Saturday, February 23, 2008

Happy Birthday to me...

Today I turned 25 years old! Last night the celebrations began at Red Lobster with my Grandma and Grandpa from my mom's side, and my aunt and uncle. My aunt's birthday is just two days before mine, so it was a duo celebration! After dinner, I went to Target to spend my gift card from Letha...and found a really great coat on sale! Today, Grandma had a bunch of people from the family come over for cake and ice cream...would you look at all those candles...it's a wonder the fire alarm didn't go off!

A good time was had by all...and this is how very excited Jasmine was about the ordeal...

Friday, February 22, 2008

Pictures of my trip to Canada...

He will not rest...

I go back and forth with what music I like the best and listen to every time I am in the car. Right now it is "Please don't make us sing this song" a collection of various artists singing alt-folk/pop songs based on the Psalms. My very favorite is one by Christena Graves called He Will Not Rest. This song is taken from Psalm 121, a song of ascents, which 'they' say means that there is reference to a procession in which worshipers marched to Jerusalem and sang the psalms as they marched...here are the lyrics.

When I look up
To the vast sides of the mountain
I know that my Creator
Will send the help I need
He will hold me
Firmly in the place I need to be
Never let his eyes leave me for a moment
He will not rest
He will not let me go
He will not rest
He will not let me go
When I look up
To the vast sides of the mountain
We know that our Creator
Will send the help we need
He will hold us
Firmly in the place we need to be
Never let His eyes leave us for a moment
He will not rest
He will not let us go
He will not rest
He will not let us go
The Lord keeps you so close
that his shadow is cooling shade to you
He'll keep your soul safe
From the first breath
to the last breath that you breathe
He will not rest
He will not let us go
He will not rest
He will not let us go

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Meme...

Ok so, still not sure why these are called memes but Hannah tagged me so I am to think of six quirky things about myself...which is a hard thing because there are a LOT of quirky things about me so narrowing it down might prove to be impossible.

1. I can't stand doing the same thing every day. Whatever the opposite of 'scheduled' is...that is me. In my life, I have had some years where I was forced to do the same thing, at the same time, every single day...it was H- E- "double hockey sticks" ifyanowhatimean! For the last few years I have been a nanny for a number of families...that profession (besides being evidently inescapable) is quite flexible, therefore I love it!

2. I don't finish things. I do try...but I don't. It's not that I can't, it is just that I don't. Sometimes I start a book, I love it but I don't finish it. Other times I start sewing something...pants, dresses, cross stitch pretties...all never finished. Even college...now there's the kicker...you guessed it...not finished!

3. I LOVE my dog. It is really too bad, the way I love my dog. Growing up my family had a little dog named Princess just like my current dog, Jasmine. Same type of dog, same coloring, same same same...and oh so perfect perfect perfect. During the years that I was without this dog (I realize that I have moved to the place of talking as if they are the same dog)...I dreamed of the dog. I wished for the dog, I had other dogs...none of them were THIS dog. I didn't just want this dog, I LONGED for this dog. Hey, you asked for quirks.

4. Evidently I have inherited something from my dad that no one should have to inherit. Ok, let me explain...in my memories as a kid, MANY of them are marked by dad. Often...and I really do mean often, dad got hurt. I remember dad hitting his head at a church in Kenya, I remember blood, I remember barbed wire, I remember wondering if he was going to pass out right there on the ground. Then there was the time he lost his glasses in the Indian Ocean, and when he 'might have sprained his ankle' for the fiftieth time. The one I think I have the strongest memories of is when he walked on a cement slab that was covering the sewer in Kisumu...and it fell in...and HE fell in. The many helpful pastors that came to help very lovingly laughed and told him it would take a fork lift to get him out of there...he was sure his leg was broken...I was sure he was covered in cockroaches. So...back to me. I have on a few occasions recently found myself in some similar predicaments. Last week, for example, I took a good long tumble down the stairs where I am living...it hurt me...it really hurt my dog. Just this Wednesday, I was at my aunt and uncle's house cleaning. I headed to the laundry room and as I stepped down onto the stairs...they fell in...and I fell in. I am happy to report that there were no cockroaches...but I did have a fleeting though..."I am dad, my leg is broken, I am dad." I did not break my leg...it is just bruised.

