Okay, so here are some shots of us

 
 
 
At the end of the game, Tre' came to the rescue by having one of the wives take our picture -- notice Kyle and Micah in the background making the most of their convienent location per camera angle. 

Baseballs

 
The Beavers won 7-4 against the Colorado Skysox. What a victory. In other news, this was the first baseball game that Tre and I were spotted at together. It must be serious. Alas, when photo time came I was up stretching my legs, or getting free peanuts, or getting kettle corn (my favorite). So, here are the couples and Tre. 

Training Butters

 
This is Butters in training. Yes, I tried to potty-train my cat. It almost worked, but then the holidays came and people didn't want to share their toilet with our little man in training. He didn't really understand what he was supposed to do, so he just played in his litter box. 

Sarah and I

 
Here a just a few of the many pictures that Sarah and I took of ourselves while in Hawaii. Some are far more glamorous than others -- 

Back to the mainland...

 

and work, work, work. 

So, now I am home

After swimming with sea turtles, surfing, and gorging myself on Hawaiian's fine dining, I find myself in need of a rest from my vacation. It came in the form of not being able to drag myself out of bed yesterday, so I called in sick and slept until 3:00 in the afternoon.

I didn't know when I planned this vacation that there would be anyone to miss. I bought my ticket in February and my first date with Tre was on March 17th. I didn't spend my whole time missing him. Believe me I enjoyed paradise to its fullest, but there were moments I wish I could have shared with him. Like when I saw dolphins or went surfing or when I walked along the beach watching the stars grace the night sky.

I missed Tre', but not having him there didn't destroy my experience. I was there with one of my best friends and had a great time with her. I've been in relationships in the past that ruined the time I spent apart from that person. In those relationships the fact that person wasn't there caused a walk on the beach in paradise to seem less valuable than if they were. I like that I don't feel that way now. That value now for me stems from something much deeper.

I wanted to spend some time thinking about my future while in Hawaii. It didn't really happen. I have a couple of directions that I could take educationally, but I feel like I need to wait right now. The only answer I got when I lifted these questions in prayer was, "Do what you love." Rather cryptic and directionless if you ask me.

Well, what do I love? That question alone poses the biggest threat to my future.

My first drink...

 
in Hawaii. Sarah and I stepped into Jaimeson cafe' off of the North Shore after spotting sea turtles riding the waves in front of our sun worshiping spot. 

Cute pictures

 
This is a cute picture of Sarah and me. Our hair is dancing on the Hawaiian breeze as we inch in closer to the Duke of Surfing. 

Excited to be going to Hawaii

 
Here is a picture taken of us just before we took off for Hawaii! 

Fancy Dinner

 
We had dinner on the Top of Waikiki. Some ordered dinners, some ordered appetizers. Daniel got a steak on a hot rock so we got to watch him cook and eat at the same time. It was a very tasty meal. I ordered the pork and got a huge portion - sooo delicious. 

The Duke of Surfing

 
So we found the Duke of Surfing and a webcam. Ric and Daniel are on the phone with their specail someone's while we get our picture taken with him. If you google Honolulu webcams you will be able to see this statue and whoever is getting a picture currently. 

The Queen of Surfing

 
I have been having so much fun in Hawaii! I am going surfing for the first time today in the afternoon. We had a fancy night out last night so here I am dressed up and posing. 

Maifest

 

It was such a beautiful clear day. The little town of Levinworth is surrounded by beautiful snowcapped mountains on either side. We had breakfast and then strolled through the town center. Young and old were dressed in official Levinworth attire as they prepared to show off traditional dances and May-pole festivities. It was such a beautiful morning. This picture is of Tre, me, my Dad, and Luann as we waited for the kegs to be unleashed. Actually, there was no unleashing -- but it's a cute shot nontheless. 

Traveling

 

Here is a picture of Tre and I during our whirlwind weekend of visiting family and friends. Sorry for my mid-drift, it was entirely unintentional, but I don't really think it's too distracting. I think it's showing because I had just had an amazing strawberry and whipcream covered waffel at Sandy's Waffel Haus. You probably didn't even notice until you read this caption. Anyways, it was good times with the parents and my boyfriend. 

Hiking in the Woods

I love to hike in the mountains with people that I love. I took this shot when I was on a jaunt through the woods with some of my favorite people. We stopped at overlooks, streams, and rock formations to read about God and his creation.

  

Watch Out -- the 80s are back!

 

I know I look hot! This is me after the braids were no more --- There is only one other time in my life that I even remotely looked like this -- SMT. I'll have to find and scan that picture -- it is just too good. 

So, I think I might begin using this blog as a real means to communicate. I've had this site for about eight months now, but have not really known how to use it. A number of my friends, however, use blogger and well, if they can do it so can I.

School is ending this week and I'm really not sure what comes next for me. I really don't want to waste my time taking classes that aren't benefiting who I am and what I want to do in life. I've wanted to be a writer for longer than I've been able to write. I used to "pretend" write -- I would make scribbles and dot some i's and cross some t's. I have always loved stories and I want to write and publish some day. I was a little discouraged when I wasn't accepted at PSU. I had a great application with letters from Faculty that work there and yet I still wasn't accepted. It's not so much the rejection as the hault in my plans that leave me wondering where to go from here. Should I just write and not pursue further education at this point?

I've had an opportunity to teach at my church and that's been fantastic, although between work and school I have struggled to find time to do the outside work the class needs in order to thrive. I have wanted to go to Butler University since I was accepted in March of 2003. I was all lined up to go too, ticket paid for, books for the semester bought. My husband at the time encouraging me to go - and then I found out the real reason for his support. He wanted me gone so he could spend time with his girlfriend. I felt guilty for even wanting to go to school. The only problem with Butler University is that it is in Indinapolis, Indiana. Otherwise, I would be there in a heartbeat.

The potential for further education here is dwindeling. I am not impressed with the offerings of the Seminary I've been attending and I don't feel like it is bettering my person to go there. The Psychology teacher here on campus has been trying to work with me for about a year and has recently extended a position to work in his office. Counseling --I always laid that thought to rest because there are so many wannabe counselors out there. But, what if I could do that? What if I could help people realize foundational truths about their lives and inspire them to resolve their issues and keep truckin on? That is what I hope to do through writing; that is what I've been able to do through my writing class. Maybe that is a possible new direction for me.

I also have a new relationship in my life and I don't want that to just be another "thing" to have to do. I want to give an appropriate amount of attention to this person and this relationship. I don't want to fill up my days so that they are so thick the last thing I want to do is think through relationship issues. So, what to do with all of these ideas swimming in my head? Rest, pray, do what needs to be done, and find time to wrestle through these thoughts.

Hawaii!

Each Day is Bringing Me Closer to Hawaii

Hawaii

 

So, this is a picture of the Hawaiian Island that Sarah and I will be staying at at the end of this month. We will be sleeping on the North Shore and may even go sky diving. 

Me at work

 


This is a random picture Dave Hardy took of me at my desk. Busy...I'm sure.