Picture Update!

After church in the park

Visiting the Redwoods

Julie's Bridal Party

I revived this plant...literally brought it back from death...very excited about it!

My boy can be sweet sometimes...hand picked roses...not sure where he stole them from though, he won't tell me that much.

Recent Pictures

Here are some pictures I have been meaning to post recently and just keep forgetting. My cubicle at work is just about finished (now that my job could potentially end in a month :) haha) and has lots of pictures and decorations in it now.

This is my plant from home that keeps dying, so hopefully it's going to fare better at work.

The plant I had to move because it was attacking my face.

And the pretty blooms that recently appeared.

Concert and Christmas

I wrote this last Friday and forgot to post it, so here it is now.

We have a free rock concert at our church tonight for the area teenagers. The band is called The Beautiful Is Dead. Several of the band members grew up going to our church and their parents still attend. They are not a Christian group, but are just a group of Christians who play music together. We're excited about this outreach opportunity and hope we'll get a lot of community teens who wouldn't otherwise set foot in our church building.

My plant at work recently started attacking me! I looked up one day and it was growing towards my face and every day, its limbs grew closer and closer to my head. I had to move it to the other side of my cubicle so it wouldn't obstruct my view of my computer screen. It has really flourished there and even started blooming with some tiny cute flowers.

I just found out we have those lights in our office that have Vitamin D in them...SADD lights maybe? I think that is what they are called. Anyhow, because we can go a long time without seeing any sun, they give off Vitamin D and are supposed to keep us happier and non-suicidal. I suggested we get some UV bulbs as well and we can tan while we work!

Remember that dead plant I had a picture of a while back? I keep forgetting to water that thing and it has come very close to death several times. I decided to bring it to work with me because I spend more time at work than I do at home, during the week at least. Everyone waters their plants on Friday afternoon too, so I should be better about remembering to water it.

My wonderful mom surprised me and mailed me all of my Christmas ornaments as well as some lights and tinsel to go on the tree! I was SO excited to open the package the other night. I had decided against getting a tree because I would have nothing to put on there once I had one, but now I can get one! A girl in my small group told me she has an extra tree I can probably borrow this year. Ideally, I'd like a real one because they're everywhere here, but I don't have a stand either and am not sure how I'd get it to my apartment anyway. So, however it works out, I'm excited to have a few Christmas decorations in my apartment. I bought a wreath this week but can't hang it on my door because there is no hook, so I have it hanging on my porch light instead. Classy, I know.

Plants Need Water? What?!

fSo...apparently, you are supposed to give these water or something? Who knew??

I woke up to find my plant like this on Tuesday and realized I hadn't watered it for over a week. I was so afraid it was dead and gone, but went ahead and watered it anyway.

Luckily I came home 8 hours later to find it alive and well! :)

This plant seems to be perfect for me. It SCREAMS at me when it needs water. Hopefully this sort of relationship will continue to keep it alive and me happy.

Oregon thoughts continued

MORE reasons why I love being here: Preacher called me twice this week to check up on me and sent the church secretary to my apt last night to make sure I'm doing ok here by myself this week with Kory gone :) Lady I lived with right when I moved here took me to eat and was making sure I'm not homesick or anything and didn't want me eating alone since Kory was gone.

I'm going to a coffee shop to listen to some music with a 60 year old lady from church tonight--she is so fun! Also, I just found out I am going to be able to volunteer with the Special Olympics this fall. I am going to help coach soccer and we have our first meeting tomorrow to get everyone signed up. I can't wait!!

Fall weather continues today. I'm sure there will be a point when I get tired of it, but I am loving it for now. I wore a sweater to work today and I am already ready for some egg nog!! :)

There is no sales tax in Oregon which is fabulous! The 9% income tax isn't so great, however.

I have a plant at work now! This lady gave me one of hers...however it just looks like really tall grass. It's kind of odd looking, but I love it anyway. I want another one but I feel like I need to keep this one alive for a while first.

This year is Oregon's 150th birthday. Did you know that is called a Sesquicentennial?? Me neither, but the signs everywhere say it is.

I am really spoiled to getting my gas pumped for me and I would have it no other way. I seriously dreaded getting out of the car to pump my gas...not sure why, but it is so fun to know I can pull in and someone else will pump the gas for me and I can just sit in my car and relax. We have noticed, however, that when you don't pump your own, we rarely look at how much the gas costs.

Kory and youth group are gone to camp this week so I am here alone. I am ready for friends to be back! It would help if I had TV or internet at my house I am sure. The fair is in town this week so I thought I might go, but it is $9 per person just to get in!

I went to Salem for new employee training this week and it was REALLY good! It was fun and interactive and I learned a lot. I love my job even more after this training. Speaking of, I'm finally getting into a routine at my job which I really enjoy.

I feel pretty settled in my life right now and that is a GREAT feeling. It's such a relief. I love the experiences I had over the past year of my life, but it is SO nice to feel at home somewhere. I just feel very content right now.