Life Lessons

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch!
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special..
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift



Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

...It's back

Here I was thinking how lucky I was because my throat infection thing went away... for awhile. It's back. =( It's currently almost 4 in the morning and I'm miserable. Luckily thanks to some Ibuprofen and popsicles I'm dealing but I am not looking forward to the next couple days. Last weekend was horrible because I felt like this. I can't even sleep it hurts so bad! Classes start tomorrow and I cannot even express how bummed I am that I'm sick again. =(

You're alive and you matter and this pink holiday doesn't get to name you.

This is for my United States loves who are living in February 14th.

The first most.... horrible, fun, painful, exciting, exhausting, wonderful, tear jerking... days.

Okay, so let's start with the flights. We (as in Katie, who goes to OSU as well) flew on a plane from Portland to San Fransisco, where our connection was. It was the tiniest, scariest plane and it was such a crazy bumpy ride. Luckily, it was only an hour and fifteen minutes. So we get to the San Fran airport and we had some stuff to figure out... but don't worry, we had 8 HOURS until our flight left... so we got everything figured out. We spent our time eating and I watched the episodes of The Bachelor, The Biggest Loser, and Lost that I deprived myself of that week. It went by quicker than I imagined it would, though the anticipation was killing me. Our flight finally started boarding at 10:05 p.m. and we stepped onto the biggest plane I've ever seen (except in movies) or been on. We got situated, took off, and fell asleep an hour or so into the flight... consequently missing dinner. So we were starving for quite sometime until they brought some snack packs by. I slept in about 30-45 minute increments probably about 6 or 7 times. So if you can do the math... it wasn't very much sleep, and broken sleep is even worse. I thought I knew how long 15 hours felt like... turns out I had no idea how long that actually was. I remember waking up and feeling like we should be well past half way, only to find out that we had barely made it 1/3 of the way. It took a lot of patience and some distractions to make it through but let me tell you... nothing is better than waking up, opening the window, and seeing this...

I know right?! Gorgeous. I couldn't fall back asleep after I saw that. We flew over Sydney about two and a half hours after this and it was crazy. This place that they call Australia, is in fact real. It's not some pretend place that we just talk about... I saw it. Opera House and everything. Here, I'll show you what I saw from the plane...


You have no idea how exciting this was to see. It's like I've been waiting for this to happen for so long. And it's right there, I can see it, and I'm SO close.

So we got off the plane, went through customs/immigration/etc and found our group. Then we went outside. BIG MISTAKE. I think people on the east coast think they know what humidity is but I've got news for them. When its 100 degrees and the highest possible humidity and you're in a place that has virtually no ozone... you feel like you could just pass out on the side walk and die. I considered doing this but tried to push through. I did get a nice wake-me-up kick in the butt (almost literally) from our bus driver who let go of my 70 lb bag that slammed into my leg scraping and bruising me pretty badly. But... no worries, mate. Can I just say I probably hear "No worries." or "No worries, mate." approximately 30 times a day. It's apparently the cool thing to say and also a substitute for you're welcome.

We get to our apartment complex and I am given the keys to my place. I walk in and basically just burst into tears. It is absolutely trashed. And although I know I am quite the exaggerator, I kid you not, this is the most disgusting and smelly place I'd ever seen. I'm talking rotting food everywhere, flies, maggots, trash, used... personal items, piled dishes, and everything else awful you can think of. Turns out... they never cleaned it out after the summer residents. I was pretty mad but didn't want it to ruin my first day. As of today, I have a clean apartment so much has improved in that category. I'll post photos of my room in my next blog entry.

