2005, what a fun year!

Okay, I've seen this on several of my friends blogs and it got me thinking so I am going to copy them (not the whole thing, but a few of the questions) and let you know just what happened during 2005.

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before? I ran a half marathon in 1 hr and 47 minutes. I also participated in Hood to Coast.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year? I don't think I made any last year but I have made a few for this year. I am going to run more races and make more time for those friends that live in town yet I hardly see.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes
4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes
5. What countries did you visit? Very sadly, I didn't visit any countries. Something is very wrong with this picture.
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? Well, that I've lacked my whole life, a trip to Kuaui...oh wait, I am going to have a trip to Kuaui in September, yay!!! And a boyfriend....just kidding.
7. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting out of my old job and getting my new job at the church that I just love!! Also, running the half marathon. Another thing was the finishing of the DUNES mailer and then that everyone liked it. I really felt like I accomplished something huge!
8. What was your biggest failure? Hmmm...I don't think I'll share that with any of you. I'll keep them to myself and call it good.
9. What was the best thing you bought? Much like my friend Lindsy, I bought my tickets to Kuaui. And I bought my sister a iPod shuffle for Christmas, that was pretty darn exciting.
10. Whose behavior merited celebration? This is a weird question but I'll do my best to answer it. I think my brother's behavior has improved a lot over the last several months and that has been great to witness. Also just my family who has to put up with me and still loves me. 11. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? At times my brother (but he has improved greatly) and there are a few other people out there who have appalled me but they shall remain nameless.
12. What song will always remind you of 2005? Songs by Guster and Bebo Norman, I was introduced to them this year and I listened to them a lot.
13. Where did most of your money go? Oh goodness, I would have to say that I spend a lot on food. I eat a lot of fresh food (veggies, fruits, and meats) and that isn't cheap. I'm sure I spent a lot of money on a plethora of other things but food is the first thing that comes to mind. Oh and gas, the prices have been OUTRAGEOUS this year.
14. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Um, I get excited very easily over lots of things, some small some big, so I don't really know. I think I would have to say my job would be one thing that I was super super excited about. Oh, I got pretty excited about the finished DUNES mailer, too. :)
15. What do you wish you'd done more of? Relyed more on God, showed my family that I appreciate them, spent more time with my best girlfriends, and called more people in other states that I hardly ever talk to. Basically just been a better daughter and friend.
16. What do you wish you'd done less of? stressed over dumb things that aren't even in my hands to handle.
17. Did you fall in love in 2005? Thought I could have but nope, still have yet to do that. Maybe this year will be the year.
18. What was your favorite TV program? Lost and CSI (the original)
19. What was the best book you read? There are two, Blue Like Jazz and Safetly Home. Another one that I am reading right now is Knowledge of the Holy.
20. What was your greatest musical discovery of 2005? Guster, I just love their sound, and Michael Buble, his music is so my style.
21. What did you want and get? A new job and a church home
22. What did you want and not get? A water belt for running and a boyfriend...just kidding 23. What was your favorite film of this year? Hmmm, I saw a lot of movies but I really liked Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Narnia. I'm sure I like a lot more but I can't think of them off the top of my head.
24. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? Hahaha, I don't have a fashion, I just wear what I like and feel comfortable in (unless your talking shoes)
25. What kept you sane? Working out and reading my bible
26. Who did you miss? MARILEE KELSO!!! And Rachel Dueul, and we live in the same city.
27. Who was the best new person you met? Oh dear me, that is a very very tough question to answer because I have met a lot of new people that I have liked a lot.
28. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005. I have learned to really give things to God. He has wisdom we can't even fathom and He never makes a wrong decision. He is watching over us and He never sleeps. That is comforting for me to remember when I am dealing with problems. Give it to God and all will be alright.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Well, I turned 25 this year. I worked and then my friends took me out to the Berlin Inn for some traditional German cheese fondue and the most amazing dessert, then a couple of girls took me downtown and we hit happy hour at Henry's. All in all, it was a very fun birthday. And just so you all know, my birthday is on February 17th, which is about a month and half away. :)
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Hmmm...I think I had a pretty good year. There are a few things that I would have liked to happen but seeing as they didn't and they probably didn't for a good reason, I can't complain. The Lord was good to me this year in more ways than I can even imagine. I wouldn't change any of it.

