Merry Christmas

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas... Hope you are having a wonderful day with those that you love.

Notice I didn't title this December already? Well... I could have! I have some things to blog about and will do that one of these days... Look for...

"Love Never Fails" - Ross Point Fall Retreat 2008
"Church Merger" - What is my church group up to?
"Snow" - Snow in Spokane... lots and lots of snow
"The Tales of a Christmas Traveler" - Christmas travels 2008

I'll get to it sometime soon. I haven't even got my Christmas letter done so alas my cards are sitting in my apartment in Spokane waiting to be finished... One of these days...

November... Really...

Well... Guess what... It's November and I haven't written since August. Believe me that it has been a whirlwind of a fall. Right after I returned back to Spokane after being home in August I found out that my sister had a brain aneurysm. She found a surgeon in Seattle to do the operation and that happened September 26th. There were complications and she had a stroke. It's been a really hard couple of months for my family to say the least. Instead of Dawn being in the hospital for 10 days she was in the hospital for almost 2 months I think (I have kinda lost track of time). In those 2 months I was 2 and from Seattle 3 times. My mom was in Seattle most of that time and my sister Joy and our dad was back and forth a couple of times. Marc (Dawn's husband) took on full time dad duty and was able to spend some of that time in Seattle which was good as Dawn was able to see the kids some. Long story short... they are back in Montana now doing rehab in Billings. The largest problem for Dawn right now is her speech. Please be praying for a full recovery for her. I feel blessed that God didn't take her home yet but sad because of the complications that should not have happened.

What else have I been doing? Well I planned and hosted a bridal shower last weekend for my friend Irene. It was fun but lots of work. The wedding is in January so we have about a month till Wedding day.

I have also been planning a retreat for Ross Point. It's focus is relationships. I have found that directing camps is one of my biggest joys. If I could do that full time that would be a huge blessing. I love doing it! The retreat is in 2 weeks so I'm hoping I get everything done. I still need to find one more female counselor as we have had a lot of girls register which is awesome. Last year we didn't fill 4 cabin with girls but this year we need 5! I'm praying that it may turn into 6 but don't know. If so I'll need 3 more counselors. I'm also praying for boys to get registered as right now I only have 11! The ratio of girls to boys is pretty drastic right now.

After the retreat it becomes the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is coming and I love it. I'm actually doing a Christmas themed retreat as I love it so much. We have some work Christmas party's and than on the 19th I fly to Montana for Christmas. It will be so nice being with my family. I get back here on the 27th and the wedding is the 3rd of January. I guess that come January 4th I can maybe get a little rest. We will see!

Well... there you go... I've caught you up on my life these past months. I know I say this every time but I'll try to update more regularly.

Hope you have a blessed week!

August Already?

It has been an incredibly busy summer. With only having 3 hours off during each day and my weekends being packed I have not had much time to blog about all the activities going on. Work has been good yet extremely busy. I have had tons of fun with the girls this summer. My family has been over in the area some too which has made my weekends full. I think that during the whole time the kids were out of school this summer I was only home for 2 whole weekends. It's been crazy. The craziness started the first of July. My family was all over to the lake for the 4th and than I went to Omaha Nebraska. I went for a work trip but was also able to spend some time with one of my best friends Danielle. She got married last year so it was great to spend some time getting to know her husband and his daughter. We did some fun things including mini golf. I'm pretty sure I came in last. I'm not that good at mini golf :) We also did some maternity shopping for her as she is expecting a baby boy around Thanksgiving time. After I got back from that trip I was home again for a week before I left for my next adventure. I, along with 2 other Hutton staff, took 6 of our kids on a road trip service project. I will put those details in the next post with some pictures. Currently, I am sitting in my parents living room watching a movie with them and my cat and their dogs. It's nice being home and having some time with my sisters and nieces and nephews. We head to Billings tomorrow to spend some time with Dawn and the kids. I am pretty sure the only plans are to go to the Soup Place. It's the middle of summer but I sure do like soup so hope it's good! That's my update... long and boring but this summer has not been all that boring. I am certainly ready for school to start again though as I need some time to recover from the business of this summer :)

It's A Girl

Introducing...

Lauren Ashlee Wass

Born May 27, 2008 at 3:28 am

6 Pounds 2 Ounces, 18 Inches

Isn't she beautiful?

Big brother Jack holding baby sister Lauren

He thinks she's pretty wonderful :)

Just Because...

:) Pictures Just For Fun :)

Brad and Alyssa on an island in Seattle last summer.

Joy set the playpen up for Jack... Brad and Alyssa thought it would be fun for them and the dogs to lounge in. Silly kids!

Alyssa was baptized this Easter. Unfortunatly I was unable to come home for the occasion.

Isn't he the cuttest! He's going to be a great big brother :)

Brad is one smart kid! He got a cool award from the Air Force at the big science fair in Billings. He's going to be in Jr. High next year! Yikes! I remember at my 8th grade graduation he was walking around calling Aunt Traci. He was so little then and now he'll be graduating from Jr. High next year. I'm getting so old.

This is Jack at the Zoo in Seattle. I LOVED the gorillas and could have spent hours watching them. They are intersting creatures!

This is Nicole and I at the Blue Star coffee shop in Roundup. I miss her! I'm pretty sure she is the one the introduced me to the sweet nectar of coffee.

My sweet cat Tike... He lives with my parents.

Me and my sweet friends... Ericka (she lives in stupid Moscow, Jan, and Irene)

Last summer I got silly. Ericka has a whole album of beautiful straw pictures of me.

So tired...

I am so tired... I didn't get to sleep until after 12 am for some reason... it's annoying... hopefully I can get a small nap in this morning after the girls get off to school. It's day's like this I wish they all departed at the same time! As for a baby update... Last time I talked to home Dawn was in labor but not labor labor. Like she's not admitted to the hospital yet. If she was I wouldn't be right here typing this :0 I'm hoping I'm rested enough to drive 8 hours straight through. I'll be fine I'm sure. The adrenaline will keep me going.

Speaking of babies

... there is not a new baby in my family yet. I'm still hoping for a couple of weeks as I'm not really ready to drive 8 hours yet. I still need to pack my bag, get my oil changed, fill up with gas, and have enough money in the bank to make this trip with the stupid expensive gas! I'm so looking forward to going home for a few days though. I really love and miss my family.

I officially...

Get to go see one of my greatest friends and her husband and family in July. I will be traveling to Omaha again this summer but on a professional trip. I've never taken one of those before. I must really be growing up! I'm going to a conference at Boys Town on Teaching Social Skills. I'm really looking forward to the information. But mostly I'm looking forward to the extra days I get to spend with one of my favorite people... one of my favorite pregnant people at that! I should probably call them and let them know I am coming for sure. Yea for friends... Yea for work... Yea for traveling... Yea for babies.

It's 2 am... I should be asleep

But I'm not... So I'll write a bit about my weekend. I may have had the most boring weekend ever. Seriously! I spent 2 whole day's alone. Well except for the couple of hours on Friday night where I kicked some butt bowling... I beat 2 boys... I'm proud! And... I went to a movie Saturday night... It was nice to get out of the house to do those things with people. Anyway... you would think I would love some time to myself being that I am with people all of the time during my work week but no... Life is really boring when spent alone.

An enjoyment...

I have a selfish reason (just one though) for liking my job at Hutton. Because of my work here I have been able to take in some free entertainment. Just recently I was able to see Disney's High School Musicals Broadway production that came to Spokane. I was also able to see the Newsboys all for free. It's nice seeing shows and not paying the price of the ticket. Another show I saw recently was courtesy of my friend Jan's work at Ticket's West... we were able to see Mama Mia on Broadway. We had an excellent time and I might add that part of that was our front row center seats. It was excellent and I hope to see a few of the shows coming to Spokane next season. Annie is on the top of my list as well as Ain't Misbehavin' with American Idol Reben Studdard. We will see I suppose. Anyway... I have to do some stuff called work I guess!

An Update

Here is a life update... Someday I may add more details but I have been extremely busy as of late!

Well... I am working and that has been really busy. I have decided that I am here (at Hutton) for who knows how long. It could be forever! I'm planning on going to grad school next fall (2009) to get my Masters in Counseling. That means I need to take the GRE which I'm not to excited about. I'm waiting on a promotion that would take me out of the houseparent role which would than allow me some extra time to focus on school stuff. I think God may have me here for quite some time. We will see I guess. I firmly believe that He placed me here so He is going to have to take me away I guess.

I recently was able to direct at Youth Retreat at the camp I have been working at since college. It was really wonderful and I'm excited to direct again. It was one of my life dreams fulfilled and it got great reviews.

I'm going to be going to Omaha this summer to go to a workshop on teaching Social Skills in July. I'm going to be able to take some extra days and stay to visit with Danielle and Ryan (who are expecting by the way!!!!). I'm excited about that trip. It will be my first professional traveling. I feel like a grown up.

In the next month or so I'll be jetting (more like driving quickly) to Billings as my sister is about to have her baby. My boss is being extremely great and is letting me just leave as soon as I hear she is in labor. I've asked her to be in labor for 10 hours so I can get there. I'm selfish I guess and she wasn't to happy with that idea. I'm hoping the labor wing will at least not be closed like when Jack was born! I also was told by my sister that her in-laws bought another float house in Bayview and that makes me happy because that means Dawn and Marc and kids will be around more this summer! Yes... that makes me excited :)

For work I need to work on some trip options for service learning in Montana. One option will be going up north and the other will be going south west. I'm hoping for the south west option so hope I can get some pretty awesome ideas down.

Anyway... that's probably way more than enough for now. Hope you are all doing well :)

A google search quiz for "fun"

Type in the following and choose the first choice (that makes sense) that appears on the list.

1. Type in "[your name] needs" in the Google search: Result: Traci needs to face reality...
2. Type in "[your name] looks like" in Google search: Result: Traci looks like a hairy lemon…3. Type in "[your name] likes" in Google search: Result: Traci likes to go antiquing in her free time...
4. Type in "[your name] says" in Google search: Result: Traci says “Eke!”…
5. Type in "[your name] has" in Google search: Result: Traci has been singing…
6. Type in "[your name] wants" in Google search Result: Traci wants you to enjoy yourself…7. Type in "[your name] takes" in Google search: Result: Traci takes it slow and reads all summer…

April Showers Bring May Flowers!

