i was a brat as a young child)
playing pinnacle
a white chirstmas in shelton
spending time with my younger sister caitlyn (she is growing up so fast, it is weird. she is no longer a little girl and i need to stop acting like her mother)
having coffee with old high school friends and realizing that i have nothing in common with them
singing karaoke at mid-night on my 21st birthday with my sister and cousin to "we are family"
going out on my 21st birthday to joey's and chops tix. so fun!
getting my grandmothers wedding ring for my birthday, it is from the 1920's and beautiful
spending time with my mom
watching fireworks at gas works for new years

it feels nice to be 21. no one can tell me i can't go somwhere. when looking for shows to go to, 21
and over will no longer keep me out, that feels nice.

i am actually excited to be back to work today. who knew? however waking up at 530 was a little rough.

every situation has a sunny side

2007-12-19T11:08:00.000-08:00

i woke up this morning at 5am not feeling so good. but since i am on vacation all next week i had to go to work. so i dragged my self out of bed. however by the time i got to the shower i decided i could go back to sleep for 15 more minuets. so i headed back to bed. and awoke to parker's paw on my face. (when he wants to wake me up he lays he paw on my face, doesn't scratch me just lays it there) so i finally got up. which was a good thing because apparently i slept through my snooze alarm. so thanks puppy for waking me up. by the time i got in my car to go to work i was very crabby. it was dark, rainy, and cold, but as i headed to work i decided to turn my own day around. instead of complaining i was going to look for reasons to smile. heres how it is going so far.

there was no line at cafe ladro this morning
the gal there has my drink memorized (i like that, makes me miss uracco)
the gals at ladro got foam animals stickers and decorated my cup with them
i am listening to ingrid michelson at work
someone brought me chocolates
this is the last wednesday i have to work for 2 weeks
river (my fav. little boy who comes in the office) ran in to give me a high five, and after that he told me i needed we needed "pound it" he is two. how cute is that! and when he left he told me he loved me. that makes my heart smile.
it now has stopped raining

look for reasons to rejoice not reasons to complain. (this is what pastor mark has been emphasizing the last few weeks, and i like it)

***added side note: people are funny. this one patient went on our website and saw that i have curly hair. so came in and told me i look much better with curly hair, and how she would like to see it in person. so she told me to wear my hair curly on friday when she comes in next. i feel like i better do what she says. i just find it funny, sometimes people are just funny.

******second added side note: the crocodile cafe is closing. sad. i didn't even get a chance to see a show there. but i am sad. this situation does not have a sunny side.

the number pinned to her dress was 146...

2007-12-17T05:49:00.001-08:00

In 2002, the co-founders of Love 146 traveled to South East Asia on an exploratory trip to determine how they could serve in the fight against child sex trafficking. In one experience, there was an invitation to change the world. to transform a reality that cannot stand. Our male co-founders were taken undercover with investigators to a brothel, where they witnessed children being sold for sex. This was their experience. This is the story that changed our lives.

"...standing shoulder to shoulder with predators in a small room. looking at little girls through a pane of glass. all of the girls wore matching red dresses. they stood, blankly watching cartoons on tv. they were vacant, shells. there was no light in their eyes, no life. to be missing this was shattering. this light has been stolen, this life has been stolen. she is raped each night. seven, ten, fifteen times each night. she is raped. she is thirteen, eleven, five-years-old. cigarette burns cover her back. scars we cannot see, cannot conceive of, cover her. everywhere. envelop her. there was one girl. one girl who wouldn’t watch the cartoons. number 146. she was looking beyond the glass. she was staring out at us. her piercing stare. there was still fight left in her eyes. there was still life left in her...

...all of these emotions begin to wreck you. break you. it is agony. it is aching. it is grief. it is sorrow. the reaction is intuitive, instinctive. it is visceral. it releases a wailing cry inside of you. it elicits gut-level indignation. it is unbearable.

…i remember wanting to break through the glass. to take her away from that place, to juggle as many of them as I could into my arms. to take all of them away. wanting to break through the glass. to tell her to keep fighting. to tell her that we were coming for her…"

To break through the glass would have been to react instead of respond. it would only have postponed their suffering. a temporary and immediate solution cannot address this crisis, this emergency. the reality is dark, it is global. the numbers overwhelming. the words of those who have survived, we cannot forget.

"I was in that brothel for 3 years and for 2 of them I never saw the sun. They never let me out. I was in a little room and there was no window.
I was only eight and my sister was four when we were sold into the brothel."

