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.