5. Sometimes I talk too fast. I am not sure where this came from but people tell me quite often, that I am talking too fast. What? I don't think I am talking too fast...but this is what they tell me.

6. I like moving. I love the change, the unpredictability of events, and the fun of figuring out a new place. Even if it is just across town, it is still fun. You get to put all your stuff out in new places in a new house, or apartment, or room. I love driving around with no idea of where I am or how to get home...but figuring it out anyway. I like to be in a place where nobody knows my name...now if that were entirely true it would seem like I am hiding. Fact is, there are people here who know my name...just not as many as the place I left. I also like having the excuse, "oh, I am sorry, I had no idea that was a one way street, officer, I am new in town..."...no that has never happened, I am just saying..if it ever did...:)

Ok here is who I am tagging... Mel, Janie, Glenna, Pookie, and Dad (or Mom, whichever will do it)

Here are the rules.
(1) Link to the person that tagged you.
(2) Post the rules on your blog.
(3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
(4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
(5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Monday, February 18, 2008

a few more picts...

Surrey...

So, I got my car late Saturday, talked to dad that night, headed for Canada early Sunday morning. I left Longview at six and got to their house at around eleven...pretty great! For lunch we went for Indian food...sooooo good! At lunch, I got to meet their friends, Ameen and Zapita. After that we headed for the Sky Train....which is called the sky train for a reason...here is a picture of one of the parts we "flew" on...


After the Sky Train we took the Sea Train across the water to North Vancouver. It was neat to see the city, walk around and enjoy a coffee in the Quoy in North Vancouver. Sometime I will come back and remember my camera when we go because the market is really fun there!


Today, we went to a great big mall then after picking up Jasmine from the house...headed for the beach. We walked for a while and out onto a peir...then went to another beach because the first one didn't allow dogs. When we got there we walked some more with Jasmine and got some good pictures...I will post some of those later. It is really neat because you look out over the water and can see the snow covered mountains past that...it is a beautiful view!

Friday, February 15, 2008

Facebook...

I love facebook, it is my connection to the rest of the world. I keep up with old high school friends, make new friends, and even play games there. My profile is something that I get comments from people a lot. This is what it says:

"My profile picture is of my dog, not me. I live in Longview, for now. I like bananas and milk for breakfast. I enjoy my lunch break at work because I sit outside in the sun. I love listening to random music. My parents live in Canada. I want to visit them. I don't have a gym membership. I work out, sometimes. I want to travel more. My favorite flower is the Gerbera Daisy. I don't have a college degree. I am a member at Christ Community Church and I have been attending First Baptist church since I moved. I appreciate the little things in life. Most of my friends do too. I like coffee. I also like tea. I don't like it when people say Chai Tea, it's repetitive. I like the beach, I didn't used to. I've eaten at Pizza Hut in three different countries. I love pizza. I eat Mexican a lot. I grew up in Kenya, I miss living there. My house number is 2104 but I am 24, almost 25. My old p.o. box number is 2064. I love sleep. I am not a verizon wireless customer. I have life insurance. My car is silver, it is missing. I love Jesus."

If you don't have a facebook account...you should.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Juicer recipes

Juicer tip #1
Pineapple Orange Strawberry
Apple Kiwi
Blueberry Grape
Energy Boost
Orangeade
Pineapple possibilities
Juicer Tip #2
Orangyumber
Cocktail Alert
Melonade
Apple Strawberry
Melon
Apple
Carrot

Juicer tip #1

Carrots and Honey Melon are good for your skin!

Apple Kiwi Juice Recipe

3 kiwis, peeled
2 apples, cored

Juice it and drink it...YUMMY!