It was in Thailand, where our co-founders encountered child 146, that our work began. Our projects have since expanded to Cambodia, the Philippines, India and soon Sri Lanka. The countries within which we work are among the predominant centers of the child sex trafficking and slavery industry. The governments of these countries consistently fail to comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. Thailand is widely recognized as a hub of sex tourism; Cambodia is without a comprehensive anti-trafficking law, legislation has been in the drafting process for the last 7 years; The Philippines saw only one conviction of a trafficker in the past year; India is home to 2 million child sex workers between the ages of 5 and 15, it is estimated that an additional 500,000 children are forced into the sex industry each year.

The story of Love146 needs an end.

you said i must eat so many lemons, cause i am so bitter

2007-12-14T15:23:00.001-08:00

well, well, well friday is upon us again. i love fridays, especially latley. i have my first week vacation next week in over a year and a half in two weeks! i am pretty darn excited! i am just going to spend a good solid week at home. i am stoked to be home for christmas! the last couple of years we have been in spokane, and waking up on christmas morning there isn't the same. it is always so rushed. my favorite christmas mornings are the ones where you get to stay in your new pajamas (you got on christmas eve) all day. maybe shelton will have snow...maybe. or you know what would be even better? snow in the mountains! i have my board waxed, edged and all ready to go. i actually know some people who snowboard. so it will be nice to have people to go up with. i bet i am pretty rusty considering the last two years i had only gone up 3 times.

my 21st birthday is 15 days away, and i am very excited about this. no more.."oh i can't go to that show because it is 21 and over" or "sorry guys i am only 20 can't go". i am going out with my mom, lisa hinkle (my mom wanted a friend), my sister carissa, kristen, and kelsey. pretty much going to be a blast. i can't even wait. we rented a hotel down town so the out of towner's can stay. and since my birthday is on a saturday i get to bring everyone to mars hill on sunday!!

this weekend is also going to be fun!
tonight i have wyld life then i am going to see "i am legend" with some friends. (not my kind of movie...but i'll give it a chance)

tomorrow a group of us are going to pike place to get some christmas shopping done.
then i am going to wesley and kat's wedding reception. after that some of us of us going to see the blakes. one of my newest music obsessions. i absolutely love them. should be a fun night.

sunday the day of rest. i will do just that. maybe a run around green lake, (i haven't taken parker in a while and when he doesn't get enough exercise he is uncontrollable) . followed by some coffee at peets and church. hum. sounds like a good sunday to me. anyone want to join me?

***side note. i FINALLY saw across the universe! i fell in love. not only with the movie but with jude (the main guy). i almost missed it, because mapquest is dumb and the directions to the queen anne theater took me all over queen anne. (which i have a hard time finding my way around there anyway) anyway i am soooo going to go see it again. i bought the soundtrack and tried to play it at work, but it didn't fly. sad.

*****second side note. kate nash is coming to the states. but the closest she is coming is san francisco. anyone up for a rode trip?

i stand corrected

2007-12-07T06:29:00.001-08:00

so i recently posted a blog stating that my community group leader was leaving mars hill because he felt God was leading him into a different direction. i also stated that he didn't have a problem with the church, that he was just feeling called to serve God elsewhere. well after having coffee with him on monday i stand corrected. he is leaving mars hill because he has a problem with the church. with the recent controversy at mars hill some members left the church, taylor being one of them. my meeting with him was interesting and i was quite distressed when i left. i have been thinking about what he told me, how to digest and come to a decision with the information. i have been praying on it and i am not sure i have come to a full conclusion, but i am getting there. i talked to my dad about it and he helped me understand some of issues i was confused with. i am finished with my gospel classes and will start my membership interview process soon.

free rice!

2007-12-06T17:55:00.000-08:00

so there is this awesome website called freerice.com and you should go to it right now!

About FreeRice

FreeRice is a sister site of the world poverty site, Poverty.com.

FreeRice has two goals:

Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

This is made possible by the sponsors who advertise on this site.

Whether you are CEO of a large corporation or a street child in a poor country, improving your vocabulary can improve your life. It is a great investment in yourself.

Perhaps even greater is the investment your donated rice makes in hungry human beings, enabling them to function and be productive. Somewhere in the world, a person is eating rice that you helped provide. Thank you.

nick-nameless

2007-12-05T23:19:00.001-08:00

so tonight i went and hung out with this awesome group of guys, pretty much the funniest group of people i have been around in a long time. i have been having kind of a bummed out week, so colin decided i needed some cheering up. (which i did) and since all his high school friends are home for winter break we went to hang out with them, and played some pool (which i now realize i should practice more so not to humiliate myself again). at first i thought it would be awkward with me being the only girl, but nope i was treated just like one of the guys. and the guys decided to hang out in their "crew" i needed a nick name. apparently mandy just wasn't cutting it for them.

now the funny thing is people have never been able to give me a nick name. even in high school with my group of friends every one had a nick name except for me. there was alexis (alex), rossy (jessica), b-wizzle (brian), putty (david), spb or johnson (johnny). but i was just mandy. the three boys even tried really hard one evening to come up with one, and those boys are pretty creative so i thought if they can't give me a nickname no one can.

so tonight colin and his friends also tried to give me a nick name. they tried and tried, but nothin'. so here i am nick-nameless again. i find this funny. apparently they are going to work on a nick name and get back to me. i guess i will just have to wait see about that.

gracie lou turns one!

