"Vacation"

Job update.   

The job I was most hoping for,  working at the Parks and Rec. Center as a sports coordinator didn't pull through.   So we're back on the phones trying to schedule interviews and see what's available.  

I'm currently the "MVS mom." I was at home all day... sorry mom, I was at the "mvs home" all day :)

I was at least a  little productive. I made taco soup from scratch (scratch meaning we had no easy taco seasoning mixes).  I cleared out my desk at the Club, I am now officially done.  I'm also starting a sewing project .... I have to do something! :)

Sorry the updates have been getting slower.  There just hasn't been much going on, and I' hate to bore you with nonsense stories.   

I appreciate everyones support.  Reading everyones comments and just knowing that I have people interested and dedicated to reading about my journey means a lot to me. 

I've been trying to stay positive, however I've been hitting walls and struggles. It's becoming easy to disconnect from friends and avoid conversation, due to the feelings of failure in my job. However knowing that I have you all supporting me helps and keeps me going. 

Thank you. 

Love.

Job Security

    I can't say that word  has every applied to me since I've been here.  

    This past week I've still been working at the Boys and Girls Club.  The yearly fundraiser is coming up, it's full of bid boards, silent auctions, live auctions, and raffles.   Its a big deal for the club, hence, they've needed some assistance.   

    In the beginning of the week I was volunteering at a radio station, KRZA, who was also having a fund drive.   No I didn't talk on the air.  When people called in with donations and pledges, I was the one handeling the phones.   (my name was on the air whenever i was there... but thats it)  It was a great experience and I had a good time with the people who work there.     However, this was just short term.

    For the other part of my days I went back to the Club.  Wednesday and Thursday were full time days helping with the club's fundraiser.   They have packages that usually contain one restaurant certificate, one hotel stay, and some type of activity.  My job has been to pull the package together and write three sentences summing it up. Not hard right?

    Well... 

    When there at 55 packages.  You can only make a hotel and restuarant sound so good.   I found that my vocabulary is rather short.  For the words enjoy, indulge, escape, relax, getaway, and luxurious were used quiet a bit. 

    Heres an sample of my work: 

Tempt Your Senses

Emerge yourself in New Mexico culture.   Your journey begins with two passes to explore 14 outstanding museums and monuments.  Dine at The Melting Pot for a unique fondue experience and close your perfect and adventurous day with a one night stay in your private casita at the historic Casas de Suenos in old town Albuquerque.  

Think I could be a writer for a travel magazine? :)

    I'll be working from 9am - midnight tonight and all day saturday with setting up, working at the ball, and tearing down.  It's hectic, a lil stressful, but I feel like I'm back in events,  plus, I'm getting my hours in :)

    As for next week.  Welp, that's still up in the air.  I'll be working at home for a day or two.  The job I was hoping to get didn't work out so we're looking at a few different things right now:

- assisting at a day care 

- helping start up and helping with an after school program 

- doing desk work for business that deals with eco., and environmental issues 

- doing public relations work for a humane shelter 

- being a youth minister for middle schoolers at the methodist church 

All the jobs are part time, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that two of them work out. If not, welp. We'll deal with that when it comes. 

"Don't wait for something big to occur.  Start where you are, with what you have, and that will always lead you into something greater."  

~ Mary Manin Morrissey

"Everyone has inside them a piece of good news.  The good news is you don't konw how great you can be!  How much you can love!  What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!

~Anne Frank

Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp

Last weekend my house went to Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp in Colorado Springs. Arriving last Friday night we moved into our cabin. I was able to teach my house how to play German Uno (a great game), however the real rowdiness came from a massive game of dutch blitz.
Saturday began our work day. Most of the morning and afternoon was spend shoveling mulch around a newly place well. The late afternoon was filled with pulling nails from old railroad ties... this was harder than it sounds. It started with four girls and eventually ended up with everyone's help.

