Daring to Dream...

2009-06-29T12:16:00.001-07:00

Testing, testing!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARKER BABY!

2007-04-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a short break from my DR stories to celebrate my nephew's 2nd birthday! Parker turns TWO today and I can hardly believe it! Parker is the joy of my life and he just brightens my day with his laugh, his hugs, his kisses, his smile, and his heart. Someone asked me what one event in my life forever changed me, and I said, "The day my nephew was born." Being an auntie to Parker, as well as Audrey and Griffin, is my greatest accomplishment and there are no words to express my love for them.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MAN

AUNTIE LOVES YOU SO VERY MUCH

Parker had a birthday party last Saturday at Chuck E. Cheese's. He absolutely LOVES that place! Here are a few pictures from the big event.

Getting ready to blow out the candles

Opening presents

Playing on the ball game

Griffin slept almost the entire time!

Audrey (my niece) on the trolley

Grandma, Mom, Me, and Amy

Day 7: La Zona Franca y La Comunidad de Cien Fuegos

2007-04-04T17:24:00.000-07:00

DAY 7: We started off the day early and headed into Santiago where we wound through the very crowded streets until we reached the outskirts of town. There we had the unique opportunity to drive through the Zona Franca, which is the industrial part of town where all of the sweatshops are located. The Zona Franca is heavily guarded and you must have a special permit to get in. We were not allowed to get out of the van at any time, but we still were able to see inside a few of the sweatshops through the windows. Big name brands, like GAP for example (which happens to be my favorite store), have shops here in Santiago where Dominicans and Haitians are employed to produce clothes in less than ideal conditions. In one particular building, I could see rows upon rows of sewing machines with people hunched over them. I had read about these types of places before, but this was my first experience seeing it in person and it was incredibly disturbing and powerful.

Here is one of the sweatshops that we could see from the street. I tried taking pictures of the people inside on the sewing machines, but my camera just couldn't capture it.

After visiting the Zona Franca, we made our way to the community of Cien Fuegos. There we spoke with a man who worked in the sweatshops for many years and he told us his stories of the working conditions and labor laws. It definitely makes you think twice about where and how your clothes are produced. After that, we spoke with Tomas again (the Dominican man who also spoke to us in Franco Bido), and he relayed to us the history of Cien Fuegos. Cien Fuegos means "100 Fires" in English. The town got that name because 100 families were displaced due to fires, and all of them decided to come together and settle in this community, naming it Cien Fuegos. Unfortunately, the community became extremely corrupt and it became known across the entire country for its brothels and prostitution. Tomas told us that if he told someone he was from Cien Fuegos, they would immediately stop associating with him because of the town's horrible reputation. The government knew what was going on in this community, but the corruption of power made it so the people in charge just looked the other way. Tomas was one of the men in the 1970s who stood up to the government and fought to make his community a safe place for women and children. At one point, the owners of the brothels were holding a gun up to his head because Tomas was threatening their livelihood. Today, Cien Fuegos is no longer captive to Satan's schemes and is slowly working to rebuild itself.

Two little girls on the streets of Cien Fuegos. Just thirty years ago these girls would probably be selling themselves on street corners.

Many homes are made out of any material available, often times just sheets of metal.

Some homes in Cien Fuegos

There is trash EVERYWHERE!

We climbed up this little mountain overlooking Cien Fuegos. Over 300,000 people live in this small valley on the outskirts of Santiago.

From the mountain we could see all the way to downtown Santiago. In the distance is the monument that we visited on our very first day in the Dominican Republic.

Although Cien Fuegos is no longer battling prostitution, it is facing another tremendous problem. Right next to their community is a garbage dump that is constantly burning, 24 hours a day. When the wind blows a certain direction, Tomas told us that he can hardly breathe and that the smoke effects everyone in the community. As you can see, come families live just a few yards from the dump. I can't even imagine what kind of long term effects this air has on people's lungs.

As we made our way back to the retreat center in the afternoon, we stopped at a candle shop that is run by an organization called One Respe, which is Creole for "Honor Respect." This organization feels that all people in this world deserve honor and respect, and work to integrate people with AIDS and tuberculosis back into their communities. They also have community schools, a health program, and a research program about racism. For more information, you can visit www.onerespe.com. We visited their arts and crafts workshop where the proceeds from our purchases go directly to their organization. I bought quite a few candles (we even got to pick out the scents that we wanted and they would paint them on!), as well as a t-shirt with a powerful message. It says:

EL RACISMO MATA EL AMOR
DIVIDE EL PUEBLO
DESTRUYE LA DEMOCRACIA

In English, this translates to:

RACISM KILLS LOVE
DIVIDES THE CITY
DESTROYS DEMOCRACY

The candle shop knew we were coming so they made special WSU candles just for us! It was truly a surprise to walk into a shop in the Dominican Republic and see your school emblem!

