Our Holiday Newsletter

This & That

What a week it has been. It is hard to believe that this time last week we were on a plane flying back to Texas from Oregon. It was hard for me to come back. In fact, when we boarded our plane in Portland, I was crying because I didn't want to leave. Well,come to think of it, I was teary eyed the whole time we were in Oregon. I really miss clean air, mountains, the beach, good coffee and of course my family and friends.

I also got to defend my thesis project while I was there. This was huge because I have been working on this project for over a year and now. This was my last step in receiving my Masters degree in Conflict Resolution. For my project, I developed a victim service directory for the State of Oregon. It is a 127 page document that can be used among all of those who work with victims of crime. The Restorative Justice Coalition of Oregon was really impressed by my project that they want to publish the directory on their website and give me credit for the work. They also want to take it over so that they can keep it updated for future use. This means so much to me and it feels good to be recognized for hard work.

In two weeks, we will be going on another vacation. Usually we don't do this much traveling, but I think we deserve some R&R, especially since we haven't had a vacation since 2008. We will be taking a cruise to the Western Caribbean. We have taken two cruises before, but this year my parents and my sister will be going with us. It will be their first time on a cruise. I hope they like it. I am excited to travel and experience new and exciting places.  

This morning we woke up to 2-3 inches of sleet/ice. I am thankful that work was cancelled for both of us today. Three day weekend!!! I was able to catch up on some of the things I have been putting off, like our holiday newsletter and a blog post...

Stay warm! 

My Thanks & Blessings

November is here and Thanksgiving is a few weeks away. As we all know, November is a month of thanks and blessings. We often think about what we are thankful for and how we have been blessed. On Facebook this month, everyday I see people posting their daily thanks, so I thought, why not just blog about what I am thankful for! There are 30 days in November, so here are my 30 "thanks/blessings."

1. God/religion. I can go to church and praise God freely (unlike in some other countries were it is illegal).

2. My husband, John. He is the best husband ever and puts up with a lot of my nonsense. 

 

3. My Mom and Dad. They have always been there for me and raised me to be a great lady.

 

4. Erin Wolff...the best sister in the world and she always makes me smile.

5. My family, i.e., aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws. They all make for good family gatherings. 

 

6. Employment. Without jobs, we wouldn't be living in a comfortable house.

7. Education. Without education, I would be dumb. 

 

8. Taekwondo. Just started this sport, but it has already helped me develop into a stronger person.

 

9. Technology/internet. Well, I love/hate this. But I love how it helps me communicate with loved ones that live far from me.

10. Pets. Those little fur balls make me smile (unless they trash the house or wake me up on a early Saturday morning). 

 

11. Coffee. It tastes so good.

 

12. Food. I am glad that food is available to me where some people don't have it. :(

13. Our home. Its warm in the winter, cool in the summer and its one of the nicest homes I have lived in.

 

14. Friends. New and old. They teach me new things and they are great to talk to.

15. Oregon. It will always be home.

 

16. Texas. Its my new "home" and even though I dis-like it most of the time, it is where we are supposed to be.

 

17. Courage. I have had to go through tough times in my life, and I have always stayed strong.

18. Suburbs. I am glad I live in a nice/safe neighborhood.

19. Morals/values/ethics. I am glad I was taught to be true and not go behind other peoples backs.

20. Medicine. I am glad that the hospital is down the street. Others are not as fortunate or can't afford it.

21. <-----is my favorite number. I was born on April 21st...

22. The beach. Its my favorite place to be.

 

23. Vacations. We all need some R&R once in a while and let loose.

 

24. Music. It makes you dance, laugh, cry and heal.

 

25. My Grandpa Dyas, his birthday is today.

26. My dog Katie, she was born 8 years ago today.

27. Police officers/Firefighters. They put themselves in harm to protect us.

28. Thanksgiving. Good food, good times and a time to pause and give thanks.

 

29. Airplanes. Living far from loved ones, they help us see each other in a matter of hours!

30. Weekends. Its a time to be "free" from work, sleep in and have fun.

Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Grad School: The End is Near...

I just sent off my thesis to my professional editor. Which means that I am almost done with grad school. At least I think. I got a couple of more hoops to jump through, but nonetheless I am almost done. Thank goodness because I am really tired of being in college. I am ready to close the next chapter in my life and actually say I have a masters degree! 