Lastly, the day was completed with moving and stacking firewood. Our evening time was nice and relaxing, full of good "Mennonite" food as well as the company of friends from Newton, KS that also came to volunteer.
Sunday morning started bright and early, well at 5:30 the sun's not close to being up. We were off to hike Pike's Peak, 14, 110ft tall, it's the most visited mountain in the U.S. Seeing how I was just in the hospital 7 days prior, I decided to be smart. Instead of hiking all five hours up the mountain, I drove two hours, meeting the group at half way. I was a little disappointed that I was unable to hike the whole mountain, however, I had SO much fun driving up the mountain. Winding around the curves with mountain, trees or cliffs on the side of the road was exhilarating. If only I was in a sports car instead of a van :)
Once above the tree line, I was dropped off at Devil's Playground, where I joined the group and began to hike. I was still joining at the hardest and steepest part. We still had to go two hours up the steep plains, through the snow and across the boulder field. It was a beautiful view. The hike itself wasn't too bad, a little difficult and cold but we took the tortoise method - slow and steady - all the way to the top.

For My Mother (and her friends)

I've been hearing a lot about my mother and her hair color... apparently I'm the cause of it changing.
I don't have anything verbally I can say, all I can do to express my thoughts via pictures.

I Said What?!

    So, besides all the fun that happened at Hesston, there was a little trouble.   A few of you obviously know about this already....  hence all the comments about my mothers hair color ;)

    Saturday night I planned on staying up until my train left (3am on Sunday).  Well, around midnight I began to feel a little sick.  I laid down for a while, however by 2:30am I hadn't improved, but got worse.  I was in a full blown hypoglycemia attack and had begun to shake and convulse.  By 3:30am I was checking into a hotel room with my friend Kendall, who is also a hypoglycemic.  I felt more comfortable being sick off campus and a little bit safer having my friend monitor my reactions.

   It would've been nice to tell you I fell asleep and woke up better.  However, this didn't happen.  Awake all morning long and still shaking we decided it was time to go.   Another friend, Kenyon, came to get me and we went to the hospital.   There was no one else in the Emergency Room, so I was immediately helped.    When it comes to me and taking blood... I never seem to get the nice nurses.   It seemed to take FOREVER for her to insert tube into my hand... and then, drawing blood... that took forever and a half.   

   I remained at the hospital for a couple hours while they tested my blood, gave me and IV, some sort of injection, and a fun pill that knocked me out.  Long story short, they didn't find much wrong.  They just treated my reactions and allowed me to walk out.  

   I'd tell you about the rest of the day, however I can't recall much of it.   According to Kenyon and Kendall, I was rather entertaining.   I was a little confusing when I talked, a little loopy, I slept for a decent amount of time.   However, I recall having perfectly clear conversations,  I just remember the topics were a little odd.  :) 

   I decided not to take the train Monday morning, but stay in the hotel and continue to rest.   In hind-sight I think this was a wise decision.   I rested one more day before I got on the train, Tuesday at 3:30am.  

   My train ride, well that's another story.   For I boarded the train with 37 senior citizens who were traveling to New Mexico to view art exhibits.    Let me tell you, 3am, doesn't slow these ladies down.   They were chatty little ladies!    I was able to move away from them and get a couple hours of sleep on the train.   

   The train arrived 8 hours later at Trinidad, Colorado.   I knew I wasn't in Kansas anymore.  I went from fall season to winter in the matter of hours!   There was frost everywhere.  But wait, it gets better.  Driving through the mountains - I hit a snow storm.   It wasn't awful, but visibility wasn't the greatest, the roads were dressed with slush, and it was COLD!  Needless to say I told mom  about the snow AFTER I was through the pass :)

   I've finally been at "unit home" for a day.  I'm still pretty dizzy, weak, and loopy.  But I've kept my funny comments to myself.   I'm going somewhere again this weekend,  so hopefully I bounce back soon!