I hope this statement is true. Our weather has been so weird latley. We have had snow on and off for weeks. This past weekend it was in the 70's and I had to get my fan out Sunday night just so I could sleep. I woke up to pouring rain Monday morning and than snow this morning. It's crazy!!!

What is Pony Tales???

My wonderful co-worker Mandy typed this explanation up for me. She has been working with Pony Tales for quite some time...

Well to be exact.. or should I say vague? Pony Tales is a youth organization started by Kitara McClure who is first and foremost a motivational speaker. Kitara uses her personal experience as the First Lady of the Black Disciples Street Gang in Chicago to motivate young people to not make the same mistakes that she has. Today Kitara is/has completed over five years in the United States Army; making Sgt after just 2, finishing up her Masters, has debated at the United Nations, won the "Making Black History Today" award, is a wife and mother of four, has been the key note speaker for many schools, colleges and city officials and among many other things, is the multicultural director at SCC.

Now back to Pony Tales. Pony Tales is actually an acronym for Positive Outreach Navigating Youth Teaching Adolescence Leadership and an Entrepreneurial Spirit. The mission statement is stated here in its name. Kitara, with the help of several other dedicated volunteers wants to see inner city youth provided with alternatives to the typical street life that seem to be the only option for many of today's teens. Pony Tales encourages young people to become actively involved and plugged into their communities and provides opportunities for their talents to be showcased, built up and then used in a productive way. Cricket Communications has partnered and is the primary sponsor of this outreach and it is our goal to reach and involve as many inner city youth as possible.

So that is in a nutshell what I am getting the opportunity to work with. I'm excited about it :)

The life I am living...

Has been going fantastic! God is really fulfilling some of my life's wishes and really making it apparent to me that Spokane is where I belong.

I think I'll start out with a new church that is going on. I am getting in on the start of a church and that is very exciting for me. We have been meeting in my friends home for breakfast and word and prayer and worship and it has been wonderful. There are about 12 of us total (not counting kids) I think. A lot of the people are camp people but there are a few new people as well. This Thursday we are going to go to a couple of larger homes and do some praying and thinking and talking about where we will be meeting for the time being. We all have people we would want to invite but are running out of space.

The next big thing going on is that I am co-directing the Spring Youth Retreat at Ross Point. I really feel gifted in this area. I am loving making the plans and finding the people. I have discovered that I am even more of a control freak than I thought but I'm learning how to let go of some things. God is being faithful and things are going really well. I'll do a post about the whole thing later but please keep us all in your prayers. The retreat is April 11-13.

Last Saturday I went to a meeting with my awesome co-worker Mandy. She has been working with an organization called Pony Tales for quite some time and we were going to Easter services at Lifecenter and it was easiest for me to go to the meeting with her. It ended up being a great thing because I became the secretary of the organization. I'm still not sure what that entails but I'm really excited about it. I have been wanting to get involved in more than just Hutton in Spokane and that opportunity was just handed to me. It's going to be a great adventure that will really take me out of my comfort zone but that is a really good thing. There could be another big story out of this but I won't tell it unless it really happens. Please pray for me regarding it. Pray for open doors and closed doors and that God would just be in the whole situation.

Not much else to say... I suppose I could do an update on my family and will soon. I have all these things to write about but don't ever do it! Goodness :) Hope you are well.

Apparently I'm From Pomeroy

I so don't understand the live traffic tracker... I swear I am in Spokane but the tracker says I'm from Pomeroy... Weird!!! Doe's anyone understand how the silly thing works?

Because I haven't blogged in a long time...

1. Are you taller than your best friend? No
2. Do you have a favorite type of pen? Yes... I love using purple pens and with flowing ink
3. Look at your planner for March 8th, what are you doing? I'll be hanging with some great friends in Moscow ID
4. What color are your toenails usually? Silver or toenail color
5. What was the last thing you highlighted? Probably something on paper
6. What color are the curtains in your bedroom? Toupe
7. What color are the seats in your vehicle? Grey
8. Have you ever had a black and white cat? Yes... we got Bo when I was in Kindergarden and a dog killed him when I was a freshman. A very very sad experience.
9. What is the last thing you put a stamp on? A birthday present to Jack
10. Do you know anyone who lives in Wyoming? Yes
11. Why did you withdraw cash from the ATM the last time? So I would have some for a trip to Priest Lake
12. Who is the last baby that you held? Probably William Jack Wass
13. Can you spell well? Pretty well
14. Do you like Cinnamon toothpaste? Love it
15. What kind of car were you driving 2 years ago? Same as now... Pontiac Grand Prix
16. What are you doing this coming weekend? Going to Moscow
17. Last time you went to Six Flags? Never
18. Do you have any wallpaper in your house? No
19. Closest thing to you that is yellow? Picture frame with my niece and nephew in it
21. Who is the last person you wrote a check to? Spokane Eye Clinic
22. Closest framed picture to you? Family pictures and friends all over
23. Last time you had someone cook for you? I don't know... I do most of the cooking
25. How many emails do you get in your inbox daily (excluding spam)? It depends... 10-15
26. Last time you received flowers? College graduation
27. Do you play air guitar? No
29. Has anyone ever proposed to you? No
30. Do you take anything in your coffee? Always... I love coffee
31. Do you own any Willow Tree figurines? No
32. What is/was your high school's mascot? Panther
33. Last person you spoke to from high school? Dustin Helgeson
34. Last time you used hand sanitizer? I don't know... It's bad for my skin
35. Would you like to learn to play the drums? I don't really care
36. What color are the blinds in your living room? I don't have any
37. What was the last wedding you attended? Danielle and Ryan's in Omaha
38. Last thing you read in the newspaper? A Target AD probably
39. What was the last pageant you attended? I don't think I've ever been to one
40. What is the last place you bought pizza from? Dominos
41. Have you ever worn a crown? Yes... playing cards with friends in college
42. What is the last thing you stapled? Papers
43. Did you ever drink clear Pepsi? Yes... weird
44. Are you ticklish? Yes
45. Last time you saw fireworks? The 4th of July
46. Last time you had a Krispy Kreme doughnut? 3 weeks ago at church
48. Last time you parked under a carport? Probably in college at Danielle's apartment
49. Do you have a black dog? Yes... Charlie is so fun!
51. Are you an aunt or uncle? I am an aunt to 3 wonderful kids and 1 on the way :)
52. Who has the prettiest eyes that you know? I don't know... Lots of people have beautiful eyes
53. Last time you saw a semi truck? On the Interstate
54. What is the last song you belted out in the car? How You Live
55. Do you have a little black dress?Yes... I got it for Danelle's wedding

Super Bowl

UPDATE 2

New York won and I must say I really got into the game. As I was watching the game I decided I am such a catch (I don't mean to sound the way that sounds but really). How many girls really get into a football game and semi know what is going on? Not many that I know. The game tonight was really exciting and I loved watching in to the end. It was more exciting than half time, which I don't usually say. My dad would be proud.

UPDATE
Based on my friend Tim's theory... I'm going to go for New York. See his theory by following the link... http://www.inessentials.com/blog/archive/2008/01/25/08_55_05.html

(I've been trying to add a picture here for about 15 minutes and am now giving up)

The super bowl is today and contrary to what most people may think... I like football. Now... that doesn't mean I really care who wins today (I would if the Seahawks were in it) but I do enjoy the thrill of the game. In the last couple of days I have watched 13 episodes of Friday Night Lights (season 1) and I find myself excited when a good play is made and thats just a fictional show. I do thinking that football is much more enjoyable and exciting when there is a team you are rooting for... maybe I should figure out who to root for before the game begins... or I'll just be rooting for the commercials.

Snow Day

It's another snow day for our kids... I'm not as happy today though. I really in a bad mood. Hopefuly I'll get out of it soon and get over myself and my frustrations. I'm not that fun to be with when I'm crabby. Hope you are having a good day!!

Snow

We have had so much snow this week. We got about a foot on Saturday into Sunday and had a snow day on Monday. I don't think it snowed on Monday but we got a few inches on Tuesday. We had school in our district on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is supposed to snow from 4 to 8 inches tonight. Will we have a snow day tomorrow?? Who knows. A few of our school districts in the Spokane area have been closed since Monday... will they even open their doors this week? I didn't really get to experience school being closed when I was a kid. When we lived in Waitsburg WA the school was closed because the power was out for a few days. I even had to go to school in -50 degree weather in Roundup MT, even though the buses didn't run so there were not very many students in class. I had my first real snow day in college at the University of Sioux Falls. Those days were great. I also had a few when I was teaching in Grass Range MT... but never a whole day (that I recall)... we closed early a few times because the wind and snow combo. I think snow days are really great and a nice surprise. I, as a houseparent, am even okay with them because I don't really drive anywhere when the roads are bad anyway so I'm staying home anyway. I told my friends that if we are getting together this weekend they are going to have to come to my house because I'm not driving! Hope you are doing well :)

Snow Day and Sick Day

I started feeling sick on Thursday evening, there has been something going around. I felt okay in the morning so went out and did some errands. I had plans in the evening to go to dinner and play games with friends but when I got over to Jan's I was feeling awful. She ended up driving me home and the rest of the night in a blurr. I was feeling pretty good in the morning so stuck to my plan to go dress shopping with my friend Irene whom is getting married in a year. She tried on some beautiful dresses. Then it hit me and I began to feel awful again. I decided to take a sick day for Sunday and I just stayed holed up in my room. The snow fell all day long... big flakes and small flakes. There were numerous school cancellations on the news but not our school district. There was a press conference from the emergency personnel urging people to stay home on Monday. The largest school district in the area, Spokane #81 decided to close around 9pm but our district was still listed as open. This morning we found that we had a snow day so I decided to get ready and come to work... here I sit... some of our girls are out sledding with Russell and the rest are just sitting and watching movies. It's going to be an okay day!

It's been a weekend!

So... the weekend started out great.

I set out for Jan's house on Thursday night without a care in the world. We were just going to hang out and relax. We ended up going to Coldstone and I actually tried a different ice cream creation (I usually just get sweet cream with raspberries and this time I tried the Founders Favorite... I should have stuck with my standby). We also did some exploring of the South Hill area of Spokane. It's a neat area and I could probably stand living up there if I didn't have to drive down or up in the winter.

Friday brought some sleeping in time and a call asking if I wanted to join some people from work for a snowboarding trip on Monday. I decided that would be fun to do especially because I was going to be able to take a lesson. I found that my snowpants didn't fit anymore (grr) and I obviously needed some for snowboarding. I set out to find some without much luck. I didn't want to spend a lot on them and cheap ones just were no where to be found. I wanted to look at Cabella's but I never got around to driving to Post Falls. I spent that evening having dinner and playing a game called Settlers of Cattan with Cottage 1. It was fun. I was supposed to go to a late movie but bailed as I was tired.

