More Pregnant than I've Ever Been

Geiser Pollman Park, Baker City, OR
35 weeks and so blessed

Wow, I really haven't documented life lately. I like to think it's because I've been out actively engaging in it, but that wouldn't be entirely true. What I've been doing is trying to put words to all the excitement, fear, and "bigness" (for lack of a better word) of preparing for a child, encountering new physical limitations, and growing in my career. And as stressed and freaked out as I get about it all, I have a constant sense of peace and feel so very blessed.

To date, we have been given boxes of clothes, baby gear, blankets, and books from my cousins whose children are all past toddlerhood. Two of my cousins blessed me with their maternity clothes so I haven't bought anything except for the outfit I'm wearing in the maternity pictures (which isn't maternity and super comfy). Their generosity brings me to tears.

We've had four showers - one in California with the family, one with our West Side friends, one in my hometown with my family and dear friends, and one on the East Side with extended family and friends. Little Girl has been bathed with so many well-wishes and love I get more excited to introduce her to all the people who loved her before she was born every day. Kid's pretty blessed as well.
 

Lovely baby afghan my other mama made Little Girl
Not pictured is the matching hat, which is adorbs

I seem to have hit the stage in pregnancy where everyone expects me to be uncomfortable, grumpy, and ready to be done. I have some discomfort here and there, but mostly I'm just really happy and really excited. Also, I have a work project that needs to be finished before she arrives. I love the picture of Jason and I looking at each other around the tree cause it sums up the last 9 months so well - we're joyfully walking the path before us and enjoying (nearly) every minute of it. (Pregnancy hasn't been a piece of cake, but I know as rough as it's been at times - nausea, sickness, GD scare, constant heartburn, exhaustion, etc - it could have been worse.)

Watching Jason put together the crib (I helped towards the end, which was quite the hoot as I kept losing tools cause I could see them around my belly) and arrange the nursery has been so fun. He picked out her dresser and refinished it. We recently bought a cabinet/hutch combo at Goodwill for $5 he will also be working on. He's been way more industrious than I have and for that I am very grateful. He's an organizing whiz and has come up with some great storage solutions for the nursery/office. Last night Bryan and Crystal came over to help organize and move things around and I am so pleased with the results.

We still need to pack our hospital bag, install the carseat (Jason got the car detailed yesterday which was much needed, but did delay the installation), go on a date, and pack Little Girl's coming home bag, but feel like we're as ready as we're going to be and the rest is just little things. (Besides the carseat, I realize that's a big deal.) 

Grandma and Grandpa will be here next week and I'm so thankful they'll be nearby to help out when Little Girl arrives. Aunt Deb will be visiting the weekend of the estimated due date, so I'm praying Little Girl chooses to arrive then as it would be so special to have my aunt with us. 

So, all in all this whole post could have been summed up like this: I am blessed, I am surrounded by love, and I am humbly accepting this new path we've been set on. Little Girl, we are so excited to meet you!

30 Things you probably didn't need to know

*30 Things*

Rumor has it this is going around Pinterest and since I think a little self-reflection is in order this week, here goes...

I. List 20 random facts about yourself.

1. I am named for the Greek goddesses of victory and wisdom
2. I wanted to decorate with owls before it was trendy
3. I have only dated two people and I married the second
4. I am the same height I was at 13
5. For a short period of my childhood I had naturally red hair and I'm pretty sad it didn't stick around
6. I have been in 22 US states
7. I studied in Alicante, Spain for four and a half months - that wasn't long enough to become fluent in Spanish
8. I have travelled to Mexico about 5 times, but have never been to Canada, which is significantly closer to me.
9. I could live on sushi and mashed potatoes
10. No matter how I have them, I cannot bring myself to enjoy onions of any persuasion (though I agree green onions are less offensive than red)
11. My family has roots in the South, though no one in the last three generations has lived there, and that's why I'm so sweet. (I love collared greens, grits, real sweet tea, red beans and rice, and hush puppies.)
12. Though I lived in Illinois for nine months, my permanent residence has only ever been in Oregon.
13. I took my driver's test in a 5-speed manual transmission in three feet of snow, and passed, so I get irrationally frustrated with people who can't drive in a dusting of snow.
14. I had short stories and poems published in Highlight and a Highlight-like magazine by age 9
15. I only lived completely on my own (without a roommate) for the two months between my roommate getting married and my own wedding.
16. I presently struggle with budgeting; I'm really bad at being poor.
17. Childbirth has never been something I've feared.
18. There was a time I really thought I'd be a big time AP journalist in Washington, DC.
19. Lime green and dark purple is still one of my favorite color combinations.
20. Most people don't realize how bossy I am.

II. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.

