Check, Check

So...I can finally (after about 6 years) check something off my bucket list! I've been wanting to learn how to solder jewelry ever since I worked at Pickle Papers. A couple weekends ago, I finally sat down and soldered my heart out! My parents got me a soldering kit (dvd included) for Christmas. The dvd was so helpful. All the little tricks and dos and don'ts are so great to know ahead of time. I started a shop on Etsy.com, but don't have anything up yet. Here's the address for future reference. I'm hoping to get some things up tonight as I will actually be home for once with nothing to do!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kiwijones67

My heart is happy and content with this new trade skill I've learned! I hope I'll only get better with time. It's funny how the Lord lets me gather the materials over time, then when he provides me with the last piece of the puzzle, I've pretty much already got everything else. I'm a paper fanatic after working at PP, so I always collect scraps. If I'm at Good Will or yard sales or estate sales I ALWAYS go straight for old wrapping paper, office supplies, any paper product that's vintage looking. My family and friends were always like, "Why in the world are you buying that?" I'd simply reply, "I can put this to good use!" Or I'd go to a jewelry store and buy one earring from the clearance rack in the back corner of the store...now, It's the perfect addition to a soldered pendant! One woman's trash really is another woman's treasure...yeah, mine! Lol. I remember when my cousin Melinda was remodeling her kitchen and they took out this 1950's island that was up against one wall. When her and her husband took it out, they found receipts, bills, paper decorations, flyers, and all sorts of junk mail from 1960-1990 and the first person that popped into her head...was ME! Well guess what I'm using in my awesome soldered pieces...yeah, you guessed it. A special story for each and every piece!

All in all, I'm super exited about my newfound talent and I thank the Lord for my strong intrest and passion for this kind of artwork.

14 pounds and counting

Well folks, I started "eating right" January 1. I never seem to know at the time if it's going to be another attempt, or a success. Sometimes I feel it's like trying to quit smoking- the more times you try, the more times you are likely to succeed. I have definitely struggled with my weight for most of my life, and probably will continue to do so. I just need to remember how good it feels to try, then to succeed.
During all this physical therapy I didn't think I had a chance to loose an ounce. The therapist said no exercising until I build up the muscles in my back. My reply..."well then what the crap AM I suppose to do?"
Anyway, I just wanted to keep up on my blog this week and let you all know how my weight-loss challenge was going.

P.S. Biggest Looser is pretty encouraging during all of this!

Oh, My Achin' Back...

I know some of you have heard about my back giving me some trouble. I have an old trampoline injury...don't I sound like I'm 80 years old?...where I injured my lower back and scrunched a vertebrae pretty bad, pinched nerves and all that good stuff. Every couple of years, something little happens and leads to something big. About 2 weeks ago, I simply bent over to put a bowl away and was brought to my knees in pain. I could barely walk. It was HORRIBLE! I went to the doctor where they can't do anything for you accept prescribe muscle relaxers and pain meds. This time around, they weren't doing a thing. Some of my co-workers recommended I see a physical therapist. Today was my second visit. I cannot even tell you how much better I feel. They are teaching me how to build the muscles I need to function and use my back properly. Today he started rubbing out some scar tissue from my lower back. Boy does that hurt! I'm not sure how many more times I can really afford to go to physical therapy, but I can tell you I have been a different person today. I cannot believe what a difference constant pain makes in my day-to-day life. It's amazing how much better life is when you're not in constant pain. I think a lot of people (myself included) just learn to deal with the pain, or get used to it.

Whilst in all this pain, my grandpa Ron was brought to my mind. He passed away rather suddenly last year. In the later years of his life I tried my best to ignore all his snide remarks and bitterness...in fact, I think everyone did. He was a really hard man for me to be around because of the attitude I witnessed and somehow felt. My grandfather had an immobility. He had his hip fused at the age of 13 after a football accident. Having to adapt to life in a whole new way, he had to figure out how to sit, how to drive, pretty much, how to move and get around in general. I have no doubt he was in pain for most of his life, especially after breaking his hip in his 60's. The reason I believe God brought him to my attention is because I feel I related to him with all the pain I've experienced the last 2 weeks. I cannot imagine living my life with such pain and never seeing a glimpse of relief. I was awfully hard on my grandfather while he was alive and I know God is just trying to bring me understanding and help me to let go of that hurt I experience when I think of him. So...thank you Lord.