Saturday was shopping and rearanging day. I moved a futon into my apartment/room and that meant I had to rearange my living room space. It took forever and than I decided I wanted to do something different with my kitchen area. I set out to Target to look at some put together yourself pieces. Did a lot of thinking and decided they would work. I bought 2 drawer thingys and put one together. It was really a frustrating process and I should probably not ever try to build again. I have done it before and done a fine job but really had problems. AND the pieces were not what I was wanting. So it was a huge waste of time, energy, and money. Crap!

Sunday... oh... that's today... I have had a good day. I went to church at a new place, Millwood Community Presbyterian. They are huge supporters of Hutton and I want to try it out. It was nice. I really kind of liked it. I'll probably go back again. Then Pamela and I met Jan for a movie across town, 27 Dresses... it was a good story and I really like Kathrine Higel. It was then time to find snowpants as the trip to Schweitzer was tomorrow. I bought some that I had tried on the other day and they are nice but to expencive. I also went to Target to return that blasted furniture that I didn't put together. I got home and got a phone call... Guess what... the trip is cancelled due to the weather conditions on the Mountain. So... I searched for snowpants for a trip that was cancelled. How sad! I'll have to try again next time I guess!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Are you ready for this?

So... Here I sit, once again in the Salt Lake City International Airport. I NEVER want to come here again. It all started a week and a day ago... a Friday. I set out for my trip to Montana at 6am on Friday the 21st.

Well... It's now January 16th and I thought I would complete this entry.

So... the short of my travels is that I left Spokane on time and they wouldn't let our plane land in Salt Lake... We finally landed almost 1 hour late and my flight had already left to Billings. Billings is not an easy place to get to so it was a nightmare trying to get another flight. I ran into about 8 people who were in the same situation as me... trying to get to Billings. That meant that they flew our plane about 1/2 full and left us stranded with really no options. I ended up having a standby ticket to Billings and a confirmed ticket to Bozeman. I ended up getting on the Bozeman flight and my brother-in-law picked me up and drove me the 3 hours to Billings. Then... get this... my luggage was lost for 6 days... 6 DAYS! How stupid. Lets see... so I finally got my luggage after talking to people probably in India or something who wouldn't really help me at all. So I had a good Christmas. Ended up packing way to much stuff and I didn't need it for 6 days of my trip. But Christmas was good... family was great... I really like Roundup. I didn't get to see anyone really that I was hoping too but got to see a few people from church that are important to me. So it came time to come back to my home in Spokane and did those travels go without problems? NO! My flight into Salt Lake landed late again and my flight to Spokane left me. Luckily there was a seat on the next flight into Spokane... but when I arrived guess what happened... I only had 1 bag arrive. Seriously... I have never had this awful of a traveling experience. I don't think I will be flying on Delta anytime soon. I did decide that I needed a good souvenir for my trip so bought an "I Love Salt Lake" key chain to always remember this trip by.

I now need to get a letter written to Delta... hopefully they will give me something for my troubles... It just may be a flight voucher so I just may have to do something I said I would never do again... Fly Delta and go to Salt Lake.

Christmas Letter 2007

Merry Christmas!

I hope this letter finds you all healthy and happy. I am headed home to Montana for Christmas in a few short days. I just finished my Christmas shopping yesterday and am now on to my Christmas cards, which I didn't really think were going to happen. If it's after Christmas... sorry!
It has been a busy year for me. Work has been great most every day. I enjoy my girls most of the time. Those of you that are parents of teenagers know this to be true I am sure. They love me one minute... hate me when I say no... and then love me later. It's annoying, but part of life I guess.

I have been working at the Hutton Settlement for over a year now which makes this my longest full time job so far. It's also the longest I have lived in one place since I graduated from high school (which seems like so long ago). Many wonder what I do here and I basically act as a parent. I cook and clean and take the girls to appointments and watch TV and shop. It's pretty cool most of the time. I have also had many people ask what I am doing with my future. Well... that is a good question. Let me tell you the tentative plan. I am considering going back to school to obtain a Masters in Counseling. I have found that the most enjoyable times for me at work are when I am sitting and talking with the girls. I love to hear their problems, give them my input, and challenge them to do something about it. Now... I am really praying about this and am not 100% sure that this is what I will do, but I am really considering it heavily. Some things would have to happen at Hutton for this to happen. I hope to know more in the new year. Pray for me if you want. I always appreciate it!

This year I did some traveling and it was wonderful. In January I went to Seattle for a good friends wedding. Emily and Ryan had a beautiful winter wedding. I went home for Easter to surprise my family. Then in May I got to go to Goldendale WA for my favorite event of the year... a lamboree. Do you hear the sarcasm? It was a good work trip and it wasn't as bad as it seemed when I was there. In June I went on my first "real" vacation. I flew to Omaha NE for one of my best friend's wedding. It was great to meet Ryan and his daughter, Lindsey and wonderful to be there for Danielle's wedding. I got to see quite a few college friends and professors. It was wonderful. In July, I spent a weekend in MT on the Clark Fork river doing a rafting trip for work. It was great fun! Then the next week I drove home for a week in Roundup. It was some needed time with family. I miss them a lot. In August my whole family traveled over here and on the way to the Mertens family reunion I got to show them where I live and work. It was really nice. The reunion was great too. Almost all of our family was there... those that weren't were greatly missed. The fall was filled the girls going back to school and time has really flown. I can't believe Christmas is next week. I fly out on Friday for 8 wonderful days at my parents house. Then it will be 2008!

I hope that the Lord blesses you abundantly in the new year. Each of you have blessed my life and I am thankful to God for you.

Love: Traci

I'm Done

Christmas Shopping that is. Well... close to done. Only one little thing left to get and a couple of small things to make... and I'm crossing my fingers that one gift will arrive in the mail in time for Christmas. But it is nice to be done. I did all of my errand type things today because we are supposed to get quite a bit of snow tonight and I hate going out in the snow. You know that winter song... The weather outside is frightful... But the fire is so delightful... That's me... I like the snow and long as I don't have to drive in it. But it's not even snowing yet so who knows. I am headed home for Christmas a week from today... yea! It will be so nice to be home for a bit of time. I'm hoping that Tim and Nicole's schedule will collide with mine at least for an hour or two. We always seem to be home at the same time but never see each other enough for coffee and conversation. I should get on my way to bed. I had my first social gathering in my new "apartment" at Hutton this evening. Maybe more on that later. But it's Christmas in Cottage 2 tomorrow so I have to get up a bit earlier than I would like to to celebrate with them. Should be a fun time :) Thanks and Goodnight!

Photo Meme

I saw this on Jenn's blog and thought it was neat. Here I go...

So, just type in the answers to the questions on Google Images and pick on of the first pictures that comes up. Then post the picture.

If you choose to participate, tell me in your comments!

1. Age at my next birthday: 25

2. Place I'd like to travel: Europe

3. My favorite place: Silverwood

4. One of my favorite objects: My Mr. Coffee Burr Coffee Grinder

5. My favorite food: Frozen California Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza

6. My favorite color: Lavender

7. My nickname: Starfruit... From College... My friend picked it to describe me... What fruit or veggie describes you?

8. Place I was born: Lady of Our Lourdes Hospital Pasco WA

So... I didn't exactly follow the first picture rule... but I did get pretty close. It was fun... now that I'm done!

My Future

I counseled at the Fall Youth Retreat at Ross Point last weekend. It was a great retreat. I taught a Character Study on Ruth... Did a couple hours of praying... and was really spoken to by a song. I had heard this song before but this time it really struck me.

No Sacrifice by Jason Upton

To you I give my life, not just the parts I want to
To you I sacrifice these dreams that I hold on to
Your thoughts are higher than mine
Your words are deeper than mine
Your love is stronger than mine
This is no sacrifice
Here's my life

To you I give the gifts
Your love has given me
How can I hoard the treasures that you've designed for free?
BecauseYour thoughts are higher than mine
Your words are deeper than mine
Your love is stronger than mine
This is no sacrifice
Here's my life

To you I give my future
As long as it may last
To you I give my present
To you I give my past

BecauseYour thoughts are higher than mine
Your words are deeper than mine
Your love is stronger than mine
Your thoughts are higher than mine
Your words are deeper than mine
Your love is stronger than mine
This is no sacrifice
Here's my life

So I've always been worried about who I'm going to marry and when that is going to happen but what is the point of worring? There is none because God has a plan. To Him I give my future.

My dad keeps asking me when I'm going to get my teaching certificate in Washington. He's not supposed to ask me about it again until January because I am waiting to hear about a possible new job at Hutton. To be honeset I'm not sure I want to go back to teaching. I am thinking of going back to school to get my Masters in Counseling. I have found that I feel happy and alive when I'm talking one on one with the girls I work with. I like listening to them and making them feel heard. Maybe that's what I need to do with the rest of my life. I don't really know yet but it's what I'm looking into right now.

I'm trying to not worry about my future becasue God has opened and closed doors for me in the past and I know he would'nt put me somewhere or let me complete something that I'm not supposed to do. I just have to be sure to listen carefully and follow what he asks of me.

Just Call Me Spacy

Went to Target today to return a couple of things I bought to much of for my tree... Guess what I forgot to take to Target... The returnees. Goodness... If my head was not attached I would probably lose it.

My First Christmas Tree

Well... not really my first Christmas Tree... but my first Christmas Tree that is mine. I got it from the Hutton Settlement Christmas Tree Lot. It is really pretty... I probably should have gotten a cheaper one but it is pretty. I will post pictures when I find the cord to connect my camera to my computer. I think I got a Douglas Fir... it has flat needles and smells great. I didn't have any of my stuff to put on it as it is all at my parents house in Montana so I took a trip to Target to get some things. See story about that later in the post. I bought lights, garland, raffia, silver icicle ornaments, and turquoise balls. I think it's pretty. It would be better if it had more ornaments but that is okay. At least I had the Angel that my parents gave me a few Christmas' ago to sit on the top of the tree. I'm happy with it :)

So... my trip to Target was actually 2 trips to Target. We had snow again last night so I had to clean off my car. I decided I would just go start it and leave my purse in the house. Bad idea. I ended up cleaning off my car and just getting in a driving off. Didn't realize that I forgot my purse until I got to Target. This is about a 10-15 minute drive. So I went home and got my purse and went back. Ugh!