1. Abandonment - yeah, that happened
2. Rattlesnakes - they may have rattles, but they're surprisingly sneaky buggers
3. Dying in a car wreck - I'm not sure what triggered it, and I don't know if it can be described as a fear as I've accepted it as my fate, but for the last ten years I've come to the conclusion that is how I'm going to die. (Not to go all morbid on you or anything.)

III. Describe your relationship with your parents.
      My dad is my best friend and I have chosen not to have a relationship with my mother.

IV. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.

1. Seriously, learn how to study for math and science. You're good at it, but at some point it's going to get more difficult and you need to be prepared.
2. Trust your gut, most of the things you wonder about in your journal come to fruition.
3. Save half of every paycheck and listen to what Mrs. Ott is telling you in economics.
4. You really do love him, but he is going to break your heart in a very real way and there are pieces you're never going to get back. First cut is the deepest and all that.
5. Don't buy the ballgown for winter semi-formal. You are going to stand out like a sore thumb and your pictures look weird. It will be another six years before you learn what "semi-formal" and "cocktail attire" mean, so trust me on this one.
6. You're going to end your relationship with your mother in nine years. I realize this won't come as a surprise, so go ahead and save your adult self some trauma and just say the things you're thinking and feeling now. Those things you hope change? They don't, they get worse and you get very, very broken.
7. Don't be so afraid to forge your own path. You're made of tough stuff.
8. There is a difference between fact and propaganda. Democrats aren't evil and God isn't Republican. To read some of the things you thought and believed at sixteen kills my soul a little now.
9. Exercise is really important.
10. You're going to be okay. Really.

V. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?

1. The fall colors when the sun shines through them.
2. Comfy bed.
3. All the pregnant people in my life.
4. That Jason and I can do the hard things.
5. Thanksgiving is less than a month away.

VI. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

• Clinical Depression.

VII. What is your dream job, and why?

• I want to be a midwife. I believe in women's ability to birth well on their own in an environment that supports them and want to be there to welcome new littles into the world.

VIII. What are 5 passions you have?

1. Informed birth choices
2. Comprehensive sex education
3. Communication
4. Healthy marriages
5. Montessori/Waldorf education

IX. List 5 people who have influenced you and describe how.

1. Abuelos - they have been married more than half a century and chose each other even when life got rough. They have such an incredible testimony.
2. Dad - he put us kids first even when it meant foregoing a promotion or giving up something he wanted
3. Jason - he taught me how to relax and not take life so seriously (something I still struggle with)
4. Aunt Debbie - she has shown me what it is to live your faith and be a woman of prayer
5. Colleen - I can't describe the ways she's influenced my life, she's affected the way I live my marriage, my faith, let go of the past, and view the future.

X. Describe your most embarrassing moment.

• It involves being very, very ill at my in-laws my first Christmas as a wife.

XI. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.

1. People messing with their phones when they are in a social setting (or church, or at dinner, or...)
2. Pet owners who don't clean up after their pets in public spaces
3. Not acknowledging the person who is holding the door open for you
4. When people say "Or-eee-gone" it's "Orygun," c'mon now
5. Thanks to Laura and Lily from HIMYM, the word "moist" now really unnerves me
6. When couples say "we're pregnant!" No, you plural are not pregnant. You are both expecting, but only one of you is pregnant. It's weird to pretend otherwise.
7. Talking during movies (or playing with your phone)
8. There's something Jason and I were talking about the other day that resulted in me saying, "I had no idea how much that annoys me until this very moment," but I can't for the life of me remember what it was When people interchange "sex" and "gender." They are not the same thing. You do not find out a baby's gender from an ultrasound, you learn the sex.
9. Not rinsing dishes. I don't care if they're stacked by the sink, but for the love, please rinse them
10. Uggs. I absolutely hate seeing people wearing Uggs. They actually make me a little angry.

XII. Describe a typical day in your current life.

Right now, I wake up multiple times between 1:30 am and 5:45 am and generally kick a cat while rolling over. The alarm goes off at 6:30 am and I get in the shower at 6:45 am. Attempt to eat breakfast, Jason drives me to work. I throw up sometime between 8:30 and 11:00 am. Have lunch at 12:30, do some more work, head home at 5:00 pm, change into my pajamas and read or watch a movie while Jason cooks dinner. Eat dinner, read some more, then go to bed and start the cycle over. It's pretty exciting round here at the moment.

XIII. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.

1. Caring too deeply about things I shouldn't
2. I'm a people pleaser
3. I don't follow through with things well
4. I'm stubborn
5. I don't easily forgive

XIV. Describe 5 strengths you have.

1. I'm faithful
2. I stand by what I believe is right
3. I'm compassionate
4. I'm tactful
5. I'm not afraid to do the hard things to save a relationship worth saving

XV. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
        A pelican. They fly, live near the water, and eat a lot of fish.

