live, love, laugh...

Another year down, more adventures to come

2010-01-02T20:15:00.000-08:00

My oh my this year has been quite a whirlwind! I have been blessed to have so many amazing opportunities! I lived with four amazing women and developed deeper friendships, student taught, finished school after 5 years, kind of picked up and moved out to Seattle, explored, got lost, and all sorts of other adventures and learning experiences. I can't even begin to explain all the things that occured this year. Every year I try to make at least a few new year's resolutions, but often become too busy to really follow through. This year is going to be different, I am not sitting back and seeing if things are going to happen, but rather be pro-active and make sure they do. I don't think I have set any goals that I can not achieve, and am looking forward to challenges and rewards of the new year (more so the rewards and experiences as this last year has been chalk full of challenges!) I know my list is long, but I am keeping a positive attitude and am sure I can acheive them! Without further ado here is the long list of most definately attainable goals for the amazing new year to come!

*Stay connected with family, build stronger relationships with those I love, talk to them more often , it's crazy when I realize three weeks have gone by and I haven't spoken to my parents or my sister.
*Get back into better shape!--already on this one! Got a super sweet deal at a local gym where I get personal training sessions and all sorts of fun jazz for cheaper than the chain gyms! Have been meaning to do this in the past but was always 'too busy', not this year!
*Dig into the Word everyday, and live to follow Jesus more passionately. I feel that ever since I moved out to WA I've become disconnected from Him for some reason, and I don't like it. I need to get plugged into a church around here, just having a hard time finding a good fit.
*Become involved with an afterschool program or work with homeless youth in some setting, if it's possible with subbing and everything (time wise).
*Learn how to dance!! I know how to West Coast swing, but everyone out here knows east coast. I want to take a class at the Century ballroom and attend more of their dances. I would also love to take a salsa class.
*Hike/camp more. I didn't really go at all this year because I wasn't sure where to go, but I want to go explore all the gloriousness of the area!
*Find a way to be intellectually challenged. Ever since school ended I feel like my mind went to mush! My vocab has degenerated, and honestly just don't feel smart because I am not being challenged and not learning new things!
*Work on not being so anxious/nervous/worried. I get anxious about a lot of silly things and it causes un-needed stress. I seriously wondered if I had an ulcer for a while caused by stress, in part coming from this kind of thing. *Learn how to not be so constrained by money, don’t know how this one is going to pan out, but a lot of my stress and worry this past year came from this and it wasn’t fun
*Learn to say no once in a while. I think I may be a pushover, which is not a good thing to admit. Don't get me wrong I do love helping people, but I hate disappointing people, I'm a total people pleaser. I hardly ever say no and always try to do everything everyone asks of me. This being said I put other people's needs/feelings, etc. first and then I suffer from not taking care of myself or not doing what's in my best interest.
*Last, but most definately not least, (as there are far more things I would like to work on this year) get my Washington state teaching license and have my own classroom next fall!!!! yay!

Seattle's gift to the world!

2009-12-27T17:46:00.001-08:00

Explored the Seattle Center with a friend the other day and found the most amazing thing EVER!!! There's this fountain called the International fountain. It has a choreographed water show that goes with songs. So awesome to watch!!! Our project now is to figure out how we can put together water shows....chanllenge on!

Hmm what else is new...Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope that everyone's holiday was fantastic and a season filled with joy and blessings. We had a small gathering on Christmas Eve with my aunts, grandma, and cousins. It was great to visit with family. It does seem really weird that there isn't any snow out here! I'm used to MT weather where there it snows at least once around Halloween and then again in Nov/Dec.

I'm going to start working 3 jobs, sort of. Thankfully I was hired on at Sylvan Learning Center here in Kent to be a teacher/tutor. I am so excited for this opportunity! I am going to be starting out working with Kindergarten and 1st grade beginning readers. Eventually I will tutor in whatever area they end up needing me to work in. I don't remember if I posted this earlier, but I am also working at Tully's coffee in downtown Seattle. I love it here! My boss and co-workers are amazing and it is a fun environment. The only downside is that it is insanely busy in the mornings when I work. As soon as I get everything down though it should be fine.