Traci, Snow and a 12 Passenger Van

So... I'm not the most confident driver... especially in snow. We had the first snow of the season on Tuesday. I had the duty of driving some kids to school that morning. Let just say that my trip took about an hour and a half when it normally would take about thirty minutes. I did fine dropping the high school boys off (slid at one corner) but then I had to go up a hill. The car in front of me got stuck so I in turn got stuck. The little white car that was in the way of the huge van finally got going with some help from a pusher. My 2 girls got out of the van to push and the guy that helped the white car helped too. I finally got going, thank God, and the girls jumped in. They then told me that we got going because a guy in a jeep pushed us along. WITH HIS JEEP! I was shocked and so glad I didn't roll back and crush him. What a day. I was exhausted by the time I finally got home... and I didn't even take time to get my stress relieving White Chocolate Peppermint Latte.

Post Thanksgiving Shopping

I wasn't going to do it... But I did. I only went to 2 stores and knew exactly what I was going for. I was in and out of Fred Meyer for a wicker basket/trunk for the end of my bed in no time. I found the rug I was going to purchase for my room quickly at Shopko... but stood in like for at least 20 minutes to buy it. Was it worth it? I don't know... it wasn't a bad experience. It's not like I got up at 3 am to go shopping... I went at 10 and got what I wanted. I think people are nuts to get up at 3 am to go shopping. Really... is it worth it? Now that I bought things for myself I guess it's time to buy Christmas gifts. I did get my annual purchase of Starbucks Christmas coffee made today. Yum! I'm excited to brew some tomorrow. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Mistake

A few months ago I turned down an opportunity to be a primary houseparent for Cottage 1. I turned it down because I was nervous about working with the other houseparent, I thought it would be to hard. Plus I didn't want to give up my good schedule having Friday and Saturday off. I am now thinking I have made a huge mistake. I have no joy working with Cottage 2. They have always been the harder girls for me to connect with. It's really hard to love when you don't recieve love back. I'm not saying this is true for all of those girls but there are 1 or 2 each week that make it apparent to me that they don't like me. It dosen't help that my co-worker is young and fun. I'm not saying she is not good at our job but it does make it harder for me because we don't have the same personality. Thats my rant for today. Pray for me!

Waiting Up

I'm sitting here waiting for my high school girls to get home. It's almost 10pm and they are on their way home from a youth group thing. I think this is one of my least favorite parts of my job. If this was a normal family situation I would just go to bed because they would have a key to get in the house... but this is not so. When night comes around I am soooo tired! I'm always ready to go to bed... and then I have to read for so long to wind down too. Luckily... I get to sleep in because my working partner said I could. Yea! On another note... I made a mock Thanksgiving meal for dinner... It turned out really good and I think I could probably pull off the real thing if I had the opportunity. That will be a fun thing to do sometime in life. I have learned that I really love to cook... especially for people that eat what I cook and love it. One Cottage has really picky girls and the other girls will pretty much eat anything. I really love cooking for Cottage 1 :) This post is really long and winded and I don't think anyone even reads this anymore... but that is okay! If you are reading... thanks!

Thursday

As much as I love the stress of my job... I gotta say I love that tomorrow is Thursday... that mean that I get to get some rest... But seriously... I do love my girls... Even if they don't love me all the time :)

Parent Teacher Conferences

It's parent teacher conference day for my elementary girls. I think that they will be good conferences and I always enjoy seeing their classrooms and talking to their teachers. I enjoy confereces much more as a parent than I did as a teacher. However... every time I go to a conferece and step foot in the schools I wonder what I am doing. Did I make a mistake taking 2 years now off from teaching? What should I be doing for the next school year. I would probably be content staying and working at Hutton... but is that the right thing to do? I just don't know. Please pray for me as I seek out God's plan for my life. My job is a great one and it will be hard to leave... but only God knows where I should be and what I should do.

Dan In Real Life

I just got back from a really good movie... Dan in Real Life. I was not so sure about it in the begining of the movie but as it moved along I grew to really enjoy it. It was laugh out loud funny... plus a good romance story... and a feel good family story... and my friend said it was a good cry too (I didn't cry... but... I usually don't at movies). Good music too. Go see it if you want or rent it... It's really good :)

It's Good

Life is good... I'm feeling really fulfilled lately. Things at Hutton are moving along. I still don't know my plans in the next year but it will all come together.

Today I am going to make carmel apples from scratch. We shall see how they come out. I've made carmel before but never for candy, only for sauce. Crossing my fingers that it turns out!

Tomorrow I may attempt to make my own gnocchi. I had this amazing dish for my birthday with my co-worker Sarah. I made some packaged gnocchi for my friends Jan and Irene... Now I want to make my own. It is so good with butter and myzritha cheese. Yummy!

Other than that... that is a glimpse into my life. I live... I cook... I clean... I read...I parent.

July

How can it be July tomorrow? Time is flying by so quickly! Life has been interesting lately. I recently decided that I will remain in Spokane working at The Hutton Settlement for the next year at least. I am also planning on Subbing in the West Valley and maybe Central Valley districts on my Friday's off. It will be good to get in the classroom, get my name out there, and the extra cash won't hurt either.

What else has been going on??? Well let me just think back and list some of the things I have done...

• Home to MT for Easter for a couple of days
• Rafting trip for work with Peak 7
• Lamboree with work... oh so fun
• Spending time with family
• Trip to Omaha NE for a wedding... one of my best friends
• Hutton vs. Starbucks softball game
• Bike rides
• Spending time with friends
• Kids out of school for the summer
• "Date" with awesome guy from Peak 7... praying and wondering where that will go
• Trip planned to MT for end of July... it will be so nice to be home

This summer will be a weird one for me... Something missing from my list is camp counseling. Senior high camp at Ross Point starts with staff training in a hour or so and I am missing it. This is the first summer since I was a freshman in high school that I won't be counseling at camp. I am really not okay with that so will have to fix it for next year. I do plan to go out for Thursday evening though. It won't be enough but it will be good to see people.

I seem to say this every time I post but I will try to be more a more active blogger again... Who am I kidding? You can probably expect a new post in a few months :) Hope you all are well!!!

My Life

My life has been crazy. Sort of. Since I last wrote I started a new job. I have become a parent to children that can't live with their own. It is crazy and amazing and stressful but rewarding. I believe that God has placed me here for some reason for this time in my life. I am anxious to see where I will go next though. I still am searching out what my life will look like. I really miss teaching. I will be applying for some teaching jobs for the fall in WA and MT. I also would not be opposed to teaching overseas with NICS or doing Teach for America. I just don't know what I want to do. All I know is that I want to do what God wants me to do and I just have to figure out what that is. I will admit that it scares me to just pick up and move somewhere though. I don't know people in many places and the thought of moving somewhere alone and knowing no one is so frightening. I don't know if I could do it. Moving to WA hasn't really turned out like I was hoping but it has had it's good things. I am not as social as I would like to be... I don't get to do all the church stuff that I want to do... this is all because of my job though. My job is my life and I'm pretty sure that is the one thing that I am really struggling with in it. I'm sorry that I am so rambly. Please forgive me. Hopefully I will be getting back in the grove of blogging. However I need to find some witty things to say. This post is boring and it is getting more boring as I go along so on that note I will say thanks for reading and goodbye.

Homeless

How do you deal with driving by homeless people? I'm talking about those on the street corners with signs. I don't have much experience with this and every time I go to Spokane for church there is someone standing at the exit I take. This last time the guy would have tried to talk to me if I wouldn't have just stared straight ahead. I don't feel like I have anything to give them. I guess I could carry some food around but who does that? Those of you with more experience in this... you city dwellers... what do you do? How do you feel?

I Need A New Job

Goodness... do I ever!!!

WOW!!!

Well... it has been a few months since I have been on here. I love reading what people are doing so don't know why it is so hard for me to update on my life.

You may have noticed but I no longer live in Grass Range. I ended up not going back to teach there in the fall. I am not teaching this year and I am beginning to become sad about that. I really miss being in the classroom.

Currently I am living in Idaho and am working at my aunt's daycare with the infants. I really miss my family. Jack is growing so much without me! I am going to an awesome church. I love it so far. I'm excited to learn more about it and find out how I can serve. Its called Eastpoint... www.eastpointchurch.com.

I have applied for a job at a place called the Hutton Settlement... www.huttonsettlement.org. It is an awesome place and I am really hoping that God has a place for me there. I would live at the settlement and also recieve a salary. It would really be a great thing right now.

I'll write more later. I hope you are well... It there is a you...

Summer Vacation Rocks!

Hey everyone... Summer is really nice. It is amazing that I don't have to work and I love it. I have 3 weeks of camp counseling scheduled and I love that I can just volunteer my time to serve kids. One of the reasons that I became a teacher was that I am called to camp ministry as well as teaching and I can do both. Right now I am spending a week house and animal sitting for my sister in Billings. I am senseing that I will have a lot of boring hours ahead of me. Hopefully I will find something to do. I have some sewing in the plans and that is about it. Anyway... that's about it for now. I hope that each of you have some wonderful times this summer!

The Coolest Thing About This Summer Is...

I don't have to work! It is going to be amazing to just live life and do things that I want to do. I am super excited!

The Crazy End of the School Year

Who knew that teachers had to do so much to wrap up the year? Someone sure fooled me. I have so much to do at school and I have to check out tomorrow. Pray that I will get everything done and done well. Than I have to pack and move my home. I will be returning to Grass Range in the fall, if all goes as planned, but will have a different house thank goodness!!!! Anyway... I am looking forward to an enjoyable summer and am hoping that I will see most of you at some point!

Take this advice...

Use sunscreen!!!! Ya'll... I got the worst sunburn I have ever had in my life last week. I could hardly handle wearing a shirt, which is not good for me! Anyway... not I am losing a layer or 2 of skin off of at least 1/4 of my body. SOOOO WEAR SUNSCREEN!!!!!

Age

What is your age limit for dating? I know that sounds crazy but how young would you go and how old? Not really ages but years between. Even if you are married... what would you have been comfortable with when you were dating? Just something I am curious about!

Update

Well... as you know I have been lacking entry on my blog. I do have reasons for this. Let me just start at what has been going on latley.

Patti Roth passed away on the first of April. What a sad time. She had been battling with her health for a long time but their family became very close to mine and she was like an extention of my mom. She was such an inspiration. Her daughter, Bekah, will be graduating from High School next weekend. I am excited for the celebration!