XVI. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?

1. Graduating from college
2. Marrying my best friend
3. Recovering from depression
4. Walking 110km of the Camino de Santiago (enough to have a piece of paper from the priest of Santiago de Compestella stating my sins had been forgiven)
5. Actually, living in Spain was a pretty big deal

XVII. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
           Budgeting. I feel like I already answered this question.

XVIII. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
            The most difficult is still a work in progress. The second most difficult was forgiving Jason for his fall from grace this summer.

XIX. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
         Central Oregon, namely Sisters. It's warmer in the summer and colder in the winter than Eastern Oregon with the most beautiful countryside and backpacking trails. And very little rain.

XX. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.

1. When Dad brought Axo (our golden retriever) home. That dog was a saint.
2. My mother walking out on my 9th birthday.
3. Rollerblading at Sam-o-Swim skate park Christmas morning with Dad. All of us got rollerblades from "Santa" (Jillian got Barbie rollerskates; she was five) and it was ridiculously warm that year. When I see the pictures from the skate park I forget it was Christmas day.

XXI. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
         Teleportation and first I would teleport to an sunny island and just relax.

XXII. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?

• 5 years - mother of two
• 10 years - homeowner
• 15 years - partner at a midwife-run birth center

XXIII. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.

1. Reading - it's a cheap vacation
2. Fishing - I love fish and it's so repetitive it's relaxing
3. Badmitton - it's just fun
4. Settlers of Catan - it's always a new game
5. Camping - it's the one time I get to eat as many s'more as I want

XXIV. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
            My brother and I are even closer than we ever were. My sister and I are just as distant and maybe more so than we were in childhood.

XXV. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
          There are so many interesting people... I'd love to have tea with the Bronte sisters.

XXVI. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
            "Do whatever makes you happy." For one, it's generally said dismissively. Secondly, one of the things most wrong with the world is we're all looking out for our own happiness instead of caring for our neighbors.

XXVII. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
             My ears. They neither gain nor lose weight and always look right on my head.

XXVIII. What is your love language?
              Quality time.

XXIX. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
             Contemplativeness for judgement.

XXX. List 5 things you would hope to be remembered for.

1. I loved deeply
2. I wasn't afraid to say and do the hard things
3. My compassion
4. My faith influenced my choices and the people around me
5. I worked to make the world a better place for those who will come behind me

Q&A: Just for Fun

Nicole at Marine Wife Unplugged tagged me in this and I'm happy to oblige... (Sorry the formatting is so weird. I finally let it win.)
The Rules

1. You must post the rules (and link up who tagged you).

2. Post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you've tagged.

4. Tag however many people you want

5. Let them know you've tagged them!



11 Facts About Me

1. I enjoy a good hike, but about the only sure way to talk me into it is to promise a milkshake at the end.

2. Since childhood I have enjoyed eating oysters - pan fried, raw, steamed, whatever.

3. Sleep is my favorite thing.

4. I really want a redheaded child. Interestingly enough, my brother has shared that he is terrified of redheaded children under age 14.

5. Unassisted, I can only see three inches in front of my face clearly. I'm that blind.

6. I'm convinced I'm going to die in a car crash. I don't know why.

7. One day I want to have a self-sufficient household/farm. As of yesterday my dream includes animals of burden to till the land. I'm very Prairie House at heart.

8. I am one of the most empathetic people you will ever meet. True story.

9. I'm 5'3", but wear tall shoes to prevent having to hem my pants. This occasionally throws people off when I do wear flat shoes (which I would prefer to do, darn office job and dress pants).

10. I am married to the second (and last) man I dated.

11. Living in the Midwest for a year was the best worst thing I ever did.



Nicole's Questions For me

1. Have you ever told a stranger about salvation through Christ? Not that directly. I have shared my own beliefs with strangers and left the conversation open.

2. Have you ever been to a chiropractor? Nope, and trying to keep it that way. Though apparently I get discounted chiropractic services through work, so should I break myself during 1/2 marathon or relay training I have a less expensive way to get fixed.

3. When you first learned about PTSD, what did you think of it? It has always made sense to me and I was relieved to find it had a name.

4. Have you ever regretted being married? No, I married my best friend and have been blessed by him ever single day for the last five years.

5. If your spouse said he wanted you to wear skirts for the rest of your life because he loved how you looked in them, would you have a problem with that? He could say it and I would be flattered. I would probably make an effort to wear them more often, but I wouldn't wear them every day.

6. What are you most thankful for today? My health.

7. How often have you been angered by things you have read on my blog? I don't think you've ever said anything that's angered me. There's been times I thought you took things too far or had a vastly different viewpoint than mine, but nothing anger-inducing.