I don't think there is much else going on at the moment, but I hope everyone's holidays are going well, and hope the new year brings you all many blessings!

2009-12-05T11:22:00.000-08:00

So after waiting and having been disappointed for many months, I have been presented with a few job options...all at once! I don't know if God was trying to teach me patience and to be trusting in Him or what. But am so so thankful for these opportunities. Now the issue is deciding which one(s) to say yes to!

Option #1 Tully's
I was just hired on at Tullys, for a m-f position. I really want to work in the coffeeshop environment. I love the feel of coffeeshops, and I think it might be a good way to meet people around here. The only thing is that it is part time, 15-20hrs a week, although I do have the option of gaining more hours at other locations as well.

Option #2 Ace It Tutoring program
I find out on Monday if I am offered this job or not. This would be a great opportunity and resume builder. It's part time as well, after-school, but the pay is really great. Also I would be tutoring at various Seattle locations so I could kind of feel out the different schools in the Seattle area. It would be great if I could work mornings till about 1 or 2 at Tullys and then go to the tutoring in the afternoon.

Option #3 Kinder-Care
I also have an interview here on Monday. Not sure if it is full- or part-time yet. It is located east, in Issaquah, which is a bit farther than I was hoping, but if it is full time that would be great. Also I think it is a tutoring/teaching position that I could gain a lot of useful experience from.

Option #4 Rainier Christian Schools
Have an interview with the Middle school on Wednesday to be on their substitute list. I would really love to work with this school district. My cousins have gone here and I've heard and read great things about the schools. I also think it would be a fantastic opportunity to work at a private school. This would also be a opportunty to broaden my horizens so to speak as I haven't worked in a middle school before, per say.

Option #5 Go back to Billings for a bit
I thought about going back to b-town for a month or so. I know that I can work a lot at Lockwood school as a substitute. It would be nice to go back home for a bit, since I haven't been for 1 1/2-2 years. With this option I would be able to save up a lot faster. I was talking to my dad last night and told him that I was offered the Tully's job. He was excited for me, but also sounded sad, I think he was hoping I could come home for a while.

I am going in to talk to the manager at Tully's monday morning. I'm really really hoping that I can work a few days a week there so I can still have a couple days availabilty to substitute.

Seriously, stressed for so long trying to find a job, and now it's the stress of choosing the right one!

Quite the hunt

2009-11-14T14:34:00.000-08:00

Well I finally got a job...sort of. I was hired on at Pier 1 last week for a seasonal position. The hours aren't great but there is also a small chance that I could remain on staff after the holidays. I am so thankful that something worked, but super bummed about not being able to go home for Thanksgiving OR Christmas, and my parents aren't able to make it out here either. I guess that's how it goes though. Thanksgiving I was fine with but Christmas is a bummer.

It's a great store, the ladies I work with are all really sweet and personable. The customers that come in are fun too, well at least the ones I met the past two days I worked. I have mixed feelings working in retail though. I am glad it's a job and like I said my co-workers are great, but I am kind of disgusted with the whole materialism/selling society. We are so blessed to have so much and sometimes I think it is a bit TOO much. We are such a 'throw away' society and always have to have more. I do love the items we sell, but hmm I don't know what I'm quite saying....

It's been a difficult journey in regards to the job search. When I first got here I wasn't sure where to even start looking for jobs; more in the city where I want to eventually move, or closer to where I live now. In MT you have one city to look for jobs in which is so much easier! After applying at various locations for about a two months I finally got some interviews and such. Either I wasn't a good fit, or 'we gave the position to a current employee' yeah that one has happened 3 times, and I was told this AFTER the interview. And I thought the interviews went really really well and was a good fit. Seriously? If you decided to do that, don't advertise the job!

There was also the Starbucks deal. I was so so excited when she hired me. We've visited family out here a lot while growing up, and Starbucks was something I associated with Seattle and honestly have wanted to work there since (this was before we got Starbucks in mt). But the manager hired me without having a store to put me in....after about four weeks of still not being able to find a store for me I just gave up.