I have had some struggles through the last few tasks of this project. The thesis project was one of the hardest challenges I have had in school. Well, next to statistics and spanish, but that was in my undergrad, so that doesn't count. :) 

My passion has always been victims of crime ever since I been a victim of crime eleven years ago. That moment changed my life and is the reason why I am here today. For my project, I developed a statewide directory of all the agencies and organizations that work with victims in Oregon. This resource is much needed and as far as I know, its the first one of its kind! I also think my project is heading to a distributor and will be revealed at a few of the big statewide conferences in Oregon. It is still in the works, so I am excited to see what happens in the end. 

Even though this project has been a pain, I have recently gotten a lot of compliments on how I have done a great job and how I have overcome many obsticles. I just hope the the resource I have created will really be used and can help victims overcome their obsticals as well. 

And for the record, I am never going back to school again. :) 

Oregon Visit

Tonight the hubby and I have been thinking more in detail about our trip to Oregon. We are excited. In 4 weeks we will be visiting a place we onced used to call home. We have been thinking about all of the things we want to do while we are there. We have "2 legs" to our trip. The first part is in Portland where we will be seeing our friends and then the second part we visit our family in Southern Oregon. 

I want  to do a lot, especially when we are in Portland. Well, come to think of it, all I want to do is get the food and drinks I miss the most, haha. It  makes me feel like a pig, but I llike to eat! I want a VooDoo doughnut and I want my favorite egg rolls from my favorite Chinese restaurant in Beaverton. I also want some Stumptown coffee as well as Dutch Bro's and Human Bean coffee too. NO Starbucks while we are there, yuck! I also want to go to the coast, but not sure if we will have time for that. Of course I want to see as  many friends and family as possible. I also can't wait to breathe fresh air and see tall trees and mountains. That is going to be awesome!!! 

This will be my first Thanksgving with my in-laws too. I think it will be fun and we will cook some good food. I also can't wait to get my haircut done by my sister. I need one so bad and I am holding off for another month so I  can get a great cut. :) 

The last time I was in Oregon was August 2012, so I am for sure ready to go back "home." The only thing that I know I am not going to like is that it is going to be cold and probably rainy, haha. I have been spoiled by the Texas climate and since it has been chilly here the last few days, I have struggled adjusting to the chilly air and that I don't remember how to dress for cold and rainy days. I hope my coat still fits. :) 

See y'all in a month! 

A Message to Parents

Its 10 p.m., do you know where your kids are? Seriously, do you? I remember that "commerical" that would play every night. Of course, they do not ask parents this question anymore as times have seriously changed. As a prevention specialist, I have to attend many hours of trainings for my job. Last week I sat through 15 hours of lecture discussing culture, substance abuse, brain development and and the  importance of parents being involved in their childs lives. Though it was a refresher, it got me reflecting on how I was raised and how I ended up having a good life versus those who didn't. 

One of the ice breaker questions that was asked was: "did your parents play with you as a child?" I immediately  thought back to all of the bike rides we did as a family, dad playing basketball and all types of games with me and my mom being my Girl Scout leader and teaching me how to paint ceramics (I won 1st place two years in a row at the County fair). I remember my dad reading books to me as a kid and how my mom and I would go on adventures such as going to yard sales and of course going on a week long bike and backpacking trip in the Cascade Mountains and sailing around the San Juan islands for a week. I am thankful for how hard my parents worked to give us a good life and how they tried to interact with us as children. 

I feel sorry for those kids who do not get to experience a great home life. I see many kids every day that lack proper supervision, love and care they deserve. Thus, they act out in class, get in trouble and get on the wrong path. When I facilitated a restorative justice group to inmates in Oregon, every inmate that shared their story all had something in common...they lacked a parent and a role model in their life. They went on the wrong path as an adolescent and wound up in prison. 

A parents responsibility is to provide their children with love and care and raise their kids to be the best they can. I hope that those who are parents are taking time to read to your kids and to play with them. Did you know that children who run their fingers through sand helps their brains develop smarter? So if your child wants to play in the sand box, let them! If your child wants to dress up silly and put on a play for you, let them! If you are not spending quality time and letting your child know you love them, then you need to get your priorities straight and put your family first. Do not let your child wind up on the wrong path. Give your child a good foundation and watch your child grow into great adults that could one day change the world.