Day 3, 4, 5, and 6: La Comunidad de Franco Bido

2007-03-28T17:07:00.000-07:00

DAY 3: After one night at the retreat center, we packed up our bags again and headed into the mountainous region of the DR to the coffee farming community of Franco Bido. The four hour drive was the bumpiest ride of my life, and yet one of the most beautiful!

Here we are boarding the bus to drive to Franco Bido

Crammed in the back of the bus with our luggage

The view as we drove

Isn't it just breathtaking?

After we got close to the community, the bus dropped us off because it could no longer handle the roads. We walked about a mile and a half up and down large hills to get to the home were we would be eating lunch.

Walking to lunch at Fea's house (I'd actually prefer to call it hiking!)

When we decided to make our way from Fea's house to the center of the community, it began to rain. For those of you who have ever been to a tropical location, you know that the rain comes fast and hard. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. Unfortunately, we had to hike a little over three miles in the rain, and to this day my shoes and pants are still covered with red mud! Did I mention that we walked A LOT on this trip? When we finally arrived in the center of "town," we were greeted by all of the women and children who were singing songs for us. We were wet and dirty, and yet they still embraced us! After our "Welcome to the Community" party with lots of fun games, we met our host families who we would be staying with for the next three days. Kalen and I were paired up with Lela and Antonio, one of the most loving couples I have ever met. The rest of the day was spent getting settled into our homes and interacting with our host families. The first night was a little bit of a shocker for a couple of reasons. First, the conditions were so rustic! I really wasn't prepared for using a really nasty outhouse, having chickens walk under the kitchen table as I was eating chicken, sleeping in a home where none of the walls reached the roof, or sitting in the dark when the electricity randomly would turn off. Secondly, although I know how to speak Spanish, it was still extremely difficult to communicate due to their accent and how quickly they spoke.

My host family

My bedroom

The view from my bedroom door

The bathroom

The sink and shower

Playing with the kids on the first night

I gave the children stickers and they decided to decorate themselves!

DAY 4: After waking up bright and early (did you know that roosters start their wake up call at around 3 AM?), we began our intensive training on the art of coffee farming! Every single family that lives in Franco Bido harvests coffee and relies on it to provide for their families. We had the opportunity to follow Mario throughout the day to see the labor involved in producing our morning cup of hot coffee.

The view of the village as we headed up to the coffee fields

Coffee fruit

In the field picking coffee fruit. This was an extremely difficult task because the fields are dense with coffee trees and you are working on a steep incline.

One of these boxes filled all the way to the top will get a coffee farmer about $2. On average, a coffee farmer can fill 4 to 5 boxes per day. Our team helped pick coffee for about an hour, and even with 12 extra workers we were not able to fill an entire box.

After a sufficient amount of fruit has been picked, it is transported by mule in bags back to the farmer's home. At that point, it is placed in this structure where it is poured down a shoot to have the skin peeled off.

As it is poured down the shoot, the bean and the skin are separated by this contraption that is either operated by hand or by a small motor. All of the beans go into the cement trough where they will be washed, and the skins go on the other side where they will eventually rot and be used for compost. When the process of separation is complete, the cement trough is filled with water. The low quality coffee beans eventually rise to the top, while the high quality beans remain on the bottom of the trough. The farmer then scoops the low quality beans out and keeps them for personal use.

The high quality beans are then spread out on a cement patio to dry for approximately 5 to 7 days. Over that period of time, the farmer is consistently raking the beans to make sure that they all dry evenly.

After seeing the coffee process first hand and helping out a bit, our whole group sat down to discuss the importance of Fair Trade for these small coffee farms. Farmers who are involved in the Fair Trade process get about $0.40 more per pound, which when added up over time, is a significant increase. I would hope that when all of you go out and buy your coffee, you would look for the Free Trade label because it really does impact lives around the globe.

During our Fair Trade discussion, Mario's wife made us fresh squeezed orange juice...simply delicious!