Now, let's ring in the New Year and see what the Lord has instore for 2006!

New Years Eve and Portland First Run

So, tonight Kristin and I will be going downtown to Pioneer Square to join in all the festivities they are going to be having (food, live music, dancing, etc...) and then at the stroke of midnight we will join the masses on a 3 mile run around downtown. Should be fun, at least in my warped mind. And since one of my New Years resolutions for 2006 is to run more races what better to start off the year than with a nice, easy run, and with a friend no less. The only part I am not looking forward to is the weather aspect. In true Oregon fashion it will be raining on us when we run. Hopefully it won't be too cold and windy, though. I can handle the rain but not so much the wind. Anywho, I'll post pictures next week so you can see how it went and feel like you were right there with us (minus the sweat).

What are you all doing for New Years? I would love to know. Whatever you decide to do, have fun and most importantly, be safe! Love you all! Talk to you next year!

Some of the girls in my life

Here is a picture from the 1.3 camping trip this summer. We had a great time and I just love this picture! I thought I would share it with all you out there in computer land. :)

The pink note

I live in an apartment with my wonderful roommate, Miss Annie Allen. When we moved in we were assigned one covered parking space that is our very own and no one else can use it. And as is the case with most apartment complex's, all the uncovered parking spaces are open for anyone to use, guests or the second roommate. Well, last night I was the roommate that had to locate a spot that was uncovered. I drove around for a bit trying to find the closest one and finally found one that I had never used before but in a great location (not quite the money spot but close). Now, every morning I get up before the crack of dawn and head to the gym to get my daily sweat session out of the way for the day. It's Oregon so it's been raining a lot lately and this morning was no exception. After I started my car, and mind you it's still dark outside, I got my wipers going so I would be able to see while I'm driving. I heard my wipers make a weird noise so I looked at my windshield and there was something on it. Oh no, who's soliciting what now? I opened my door, reached out (trying not to have to get up and out of my car so I wouldn't get even more wet) and grabbed the thing off my windshield. When I took a closer look at what had been put on my windshield this is what I saw.


Yes, someone had put a note on my windshield in a plastic baggy so I would be sure to get it. And incase you can't read the note I'll tell you what it said. "Why are you parked in my spot? It is reserved for me. I've been parking here for 8 months. I will have you towed if you park here again. Have a great nite!" What in the world?! Uncovered spots aren't reserved, and if they do happen to be reserved they are clearly marked, and this one iwas and is not. My roommate parked here a few weeks ago and was not issued any such note. I guess I should be thankful that she didn't have me towed, that wouldn't have been very condusive to my morning routine. She was also nice enough to wish me a nice "nite!" (an exclamation point and everything) She had time to write the note and put it in a baggy but I guess not enough time to spell the word correctly...hmmmm. I'm going to go ask my apartment managers when I go home this afternoon about this little situation. Who knows, I could have been mistaken about the spot being reserved and missed the markings. Or we could just have a crazy on our hands who doesn't understand the rules of apartment parking: Uncovered, unmarked spots are for anyone, thank you very much.

Well, I just thought I would share this little story with you. Thought it was kinda funny.

IT'S HERE!!!

Well, everyone, I am pleased to introduce you to my iPod nano. Isn't it cute? So small, so sleek.