2007-12-02T15:38:00.001-08:00

my niece grace turned one this weekend, so i headed over the mountains through the snow and wind to help her celebrate! she loved all her presents but mostly loved being the center of attention.

grandpa loves little grace

gracie loved her cake and thought i wanted to try some.

every time i see her i am amazed by how much she has changed. she is very into sharing right now. after she wakes up from her nap and you go to get her out of her crib she reaches into her crib and hands you every one of her stuffed animals. also one of her new discoveries is "touch-down". gracie loves to watch football with her daddy, and if you say touch-down she puts both her hands up like a touch-down. pretty much the cutest thing ever. i know next time i see her she will be walking and probably talking. i can't wait, i absolutely adore my gracie lou.

it's a wonderful life

2007-11-29T09:23:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-27T20:20:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-20T22:01:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-16T13:07:00.001-08:00

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?

2007-11-15T16:29:00.000-08:00

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?

2007-11-14T08:21:00.000-08:00

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.

2007-11-13T14:41:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-06T11:25:00.001-08:00

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!

2007-11-02T08:48:00.000-07:00

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"

let the good times roll

2007-10-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

this past weekend was full of good times.

saturday i went and got my tattoo, and i am so happy with how it turned out. it took about 3 hours. a lot longer then expected, and afterward it hurt a lot more to walk on then expected.

saturday was also kats wedding shower. it was fun to get together and play games. lisa had fun game for us to play. its hard to explain but i put up a couple pictures. after the shower kristen and i had a halloween party to go to. that was SO much fun. colin showed up as dweight, he is so funny, and was pretty much the entertainment for the night when he started cry dancing (most have not had the joy of seeing this great form of dancing, and to those i pity) then rob and bryce started cry dancing along with him. basically then funniest thing i have ever seen! although kristen and i did dance to "thriller" or at least we tried.

sunday i slept, and watched heroes most of the day. then went to church, though i had to leave early for a "wyld life" meeting. at the meeting we learned about how to get our small group started. looks like i will be meeting with three or four 6th or 7th grade girls twice a month. and hopefully continue meeting with them through high school.

this week will be just as busy as last...(hence the reason it took me almost a week to post a blog about my weekend)

the most amazing game ever played at a wedding shower

The devil tried to tempt me, however i was not so easily tempted

sailor mandy and one of charlie's angels

it says refine me, (kind of hard to see in a picture) it is exactly what i wanted.

State of the Pulpit - Theology of Suffering

2007-10-26T15:23:00.001-07:00

oh here comes the weekend

2007-10-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

things i get to look forward to this weekend

tonight, dinner at the macaroni grill, then movies at my house
tattoo tomorrow at 12 (a little nervous)
kats wedding shower tomorrow
halloween party tomorrow, i am going to be a sailor, colin will be dwight from the office, kristen will be one of the charlies angels
sunday sleep
church
crux meeting

can we be the remedy for the suffering?

2007-10-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

this weekend i went to david crowder with my family and kristen. it was tons'o fun! i hadn't heard much of their new album, but they did perform quite a bit from it. i really enjoyed their new songs. one that struck me was called remedy.

here is a tid-bit from the song..

You are the one
who has saved us
You are the one
Who forgave us
You are the one who has come
And is coming again
To make it alright
Oh, to make it alright
You’re the remedy
Oh, in us
You’re the remedy
Let us be the remedy
Let us bring the remedy

can we be the remedy? what can we do here and now to change the suffering going on around us, and how can we stop ignoring what is going on right in front of us. i know that there is so much more i can do to be the remedy. it is the small things that matter. here is a story.

a couple of months ago while in line at safe way, there was an elderly lady in front of me. she only had about 4 items. after the clerk rang her items up the total came to about $15. the lady looked in her wallet, and started asking the clerk to remove items, until she was only able to purchase a $1 thing of tuna. her eyes teared up and she handed the lady her one and only dollar. at this point the line was grower and people behind me were getting frustrated, because the lady was still trying to scrounge some change. it broke my heart. i stepped forward and bought the lady's groceries. but what i remember most about this was that she thought i was going to ask her for something in return, or ask her to pay me back. she was afraid. i told her i didn't want anything. she hugged and thanked me. and she was crying.