Catching Up...

I feel awfully dreadful for not writing in so long. The holiday season got ahold of me...and I've been covering for a coworker who is on vacation and working 9-10 hour days the last 2 weeks. I arrive in the dark, I leave in the dark...it's dreadful. I haven't been motivated to blog. I have a few days off and am ready to write!

I celebrated the new year at my cousin Melinda's house. It was fun to have all the 2nd generation of cousins there. I love all those kiddos and it's amazing to watch them all grow up so fast.



(Melinda Me and Melissa)

Melinda, Melissa (my 2 dear cousins)and I are getting our butts in gear and we started a new eating plan as of January 1. Melinda and I are doing a Jillian Michaels cleanse. Melissa would but she's pregnant, so she's just on board with the healthy eating plan. I've never done a cleanse before, and so far...it's going well. We are doing our best to follow The Abs Diet book by David Zinczenko (editor-in-Chief of Men's Health). It's not really a "diet", more of a book on how to eat healthy and how to eat balanced. So far I'm on track and ready to roll.

For Christmas, mom and dad got me some fun craft things including soldering supplies, so as soon as I get some things made, I'll post them.

Just a quick fun nacho recipe I made the other day...very easy and SUPER good...well at least I think so!
I grilled up a package (probably one pound I'm guessing) of ground turkey
mixed in half an onion and the taco seasoning
I put whole wheat tortilla chips on my cast iron pan
sprinkled corn and black beans on the chips, then the taco mixture
then sprinkled (ha, hardly, more like COVERED) the chips with motzzarella
put in the oven until the cheese was melted
Yummy!

It's The Holiday Season!

When time seems to fly by, it most likely means it's Christmas time! I've been a busy girl! I took Thursday and Friday off of work to do a little holiday baking and shopping with my bestest cousin, Melinda. We made all sorts of goodies! Friday we ventured out into the holiday shopping world! I'm happy to say I didn't spend too much money and...I got to eat at Red Lobster for the first time EVER! Thursday night was Emma's strings concert. It was fun to watch her program! Those kids are all so cute...and confused!

The Way of the Wild Heart

Some thoughts and what I've learned over the last few days while reading The Way of the Wild Heart.

"...a man's life is a process of initiation into true masculinity. It is a series of stages we soak in and progress through."

I've been giving a lot of thought to these stages. I've had a lot of questions reguarding these stages. Let me explain first, in Eldredge's words, what they look like in this book.

Boyhood- A time of exploring. A boy needs to know he is prized and delighted in. He wonders if he has "what it takes".
Cowboy- A time of adventure. The boy is tested, this is a time of learning and doing, of hunting, building, and of hard work. He learns he does have "what it takes".
Warrior- He encounters evil and learns to defeat it. He most often cannot be strayed from his mission. Whatever the mission may be, it is important and he learns to defeat the enemy.
Lover- A lover comes to offer his strength to his woman, not get it from her. At this time he discovers music, literature, poetry, and passion.
King- When a man is ready to rule a kingdom. This is the time for him to draw in young warriors and be a mentor and a father to them.
Sage- An elder. Steps down as king and is an influencer. This can be the stage with the most contribution.

As I've thought and thought about all these stages of a man, I think about the boys and men I know. I think about friends, relatives, co-workers, cousins...I think about the stage they're in and the things Eldredge says about the stages being incomplete. ("Unfinished men- any stage cut short, leaving a man with an undeveloped soul". ) I think about a father leaving a boy as head of the house so he can go live with his "other wife", I think about the boys of my generation that have had to deal with divorce and cheating and affairs and frankly, a lot of pain and hurt of all sorts. I didn't realize it then, but they're impacting my generation more than they are aware. I pray for them more while reading Eldredge's books than ever before.

