Happy Birthday Maddy!

My baby niece Madalyne turns 8 today (October 3rd)!! I miss you so much! I love all my nieces and nephews, but this one is my best bud! I've been an integral part of her life since she was just under two years old. We do everything together...I love just hanging out with her. She calls me constantly on the phone, just to say Hi and that she misses me. She is always asking when I am moving down to be with her. She sees me as a very important family member that is missing from her life right now. I can't wait to move down there and be with all of them again!



Me and Madalyne! Now that she is in California, I miss her so much. I'm sad thinking that I can't be with her on her big day! I miss everyone...ok...gotta stop the tears are coming.



My little girl is all grown-up! I love you Maddy more than you will ever know!

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Madalyne, Happy Birthday to you!"

Little Things

I worked for KMPS today at the East Pierce Fire Department's Open House in Bonney Lake. It was this huge deal with Medi-Vacs landing, McChords Bomb Robot, Fire Hoses, Fire Engines, and so much more. Well, BeBe and Glitterbugz, two clowns that were painting faces came and brought me to their stand and gave me the cute flowers on my face. It was fun to have my face painted like the little kids do!



When I got home tonight, Charlie told me there was something on the table for me!! Yeah...I love surprises....what was it? This brand new totally cute straw cowboy hat. He knows how much I love my cowboy hats (this makes number 4), and knew that I didn't have just a plain straw hat. It has a cute heart button tied to the front with rafia.....I LOVE IT!!!!!

Now I need somewhere country to go!

Lack of Sleep

My work calendar tremendously slowed down this week. I got called in for half a day subbing on Monday afternoon, and had to do a mortgage signing on Monday night (I am a notary and do signings on the side for extra cash). The rest of the week has been me going to bed extremely late...no earlier than 2am each night, and not getting up before 9:30am (and actually not really getting ready for the day until after 11am). I needed the week to rest and get things done.

So I really wasn't expecting to get called into school today, so of course I was up until 2am reading a book! Low and behold my phone rang at 5:15 this morning to sub at the high school...needing to be there at 7am....needing to leave my house no later than 6:40am. I thought about going back to bed for a half hour or so, but knew that if I chanced it I might not get back up to get to work.

Soooo....I am awfully tired right now! And I've learned my lesson! In bed before Midnight unless it is the weekend!!!!!

Vision Forum Contest

This sounded like fun...found it via Karen Engstrom's site

Win $700 in product from Vision Forum at Vision Forum Contest

It looks like a great contest and a great catalog!

Second Blog

Ok...so I am trying to be more accountable with my devotions. I figure I am in front of the computer a lot, so I am going to do my daily journaling in the form of a blog. Our church has a mechanism called S.O.A.P., which means scripture, observation, application and prayer.

Please feel free to ask me if I am keeping up with this! I haven't been the most faithful...doesn't it feel good to be honest with yourself and everyone else? I mean I am a good Christian in that I don't do "wrong" things; however, we get so wrapped in daily living that we, and I mean I, forget to focus on what means the most. Getting to know God, His Son, the Holy Spirit and the Word better!

It is really affecting me in that I am feel as if I am floundering right now. I feel as if I don't have a true place to belong...and I know I shouldn't base things off of feelings. Is God moving me a new direction? Am I ready? I honestly don't know....and I haven't been asking God enough to know. So if you know me (Marcie, Jess) bless keep me accountable. I am working through things right now and trying to make some sound decisions with my life. I want to get settled where I am supposed to be long term; I want to go back to school; I want to be involved with ministry; I want to be married....however, I know there is a time and place for everything.


Anyways....visit my daily devotions at Rachel's Soap Page

The Ocean

Last Thursday our MC staff took our second year students (we have six this year) up to Moclips, WA...which is just above Pacific Beach (somewhat close to Ocean Shores). We start our second year students off we a retreat every year to relax, build relationships and get before God as we go into a new season of MC.

Thursday night Shannon gave a great teaching, and God showed up dealing with hearts and giving a new refreshing of the Holy Spirit. It was wonderful to just have the opportunity to get close to God!!