A couple of weeks later by grandfather (Ralph) passed away. He was such an awesome man. He was so good for my grandma. He was so good for my family. My "real" grandpa died when I was in 1st grade and my grandma married Ralph when I was in 10th grade. I well up just thinking about how willing he was to just become part of our family. The last big trip that they made was to my graduation from college. It meant so much to me that they traveled so far for me. I just wish that he could be there for the other momunental things that will happen in my life. But it was his time and as humans we have to accept that we have life and death and life in Christ forever.

The cool thing about death is that, when we are saved, we have life with Christ and we will all be together again. I am excited for that day, but I am also excited to see what will happen in my life. When will I get married? Have kids? Who will be around for those things?

Something that brings me comfort is that I think they can really know what is going on in my life now. It is hard to keep in touch and I believe that those in heaven know what is happening on Earth. Maybe I am just naive but that's okay.

Anyway... that is enough for now. I am tired and I don't want to write anymore so there!

Where am I??

Just a quick update... I'll write more later. I am currently in Idaho at my grandmas. My grandpa passed away on Tuesday morning and the funeral is tomorrow. That would be two funerals in two weeks with 2 very special people in my life. More later.

Also my computer when kapooy but that is fixed now... but not without a bunch of trouble... more on that too.

Anyway... I am still alive and kicking and will be back in blog world soon. Thanks for caring!

Where is MY prince charming?

Seriously... I could really use him about now. My life seems to be filled with sad and scarry things where I would really like to have someone to talk with. I want to have someone to hold my hand and to hug. I want someone to wipe my tears away and someone to bawl on when I need to. Where is he? Where is he? Where is he?

Something I Really Want To Do...

Do you want to join me?

I really want to take about 7 months of my life to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Does that sound crazy? You start in Georgia and hike up to Maine. It is roughly 2000 miles. It would be awesome. What a thrilling adventure. I hope that in the next 7 or so years that I could actually do this. I would need to be financially stable in some way though. It would be crazy cool!!!

check out www.appalachiantrail.org

Job Possibilities

Hey There:

Just wanted to ask for your prayers. I have sent of 3 job applications in the last couple of weeks. Billings, Big Timber, and Huntley... I am just praying that the right job will be there for me and that I can fill a position that is designed for me. I want to thrive in my teaching career and know that I can't do that in Grass Range. Please just pray that God would open some doors for me if it is His will.

Thanks!

I'm Done

Stick a fork in me... I'm done. I decided this afternoon at about 3:45 that I am NOT returning to teach in Grass Range next year. I was going to stick it out if I couldn't get a job somewhere else but I am seriously done. I have never been so mad at administration until this afternoon. What a horrible superintendent they have here. She had her contract renewed so I am not going to sign my renewel. I'm done. I don't even care if I can't get a teaching job next year. I will substitute and work in a grocery store or McDonalds if I have to for survival. I guess I always have a month or so to change my mind about signing the contract but as of this moment I am done! Which stinks because I love my students!

Sigh

Well live is getting odd once again. What is going on? Well I am looking for a new job at the moment. I have applied in Huntley and am going to apply in Big Timber. I am sure something will work out. I really need to get out of this place and get back to the city. I really miss the city. That sounds crazy to me but I do.

My grandfater (not biological) is dying. I finally have realized this and am really sad. He has been suffering from lukemia for a few months. They gave him 10-12 months to live and the 10 months is up in May. I am hoping that he hangs in there for a bit longer. Dawn and Marc and I are planning on going over there for my spring break. I have a feeling it may turn into the whole family heading over. Please just pray for him and our family.

Here he is at 1 week old. He got to move to his house today. It is an exciting day! I can't wait for Friday... I finally get to hold him and kiss him and tell him I love him! 

This is Jack. I can't wait to hold him and see him with my own two eyes. Isn't he gorgous? 

It's That Time Again...

What am I going to do this summer? I hate that question. This is a summer where I don't really have to work so that is awesome but I don't believe I can spend the summer without a job. I am pretty sure I will need some extra cash when those student loans come due, which I am freaking out about by the way. My problem with a job is that I have certain weeks that I am going to want off... like the whole month of July. I want to get back to Templed Hills and spend some time serving the Lord. I would like to work in a coffee hut maybe but I would have to get a job and than quit it and than try to get another. I don't know if it is worth it. I just don't know what to do. Is there any advice out there for me? I know I know... no one reads this anymore because I have not written for months. PS... I am going to be looking for a teaching job in the Billings area for the fall as well!

William Jack Wass

There is now a name for the precious bundle of joy that I have not met yet. I am anxious for them to come home. Hopefully it will be soon so I can spend a little time with the new family.

The Baby Is Here!

Well... It is about 38 days early... But I am now the proud aunt of a beautiful baby boy. Unfortunately I have not been allowed to see him because of the hospital and he does not have a name yet. I will try to update soon. Life has been BUSY!

As Crazy As It Sounds...

I am so ready for Christmas Break! Although I just started my teaching job on Monday I am really ready for Christmas Break. I feel like I have been running since I started Student Teaching in September. I need a break where I don't have to do anything if I don't want to. I am really looking forward to being home (although I just left there Sunday and am returning tomorrow). I don't know. I really love my family I guess. I must admit that I would rater visit that live with them but that is beside the point. I love Christmas and my parents house is not even decorated yet. Maybe we can do that on Saturday. It is definitly going to be a short Christmas season in the Mertens house. Oh well. It is the thought of the season and what it stands for that really matters. I haven't even written my Christmas letter yet or wrapped my gifts (I have, however, bought them though!) Anyway... I will sign off for now. Hopefully I will be around more now that I have my own home and life and such!

May God Pour His Blessings Upon You as You Reflect Upon This Season!

My Little Yellow House

Well... I am living in a little yellow house. It is okay... I don't want to live here next year but it will work for awile. It is really tiny. It was super dirty when I arrived on Tuesday. Thank goodness I have a mom and also Nicole's mom. They were a big help. I am so thankful for many things this season. Those who helped me move (Pastor John and Red), my new job, a "warm" place to live... I could probably go on and on.

I do have tons to do at this point in time though. I need to get my student teaching paper work wrapped up. But I also have to get my house in order, my classroom in order, and my lesson plans in order. Pray that I will have the motivation and energy to get everything done. It is now 7:30 pm and I am seriously going to go get in my bed... read a book and go to sleep. I am so tired!

God Bless You!

It's Official!!!

Well... I have officially fulfilled my dream. Starting December 12, 2005, I, Traci Mertens, will be a full time teacher. I will be teaching 5th and 6th Grades in Grass Range Montana. I have so much to do, am really overwhelmed, and am pretty stressed out, but am soooo excited! It is pretty surreal. God's provisions for me are amazing though. I am going to Grass Range on Saturday to see a little yellow house that sounds perfect for me. Pray that is really is as good as it sounds! Wow... I am really in awe of God's grace and mercy for me!

Happy Thanksgiving

Traci's Top 10 Things to be Thankful For...

1. Wonderful Family
2. Beautiful Old Friends
3. Beautiful New Friends
4. Awesome Pets
5. Great Church
6. Good Place to Live
7. Superb School
8. Lifes Many Amenities
9. My Great Car
10. Employment Opportunities

Happy Thanksgiving!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Gratious... It is almost the 1st of December and there is no snow to really speak of. Do I not live in Montana? Recently I have felt like I live in California or somewhere silly. I don't really like the snow that much but I sure would like some to fall!

Where in the world is Traci Mertens?

Goodness Gracious! I can't believe how busy life is when you are all grown up and are making something of yourself.

Student Teaching has been wonderful and I only have 8 school days left... It's kind of sad and kind of wonderful. It is sad because I have become attatched to my students... but wonderful because I am ready and prepared for a class of my own. Speaking of a class of my own...

I had a interview in Grass Range Montana for a 5/6 possition. I am feeling very good about it. That could be a good sign or a bad one. I should know the outcome tomorrow. I am really praying that if God wants me in that place that He will provide. If He provides the job than I am praying double that He will provide some housing. I'll keep you posted.

Since my Student Teaching is winding down I am hoping to have a bit more time to spend with all of you. I have been a horrible friend these last few months and I don't really like that about myself.

Anyway... I will be in touch... especially about the job. I may need some visitors soon!!!

Blessings!

Three Things I Plan to Do Before I Die
1. Be married and raise a family
2. Go on a mission trip overseas
3. Go on an big family vacation

Four Things I Can Do
1. Teach
2. Sing
3. Be a friend
4. Sew

Six Things I Cannot Do
1. Talk to strangers
2. Draw
3. Play guitar
4. Be organized
5. Love all people all of the time
6. Not sin

Seven Things That Attract Me to the Opposite Sex
1. Godly
2. Family Oriented
3. Compassionate
4. Forgiving
5. Solid
6. Accepting
7. HOT!!!! well you know... you have to be able to look at them you know :)

Eight Things I Say Most Often
1. I'm so confused
2. Seriously
3. I'm so tired
4. Ugh
5. Whatever
6. I don't know
7. What?
8. Sad

Nine Celebrity Crushes:
... Sorry I don't fall for people I don't know... Am a really odd???

Three Cool Things About Becca
1. She is a wealth of information
2. Easy to talk to and voice concerns to
3. She is a beautiful woman of God

I don't have anyone to tag because I only have a few blogging friends and they have all done this already... sad.