If you read the post about my Christmas day you would know that "Santa" wasn't quite able to fulfill my Christmas wish of getting a nano (I had to settle for an arm band instead). My dad said he was on a waiting list and didn't know when they would come in again so I didn't think I would be getting it until later in January or something. Every Thursday my dad and I have a lunch date and we head to Sandy to enjoy a lovely meal at the Tollgate Inn. When we got back to the church and I was about to get out of the car he reached into the back seat saying "What's this? Who put this here? I don't remember there being anything in the back seat earlier." I know my dad pretty well to know that this means that my dad has something for me but I couldn't figure out what it could be. Then he pulled out the little black box that said those two beautiful words: iPod nano. I couldn't believe I was holding my very own nano. I thought I was going to break it when I took it out of the box, it's so stinkin tiny. Isn't my dad swell! He's too good to me, thats for sure. Thanks dad, love you! Now I'm just having fun downloading music and trying to figure it all out.

This will be me in the morning when I go to the gym.

Reality TV show show's there's no quick fix

Wanna know what my favorite reality show is? The Biggest Loser. I love this show. I think it is one of the best reality shows there is. I admit that I was a skeptic when I very first heard of the show back in 2004. Who would want to be on a show that calls you a loser? I didn't want to promote that kind of negativity. But I was soon hearing all sorts of good thing about the show so I decided a few months ago that I would just see what it was all about. I tuned in and was hooked after just a few minutes.

Why do I love it so? Well, because it actually promotes something besides just winning big bucks. It is promoting being healthy and getting there in a healthy way through eating right and excersizing. They not only help the people on the show to lose weight in a healthy manner by showing them better food and cooking options and different ways to excersize but they also tackle the emotional problems of the participants that have gotten them where they are now, weight wise. And like my title indicates, the show says that there are no quick, healthy ways to lose weight. You can't just take a pill or cut out a whole food group if you want to lose weight for the long term and be healthy. In our society, we need to be hearing more of that. It's all about getting the 5 food groups in proper proportions and getting active. And that is why the show is just down right amazing.

Granted, while on the show the people are in a little health bubble with trainers and less temptations, but look at the people that have gotten "voted" off. They have continued to eat right, excersize and lose weight and in turn feel even better about themselves. And the show is helpful to those who are viewing as well. They give tips on how to excersize and cook healthier. I mean, it even motivated me for crying out loud. I just love this show and I can't say enough good things about it. I loved watching the people that got voted off go home to their families and their families be totally surprised at how different they looked. Then the camera's would go back several months later and show how they were doing now and each person always looked even better (and so did their families!).

I have to send a shoutout to the trainers as well, they do a great job of pushing these people to their limits and yet creating friendships where the contestants feel comfortable talk to them about their issues and triumphs.


In the begining: The winner was Matt Hoover. He was a big boy, he lost 157lbs. Second place was Seth Ward who lost a whopping 123lbs, leaving 3rd place for the super cute Suzy Preston who lost 95lbs.

And here they are after weight loss. WOW!! They look AMAZING! Bunch of cuties, huh?!


And some really exciting news: Matt and Suzy are dating. Aren’t they just adorable? I really hope they make it. It would be nice to see a couple that got their start in front of the camera actually make it off camera.

Well, those are my thoughts on this great show. Hopefully they all flowed coherently and I got my point across. :) Anyone want to "weigh in" on this show? Love it? Hate it? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Quotes from C.S. Lewis

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You, too? Thought I was the only one."

"Everyone feels benevolent if nothing happens to be annoying him at the moment."

"Many things--such as loving, going to sleep, or behaving unaffectedly--are done worst when we try hardest to do them."

"To excuse what can really produce good excuses is not Christian charity; it is only fairness. To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you."

"A little lie is like a little pregnancy it doesn't take long before everyone knows."

"Anxiety is not only a pain which we must ask God to assuage but also a weakness we must ask Him to pardon; for He's told us to take no care for the morrow."

"The greatest thing is to be found at one's post as a child of God, living each day as though it were our last, but planning as though our world might last a hundred years."

""Now is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It won't last forever. We must take it or leave it."

