Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Sign of Wisdom?

The other night my husband was playing with my hair and I asked if he had found any white hairs. (We started dating when he was 25 and rumor has it I gave him three white hairs in the first year - he hasn't grown any more since then.) He said no, but that I had several "really blond" ones. 

I was just in the restroom and noticed a "really blond" patch just behind my bang part. Those "really blond" hairs? They're white. Not gray. White. I hope this means I'll inherit the DeBoard white hair over the Henshaw gross gray color. My grandma has beautiful hair, my grandpa's female relatives not so much.

If possible, I would like to keep my hair color for a little longer - like, another 25 years or so. That'd be great.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Thankful Thursday

I decided to try a new meme today with inspiration from Yummy Mummy's branching out and Akal Ranch supplying the idea for Thankful Thursday

"Gratitude creates its own attitude..."

I am so thankful for family. I spent the weekend with my grandparents and they told me several things that I have been replaying in my mind all week:  


Nike, you have a husband that stands by you and a strong marriage... You have grandparents that adore you. Your daddy loves you. You have an amazing group of friends.  

Sometimes I need my family to speak my life truths back to me and I know when all else fails, I can count on them. They are such a blessing.

Likewise, I am thankful for friends. I am guilty of taking them for granted and am trying to consciously counteract that. We believe what we have is normal, but I have been reminded several times lately - most recently last night - how rare it is to have friends from childhood well into adulthood. I count those friendships among my greatest treasures. The relationship dynamics may change as time goes on, but the relationships are still precious and worthy of care. 

The Brain is 85% Water

The coffee drive-through we frequent is having a Summer Trivia game. Every morning they post a new question on the window and if answered correctly you receive a stamp towards a free coffee. I think the questions get harder as the week goes on, as it should be, but no one has confirmed this.

On Monday we received a stamp for Hawaii being the last state admitted to the union. (Alaska and Hawaii were admitted the same year, but Hawaii was last.) Tuesday we said the ostrich was the world's largest bird because we couldn't think of anything bigger - another win. Wednesday we skipped the coffee stop.

Last night I was telling the boy I'm fairly certain college made me stupid.  I don't remember what we were talking about, but I said, "I used to know stuff like that and be able to have a lengthy discussion about it... now I'm thousands of dollars in debt and can't. I think college might have made me stupid." I'm a little distressed by this revelation. 

Which brings us to today. The question was a True/False and the statement was, "The human brain is 85% water." It sounded plausible, but also very, very wrong. I let the boy take the lead with "False." False it is not.  Kinda like clouds not being made up of mostly carbon dioxide (last week's incorrectly answered true/false question). 

Maybe college didn't make me stupid, it just made me second guess myself to the point I can't answer a true/false question correctly. Only time will tell I suppose. For now, I'm going to start reading random trivia books in an effort to boost my skills. ;-) 

Thursday, June 17, 2010

What a Difference a Friend Makes

I try to be a mental health advocate. It's a passion I've always had on some level and one that has grown considering the coursework I've done and where I work. The waterworks came on at the end of this PSA on Saturday. I hope you are all blessed with one friend.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Who I Am

I woke up with Jessica Andrews "Who I Am" playing in my head. I've always loved that song, so I decided to do my own version...

I am Bob and Cora Leah's granddaughter

Spitting image of my Aunt Deb

And at the end of the day, my daddy's still my biggest fan

Sometimes, I have a big cheesy grin

Other times, I'm a bit irrational, but this guy still loves me

I'm learning to be strong, humble, and recognize my own ableness. 
I'm the girl that can be counted on to lend a hand and am always up for randomness.
This is who I am.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

From Where Does My Help Come?

We all have patterns and routines. Some are healthy, some not. I've briefly alluded that my emotions/attitudes are not as they should be as of late. There are some things I need to take care of, but I'm not quite ready to step out and do what I need to do. On the one hand I keep trying to do what I've always done - be strong, ignore it, and take care of everyone else. If I'm honest, I'm the one that needs help now. And that is a really hard thing to admit. Fortunately, I have friends that speak truth into my life.


This weekend we went camping with some of the Monday Night Posse on what was to be a spiritual retreat of sorts. The first night a couple friends talked about some difficult things they are going through, but I couldn't bring myself to participate in any way. 

We were rained out of our campsite on Sunday, but came back together at the house for more campfire and sharing late in the evening after we'd all had time to dry out. Prior to coming back together we were asked to participate in machatino (a Dominican Republic Spanish term I am unfamiliar with and am probably spelling wrong, but means something like "time of reflection" or our Christian-ese "quiet time"). I slept instead. 

About fifteen minutes before we left our house I tried to read the Bible. Something I've been simultaneously been feeling I should do and having a complete disinterest in doing for the last six months. I picked up where I had left off in John after a five minute read in April: 

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. (John 1: 10-14, New Living Translation)

"Okay, God, I hear you. I'm not the first or the last to reject you. Thanks for being faithful, but I'm still feeling lost," I thought to myself as I headed out the door.

Most of the Monday Night Posse was at the house, which was nice since not everyone could make the camping trip, and everyone started reflecting on their quiet time. Again, me, completely uninterested and fast approaching, "Don't want to be here" status. 

Leave it to the DH to share what we'd read and then ask me to fill in my thoughts. Which resulted in an immediate, "Oh crap," moment. So, I shared that the last thing I wanted to do lately was pray or read the Bible and that it's been that way for awhile now. They responded with the same grace I've come to anticipate, though never expect.

