Seattle and Sunshine

Drew in Kirkland enjoyin' his smoothie. Isn't he a good lookin fella?

This weekend I got to visit Drew in Seattle. It is possibly one of the most exciting things to see him for the first time after being apart.

Anyways, there were too many wonderful things packed into a weekend- I got sunshine and time with some of my favorite people in this world.

PS- I came home to a house that smells like cauliflower, it smells funny!

I have needed new windshield wipers for months now, and since it is raining all the time and sometimes snowing, I figured today would be a good day to get those puppies on my car. I stopped by a gas station today and bought some. A nice man in line offered to help me put them on my car, since it can be tricky.

He was pretty confident in his wiper installing skills, but it did not show in his work. I stood there soaking wet in the snow and rain for about an hour as he tried popping them onto my car. He was a persistent guy, and I didn't want to hurt his feelings, so I let him struggle and struggle so he wouldn't embarrass himself too badly. After awhile I called over the gas station worker and he popped them right on. It was an interesting experience, but whoa that man was nice to stand in the snow for so long to help me get my new wipers on! I love seeing how good people can be.

laugh your head off

"A sense of humor... is needed armor. Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life." - Hugh Sidey

Jamie is the girl in the middle. She is my roommate and one of my closest friends. Today, I got to watch her play softball for the first time! She is the DH, cause she kicks butt at hitting that ball. Ann, Jamie, and I have a strong bond going on in our house, and it doesn't get much better than laughing for an entire weekend with these two ladies.

Here is our new gettin down in the kitchen song:

He's my person-better than the dream boy I've been hoping for since I was 15

NEYC

I quit working at Nordstrom about a month ago, and now I work at the NEYC. The NEYC is a youth center that provides before and after care/activities for kids in the lowest income area in Washington. Yes, this place does exist in Spokane, and it is sad most people don't understand how much help Spokane REALLY does need.

Since most of the kids I work with are not only poor, but from broken homes and lost parents, we get to provide them with role models and mentors they can't find anywhere else. It is a rewarding job, and I get great experience with learning how to be EXTREMELY patient.

My first day of work, was a little scary. I just stood there patiently waiting in front a box of snacks, as the little kiddies came in, and suddenly turned into monsters, I instantly began to question if my job choice was the right choice. I have never been a fan of little kids, for a long time I really thought I wouldn't have kids of my own.

I work with a lot of Gonzaga and Whitworth students, so it makes for a really fun time. My first couple days, I just observed how well they did with the kids, and how patient they were. Seriously, some of the most patient college kids I have ever met in my life. They don't let a kid screaming his head off even affect their mood, they don't let smashed crackers for miles wipe the smile off their faces... I have learned that these crazy kids have a lot of energy in them that most of them can't contain for various reasons. Some have been abused, most have ADHD.

Autism. Fetal alcohol syndrome. Neglect. I mean the list goes on and on. I am falling in love with these kids. It is a place for them to get love where they can't find in most places. I am learning a lot more about myself through this process, and finding that I am a lot more passionate about kids than I thought.

I definitely get a good laugh every time I step into that crazy building full of opportunities.

A Time Wit Ma Girls

This weekend was girl's weekend for me. Since I have a long distance boyfriend my time on weekends is usually dedicated to spending time with him, so my time with my sis and roomies was needing a good weekend to catch up, relax, and hang out. Our house is just so fun! It is amazing with 6 girls living under one roof, that we can get along as well as we do, and still in the end choose each other over anyone else. My weekend consisted of a girl's dinner, concert, birthday party for a cat named Pam, a full day of lounging, a night out at Red Robin, church, and an amazing lunch at the Davenport (it pays to have the parents in town :)). I feel refreshed, and FULL of joy from this weekend.

I am definitely ready to see Drew though, he is my best friend and the biggest doofus out there.

CrossFit

This is Drew before our workout (he may or may not be embarrassed by this photo)

If you haven't heard of CrossFit, I suggest you look into it. Drew got me into it, and I am pretty pumped about doing exercise in this way. It kicks my butt almost everyday and I love it. It is a fun challenge that brings me success every time I leave the gym. Carley Brown, you'd like this! :)

PS- Drew's a stud. He's pretty strong and can do a million pull ups.