8. Describe a time you helped someone out anonymously and did not seek recognition for it. Wouldn't it be seeking recognition if I told you about it? ;-)

9. What household chore do you gripe about performing the most? Sweeping and mopping the floor! It's time consuming and within five minutes they're dirty again. Grrr! (Hubby does this chore most of the time cause he loves me.)

10. How can you tell if someone is really following the Messiah? Their words and deeds line up and you feel a sense of peace when you're around them, no matter what is going on.

11. Do you think that Barack Obama is a good president? I don't think there is such a thing as a good president. Each administration is at the mercy of the administration before him, the Congress in session, and the current world disasters. Why anyone would want to be president is beyond me.

Who I'm Tagging

- George at Rough And Rede

- Kim at (Just) Trying is for Little Girls

- Christie at Marathon Mama

- Nikki at My Story That I Like The Best

- Shawna at Pink Spandex

- Leslie at Pink Spandex

My Questions:

1. Which three books would you take with you if you were banished to a deserted island?

2. Who had the greatest influence on you growing up?

3. What was the best vacation you ever had?

4. What's your "one moment" - the moment in your life you wish you could go back and change?

5. Icecream or cake?

6. What do you want people to remember about you?

7. What is your favorite quote?

8. Would you live without internet or without your phone?

9. What has been your greatest accomplishment?

10. How do you celebrate an accomplishment?

11. How does life compare to what you had planned 5/10/15/25 years ago?

Summer of 26

It's been an adventuresome few months in the Bentley household. I'd like to say I will fill you in, but considering the chaos my life has been for the last few months I'll probably never deliver. To top it all off, I broke my camera the same day my dear friend delivered her first child, so photographic proof of my life has been nearly nonexistent as of late. Here's a few pictures to bring you up to current day...

Holding 3 hour old Ezra Nathaniel, first baby of my dear friends on June 3.

Halfway through Run to the Ruts 5K in Baker City. Happy 26th birthday a few days late to me! It was seriously the best (and most difficult!) 5K I've ever done and it's not entirely because I'm biased.

Crystal and I after the 1st Annual Run to the Ruts 5K my daddy organized at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City. The goodie bags were over-the-top awesome, those shirts we're wearing are women's tech and the race fee was $25 to name some of the highlights. Never mind the gorgeous views and breakfast burritos.

Trying to hike to Strawberry Lake.
I found the trail - notice how I'm three feet shorter than everyone else?

Speedy Turtles at the finish line for Cascade Lakes Relay. CLR is a BEAST!!!

My Aunt Deb came to visit and we hung out. Good times.

Baby sister got married on August 13. She's really tall.
(Yeah, we don't know what Jason was doing either, but this is so going on the Christmas card.)

2010: A Year of Standing Still

Old Father Time has passed the torch to 2011. This year my response is, "Good riddance!" In reflecting, however, I'm remembering the highlights 2010, though trying, brought. So here's to the annual survey. (For a 2009 refresher, click here.)

2010: The Survey

Was 2010 good for you? The year as a whole, no, but it had some high points.

What was your favorite moment of the year? Running under the Hood to Coast "Finish" banner with 10 other teammates in various stages of pain while our spry 12th runner took off ahead. We were all laughing, tripping in the sand, and yelling, "Tooooom! Wait!" I laugh every time I remember that moment.

What was your worst moment of the year? December 16 when I came face to face in the shortcomings of our mental health system.

Where were you when 2010 began? I don't remember... weird. Did I go to bed before Midnight?

Who were you with? I bet Jason was there wherever I was.

Where were you when 2010 ended? At the Halls' house, standing with my arm around Jason, Josh and Laura to my right, and the rest of the Monday Night Posse in front and behind me. It was a beautiful thing to countdown and clink glasses with people who have come to mean so much to me over the last year.

Did you keep your new years resolution of 2010? I followed through with some of the not-so-fun commitments I made to myself. I had also resolved to be more cultured and that was certainly accomplished.

Do you have a new years resolution for 2010? To live boldly. To be intentional in my actions, be present in every moment, and stand my ground.

Did you fall in love in 2010? Every day.

Did you make any new friends in 2010? Yes, 2010 was a good year for new friends. I love my running buddies and it is fun to stay in contact with my subbed-in H2C teammates.

What was your favorite month of 2010? July

Why this month? The sun came out and stayed out for awhile, I made a surprise trip to Baker for Dad's 50th birthday, hung out with my abuelos, and Aunt Deb came to visit.

Did you travel outside of the country in 2010? No, I really need to renew my passport. I'm looking at you, Canada. And Dominican Republic. And South Korea. And Japan...

