A visit with sunshine...

Four girls living in Alaska, and one in Ohio decided to take a vacation to Kaua'i, Hawaii. Lucky for four of them, Erin works for Alaska Airlines and could get them all there for almost nothing! Thanks a bunch Erin, the trip to visit the sun and warmth was much appreciated!

The Waimea Canyon was the first location we visited while on the island. 10 miles long, 1 mile wide and more than 3,500 feet deep. It was equally as beautiful as the Grand Canyon in Arizona, just on a smaller scale. And much more green. It was a little cloudy the day we were there, so my pictures are hazy looking!


Erin and Denise at one of the overlooks to the canyon.

And here we are, all five thoroughly enjoying ourselves.

Another fun sight to see, Spouting Horn, where waves rush through a lava shelf and burst through a small opening. We even saw some sea turtles out in the ocean.

Na Pali Coastline

There is a wonderful 11 mile hike along this amazing coastline on the north coast of Kaua'i. Rachel, Paul and I were able to hike 2 miles of it to a beach and then another two up a stream to a waterfall.

The views from the trail were pretty awesome. The trail was a little slick and muddy and steep in some parts, but a whole lot of fun. Next time I'm hiking all 11 miles.


Here are the three of us on the Hanakapiai Beach. Paul is a good friend of Brian's and is going to Bible college on the island right now.

Our end destination: this pretty amazing waterfall.


I especially enjoyed this timber bamboo that Rachel is so graciously poising in for me. I took this picture for you mom, I know you'll appreciate it!

Hawaian Luau

What is with chickens on the island? They were everywhere! And not only were the roosters crowing in the early morning, but they seemed to do it throughout the day!!

Ahh, my first luau experience. This was probably the most touristy thing we did while in Kaua'i. Well worth it though. Started out the evening with a little practice in front of the crowd. I conveniently stood back to take pictures so I wouldn't have to be in front with the other gals. :) Smart me huh?

Amazing food, especially the meat. Shredded pork and some teriyaki beef!! Here is Erin, I and Bonnie with all the good fixings!

After the meal we had a show of many traditional dances from Hawaii and surrounding islands.

Last, but not least...remember how earlier in the evening I avoided being in front of the crowd? Well, unfortunately for me, I was the lucky winner this time and got chosen to go upstage and attempt to move my hips like the dancers did. How did I do? Good question, ask my travel companions.

A view of Wailua River, one we kayaked later in the trip.

Here are three of the five beautiful girls on the trip. Bonnie, Erin and Rachel overlooking the river.


Just some beach pictures, the one above is an evening shot, this one is an early morning sunrise at the beach we camped out at.

So, we did camp the five nights we were in Kaua'i. It turned out being a blast, I loved being able to wake up and be right at the beach. It only rained on us one night, but we did stay dry.

Here is a picture of the hike Rachel and I did early one morning, "The Sleeping Giant"

Here I am on top of the mountain! A great hike to start the day. Then Rachel and I rushed down so we could go kayaking with the other three girls.

The five of us went on a pretty cool kayak adventure down the Wailua River. Then a short 1 mile hike to a "secret" waterfall after leaving our kayaks on the side of a stream. It was a lot of fun!

Yes we did all swim out under the waterfall!

Here we are hiking back out to the kayaks!

I've been tagged...

I usually use this a a picture blog, but for Sarah Kirksey, I'll follow in her footsteps and answer a few questions about myself!

Ten years ago I was:
Wow, I was a sophmore in high school, starting the softball season, playing flute in band and bass guitar in jazz band, involved in youth group and church...and sadly I can't remember what else. I drove an old green Ford pickup to school and back, and it got terrible gas mileage. And I think gas prices were somewhere around $1.00.

Things on my to do list today:
Complete my work day, (yes I am at work, and 99% of the time I don't have time to even sit down, but today I was the lucky winner and get to do a 1:1, which for those not in health care pretty much means I babysit an adult male for the whole day).
Go to the gym after work.
Finish packing for my trip to Kaua'i on Thursday!