Pineapple Orange Strawberry

1 orange, peeled and sectioned
1 cup fresh pineapple, cubed
5 strawberries

Oh yummy...Juice it all together and enjoy!

Blueberry Grape Juice Recipe

1 to 1 1/2 Handful of grapes
1 cup blueberries, fresh or thawed from frozen

Juice it up!

Energy boost

6 carrots
2 oranges, peeled
1 apple, cored
1 stalk celery
1 slice lemon

Juice together in the order given.

ORANGEADE

2 oranges, peeled
1 lemon, peeled
1/2 cup raw sugar

Juice oranges and lemon. Add sugar to juice. Rerun pulp. Add water to make 1 quart.
Serve with ice cubes.

Pineapple...

1/2 pineapple, peeled
2 apples, cored

Juice together.

Also, this is a good one...

1/2 fresh pineapple, peeled
2 carrots

Juice together.

COCKTAIL ALERT

1/2 pineapple, peeled
1 carrot
1 apple, cored
1 stalk celery

Juice together in the order given. YUM!

Orangyumber

3 Oranges, peeled
1 small cucumber

Juice together and enjoy!

TIP: Cucumbers are okay to juice completely whole without peeling or anything BUT I would only do this with natural cucumbers. The treated ones have a waxy peeling and you can tell when you juice it.

MELONADE

1 lemon, peeled
1/4 watermelon, without rind

Juice everything. (I have not tried this but it sounds good!)

Apple-Strawberry Drink

5-6 apples
1 cup strawberries

Juice everything. (I take out the green from the strawberries...but none of the recipes that I have seen do that so do what you like.)

Melon Juice

MELON JUICE

Most types of melons will juice easily. (Although I have yet to try watermelon!)
Remove rinds and cut into slices to fit the feeding chamber.
Feed at a steady pace.
Seeds may also be juiced. For a more refreshing drink, chill melons well before juicing.

Apple Juice

APPLE JUICE

Core apples and cut into sections to fit the feeding chamber.
It is not necessary to peel the fruit.

Juice the sections at a steady pace.

I also like to add a carrot or two to my apple juice. I sometimes throw in a lime as well!

Carrot Juice

CARROT JUICE

Juice whole carrots one at a time.
Do not peel the carrots.

Feed at a steady pace. Straight carrot juice is an excellent drink. It also is a popular base for many blended juice combinations.

Chicken Enchiladas in a hurry

This dish is microwaved, so it's done in a hurry.

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound of boneless chicken breasts, cubed
1 can of Cream of Chicken soup
1 cup of salsa (I used mild)
8 tortillas (6 inch)
1 can of Cheddar Cheese soup
PREPARATION:
COOK chicken in nonstick skillet until browned and done, stirring often. Add chicken soup and 1/2 cup of salsa. Heat through. SPOON about 1/3 cup chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up tortilla around filing and place seam-side down in a 2-quart microwave-safe baking dish.
MIX cheese soup and remaining salsa and pour over enchiladas. COVER and microwave on HIGH 5 min. or until hot. This serves 4, so if you need more just double this recipe.

Tour of Lake Sacajawea

I like to take Jasmine for walks are out local lake, Lake Sacajawea. Today I remembered my camera and took some pictures!

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Jasmine and Princess...

Ok so I have become one of those people.  You know those people who have a dog and they act like it is a child...I didn't mean to, it has all happened on accident.  But I feel like every other post I put on my blog lately has had Jasmine in it.  In reality, I do know that she is a dog...not a child.  But she is my buddy, my little partner in crime for now.  So in all the change in my life at the moment I have her to take pictures of..so bear with me, I will make some friends soon.  The video above is all taken by my cousin Anna and my other cousin Jackson put the video together...enjoy!

Friday, February 1, 2008

Congrats to me...

So, I have been working on my certificate of achievement from airlinecareer.com to impress the airlines that I want to work for as a flight attendant. And I finished it today! Yeah!!! It is amazing what you can get done when you don't have a job!
Here is my Certificate!!!