How many different places did you travel to in 2010? Baker, Bend, Prineville, Salem, Hug Point, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Seaside, Tillamook, Carlsbad, San Diego, Denver, Sutherlin and a bunch of places along the I-5 corridor.

Did you miss anybody in the past year? My brother and my besties

What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2010? Secretariat

What was your favorite song from 2010? "If I Die Young" by The Band Perry

How many concerts or plays did you see in 2010? Jason took me to see CATS! and a friend took me to see The Lion King at the Keller. We also saw Clackamas High put on Les Miserables and an elementary production of Wizard of Oz.

Did you have a favorite concert in 2010? No concerts, but I loved Les Mis.

What was your favorite book in 2010? My favorite fiction book was Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay and my favorite nonfiction was Until Death Do Us Part by Ingrid Betancourt. (I read the version printed after Betancourt was released from her captivity.)

Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year? I'm not impressed with my work performance.

What was the biggest lie you told in 2010? "I'm fine and everything's great."

Did you treat somebody badly in 2010? No, I finally told the truth with compassion and firmness.

Did somebody treat you badly in 2010? No, because I set up boundaries.

What was your proudest moment of 2010? Completing the Hood to Coast.

What was your most embarrassing moment of 2010? I must have blocked it.

If you could go back to any moment of 2010 and change something, what would it be? I would have been happier to hear from my best friend at 7 am instead of being grumpy pants.

Where did you work in 2010? LifeWorks NW

Favorite TV shows(s) of 2010? Glee, Without a Trace, Lie to Me, The Mentalist, Criminal Minds, and How I Met Your Mother

Favorite Band(s) of 2010? Lady Antebellum and The Band Perry

Favorite Food in 2010? I was really digging post-run hamburger and fries this year. Horrible, I know.

Favorite Drink in 2010? Vanilla Chai Tea and Vanilla Rooibos Tea Latte

Favorite Place in 2010? Disneyland

Favorite person(s) to be with in 2010? Jason, Aunt Deb, Dad, and Heather

Favorite person(s) to talk to in 2010? Aunt Deb, Bobby, Grandma+pa

Favorite trip in 2010? Drive to Carlsbad for Thanksgiving and surprise trip to Disneyland at the tail end of it.

Favorite stores in 2010? FitRight NW and RunningSkirts

Hardest thing you had to go through in 2010? Recognizing I have depression and the ensuing battle that's resulted from that. Thankfully I'm blessed with a supportive husband and friends who love on me.

Most exciting moment(s) in 2010? Jason entering the Bachelors part of his adult degree program; anytime marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, roasting sticks, and a fire were around; eating at the Marrakesh with the Monday Night Posse; all of Hood to Coast; and standing in line for the teacup ride at Disneyland...

Funniest moment(s) in 2010? It's only funny now, but was very not funny at the time: when my hammock strap broke during our Goat Peak/Rock(?) backpacking trip. I was so tired I said to Jason, "Screw it, I'll just sleep here" (here being the bottom portion of my hammock on the ground while the other portion was tied to the other tree).

Nike & Jason in 10-degree weather at the 2nd Twin Lake. First snowshoeing trip of the season,

 December 31, 2010.

Week 18: A Record and a Tribute

Running is difficult for me. I want it to be fun and I want it to be easy, but right now it is not. I do know, however, it will get easier as long as I stick with it.

When my dad started running last year and was having really difficult days he told me he started thinking about our soldiers overseas and how they're sweating in the sandbox with all their gear and at least when he runs no one's shooting at him. (He, of course, said this all more eloquently than I'm remembering it.) So, when it was hard he ran harder for them and recognized all the sacrifices they are making and suddenly a 6 mile run around down in 85-degree weather didn't seem so bad.

Recently we started talking about marathon possibilities. (It's all about the goals.) In the midst of that conversation, Dad sent me this article about former Marine Sgt. Jeremy Soles, who ran the Marine Corps marathon in November and broke the Guinness Book of World Records for running with a gas mask. While I was floored by his accomplishment - I've tried those things on - I was moved by his reason for doing it.

Sgt. Soles, founder of  Team X-T.R.E.M.E., ran this record setting marathon in honor of  Marine Cpl. John Michael Peck who despite having suffered from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) insisted on returning to the battlefield.

"A lot of times, people ask why we run in a gas mask," Soles said. "Well, we use the gas mask to symbolize what we do. People often ask how difficult it is, and our first thing to tell them is it's not nearly as difficult as overcoming traumatic brain injury, which he did, not nearly as difficult as overcoming post-traumatic stress disorder, learning how to walk again with prosthetic limbs -- and people see the parallel."

Running for a cause. Running for those who can't. Running to honor. What better motivation could there be?