On Friday we went over to Westport and set sail on a three hour tour...on board a tall ship the "Hawaiin Chieftain". Yes we sailed a tall ship in Grays Harbor. All the mates on board wore somewhat authentic clothing and were great sailors, climbing the masts and everything. Quite a few people helped with the ropes and rigging...I got to hold onto a rope for a brief moment...don't think I was actually helping with anything though!!!

We then had dinner out, went back to the house we rented sat by the fire and worshipped...we got to sing "Amazing Grace" to the accompianment of bagpipes!! We then had smores and finished the night by playing MAFIA! If you have never played Mafia...you should it is great fun!

Everyone went home Saturday except myself and one family...we just hung out and relaxed. Went down to the beach and I got to fly a kite (and not the kind I used to get in my Easter basket every year). It was a blast....then I walked into the water for a bit. Cold water!!

This is me just hanging out on the beach. Isn't it amazing how the Bible says that he holds the oceans in the palm of his hands? It just seems so unfathomable, because to our mind the oceans are so huge!

My Weekend!

I had a wonderful Birthday! And unlike a friend of mine (um...Shannon Kapp) I have no problem getting older. Yeah! I'm 32! "Let's give 'em something to talk about...she's 32"!

Even though I saw none of family...which was really sad!, I still had a great weekend. Started off by going to see Wynonna in concert, like I said earlier she was absolute magnificent.

Saturday morning (my actual birthday) Barb, Charlie and I went out to breakfast at Mrs. Turner's in Puyallup (Barb and Charlie are the wonderful people who let me stay with them)...it was yummy! Then we headed up to Macy's to do a little shopping. WoW~I have a new respect for Macy's. I always just thought of them as expensive...which they are...however, when you get in on their 50% off clearance and the days that they do 40% off on top of that you get some great deals. I got the cutest skirt and matching shirt set (brown with colored flowers) for only $26!! And a pair of Alfani Capris for less than $10 (originally $80...who pays $80 for Capris?). It was fun shopping...I haven't been in forever as I seldom have extra money.

Then I went out to dinner with my friends Holly & Rodney (and Carter..he's a cute 2 year old) and Barb & Charlie to the Old Spaghetti Factory in Tacoma. Amazing how a plate of noodles with Mizithra cheese can tast so good! That is the only thing I ever get from OSF...ask Susana I think that is what I got in Nashville too!

Then we went and saw the movie "Invincible" with Mark Wahlberg....great movie. I definitely recommend this one to everyone. It was a great movie because it focused on a lot of the supporting characters and how they were feeling and what they were gong through instead of just focusing on the main character. Plus the fact that the backside of Mark Wahlberg is lookin' mighty fine these days! :)

Then it was back to usual life on Sunday....I had to work 10am to 10pm...long day. Our Masters Commission is headed up to Moclips (Ocean Shores area) with our 2nd year students on Thursday for a couple of days...so we will get a nice little break this weekend!

Thanks to all who sent me birthday wishes...it was great!

Wynonna

Wow! Got to go see Lady Wynonna in concert tonight (sorry Jess!). She was performing in Olympia for a benefit concert. She is absolutely amazing. God definitely blessed her with a gift...and she knows that it comes from God. Her encore tonight was "How Great Thou Art". Amazing!

She did rock songs, Elvis, and of course classic Judds songs....one of my favorites being "Grandpa". She is, in my opinion, one of the greatest female singers.

All in all, it was fun!

It's My BIRTHDAY!!!

Did you know it is my 32nd birthday tomorrow...September 16th? It is!!

I am so grateful that I serve a God who has seen me through so many twists and turns throughout my 32 years. More importantly, I give thanks that God saved my life 32 years ago! Let me tell you how...

....for those of you who don't know, I am adopted! I was adopted at three days old to wonderful parents...Art and Connie! I love my parents. My biological parents were young students and not married. During the time that my biological mother was pregnant with me, the Roe v. Wade trial decisions concerning abortion were placed into affect. Simply said...abortion became legal. I firmly believe that my mother had a choice, and she made a choice for me to have life. I don't know if God spoke to her or she just didn't believe in abortion...but I am here today living and breathing and serving my God.

