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.