Week 17: An Art Piece

This week I was supposed to post about an art piece and was stumped. While in Disneyland, Jason took a picture of me kissing a little bronze Dumbo, which sparked the memory of my time in Barcelona.

This is me, Winter 2006, in Parque Guell of Gaudí fame. The mosaic lizard is quite famous and beautifully intricate. You can buy replicas throughout Spain, though I never did. (According to Wikipedia the lizard is actually a dragon. Who knew?)

I loved Parque Guell. It was interesting to see Antoni Gaudí's work in a colorful way after visiting La Sagrada Familia. (I was fascinated by the craftsmanship, but it's a bit of an eyesore.) The lizard is still one of my favorite memories and pieces.

Week 16: A Song that Makes You Cry (or nearly)

I'm back! I hope everyone had a beautiful, enjoyable Thanksgiving spent with people you love. We had a wonderful time in SoCal with my husband's family at the beach. My cousins had their baby late Friday night before we left, so I got to hold a newborn before we made the drive back. But those are all things for another post. ;-)

I cry easily. I've mentioned before it's my superpower. The song that's really been turning on the water works lately, however, is this one...

Week 15: A Fanfic

This week I'm supposed to tell you about my favorite fan fiction/fanfic/fic/ff. I think it suffices to say that I had to look up "fanfic" cause I didn't know what it means. Until last week I'd never read a fanfic and I'm not sure what I started reading even qualifies, but here you go... Blogging Twilight.

(I heart Twilight. I also appreciate humor.)

Week 14: A Nonfiction Book

Happy Monday! 

The most recent nonfiction book I read was Cartwheels in a Sari: A Memoir of Growing up Cult by Jayanti Tamm. It was fascinating to get an insider's view of a faith so different from my own, yet the struggles we both have be so similar. Jayanti tells her story with humor and compassion - both for herself and for the guru who turned out to be a sham. 

The nonfiction book that I still think of often, however, I have already reviewed. So, out of sheer laziness, I will refer you to this post. Little Brother and I were just discussing Nick Popaditch the other day. My "face of the Marines" brother still hasn't read it. You should.

Week 13: A Fictional Book

I just finished reading The Girl Who Played With Fire, by Stieg Larsson. Here's the thing about me and books... even if I hate a book I have to finish it. It's a matter of principle. 

(To date, in my 19 years of reading I have failed to complete three books. Three. You should know I am a prolific reader and during the winter average two books a week.) 

That said, I'm not particularly enjoying the Millenium Chronicles. The characters aren't very likeable - though I don't wish any of them ill - and the writing is so very, very slow. Also, I feel there are some key things I'm missing because I don't know a lot about Sweden, namely the geography or the value of a kronor.

I felt much the same at the end of this book as I did at the end of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Fortunately, this time I knew there was a third book and the book I had had the first twelve pages of the next book. Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, you had better be worth it.

Week 12: This One Time I Answered an Ad...

An unfortunate day on which we unknowingly ventured into public in the same outfit.

I love my husband, I really really do. But he has this really great trait that quickly becomes annoying and leads to all kinds of unloving thoughts towards him. He's helpful. Sometimes too helpful. Especially when we're running.

Running has never been a passion of mine. I have only recently reached the "someday I want to be really awesome at running" stage. Right now my main goal is to complete a run without walking. Or dying.

My husband, on the other hand, thinks running is thegreatestthingEVER. So, while I am thinking, "You're not going to die, keep going, you're almost there, crap it's only been five minutes, it's okay, you can do this..." he's all smiles and then starts telling me to push harder, pick up my knees, etc, etc. Can you see how this might be a problem?

After a run a few weeks ago when I was having particularly murderous thoughts towards the love of my life, I determined the best thing for our marriage would be if I had options of other people to run with. This led to a craigslist search for running groups.

The running groups I found were way too advanced for me, but I did come across a Running Buddy ad. Which I promptly answered. Then thought, "Nike, you are socially awkward and don't like strangers. Are you insane?!"

This story has a happy ending, though. My new running buddy is married. (I didn't know if the person placing the ad was male or female, so I had a lot of, "my husband and I" language in my response.) The four of us go on runs three times a week and we are all at about the same level. Everyone has something to bring to the table that makes us all stronger runners. It's really a perfect match.

I think answering a running buddy ad may have been one of my best moves of the year. I enjoy running with my husband again, my endurance has increased and my pace has decreased pretty dramatically in the last few weeks. I'll be a running machine yet - watch for us at the Jingle Bell 5K in December!

Week 6: Speedy Turtles & The Mother of All Relays

It's my blog and I'll do what I want - even if that means doing stuff out of order. ;-)


The prompt for Week 6 "All About Me" was "whatever tickles your fancy." This is my excuse to share our Hood to Coast story. I know ya'll have been dying to know, despite its passing three weeks a couple months ago...