After our coffee lesson, we sat down with Tomas and Papito to discuss the racism between Dominicans and Haitians that is so prevalent in the Dominican Republic. Because of Haiti's extreme level of poverty, over the years many Haitians have moved to the DR to make a better life for themselves. Yet the Dominicans are very resentful and don't like the idea of foreigners coming in and taking their jobs. Even in the loving community of Franco Bido, it was clear that there were certain lines that Haitians and Dominicans wouldn't cross. For example, the Haitians had the worst houses in the community, they had the lowest paying jobs (usually working in the coffee fields for a Dominican farmer), and there was this silent feeling of jealousy when a member of our team would talk with a Haitian instead of a Dominican. Tomas and Papito are VERY aware of this daily struggle and both hope that it may someday come to an end.

Tomas (Dominican) and Papito (Haitian)

DAY 5: On our last full day in Franco Bido, we headed back up to Fea's house to visit the medical clinic and visit a bee farm. The medical clinic serves approximately five different communities in the surrounding area and is the only medical service available other than the hospital in Santiago (which is three hours away). We talked with Fea about the common diseases that she encounters in the clinic, the importance of the medicine that groups such as ours deliver to her, and how many people use her services on a monthly basis (right around 100). Fea isn't even a registered nurse, but she spent many years working in hospital and is very well trained.

If we weren't walking, we were usually all jammed into the back of a pickup truck.

While we were working at the clinic, coffee was being roasted. This is the final step of the coffee producing process and it smelled amazing. However, it is an extremely dangerous job as it is very hot and not healthy to breathe in the coffee for more than a few minutes. As you can see, a Haitian was employed to take on this not so desirable job.

Sorting supplies at the medical clinic that we brought with us from the U.S.

A wheelchair that only cost $40 instead of $400 (freewheelchairmission.com)

After stocking the shelves at the clinic, we headed over to a family's home where they raise bees for honey when the coffee industry doesn't bring in enough money. It was very fascinating, but I was really scared of being stung! We also got to eat some fresh honey right off of the comb and it was amazing!

Up close and personal with the bees

Fresh honey!

Later that afternoon we returned to the community center for lunch and some leisure time. That evening, the community had a big party for us as a going away gift. We played games and then danced the night away! I actually had to leave the room for a few minutes because my hips hurt so bad from dancing so much!

Doing dishes with VERY dirty water.

Worshipping in our free time.

Dancing at our goodbye party

Bob and Tim with some of the kids

When I returned to my host family's house later that evening, I persuaded Lela and Antonio to dance for me. Kalen and I also played outside on the patio with the kids doing cartwheels and such. It was the perfect way to end an unforgettable experience in Franco Bido.

Lela and Antonio dancing for us...they have been married for 30 years and are SO cute together!

Playing with the kids (wheelbarrow races) on our last night in Franco Bido

In front of my host family's house with the neighborhood kids.

DAY 6: We got up very early and said our goodbyes to our host families...it was SO sad! We drove four hours back to the retreat center and spent the rest of the afternoon processing our experience and sharing our stories with eachother.

One thing that really hit me during my time in Franco Bido was the hope that these people have. Compared to us, they are poor beyond words and yet they have a happiness, a light, and a hope for better things to come that thousands of rich Americans will never have in their lifetime! They have nothing, and yet they gave me everything they could. What an amazing example of Christ's love!

I apologize for how long this was, but I didn't want to leave anything of importance out. I will post again about the rest of my experiences in a few days.

Home From La Republica Dominicana

2007-03-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

I'm back! After an amazing 12 day journey (it was extended accidentally) to the Dominican Republic with 11 other remarkable individuals, I am now back home in the U.S. trying to process my experience. To be honest, I have been procrastinating with writing this post because I just cannot find the words to describe my trip and the many wonderful experiences I had. I have talked with many of my friends and family members on the phone, and I have yet to give an accurate portrayal of my time spent in the DR. The only word that comes close is AWESOME...as in overwhelming, inspiring, powerful.

I am not even sure where to begin, so I guess I will just start with Day 1 and go from there. I know that there will be many moments where words will not suffice, so I'm relying on my pictures to tell a story that I simply cannot.