""'Don't you mind him,' said Puddleglum. 'There are no accidents. Our guide is Aslan.'"
--The Silver Chair

There were so many, it was hard to just choose a few. But I'll end with one of my dad's favorite quotes from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

""'Safe?' said Mr. Beaver...'Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good. He's the King, I tell you.'"

My family

Since I can't put up any pictures from Christmas yet I'll put this one up from Thanksgiving.

This is my wonderful family:

On the couch (from left to right)is Gloria (Karls mom), Katy (my mom), Grant (my dad), and Guy (my brother). On the floor (from right to left) is my brother-in-law Karl, my sis Samantha, me, and Lori, Karls sister. We are waving hello to my sister-in-law Lynn in China. Well, most of us are waving, Karl is giving Sam bunny ears. Ha ha, ain't he funny? Gotta love the fam! Soon, I'll have to put up a picture of Lynn so you can see who she is. She's a cutie!

Well, that's my family. They are a bit quirky (and by they I mean me) but I love them each dearly! They may not think so at times but it's true. They also may not feel the same towards me at times either but thank goodness for forgiveness and love, which my family members are overflowing with. And I am so thankful that everyone in the above photo shares a heavenly Father who loves us much more than we can ever imagine.

"The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved - loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves." Victor Hugo

Never been good at grammer

Okay, I know the word babble is spelled with two b's. I'm not sure if I thought I wanted to be unique when I came up with my blog name all that time ago or if I just didn't know how to spell (which is most likely the case). Don't worry though, I do realize NOW that it's spelled wrong.

1. Mindless:
   Lacking intelligence or good sense; foolish.
   Having no intelligent purpose, meaning, or direction.
   Giving or showing little attention or care; heedless: mindless of the dangers.
2. Babble:
   To utter a meaningless confusion of words or sounds.
   To talk foolishly or idly; chatter.
   To make a continuous low, murmuring sound, as flowing water.

Hmmm, when I look at these definitions I'm not so sure if I like the name that I chose. :) But I was looking back over my life the other day and I decided that this name is totally appropriate for me, sadly. I've always been a babbler, and it's really bad when I get nervous. When I was working at outdoor school a few years back Vonda Peirsol unknowingly (or maybe not) gave me the name of Babbling brook...appropriate, no? And...well, I seem to have forgotten the other examples at the moment, probably proving my point even more.

How exactly did I graduate from college?

A Disclaimer

I'm sorry my posts are so long. My dad looked over my blog and said that he liked it but that there was a lot to read. I reminded him that the name of my blog is Mindless bable. That should indicate something to you. Don't come in here expecting short posts (they will probably be few and far between). I should say, though, I do try to keep them short. It's just so hard cause I have a lot to say, which I don't realize until I actually sit down and start typing. Kinda strange. OH well. Just wanted to give a bit of a disclaimer. :)

Oh, Happy Christmas Day!

Christmas was a wonderful day! I can't wait to post pictures but seeing as how my camera was set up to put all the pictures on the camera's internal memory and not on the actual card I must wait until my dear friend Lori Bell mails me my cord or I break down and buy another one. I didn't want to say too much about the day until I had pictures to put up but oh well. I'll go ahead and give you the break down.

I know you are all curious to know, and yes, Santa visited our house Christmas Eve night. However, Santa had a helper this year who wasn't used to doing having stocking duty. So, when I woke up Christmas morning, I couldn't actually feel a lump at my feet like I usually do so I laid in bed for a half hour waiting for my dad (I mean santa) to tiptoe in and lay the stocking at my feet. Finally as I was moving around to get comfortable for the 40th time I heard a little crinkle. I sat up and saw that my stocking had been leaning up against my matress (I was sleeping on a matress on the floor) the whole time. Another year, another fun stocking filled with little goodies! A side note here, later in the day when we were having dinner at my sister's house my parents said that they started the tradition of putting the stockings on our beds to keep us in our rooms so they could either get some more sleep or get breakfast ready. It's always interesting to find out just how traditions start.