On Thursday, August 26, eleven runners, two drivers, and a volunteer descended on Pastini's Pastaria in Cedar Hills shopping center. Their mission? To get to know each other before they spent 33+ hours in a vehicle together. Oh, and to load up on carbs. Two runners were complete strangers (thank you H2C forum). One only the Team Captain and her husband had met four days before (again, yay H2C forum). They ate, they laughed, and they talked/asked questions. A lot.

It's 3:45am, it's dark outside and we have running suits on... Hit it!

Turtle Shell 1 hit the road at 4:00 am with their Captain's blessing. They were not blessing her when they arrived on the Mountain before anything was set up. Whatever, they got over it.

Turtle Shell 1 drivers and runners. Recognize two faces? Yeah, that's my family. *so proud*

While Turtle Shell 1 was at the Mountain, running down the mountain, and participating in general awesomeness, Turtle Shell 2 was chilling at the meeting house and eating pancakes.

Heck yeah that's a turtle. Runner 10, Leslie, rocks the griddle.

Eventually, Turtle Shell 2 also had to hit the road. After a pit stop in Clackamas to pick up a runner and a quick photo-op....

One of the drivers and six runners. Turtle Shell 2 power.

Due to their later start, the Turtle Shell 2 peeps were pretty antsy. They arrived at the Sandy Fred Meyer with an hour-plus to spare before runner 6 hit the exchange. This gave the drivers plenty of time to collect some swag and van decorating.

The DH (he injured himself the week before the race, so was relegated to driver) and my cousin. Aren't they adorable?

After some minor incidents (hello dead car battery), Turtle Shell 2 hit the road and started their first set. 

Christy, runner 8, hands of to Julie

One of the Team Captain's goals was to find the Iron Mullets. Find them she did... 

They had a garage sale the TC found on craigslist. They were delightful And fast.

The Speedy Turtles ran at sunset, in the dark, and slept in fields... 

Calvin (Daddy) and Nike at Exchange 12

Hand-off between Shelby (left, runner 7) and Christy at Exchange 25

The one moment the TC took a nap. Until she heard, "Stop stop there's a person!" (She wasn't the person, Runner 9 was)

Turtle Shell 1 provided one of the Team Captain's favorite moments. Runner 6, Crystal, came running into Exchange 31 all smiles and yelled, "I'm beating Jason!" TC turned to see J. Hall booking it after Crystal with the clipboard. TC yelled, "Go Jason, go!" just as Bentley (also a Jason) was pulled into the race for the clipboard hand off. 

Crystal running in her last leg

My last leg was a 7.25, mostly on gravel, and was not my favorite. Here's the hand off that set me off to my finish... 

Loved handing off with my best friend of 14 years - was terrified moment before this she would be run over by the Honey Bucket truck. Didn't love that.

All in all, the race was one of the most incredible experiences I've ever had. Everyone pulled together at the end and got the job done and had fun doing it. There were times of crying, times of laughing, and times of awkward silence, but it was a worthwhile event. 

Turtle Shell II walking to the beach to meet up with Runner 12 and Turtle Shell 1 (photobombed by white hat guy)

It was great to meet up with the rest of the team on the beach and "run" to the finish. The run was supposed to be more of a light jog, but Runner 12 took off. Team Captain fail. 

Most of the team could barely walk at this point. Awesome.

2010 Speedy Turtles - mostly novices and they rocked it

2011 application is in the mail. Looking forward to an even more awesome event. It really was "like Woodstock on wheels." Loved every minute of it.

Week 10 & 11: Old and New

Week 10 was supposed to be a picture of me taken over 10 years ago. Here's the thing - I didn't have a digital camera until after my Freshman year of college and I don't currently have a scanner (I know, right?). So, I'm cheating on the "over 10 years ago" and calling "more than 7 years" good enough. ;-)

2003 High School Graduation Party - it was cruise themed. We all got crazy sunburned on one side of our faces.

Week 11 is a picture of you taken recently... Here's me two weeks ago. Less sunburned. Ha.

Week 9: A Photo that You Took

Snail at Camp Reehers

Most of the pictures I post I have taken. The one above I took the first day of our disastrous first camping trip of the season. (That is, before we got rained out and I woke up in a flooded tent.) I'm pretty proud of it.

Week 8: A Photo That Makes You Sad/Angry

Well, if last week was a celebration, happy picture, here's the picture that made it so. Ugh.

Cupcake Nike, September 2008

Week 7: A Photo That Makes You Happy

*Note: I realize Week 6 isn't up. It's turning into a rather in-depth post, so it's going to be late. This one was easy.