DAY 1 & 2

We started out with a busy day of traveling, beginning with a 5 hour drive from Pullman to Seattle, followed by a 2 hour flight from Seattle to Salt Lake City, then a 4-hour red-eye flight from Salt Lake City to New York, and finally ending with a 4 hour flight from New York to Santiago, Dominican Republic! Whew!
Upon our arrival in Santiago I was hit hard by the humidity! Throughout my time in the DR I noticed that almost everyone wears pants, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why! Those first few hours in Santiago I was wearing jeans and a long sleeve shirt and it was just awful!
Next our team boarded an air-conditioned tour bus (thank the Lord!) and we took a tour of the city of Santiago, visiting monumental places that are very significant to the people of this country. One such place that was particularly fascinating to me was La Catedral de Santiago, located in the heart of the city next to el Parque Duarte and la Plaza. If I recall correctly, it is one of the oldest churches in the New World and it is absolutely beautiful! What struck me while I was in the cathedral sitting on one of the hard wooden pews was how unified the Dominican Republic is by faith. This country doesn't battle with denominations, but rather focuses on the things of prime importance: love, service, and submission to Christ. I felt so welcomed, so at home in that cathedral and it filled me with such joy!
After our brief history lesson and tour of the city, we drove about an hour out of Santiago into the lush, green mountains to the retreat center where we would be staying. As soon as we got out of the bus we were greeted by peacocks! Can I just say that looks are SO deceiving! As beautiful as those peacocks were, by the end of the trip I was so tired of their wailing and loud noises at all hours of the day! My first impression of the retreat center was that it was surrounded by amazing beauty, but the living conditions were certainly not what I was used to! The very first night at the retreat center I used a mosquito net and you have no idea how grateful I was for that apparatus...the combination of a lack of screens on the windows and just poor building construction made for an abundance of mosquitos and other icky insects!
Ready with our tickets at the Seattle airport

Goldfish anyone?

Ben playing guitar in Salt Lake City

On the tour bus

Eating lunch (our first taste of Dominican food)

El Monumento de los Heroes de la Restauracion

View of Santiago from the monument

My team

The front door of the cathedral

Inside the cathedral...aren't the windows gorgeous?

The Plaza right next to the cathedral...lots of birds

Palm Tree

The Plaza

The retreat center (do you see the peacock in the background?)

The courtyard outside of my bedroom

Our room

Fun with the mosquito net!

There you have it, a look at my first two days in Santiago. Over the next week or so I will continue posting pictures and stories from my trip to the DR. Keep checking in to read the latest news!

I'm Off!

2007-03-09T09:19:00.000-08:00

I officially only have 30 minutes until departure from Pullman as I write this! I am both nervous and excited at the same time! I will post pictures of my adventure and write about this amazing experience upon my return. Once again, thank you all so much for your prayers and support.

Dominican Republic

2007-03-05T17:37:00.000-08:00

I know it has been almost two months since my last post, but I am going to try to do better in this area! My life has been pretty stressful as far as school goes these past few months, and blogging was the last thing I wanted to do at the end of a mentally and emotionally draining day. But, after much encouragement from my mom and both of my sisters, I am back! It would be a huge and daunting task for me to give a recap of my life since January, so I think I will focus more on what is going on in my life right now. My biggest news at the moment is that I am going to the Dominican Republic in 4 days! As you can probably tell, I can hardly contain my excitement! Not only am I excited to travel to a different country, meet new people, and utilize my Spanish skills, I am also eager to see why God has called me to take part in this mission trip. You see, a few months ago I wasn't even planning on going to the DR. I didn't think that I could afford the trip and I told myself that the timing just wasn't right. Well, God certainly had other plans for me than I did for myself! The night before my team from the INN (which is the college group I am going with) purchased the airline tickets, God stirred my heart and told me that I needed to go. I didn't know why, but I knew that I needed to obey. So, here I am, two months later and only a few days away from partaking in an amazing experience! Already I have seen God's faithfulness as I learned to trust in Him with my financial situation. I had to fundraise $1450 in order to participate in this mission trip, and the Lord provided me with every single penny (plus an extra $55!). Thank you so much to all of my friends and family who contributed financially and who continue to keep me in their prayers! I am just overwhelmed by God's amazing love and the many blessings He pours on me. What an awesome God we have! Here are a few things that we will be doing while in the Dominican Republic:

~Working in the coffee fields outside of Santiago
~Learning about the importance of free trade and fair trade in the coffee industry
~Doing service projects in the community (building houses, playing with children, etc.)
~Interacting with the local people as we live in their homes
~Visiting a Haitian refugee camp
~Being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ

I know that this is going to be a powerful experience and I am ready to hop on the plane this very minute! I am currently doing all of the necessary last minute preparations (taking malaria pills, buying supplies, packing, spending time in prayer, etc.), and everything is coming together! I can't wait to provide you all with more fun information soon!

I'm Back!

