Happy New Year 2009

To anyone who is still checking my blog (Auntie Melanya!) you are amazing, and I don't deserve you!

I could go into all the reasons that I haven't updated my blog in the last 5 months, but I think I will just start the New Year fresh and not look back! Sound good to you? Good!

This new year has started off crazy for me. Work is usually crazy this time of year anyway because of all the end of the year/begining of the year financials and reports. But on top of that on Mon. nights I am leading a group of Single women (I love those girls!). On Tue. nights I have been involved in a Women's Cell group (This is always a blast, but I am leaving this one for awhile). On Wed. nights I volunteer tutor at our local library (Believe it or not, my favorite part is helping kids understand Geometry!). Thurs. nights I usually get to go home, but occasionally get invited to a friends for dinner (Yep, love that too). Fri. are my day off, so I usually try to run errands and get laundry done since this is my only chance to do it. Sat. nights I have worship practice where I am responsible for training the vocalists (there is nothing more beautiful than united worship!). So that leaves Sun., where have I mentioned yet that I am the new Director of the Children's Ministry? (I will not actually be in there teaching most of the time, but I'm just responsible to make sure someone is and they have everything they need.) I look at all that and I think I must be crazy, but I can't imagine choosing any one thing to let go of, and I really do love each part. The way God has structured my life right now, I am able to do it all, although, I really do need to stay organized and not slack off if it is all going to get done.

And speaking of staying disciplined and bettering myself, I wanted to list my New Year's Resolutions for 2009! I had so many things I wanted to do better this year, but I knew I would never be able to do them all, so after seeking God's guidance, I picked one for each area of my life.

New Year's Resolutions 2009

Physical - Eat less processed foods and more natural whole ones (this means I will have to cook more!)

Spiritual - Be consistent in my daily spiritual disciplines

Financial - Reduce My debt

Mental - Finish the Berean courses I still have pending

Emotional - Connect with my family and long distance friends at least once a month

So there you have it! Now that you know them, you will have to hold me accountable! Well, I hope that your New Year is looking as exciting as mine, and that you are not snowed in or flooded in (depending on where you live). I love you guys!

State Federation Park

August 1, 2008

Well, I had a big hike planned for this last weekend. A big hike for me is classified as one that takes an hour or more to get to. I needed to go preview a campground for a barbeque our worship team is having next weekend and figured while I was out that way I would pick a trail. So I found one in State Federation Park that was supposed to be 4 miles and full of stuff to see. I got there and first of all discovered that the batteries were dead in my camera. That's right, no pictures! But I headed off down the trail and got about a mile down to where the trail splits off in different directions when it started raining. It wasn't too bad because the old growth forest was keeping most of the direct moisture off of me, but I wasn't sure which trail was the one I was supposed to take, and didn't feel like being lost in the rain, so I turned around and went back. The best laid plans of mice and hikergir1's. . . Oh well, I guess now I'll just have to go back and take my camera next time.

BTW, my camera battery is now charged and I plan to take it with me to next weeks barbeque, so expect some fun pictures then!

In the meantime, is anyone else out there watching "The Mole"? My dad and I have been discussing it all season and last night was the last episode before they reveal the mole. I would love to hear anyone's guesses on who the mole is!

4th of July

I know it's been a month, but here are some of my favorite pictures from the Fourth of July. (We always do a big barbecue at our church to reach out to the community.)

I hope everyone's having a great summer!

Pastor Bob getting dunked by Donitta!

Joel getting dunked by Pastor Bob

Yep, that's a whole roasted pig. Yum!

Go, Megan, Go!

Here's the worship band from backstage. That's me on the left and furthest back.

SO MUCH FUN!!!

Well, I'm planning a hike down Mt. Rainier way tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. Pray the rain stays away!