God placed me in a very loving home...I think I was a bit spoiled by aunts and Grandma Pat as I was the first Granddaughter on my Mom's side. We didn't grow up in a Christian household (we starting attending Christian churches when I was a pre-teen), but once I got ahold of Christianity I stuck with it (although I did go through some very tumultous times in regards to my relationship with God). I was blessed with two sisters...one who is only 8 months younger than me!!! My mom was pregnant while going through my adoption. And my baby sister who is 8 years younger.

I went through a vicous cycle of feeling unwanted, unloved and unworthy because of the rejection I felt from my biological mom; however, God has delivered me from this and I stand here today totally confident in who I am in the Lord. I pray a lot that my biological parents feel no guilt in putting me up for adoption. I pray that they know the Lord, and that somehow they know that I am ok. I want them to know that I support their decision and feel confident that they made the right choice. I don't want them to be plagued with guilt and confusion, but peace!

Do I want to know who they are? There is this part of me that does want to know...I don't want to hurt feelings by pursuing a search, but there is always this part that just wants to know a bit more information. I think that the biggest thing that I would like to know is, who do I look like and take after? Growing up with my sisters, I definitely don't fit the mold of our family. I don't look anything like anyone, but I still feel as a part of my family. I just want to know..."where do my distinctive looking blue eyes come from?" "who has the red hair in my family?" "where are my family roots from?" I think I also want to meet my biological parents just so that I can tell them that God gave me a wonderful family...a Mom, a Dad, two sisters and a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Are they thinking about me tomorrow? Only God knows...but I hope they do, and I hope the feel as if they made the right decision. I do know who is thinking about me though...and that is my Mom Connie!! Even though I don't say it enough...I Love You! Thanks for being my Mom!


PS...Happy Birthday to James (Marcie's husband) as well...his birthday is the same day

T-Shirt Slogans

So, a person has a lot of time to people watch when spending more than 10 hours at the fair! And in that time, I see lots of T-Shirts (some quite inappropriate)...but I saw this one, and thought it was hilarious. Enjoy!

"Your shirt says Princess....Your face says Troll!"

Montgomery Gentry

And this is what I do at night (at the fair)....work at the KMPS booth. Tonight's concert was Montgomery Gentry (Troy Montgomery and Eddie Gentry). Our promotions coordinator Erica was very gracious and let me go back stage with her tonight and meet the boys!

Wooo---Hooo! It was great fun.



I didn't have anything for them to sign, so I had them sign my name badge...going into the scrapbook for sure!



This is a side photo (off my camera) so it kind of sucks...oh well. I will be getting a good photo sent to me soon.

Meet Mabel

Just thought I'd show you the typical day in the life of Rachel at the Puyallup Fair. I am working mornings over in the Dairy Barn, in Mabel's Stable. This is a fun little interactive for kids of all ages. Mabel is a very docile (shhh....don't let her hear me, but she is plastic) cow that the kids get to "milk". She is also on a diet, so her milk looks like water right now!

Needless to say, it was fairly slow today...so I took a few shots for you all.



Yes, this is me milking Mabel. If you come and milk Mabel, you will get a coloring page to take home that says, "I milked Mabel in her stable at the Puyallup Fair!"



And this is our lovely Mabel....isn't she a beaut?

Kenny Rogers

Look who I got to meet yesterday at the Fair! The Gambler himself, Kenny Rogers. He was cool...kinda old, but cool. Can you believe that he is 68 years old and father to twin 2-year old boys! Wow! Amazingly enough, his show was the second highest selling show of the fair. He sold more tickets than even Montgomery Gentry....weird!

Ok...so how is it that I am working two jobs, and really only come home to sleep, and yet I am still able to blog? Come on my blogging friends....get out your keyboards and start typing! :)

Do the Puyallup!

Ferris Wheels.......Cotton Candy.......Earthquake Burgers.......Roller Coasters.......Doo Dah Birds.......Carnival Games!

Yeah, it's that time of year again...the Puyallup Fair started today! Even though I will be there most of the 17 days of the fair, I had to go early and just cruise around the fair.

