T-Minus Six Days

What a wonderful holiday weekend it has been! I spent Christmas Eve with my family, going to Church, playing games, and watching Christmas movies. I worked Christmas Day at the hospitality house. Though it was odd not being at all of our traditional family Christmas things, I was blessed knowing that I didn't have to worry about a family member in the hospital on Christmas. God gives us blessings and they shouldn't be wasted on us alone.

I went up to Portland the day after Christmas. I moved more things up to my new place and went to The Nutcracker that night. Sunday, we celebrated a belated Christmas with our family (on my dad's side). We took a lot of pictures and celebrated a first Christmas with Elliot and Tucker. Then more moving, followed by a dinner with some wonderful families.

I'll be moving up on January 3rd (hence the T-minus six days) and school starts in two weeks. I'm very much looking forward to the next two years!

Hope you all enjoyed your holiday and here's to a wonderful new year!

15 days until Christmas!

So, lots has happened since my last post...ok, maybe not lots, but it sure seems like it.

I found out that I have been accepted into graduate school! I'll be starting on January 11th and I'm SO excited! It's going to be wonderful. I already have three friends in the program, so hopefully I'll have some classes with them. God is good!

Yesterday, we were very blessed with the fashionably late arrival of our newest family member! My cousin Jenny and her husband Travis welcomed their new (and first) baby boy Tucker James Fox. He joined us a week late, weighing in at 9lbs, 7oz. What a healthy "little" one. His picture is below (keep in mind that it's his newborn photo, so it's not the best).

I'll be starting my home hunt in Portland soon (seeing as I have less than a month to find a place and move because of orientation). But, until then, I'm packing up and figuring out all that needs to get done before I start a new chapter in my life!

I'm taking it easy for now though...I'm working on getting over a sinus infection and bronchitis. Lots of tissues, water, and cough syrup for me!

22 days til Christmas!

Yes, the annual Christmas countdown has begun. :) It's hard to believe how quickly time has passed this year.

This past Tuesday, I had my graduate school interview with George Fox University. It was a three hour group interview. As crazy as it sounds, it was so much fun. Everyone was very sweet (I guess that's what happens when you interview for a spot in a counseling program) and the faculty that was there cared a great deal for everyone that interviewed. I should be hearing by the end of next week...I'll make sure to update everyone when I find out.

Tonight is the Civil War! Don't worry, my dad has already placed a ticket order for the rose bowl and has reserved a hotel room. Let's hope they get used!

I went up to Portland after Thanksgiving to spend some time with friends and family. Emerson and Elliot were there and I very much enjoyed spending time with them, as I don't get to see them often. Emerson is two and a half and always keeps me laughing! Elliot has hit the two month mark and is growing like a weed. I also get to spend some time on and after Thanksgiving with Beckett. I get to see him even less than Big and Little E, as he lives way too far away (North Carolina). But he's now 17 months and all boy. Pictures of all three of these lovies are below.

Next post should hopefully be a celebratory one! The faculty have already made their choices (they make them right after the interview) so now it's just waiting to hear from the admissions staff...yikes!

He makes my day...

...I hope he makes yours too!

Found and Loved

There's a photographer in North Carolina that took pictures of my cousin Beckett's first birthday party. Ever since July, I've continually found myself going back to her blog. She takes incredible pictures and always writes a wonderful words that just capture the people and the pictures completely. A few days ago, she posted a blog about empty spaces. It wasn't a shoot with anyone, just her thoughts and pictures. I fell in love with what she wrote about the blog post. I borrowed it from her, made a minor change, and am posting it.

"Taking a minute to quiet my heart and feel really grateful this morning that God created beauty in the empty spaces. Even when the vibrant leaves of the fall fly south for the winter, I am in awe of the intricacies of the tangled twigs left behind to withstand the cold air on their own. And that when baby teeth go missing and big girl teeth haven't quite found their way, a mouthful of crooked spaces is simply lovely. God does the same with me. There are spaces in me that are empty and unfinished. They ache for heaven, long to find a love for a lifetime. God loves those spaces in me. And even though I often hang a 'do not disturb' sign and the only sounds you can hear inside are tears and little hiccups, He meets me there. And when my cry is quieted, He lifts my chin and pushes the matted hair off my face. He tells me I'm beautiful. Loved. His. And then He uses that space to reveal Himself in ways that are mighty. And I am grateful. Grateful that there is beauty in empty spaces. Lots of it."

New little joys

This past weekend, I was at a baby shower for my cousins Carrie and Jenny. Carrie recently welcomed Elliot and Jenny is expecting a baby boy in December! I'm so excited to meet him and am so glad I got to meet Elliot.

1. New big sister Emerson
2. Making monster faces with Em
3. Elliot taking a snooze
4. Snuggled up with Elliot (he made me want to fall asleep!)

Time with the little ones

1. Ten year old Catherine climbing up to play with Audrey
2. Three year old Audrey running Catherine down
3. Six month old Caroline hanging out with me at the playground
4. Catherine and Audrey heading up the hill to the elementary school playground

I had a wonderful time with my girls last Tuesday. They definitely kept me busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's hard to believe how quickly they're growing up.

Keeping busy...surprised?

What a week it has been...and by week, I mean last week :)

Monday and Tuesday I was at the hospital all day for training. Talk about lots of sitting. Thankfully all the occupational and physical therapists got us up and moving. But I'll be doing my department training this week, which I'm looking forward to!

Wednesday was fun. Sadly, my dance class at Oak Creek was canceled, but the girls all had visits, so hopefully they all enjoyed some time with their families. And I was thrilled that I got to go to Sponsor Revelation at the Tri Delt house. We had a big ol' family reunion, picked up six new babies, and finished the evening with our traditional dessert at Big River. YUM.

Thursday warmed my heart. I got a last minute invite from Dr. Michelle Inderbitzin, my Inside-Out instructor, to attend an event put on by the 7th Step Club at the penitentiary. Obviously I said yes...it has been almost a year since I've seen all the guys in my class! I went up on Thursday evening and spent the night listening to three speakers. One crime victim and two inmates. I will admit that I did get a little teary eyed. But I SO very much enjoyed seeing some of "my guys." It was good to know that they are all doing well and they're just as fun as I remember them being!

Tomorrow, I'll be headed up to Portland to spend the day playing "mom" to my three lovely "nieces." The newly ten year old Catherine, three year old Audrey, and six (almost seven) month old Caroline.

Wednesday, after training, I'll be headed out to Oak Creek to work on a new project with Michelle. I hope to get at least a couple minutes of dancing in, as one of my girls is getting released on Friday. It's bittersweet, but mostly sweet.

Well, I do believe that's it for now. Enjoy your week!

I'm new at this...

So, I figured I'd give this whole blog thing the old college try. As of now, here's what's going on in my life:

*I graduated from Oregon State in June with a bachelors degree in Human Development and Family Sciences.

*I have applied to graduate school and will hopefully start in January. I'll hear sometime in November if I got an interview, which will be in December. I applied to George Fox University's masters of arts in counseling program.

*I teach dance (hip hop and jazz) at Oak Creek, Oregon's youth correctional facility for girls.

*I work at the Mario Pastega house, which is the hospitality house at the Corvallis Medical Center.

As of now, I'm just working on getting my life figured out and learning where I want to go. Who knows how this blog will go, but we shall see!