i am not telling you this to say how great i am, because i am far from great. but why don't i think about doing more things like this? why is it not something i do on a daily basis? why don't i buy the homeless man i see daily on my way to peets a coffee? he asks me everyday for change so he can get a coffee ( i am not so comfortable giving money. i did once and then saw the man buying beer with the money i gave him) but why not just buy him the coffee he wants? this is something i am going to work on. i want to be the remedy!!

lets be more like shane claiborne, i heard him speak a few months back. he is amazing, his mission is amazing.

then on sunday mark preached about suffering. it was the most solemn i have see him in a while. no jokes, no stories. he just pored his heart out to his church, and yelled at us a little. the sermon was intense for me, and made me cry. there is so much suffering going on in the world. but we can easily turn off the radio or television and ignore it. not Jesus though. his eyes are seeing the suffering day in and day out. that is what really hit hard. think about how hard it is for a loving Father to watch His children endure so much. we watched complied news clips video about two minuets long of suffering. (i tried to find the video to post it, but i couldn't, if i do find it i will definitely post it) i had a hard time taking it all in and it was only two minuets long. think about never being able to turn away from the suffering.

Jesus suffers with me. that is something i never thought about until sunday. i will never suffer alone. and i will never go through something that He hasn't already endured. that to me is love beyond my comprehension.

a verse i found this past week from romans 8 (esv)

35who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine. or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 as it is written,

"for your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

37 no, in all these things we are more then conquerors through him who loved us. 38 for i am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor depth, nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of go in Christ out lord.

beautiful.

iam puttin on my boxin gloves - the "don't mess" attitude is comin out.

2007-10-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

in january pastor mark is preaching about anything we ask. basically ask anything, vote on your favorites and we choose the sermon. i think this is great, and am really excited. however when going the the "ask anything board" today i was quite disgusted with some of the questions people have come up with. some of the questions are just attacks on mark and the church. the attacks seem to be coming from people who don't come to the church and only hear bits and pieces of what marks preaches. if someone actually listens to the WHOLE sermon preached maybe they will see that they completely take his words out of context. i feel like i am always standing up for my church. which is fine. i love my church and will stand up for our doctrine. but honestly what does attacking a church you know nothing about do to help the mission of Jesus? it doesn't! in fact who are they to be attacking some one they don't know. doesn't 1 corinthians 4:5 (esv) state: therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in the darkness and will disclose the purpose of th heart. then each one will receive the condemnation of god. so who are you to judge. it really infuriates me, that as a member (or as a soon to be) of mars hill that there are even people with in our church that stir up problems. why go to a church you have so much resentment towards? if the music is to loud for you, get over it or go somewhere else. if you can't handle the jokes that marks uses as REFERENCE, he doesn't say all things in literal term. then go somewhere else. and DO NOT take what he says out of context. if you want to throw fire on mars hill or mark then listen to the whole sermon. read our doctrine. then maybe, you can feel better about yourself.

is this the righteous anger? i feel like i am not only standing up for mars hill but for jesus. i believe mars hill is a church that is ALL about JESUS. so standing up and fighting for mars hill is fighting for jesus.

here are some commendable questions that i think would be interesting to hear about. thank you for the people who really care, and take this seriously.

How far off can you be with your theology and still be saved? People believe in Jesus,and the resurrection but don't believe in exclusivity, hell, etc.etc.What doctrine is essential to be saved.

it is hard to come to terms with the fact that God's will is not always clear to us. what is the best way to accurately determine God's will and our calling? why doesn't God make it more accessible?

many men within the church struggle with "homosexuality". my bible study for instance, about half the men struggle with such desires. could you address this issue "homosexuality within the church?"

how can we have free will if God is all powerful and knows our actions in advance?

as a female who hasn't always been a Christian and has had sexual relations.how do i come to terms with the fact that in Jesus i am made clean & pure.when for the most part i don't feel pure.

because i can't sleep

2007-10-18T22:54:00.000-07:00

i think i will copy my dear friend sara hansen and focus on the good things that happened today. it is always good to focus on the here and now...

i got to sleep in until 9, that was fantastic

i got to go for a walk with parker

i had lunch with my friend kristin (not to be confused with kris10)

we had lunch at paseo (best sandwich i have ever had)

i had time before work so i went to peets coffee

read my new bible (which is the new journaling bible, so i can take notes in the columns, i love it) for a good solid hour

i talked to my friend colin

it was a classic fall day, which i am loving these days

every one at work was nice to me, (trust me this is always a major plus)

i met up with my friend kelsey after work to go shopping, i found some great deals, and had a good shopping day

we went to red robbin for dinner

grey's anatomy was on tonight (my new guilty pleasure)

i think that sums all the goodness of the day. tomorrow is going to be hectic...i think i am anxious about tomorrow, which could be why i can't sleep.

