The Christmas Directions are Up!!!

...not at home, but in my office building! It was so pretty this morning to see ribbon and wreaths and the giant tree in the lobby! I love it! Happy Holidays everyone!!! 

Sisters

Lately I've been thinking a lot about my sisters. I have many and as they get older I'm finding myself wishing they wouldn't. Maegan has been married, pregnant, a mommy, and is now somewhere in the process of getting divorced. Kenzie is in high school and is experiencing boys, cheerleading, a vivid social life and has an attitude like none I've witnessed (and it makes me proud :)). Kacie is wise and is more mature than her age would lead one to believe. She's her own lady and I have so much love for her individuality. Charmayne is eight this year and unknowingly reminds me of my age each time I see her--with every birthday she experiences, it's another that I've been out of high school. 

My recent thoughts about these young women typically revolve around the realization that I am not a significant piece of their lives--at least not in the way that I want to be. Of course they look up to me as an example and as the fun older sister who lives in the Big City (aka Portland, OR--compared to Helix, it is big, ok?). However I want to be an influence on a deeper level. I want them to tell me their secrets, their struggles, their fears, and their "first times." I wish I could see them more often and take them places and show the some of the cool stuff that the world has to offer. I want to know what's going on in their lives, and not from reading their status feeds on facebook!

When I was in high school and before I left for college I had goals of what I wanted to be as a big sister to my siblings. Life got in the way and they grew up while I was furthering my education. I don't regret my college experience but I do wonder if I've missed out on to much? I do my best with the time that I have but there is simply no way to be on top of all of it. I guess I wish and hope that they think about me the way that I think and feel about them--that I miss them always, love them more than anything, and want nothing but success and positive experiences for them. 

I realize that my life is here and I want it no other way... If only I could be in two places at once. 

October Bliss

I can't believe the month is gone already! We've been busy with school, soccer, work, and the beginning of the holiday season. I have been in class on the weekends, which takes all the fun out of Fridays! Pat and Aliya went to the pumpkin patch a couple weekends ago, and we all carved the chosen ones last week after I got out of class! It was pretty fun and aside from her almost losing several of her digits, we were injury free :)

For Halloween Aliya was a Spider Witch this year--who knows what that is--but that's what she came up with in her mind, and that's what Grandma made for her. We were fortunate enough to attend her Halloween open house at Pixie (her childcare center)! She was so stinkin cute! Definitely the center of attention! The kids got to trick-or-treat throughout the center, there were games, and lots of activities to keep them all busy!

Pat and I went to our first Blazer game together Halloween night. I can't believe he's never been before! I mean, I LOVE the Blazers, so it's only destiny that he do too! I know he loved it and is fan already! ;) After that we dressed up and went to a few clubs in downtown PDX--it was a good time, and we definitely came home and CRASHED!

I am pretty much half way through my second-to-last full term of classes; I'll be done with December and then I'll have one more semester before I start my practicum. Fall 2009 I'll be in my internship and it's all undiscovered territory after that!

I am excited for the holiday break and a few weeks to relaxe before jumping right back into it!

Loves, heath

In the beginning...

After reading a couple of friends' blogs I have decided to share my life and the happenings in it via cyberspace. I have concluded that MySpace has become a place for the younger crowd, of which I am apparently growing out of (so my sister tells me), and I haven't been able to figure out Facebook, so this is it. I lack understanding in the desire to share the details of my life; if anything it's a good way to stay in touch ;)