This fair has such fond memories...going with my Mom and Dad when we were kids...being dropped off with friends when in Jr. High and running around till Dad picked us up...having my whole MC class come after we graduated from MC...going with my nieces and nephews (like a good aunt, I would let them skip school)...going with friends and doing the circuit eating...and today just walking around by myself soaking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the Fair! There just isn't anything else like it.

If you get the chance come out and enjoy the fair! Bring the kids, bring moms and dads, bring your appetite and your wallet! See if you can find me at the fair too...sometimes I am in Mabel's Stable in the dairy barn helping kids milk...and the rest of the time I am at the KMPS booth right inside the Gold gate...I'm always looking for someone to visit with!!

By the way...did you know that the Puyallup Fair is one of the top five largest fairs in the US? Pretty impressive if you ask me!

Let's Go Shopping!

Girls, get some friends together and go shopping!!! Why do I say this? The SuperMall in Auburn is hosting their annual Magical Night of Giving on Sunday, November 5, 2006 from 7--11pm. And the only way into the mall that night is by purchasing a ticket for $5 that local non-profit organizations are selling.

Our Masters Commission is selling tickets for this event...only $5 gets you in the door and entered into drawings for great prizes. There are one night only discounts, door prizes, family entertainment and FREE gift wrapping of all your Christmas presents!

Our group gets 100% of all the monies made from the fundraiser, and we in turn are using this money to send our group to India and Thailand. If you are interested in buying tickets, let me know...email me at mc@p4square.com! I will send your tickets to you in the mail! What better way to support non-profit groups, get your Christmas shopping done, and have a fun time shopping with girlfriends or your husbands!!!!!

To all those born before 1980!!

This was sent to me today, and I thought it was appropriate since I was born in 1974!!! Yep, I will be 32 in a week or so...YEAH!!!!!!!!!


Congratulations

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags (yes, this is how I got the scar on my head!).

Doctors and Dentist never wore latax gloves.

Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat (ah, those wonderful summer days...!).

We drank water from a pump or the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because......WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on or before dark. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our soap box cars or go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes (Thanks Tony for driving into the back of your dad's pick-up with me in the go-cart with you...that hurt like Hell!). After running into the bushes or a ditch a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes (although Atari was pretty cool), no video games at all,no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays (even the girls did...I actually received a bow and arrow one year), made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them (or just walked right into their house)!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever! The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL! And YOU are one of them! CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good. and while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were.

PS -The big type is because your eyes are shot at your age!!

Please Pray

Good Morning! Please pray for my church, Puyallup Foursquare, today. Our pastoral staff is holding an emergency business meeting this afternoon after service to impart some very devastating news. You understand that I can not go into details about the situation; however, it is a very delicate issue that is going to affect a lot of people. My heart has been very heavy since Thursday, when I found out the news.

Some specific prayer requests:

1. Wisdom for our pastoral staff in dealing with the news and telling it to our congregation

2. This is potential news that could affect church goers who are on the fringe of making a decision for Christ...and we never want to see a person get so upset that they never come back to church or make Christ their Savior

3. Those people that are in the middle of this situation

4. Peace over our churches (it does involve another church...so please pray for them as well...I won't say who though)

Thank you so much! It is so hard to be a position where you see the enemy moving and trying to destroy churches, families, individuals, and simply anyone who desires to know more of God and do His will. I know that I have some amazing prayer warrior friends out there that will take this to Heaven's gates.

Thank you all again....many blessings!

Family Pics

These are pictures from when my brother-in-law Ernie was up last week with my niece Maddy. We had lunch together one day with my nephew Josh, my sister Camille and niece Dajia.



Maddy took this picture of me at Chuck E Cheese....can you believe I didn't get one picture of us together?




Josh, Maddy and Dajia....smile big!



Maddy's buddy Zach...Zach is actually my first cousin; however, he is Maddy's age. So I am more like an aunt to him and Maddy.



My Maddy! She has grown so much and is such a delight....love you tons



Me and my nephew Josh. Josh lives in Gig Harbor, and is a football player for his highschool team. The girls just love him.



Ernie and Josh! Watch out Ernie, Josh is almost taller than you!



Ernie and Dajia...she sure loves her Uncle Ernie!

Bull Riding Pics!