sons of thunder

2007-10-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

this past sunday mars hill introduced a new band called "sons of thunder" they were amazing! the harmonies and lyrics were beautiful. i can't wait until their music is available in itunes! my favorite song was "author and perfector".

as i have mentioned in my other posts i am taking the gospel classes at mars hill. the first class was last wednesday. I was able to find my friend lindsey who is also taking the class, and we sat together. (i am glad she was there, i was a little bit nervous) the first class was all about scripture and the importance it holds in your personal relationship with Jesus. even though i have heard this before, it is nice to be reassured i am apart of a church that holds the word of God as the final and last authority.

pastor mark preached on this a couple of weeks ago, how one needs to be careful that just because it is in the christian book store, on the christian radio station ect. does not mean it is right and from God.

also i was talking with mike johnson the crux leader at mars hill and he said this might be the last live gospel class, from here on out they might be on dvd. which i find interesting because just this past sunday mark did a sermon on how our sociality is lonely and doesn't have community. we sit alone, we don't know our neighbors, and most humans are lonely craving a relationship with someone. therefore i am not sure i like the idea of the gospel classes being on dvd. it takes away even more human contact, and isolates people even more then they already are. making it easy for them to again not put themselves out there to meet people.

my ride with the bus driver

2007-10-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

so today as i am leaving for work, i get in my car, and try head out of the garage. however as i proceed to push the open button nothing happens. our garage door was broken. so i take the bus to work. thankfully the 28 line runs right to fremont, and i can catch it right outside my apartment. so i walk to the bus stop just as the driver was just getting off his break, meaning i was the first stop and the only one on the bus. here is how our conversation goes.

driver; you look like you are dressed for work, where you going?
me; (i remove my head phones) yep, i am on my way to work, in fremont
driver; do you go to school too, i bet you go to the UW.
me; (again removing my head phones) nope, i work full time
driver; you know you should really go to school, i mean even if you don't know what you want to do, the first two years are all math, and english anyway. what year did you graduate anyway?
me; '05.
driver; you are just a baby, i couldn't even take you out for a drink.

i pretend i didn't hear that comment, put my head phones back on, and pull out my book. keep in mind i am toward the back of the bus, so he is yelling the whole time.

driver; well what do you do? i bet you work at getty, everyone who works in fremont works at getty.
me; nope, actually i work for a chiropractor
driver; oh! how much for a crackin' (a crackin'? really? chiropractors didn't go to school for 6 years to give people a good crackin'. that word drives me crazy)

i don't really want to get into the specifics with him so i give him the simple answer

me; $45
driver; oh, how much you make down there, don't give me the exact number just an average.
me; $15

so that ends the converstation for a few min. i put my head phones back on and continue reading my book. then...

driver; what'cha listening' to?
me; derek webb
driver; who is that, whats he like?
me; a bit mellow. but good (i don't know how to explain music)
driver; i took you for a heavy medal type.

(ok? seriously? how did he come to that conclusion?)

luckily at this time more people start to get on the bus, and our conversation comes to an end. as we get closer to fremont i notice the driver yell "FREMONT" and look in his rear view mirror and point to me..(yes dear bus driver i know i have to get off soon, but thank you for that) so i pull the stop line. and as i get off the bus he puts out his hand as if wanting my hand. this caught me off guard so not thinking i give him my hand. (idiot me) he grabs my hand says "thanks sweetie", (thanks for what?) and squeezes it.

in conclusion i am not sure if this is just some friendly bus driver who just wants some conversation, or if i should be leery of ever riding the 28 line again. i decided not to take the bus back. thanks kristen for the ride home!

i went rock climbing

2007-10-09T11:16:00.000-07:00

this past weekend my friend colin and i were supposed to go hiking to these water falls with a couple other friends, however we got rained out. so we did the next best thing. rock climbing (inside)

colin was telling me the other day about how he likes to rock climb. and i thought to myself "how fun, and why have i not tried something like that?" and so sunday afternoon i did.

we went to vertical world in ballard, and i learned a few things.