2007-01-06T11:39:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness! I did not intend to take such a long blogging hiatus! I have been at home for the last month, so I haven't had access to my own personal computer. Although my parents have a computer, it is, shall we say, challenged! So, just today I got up the energy and charisma to take on the task once again of putting up a new post. I think the best way to sum up my life over the past few weeks is through pictures. So, here they are:
Amy and I with our gingerbread houses (a.k.a. "masterpieces") that we made on Christmas Eve
My mom, Grandma Dee, Amy, and I

Joel, Dad, Parker, and Grandpa Ron (and yes, Parker was drooling!)

Amy and I had fun playing in these tubes that Parker got for Christmas! Good times!
Audrey and Parker playing with Auntie Sara on New Year's Eve

Playing Sequence with friends and family

Parker and Audrey...aren't they just the cutest?

Parker got a hold of Uncle Dave's Cowboy hat!

Audrey getting a little driving practice!

I got a hair cut for the first time since May!!!

Well, to sum it all up, the past few weeks have been focused on family and fellowship. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such loving people!

Bible Study Dinner

2006-12-08T20:06:00.000-08:00

Last night all of the girls from my Core Group got together and got all dressed up for an end of semester dinner. One of the girls volunteered to make dinner, so we had chicken cordon bleu, twice-baked potatoes, broccoli, rolls, and sparkling cider! I have been so very blessed to be a part of this amazing group of talented, beautiful, intelligent, Christ-following women. I am sure that next semester will bring even more fun! Here are a few pictures of the festivities:

All of us girls looking pretty!

We had confetti cake for dessert (it's my favorite)!

Jen and I being silly

ABC Meme

2006-12-04T16:31:00.000-08:00

I have been tagged for the very first time ever by my sister! Thanks Mimes! I really feel like an official blogger now!

A - Available/Single?
I'm pretty sure I'm single :)
B - Best Friend?
My sister, Amy
C - Cake or Pie?
I am not crazy about either of them, but I LOVE confetti cake with confetti frosting...yummy!
D - Drink of Choice?
Smoothies from Jamba Juice
E - Essential Item You Use Everyday?
My lip chap and lip gloss
F - Favorite Color
Purple, Pink, and Green
G - Gummy Bears or Worms?
Definitely Gummy Bears (especially the ones my mom puts on my pillow when I come home)
H - Hometown?
I have many, but they are all in the state of Washington
I - Indulgence?
Watching reality television
J - January or February?
February...that is when my new niece or nephew will be born (the 6th to be exact)
K - Kids & Their Names
I don't have any kids, but I have an adorable nephew named Parker who is 20 months, a beautiful niece named Audrey who is 15 months, and two new additions on the way!
L - Life Is Incomplete Without?
My amazing family and the awesome grace and love of Jesus Christ
M - Marriage Date?
I don't have one...yet.
N - Number Of Siblings?
2 siblings - one older brother named Erik (who is married to Andi) and one older sister named Amy (who is married to Joel)
O - Oranges or Apples?
Apples
P - Phobias/Fears
Some of my biggest fears are 1) not getting married, 2) not being able to have children, and 3) losing a member of my family
Q - Favorite Quote?
"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible."
R - Reason to Smile?
My family
S - Season?
Fall...it simply can't be beat!
T - Tag Three People
Not very many people read my blog who actually have blogs themselves, so I don't really have anyone to tag. Mom, do you blog?
U - Unknown Fact About Me?
I roll over in bed two times before I let myself fall asleep at night (did I mention that I have OCD tendencies?)
V - Vegetables You Don't Like?
Asparagus and Mushrooms
W - Worst Habit?
Procrastinating and not staying focused (bad combination!)
X - X-rays You've Had?
Do the ones at the dentist and orthodontist count?
Y - Your Favorite Food?
It is a tie between pizza and ice cream...I am pretty sure I could live on them for a LONG time!
Z - Zodiac Sign?
Gemini, but I am so clueless about this kind of stuff that I don't even know what my birthstone is!

5 Good Things About My Week

2006-12-02T14:31:00.000-08:00

I worked so hard on my speech that my room was a complete DISASTER when I finally finished! :)

1) I wrote my LAST speech for my Communication Studies class this semester and I am so very happy to be done! I get really nervous when I have to talk in front of lots of people, and even more so when I know that I am being graded on both the content of my speech and the way I deliver it. Anywho, I got it done with, I did extremely well (better than I thought I would), and I just feel so relieved! The topic of my speech...the astronomical cost of a quality college education (you better believe that I was extremely passionate about this topic!)