We decided to walk to the mall which we thought was a ten minute walk. Well, it's not. It's more like 30 minutes. I know that's not long but again, 100 degree weather and that humidity makes it feel like hours. So we do some shopping, oh by the way everything here is so ridiculously priced. The US$ and the AUD$ are close to being equal so it does not make up for it. For example, one towel, $40. My $5 face wash from home... $17. Movie tickets...$18. Let's just say I am NOT regretting stuffing my two giant suitcases so full that they barely qualified to make it on the plane. Anyways... at this point my strep throat thing (which I didn't mention before but I was pretty sure and still kind of am sure that I have strep considering I get it often, know what it's like, and have some nice pustules in the back of my throat) is killing me. I can't even swallow my own saliva. I am so incredibly dehydrated and exhausted that I get the worse migraine I've ever had in my life. I tried to tough it out... but I honestly couldn't see straight anymore. My vision was blurry and I couldn't walk straight. I lost it. I could not stop crying. I ripped open the toilet paper I bought and bawled my eyes out. A guy came up to me and allegedly asked "Are you okay?" but all I could hear over and over was "Are you cut?" Katie ran all around asking everyone she saw to try to figure out what we could do. We ended up taking a taxi home, I took some migraine medicine, and napped. It took the migraine away but not the throat stuff. I managed to make it through the rest of the evening... and I also managed to blow up my hair dryer. It literally caught on fire when I plugged it in. I learned the hard way that most US hair dryers can't handle 240 volts. At least it wasn't my lap top! Which I did bravely plug in today (two days after the hair dryer incident) and it worked! I went to bed at 9:00, because in Oregon time it was really 2 in the morning.

So day two... I barely slept the night before because I kept waking up in pain. Katie and I went to get some groceries and some other stuff and I loaded up on popsicles and yogurt. I'm super thankful I did that because that's all I ate for the next 24 hours. But, unfortunately for me... I wasn't eating enough and apparently taking too much ibuprofen for how little I was eating, so I spent my sleepless night vomiting every hour or so. And let me just tell you how good stomach acid feels on a sore throat!

So I took a shower and decided to be up for the day, which just happens to be today, and it is also Valentines Day. Which took me awhile to realize and I think I might have cared for about 3 seconds and quickly got over it. So today... today was good. I miraculously started feeling a little better. Still got the pus going on, still taking the IB, but I am eating solids, and enjoying myself. I got an awesome Aussie roommate today names Heidi and I really like her a lot. I'm getting to know some people here and I'm really looking forward to everything that is to come. I'm learning to adjust and realizing (Which they would spell "realising") that not everyday is going to be wonderful. You've got to take the bad with the good. But I'm thinking there's going to be a lot more good going on down here than bad.

P.S.

THINGS I'VE LEARNED:

• elevators=lifts

• jello=jelly

• jelly=jam

• they don't do peanut butter and jelly here... they think it's a gross combo?!

• granola bars= musely bars

• diapers=nappies

• shopping carts=trolleys

• lines=ques as in "are you in que?"

• Vegemite=sick nasty

• Vegemite cheesy bite=even worse

• for here or to go=eat in or take away (sounds like "aiden or tegway?")

• kilojoules are about 4.19 the amount of calories... so take a calculator with you to the grocery store

• check voltages before plugging things in

• be careful when crossing the street... cars come from a direction you're not used to

• don't try to get on the bus on the right side... there's no door

• don't carry big backpacks on your back in small stores... or domino effects of shelf products are a common occurrence
  

• if you look like an fool, just start talking and they'll understand... because you're American... and you don't get it

All my love from Sydney! Have a good Valentine's Day tomorrow!

2 weeks.

I can't even believe I leave in two weeks. My flight leaves Portland at 1 o'clock on February 10th. That is ridiculously soon! My mind has been very distracted the last few days due to my mom being extremely ill with meningitis and in the hospital. I'm pretty behind on packing and getting the things I need, but life happens and family is a priority. I'm so thankful for all the people who have been praying for my mom. I am a strong believer that prayer can be very powerful and I am so blessed with people in my life who are so willing to pray for my family. I think it made a big difference.