On Monday the group that went camping hiked up Dog Mountain. It was a gorgeous (the photo above is not one of the most stunning taken, but I don't have access to the others at the moment) and difficult hike and, per usual, I found myself towards the back of the group with our Charming Texan and my friend who likes to take lots pictures while hiking, making us roughly the same speed. 

While we were walking K thanked me for sharing the night before as difficult as it was. She also has been struggling with some life baggage - but is already in the getting help stage - and shared that it's only in the last couple weeks that she felt compelled to pray or read her Bible, but now is starting to feel God talk to her again. She lovingly reminded me that I've been knocked towards the bottom of Maslow's Triangle and right now I need to focus on feeling safe again. "These are the times we don't need to seek God, he'll come to you. Just like in the Garden." (The night before we had talked about how the "God can't be in the presence of sin" is a bit of a misconception. God gave Adam and Eve time to sort out their mess after they did the one thing they were told not to, but then He met them and restored them to His presence.)

I thought about this a bit on the hike and when we hiked out of the forest and saw the meadow and hills covered in wildflowers up to the summit I was reminded of Psalm 121, which I didn't even know I knew... (except in my head it was, "I lift mine eyes to the hills, from whence my help comes.)
 1I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
         From where shall my help come?
    2My help comes from the LORD,
         Who made heaven and earth.
    3He will not allow your foot to slip;
         He who keeps you will not slumber.
    4Behold, He who keeps Israel
         Will neither slumber nor sleep.
    5The LORD is your keeper;
         The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
    6The (I)sun will not smite you by day,
         Nor the moon by night.
    7The LORD will protect you from all evil;
         He will keep your soul.
    8The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in
         From this time forth and forever. 

I am not restored and I'm not feeling I had some epiphany on the summit. If anything my epiphany was, "Dang, I really should carry my own bag" and, "Why do I let them talk me into this crap?" (Well, not at the summit, but those were my thoughts for the last .4 miles where it was steep and the wind was a beast.)  What I am feeling is encouraged that I'm not alone and no matter how ashamed I am of my feelings or how difficult I'm finding life right now, I have an amazing group of people who love me anyway. The healing will come with time.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Sticks and Stones

Today I commited to Yummy Mummy I would speak out against bullying. Please visit her most recent post to get the Blog Party started.


Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

How many times have you heard that chant? How many times have you said it? It's a falsehood. One I swear to not pass down to my children. Words do hurt. Words touch the spirit, that precious place inside us where we find our self worth. Fists leave bruises, scratches, and bumps that are painful, but heal. A bruised spirit is kept secret and the inflicted wounds may never heal.

I wasn't bullied and I don't think I was consciously aware of anyone I knew being bullied in junior high or high school. Other life experiences since have revealed to me the devastating, long-term effects bullying can have.

To the bullied, I would like to say the following... You are not alone. You are valued. You are loved. Speak out. Go to as many people as you have to until someone listens - sometimes our greatest allies are in the most unlikely places. Forgive us who offer pat answers or blow off your situation as, "Normal kid stuff." Bullying is not acceptable and you are not to blame. Suicide is not the answer.

To the ones doing the bullying... I pray your eyes are opened to the damage you are inflicting on others. I pray whatever is the catalyst causing you to strike out is resolved. I pray the hurts inflicted on you are healed. I pray you are filled with such remorse you join the movement to end bullycide once and for all. 
 

Friday, June 4, 2010

For Love of the Ocean


 I'll be the first to admit I haven't been following the Gulf Coast oil spill as closely as I should. What I can tell you is I haven't been following it closely because the whole situation makes me sick and breaks my heart. The ocean is my happy place. It should not be a kill zone for the wildlife.

Thankfully, my friends over at Craft Hope have come up with a project to help the wildlife affected by the oil spill. If you can knit, crochet, finish edges on rags or buy a couple bottles of Dawn head over here for a chance to do a little good.

Maybe with a little time, effort, and hope we can help clean up this mess.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

24th Year in Pictures

Yesterday was my birthday. This last year has been pretty crazy and I'm still processing what I want my 25th year to look like, so here is a photo post until I decide.

24 wasn't a bad year.... Not a bad year at all.... ;-)



 Hiking near Marion Forks, Memorial Day weekend 2009
Graduation from Portland State University, June 2009
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies 


In the Seaside hat shop with my in-laws, June 2009


 24-hrs of awesome filled goodness with Leslie at Pink Spandex.
June 22, 2009 


My lovely Aunt Deb and me in Denver, July 2009


Weekend trip to Rockaway Beach with eight of our dearest friends
August 2009


 Hiking at Ramona Falls with a couple friends
August 2009


2 year anniversary, Strawberry Wilderness
September 2009


Nike and Claire love Christmas
December 2009 


Interpretive Center Mardi Gras themed party with los padres
Baker City, January 2010


Crosstown Trail snowshoe hike with the Monday Night Posse 
January/February 2010


About a month after the Cav gave up on us, we bought the 'Ru 
February 2010


My Christmas present was tickets to CATS - my first Broadway musical
March 2010



Started working with Pearl - April 2010 
 

Bobby was home post-deployment to Korea. 
The siblings have an updated picture and had a lovely dinner at Barley Brown's
May 2010

 

Not a bad year at all.