There are also a few other leads. I am really really hoping for a barista job soon! I've applied again at two coffee places nearby. I LOVE the coffee shop environment, and would love to work in one again. I think it would be a great opportunity for me to meet people around here and just engage in conversation! My mind is in dire need of challenging, conversation, etc. I'm really praying that they call me soon! Also I interviewed for a barista position in Bellevue the other day. It went really well. It's going to be a cafe that mostly serves soups and salads, but also with coffee in kind of an officey area. Maybe I'll meet a great bussiness guy! ha! just kidding : ) The only problem is that they advertised being open by now, but now won't open until the end of November.

I've also gotten in touch with the Rainer Christian Schools and am waiting to hear back from a couple of other private school disctricts. I think it would be interesting to substitute at a private school, what the similarities/differences are from public. I am kind of scared though with the mass outbreaks of swine flu in schools, but I guess just take vitamins, wash my hands, and keep a positive attitude!

Still trying to kind of figure out what to 'do with my life' so to speak, which sounds aweful since I've been in this transition for a while. There are so many different things I would love to do: teach overseas, go to Germany/Austria and work random jobs, work with homeless youth here in the city, try out something along the journalism lines, and many more. The problem is that either I can't decide which one to do, or how to get those ideas turned into actions. One night at Breakaway (the name for Intervarsity Christian Fellowship's large meetings-kind of like youth group for college kids!) Brian Lee gave a talk about God's will for us. Sadly I can't remember all of it, but the main point was that God gives us the freedom to do what we want. There was a verse he quoted saying, 'everything is permissable, but not everything is benificial', God saying that He gave us the freedom to chose our career paths, who we marry, where we live, everything. I love that idea. But it's also terrifying at the same time. I like knowing that there is Someone there to guide me in doing things that are pleasing to Him and contribute to His will. I also believe though that your desires are actually God's desires. He wants you to be happy, even though you may go through not so great times, He wants you to be able to expeience this world He has created, and to live in a way that glorifies Him. I think that He instills His desires in your heart and those in turn become your desires. Wow, I am really bad at typing my thoughts! I guess what I might be trying to say is that I think I am just waiting for Him to show me His will for me, but by doing that I am just sitting still so to speak and not doing anything, which He doesn't want us to do.

Ok, I don't think I'm making much sense, but if you by chance have read this, and have any thoughts, opinions, advise, etc. I'd love to hear them : )

Curiosity is an interesting thing...

2009-11-13T01:13:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I truly wish I lived in the 1930s/40s. I know that I am alive at this time for a purpose, but I love love love so much from this era. At my old work, Jus Chilln, I would play Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire etc. when I was working (and the people I worked with let me choose the music!). My co-worker Katie (and she is a deep, sincere thinker) looks at me with this stare and says matter of factly, "Letitia, you know, really, I really think you were born in the wrong era". I can't even count on my fingers how many people have told me this!

I wonder why God has put these longings/interests in my being. Am I supposed to learn something from these interests? Is it just something that I am weirdly obsessed with? Is it just that I am disgusted by the morals, values, and way of life today? I feel like I am dreaming an impossible dream as I can't go back in time. I am curious though as to why I am so infatuated? with everything of that time (except of course the war, the great depression, segregation, and everything affiliated with the like).

I am sitting here watching a movie from the time and this whole wave has hit me again. It's amazing how much men would do for their lady, or any lady for that matter! Men had so much respect for women, and other people. Now mind you I am definitely speaking in general terms, not everyone was like this...Badria and I went to a big band concert months ago put on by the air force band. We went not knowing what or who to expect, but out of about 150 people we were two of the maybe 10 people younger than 60. It was so great being surrounded by people of the 'baby boomer' generation that night. The men were such incredible gentlemen, holding the doors open for any of the women, young or old that walked by them; ushering their wives to their seats before sitting down themselves. There was just a general courteous air about them, and the women were so incredibly sweet, making conversation with those around them they didn't even know. You could tell that these people were genuinely happy, considerate and kind people. I'm not saying that people today aren't these things (although sadly they are harder to find), but you could just sense it in this auditorium, these people's eyes shone; they looked into each other's eyes with true interest and delight. I admire that generation. I'm not 'dissing' any other generation, but I just find people from that time era to have more respect/politeness, etc. for themselves and others. I know that everything wasn't perfect back then and people still had their downfalls and such, but hmm I don't know, maybe I'm not making too much sense.
Furthermore, maybe this sounds shallow, but the fashion was so great during that time period! People wore dresses, high heels, and suits every day and that was the norm! I have to admit when I watch an old movie, the male actors are pretty dang handsome in their nicely ironed suits and good posture! I also love the way they talked; I can't describe this one right now, but just watch a classic movie ; )