Despite the craziness that has been going on this week I have so much to be thankful for, especially financially. I was so concerned about money the beginning of December. No matter how I calculated it I kept coming up really short for the trip. I was so worried I wouldn't have enough money so I started working 60 hour weeks to try to make up the difference. But alas, God started pulling some strings and providing for me. The school in Australia (who refused to allow me to pay tuition in two payments) randomly sent me an email allowing me to do so, my scholarship pushed some money forward so I wouldn't arrive in Australia empty handed, and a couple amazingly generous people have surprised me with contributions to my trip. This just makes me realize how much I need to trust God and stop relying solely on myself. God won't necessarily provide for you directly, but he sure will indirectly, through other people.

Well, I'll be moving out of my apartment this weekend and then I have three more days left at work. I really like working at Fran's but it will be nice to move on. It's very bittersweet. I think I will miss the regular customers the most. I've worked there for two years and I've grown to love quite a few customers there. It'll be hard not seeing Craig and Janet on Monday nights, Cheryl most every night, talking to Bill while I make his ridiculously hot latte, seeing the cute couples that come in regularly, and all the other familiar, friendly faces that made working long shifts so much easier. I will also miss my girls so much. My co-worker, and good friend Eva is throwing me a going away party this Sunday which will be really fun. It'll be nice to have one last day with all the girls. I feel like time is running out so quickly and I have so many people I want to spend time with before I leave! I really hope I get to see everyone I want to see!

I love. I hate.

Just in case you were wondering...

I love:

-reading other people's blogs
-acoustic versions of songs that I already love
-Willamette Valley Riesling/Oregon Blossom
-being surprised
-getting mail
-Jim Halpert
-cute product packaging
-being crafty and doing small art projects
-sewing
-talking for hours on the phone with someone without awkward silences
-getting my hair cut
-white chocolate mochas
-inspirational/love quotes
-speaking Spanish
-fresh pineapple
-everything about weddings
-decorating on a low budget
-sleeping in
-massages
-peacock feathers
-basset hounds
-simplicity
-down comforters
-Tilamook cheese
-my future husband who has yet to walk into my life
-freshly laundered bedding
-showering
-when my house smells good
-chick flicks
-newborn babies
-rain in the summer
-Jordan almonds
-fireplaces
-cuddling
-cooking delicious and of course unhealthy food
-big purses that carry everything I need
-buying gifts for other people
-my mac
-really long, strong hugs
-water bottles
-making lists
-games (board, card, strategy, etc.)
-candles
-buying t-shirt to support good causes
-watching movies while laying in bed
-my mole on my cheek
-throw blankets
-reading self-help books
-getting a big paycheck and knowing the I earned all of it myself
-cheesecake
-flip flops
-that I'm going to living in Australia in a month

I hate:

-unloading the dishwasher
-wet socks
-pancakes
-being so accident/illness prone
-having sticky skin
-self-centered people
-olives
-weak handshakes
-being interrupted (though I know I interrupt a lot)
-watching what I eat
-being cold
-slow walkers/drivers
-canned pineapple
-when people chew with their mouth open
-being in class longer than an hour
-when artists try to cover an already perfect song
-what Christmas trees do to my nose
-guys who control their girlfriends
-licorice
-exercising
-chihuahuas
-canker sores
-going out of the house without a shower
-painting my own nails
-being wrong
-anything with wings (including butterflies!)
-rude people
-washing my face before I go to bed
-when I lose my train of thought
-when people don't tell the whole truth and think that it's not lying
-that I can't seem to quit biting my poor nails

No turning back

It's official: I purchased my plane ticket to Australia. It was $1500 and non refundable... so there's NO turning back. But, I don't think I could be any more excited than I am right now. I don't think this trip could come at a better time. I am in desperate need from a break from life here and a chance to move on from a lot of my past. 2009 was a year filled with disappointment and serious heartbreak so I'm glad I get to (basically) start 2010 in a new place. New people, new school, new surroundings, new beginnings. I'm so ridiculously excited. I realized the other day that I'm surprisingly not nervous. Which is strange for me because I'm usually a nervous wreck. My boss asked me if I was nervous and it took me a second to respond and after thinking about it I said "Actually no, I'm not." I think that I'm just too excited to be nervous. I'll probably be nervous on the 15 hour flight from San Fransisco to Sydney! But other than that, I couldn't be more thrilled!