2) I bought a lovely little poinsettia to bring some Christmas cheer to our apartment! I don't do very well with plants (it totally runs in my family), but I think I can manage this one...at least until Christmas! Every time I walk into the kitchen, where the poinsettia is sitting on the dining room table, I just get a little smile on my face!

3) On Friday night I went over to a friend's house where a group of us from The INN all played Tripoley together. I had never even heard of it before, but it is pretty much the most awesome game in the world. The game combines elements of poker, hearts, and rummy. All I can say is that I just had so much fun!

4) I made my famous Oatmeal Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies this week (famous meaning that all of my friends LOVE them and my roommate can't get enough of them...I am not very domestic, but I will admit that I can make some mean cookies!) Oh so yummy!

5) I don't have to make dinner tonight! Some friends are coming over to celebrate a birthday, and we are going to have chicken fettuccini alfredo! All I have to do is be a welcoming, warm hostess!

*Sometimes I find that reflecting on all of the good things that have happened to you make the bad things seem much less important. It makes me realize how very blessed I am.*

Oh How I Miss My Adopted Family!

2006-11-09T15:47:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know, I spent two months during the summer as a nanny for a family living in Virginia. I think it was one of the most challenging things I have ever done (I have a new respect for my mom and every other mother in the world!), and yet it is something I will treasure for the rest of my life. So today I was thinking of all the people and things I am missing at this very moment:

Hearing Laura Grace's soft footsteps in the morning as she comes down the stairs to watch T.V.

Attempting to play basketball with Chris (it was touch and go most of the time!)

Taking the kids to Farmer Jones' pool just down the road

The look on Keith's face when Laura and I made him watch One Tree Hill

The warm feeling I got every Sunday when I walked into Elpis Christian Church

Baking with my little helper Laura Grace (and making a mess most of the time)

Shopping at Short Pump

Singing and dancing to Faith Hill with Laura Grace (while driving, mind you!)

Hanging out with Ray and Teresa

Driving around in "my" Mercury Mountaineer (if only I could have brought that car home with me)

Walking on the boardwalk in Virginia Beach

Hearing Laura Grace and Chris say "Goodnight Kelsey"

Working out at the YMCA in town

Racing the kids to the mailbox everyday

Splashing in the waves with Chris and Laura Grace at the beach

Making an insane amount of PB&J sandwiches

Folding the family's laundry (it made me feel very domestic!)

Being a part of such a loving family that adopted me as their own

I have so many memories from this amazing experience and I am so thankful that I met this lovely family. They have left an imprint on my heart and I miss them so very much!

Halloween!

2006-11-01T21:37:00.000-08:00

Maybe I am slighty bias, but my niece and nephew are the two cutest kids ever (ok, I know that I am bias...after all, I'm their auntie!). Audrey was a ladybug for Halloween and Parker was a giraffe. Seriously, I don't think that there are any words to describe how adorable they both are. I'll post more pictures from Halloween soon!

Nepal

2006-10-29T13:52:00.000-08:00

Fun Facts:
-80% of Nepalese follow Hinduism, making it the most Hinduic nation in the world
-The official language of Nepal is Nepali
-Nepal sits at the base of the Himalayas and is bordered by India and Tibet
-It is the 12th poorest country in the world
-A typical Nepalese meal consists of rice, vegetables, and dal (a leguminous crop that is high in protein)

About a week ago I decided that I want to go to Nepal. I know, it sounds crazy, but for some reason the idea entered my head and my heart, and now I can't stop thinking about it. I told my parents and they were just like, "Oh really, that's great Kels." I don't think they quite understand my newfound passion for this country. While I understand that this idea may seem a little grandiose, that does not stop me. The title of my blog is "Daring to Dream" and that is exactly what I am doing. I am daring to pursue something that others may question, and yet that opposition does not hinder me. Whether or not I end up accomplishing this goal next year or sometime down the road, I will continue to dream because that is who I am...

Oh, How I Love Fall!

2006-10-16T17:36:00.000-07:00

Have I ever mentioned that fall is my favorite time of year? Well, it is! I think it begins to hit me right around the beginning of October when the weather finally cools down, the leaves change colors, pumpkins start to appear on the doorsteps of many homes, and piles of candy are the first thing you see when you walk into the grocery store! Yep, I love this time of year! And do you know what the best part is? After Halloween passes and the pumpkins disappear and the trees are bare, I get to look forward to Thanksgiving! I get to anticipate being surrounded by the people I love, eating mounds of tremendous food, and having a full week off of school! But wait, it gets even better! After Thanksgiving when the leftovers are all gone, I have something else to be excited for...Christmas! I just love celebrating the birth of Christ with Christmas music, twinkling lights, big green trees, cups of hot cocoa, and family! Now don't you see why I love this season so much? It is just non-stop excitement and good times all the way to January (well, actually February when my new niece or nephew is going to be born!). I hope you all take a moment to step on a crunchy leaf and inhale the fresh scent of fall!