A Weekend Away

The weekend was full of friends. I was able to watch the women and men's soccer teams play, have lots of meals out with friends, saw the Hesston play, getting coffee with a Bethel College friend, watch the baseball team play, take a motorcycle ride through the country side, go camping, stay in my old dorm room, and much more. Overall it was great to catch up with friends and re-visit Kansas.
The biggest disappointment was missing my soccer team play! The kids called and left a message on my phone right before the game. I was able to call and work out lineups and rotation out with Mary Jo through a phone call, but I couldn't be there to watch and cheer them on. I got a phone call after the game as well. The team was yelling in the phone, I could only hear cheering and giggles. We won 13 - 2 ! First win, last game I could have coached. I just can't wait to get back to practice and see them all, hear their laughs, and be in their company :)

Hesston, Kansas

I decided to take a little trip to Hesston, Kansas to visit my old College and watch the men and women's soccer games. .... this is my journey ....
Beyond tired, I climbed into bed Wednesday night without finishing my packing. Of course that started some morning delays :) I went into work a little bit later (figuring it didn't matter too much since I already resigned). It was my last event I'd ever have to run, the Friends Park Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. I planned on getting the event set up, running, and take off right at 5pm. Fortunately I called the my train to double check on times. Turns out it wasn't leaving at the 9pm time I expected, but 6pm! This is where my rushing came in. I was now frantically getting the event organized, dispersing my job, and making sure the speakers were set to go. Feeling I done all I could, I took off around 3pm, beginning my two hour drive over the mountains.
I thought it was going to be a little scary, turns out, winding down the mountain curves is fun! Once I was outside the mountains I reached the city of Trinidad, where I was catching the train. Turns out they were in the middle of construction. I wasn't lost, but I definitely couldn't find the station! I stop at a store and asked... they weren't much help. I called a house mate and asked, they were directing me to the station. I was only 1/4 mile from the station when my phone died! Sadly, I still couldn't find the station! So I stopped once more at a store to get directions. Thankfully they were clear, and they explained what the station looked like. This was key in me finding it, for I did, but it wasn't a "station." I pulled into a cleared path amongst the construction. The gravel parking lot could hold only 5 vehicles. Beside the port-o-potty was the metal ramp leading up to the "station." A mini modular, no bigger than my bedroom. The florescent lit room held four bright red chairs and a window air-conditioner. This was the Trinidad Amtrak Train Station. No figure I kept overlooking it.
My train was somewhat delayed and I showed up with enough time to spare. So I drove to McDonald's where I could eat supper and recharge my phone. The train ride was an experience. For part of the time I sat by a high school kid, Kleane, from Pittsburgh. He had all hit electronic gizmos out and rambled about his amazement of people living in places like this - the country side - with no arcades or skate parks, or malls. I found it humours and sad.
I finally arrived at Newton, Kansas a little after 3am. I was greeted by Kenyon, who was willing to pick up me, there was also a nice daylight donut for me to much on :)

Doors and Windows

The Boys and Girls Club has continued to be a struggle for me. As a fulfilling job, a satisfaction, but I've also struggled morally to work there. Last week three more employees were fired. The club is a financial crisis, so much so, that it's been suggested that I was a high expense.
I had already made the decision to leave the club, this just presented the right opportunity.
As of Wednesday I resigned from the Boys and Girls Club of Alamosa.
So what's next? Well, I decided to take a trip out to Hesston College. To watch soccer, visit friends, as well as give the club time to re-coop and spread the word of my absence. I will actually be returning to club to wrap up all my jobs. I'm in charge of teaching the Monte Vista, La Jara, and Alamosa club's children a choreographed dance for a promotional video, which will be viewed as well as preformed at the yearly fundraising ball. I'll return to club to disperse my job and teach the kids the dance. Interviews are also being set up. Yes, I'll begin all over again. Going through the interview process and filling out paper work.
It's hard to admit that things have take a turn down this path, however I'm relieved that I'm leaving the club. Its a job that became only a burden.

"When the door of happiness closes, another opens;
but often times we look so long at the
closed door that we don't see the one,
Which has been opened for us.

....
The brightest future will always

be based on a forgotten past;
you can't go forward in life until
You let go of your past failures and heartaches."

