Happy Birthday Ella!

For some reason when friends have kids, it's just a crazy thing to think about. I guess this is very similar to the post about my BFF from high school getting married, except for today we welcomed beautiful Ella Kate, her daughter, into the world. CRAZY!! I just don't feel old enough for Heather to be having kids. I know I'm 26 and all and most of my other friends are married with multiple children, but I guess it just blows my mind to watch her do all of this. Ah well...I'm repeating myself.

Something I am thankful (and this is just one thing of many) for is that she is cute. You know how sometimes people have babies and they're really not cute? Well Heather and Steve don't have to worry about that with her because she is absolutely adorable. I hope that when I have kids...way way WAY down the road (especially after seeing the little diagram that shows a dialated cervix that they conveniently leave by the sink where you wash your hands before picking up the baby. HOLY CRAP!! Talk about birth control...just look at that thing), I hope they are cute. Some babies are just really ugly sometimes and I hope that it doesn't happen to be true about my someday kids.

Too Big for Words

I've been a high school teacher for two years now. I have a Master's Degree in Teaching. I've worked at summer camps across the country and have dealt with some of the most ridiculous situations ever while at those camps. I have worked with blind and severely disabled students who were known to throw feces at me or try to bite me. I have worked with kids who have been in the United States for less than six weeks and know about seven words of English.

While I've had a lot of experiences working with kids throughout my life, I'm convinced that nothing I've done up to this point could have prepared me for the phone call I received this morning from a vice principal at my school. The first thing she said to me at 8:15 this morning was that they were activating the phone tree because they had some news they needed to share. Instanteously I knew it was something bad...they don't even use the phone tree for snow days...let alone a Tuesday morning in July. She was calling to let me know that one of our students had died last night from an accidental gunshot wound.

Shock.

But not as shocked as I was when she told me the name. In a school of 2200, what are the chances that I actually know the kid? Apparently today the odds are in my favor...though I don't really think that's a good thing. Little Scott Rutherford, who I never actually had in class, but knew very well through a bunch of student council things, was accidentally shot by his older brother last night. Before they were even able to call 911, he died. He was 16.

Death is a crazy thing. You think that you're prepared for it...you trust that God has everything under control...you try to be strong...

He was just a little kid. Sure, he was one of those kids that a lot of teachers wanted nothing to do with because he was a little jerk sometimes, but all in all, he was just another 16 year old boy trying to figure out life. But now he doesn't get to do that anymore. And his friends now have the burden of figuring life out on top of dealing with the death of a friend.

I can't even imagine...

A New Found Dedication

So I started this blog about two months ago...and as you can see, there are a staggering two blogs. That's embarassing. What's the point of creating a blog if you're not going to use it? I feel like if you don't blog at least once a week, then really the only reason you even set one up was because you were forced into it by your other friends who are on this thing religiously. While I do have friends who check the blog rather consistently, I can honestly say that I wasn't forced...more just intrigued by the possibilities that a blog offers. I mean, where else can you write about absolutely nothing, throw some pictures up and know that people will read it and be entertained? Talk about a captive audience :) And with that, I've resolved to be better about blogging. We'll see how long my resolve holds up.


I just got back from a camping (well not really camping because camping in my world involves tents and no running water and having to go to the bathroom in the woods...none of which took place this weekend...this was a Mt. Hood cabin...) trip with a few of my friends. This trip was meant to be a relaxing time...playing some games, sitting around the campfire, drinking, etc. However, it's quite funny what happens when you throw five fairly active people together for a "relaxing" weekend...we can't do it. It's impossible for us to sit and do nothing. So what did we end up doing you ask?


Hike part of the Pacific Crest Trail of course.

It's not everyday that you get the chance to head up to Timberline Lodge and run around for a few hours. I think I hiked about nine miles yesterday. Not just hiking on trails though...because that would be too simple and no fun at all. When we hike, we hike through snow and up and down giant hills and around through fields. Go big or go home.

Today is a different story. The longest hike I was able to handle was from my bed to the shower. I need to get in better shape.

So yes. That's my life in a nutshell at the moment. Working a lot still...but that's a good thing. I'm sure I'll have some stories to tell about that.

Until next time...