More Vacation Pics!

I just had to share with you a few more pictures from my Disney Cruise Vacation. We had so much fun, and I was totally blessed to be able to go on this vacation.





This was a road sign on the Route 66 Road where all the bars/clubs were at on board. I just thought it was hilarious..."Nuts to You!"




Enjoying a little wine with dinner, at Animator's Palate on our last night of the cruise.




Tony and Helena...Susana's brother and wife from Spain. I love talking with Helena, my Spanish is non-existent and she speaks English fairly well. However, there are moments when the correct English terminology escapes her, and that is when we start laughing.





You never know who might just decide to take a walk around the deck in the afternoon. Repeat after me...I must always have my camera handy and ready! Me and Alexis were ready for our pic with Daisy Duck.





Me and Susana hanging out in one of the cool round windows outside Wave Bands...the club we went to every night to listen to music.





Aarrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Who is this wench???





My favorite way to take a pic...take it by holding the camera and taking my own picture! This is me and Juana, Susana's mom. This is actually our second vacation together...she went with us to Spain a few years ago.





Me and Susana outside on Deck 10 at the Pirates in the Caribbean Deck Party!




These are some mean looking twin pirates. Laura and Virginia on Pirates in the Caribbean night!




I'm surprised he posed for this picture....Antonio in his pirate get up!

Castaway Cay

Disney has their own private island in the Bahamas called Castaway Cay. We were here on Tuesday of our cruise, and had a great time enjoying the scenery, the water and just being out in the sun. I went snorkeling with Susana's brother Tony, his son Antonio, and her other nephew RJ. It was a blast...so many cool fish to see, and Disney has "sunk" a ton of items to attract fish as well as to keep the snorkelers occupied.




An absolutely beautiful view of the sun breaking through the clouds at Castaway Cay





View of the ocean, beach and palm trees....makes me wish I was still there or that I could be one of the full time residents of the island.







Another view of the sun breaking through. There had been a little bit of rain off and on throughout the day; however, the last hour or so of our time on the island was interrupted by a small tropical storm. To this Washingtonian it was nothing...but they thought it was bad enough to kick everyone out of the water and beach. But look how beautiful it is once the rain is gone and the sun is shining!





This is a view of the "sunken" mast in the snorkeling lagoon. We snorkeled out past there looking for the sunken Mickey Mouse mast head. It was a blast snorkeling for the first time.




Me and Susana at Mount Rustmore









Me getting ready to go snorkeling for the very first time. This was probably one of the best things I did on vacation. It was so cool to be swimming just a few feet above hundreds of fish swimming together. It really made me see how much God has created, and how cool he created the animals. Awesome experience, I can't wait to go snorkeling again.






Me with the Disney Wonder Cruise ship in the background




Susana enjoying some of the water at the beach





Me at the entrance to Castaway Cay, Bahamas




Me enjoying the beach chair plopped right in the water

Pirates in The Caribbean

These are pictures of my favorite Pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow




The Flying Dutchman anchored off the shores of Castaway Cay, Bahamas





Jack with Susana and the girls





Me and Captain Jack. The guy playing Jack was perfect...he had Johnny Depp's movements, voice and characteristics down to a tee. He was fun to talk with and nice to look at :) The picture came out a bit blurry, but oh well!




Jack signing autographs for all of us!






Me, Mikki and Alexis in front of the flying Dutchman

Vacation Pictures

I'm back from cruising 'round the Caribbean. We had an absolutely amazing vacation. It was warm and sunny...although we did have a storm at Disney's private island which in turn cleared the beach and we had to go back to the ship an hour or so early, but oh well.

Of course, being a Disney cruise, I met lots of characters and had them sign my autograph book. You think, she has an autograph book at her age? Why yes I do...I'm just like any typical child who gets excited when she sees all the princesses. I also like the villians, Malificent is one of my favorites!

Here are some of our character pictures





Me, Susana (my best friend), and her nieces Alexis, Mikki, Laura, and Virginia with Cinderella






Me, Susana, Maria (Susana's sister) and Alexis (who absolutely loves Tinkerbell, and was told by Peter Pan to keep her eye out for her during the cruise!) with Peter Pan and Wendy Darling






Me with the Queen of Hearts...off with their heads! and Alice in Wonderland





All of us girls with Snow White




All of us with Aurora...Sleeping Beauty

The Bahamas!