Here are some pics from Bull Riding that I went to a few weekends ago! I love to watch bull riding...Yes, I do love the cowboys too!



Me and Adriano Moraes, one of the top PBR rider's...he is from Brazil




The main bull fighter for the night!





One of the other bull fighters that night!




Some bull riding action....8 seconds is a long time to stay on top of a bull!

Holly's Bacholerette Party Pics!

These pictures are in honor of my friend Holly, who is getting married tomorrow, September 1st. We had her bacholorette party a few weekends ago, and had a lot of fun. Princess hats for everyone!!!!


Holly...the head princess for the night...the bride!





Holly's sister Heather



Holly's sister-in-law, Mandi





Me!



Me and Barb, Holly's mom goofing around at dinner at The Cheesecake Factory!

Church Today

I was laying in bed this morning (after the alarm clock went off) debating on whether to get up and go to church, or sleep in a bit more. I kept thinking that I didn't get enough sleep seeing as how I didn't get home until after 1am from work and then I had to do the whole work thing all over again today. However, I knew that I needed to get up and get going! I sat next to friends James and Marcie this morning, and she said that if it was such a big debate within that it must mean God had something he wanted to tell me this morning through the word being preached!

What did I learn? "Jesus is MY EVERYTHING!" Not sometimes, not when I'm in a good mood, not when I am desperate to pay this month's bills...but all the time! Through good and bad, Jesus is my everything. Friends aren't my everything. Money isn't my everything. My car isn't my everything. My everything is only found in one place and that is Jesus Christ. I'm glad that I wake up every morning and have the opportunity to decide whether to get up for church or not. There are so many people that don't have the same opportunities that I take for granted! No more debates...Jesus is my everything!

Pastor also spoke about breakthroughs today. Here are just a few key points that I picked up on as he was speaking about the last few chapters of Job:

1. "I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you" 42:2--God can truly do anything He wants to and no one...especially me...is able to stop Him. He can make a way where there seems to be no way. He can provide finances when you don't have two pennies to rub together. He can heal the blind and the sick. Isn't it great to know He can do whatever, whenever?!!!

2. "I had heard about you before, but not I have seen you with my own eyes" 42:5--Amazing how Job was such a righteous man before everything bad happened to him. However, during that time of blessing he states he had only heard about God...after his children, livestock and very way of living was wiped out he saw God with his own eyes and knew God so much more intimately. Because Job embraced his personal pain he was able to deepen the quality of his realtionship with God! I want this!

3. "We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God's comfort" 2Cor1:7--this is hand in hand statement. You must suffer to be comforted, you can't have one without the other. As I know that I want God's comfort, I know that I will go through suffering...it isn't an option...so don't going looking for the back door to get out of the suffering that comes.

4. "So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning" 42:12--I don't regret the past, I don't think that I have lived life to the fullest, and I don't think I have seen the greatest portion of God's blessing in and through my life. The best years of my life are still to come!! Yes I believe this even as I see 32 looming on the horizon!

Thank you Jesus that I got up out of bed this morning and heard the word of God spoken into my life! I thank you that you meet me right where I am at, knowing at all times what I need and how I need to get there! I give everything into your hands...the worries I have right now about finances, my car, and relationships. They are not mine to worry about, but they are yours to work in and through. I know that you have only the best in store for me, and I continue to press into that which You have called me to!!!!

Hmmmm...what's up doc?

So, I thought I should make my blogging (and real) friends happy (here you go Marcie) and do a post update about my life. I am doing this today, as the fair season (for me) starts tomorrow, and I am going to be working insanely long hours and many many days. The Evergreen State Fair starts in Monroe tomorrow, and throughout it's 10 day duration I am working 80+ hours, plus still working a few events for the event planning company I work for. And...I am not even working on August 31st and September 1st as I am helping my friend Holly with her wedding that is on the 1st.

Then I am off to the Ellensburg Rodeo on Labor Day...working of course, but still having fun. KMPS is sending a "FUN" bus over to the rodeo and I am the staff person that day. So I get a free ride to the rodeo, tickets into the rodeo and lunch...all for sitting on the bus and playing trivia with our DJ and bus riders! Sometimes I love my job!!!