Soccer Champs

I planned to take a group of kids from the club to an Adam State Volleyball game. Sadly, none of them turned their permission forms in. So Mary Jo, Nate and I went ourselves. The feelings of being in a college gym, surrounded by college students, watching college athletes... its awkward. I enjoyed being in the setting, yet I couldn't help but to miss it, and feel a little jealous. No matter what, it was an exciting game, going into a 5th rally, ending with a win.
The next day I hosted a volleyball clinic with a few of the Adam State players. I was once again disappointed that no one showed up. However I had a slight hope that it would fail and be cancelled. It's awful, I know, but the cancellation meant I was able to go to my soccer game. My team is amazing, I can't say it enough. Yes, we have only one tie and no wins. If only you could see the team. The light bulbs go off as they understand what we've been teaching them. They do wall passes, hold their positions, call for the ball and talk, back each other up on defense. Most importantly - they laugh. We always hear giggles.

Mary Jo and I have been so proud of our team. They've come so far. Even though we haven't won. Our game was closer today. It would've been 5-4, however one of our goals was taken away (poor call for the ref.). The parents are even getting into it. The first game they sat as spectators, silent. Now, they are standing, cheering, encouraging. Pretty much, they are like my mom, I hear them yelling, "shoot the ball" and "kick it hard." :)

Love.

She Got That From Her Mom

.... Just a quick side note ....

On the drive to work Mary Jo came across this.


On the other side of the road was a family of deer. The Rio Grande River is close behind these houses, thus the deer often come into the neighborhood. Mary Jo and I found this really exciting... as we whipped out the camera, sat at the stop sign and took pictures. The locals however find this very annoying, getting frustrated with the deer eating the yards up, getting into the gardens, and scrapping the bark. This frustration was shown as another oncoming driver layed on the horn to get them to move. Mary Jo and I remained, just watching :)

I had to stop at family dollar on Tuesday because I forgot socks and I was on my way to the gym. Of course it always happen, the socks I picked wouldn't ring up. So while the cashier was getting another package, I turned and apologized to the man standing in line behind me....
and what happens.
He starts telling me how he's in no rush because of yellow jackets that stung him at his house. I got to hear the whole story about yellow jackets, why and where they are, where he got "bit" and the painful sensation.
I felt like my mother. I had some random person rambling on to me and all I said was a few words. I must have some of my mother in me... whatever it is that just makes people talk to her at stores, apparently I got some of it too :)

Love.

Plunger Please

... I was once again informed that I would be unable to run my regular programs. An employee got a little hot headed and is "suspended" from work for the week. So, in place, there's me.
Therefore Tuesday I sat and the counter and checked the kids into the club. It actually went really well. Afterwords I was able to take a group of kids outside and play sand volleyball. They had a blast. The kids were a little young, so the concept of "bump, set, spike" wasn't evident - it was more of a "get the ball over the net." The team numbers also began to dwindle once they realized the fun of just digging and burying things in the sand :)
That evening we also had a mishap at the club. One of the toilets was clogged and overflowing. You'd think this wasn't a big issue. However it ended up not only affecting one toilet, but all six in both the boys and girls restrooms. No toliets, no service. Meaning we had all lines busy at 5:00 calling guardians to come pick them up.
We had one girl break my heart. She was only 7 and was trying to get a hold of her mother. She had told us that her mother worked at McDonalds, so we went ahead and called. The manager looked through all her employee records and has never had employee by that name. We couldn't exactly tell the girl that her mother lied to her, but needed to explain that her mother wasn't currenly wasn't there. To see the look on the little girls face - she struggled to understand why her mother wasn't there and kept trying to figure out where she might be.
I tried to occupy her with sidewalk chalk until a guardian could be reached.
I arrived at work today with the plumbers going at work. They remained here until 4:00 attempting to fix the problem. I found myself in a panic when I realize... I had to go the restroom! What do I do?! Thankfully I forgot my lunch and I had the van, so I picked up Arby's for lunch (first time having fast food since leaving IN!) and stopped at Mary Jo's work place for a restroom.
We had to close the club again today - of course that means I still had to work :( Some of the kids still arrived at the club afterschool. So we had the joy of dealing with frantic parents and bus of kids all calling guardians.
... It was a rather eventful time ...


Love