The Crazy Life I Am Living

Oh my goodness you guys that still check to see if I am alive... I cannot believe how busy I am. There is so much to tell all of you so I guess I will just start from the top... when I left you last I was leaving Idaho for the summer.

lets see if i can get this all down briefly... my grandma thought that my jeep was a piece of crap so she decided to buy me a new car (great for me eah)... I came home and my dad and I found a 1994 grand prix at the local dealer in town... it was owned by a women from our church and in excellent condition so we bought it... than i had to leave for sioux falls for school... i drove there and it was really boring... they let me stay in a dorm room for free... i went to class and spent way to much money on gas and food... i saw my friends why too little... i went to omaha ne to visit my best friend from college... that was great fun... we were driving in the dark and i thought it was raining but it was really bugs (ewww)... my sister had surgery to remove a tumor from her side while i was in sd... it was scary... she was in icu for a day or so and than they moved her to general surgery... than they od'ed her on morphine so she almost died... very scary (my family did not tell me this until after the fact)... than my mom called and said joy had to go back in to surgery... at this point i was setting up my credential file so was in the education office and my professor asked how my sister was and told me to go home 2 days before my class was over... so i drove to rapid city and checked into a motel and than i left at 3 am... the clerk at the desk was dumfounded that i was checking out at such a time... well i made it to sit with my family during the surgery and got to see my sister... ugh... i hate the hospital... she is doing well now though so that is a big blessing... i started my student teaching and that is going well... i have taught a few lessons and will be gradually taking on the whole load in the next 5 weeks, this week i have reading and will add lanuage next and so on and so forth... yesterday i was telling some people that i would really like my jeep to sell this week because the registration was coming up... than my dad showed me this check for $1600 and i was so excited... what a blessing... than i went to school today and will tomorrow... oh i got a job at the grocery store too... that is crazy in itself... like i have time to work... pray that i will find a way to serve in the church... i need time... well thanks for reading the crazieness that i call my life... love to you all and i will try to update sooner next time! ps... i have been reading your blogs... just have not had the desire to write...

A List

I am posting a list of things that I hope to write about. As much down time as I have on my hands right now it is hard to get all the words down!

• Hurricane Katrina
• Sisters Surgery
• Time in Sioux Falls
• Trip to Omaha
• New Car

Well... we will see if I get any of this written about. Sorry if it does not interest you... well actually I'm not sorry because I should write about what I want to... eah!

So Much To Say

I have so much to say about many different things. I have to go to class now though. I will post more later. I have not fallen off the face of the earth.

Busy!

Well I am back from Idaho but have been really busy since I got home. There is just so much to do. I have been painting mostly. I am also car shopping and think I have found the car I want (1994 Grand Prix, Marron). I get a 24 hour test drive tomorrow so will be driving it to Billings for my birtday party at my sister's. In the evening tomorrow I will be 22 years old. How exciting... well not really... 22 is not really to special... it's just a year older. Anyway... that is a short update on The Life. I hope that all of you are doing well and are enjoying the last part of summer.

ANNOUNCMENT!

I have an announcement... I am going to be an aunt again! I am super excited. The baby should be here in March sometime. Congratulations Dawn and Marc!

I would like to propose a question.

Why is it that the Catholic bible has extra books? Why are they not used by the Protestent Church?

* This is really a question as I have no clue.

2 Weeks

In 2 weeks I should be back home in Montana. I am so excited! I talked to the teacher I will be working with Fall Semester and just am so happy to be working with her. The experience is going to be so wonderful! What a blessing it will be to work under Ms. Tande (she was Mrs. Hanson when I had her for a teacher in 5th grade). I hope to do a new blog documenting my experience with student teaching. We will see if I have time!

* UPDATE - Here is my new blog... The Teaching Journey (http://tracisteachingjourney.blogspot.com/).

Crazy

So I just talked to a friend from camp and retreat stuff and she told me that she is getting married in September. This is something that I really didn't expect her to be saying to me. Crazy! For you single people that read my blog... do you ever get sad when you hear someone else is getting married. I need to explain that better I guess. It's not that I am sad... I am happy for my friend I just get a sense of loneliness when I hear that kind of news. This was supposed to be a happy post so I will end with congratulations Shauna!

Exhausted

I am so exhausted! It has been a long couple of weeks with camp and than my family here this weekend for my grandma's 80th surprise birthday party. I haven't had a good nights sleep for a couple of weeks and it is really catching up with me. It was fun to be with my family though. I wish that I wasn't far away from them again. I hate it! I miss them so much. I'll be back home again in just about a month though so I am looking forward to the end of my summer job (which I DON'T love) and the beginning of my student teaching. I just wonder how I am going to survive money wise in the fall. There seems to be no where to get a job in Roundup these days. I could work at the Busy Bee but if you know what I am talking about you know that would be horrible. Anyway. Just an update of my recent life. I have been busy busy busy and I am tired tired tired and I have TONS of school work to finish up before the end of the month.

Such and amazing time!

I had such an amazing time at camp this week. I am sure that God's plan was for me to be there because I couldn't have been there without His help. I wanted to share something really cool. Those of you that know me personally know that I am a pretty shy and quiet person. That is just who I am on the outside I think though. The question proposed to the staff at the beginning of the week was what are your expectations. I was thinking and all I could think of was myself. I knew that God had called me there to do something and I was expecting myself to come out of the shy bubble that I often live in and just speak His words. Well I was definitely a different person this week. I have never talked and laughed and been so encouraging in my life and I loved it. I loved that people noticed a difference in me. We had a question and answer time for the campers separated by genders and I would have never said anything in those times in the past but I had things to say and I was able to say them and say them well. I am just so happy with the person that God has made me and am so happy that He has given me the opportunities to work for Him and spread His word in this way. I am so excited for the things that He is going to continue to use me for. He is just so good!

My Cabin

Well... this was an amazing week. This is my group of girls. Starting in the back row we have Amanda, Carolyn, Corinne, Blythe, Lauren, and Jessica. In the front we have counselor Amanda, Xenia, Nicole, counselor Me, Katherine, and Chelsea. What a wonderful group of girls. They were really a blessing. We didn't have any problems that I know of amoungst us. It was a really smooth week. Praise God!

Noah's Ark Building

We were given 4 things... another cabin to work with, cardboard, a few plastic bags, and duct tape. Our goal was to build a boat (Noah's Ark) that would hold 2 people and float. The girls had the excellent idea of filling the bottom with empty plastic bottles. I think it may work!

Noah's Ark Transporting

Transporting our creation to the dock. We are all hoping that it will float.

Noah's Ark Sailing

Well... it got a bit of water in it but it served it's purpose!

Squish in time!

The girls gather on my bed for a photo. Sadly we are missing Kat and Amanda whom had to leave early for a state softball tournement. I have never had campers in my cabin leave early before and this year I had 3 (Carolyn left at 5 am to catch a plane to her new home in Hawaii). It is really sad to lose campers early. I don't particulary like it!

High Ropes

The high ropes course is such an amazing part of camp. This year it was optional so I was able to go up with some campers. I had such a good time. I did some things that I had not done on the course before. It was great to push myself to go new challenges.

Climbing UP

Climbing up the net. I think it would have been easier if I had longer legs.

Resting At The Top

I finally made it up the net. Oh my goodness... my upper arms are still hurting!

Vine Walk

This is called the vine walk I think. It's a bit hard.

Hesitation

I stand here getting ready to jump. See the hesitation on my face? It was really scary.

Leap of Faith

I finally do the "Leap of Faith". I didnt' land very well but I did it! I still hurt :(

Burma Bridge Flipping

We flipped the bridge together. How super fun!

Almost Off

My last obstical before reaching the platform to get on the ground again.

Swinging!!!

It's time for me to exit the course. How exilerating!

Serinading

The last night the boys come and sing to the girls and than the girls decided to return the favor. We cramed about 55 girls into one cabin and than went out to see the boys... sadly the directors informed us it was to late and we would be to noisy due to city noise laws. It was sad!

Praise the Lord

Well, I will be gone next week for a week of camp counseling at Ross Point!!!! I am super excited. I have tons to do before I can go though. Homework and planning for my substitute teacher next week. Pray.

The Purpose Driven Life

I bought a journal yesterday thinking I could use it with out the book, "The Purpose Driven Life", but I was wrong. So now I need to go find a copy of the book and that is okay because I have been told that it is amazing. I am kicking myself thought. Someone donated boxes and boxes of that book to my college and they have been available to the students for free for like 3 years. Did I ever go get one?? NOPE! Silly me.

Why do I lack motivation??

I am taking 2 classes online this summer to finish up my undergrad work. One class has definite deadlines (not late work accepted) while the other is just "do whatever". I am really struggling with that class. I am really far behind and really need to get caught up. That is my goal this week... to get caught up. Pray for me! I have 3 papers to write and a 6 question essay test to do. I am going to need some motivation.

Extreme Dodgeball

I was just watching extreme dodgeball on the game show channel. It is soooo funny!

What did I do today? Well a bit of nothing really. I read a book and than went to the mall with my cousin. Than I went back to the mall and got my hair cut and my brows waxed. It was really good (it took about 20 minutes total). I am really happy with my hair! It was so long and bugging me a lot! I think I shall do homework this afternoon. Oh... I watched the movie Hitch as well and laughed a bit. It's good for the soul.

Bothered

Is anyone else bothered by anonymous posts?? I love that people read and comment but I do like to know who is reading and commenting. Just an annoyance for today. So if you read and comment please leave your name:) I hope you are all having a wonderful Saturday.

So this is the awesome group of people that I worked with all summer last year. I just got a call requesting my services for camp counseling and am so sad that I had to say no. I miss Ross Point more than anything right now. I am so homesick for camp it is ridiculous. Templed Hills was good but Ross Point has so much more to offer and I'm not talking facility wise. God is definitly the center of everything. I want to ask for the 4 days off that I would need but don't know if it is appropriate. Hum... the delima. It's in 2 weeks so I guess I better figure out if I can ask for it off. Pray for me in my decision making.

Heat Stroke...

It is so hot here... I hate the heat for one and you don't have much energy for two. It was probably 95 degrees today and I don't think it is going to get better anytime soon.

My summer... so far has been

busy and frustrating and good all in one. I am now in Idaho and am busy busy busy. I am finally seeing what it means to work and not get paid (teaching). Not that I don't get paid, its just that I work quite a bit while not on the clock.

Having gone through my first full week with my kids in the classroom I now know to expect the unexpected and to be flexible. Like on Friday I had about 10 pre-k kids in my room and I had to entertain them and my school age kids sorta got put on the back burner. It sucked for me and for them. But now I know that I need to expect that kind of thing to happen and be prepared for it.

Anyway... thats all the time I have (well the energy I have) folks. Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the summer!

Open House

Party with my oldest sister... so many people were there... why do people attend an open house when they don't even know you? It was at the youth center so a few people just came to play... it was really annoying cause it was a party for Joy and I... am I being to selfish?? I love my sister though and that we graduated the same year!

It's blurry but I got my diploma folder... no diploma until December 

Moving Out

Oh what fun it is move out! NOT

Graduation

It felt as if I was just playing dress up

So much has been happening!

Hello all of my friends:

I have been away for quite a long time. I am now in Idaho and will start my job with my students on Monday. I spent the last week getting prepared for them. I need to get to my homework so will just say that I am still alive and around. Hope all is well in your worlds.

Why I will miss camp this summer...