Then the Puyallup Fair starts on September 8th! I thought I'd take it easy this year, but no...got roped into helping at the cow barns for the actual fair on top of working for KMPS. So I am generally going to be there every day open to close! Lots of hours...some money! :)

I went to the PBR (Professional Bull Riding for those who aren't a part of the PBR world) last Friday. It was held at the Puyallup Fair...it was good, not as exciting as some of the other circuits. I did get to sit and have my picture taken with Adriano Moraes who just happens to be one of the greatest bull riders ever, and Brazilian hottie to boot!

I went to a Bacholorette party on Saturday for my friend Holly. We went to the Cheesecake Factory....OMG...that place is great. It was my first time there and the food and cheesecake was fantastic. Oh...the peach bellini? Wonderful!!!! We went to Holly's cousins condo for a slumber party afterwards...had some laughs...more drinks...even more laughs...some red face embarrassment when presents were open...and generally just a lot of fun!

The last couple of days have been the best as my niece Maddy was here in Washington with her Daddy to pick up his oldest daughter and visit his son. It was so GOOD to see Maddy after so long. I hadn't seen her since February! She is my best bud...when my sister and family lived here, Maddy and I did everything together! So on Sunday I had lunch my sister Camille, Brother-in-law Ernie, nieces and nephew Josh. Then Maddy came home with me, and on Monday I took her and our cousin Zach to Chuck E Cheese! Then yesterday we hung out together, saw a movie and just cuddled as we knew she was leaving soon! It is so hard to say goodbye....but I am planning on moving there, as well as visiting at Christmas time so the days will go by quick. At least I hope they do!!! Sorry I don't have any pictures to put up...I have them, but I don't have cables or a docking port for the camera I use...so I generally have to go to Walmart and put my pictures onto disc...but haven't had much time for that, so no pictures for awhile!

So, in a long nut shell, that is what I have planned and what I have been up to. I'm sorry that you probably won't get much out of my the next few weeks as I am working so much, but I will try to pop in and say HI!

Oh, one last thing....MY BIRTHDAY IS COMING SOON!!!!! I will be 32 on September 16th! I love birthdays...even though mine isn't always celebrated like I would like (as my family is bad about getting excited for birthdays) I think it is a great to be celebrated! Whoo--hooo!!!


PS...anyone else having problems uploading pictures to their blog? I do it 4-5 times and the picture never comes up...frustrating!!!

MC Dinner Auction

Hi all my family, friends and countrymen out there in blog land!





Our Masters Commission is having their first ever dinner auction this November 3rd. We are trying to raise money for approximately 30-40 individuals to go overseas to India and Thailand on a missions trip in February 2007. The past two years we have taken students to Singapore, Malayasia and Indnonesia.

This years trip will include visiting New Delhi, India, where we will be prayer walking and hopefully visiting some orphanages. As well as working with groups that are established in the area that have various ministries already established. It is never our intent to go to a country and start a new program, but instead to go there and support and uphold the work already being done by Christian men and women.

From India we will travel to Bangkok, Thailand. The details have not yet been finalized, but we may have the opportunity to travel to the north by Laos and work with an individual who has a church planted there. We are also hoping to help in some way with groups that work with the child prostitution that is so rampant in Bangkok.

I am asking if anyone who reads this, if you are able to donate some type of goods or materials that we can auction off. We are looking for gift certificates to restaurants, coffee shops, tourists activities from Seattle to Portland. We are also looking for contacts that can help us procure such items as cruises, airplane tickets, and even a NEW CAR! If you'd like to help out with a donation, please feel free to email me at mc@p4square.com You can also call me if you'd like at 206-276-9332. We have our church's 501-3C paperwork available for any who donates, as we are a non-profit organization and you receive a tax write off.

If you are interested in attending our dinner auction please let me know as well. Tickets are set at a very reasonable price (I believe a couple is $50 or thereabouts). We want to raise at least $30,000....but I am dreaming big and hoping for $$70,000--$100,000.

Thanks for looking! If you can't donate or attend the dinner auction, please keep us in your prayers!

Blessings
Rachel

Annoying Habits

This post is dedicated to my best friend Susana!