1) i am not so good
2) i am not as afraid of heights as i thought i was
3) it is A LOT harder then it looks
4) i am not as in shape as i thought i was
5) it is fun and i will do it again

i think a couple times i scared colin. he said i was a bit to daring and he was sure i was going to fall and break something. all in all it was a great time, and i am glad i tried something new. maybe next time i will try rock climbing outside....maybe.

after rock climbing, i went to starbucks (sin i know, but the pumpkin spice latte has me hooked) and read for a few hours. then me and kristen and colin went to the 630 service at mars hill. when we got there we ran in to everyone from our community group, so we took up two rows. that was fun.

during the series of phillipians, mars hill is going to give back ground history of the people who wrote different hymns. this sunday they did a piece on come thou fount written by robert robinson. it was interesting to hear about his life and how he came to love jesus. learn more, and see the video here. i hope they do a piece on come ye sinners .

one year in the books

2007-10-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

as of today i have lived in seattle for one year.

the past year has been filled with ups and downs, as any year in life does. but i am so excited for what my second year in seattle will hold...

i love my emerald city (it took me a while) but i can't see myself living any where else at this point in my life. i am glad the couple times i almost gave up and moved back, people talked me out of it.

i love about seattle, here are some reasons why

gas works
greenlake
fremont
capital hill (i have spent a lot more time up there latley)
mars hill
community group
thai toms
sushi
cafe belle
peetes coffee
trader joes
the metro (who knew?)
the bike trails
fremont outdoor movies
SAM sculpture park
golden gardens
the crazy street fairs
off leash dog parks
trabant chai

i love sushi

2007-09-29T23:30:00.001-07:00

i tried sushi with a few friends about a month ago after a seahawk game in belltown at wasabi, and it has been my new obsession ever since.

not sure how i lived in seattle for a year with sushi restaurants all around me with out trying.. i even have seattle's best chiso right next to my work.

tonight while out with friends, we had a smorgisborg of sushi, it was very good.

here are some of my favorites

spicy crab
spider roll
spicy tuna
edamame
albacore tataki

sushi is actually very healthy for you. you are eating the "good" fish of the sea. (expect if you have the crab, which i did) and by eating it raw you are keeping all the good nutrients inside. it has a concentrate of fresh fish, rice, and vegetables. also is a great way to get your fish oils.

fish oils are one of the many supplements i take, the benefits are almost endless...here are a few i can think of off the top of my head...

lower cholesterol
helps with pain and inflammation
better brain function and intelligence
reduces the risk of brain, breast and colon cancer
helps clear skin and keeps hair healthy and strong

(just make sure you get "good" fish oils if you are going to buy a vitamin form. some fish oils can be contracted from fish from the bottom of the ocean which is full of mercury, and completely cancels out any good benefits you would get from the oils)

autumn thoughts

2007-09-26T15:19:00.001-07:00

it's fall and i love it! i forgot how much i love this season. all the pretty colors and the crisp morning air...it's love!

this past weekend my sister, brother in law and niece came to visit...she is growing up so fast i can't believe it...she is crawling, gives kisses, and is staring to talk. if you ask her what a puppy says she goes "ruff" pretty smart for being 10 months! she loved peter parker...every time he came around she laughed and flirted with him...he wasn't to sure about her though...i think she scared him.

monday night our community group went to the new mars hill campus in wedgewood to serve. (it isn't open quite yet, but soon) we put books on the book shelf, cleaned the rooms for the fire marshall, washed windows, and my favorite thing...we got to spray paint! kristen came, and finally go to meet some of the people i talk about so much...i am glad i have another sheltonion in seattle!

i really love my community group, we are all so close, like a family and i love it! one of the guys that goes colin, we actually went to elementary school together! what a small world! he is hilarious i really get along with him. a couple of the girls i have gotten to know are kelsey and rachel, both are just awesome girls and it is such a blessing to have good friends.

i start the gospel classes to become a mars hill member next week. i am very excited...this will make it so i am not limited to what i can do to serve in the church. also i believe next friday will be my first time serving with wyld life at whitman middle school...i am not completely sure what it will look like. but i know i will be witnessing to kids, telling them about jesus, how cool mars hill is, and how they need to come to crux, (the junior high youth group). i am really excited for this..it has been a couple months in the making...but it feels like finally after all the paper work, counseling, meeting...it is going to pay off!

tonight i get to go see the sketch for my tattoo at super genius, then hopefully set up my appointment for early october...it was a bit more expensive then i thought, so i have been saving. which also gave me more time to make sure i really wanted it...i am getting the words "refine me" (also the name of my blog) which means refining myself to the lord, and purifying my heart. david gave me a whole new way to look at the words and it's meaning, now i am even more excited...i liked his explanation better then mine actually. but i am sure my tattoo experience will be a whole blog in itself.

jane the healer from hawaii

2007-09-20T14:57:00.000-07:00

So this week at community group, one of the guys richard brought his wife and a friend...