1. I have been there for about 14 summers in a row
2. I love camp counseling!
3. It brings me out of my shell
4. It means I don't have to be fully grown up yet
5. It is something I am good at and can use my gifts for
6. I have developed relationships, good ones, over the past few summers

My handsom nephew Bradley. He will be finishing up third grade in the next few weeks and I will be in the same pod as him next year... his classroom will be right across the hall from me! He is such a smart boy. This year he told his mom that he wished I didn't go to school so far away. My family is so sweet!

This is my lovely niece Alyssa. She will be finishing Kindergarden in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to being in the same school as her next year. She is such a sweet girl with a huge heart! My first year at school in South Dakota she wished upon a star that I would come home soon. How sweet is that?

Two Down and Three To Go

Three more tests and than the semester is done!

This is me with my sisters. I am so happy that I am able to move closer to them. Our friendship grows as we become older. They don't sit on me and do the typewritter on my chest anymore, instead we talk and laugh and have fun together. Dawn is in the shirt with lacing and Joy is the other one. Joy just graduated from MSU in Billings and Dawn is a Sophomore. They both have huge dreams and I know that they will be able to accomplish anything they put their minds to! 

This is my friend Danielle and one of our awesome professors. I love Lisa Sullivan! She is a first year professor at USF and is so amazing. I'm not even the only one that thinks that. She was named USF Faculty of the Year. It was so exciting! I am sad to be leaving her behind as she has been so much help to me this year in all that I have been through. An amazing women of God! 

I don't understand...

How to make my photos appear. I have downloaded Hello but can't make it work. Can anyone explain how to do it??

Sad!

I actually got myself out of bed and showered all by 6 am! I'm quite proud of myself. Unfortunatly I decided that I deserved a treat this morning and I went to this Sioux Falls coffee shop called Kaladi's. I always get a White Mocha with skim and it is always awesome... today is the exception though. It is awful! The worse part is that I didn't taste it until I was back to my apartment... where, by the way, I got a very good parking spot... so that is the good in my morning. My Christian Thought test is in 1 hour and I'm not ready... but that is okay... I still have an hour to cram bits of information into my brain.

My study habits...

Are just not very good. This is something that I have finally decided today as I begin my last finals week of my undergraduate education. I have a final at 8 am which I have not really studied for and I also have one at 3 pm tomorrow. My plan was to get the 8 am final studied for tonight and than study for my 3 pm final after I take my 8 am final. I now see that that is probably not the best plan as I haven't even started studying and I am about ready to sleep. Ugh... If only I would do what I tell myself to do after every finals week. To bad it is to late now!

I have 5 days left until graduation. I am so excited for what is ahead of me in my life. I have it all planned out up until December when I have to find something to really do with my life! God will provide though and I look forward to what He provides.

When it rains...

It Pours!

My heart is heavy.

My heart is so sad and heavy and bogged down. Last week I learned that the store in which I grew up in was being closed. The store is all that I have known in Roundup. We moved to Roundup the summer I was going into 3rd grade and this June was to be the 15th Anniversary. It is just so weird that I left a place that was like a second home and when I go home I can't go there anymore. My life there is just going to be so different. I am not really looking forward to it. Like I am so excited to be home and away from this place but it is going to really strange being home. The good thing I guess is that I am going to Seattle right away after I get home. It will be good to get away I am sure.

In other news... do any of you ever get something or someone on your mind and can't get them or it off? It seems that in the Spring I get this person in my thoughts and can't get them out. I am dwelling on my thoughts about this person and it is so annoying. I just want to know what is going on with my thoughts and I can't get an e-mail back... grrr... how frustrating!

Anyway... this is quite a sad and depressing post. Sorry!

I know that things will be better... it just takes time!

How many times...

can my seperate roomates mistake my freshly washed towel to be there own??

I can't believe...

that it is Friday already! Goodness time is flying by me. I suppose I better kick it into gear if I am going to get all my projects and assignments done in 2 weeks.

Reality Rant

Alright... you all know that I enjoy reality tv... but it is seriously getting on my nerves. I think it all so planned out and that the producers really just do whatever they want. I am mainly talking about Survivor and The Amazing Race. It just seems that it would really be easy for them to do what they want and I think they do. I do still enjoy watching the silly shows though!

Alone

Have you ever gone to a movie in the theater by yourself? I did it yesterday and it was so nice. I saw A lot Like Love and it was alright. Another movie with a predictable happy ending but happy endings make me happy so... yeah. But I was always scarred to go to the movies alone. I'm a nerd like that and will not go to things often if I have to go alone. This year I have become more able to do that though. I have studied at a coffee shop a few times and well that's about it. I have realized that I like to do a lot of things alone. I like to shop alone, and study alone, and watch movies alone. It is so much easier that doing it with friends. You only have you to worry about and if you are done doing whatever you are doing you can leave and not worry about weather your friend was ready to leave or not! Anyway... that's my first thought for the day. Hopefully more will come!

What a week it's been

This has been a long week and it still isn't over. I have to get through today. It is 6am and I am up to write a paper on the social implications of the gospel and look... i'm procrastinating. My Introduction to Christian Thought has really got me thinking about some things that I would like to write about. Maybe I will have time this weekend.

I have so much planned in the next 4 weeks that graduation and the end of school will be here way before I am ready. I have a few major papers and projects to do before I am done with school. My parents, and grandparents, along with my sister Dawn and her husband Marc are coming for my graduation and I have an open house in Sioux Falls on Saturday, than graduation is Sunday and we head home on Monday. My other open house, in Roundup, will be with my sister Joy. She graduates from MSU-B on the 7th. On the 26th I am flying to Seattle with my parents to visit family and we return on June 1st. Than on the 5th I head out for Idaho to spend a week preparing for my summer camp kids - I recently found out that I will be in charge so it is a bit frightening. I suppose all the excitement will make life interesting!

I really should get to my paper now. I have a quiz at 8am as well in Earth Science... Boring and horrible class!

Newness in the eyes

Well I ordered contacts for the first time on Tuesday. I got the call that they are in and I will get them on Saturday morning. I'm a bit nervous. They said it would be harder for me because one of my eyes will have a weighted lens. Goodness I hope it doesn't take me all day to get them in! I suppose it is a good thing that I am going in at 10am... I may just make the batchelorette party I plan to go to at 6:30 :)

I hate...

-Losing contact with awesome people
-Spending weekends alone
-Being soooo disorganized
-Questioning myself
-Not being able to spend time at camp this summer
-Growing up and having responsibility

What are some things you hate??

Don't Want to go to Class

I have what some may call senioritis at the moment. I didn't have my first class of the day and plan on skipping my second class. I have so much to do that I think I can skip and get caught up with the lecture. It's bad... I know but I guess it's just who I am. I have never had a problem with skipping class and some of my friends would never ever skip a class. Anyway... it's to work on a presentation for this afternoon.

Where have the Gilmore Girls gone?

I am so tired of reruns... when will the new ones return???????

Spring Break is over :(

Well I am back in Sioux Falls and my one... yes only one... break for the semester is over. My dad's surgery went well and I am feeling much better about that whole thing. What a scary thing to go through! I am really excited for the ending of this semester. I am ready to be finished. I made my graduation announcements yesterday so now need to get them all put together and sent off. I have to still make something to include in them telling about my open houses, yes that's houses. I will have one here and than a combined one in MT with my sister. I have so much to do before my time here is over for the year that I don't know if I will make it. I'm sure I will but goodness I am so busy. It's a good think I stopped working at the mall or else I probably would not make it out of Sioux Falls a sane women!

It's been a long time...

since I last posted. I am at home in MT now for a week which should be really nice. I am looking forward to the time to relax and just not be stressed about school for the moment. I do have some homework to work on and process but not much. My dad is having surgery on the 31st so it will be good to be home for that as well. I don't really want to go back to school right away after that but I suppose that I have to and don't really have a choice. We just had midterms at school so the semester is half over which is wonderful but it is also scary... the last part of Spring Semester seems to go way faster than any other time of the year and I have papers and projects and presentations to do for school and I have graduation plans to make! So much to do and I know it will end up being stressful decision making too! But I am glad that I am almost finished with school and am so happy that I will be home for Student Teaching next fall!

He spoke right to me...

I was in church yesterday and the pastor was praying and he said that someone needed to hear that Jesus loved them. Than he said something along the lines of you may have recieved some bad news but remember that Jesus loves you. I swear he was looking right at me.

Now this week I recieved some of the worst news in my life so this was really touching to me. I don't really want to write about what that news is here but would ask for your prayers. I'm going through something scary but I think it is going to be okay. I'll let you know!

Prayer

" Lord, I don't know who he is. I don't know where he is or whether I've even met him. But I ask You to bless him and to protect him. I ask You to take care of him, provide for him, and keep him pure. Thank You Lord. Amen"

I don't know where this came from but think it is great.

Bummed

I am really bummed about something... I was chosen by some education faculty to be a mentor in the peer mentor program this spring. I was told tonight that I will not be an active member in the program at this moment because there are not enough mentees to go around. This really sucks because this is my last chance to participate in the program. It's not like I have another year in the education program. I'm finished... there is no more time. That's my disappointment of the day. Sorry to be so down.

Good things did happen today... like I know how I am getting all of my stupid credits done now! It's all covered and planned out. Yea... a little bit of stress is gone.

I've Decided In My "Old" Age That Roundup Is...

Not So Bad!

Okay so I was reading Tim's blog and heard the news that they (Tim and Nicole) are moving to MN, possibly. There was a comment from Becca saying that there move could be worse... moving to Roundup. Now I'm not "dissing" Becca's comment but I have recently decided that Roundup is not such a bad place. It is a place that seems to grow on me as I grow up. I love our church and all of the people in it. They are so warm and loving and I love going home to see them. They care about me and what I am doing with my life.

I love my family... they have grown on me too!

I love the school system... for the most part.

Its not such a long drive to go to Billings plus that gives you an excuse to get out of town. Living in a big city I never get out of town because everything I need is here. Which is not such a bad thing but it is nice to leave once in awhile. Maybe I will feel differently about Roundup when I live there again but I think that things are looking up for the town. I am so excited about the Youth Center that they are working on! Keep it in your prayers... I believe that God is going to do awesome things with it and I can't wait to see what they are!