Nike & Jason, Baker City, OR - photo copyrighted Carly Carlson Photography

 The photo above is our "sneak peak" from our photo shoot this weekend with my dear friend Carly, of Carly Carlson Photography. (Go give her some blog love and "like" her on Facebook!) The girl is a whiz with the camera and I am so excited to see how the rest of the shots turned out. Thanks Carly!

This photo makes me happy for a couple reasons...

One, that guy next me? I'm pretty much in love with him. Like, crazy in love. I'm very much enjoying forever with him.

Two, this is the first picture taken since our wedding that looks like "us." If you'll allow me to dive into the shallow for a moment, we both gained a lot of weight after marrying. We were both unhappy about it, but introducing change to our lives took awhile. We've worked hard and it's great to have tangible evidence that it's paying off. (To see the picture that started the revolution click here. Ugh.)

Lastly, the colors of this picture are awesome. Carly said, "Go down the stairwell, just trust me," and we did. Even if this is the only frame of the 500 she shot that turned out, it is well worth the investment.

Week 5: Favorite Quote

To narrow down a favorite quote is just too hard. I have been collecting quotes since I was ten or eleven years old. My high school locker was covered in them and I drew comfort, inspiration, and motivation from each one. A collection of the ones I turn to often...

"Be the change you want to see in the world." --Ghandi

"Democrats aren't evil and God isn't Republican." --My political motto

"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people." --Eleanor Roosevelt 

"Life is ten percent circumstance and ninety percent how you react to it" --Charles Swindoll

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”-- Audrey Hepburn 

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." --Marilyn Monroe

Week 4: My Favorite Book

I am a prolific reader and always have been. My tastes tend to run to historical fiction, top sellers, and whatever I happen to cross in the library or bookstore. Below are a few of my favorites based on the following criteria: number of times I've read the book, how often I think about the book years later, and recommendability of the book.

1) Pretense, Lori Wick. I have read this book no less than five times and every time I do I pick up some new gem in it. As I type this I'm thinking, "Hey, I haven't read this book since I married. Wonder what new insights I'll find now."

The Amazon editorial review wrote the following:

Marrell, a happily married army wife, adores her family, but throughout her life she’s felt something missing. When she discovers that the void is spiritual, she is afraid to tell her husband. Will he understand that he cannot meet all of her needs, and that she cannot meet all of his? Covering the lives of Marrell and her two daughters, Mackenzie and Delancey, from the 1970s to the 1990s, Pretense is a character–rich novel written from Lori’s heart that shows the patient love of God and the promise of His forgiveness for all who seek Him.

 2) Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver. I have read this book twice and think of it often. The story is so... haunting, for lack of a better description. When I read it I had several missionary friends and wondered about their experiences in Papau New Guinea; Johannesburg, Africa; etc. In many ways, this book was my first introduction to exploring different cultures and cultural tolerance. Even with my limited knowledge of cultural acceptance, fanatical Nathan's approach to converting the natives was so awful it has stuck with me and has helped monitor my own interactions in regards to faith and God. 

From Amazon: The year is 1959 and the place is the Belgian Congo. Nathan, a Baptist preacher, has come to spread the Word in a remote village reachable only by airplane. To say that he and his family are woefully unprepared would be an understatement: "We came from Bethlehem, Georgia, bearing Betty Crocker cake mixes into the jungle," says Leah, one of Nathan's daughters. But of course it isn't long before they discover that the tremendous humidity has rendered the mixes unusable, their clothes are unsuitable, and they've arrived in the middle of political upheaval as the Congolese seek to wrest independence from Belgium. In addition to poisonous snakes, dangerous animals, and the hostility of the villagers to Nathan's fiery take-no-prisoners brand of Christianity, there are also rebels in the jungle and the threat of war in the air. Could things get any worse? In fact they can and they do.

 3) The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd. If you haven't read this book, please stop reading this and take yourself to your local library. Run, don't walk. How have you not read this?

I don't know what it is about this book that captures me so much. Maybe it's my obsession with the South. Maybe my fascination with bees. Maybe I identify with Lily on some level - constantly trying to make up for a shattered childhood. Whatever the reason, this book is sure to be a classic.

(As a side note, do not read Sue Monk Kidd's The Mermaid Chair. It was awful.)

There you have it. In short, the three books I'd take to a deserted island if I could only have three. If I could take more I would take Harry Potter 1-7, Twilight and Breaking Dawn, and a few of Philippa Gregory's books.

Happy reading!

Week 3: Favorite TV Show

Bones. Hands down. Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan, Agent Booth, and the Squints are welcome in my living room any time. The show is a good mix of science, investigation, humor, action, and a bit of romance.

(Granted, Bones suffered from the writer's strike a couple years ago with the axing of Zach, but I like to pretend that never happened since they've had some good interns since then... I'm still a little bitter, though.)