So yeah, I leave in three days for the Bahamas on a Disney Cruise! I'm so excited. Even though I travel a lot, it has been almost two years since my last vacation with my best friend Susana. Gosh I miss her!!!! Not only do I get to see her, but I get to see her whole family which I love as well. I leave Saturday night at 11:30pm...catchin' the red eye...and get to Orlando at 11:30 am (dang those layovers)! Then we set sail on Sunday afternoon for a four day Bahamian Cruise onboard the Disney Wonder.

A few of us are talking about snorkeling while at Castaway Cay...Disney's private island in the Bahamas. I've never snorkeled before, but I love the water so it should be fun. We also get to spend a day in Nassau.

Well, if I don't check in before I go...I will be home on the 13th (late that night). So happy July...enjoy all the sun we've been getting. I hope everyone had a great fourth of July! I was going to out to the Lake, but changed my mind and just stayed home. We saw some fireworks from the house. We barbequed steaks, addressed wedding invitations for my friend Holly and played cards...a nice relaxing night at home.

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy fourth of July everyone! I hope you have a great holiday. Now remember to be safe...no putting fireworks into cans, jars or other containers (unless you can run really, really fast). I hope you enjoy the fireworks tonight....let's hear some oohh's and aahhh's....!!!!

Busy Life!

I've had such an incredibly busy weekend, and a bit frustrating as well. It all started last Monday when I ran out of gas, and my car wouldn't start back up. First of all, let me tell you that in all my 31 years I have never run out of gas before!!! So I had to have my car towed home. I didn't know that in a lot of Fords the fuel pump is in the gas tank and when you run out of gas, it kind of ruins the pump. So on Friday I had to have my fuel pump replaced...which cost a LOT of money (thanks Dad for helping me out--aren't Dad's the best?) I had to work on Saturday in Seattle so as I was driving down the freeway Saturday morning my car started shaking, and I started praying and panicking!!! It stopped, I kept going...it started again, and I turned back home! Ugh.....so I went to Les Schwab today had the tires balanced and one of my tires fixed and seems to have fixed the shaking in my car. However, I now have a slight grabbing when I turn corners...going to worry about that later. I honestly need more work done on my car or just a new car; however, not being able to afford either right now I am praying that my car will keep going, that I will get extra finances to do a little work, that a cheap mechanic (but good) comes my way, or that God provides me with a new car soon.

As I said, I had to work in Seattle on Saturday...KMPS had a huge pre concert party at Qwest Stadium for the Kenny Chesney concert. And I mean HUGE...the other country stations were kind of put to shame! We were out at the parking lot at 8am setting up for games and activities...keeping in mind that the concert didn't start until 4:30pm. We had pools with sand, palm trees and tiki torches in them. We had a stage for a band to play on. Our DJ's were broadcasting live and interviewing some of the artists...Blaine Larsen and Dierks Bentley. We had tons of KMPS listeners come out sporting KMPS gear in hopes of getting front row seats! It was insane. I helped with a lot of the games....right in the sun...all day...it was hot and sweaty! My sister Camille came down to watch the concert with me and we had a blast. The concert was Blaine Larsen, Dierks Bentley, Big and Rich (our favorites), Gretchen Wilson and Kenny Chesney. We stayed through about three songs of Kenny's and then we left...by this time it was almost 10pm and I was pooped! What a great concert though....and what wonderful weather.

Sunday I worked with KMPS out at NW Trek for Slug Fest....it was fun to watch kids do the human slug races on wet, soapy tarps...kind of like slip 'n slide but inside of "slug" suit!

Then I worked again on Sunday night for KMPS at the Emerald Queen Casino for the LeeAnn Rhimes concert. She was great...short show (only an hour), but she is an amazing singer for only being 22. Even weirder is the fact that she has been a recording artist for 10 years! WOW!

So that has been my weekend....busy, busy, busy. I have Monday through Wednesday off then I work again Thursday through Sunday. Taste of Tacoma is next weekend for anyone who wants to come visit me at the KMPS booth!!!!

AND....My vacation is almost here! I leave a week from Saturday to go on a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas with my best friend Susana, her parents, her brother and family, and her sister and family....14 of us in all!! What a great trip it is going to be......I am so excited to have a few days to visit my friend and get more sun!