Mary Kay

I just got done with a Mary Kay interview thing and am really considering signing up to be a consultant. I think it would be a wonderful opportunity but I am still apprehensive in doing it. I am sure that I would make profit which would be awesome but the idea is still scary. I guess the good thing is that you work at your own pace though. Maybe if I did this I could quit my job at the mall?? Hummm... that's an idea! Thinking and Praying...

The Stress

Becca asked me what I was stressed about so thought I would just write about it! I am trying to student teach in Roundup and there have been communication issues between USF and Roundup Central School. It is stressful because I really want and feel like I need to be home next year. I know that if it is supposed to happen that it will happen but I am not willing to give up quite yet. I just need prayer that everything will fall into place soon. Plus... I need a credit of science and that is not coming though very quickly either. Oh the stress... I just want to be finished with school! Why can't I finish without the added stressful things?

More Than Enough

God is "more than enough" for me... I really need to place that in my heart and beleive it and live by it!

I also learned at church today that "Things Break"... God can fix it but he will not always fix it... God is good! Very good sermon and a very awesome church. Today was my first visit to Crosswalk Community Church and I liked it a lot... I hope to return next week... work schedule permiting. I would really like to quit my job but I like it. I do want to go to church though and have Sundays be the tyipical Sunday again.

Something Oh So Sweet!

I was talking with my sister, Joy, tonight and she told me that Bradley, my nephew, said... "I wish Aunt Traci didn't go to school so far away." How sweet is that... tears in the eyes!

It's time to post something with meaning...

My posts are really quite boring. I need to start posting something that matters in life. But what really matters in life? What is there to write about??? My life is quite boring and because my life is boring I think that there is not much to say. All I do with my life is work and go to school.

I just realized that I am really not writing a post about anything that really matters in life. So lets see if I can go in a new direction tomorrow... or later perhaps.

Does anyone have any ideas on what you want to read about? Questions?

What to do with the check...

So Ross Point does a fundraiser every year around Christmas time. This year I decided that since the camp has changed my life so much that I would send a little something to add a little to the ministry of the camp. They send an envelope with the letter to send money back in and I recently got that envelope back because it could not be delivered. I don't know if I should try to send the money again or what. Is there a reason that I got it back? The address is correct... I don't understand.

My Computer Is Sick... :(

I have to send my computer away to get fixed. I don't know how I am going to live 2 weeks without it. Oh the attachment I have made with it. I will miss my friend.

Interesting Stats

From: the naked soul by Tim Alan Gardner...
" At the opposite end of the spectrum from those who don't like themselves are the people who think way too highly of themselves. Several years ago U.S. News and World Report published the results of a poll that asked Americans which celebrities and public figures they thought were 'most likely to go to heaven.' Here are some of the names that made the list, followed by the percentage of folks who thought these people would 'likely' get past the Pearly Gates:
Mother Teresa - 79%
Oprah Winfrey - 66%
Michael Jordan - 65%
Colin Powell - 61%
Hillary Clinton - 55%
Al Gore - 55%
Bill Clinton - 52%
Pat Robertson - 47%
Newt Gingrich - 40%
Dennis Rodman - 28%
O.J. Simpson - 19%"

I thought it was intersting.

PINK!

Oh my goodness... how excited am I that there is a pink option for my blog now? I have turned into such a pink freak that I scare myself. But I do love pink!

My Portfolio

I have been so worried about my teaching portfolio lately. I was worried that I didn't do it correctly or put enough thought into it. Well I probably didn't put enough thought into it because I procrastinated WAY to much. I got an e-mail from a professor today though that took a bit of my anxiety away. She said "You really worked to impress. Nice Job." it made me feel soooo good about the work that I did put in. I think I worked the hardest on the formatting of the website. I like it anyway. Feel free to check it out if you want. www.usiouxfalls.edu/~memertens. Comments are appreciated as well. Do you agree with my standpoint on say Standardized Testing or any other point I made in the work??

Gilmore Girls

I just finished watching the Gilmore Girls with my roomate and we disagree on something. For any of you that watch it you know the love "dilemas" that Lorili faces. Bear with me on the spelling. I believe that she will end up with Luke and that Luke is wonderful for her. My roomate believes that Christopher is the best for her. Her reasoning is that he is Rory's father. I think that is a silly reason for someone to be with someone else after all the years they have not been together. Any other insite out there?

What does it mean?

What does it mean when you can't fall asleep? I often am up til 3 am because I can't sleep. Its not that I'm not tired though. My mind is full of thoughts and I pray for a bit but still here I am 2am awake when I want to sleep. When my mind is thinking this late at night it is usually about my future which I don't really want to be thinking about. I make up my life in my head... what's wrong with me?

Traci's Reality addiction

Well since others are fessing up to this addiction I will as well...Come to think of it, it probably is not really an addiction for the others. I am seriously sick! I get frustrated or sad or whatever if I miss a week of any particular reality show. No joke! There are so many of them that I like as well. I like them because they don't seem to be focused on pre-marital sex and other immoral things like that. Here are the shows that I love and my take on them.

The Amazing Race: I wish that Jon and Kris would have won. They deserved it. They were the only couple that I didn't hear demeaning things spoken to eachother. I'm excited that a new one is starting up in 3 weeks. I like seeing the parts of the world that I probably won't see otherwise. Oh... and did you see the advertisment for Dr. Phil primetime? Jon and Victoria getting the oh so needed help!

The Batchelorette: Why much I love this show so much? Seriously. Last year, during Meridith's show, I actually bought a VCR so that I wouldn't miss the show one day. Sick... at least I can admit it I suppose.

American Idol: I just can't stop watching the show. I don't really enjoy the beginning weeks when people who can't sing a note think they can but it is getting good now. Sometimes I laugh and sometimes I cry. See I told you I was sick.

The Apprentice: I watch this one just to laugh. People are so silly.

Survivor: It's fun... new one starting soon. The last one was disipointing though. I didn't like the people that ended up in the end.

In all these shows I think that I could do them. Well not all of them but wouldn't it be fun? My dream for the Batchelorette - a girl who has morals... no kissing... oh it would be so wholesome.

Anyway... I must end this rambling of a post. Now is anyone as addicted to this as I am? I can't be alone in the world can I?

The End is in Sight

I am feeling much better today. I only have a few more things to write for my teaching portfolio and it is due by 5pm tomorrow which gives me plenty of time. I am looking forward to the preliminary process ending. Than all I will have are revisions if I need to revise anything. Other than that school is going really well. I feel as if I am going to learn a lot this semester. I am learning a lot about science which will be good as well! Thanks for all the prayers.

One Sweet Whirled

Well at the moment I am super stressed out! I am so sick of technology it is annoying. I have been working on my teaching portfolio for a vast majority of my freetime and I am so sick of it! I can't get it to work right and my wonderful friend Jan told me to walk away from it so I did and drove to Starbucks but it was closed :( So instead I got some Ben and Jerry's called Dave Matthews Band One Sweet Whirled and it seems to be hitting the spot. I would appriciate any prayers though for the next day and a half... So much to do and yet so little time!

Spring Semester

Well I had my first class for Spring Semester today. I think it should be alright. Tomorrow I have 3 other classes and I am excited yet a little timid about them. I am hoping that I will be able to crack down on myself and not procrastinate as much as normal. Gotta make the last semester count right? I had to spend almost $200 for books for 1 class... yes 1 class! Incredible. I was more than shocked and annoyed. I don't know what I would have done if I was a science major. I am really excited for this semester. The next few weeks will be challenging but that is okay. I'm up for a challenge and being busy is something that I think I need. I have to get my student teaching portfolio done soon, it's due a week from today, and I have lots left to do sadly. It's my procrastinating I tell you.

Life Update

I have a new development in my quest for a summer job. I may have the opportunity to work at The Cottage(www.thecottagechildcare.com) in Post Falls, ID. I would be working with the school age day camp there. My aunt and uncle own the center and my cousin and his wife work there as well. I am excited for this possible opportunity that would alow me to take my classes, enjoy a wonderful church (www.northcountrychapel.com), and work with kids!

On-line Dating

I'm just wondering what some of you think of on-line dating. Is it wrong? I'm not saying that I desire to do it but am just wondering what some of your Christian perspective is on it.

What to do this summer.

I am really stuck at what to do for the summer. I have camp counseled for the past 6 or 7 summers and just don't believe that I am supposed to this summer. The past 3 summers I spent camp counseling the whole time summer. I am at a loss for a job though. I am pretty sure that I would like to be in Montana for the summer but where do I live? I also have to take two classes online while I do my summer job. There are not jobs in Roundup and I don't want to drive to Billings everyday either. I just don't know what a person does for a summer job. I am at the point that I feel like I need a "real" job but than I have to quit and start school in the fall again. Hum... Any ideas? I want to be a grown up but how do you do that? I'm at a loss!

Why do I only have girl friends?

Here is a thought steming from my Frustrating Love rant... I only hang out with girls. I'm not kidding... I never, NEVER spend time with people of the opposite sex. Is this healthy? Don't get me wrong, I do have friends that are guys but none of them happen to live in Sioux Falls. I only talk with them on IM. It's not that I don't want to hang out with guys I just don't have the opportunity. Maybe I am just to much of a hermit? Who knows! Back to Frustrating Love... I just recieved word that another one of my friends was engaged last night... seriously folks that makes 3 for the year so far and it's only January! Ugh!

I Can Save Your Life

Well folks... its official... if you are choking or you have no pulse or can't breathe... I can save you. Give me a call if you need my services.

Frustrating Love

I am so frustrated with the whole opposite gender relationship issue. It is frustrating because I am surrounded by newly married or engaged couples and those dating seriously. All 3 of my roomates are in those lovey dovey stages of their relationships and it drives me crazy! [ I just want to add in here that it drives me crazy because I am lonley not because their relationships are bad or I don't like that they are happy] I wonder when I will get to be in that stage of life. I am so lonely at the moment not having a special someone to share my spare time with. It seems like all I do is work and watch the so addicting reality tv. I am looking forward to starting Spring semester. Maybe that will keep me busy enough to not notice the relationships around me? That is probably not a good thing either though. Hum... and Traci sits wondering where this is going and decides that it is time to stop writing.

Cucumber Melon

I have been pondering a very odd thing latley... whoever thought that cucumber would make a good scent for body products? I personally dislike the smell of cucumber/cucumber melon products. How about you?

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my blog!

This is new to me but it looked fun so I thought I would try it out. I have some friends who have blogs and thought it looked interesting and decided to check into it and here I am. Who knows what will become of this but its fun right?

Please bear with me as I embark on this journey called life. I am excited for the road ahead.