I'm also jealous of the fact that everyone knew how to dance! Not the bump and grind dancing that is now commonplace, but swing dancing and waltzing. Ok so not everyone knew how to swing, but everyone probably at least knew how to waltz and other dances like that.

I find the sense of comradery (sp?) and such during the war facinating as well. Everyone pulled together to support the troops; growing victory gardens, recycling their things in order to make enough items for the war, etc. Hmm that's a whole other story for another day.

So if anyone has read this far, go ahead and say it, I'm weird, I freely admit it! I just wish things could be like that again! For any feminists that may have read this and were offended or whatnot, I don't think it was great how women were sometimes treated, in regards to rights, equality etc. However I am also traditional in the respect that I want to be a stay at home mom and raise my kids and all those homemaker/wifey things. I would still want to work, but I also highly value family and the time we are blessed to spend with them. To be completely honest, when I first started college I thought it was MRS university (or whatever that joke is that describes you going to college to get married!) I was the first person to go to college in my family and on my dad's side. I got this idea that you went to school but ended up getting married while in school or right after. All the people I knew that went to college ended up doing just that! And with all the movies and such I thought that was normal. Ok so that was a bit embarrassing to admit, but I can always claim that I'm from Montana (that seems to work as an excuse for everything out here haha!)

With that little rant, don't get me wrong, there are so many things today that I love, however I wish our society's morals/values/attitudes/attitudes towards others, whatever you want to label it were a bit more like that time period's. Hmm and I don't even remember what I have said or what I haven't said that I wanted to so I think that's my cue to head to bed!
p.s. if anyone per chance did read this, don't judge me too harshly, I know that that era wasn't perfect and definitely had it's share of faults and whatnot...

Welcome to the world of online blogging...

2009-09-25T14:52:00.001-07:00

So I finally caved and decided to start a blog. I guess it's a better way to inform people of the goings on of my life? Who knows, but sadly I do type faster than I can write nowdays. Maybe this will help me stay accountable for things, and overall a way to just get my thoughts out : )
Anywho, with that being said here are a few goals that I have for what is left of the year...
*Stay connected with family, build stronger relationships with those I love
*Research family history/family stories, before you know it, that information is lost.
*Get back into better shape!
*Dig into the Word everyday, and live to follow Jesus more passionately
*Become involved with an afterschool program or work with homeless youth in some setting
*Take a lindy hop class
*Check out various music venues around the area
*Go hiking and explore the mountains around here
*Take a few classes at a Bible school

Hmm I know there are many more that have been racing through my head the past few weeks, but I can't seem to pull them out right now.

On a different note, while being out here in Seattle I haven't had much luck in the job hunting department (although hopefully that will change soon!). But on the positive side of having a lot of down time, I've been able to think about so many things these past couple of months. I won't go into details as of now, but it's been great being able to relax and take things slowly, one day at a time. Sure there are days when it get's boring, but I realized that this summer was the first time in probably years that I've been able to step back and enjoy the simple things in life such as reading, taking walks through the neighborhood, enjoying the sunshine, etc. Things such as school, work, studying, and all the little everyday tasks make the days go by in a blur, before you know it, it's months later. That being said, I'm thankful that I was able to have this time to recouperate and think things through , but I am ready to explore and experience all those wonderful opportunities I know are out there waiting to be had : )

Here's to a new begining!