Survey for Josh

ok...I got this from my nephew Josh, so I thought I'd do it for him. :) Plus, it's kind of fun....enjoy..... Love Ya Josh!

9 lasts

1. cigarette: Never
2. beverage: Fresca w/Peach Citrus (yum)
3. kiss: Never been Kissed
4. hug: Yesterday
5. movie seen: The Lake House (da ya know Keanu is um..Hot)
6. cd played: Me and My Gang by Rascal Flatts
7. song listened to: Dark Dreary Day by the Noted (can be found on my friends list...yeah Sean)
8. bubble bath: ummmm...months, years?
9. time you cried: last week?

8 have you evers

1. dated one of your best friends: No
2. skinny dipped: Yes
3. kissed somebody and regretted it: No
4. fallen in love: No
5. lost someone you loved: Yes
6. been depressed: Yes
7. been drunk and threw up: No
8. ran away: No (thought about the circus, but...)

7 states you've been to

1. Washington
2. California
3. Georgia
4. Florida
5. Texas
6. Colorado
7. Tennessee

6 things you've done today

1. Tried to start my dead car :(
2. Met w/Melissa Bixler
3. Emailed about upcoming MC Retreats
4. Checked the Mail
5. Played Super Collapase at Yahoo.com
6. Paid bills

5 favorite things in no order

1. Maddy
2. Books
3. Music
4. The color blue
5. My comfy bed with all my comfy blankies

4 people you last talked to

1. Shannon K.
2. Charlie
3. Chipo
4. Melissa E.

3 wishes

1. A god fearing husband
2. Kids
3. Debt Free

2 things you want to be when you grow up

1. Wife
2. Mommy

1 thing you regret

1. I don't regret anything, because God uses the mistakes I make to better me, show me something in my life, or to get me to the next level. I've made stupid decisions, but I don't regret them for that is who I am today! Do you know God loves you???!!! HE DOES!!!!!

Skechers and #100

These are my brand new pink skechers!!! I am so excited for them. So I was shopping the other day with my friend Holly, and we walked into Famous Footwear just to see what they had. I found these totally cute pink skechers there, and really wanted them. However, they were $40 (on sale too!), and I quite honestly didn't have an extra $40 to spend on shoes. So I was thinking of various ways to get money for a new pair of shoes. That same night I was at church and they were short childcare workers for the night...I helped out...I got $20. And they need help next week for another $20...isn't it wonderful? I totally thank God that He provided a way for me to get some as insignificant as shoes....however, remember that the things we might see as insignificant and unimportant to God are the things He wants to bless us with because He knows how much it means to us! I love serving a God who pays attention to the details of my life!!!


**********POST NUMBER 100**********

This is also my 100th post on my blog. I have to tell you that I totally love the blogging world. Where else can I talk so much, at least through typing, and not have anyone tell me to be quiet. I love it. I also love catching up with old friends and making new friends. If you want to be a friend just ask me, I'll probably say yes (unless you are some totally psychopathic murderer).

To all the dads, papas, granddads, uncles, and brothers to all of us princesses "Happy Father's Day!"

MC Graduation Breakfast

I have to say that some of my favorite people are our MC students from this year. I truly love working with this program and these students. We love to honor our students with a Graduation Breakfast, and we like to do it in style.
So on Monday the 12th, we took them up to Salish Lodge at Snoqualmie Falls for the famous Salish Breakfast. It was marvelous. It is like a five course breakfast, all plated and served to us in style. The staff at the Salish are great...we love going up there every year.




Chipo is one of my favs as we were able to get to know one another before MC ever started last year. Last summer we were housemates taking care of an older gentleman Tom.
We spent many nights together watching tv and just talking and laughing. I love her to death. If you think about it, please pray for her. She is still working with INS in order to stay in the states. Did I forget to tell you, she is from Zimbabwe!





We also take with us any of our council members that are able to steal away from work for the day! Sshhhh....don't tell anyone, but quite a few took the day off (not naming any names...fawcetts...west...).
This is Terry Fawcett, who we all affectionately call Momma T. Not only are her and her husband Mike council members, but they have also opened there home to students for the last three years. I know that they are great listeners and prayers, but I think most people want to stay there because Momma T knows how to cook!