before i go on let me give you some back ground on richard...he has cancer and is only in seattle to get treatment, and lives in southern oregon. he didn't know that our community group was a 20 something age group. he is 50 or so. but after he came he loved us and continues to come back. (or something like that, i may have some of the facts wrong there) but this week richards wife was visiting him with a friend. the friend is from hawaii named jane a healer...

and this is where my story beings,
before we start reading the word, we do and "ice breaker" where everyone goes around the room and shares a piece of scripture that spoke to them that week. so we begin going around the room when it becomes jane's turn...

she doesn't start sharing scripture oh no, she starts explaining how she is a healer, i think this is cool (at first)...i am all about all natural healing remedies. However she then starts explaining how she is sent from God as a energy. she says that she has a strong energy with the light of God, and sometimes electronics don't work around her. (interesting i think, getting a little concerned at this point) so we continue to listen start glancing around the room to what everyone else is thinking. after explaining her energy flow, she starts telling us how she can see 50 billion years into the past and into the future. (how does she believe she is sent from God then...i have no clue) she then begins to tell us she had a dream about seattle and needs to share it with us. by this time taylor our community group leader, i was sitting next to him, and i could sense he was getting a little uncomfortable...how was he going to get the conversation back to god, with our offending this women?

jane continues to tell us how she dreamt a turtle was on her head and how the turtle was scared and caught in a net...(or something like that i was a little distracted so i don't quite remember the whole story). she then explains what all this means. basically what i got from it is that she thinks seattle is going to be destroyed along with everyone who lives here and very soon she adds. jane went on talking for about a half hour...no one quite knew what to do. then she started to tell us how the rapture is going to happen in 2012. finally taylor told her that was enough and we come to her worship god. (thank goodness)

but that isn't then end...

we start discussing Philippians 2, where paul talks about respecting leaders because they are all sent from God. jane seemed very interested in this, and she asked us who our leader is. taylor answers Jesus. (plain and simple right? no.) she then re-phrases her question and asks who preaches to us...we say mark. somehow from that she thinks that we worship him now and not jesus...(what a cliché most people who don’t know mars hill think we worship mark too) finally richard told jane that she either needed to just listen and be quite or step out side...

after we are done discussing we get into our prayer groups (the girls like to pray together and we send the boys down stairs) so jane stayed upstairs with us. before we started praying she tells us she has a son whose wife just left him with their two kids and how he needs a new mate. she then asked all of the girls if we have a male mate..(ha) as she gets to me i say “no”. and she asks "why are you a lesbian?" (fantastic)

this was the one of the strangest things i have ever encountered. i was talking with david, who lives in hawaii, and he said that the island jane is from (moliki?) are a lot of people like her. after i was talking to my friend colin and he said she might be back next week, and how we should try to witness to her. and that is what richard is trying to do. but honestly i am not sure if i want her back. she brought a bad vibe and i didn't really feel gods presence with her around...nor did i feel comfortable around her. i know we as “christians” are supposed to love people especially people like jane...and i do. but does that mean we invite her into our homes and let her talk falsely to us? it is hard to witness to someone like that. right?

so this is my life

2007-09-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

rock for sudan, i think, went very well. it was different from last year for sure. but the crowd it drew to the church was quite interesting. and what a great door opener to this years YOUth church...i am happy to say that the t-shirt making went very well! we made at least 25-30. lots of people brought their own from home, so we had left overs. and like wes said, it is funny to see how excited people get about making their own shirts (i am one of them). speaking of wes, him and kat are officially engaged! i am so happy for the both of them! Congrats!

lately i have been wanting to get a long board, just for the heck of it. and friday while having dinner with wes and kat, i noticed that wes had one sitting in his corner. so i was casually talking about how i think it would be a fun, taking the long board around green lake just sounds like fun. apparently they found the long board in a parking lot a couple of weeks ago and were looking for someone to give it to...aka ME! i am pretty excited...now kristen you need to get one maybe we will find one in a parking lot for you. i will make sure to keep my eyes open! that way i don't look like a complete fool by myself. either that or my friend david said he could help me.

last night i went back to the community group brian and i used to attend in ballard. it was nice to be welcomed back by everyone, and meet the new people who have joined. right now we are reading through philippians (right now mars hill is just finishing up nehemiah and after that they will be going through philippians, so i think all the community groups are getting acquainted with it?) i haven't spent much time in philippians, but what i read so far has really hit home. last night we read philippians 2: 1-18 and discussed humility and how we are all called to be humble. but how the world sees being humble as weak, and not confident. we also talked about how we as "Christians" can be humble in our work and in everything we do. but what was interesting to me was that if i try to explain humbleness to a non-Christian it is to some point, pointless. isn't it something that they wouldn't understand? why should they be humble? i should be humble because Jesus called me to be, but if a person doesn't know Jesus then to them it would seems pointless. right?