Anyway, the rest of the day went very well. Before breakfast my mom and I got to talk to the newest member of our family who lives in China right now (Lynn, my brother's new bride). That was super fun (she is a sweetie!) but I talk to fast for her (anyone surprised). :) Our breakfast of cinnamon rolls, pepper bacon and eggs was tasty as usual and the opening of presents was a fun time too. I love watching people open up their gifts and being excited about them. It brings joy to my heart (I'm such a softy). Among other things, mom and dad got each other robes, Guy got his traditional socks and underwear and I got an arm band for my non existant ipod nano (apparently that was THE present to give this year and someone didn't get to the store soon enough to claim one). Around 1 we went to my sisters house and opened presents with her and my brother-in-law Karl. My sister got me one of those really nice Chef knives and I can't wait to use it!!! Kar'l's mom, Gloria, and sister, Lori, came over and we all had Christmas dinner together. It was fantabulous (as usual). I made the appetizers (mini frititta's, pita chips and homemade salsa) and green beans, my mom made the ham and my sister made a salad and her ever so delicious potato dish. After we let that settle for a bit my sister brought out the pièce de résistance: her Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Cake. Oh my word, it was to die for! Seriously it was the best dessert I've had in a very long time. I can't wait to make it for my friends. GREAT JOB SIS!!!

Then my parents and I went home and watched The Santa Clause. We had to watch it before Christmas was over because none of us had watched it yet and that just wasn't going to do. All in all, it was a very pleasant day. I sure do love my family. They have their quirks, but they're fun. I can't wait to post my pictures for you.

Oh, I also have to add that my dad and I joined the masses yesterday and hit some of the sales. I'm not always into shopping the day after theholiday but it wasn't too bad, and we stopped and had a pot of our favorite tea, Mambo, at our favorite place to enjoy it, Borders. A time of destress in all the craziness that is shopping on the 26th. Let me just say that Old Navy's check out line, though it did move along at a relatively decent pace, was all the way to the back of the store. See? Craziness!

Hope all of your Christmas's were wonderful and full of fun memories!

Now it's on to New Years!!!

Tabs

Oh, and we forgot the book at home (Let's Keep Christmas) when we went to my sis's house so we couldn't read the book until yesterday. Way to go McAllisters! ;)

Blogging and weddings

I just want to tell you that I am emjoying this whole blogging thing. I thought I would hate it cause I hate to journal and this kind of seemed like online journalling but it so isn't. It's much more than that. And comments are addicting. I love opening up my blog, scrolling down to the bottom of a post and seeing if the little number next to the word comment has changed (it's the best when it has, too). :) I know, I know...I've only been doing this for a few days but hopefully even after the novelty of the whole thing wears thin I'll still be able to keep up. It makes it easier when you can post pictures. That always makes it more exciting for everyone (trust me, I know this since I was a blog reader long before I was an actual blogger). So anyway, I'm having fun and I hope everyone is enjoying this blog as much as I am. I'm not really funny or super sentimental or in an exotic country so I apoligize if this gets boring. I'll try and do my best.

And since I said what I did about pictures I feel a bit compelled to post some. Hmmm, what shall I put up. How about a couple of pictures from the two weddings I was in this summer.

The first picture is of my friend Lori Bell (formerly Ford) and I right before she walked down the isle in June. It was so fun to go to Oklahoma to help out and be a part of one of my oldest and dearest college friends weddings. Lori, I love you and miss you! I bet life is much more fun now that you aren't having to follow Rachel's rules anymore...hehehe ;)

And here is a picture of Lisa Pietzold (formerly Martin) and I before she walked down the isle in July. We were roommates for roughly a year and half before this day. We had a fun time living together. I learned a lot from that girl, she is one smart cookie. Lisa, I miss ya girl and we live too close for me to be saying that. I can't wait till we start up our Trader Joe visits! :)

Oh dear, I'm sitting here counting the weddings I've been in and the number totals to 8. That is a lot....and I'm only 25. At least I know I'm loved. :)

Oh, and, Mrs. Rachel Dueul (formerly King), I would have been in 9 but someone had to go and get married in Vegas without me. You punk! Okay, just kidding, I'm just glad you are happily married to your high school sweet heart! Love ya girl!