Some of our students are just plain weird! But then again, so am I. Maybe that's why I fit in so well. This is Branden, one of our second year students posing with flowers in his ear.


Remember, I said that it was a five course plated breakfast? This is some of our natives chomping at the bit for their food. On the left is Harry Partl, a first year graduate who has a great heart for technical ministry (makes all of us look and sound great on stage) and Alfredo Harrison Baker Llapitan (I had to write it all out, because I messed it up at graduation...sorry), also known as Harrison, on the right who is a second year graduate.



I don't really know what to tell you about these two! The are reading a watch manual to one another in French...a tad weird? Yes, I agree!



We also celebrated two birthdays while we were there. One was Shannon's, and the other was Josh Bradford's 19th birthday. Both birthdays were actually on the 13th. Happy Birthday Josh! Josh is coming back to MC next year as a second year student focusing on Thrive, our junior high ministry. He is awesome with young kids!


And last but not least, Johnny and Chipo outside the Lodge near the Falls! Love you both!

Happy 31st Birthday!

So, my friend, pastor, leader....Shannon Kapp is 31 today. He has this thing with getting older...he doesn't like it. So I thought that I would be nice and wish him a Happy Birthday on the world wide web...and post a few pics! It's ok to get older, as he so nicely points out to me as I am older than he is!!!




















Our wonderful MC leaders.....Shannon and Liz Kapp...and their children Chandler, Chase, and Zoe.

Busy Weekend!

What a weekend! Our Masters Commission finished this weekend, with graduation on Sunday. I spent all last week and most of the weekend getting ready for the graduation...buying food for the reception, making programs, printing diplomas, running around for graduation presents....busy but I love doing what I do for MC. The only glitch to the whole weekend was that our graduation rings, which we order online, got stuck in customs from Canada to the US...so they didn't make it to us on time. Which meant that our students received empty boxes on Sunday...I felt bad, but what is a girl to do?

The ceremony was great! We commissioned our four second year students, who then in turn helped us present diplomas to our 13 first year
students.

Congratulations to Second Years: Branden, Harrison, Katie, and Ashley ...you guys have
done an awesome job these last 18 months.








Our first year graduates are: Melissa Bixler, Kenny Blight, Joshua Bradford, Johnathan Brunet, Chipo Chikara, Melissa Clapp, Kimberly Fader, Johnny Heese, Dustin Holaday, Harry Partl, Laura Quann, Nicole Russo, and Carol Wilmot.

New Puppy!

Barb, the lady I live with, brought home a new puppy last Friday. His name is Samson and he is an English Bulldog, Jack Russell Terrier mix. He is totally adorable, soft and cuddly.

I created a Slide Show! Check it out!

A Rock in Iowa

I have seen an email message that has gone around the world wide web for more than a year now. A friend of mine recently passed it my way again. I decided it was worth showing if only to remind us of where we live and the freedom we have. And more importantly to give thanks to a God that has allowed us these freedoms. Not only freedom of free speech, and the right to vote, the freedom to own property and the freedom to not be slaves...but more importantly the freedom to worship the true God! The freedom to express our thanks in the way that God himself has given us talents. Not all of us can sing the praises of God with a voice like an angel, not all of us can stand up to thousands and preach the gospel to the hungry and hurt, and not all of us can express our worship in painting as the young man did in these pictures. I don't know if this young man is a Christian or not, but I do know that he truly has a heart of a servant to give thanks to those who have paved the way for him!





This is the text that has been given in the email, along with the pictures. I hope that you not only enjoy these pictures, but that you realize God has given you talents and that you are able to recognize what those are!



"I've been told that there is a huge rock near a gravel pit on Hwy.25 in rural Iowa. For generations, kids have painted slogans, names, and obscenities on this rock, changing its character many times. A few months back, the rock received its latest paint job, and since then it has been left completely undisturbed. It's quite an impressive sight. Be sure to scroll down and check out the multiple photos (all angles) of the rock. I thought the flag was draped over the rock, but it's not. It's actually painted on the rock too."







This is a picture of the artist Ray "Bubba" Sorenson. Thank you for using the talents God gave you and the freedom that our country allows to visibly allow us to remember the men and women who have fought for our counry, our freedoms and our very lives.