i met a couple of new girls at the group and tomorrow we are all going to go help kat pick out her wedding dress, it shall be fun!

i finally ordered my invisible children bracelet last week, i will be getting the black sunday one, i think everyone should have one...support the cause, and get a sweet bracelet!

also the action design's cd came out today...however NO record store in seattle carries it or ever heard of them, sad. the sonic boom guy is going to try to order it for me, but he said it was a long shot? however because i work in fremont if they can order it i get a 10% discount! sweet!

no tomatoes please, rock for sudan

2007-09-06T11:48:00.001-07:00

friday after work i met kristin, becky, and a couple of their friends, we went to dinner at "red mill burgers" (yum) in ballard, and then we went to the "q cafe" to watch lower lights burning, a guy named shane, and one of the singers from pale pacific. i had never been to this cafe before. it reminded me of the old veristas cafe shop in oly. i really never heard any music from the pale before until friday. now it is the only thing that has played on my ipod since. then kristin and i drove back to shelton....it was nice to talk to her, and i am glad god brought her into my life when he did.

it was so nice to be home for a wee bit, to see everyone, and hang out with new and old friends. my family and i went out to our property on the canal and sat on our dock. i really just enjoyed sitting out there doing nothing. after we went to dinner at robin hood, my all time favorite restaurant in shelton! the chef who used to work at steven's now works out at red robbin, and to make a long story short my mom and me would have lunch every friday at steven's and order the "salmon salad" it comes with tomatoes...i hate tomatoes. i would always ask for "no tomatoes" and every time kern (the chef) would come out giving me crap for changing his recipe. one time when i was getting close to moving to seattle kern hid a HUGE tomato under my salmon. it was pretty funny. so this weekend when we were at "robbin hood" i told the waitress to tell kern that "no tomatoes was here" he said it took him about 10 seconds to realize it was me. he came out and said hello, it was fun. my halibut with a ginger crusted sauce was amazing! if you live in shelton or are passing by go there!

on sunday i decided to have kristin, becky, elisabeth, alex, and molly over for a girls night. it was lots of fun. many things happen when you get that many girls together at one time. but i must say my dad was a trooper. he even bbq for us and didn't complain about the noise once. even though he had to wake up at 5.

i enjoyed spending time with people i love this weekend. but mostly my dad. it was nice to see how much he cares. though i know his heart is hurting for me, and i wish it didn't. he prayed with me, helped my with my budget, and we did a bible study. it was just nice. i am lucky to have a dad who cares too much.

this weekend is the second "rock for sudan" my friend sara puts it on to help raise money for a missionary named charity in sudan, read more here. i am pretty excited for this year! you should go! my friend wes is going to come down with me saturday and help with t-shirt making. if you attended this summers art night, then you should be familiar with this. if not come and found out more!! there will be blank t-shirts for guys and girls along with stencils from the invisible children web site. people will also have a chance to design their own stencils. also come listen to some great music and support a local missionary!

09.08.07

The Mary Celeste

Truce

Slowly We Survive

Elijah Grindstaff

band wagon

2007-08-31T09:05:00.000-07:00

so yes i have joined the band wagon on "blogging" only because i have some really exciting things happening my life. i believe god is doing some amazing work right now and i am excited to share it. first off i had my interview with mars hill for the proxy ministry. i met with dustin who seemed very excited about my involvement with the junior high students. he said he was very inspired by my testimony. which made me feel very inspired that this is where i am supposed to be serving. the next step is to get counseling to make sure i am prepared to be a "girl leader" and after i pass that and my back ground check i will be starting the training process. they also said they are in need of girls to help out with worship. this really makes my heart happy. i have such a desire to sing and when he mentioned this to me i couldn't believe it. i have been asking god for a opportunity to sing. but this makes me very nervous at the same time. really i haven't sang in front of people in a long time. however i know right now is a perfect time to start.

this past week i went and saw mr. matisyahu, he is amazing i must say. every time i see him, he gets better. he was on tour with 311, who i must say are awful, some may agree. they sound a bit white trash punk/reggae...bad mix. but the crowd that they brought in was quite entertaining. and the pot smoke cloud that lingered over the crowd was a site to see.

tonight kristin me and a couple of her friends are going to watch graydon, lower lights burning play up here in seattle. i am pretty excited, i haven't seen him play since last year. it shall be fun. then i will make the journey to shelton for a nice long weekend filled with girls nights, chocolates, hard core shows, and family.... =)