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.