yay for random-ness (is that a word?!)

Nov. 23rd

It's nearly DECEMBER... which means... CRAFT CITY in my room.  This year I have some good ones going, which is nice, since I don't have much money for gifts this year.  This is my dresser... well, it was... the pile has nearly doubled... I'm ridiculous.

Nov. 24th

On Thanksgiving morning my mom and I did the Turkey Trot in Miamisburg.  We were SUPER slow, but we don't care... we do it for the fun of it and a lot of people finished behind us, that's all we cared about.  Then we hit Starbucks and came home and cooked up a huge dinner.

I'm not a girl who holds onto many traditions... this is a good one we have going.  Carly likey.

Nov. 25th

There's a new movie coming out called We bought a Zoo... or something like that.  It doesn't really matter.  When I have been thinking lately about making a bold move and doing something that scares me I think of this quote that Matt Damon says in the commercial for the movie.  It makes me think that maybe all it really takes is courage and I wonder when I will have the courage it takes to jump.

So I put this on a square and hung it next to my bed... because I really hope I get up the courage soon...

Nov. 26th

I have WAY too many Starbucks cups in my car these days... I leave work every day with at least one, sometimes two.  They are accumulating in my car.  Its not good, not good at all.

Nov. 27th

I have two crazy beasts of dogs.  This is Nellie.  This is his favorite place to sleep... on my bed.  He prefers if I am not in bed so he can have more space!  None the less... I love both my pups, Nellie and Shea.  Really really love them.

Such good boys.

Nov. 28th

Who hates rain?  THIS GIRL!!  Yet... this was my drive to work today... rain, rain, rain.  Then a lovely man told me that it is supposed to rain, until it snows... which could be Wednesday... then I almost started crying.  

Seriously.

None the less... here's my drive to work today...

5 more days...

I.  LOVE.  THIS.  PROJECT.  Seriously.

Nov. 18th

For payroll at work I had to bring in my social security card.  However, I have NO idea where it is. The other option was to bring in my passport.  I know EXACTLY where that is.  Always.  (I have passport OCD at times actually).  I love my passport because it not only allows me to travel the world, but it is a symbol of possibility to me.  I love that with my passport I can go literally ANYWHERE, and meet pretty much ANYONE.  When I got my first passport (this is my 2nd) I said I would get at least one stamp in it a year.  So far, so good... next adventure....

Nov. 19th

This is my favorite Bible verse.  I hate to say that since there are lots of verses that are meaningful and important in the Bible... well, pretty much all of it really... but I love this verse.  LOVE.  

This hangs next to my bed.  LOVE.

Nov. 20th

Its sometimes weird at this point in my life that everything I own is either in one room or in storage in the basement.  I have a few things that are meaningful to me that are on top of my dresser.  Things I have picked up on my travels or have been given to me by people who inspire me.  It's a random, eclectic collection.  These are two of my favorite things... a vase I picked up in Brazil (that was often filled with flowers from friends in Sao Paulo) and a plate given to me by the church in Saratov, Russia during my first visit.  Symbols of 2 amazing and different places that are an important part of who I am.

Nov. 21st

My niece and nephew spent the weekend at our house.  They really really love to sit on my bed.  Nick likes to mess around on my computer (and leave sticky handprints).  Abby likes to harass Nick.  They make me laugh, those two.  

Nov. 22nd

I have a money tree.  I used to joke that I wish it actually grew real money.  I still do wish that... but I love my money tree.  It used to live in my office.  Now it lives in my bedroom.  It is growing like crazy.  

So random.

4....

Here we go....

Nov. 14th

Backpacker Magazine came today!!  Yay!!  I used to feel like such a dork when my Backpacker came... because I was such a poser about it.  NOW I have actually done a big time trail and I don't feel like such a pretender anymore.  Instead I love to read it and dream about other long trails and big trips to amazing places that I WILL someday take.

PLUS, see the "How to" on the front there... can you read it?  How to eat better, slash weight, stay warmer, find gear that fits... wait... all 4 things that I need! Hahahaha

Nov. 15th

Today in the mail I received the most amazing gift from my wonderful friend Jen.  She always remembers my birthday.  She's amazing like that.  I have forgotten hers many times, but she is always faithful, all the way from Brazil.  PLUS, she knows how much I love butterflies AND big bracelets... so THANKS JEN!!

Nov. 16th

I missed one thing a whole lot this summer... wearing my chinelos.  The last few days (until today) it was really warm and I have been wearing them to work (until I have to put on my work shoes).  I love my chinelos.  They make me very very happy.

The funny thing about this pair is that I had the same ones on the trail with me.  In Massachusettes (I think) I got a pair of Crocs so I threw my flip flops away (they were worn out by then anyway).  I loved them so I was sad... but I just happen to have another pair.  I'm OCD like that!

Nov. 17th

Today after work I stopped to pick up some things at Walmart and stumbled upon the most amazing surprise!!  Pumpkin Spice bagels!!  I bought some of these in Millinocket, ME right after the trail.  They were a special treat at a tough time back then and then I couldn't find them again.  Today I did!  Best surprise ever (especially after working at 5 am).  Yay for delicious bagel treats!! 

(I did buy 2 more bags to freeze, I admit it!  I'm OCD like that!)

three days of thankfulness

This may seem to be the silliest idea ever... these pictures of my life... however, I LOVE it.  It is really my hope that I will stick with it... because my first 4 days of pictures are SUCH an accurate description of my seriously random and ridiculous life.  Love it.  Here goes...

NOVEMBER 11th

This is the first in a long term project called "The Transformative Power of the Mullet".  Betsie bought me a blonde mullet wig (cause seriously, why not?!).  I take it to things and make people wear it.  They almost always look like completely different people.  This is Alli rockin the mullet at Betsie and Tyler's wedding.  