I leave February 10th... a month from this Sunday. I can't believe how much I have to do by then! I have so much to get organized, appointments to make, an apartment to pack up, and things to buy. Not to mention, I'm working a ton... which is wonderful but doesn't leave a ton of time for me to accomplish everything I need to. I'm not too worried though, I know I'll get everything done.

P.S. I'm going to be going from this freezing. rainy Oregon weather to ridiculously sunny, 90 degree weather!

Confidence

Yesterday was a bad day that turned into a good night. I needed a dress for the New Years Eve party I was attending and much to my dismay... none of my dresses fit anymore. I guess you don't really realize weight gain that's very gradual but I could definitely tell yesterday. I made a trip to Ross to find an inexpensive dress and was nothing but disappointed. Nothing seemed to fit right and the dresses that did fit, didn't flatter me at all. I just felt like an overweight glob of grease. I popped into Maurices to see if I could find anything and I did find a dress that unfortunately was $44. I somehow justified buying it and made my way home. My mom called me and asked how I was and I just started crying. I told her how terrible I felt about my body and how mad I was at myself for letting myself gain weight. She reminded me that it's been a hard year for me and although it is quite the uphill battle, I can lose the weight. I felt a little better but still did not feel very great until I went to the party. I forgot about what had happened earlier and just had a good time. I was having a side conversation with a friend and I had mentioned my weight gain and how unhappy I was with my body. She proceeded to tell me that she didn't (nor did anyone else) even notice I gained weight because I was so confident with who I was. Although I don't feel very confident on the inside I know that I act like it on the outside. I guess it just got me thinking that confidence really is everything. Whether you act like you're just as good or not as good as every other person in that room, people truely believe it.

I found this quote and realized how true it is for me and so many people I know...

"Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are." -Malcolm S. Forbes

So... NEW YEARS RESOLUTION: To stop overvaluing what I'm not and stop undervaluing what I am.

It's December already?!

I cannot believe we're already a week into December. I don't know if it's just me but I swear November and December slip away much faster than the other months. It's like Halloween happens, then you wake up a few days later and you're eating Turkey on Thanksgiving, and then all of a sudden you're rushing around doing Christmasy things. What a crazy, chaotic, wonderful time of year.

These last two weeks have been ridiculously chaotic. Dead week and finals week have not been treating me very well but come this Friday it will all be over. And I am happy to say that I will not be attending school in the States until next fall.

I leave to study abroad at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia on February 10th. Words cannot express the excitement that I feel. I know it's only two short months away but I am getting so eager! I want it to be so much sooner than it is! But all good things are worth waiting for. I come home sometime around June 27th. So it will be quite the long adventure! I am excited to do a sort of travel blog while I'm gone.

Aside from listening to Christmas music 97% of the time, I have become mildly obsessed with Phil Wickham. I never really listened to him much until last February when my roommate and I went to go see JJ Heller in concert. Phil was the second act and I have never been so in awe of a musician before. First of all, his voice is unreal. I've never heard anyone with the kind of range that he has. His music is unbelievable. A new album came out a few weeks ago and I am loving it just as much as his other stuff. There are some of his songs that I can just put on repeat and not get sick of. The song that plays on my blog is called "You're Beautiful" and it honestly brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear it. It is such a beautiful song with such an beautiful meaning. Everything about God is so beautiful and this song expresses that. Ahh... I am just in love... with him and his music. Oh, and I am going to his concert in Portland on New Years Eve! I can't wait!

And if you forgot how ridiculously awesome and beautiful God is...

It'll always be the Tim and Kelly show...