Anywho, anyone care to share how many weddings they've been in? I know there has to be someone out there who has me beat. :)

Christmas Traditions at the McAllisters

It's still Friday and I've done most of what I can do while there is no one in my office so I've decided to share my favorite Christmas traditions with you. I just have to say that Christmas is my favorite time of year. People are happier and nicer (except for those last few days right before Christmas when they are going to the mall for that last gift but can't find a parking spot right next to the front door, you better watch out!). But ever since college, when Christmas meant going home for a few weeks to spend time with family and friends and taking a break from school and looming deadlines, I have really come to love and cherish this time of year. It's a great time to really reflect on our heavenly Father and how much he truly loves us and has given us even though we don't deserve it. We are so blessed!

So, anyway, there aren't many of traditions so this shouldn't take too long (but don't get excited cause I am the babbler).

1. My most favorite is every Christmas morning when I wake up there is a stocking at the foot of my bed just waiting for me to tear into it. Santa (aka my dad) puts it there sometime in the wee hours of the morning. There isn't anything super exciting in my stocking, just fun little gifts along with candy but I still get excited and anxiously await the morning when I can feel the heavy lump at the end of my bad. Since I'm not living at home anymore, I spend the night at my parents house every Christmas Eve (yes, I know, I'm 25, so what?) so that I won't miss out on this great little tradition.


2. For breakfast every year my dad slaves over the hot oven and makes the Pillsbury cinnamin rolls, one batch with white frosting and one with the yummy orange. There are the familys out there that make their own cinnamon rolls from scratch every year and I'm sure those are good but we live under the rule of "the less work the better" on Christmas morning. We also have bacon (this year its the yummy pepper bacon) and eggs. Gotta love the wafting aroma's of bacon, eggs and rolls in the morning....hmmm


3. The tradition that I don't mind so much anymore but HATED when I wa a kid was the reading of this little book called Let's Keep Christmas by Peter Marshal. It's a sermon he gave back in the 50's or something and the book was given to my parents when they became Christians back in the early 70's (they've been doing this tradition since before I was born). The book is old and worn and bit discolored these days but that just makes it all the more special. When I was a kid I wanted to go to bed so I could wake up and open my presents and the book seemed to last for ever and ever! Now, I have realized that it's quite short, full of great reminders for the holiday season and its a nice time to spend with family. I've also discovered that Christmas isn't just about presents. Weird! It's funny how perspective's change over the years. (The picture looks nothing like our book, but they've had some time to redo it since my parent's got their copy 30 years ago)

4. Well, I can't think of a fourth right now except for maybe eating some amazing food made by my fabulous cook of a sister. This year she is making a Peppermint Ice Cream Cake, I'm so excited!
Doesn't that look amazing? I can't wait!



Please share your Christmas traditions with me, I love hearing what other families do around the holidays. :)

'Twas the Friday before Christmas

Well, it's the Friday before Christmas and I'm bored. I'm at work and my office (Student Ministries) is empty, as is the case on most Fridays. So, I've decided to babble at you all for a little bit. Can I just tell you that a huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders. I have been worrying about the DUNES retreat (this super huge high school retreat that my church does in February that usually has about 250 kids that go) for awhile now. It's been looming over my head and every time I would think about it I would get a little flutter in my stomach. The thing that was making me nervous was all the PR stuff that I was going to have to come up with. It's not that I don't think I'm not creative enough to do it, it's just that the girls that have done this job before me have been amazingly artistic and creative (Bekah) and I just didn't know if I could do what Ryan and Trina were used to. Well this week I decided I would get a head start on things and work on the mailer (even though it isn't going out till the 6th) so that I would have enough time to stress about it and make the necessary changes and all that. I worked on it on and off until yesterday when I finally felt good enough about it to show it to Ry and TC. They took one look and said it was crap and that I didn't get the concept at all and that I had to scrap everything and start from scratch....believe me? Good, cause that's not even close. They loved it! Or at least thats what they told me. They could be lying just to be nice to the semi new girl, but I think I'll continue to think they were being honest. Let me tell you, that just really made my day! Actually it made my whole month. Phew!!! Load off my mind!! Now I feel so much better about DUNES it's just not even funny. I'll have to post a picture of the poster I made so you can see what I'm talking about. I'm also excited cause being a mentor I get to go to DUNES. I've never been so it should be fun. It's also on my birthday this year, and we all know how I get about my birthday. :)

