27 fun things about me.

Since everyone and there brother is doing these random list on fb, I thought I would share mine here too.

1. I like cheese, in fact I have some form of cheese everyday.

2. I have gotten my nose pierced three times, in the same spot and have only taken it out because places I work wouldn’t let me. I love having my nose pierced and could be one of those fun moms with her nose still pierced.

3.I sleep with a body pillow on each side of me, so I feel tucked in and safe. I also sleep in the middle of my queen size bed.

4.I used to hate the smell/taste of coffee, now I drink it everyday and have become a coffee snob since living with a roomie who always got me free Starbucks coffee. Now that’s the only kind I like to drink.

5.When I was in college I felt called to move to the ghetto and work with inner city kiddos and be a part of their community and it was the best experience and learning time of my life. Even though my parents did not like the idea of me living next to an abandoned house, I loved it and it was a good turning point for me!

7.I love any excuse to get dressed up in costumes and be silly.

8.I sometimes think there should be cameras following me around in my job, because it is so interesting and its like CSI.

9.I secretly love MTV reality shows, minus the stupid ones.

10.I am the only one in my immediate family who is not married with kids and not living within a 20 minute radius from my parents house, I am living on the edge :o)

11.I love living in CO where I can see mountains from wherever I am. Love to hike and mtn bike in them. Just wish my family lived out here. When I go home to MI I feel suffocated because I can’t see the mtns and the land is flat.

12.I love polka dots. I have shoes, scarves, sweaters, shirts, and skirts with them. In fact if I see something in a store with polka dots I am always tempted to buy it.

13.I have an obsession with ducks. I own A LOT. Most of them people have bought for me. It all started in college when I had a yellow raincoat and tend to waddle when I walk and people said I looked like a duck :o)

14.I love plants, and talk to mine that I own. I encourage them that they are pretty and should keep growing.

15.I love people. Being around them, watching, listening, and helping people. Probably why I get so fired up about social justice.

16.I think I have the soul of an African American and was born in a white girl body, I think that’s why God gave me such curly hair. One time I had a girl I worked with ask me, “Is your daddy black?” I sighed and said no I wish.

17.I have been journaling since I was in elementary school and have filled more then 20 journals.

18.I love being outside, doing anything.

19.I love going to art museums, ballets, and symphonies.

20.My dream job would be to live in Africa and hold babies that have AIDS all day long.

21.I feel honored to have a job that I am so passionate about. Social work is a part of my being, in which I get to help people and be their advocate.

22.I love surprises.

23.I can’t wait to be a wife and a mom.

24.I have never done any kind of drug, there was a time when I tried to be cool and smoke cigarettes and would just pretend to breathe in but not inhale. I once told a friend after we had been “smoking” for awhile that I didn’t inhale and thought I was confessing and she said, “I know, Katie.”

25. When I travel I secretly hope a stranger will come up to me and tell me I am pretty or something cliche like that.

26. I sometimes blurt things out when I shouldn't and then think did I just really say that out loud. Should've kept that one to me and my brain.

27. I love to dance and have become mildly obsessed with zumba classes cause I get to shake my groove thing and feel sexy at least three times a week;)

Sleepless in Seattle

So I was watching sleepless in Seattle yesterday, yeah I know I am a big girl :o)

But regardless of me being a big sissy, there were a few parts that just grabbed my heart.

The following excerpt is when Tom hanks is talking about his wife that passed and how he get through
each day, he says:

Get out of bed every morning
and breathe in and out all day.

And after a while I won't have to
remind myself to do it.

And then after a while I won't
remember how perfect things were.
                 
The radio doctor then asks how he knew his wife was the one;

It was a million little things.

When you added them up, it meant
we were meant for each other.
           
I knew it
the very first time I touched her.
                
It was like coming home,
only to no home I'd ever known.
                
I was just taking her hand
to help her out of a car.

And I knew it.
             
It was ... Like magic.
Magic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You may be surprised to find out that this did not make me cry, I don't know how I made
considering I am usually a blubbering mess with moments like this.

But I wanted to put this excerpt in because this is how
human, real relationships affect us.

When you lose them it is like you lose a part of yourself.
When you have them, it like joy.

I pray someday I will love/feel this way about someone.

happy sunday, I am off to go snow shoeing :o)

2009

So it is 2009.

Everyone has the same goals, work out more and eat less.

I have been trying to do this for awhile, and it is hard.

I mean I am a big fan of the show Biggest Loser.

It really motivates you that normal people can do lost weight. Granted I don't/can't work out for 8 hours a day and would love to have Jillian Michaels getting my butt into shape.

But with all of this said, I am ready for change.

I am ready for the things I dealt with in 2008 to be done. They are in the past for the most part and that is a blessing from the Lord. I know you always have issues and deal with things.

But I am ready for whatever 2009 brings, I hope for good things.

What are you looking forward too in 2009?

ho ho ho 2008

Here are some pics from my Christmas Vacay in MI

Ick....

I have the privledge of talking to kids, for my job.

kids who have been hurt either, physically or sexually.

I help out with criminal investigations.

Today I talked to a kid that we had to stop talking because he couldn't stop crying. . .

On days like this I wish that the ______. you fill in the blank

( i wish there were a word strong enough to convey their evilness)

I wish "they" could see how much they hurt and torment these precious angels.

They are just innocent kids.

They didn't ask for you to hurt or touch them.

I wish I could shove it in their faces, their utter selfishness.

I wish I could stop this type of pain, that somehow by putting my hands over their wounds that it would stop the pain.

But I know I can't, I know that this type of pain lasts for the rest of their life.

It affects every area of your life.

I just wish that God could use me, to heal His little darlins.

Tonight I pray for one person to stop before they abuse someone, for whatever reason.

That they stop......

Good Idea

My friend Tim, came up with this great idea,

Check in out.

I am going to take part.

Won't you?

Sadness....

I have had quite a few conversations lately with people who are in the midst of a lot of just really hard things/circumstances going on in their life. These conversations take place at work, home, out and about with friends and also with plain strangers.

They all mostly revolve around relationships. Relationships with loved ones, the kind of relationships that have the ability to bring you great joy or utter torment and they can turn your soul inside out. The relationships that can bring moments of elate and the moments where you just can't stand it anymore and want to throw in the towel.

These relationships can be with friends, lovers, siblings, parents, children, or anyone that you consider to be close to you.

So when do you throw in the towel? So when do you say enough is enough?

These kind of conversations where I have felt people's pain and listened to their heart ache is over the relationships with lovers. I have seen loss of hope or almost on the horizon of giving up. The main component that I see missing is one simple, yet very complex thing.....

God.

A relationship that is intimate with Him.

I am not judging or criticizing anyone, but it is true.

I am reading the shack right now, and there was a passge in the section I read last night in which the character depicting God was saying, "when you are in good communication with me, you are not just the best form of yourself and who I created you to be, but rather you are receiving all the blessings I want to give to you."

It is true for my life too. I am the best person and the most happy and healthy when I am spending more time at His feet. Being still and quiet and humble.

So today, if you are facing a hardship or just a hard relationship. Get to a quiet place and ask God for whatever it is you need. Be still and listen. ( I know this is hard, it is certainly hard for me to ever be quiet, let alone listen :o)) But it is so worth it.