Do you have an annoying habit that bugs the crap out people? Do you belch in public? Do you twirl your hair? Ok...so here is my annoying habit....

....I, um...um...I don't sing the right words to songs! I'm most famously known for singing, "I can see clearly now, the sun is shining...!" I know, I know what a dork I am.

She gets quite irritated...well maybe not irritated, but she can't fathom why after so many years of her correcting me I still can't the words RIGHT! What are the correct words again?

And when I don't know words at all...I just simply make them up. And I think that life should be a musical. Don't you agree? You have a bad day...you break out in a song about how no one loves you...you have a great day, you and everyone surrounding you breaks out into this big song and dance routine...doesn't it sound great?

Anywho...just wanted to let you know a little bit more about me! What do you want me to know about you?

Susana....I promise to try and remember how to sing the songs, but you and I both know that probably isn't going to happen anytime soon...nor would I be the dorky best friend if I all of sudden remembered words to songs?!?

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

After working last night, I headed inside the Key Arena to watch the Tim McGraw and Faith Hill concert. It was kind of a long road into the concert though...at first I wasn't even going to go in, but just head home. However, I did decide to go watch a few minutes of it (might as well, as it was free for me!) with my fellow co-worker Wendy. As we are waiting around outside seeing if we have to do anything else for work, Flo our afternoon Traffic Diva was hanging around. She mentioned that a listener had sent her some tickets that he couldn't use...they were floor tickets (at this point we didn't know where on the floor), and she gave them to us!

So we go into the show, find our way down to the floor, get directed to the row that we are to be sitting in, and to our amazement......the usher pointed to the first chair said, "This is seat #1, you are #'s 12 and 13...all the way at the end". Where was the end of this row? Right next to the STAGE, SIX ROWS FROM THE FRONT!!! Double Whoa!!!

Oh, it was fantastic! Both Tim and Faith opened with a duet, then Faith sang for quite some time on her own. Then they both came back out...then just Tim, and then they finished together. She sounded wonderful and looked gorgeous...Tim was, well...Tim!




This is the view from where we were sitting. I was directly behind this man in the red shirt. Yes, I sat resting on the stage! Awesome!!



This is just about how close we got to Faith at points during the show. I was impressed by how well she sang! And she has tons of energy...I guess that's what being a mom of three does for you!


Some nice people behind us took all these pictures for us and emailed them to us. This is a shot that we specifically asked her to take...Tim's um..rear! Just lookin' Faith!



What a cute couple they make!


Tim again!

Ebay/IPod Update...Chomp Chomp

Ok, remember the last post I did I stated that I wanted to buy an IPod; however, something like that isn't in my budget right now. So I decided to do some power selling on Ebay...I've bought and sold before, but no power selling before. What is power selling you ask? Let me tell you...instead of just selling one or two items I had 40 some items up for sale...mostly stamp/craft stuff that I am not using anymore. So,I just finished my first round of power selling and how much did I make?

$182!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW!!! Even I was shocked....that means I only need another 100 bucks to buy my IPod...I'm going to get it much sooner than I thought. YEAH!!!!!!!!!

Ok..why the chomp chomp in the title?

I was at the post office mailing a few of my ebay sales off to those lucky recipients somewhere in this country...and standing behind me was this older gentleman (Older than me, but younger than 60). I started to hear this chomp, chomp, chomp noise...so I casuallly turn around to investigate. The guy behind me is blissfully unaware that the gum he is chewing is absolutely driving me nuts. Yes, the chomp, chomp, chomp noise was coming from this gum smacking imbecile. Now, I hate to be harsh and call people names, but seriously...do you have to chomp your gum in my ears????????????? UGH!!!!!!!!

And you know when you casually turn around to look at your surroundings, people usually get the hint if they are doing something obnoxious and stop. OH NO, not this guy...chomp, chomp, chomp...swish it to the other side...chomp, chomp, chomp. Lord, let him have to scrape gum off the bottom of tables when he gets to heaven!

Goals

Ok...I know that people normally make goals at the beginning of the year, but how many people actually keep those goals? And who said I was normal? Yeah, yeah you can quit laughing now!