If you want to see some cute pictures of my nephew at the pumpkin patch, click here.

Tortellini Stew!

2006-10-07T19:44:00.000-07:00

Today was a VERY big day for me! The reason, you ask? Well, I used my new crockpot for the very first time today to make Tortellini Stew. Actually, my crockpot isn't new anymore (I got it for my birthday in June), but this is the first time I have used it (I had to take it out of the box and everything)! For those of you who know me, you know that I can't cook, or rather that I DON'T cook! Well, this recipe was just so easy I couldn't resist! All I had to do was measure out a few ingredients, pour a couple of containers of canned goods, and chop up an onion and zucchini. Then I threw them all into the crockpot and let them sit for four hours...yep, FOUR HOURS! After that, I added the tortellini and...PRESTO! The best part about my day was sitting down at my dining room table with candles and soft lamp light, listening to my sister's wedding cd, and enjoying a meal that I prepared. Mmm, yes indeed, today was just splendid!

Football + Family = Good Times

2006-10-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

This past week has been absolutely hectic! I was so looking forward to this weekend, not just because I wanted to relax, but also because my family came down for Cougar Football on Saturday! I know I have already posted about how much I love being a Coug and how fun the football games are, but I just can't help doing it one more time! We played nationally ranked USC yesterday and almost won (the score was 22-28 and I am pretty darn sure that if the refs hadn't left their glasses at home and laid off the bottle then we would of had it for sure -- sorry, I get a little riled up sometimes!). The energy in Martin Stadium was unbelievable and the sound of over 35,000 fans holding their breath in the final seconds of the game as a beautiful fall day came to a close was spectacular. And the best part about the day...I got to share that experience with my family! Whether we won or lost, I was thrilled because I was surrounded by the most beautiful, loving people! My nephew Parker was decked out in his Cougar hat and face tattoo (which, by the way, was too cute), and he even yelled "Go Cougs!" I am totally not exaggerating, Parker would throw his fist into the air and squeal with enthusiasm! Ahh, there is nothing like family and football...

Just A Few Things...

2006-09-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems that I have a hard time keeping this blog up to date with all of the happenings in my life! Here are just a few things that are going on at the moment:

My adorable niece Audrey Mae celebrated her first birthday on Sunday! I had this lovely picture of her on here and somehow I deleted it, but she looked oh-so cute in her pink dress! She is such a joy to everyone she meets and I love her very much!
I am really looking forward to fall! There is just something wonderful about walking outside in the crisp air, watching the leaves turn colors and fall to the ground, and lighting candles while you cuddle up in a big, comfy sweatshirt.
I spent this past weekend at home doing laundry...now that's what I call a good time! Actually, even though my parents weren't home, I got to visit my sister and her family (I successfully surprised her and it felt so good!). We watched Nadia (the best movie ever made) and went shopping. Aren't sister's the best?
My sister and her husband are in the Bahamas right now! Although I am secretly jealous, I am sooooo excited that they have the opportunity to get away and enjoy themselves before their next little one makes his/her arrival! By the way, the picture above is of my sister trying on her snorkeling gear before she left...it totally cracks me up (sorry the pic is sideways...I haven't figured out how to rotate it yet!).
I absolutely love the song "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynard Skynard! I am listening to it right now as I type and it just stirs something up inside of me...maybe there's a Southern girl deep down inside of me!

SURVIVOR: COOK ISLANDS (Season 13)

2006-09-14T09:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, are you all ready? Well, you should be because tonight is the season premiere of SURVIVOR: COOK ISLANDS! Hurray!!! For those of you who don't know or understand my passion for this show, I started watching it five years ago from the very beginning and have NEVER missed an episode since (and this season is season 13!). I have almost every season recorded on tape, and yes, I actually go back and watch them in my free time! I know, I am a crazy Survivor fanatic, but just love the show soooo much! If for some reason you are bored tonight at 8 PM, just turn your T.V. to CBS and I guarantee you will have a good time!

Happy Birthday Dad!