My best friend, Tim, moved to California this morning. After a night filled with pretty intense emotion and tears, I had to say goodbye to the best friend I've ever had. It's been about 23 hours since I last saw him and my heart is already starting to hurt. We did however have one incredibly awesome Tim/Kelly day. We went out to the dream, painted some pottery for each other, went to a movie, went to local boyz for dinner, went to Chip Ross Park to watch the sun set and stargaze, and of course watched FRIENDS. We had a blast and I'm so thankful we got to do all of that in one day before he left. I cannot even express how much this boy means to me. I've never had a friend love me so unconditionally and so selflessly. He's incredible and will never be replaced. I even remember him joking around with me when Greg and I started getting closer, saying that Greg was replacing him. I reminded him that he is entirely irreplaceable and it will ALWAYS be the Tim and Kelly show. =)

What Teachers Make

My friend, Emily, showed this to me a few years ago when I told her that I wanted to become a teacher but was being discouraged by some people. This teacher, Taylor Mali, is phenomenal. He speaks with conviction and really tells it like it is. There's something I find so cool about someone who isn't afraid to speak the truth and do so confidently. It's so encouraging to all teachers and anyone on their way to becoming a teacher.

I want to live a simple life

This is one of my favorite songs by The Weepies and it's been stuck in my head the last few days. Good music, cute people, nothing not to like.

Can I get up in the moming
Put the kettle on
Make us some coffee, say "hey" to the sun...
Is it enough to write a song and sing it to the birds?
They'd hear just the tune
Not understand my love for words
But you would hear me and know

I want only this, I want to live
I want to live a simple life.

I dreamed you first
But not so real
And everyday since I've found you
Such moments we steal
Like little thieves, we rub our hands
We hold our hearts between them.
But will you hear me and know?

I want only this, I want to live
I want to live a simple life.

Move on, move on
Time is accelerating.
Drive on all night
Traffic lights and one-ways.
Move on, move on
Parking violations waiting
Turn off the car, breathe the air
Let's stay here.

I'll kiss you awake, and we'll have time
To know our neighbors all by name
And every star at night.
We'll weave our days together like waves
And particles of light.

I want only this, I want to live
I want to live a simple life.

What would summer be without summer school?

...probably a lot more fun. I started summer school this last Monday, which unfortunately has not been my most exciting endeavor of the summer. The good news though is that it's only 4 weeks long and will get me ahead in school. I have one 2 hour class, a 1 hour break, and then a 3 hour class. The reading for one of my classes is absolutely ridiculous. I can't even believe how much I have to read and remember. I guess that's all part of cramming all the work into 4 weeks instead of 10. I just have to remember that it's only 13 more class days and I'm done. When I think about it that way, it doesn't seem so bad. I will survive. =)

Looking Up

The last few days have been kind of rough. I've been battling a bad viral throat infection and it has not been the most pleasant experience. Three doctors visits, four prescriptions, and lots of naps later, I'm starting to feel like myself again. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to go to all my classes, work, and be semi-productive =). My mind has been wandering so much these last couple days. Maybe just because I've had so much time to think about things. I'm not sure if its helpful or harmful to think too much, but I can't help it sometimes. I've gone through quite the series of emotions ranging from sadness, frustration, confidence, joy, and reassurance. I've also been listening to a lot of music and have once again realized its therapeutic qualities. This is kind of cheesy, and middle school-esque but I was listening to the song "Problem Girl" by Rob Thomas and for some reason it made me feel a lot better about myself. =) I also had a surprisingly encouraging conversation (via text... lame I know) with a friend who probably knows me better than anyone in the world. It was simple but he just made me feel like all the things I don't like about myself are all in my head and I'm not as much of a "problem" as I think I am. Oh, and just to be a little more lame... here are the lyrics to the song. =)

Don't let them get where they're going to
You know they're only what they think of you
You heard of this emotional trickery
And you felt like you were learning the ropes
But where you're going now you don't know

And when the kids on the street say
"What's your problem girl?"
And the weight of their smile's just
Too much for you to bear
When they all make you feel
Like you're a problem girl
Remember
You're no problem at all

Pride like promises can let you down
You thought that you'd be feeling better by now
You worry all the things they could do to you
You worry about the things they could say
Maybe you're seeing things the wrong way

Try
If you stand or you fall
You're no problem at all