Anyways, just felt like babbling some more. I'm sure my blog is going to be totally boring for you all to read but I think I'm going to enjoy it. :)

Our cute Christmas tree

Here are a few pics of our cute little Christmas tree. We decided to go small this year since our apartment isn't too big and can't really handle a huge tree. Plus it was just so stinkin cute that I just had to get it. I even cut it down all by myself. Again, sorry for the small pictures. I'm really bumbed about that but oh well. I've learned a valuable lesson. Hope you are all enjoying your Christmas holidays where ever you are around the world! Love ya!!

ME!

Oh, here's me, the little worker bee (I made a rhyme). Can I just say that I love my job? I can? Great! I started on August 24th, 2005 and I LOVE MY JOB!!! I LOVE absolutly everyone that I work with, the environment that I'm in and I love that I'm doing new things all the time. There is never a dull moment around here, that is for sure.

One great thing that has come from working here that would hopefully have happened down the road, is that Good Shepherd really feels more like my church home. I walk into church on the weekends and people say hi to me and I say hi to people. I, Tabitha, know people here and people know me. It's so fun! Who knew?

Okay, I'm done. I really do mindlessly babble don't I? If you know me at all you won't be surprised. :) But, hey, it keeps things interesting.

Everyone have a wonderful day!

Nutcracker and Narnia

Well, a few weeks ago (okay, the 8th of this month) Jenn Abel and myself took out Kellee Peil, Abbey Dragoon and Stacey Caswell to McMennamins for dinner and then to see the Nutcracker down at the Keller Auditorium. Someone had dropped off free tickets to the dress rehersal so we decided to use them. It was a fun night, girls nights out always are. On the way home Jenn and I decided to go see the midnight showing of Narnia out in Sandy so we called Tracy and headed out to stay up way past our bed times and live a little. :) The movie was fabulous! I loved it! But guess what I did (remember the time I saw this movie and what I had already done that day). I feel asleep. No surprise there. Except that I had to fall asleep during the most important part of the movie, when Aslan is on the table. Sometimes I could just kick myself. OH well, just means I have to see it again. Good thing I liked it. Anywho, thats enough from me for now. I'll try and do more catching up and bring you all up to speed so my blog isn't totally boring and pointless. Oh, wait, my blog is called mindless bable, so isn't that the point?

Just so you know, that was the very first and only thing I ever posted, WAY WAY WAY back in July of 04. We'll see if I can keep it up. Thought I might try since everyone else is doing it and maybe I can at least post pictures. :) And don't expect an update all the time. It will probably be very sparadic (but not as bad as the first time) :). I should add that I feel a little more compelled to have and keep this up and going since Janie made that comment about going to my site and not finding anything (how embarrassing!). OH well, that's my life. Anywho, love you all. Hope you enjoy the site!

Gotta love Choir and ice

Well, this last weekend was a fun weekend. I sang in the Choir at church and just had a blast. The songs were great, challenging to learn but fun to sing. They all had great messages and I found it hard not to smile while singing a few of them. I also got to meet a lot of new people through the practicing process and deepen other friendships. Basically just loved it!

