Frustration.

I'm feeling frustrated.
I'm feeling frustrated by people who have nothing positive to say. By people who really have no consideration or compassion. By people who are unappreciative and quick to judge. By people with poor attitudes and even poorer character.

I'm feeling frustrated by life's circumstances that continue to keep me up late at night writing endless papers about why P.E. is so darn important, and about how to teach a class of first graders how to sing a silly song about elephants, and about the different types of conflict in education. Isn't conflict just conflict? Seriously, why does it need so many sub-categories?

I'm feeling frustrated by the e-mails that are piling up in my inbox, waiting to be returned. If only I had more time. If only I didn't have to work and go to school and this and that and the other thing.

Oh, and I know what some of you are thinking... "well, you don't have kids to raise... you've got it EASY!"
I beg to differ.

All I really want to do is run. In all honesty, that's it. I want to strap on my running shoes, and hit the trail. That's how I channel this frustration. But, seeing as it's 10:00 at night, this blog will have to do for now. Until the sun shines again, and the new day shows it's glorious face...
So I'm feeling frustrated by life. Frustrated by people. Frustrated by the darkness that steals my running from me. Why can't I just have two more hours of daylight? Is that so much to ask?

Fact #84

It's Wednesday, and I'm back to the land of the living! The past three days have consisted of DayQuil, NyQuil, cough drops, orange juic, kleenex, chicken noodle soup, and sleep. Lots of sleep. I'm one of the lucky ones who didn't get the throwing-up-for-24-hours sickness. I just got the no-voice-hacking-cough-runny-nose-body-ache sickness. Big difference.

Anyhow, God's been doing some crazy stuff in me lately. He's been reminding me of the life I lived before Him, and the people who have helped me in my journey so far. I love how He does that, how He humbles us. That's exactly what He did on Sunday night... crazy story. That's for another blog.

This blog is to proclaim that I'm pretty awful at blogging. I get GREAT ideas for blogs, but the second I sit down in front of my computer, I freeze up. My mind seizes, goes blank... you get the idea. SO, I've decided to go a different route with my blog. I'm a real big fan of random and useless information. A REAL big fan. My main source of this useless information comes from the lids of Snapple cans. I'm not a huge fan of Snapple itself, so I just look the info up on the internet. I know, I'm a cheater. Oh well. So, here's my first useless face, and surely not my last.

Snapple fact #84 Oysters can change genders back and forth.

Who knew??!!

Do you like APPLES??

The game Apples-to-Apples that is. When I was first introduced to this game (by my dear sweet mother) I thought it was THE single most boring game ever invented. I was convinced I would never enjoy one single moment of playing such a pointless and poorly-crafted game. HOWEVER, that was about 2 years ago. This past trip home (to Arcata) for Christmas break, my mom, being the patience and kind soul she is, begged me to give the game another shot. Long story short, I gave it another shot, and have been totally hooked ever since! I even "accidentally" stuffed the game into my suit case, and kidnapped it back to Redding. If you've never played Apples-to-Apples, you've never really lived! (ha, well okay, it's not THAT amazing, but it's a great game!!) Seriously though, this game is great for anybody! I highly recommend it (obviously) and will gladly open my home to any other takers. I think I might just have to organize a group to play this weekend... who's in?!?!

Ponder this...

So, Kris Vallotton spoke on Sunday evening at the Stirring. He had a ton to say, but I wanted to share one thing that really rocked me:
We will do for money what we won't do for love.

It's so true! We will honor our bosses because THEY provide us with a pay check. With money in our pocket. But we won't honor spiritual leaders, mothers and fathers. We'll do for MONEY what we won't do for LOVE.

Erase the Dark 2009

Erase the Dark is the Stirring's annual music, art and film festival. Last year we bought every single child at Cypress Elementary School a backpack with the proceeds. This year we're buying them shoes. I don't think some people understand how amazing this is. A pair of shoes for every child. It gets me so excited. Some of these kids have gone YEARS without a new pair of shoes. I can't wait to show up at Cypress with tons of shoe boxes, and see tons of smiles. God has given me such a burning passion for children. For the children overlooked by society. For the children without a voice. The children who are forced into poverty. I continue to hear God's voice developing this passion in me. Erase the Dark is such a tangible way for people to give back to the overlooked children in our community. I'm so excited.

Friday March 6th.
7:00 pm
It's going to be amazing.
Think of all the smiles...

Catch up, or Ketchup? :)

I think I've officially been kicked out of blogging world. It's been about 3 years since my last blog. Shoot, sorry! Life has been great, so I guess I have a lot to catch you all up on...
-I went home for Christmas. Home being in Humboldt County (Arcata to be exact). Usually this is an all too familiar experience which usually leaves me in tears on my birthday, and aching to leave a day early. This year, however, I was pleasantly surprised by my Christmas visit. I enjoyed playing a few different board games with the fam (Apples to Apples and Scategories) and got to spend a few extra hours with my very best friend (since Kindergarten).
-On the 24th of December I turned 24 (my golden birthday!!) and spent the day with the best friend and the family.
-On Saturday I drove back over the mountains to Redding. For the record, this was the first time EVER that I was actually scared while driving home. The entire drive was slushy, and the road was totally iced over in some spots. Driving over Buckhorn was the worst. There were a good two inches of slush on the top of the summit, and my poor little Nissan was sliding all over the place. Lucky for me I've driven the road a time or two, and knew that I would be okay if I waited for the snow plow to pass me :)
-Sunday we had one gathering for the Stirring. So weird. I left the church at noon, and honestly didn't know what to do with myself. I kept watching the clock, waiting to head back for the 5:00 service... it was strange. I've got to admit, as much as I enjoyed having the afternoon/evening to myself, I really kind of hated it. I'm such a creature of habit!
-I've been off of work and out of school for over a week, and I'm really getting used to it.
-I'm half way done with book 4 of the Twilight saga. As Meghan once said I'm "addicted to vampires!"

That's about life for me right now. My New Year resolution is to TRY and train for a half marathon. I know it will probably never happen, what with the back surgery four months ago, but I need a goal, and this sounded like a good one. I'd also like to FINALLY get my tattoo that I've been dreaming about for over a year... does that count as a new years resolution?? I'll leave you with the picture I sent out with my Christmas cards. I hope it brings you much joy :) :) :)

isn't it lovely?!

Top Ten Reasons Why Life Is Good:
1. Finals are over
2. Finals are OVER!
3. I'm off work for two weeks
4. I'm going home (to Arcata) for Christmas
5. I turn 24 on Wednesday
6. The pressure's off
7. I get to see my best friend in two days
8. It's finally Winter weather out!!
9. I have THE MOST amazing team of helpers for the Stirring Kids
10. I got a french press for my Birthday... hellooo amazing coffee!!

So check out the Nativity scene the 1st-3rd grade class from the AM Stirring service made. Ava and Elizabeth are showing off their hard work. Great idea Erica. Seriously, so creative! I'm so lucky to get to work with such smart and inventive group of kids (and adults too!!). It's funny because they aren't even my kids, but I love bragging on them.