This brings me to my final thought for the evening. Today I visited my parent's church. I haven't been there in probably years. I was overcome with feelings of welcomness and joy. I spoke with a woman whom I used to babysit for. She told me she and her kids pray for me (to find a husband) everyday on their way to school. I couldn't help but laugh, but thinking about that the rest of today really did put a smile of my face. Someone whom I haven't seen in years is praying for ME. How cool is that?
Seeing all these wonderful people I went to church with for quite a few years sure brought back a lot of...feelings. I see my old Jr. High kids from the youth group, where I invested 3 years of my life as a college student and beyond, and I can't help but approach them and see if they're happy in life. I want to know they are following Christ and I want to know they are well. I INVESTED my life into those kids...and darn-it, I want to know it counted! It seems to have come full-circle. When I see my old sunday school teachers, helpers and greeters, they want to know I am well. I thought they were grilling me and I always hated telling them about where I was, how I was, what I was doing, and where I was working....but now, I finally understand! They invested in me, and want to know I am following Him. They want to know I am happy and well. I am not embarassed or nervous anymore when I tell them (with a smile on my face) that I am well!

Seems I've learned enough for today. More later,
-K

Last Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving, I went to Wenatchee instead of my parents and brother coming over to Spokane. We all had a really great holiday and it was neat to create our own tradition. As I'm thinking about last Thanksgiving...here are a couple HILARIOUS videos to make you laugh. I purchased a massage device called a Happy Head Trip and, if you're not expecting it...it can be quite a scare...

Ice Skating with Roots Jr. Highers!

Last Friday the Jr. Highers (Roots) went down to the Ice Arena and had ourselves some F-U-N! We skated until 10pm. I wanted to share some pictures with you!

Some of us leaders crammed inside a photobooth and after discovering we could't all fit in the picure, we took OUR OWN picture...lol.

Me and Garrett ice skating and taking a candid photo...now that's difficult!

Leanne and Natalia out on the ice. Natalia is PROFESSIONAL, she brought her own skates and all. She was showing us all up by doing spins and twirls...turns out she took 4 years worth of lessons!

Most of us...

I only fell once...I did what I call the "Bambi". I totally fell face down on the ice. It didn't occur to me how I was going to get up until after I fell. I just layed out in the middle of the ice until 2 people I didn't even know helped me up! How embarassing!

My First Blog

I'm excited about having my very own blog! I'm so thrilled to share some of my thoughts, memories, stories, and pictures with...well, whoever may happen to stumble apon my blog!

I guess I'll start off first with the book I am currently reading. This summer I spent time reading Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. Last week I stopped in at Christian Supply and Picked up the sequel, The Way of the Wild Heart. I know I am NOT a male, but the reason I believe these books to be good for me is simply this - I work in a man's world...and even though I have a Father and Brother, I feel I don't have the knowledge I should about men. Wild at Heart is a great way for me to learn more about the ways of men, why they do what they do, and why I need to accept that! Digging into The Way of the Wild Heart, I have already noted a few great lessons and quotes.

"And so our basic approach to life comes down to this: We stay in what we can handle, and steer clear of everything else"

"...and we hold back where we feel sure to fail..."

"These boys are growing up into uncertian men because the core questions of their souls have gone unanswered, or answered badly".

One of the core topics Wild at Heart discusses is how a boy must be told he is a man by a male role model he looks upto. I never knew this, but can see how it is definately true. This came to life just moments ago after watching The Man From Snowy River. At the end of the movie the main character has just done the extraordinary...tamed wild horses. He tells Mr. Harrison he'll be back for 12 of the horses...and whatever else is his, meaning Mr. Harrison's daughter, Jessica. I believe it is Mr. Harrison who refers to him as a boy. His brother, Spur, corrects him..."No, he's a MAN." And another man chimes in and says..."Yes, The Man From Snowy River". And the movie ends with all being well in the world. What an example of these books brought to life. I will continue to have a lot more to say about this book, but as for today, I have noted one!