Then Sunday afternoon it snowed...and then iced. When I got home Sunday afternoon after doing a bit of Christmas shopping (my last and a whole week before Christmas) I got into my warm pj's, put on a Christmas movie and wrapped presents. It was a pleasant afternoon. Then my dad called and said that it was going to get really bad and invited me over to have dinner and stay the night. Since Annie was gone to Chicago I didn't want to get stuck at home all by my lonesome so I took my parents up on their offer. It was a pleasant time of hanging out and scrounging in their fridge for a makeshift dinner. I should mention that my parents practically live in the Gorge so all night I was afraid the house was going to get blown away. In the morning my dad drove me to work since my car was under a blog and a half of ice (well it looked that way at least). There were hardly any people when we got there and not too many more showed up. Not surprisingly, no one in my office came into work except me. What's wrong with this picture? :) OH well, my dad came and picked me up around 2:30 and we hung out the rest of the day. Saw King Kong: VERY LONG MOVIE. I liked it but I don't think it needed to be that long. Special effects were pretty amazing though.

It was so cold that I decided that when I got home to my apartment I would have soup and a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner (I was excited...I know I'm weird about food). Well, my plans were dashed when my electricity flickered twice and then went out. I soon realized the only way of communication I had with the outside world, short of driving somewhere, was my cell. I don't have a radio and I couldn't watch tv or get online. My apartment was so very quite. But I did enjoy doing things by candle light. And even though my apartment was pretty cold I slept the best I've slept in a long time that night. I had gotten all the blankets from the living room and piled them on my bed so it would be toasty warm (since I couldn't turn on my heating pad to keep my little toes warm like I usually do).

Well, I think that's quite enough for now. I should add that I'm sorry about the small pictures. I condensed them yesterday on accident and made them so teeny tiny it's ridiculous. But I put them up anyways cause I took them for this very purpose and by golly I'm going to use them, small or not. This should not be a problem in the future. :)

I'm still bored so here are some pictures for you to gaze at

I thought I'd put some pictures up of my wonderful friends that we took during the summer (well, September actually! Enjoy!


This is my dear Rachel. I don't see her very often (or talk to her for that matter) so I miss her ever so much!


Here is Krista, David (Lisa's little one), Rachel, Lisa, Stephanie, and myself. We are very infreguently in the same place at the same time (Krista living in OKC these days, and the rest of us being so busy) so it's always a very fun time when we do get to hang out and catch up (even if it is in Elmers and David is throwing a basketball at people). I miss you all!!! Cannot wait to see you next week!

This is Jeff (Left) and Erik (Right). Erik is married to Lisa and is David's daddy and Jeff is another friend in our circle of high school friends. Did I already mention that? We all went to high school together many years ago. :) Good times at ol' Columbia Christian!

Here is Roxanna (left) and Naomi (right). Two more girls that I went to high school and college with, though they were a year ahead of me. I love these girls! They are so much fun! Rox is in Japan teaching English and loving it (I miss her ever so much!) and Naomi is here in Portland with the rest of us enjoying the good ol' US of A. I need to call you Naomi, I know! :)

This is a picture from this summer (well, they all are actually) of my mom, Krista, and Debbie (Krista's "ma") having sushi together while Krista was in town visiting. That was a fun night. We tried tons of different kinds of sushi (they had to take plates away to fit others on the table cause we ordered so much) and taught Debbie how to use chopsticks (that was quite hilarious! Love you Aunt Debbie). Following all that food, I don't know how we did this, but we went to Papa Haydens for their famous desserts. This place has THE best desserts ever. I had the Cassata, which is a three layer cake that has been soaked in kaloa with write yummy frosting with chocolate shavings inbetween the layers and on top. To top the oh so delicious cake off they have skinny tubes (for lack of a better way to describe it) of white and dark chocolate along the side. Oh, its simply heaven on a plate. YUM!

I'll stop torturing you and end this very long picture show with a picture of the adorable David Granberg. He is much older now, this was taken in September when he was about 14 months or so. He's got quite the character! I can't wait to see him next week!

Well, I'll leave you with that for now. Bye all!