What I would do if I was loaded with money:
Yes, paying off debt is the first smart thing to do. Luckily my debt is only a car and school. Then I'd help my family with theirs.
Next: build my dad and his wife that log house they have been wanting for years.
Send my sister and her WHOLE family on a trip to a location of their choosing, complete with a babysitter or two.
Donate money to Compassion Internation and Young Life.
Invest the rest I guess??
I'd probably spend some of random items for myself and others also.
I have to admit, I'm not sure I ever want to win a large amount of money. I'm pretty satisfied with my life at this point. I have a reason to work and develop a budget. Life isn't about having enough money to do whatever I want with.

Three of my bad habits:
1. Getting really annoyed and slightly rude when people try and tell me how to do my job. Unless it is a new task I have never done before. :)
2. Always feeling the need to clean up after others, rinsing dishes, fold clothes even if I am a guest at someone's house.
3. Trying to do too much while I'm driving! Talk on the phone, open mail...I won't even describe anything else. Of course I only do these things when I'm driving by myself.

Five jobs I've had:
1. Cleaning horse stalls
2. Janitorial at GFU
3. City of Salem employee, creek cleaner and other random jobs
4. Secretary work for an Audiology Clinic
5. Registered Nurse

Five things people don't know about me:
Ugh, I think I'm going to have a hard time with this one...
1. I haven't been to the beach since August of 2007.
2. I went surfing once in 2000, the board hit my head and I had to get some stitches.
3. My dad's wife has a son in his 30's, so I guess I have a step-brother, although I've only met him once.
4. I get nauseated when I fly and I can't handle rides at the fair anymore!
5. I've driving across the country twice.

Okay, whew, that was an interesting one. Okay, I'm tagging Elia next. :)

Oregon fun!

My sister, dad and I out at my dad's place. Always good to be with my family. I do appreciate them more, now that I live so far away! I will be back to Oregon in May for two weeks and I'm really looking forward to that trip. Brian will be accompanying me this time to meet my side of the world!


My friend Elia and I out for lunch at the best breakfast restaurant in Salem, the Sassy Onion! I make it a point to go there every time I'm in Oregon.

To Oregon for a few days!

My sister's family is quite the handful. Here they are, dinner time!

Isaac and Jeremiah dressing up as cowboys.

Gwyndolyn can't quite crawl yet on her hands and knees, but she wiggles a lot!

I went home just for three and a half days to see my family and to go to a baby shower. My good friend from fourth grade, high school and even college, Sarah Kirksey is going to have a baby in July. She flew all the way from Pennsylvania to have the shower with friends and family from Oregon. So I decided I could come all the way from Juneau to see her! In this picture: Brenna, Me, Sarah and Amber. 2000 Cascadian graduates.

Here is Jeremiah looking quite Alaskan in his outfit, complete with boots and Carhardts overalls. What a cutie!

Downtown Juneau

Here is a view of downtown Juneau from Douglas Island. It was a super nice day and the mountains were all visible. Really a beautiful city!

An update on my love life...

This post is for those of you who I just don't talk to often enough, or keep in touch with very well. And I won't get too indepth because I don't use this blog as a diary as others do. :) Brian Felix is my new boyfriend, well maybe not so new anymore, we've been dating for a little over two months. He was born and raised in Juneau and is a whole lot of fun! I have to admit that he and I are almost extreme opposites. All who know me well, know I'm pretty disciplined, clean, more introverted then extroverted, and orderly. Brian is much different! But out of the many things I absolutely love about him, here are my favorites: number one, he loves Christ and is striving to know Him better as I am; second, he makes me laugh and lightens/brightens me up every day; third, he is much more relaxed and PATIENT than I am. We all know I'm pretty impatient sometimes! Anyway, thats all I need to say for now, any questions? Just let me know because he is my new favorite topic!