So here are my goals for the next year...most are just things I want to do or buy...but goals nonetheless:

1. Buy plane ticket to go to California to visit my family for Christmas
2. Save money for trip to India and Thailand...MC mission's trip in February
3. Save money for trip to London and Paris...going with the family I live with next June
4. A 30GB IPod...want before my trips...using money I make off of Ebay to buy this
5. Trade my car in and buy a Jeep...soft top preferred...older model not new
6. Participate in a weekly small group...yes I know I should already be in one!
7. Move to California next June
8. Laugh more and enjoy life...wait I already do this! Yeah for me!

Do these sound selfish? I know I do a lot of things and travel a lot; however, since I'm not married and have no kids, I figure might as well do it now. I really just wanted to put these down so that I could see them and visualize what I am wanting to do this next year.

My Little Man!

My sister Shannon sent me this picture of my nephew Mason today! He is going to be 3 on August 26th...doesn't he look like a handsome young man? I love Mason and think he is one of the greatest kids out there! It is fun to talk with him on the phone...although he can be a bit tempermental and yell at people if they don't hand him the phone fast enough!!!

Mason, I love you, Love Auntie Rachel!!!

**After viewing my blog, the picture looks funny...don't know why,
so just ignore it! :)**

Water Fun

Point Defiance Zoo has a new play zone for kids! Part of the play area is water area that has water zipping up out of different areas...Dajia had a blast. She loves water and had so much fun getting wet.



This is Dajia soaking wet and having fun!





Dajia is face down over one of the holes where water spurts up out of. She'd seen water come out of it; however, didn't grasp the concept that water was going to come out again.



Here comes the water...watch out!




Standing in the water!




Point Defiance also has a new carosuel ride. Here's another place that Dajia screamed uncontrollably once we took her off (after two rides).

The Zoo!

Last week me, my sister Camille, niece Dajia, nephew Brandon and his friend Chris headed to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. It was a nice day, a bit hot, but not as hot as it had been the week before. My sister and I were trying to find something to do to spend time with our nephew Brandon who was up here visiting for six weeks (my sister and her family moved to Cali last summer).



Me and my baby sister Camille!



Dajia checking out the starfish and other "sea creatures" that you could touch inside the Aquarium.



My nephew Brandon, who was up here visiting my Dad for about six weeks. Hard to imagine he is 16 now and driving...where does the time go?



I love this picture even not being able to see Dajia's face. She was completely fascinated in the Aquarium. She loved all the fish and the sharks. She sat and stared and touched the glass like she could get to them. She screamed when we tried walking on to the next exhibit.



Me and the "Family" statue inside the park!

Saying Goodbye!

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying goodbye and don't know when you'll see that person again. My friend Chipo, who was an MC student this year, left today to go back home to Zimbabwe. She had been here in the states for quite a few years, as she was an exchange student in high school and then came to Washington to attend PLU where she graduated from a year ago. While at PLU she was on a student Visa. Once she decided on MC, we began working on changing her Visa to a religious visa, as her student visa was no longer valid. This was something we worked on all year. Unfortunately, a few months ago, we received final word that her Visa to stay in the States wasn't going to come through.

Not only was she an MC student, but we were roommates last summer as we took care of a Dementia patient, Tom! We had so much fun living together and getting to know one another. Who knew that a black girl from Zimbabwe would love TV so much and know so much about the show "Golden Girls"! We watched entirely too much TV last summer...going from the standard re-runs on every summer, to Disney (Hey from Raven), to GP's (Guilty Pleasures...those shows you don't want anyone to know you watch..."Dancing with the Stars!").

She is truly one young lady that I can count as a friend and a sister. Who knows what God has in store for her back home. She may be back in the States next year or she may never be back. I may get to go to Zimbabwe some time. What I do know is that God has ordained each and every step that we take, and Chipo's returning home is not an accident. If we never see each other on earth again, we will meet again in Heaven.

Cheeps...I love you! You are truly an amazing woman of God, and He will richly bless you for being obedient to Him about returning home. Think of all the people that you will be touching and blessing that you couldn't have done from the USA.

**Thanks Marcie for the picture**