2006-09-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

Today is a very special day because it is my Dad's birthday! Hurray! He turns 51 today, but he is still as young, fun, and energetic as ever! In fact, I think I he gets funnier and wierder with age, which makes me enjoy spending time with him even more! He is the best father a girl could ever ask for and I love him more than a million hugs or thousands of words could ever express.

Daddy~

You are my hero, my inspiration, my role model, and above all, my daddy. I am starting to cry just writing this because I am overwhelmed with how blessed I am to have you in my life. I just want you to know that you make me so proud and a day spent with you priceless. I will always be your little girl Dad and my heart is yours forever. I love you.

Kelsey

More Pictures From Game Day...

2006-09-10T00:13:00.000-07:00

Oh what a beautiful sight that scoreboard is!

The Cougs on the field

Hanging out with friends before the game

COUGAR FOOTBALL!

2006-09-09T23:35:00.000-07:00

I cannot contain my joy, so I decided to share it with all of you...the Cougars defeated the University of Idaho with a final score of 56-10!!! For those of you who are slightly lost, I am talking about college football! I am a Cougar to the core and I bleed Crimson! So, as you can imagine, the first home game of the season is a pretty big deal! Not only did we win, but we annihilated our competition! The Cougs had an awesome game with over twenty first downs and more than 400 yards (I know what some of you are thinking: "When did Kelsey become somewhat knowledgeable about football?" Well, to answer your question, I have a few friends on the team and it kind of inspired me to educate myself!). Anywho, it was the perfect way to open the season and I am looking forward to many more games in Martin Stadium! I just realized that I have put nine exclamation marks in here so far! I guess it just goes to show you that I have genuine Cougar pride that cannot be suppressed!

GO COUGS!

EXHAUSTED!

2006-09-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

I am sorry for my delay in updating my blog...school is beyond busy right now. I am too tired to post anything of substance at the moment (in fact I broke down in tears a few moments ago due to fatigue), but I just wanted to let ya'll know that I will create a new, interesting post sometime soon.

It Can Wait...

2006-08-30T13:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, I admit it, I have a problem. I am a PROCRASTINATOR! There, I said it! And the sad part is that this problem isn't just in one area of my life; it has a hold on everything I do: cleaning, homework, crafts/projects, etc. For example, I have a dishwasher full of clean dishes just WAITING for me to unload and put away, a kitchen counter also full of clean dishes that have been "drying" for almost three days now, clean laundry sitting in the living room that has been calling my name but I refuse to listen, a VERY dirty bathroom sink that I am hoping my roommate will clean (Megan, if you are reading this, you know that I am only half joking!) and loads of homework that I try to ignore! Now I know that I am not the only one out there who has labeled themselves a procrastinator. In fact, I do believe that it is not entirely my fault that I put things off...I have come to the conclusion that it is part of my genetic make up. It isn't so apparent when you look at my mom and dad, but when you examine my siblings, it all becomes a little clearer! No offense to my brother and sister (in-law, but I never call her that), but they have a tendency to put things off as well. There are times when I will call up my brother and he will congratulate me for not writing a paper until the morning it is due. It's his way of saying "Good job sis, you are following in my footsteps!" Sometimes I think I should fight the problem and stop procrastinating, but then I tell myself "I can take care of that later..."

Home Sweet Home

2006-08-26T18:48:00.000-07:00

My roommate and I sharing our first picture together in our new apartment.

One week ago I moved into my very first apartment and I absolutely LOVE IT! I am sure that most of you reading this have already passed this stage in life, but I'm guessing that you can still relate to the excitement I am feeling. There is something quite liberating about having a place of your own; a place where you decide what shower curtain you want in the bathroom, a place where you stock the fridge with loads of healthy (and not so healthy) foods of your choice, and a place you can come to at the end of a busy day and breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you are HOME. No, the added responsibility of paying rent, calling the cable company, and running the dishwasher aren't always pleasant, yet they are all reminders that I am a capable, mature woman who is able to make it on her own!

Here It Goes!

2006-08-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is, my first official blog! I must say that I have been an avid reader of various blogs for quite some time, but until now, have never ventured to start one myself. However, after much encouragement from my sister, I find myself here, on the verge of expressing my innermost thoughts, desires, and dreams. I was reluctant at first because I figured that I didn't have anything important or interesting to say, but I soon realized that the words of my heart are indeed valuable and worthwhile. There is no theme to my blog; it is simply an expression of who I am and who I want to become. I am sure there will be many thrilling (and not so thrilling) posts in the future, and I look forward to sharing a piece of my life with all of you.