I. LOVE. IT!

NOVEMBER 12th

On the 12th I worked with my amazing friend Carrie Sue at camp.  I consumed a ridiculous amount of beverages for the 9-3 time frame.  This picture makes me smile because this is how many things I had to carry back up the trail from the climbing wall... and I couldn't help Carrie carry things because I had so many drinks.  I mean... really?  It's ridiculous.  I'm insane.

NOVEMBER 13th

Today was my second day on the job and I got my green apron today.  

I work at Starbucks now.  

I am your friendly Brown Street Starbucks barista.

This seems odd, that I have gone from career girl (of which I have had 4 already in my life) to an hourly employee.  It is also the first time in my life I have had to wear an actual uniform (other than a Sunday staff shirt at camp).  However, I am SUPER excited about Starbucks.  I can't even tell you why... its not just the free coffee... its the happy people who work there... its measurable success... its knowing that this is my next step on the path to something bigger (things already in the works and thing unforseen).  I won't be a barista or at Starbucks forever, but for now... its challenging and not too bad... and did I mention the free coffee??!!

NOV.10th

I have been thinking about how to spend this 35th year of my life.  The truth is I have absolutely not ONE CLUE where my life is headed this year.  It is scary but amazing at the same time.  I am living in the crazy balance of never knowing where to turn and knowing that there are people ready and willing to take the next steps with me.  I am overwhelmingly blessed.

I met a great friend on the trail who was taking a picture of himself every day this year.  A picture a day.  I thought... hey, I could do that!  Except that I honestly HATE having my picture taken... SO... instead I have decided that this year I will take a picture and post it here for every day.  I am seriously going to try!  A picture every day of something beautiful and amazing or simple and humbling.  A picture a day... then I will post them (I may not post them every day but there will be a picture for each day.) here so you can see where this year takes me.

SO.... I shall start with this one...

Those are my feet.  They have had a rough year... but just above them are my... JEANS!  Today I wore jeans for the first time since July and it is AWESOME!  I love my jeans!!!

Yup... that's how I'm starting my new year... I'm thankful for ugly feet and jeans.  I'm a simple girl!

Looking at 35...

35.  Whoa.

It's feeling a bit ridiculous that another year has passed so quickly and I am looking at another birthday and now... looking at 35.  That used to seem so old!  Now here I am.  Ridiculous.

I think too much.  I don't sleep well and since I haven't been working I've got some extra time on my hands. So I think a lot.  Dangerous?  Perhaps!

Today I have been thinking about who I am in this, my 35th year of life.  Who I am now is definitely NOT who I was a year ago, and I am so thankful for that.  Yet some things never really change about who you are and I love those things.  I am definitely a work in progress... learning and changing every day.  I never want that to end, so I've been thinking about what it is that makes crazy, ridiculous me, me!

So, in honor of this day, this new year... I'm sharing those things with you.  

Here goes: (don't you feel lucky?!)

... I am SUPER responsible and hardworking.  Really.  A workaholic at some times, I am organized and disciplined and take my responsibilities really seriously.  This year I got overwhelmed by that and walked away from it all (literally), and now, in this new year, I am seeking to strike a balance.  I can be hard working and responsible... and still live big.

... my faith is really important to me.  I spent 5 1/2 months in the woods this year.  I spent a lot of time in prayer and meditation (can I call it that if I was walking at the same time?!).  God is important in my life.  This year one of the things I missed the most was Sunday worship.  In this new year I am seeking to find a new place where I fit and where I can live out my faith journey in meaningful ways.

... I am passionate.  It's true.  I get real worked up sometimes.  I am passionate about serving and loving others.  I have never met a mission trip I didn't fall in love with, an orphan I didn’t want to adopt, a hungry person I didn't want to feed, or  a justice issue I didn’t want to attack.  It’s how I roll.  This year I was able to lead two amazing mission teams (Minnesota and Dominican Republic).  In this new year I am seeking to find ways to serve that are meaningful and honoring of the gifts and blessings that I have received.

... I love simplicity.  I sometimes get caught up in drama and STUFF, but in reality I am pretty simple, maybe even "plain Jane", but I love the simple life.  I love pure motives, easy conversation, peaceful transitions, and not being tied to material possessions.  This year I downsized some things but held on to much.  In this new year I am seeking to truly live simply.

... I am happy.  Really and truly this year I found happiness again.  I found it in an unexpected place.  I face uncertainty and tough decisions and yet I am truly happier than I have ever been before.  This year I remembered what happiness feels like.  In this new year I am seeking to embrace happiness even where there is risk.

... There are lots of other things that make me me.  As I head into 35, I look at who I am and the life I lead and I KNOW I am blessed.  I TRUST that God has great things in store, and I BELIEVE that everything happens for a reason.  I didn't go to Macchu Picchu or Africa at 34.  I didn't figure out what I want to do with my life at 34.  I didn't change much of the world at 34... but I did learn.  I learned that getting older isn't always easy, but there is a lot of life to live and I won't let what I "should" be doing at a certain age stop me from living my dreams.  I have learned that the gray hairs on my head have come from lots of crazy but beautiful days and even though a good dye job would be awesome, they remind me of hard battles I've fought and overcome.  I have learned that living love isn't really that scary and opening yourself up to others is definitely worth the risk.  I've learned that "life goes on" and "it is what it is" and that embracing joy changes things.

I've learned that how we live and how we love matters.

Life matters.  All of it.

34 was amazing.  I'm looking at 35 today and thinking it's looking pretty good to.

That's what matters!

Happy Birthday to me!