Twin Falls Hike

We haven't been able to hike much during the winter months, so we were excited to get out on Saturday since it was such a nice day. We're enjoying the spring-is-around-the-corner days that we've had lately.

We drove out I-90 near North Bend to hike to Twin Falls. There were many other Seattle-ites also out enjoying the day with families and dogs.

Twin Falls--It's hard to tell from this picture how large these falls are. To give you an idea, compare it to the logs that are down in the little 'cave' on the bottom right of the picture.

If you want to see a short video of the waterfall, here you go. : )

With the nicer weather, I've also been trying to add a little color to our yard with flowers. I've mostly been planting primroses and pansies since those can grow right now. I have a lot of flower and veggie seedlings growing inside until it warms up some more outside. Today I planted three small rose bushes along our driveway, and I made two hanging baskets. It makes things look much more "homey". There is still more to do, but things will take time.

Not For Sale

Think slavery has ended? Think again!!

Many of you may have already heard about this, but for those who haven't, there is a great free book you can download this month only at Christianaudio. Thanks to friends who posted about this and let me know about it. Although I have only listened to about an hour so far, I would recommend listening and learning more about human trafficking which plagues our world and even this nation.

Ryan and I are both deeply interested in how to help bring awareness and get involved in fighting the sale of humans for sex and labor. There are more slaves in the world today than in over 400 years of the African slave trade combined!! These slaves can be men, women, boys, and girls. They work 7 days a week, nearly all day long, with little or no pay. They may serve your food at your favorite restaurant, make your toes pretty at the salon, or be a domestic servant hidden away in your next door neighbor's home. In my opinion, the worst of cases are those where children and women are beaten, raped, and forced into brothels where the violence continues in demeaning acts with 15 or so "customers" a day....yes, this happens here in the U.S. of A. It's not just an issue in Southeast Asia. I just read today of sex rings busted in Lynnwood (my new hometown) last summer. Many involved are believed to have been held against their will--modern day slavery.

If you would like to learn more, please go to the link above and listen to the book along with me.

For those in the Western Washington area, check out this site and this one for upcoming anti-trafficking conferences where you can learn more about this all too prevalent evil and what you can do to help.

Here are some more links if you want to learn more or donate to fighting this issue.

International Justice Mission

The Polaris Project

Share Hope International

For those of us who say we believe in Jesus and want to serve Him, slavery is not something that we can ignore. We are called to, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." Prov. 31:8 We must be the voice (advocate) for those whose voices have been taken away.

Beach Walk

We've been exploring (as time allows) some of the parks and hikes around our new home. The other night, we went down to the beach and watched a gorgeous sunset.

I don't know this guy. I just enjoyed watching him play with his dog.

25 Things

25 Things--This was something started on facebook. I thought I'd re-post it here for anyone who may have missed it there and is interested in reading it. It's supposed to be 25 random things about me.

1. I love Ryan’s back massages. No, he can’t give you one.

2. I met my best friend (Ryan) online. It’s a long story.

3. I try to buy at least all of the “dirty dozen” fruit and veggies organic. We’re also planning to do an organic garden at home starting this year.

4. I’m pretty frugal. I love Goodwill. I cut my own hair, do my own nails, pluck my own eyebrows, cut Ryan’s hair, etc.

5. I LOVE tropical places. The only negatives would be that my hair is a “froey” (can that be a word?) mess and my face gets super oily. Gross, huh?

6. I like Honda Civics because they are priced well, long lasting, and economical on gas. We have two.

7. I prefer dark to milk chocolate.

8. I got my nose pierced by an Indian man in India.

9. I danced 11 and ½ years of ballet, tap, and jazz. I’ve also taken a few years of Polynesian (hula & Tahitian) dance and some Sevillana while living in Spain.

10. Speaking of Spain, I lived there illegally for 5 months after they didn’t renew my visa and told me that I had 72 hours to leave the country. I was really scared at first since they had a picture of me at the police station, and I thought they might come to my apartment to get me
at any time.

11. I ate horse meat unknowingly in Italy.

12. I love hiking and being outdoors. I feel closer to God and more meditative during those times.

13. I like cats, dogs, etc. but I don’t want any right now because I don’t want to clean up all the hair.

14. I am surprising myself in that I think that I like gardening. I’m just starting, hence no weeds yet, and I’m enjoying it.

15. I teach English as a second language to adults. Because I get asked so much, no, you don’t have to speak all of the students’ first languages; you just have to be really creative in the beginning. Around the high beginning to low intermediate stage and beyond, it’s best for the students to hear nearly all instruction in the target (i.e. English) language anyway.

16.I will not use any form of hormone altering birth control (i.e. The Pill, patch, IUD, etc) for two reasons: 1) Every form I've read about has at least some risk of aborting a newly conceived life because of the changes it causes to the uterine lining, and 2) I don't like to make my body do unnatural things.

17. I enjoy studying theology and different beliefs. I also like to talk about this but not argue about it.

18. I’m a shaver, not a waxer. I don’t want to intentionally cause myself pain.

19. I hope to work more internationally once Ryan finishes school in about 2 years.

20. I enjoy knitting baby things though I don’t always have the time for it.

21. I’d like to study Arabic. I speak conversational Spanish and took a Mandarin class last quarter.

22. I love traveling (for the most part). I hope to see many more places. I’ve been to most of the U.S. states including Hawaii 6 times. Of countries other than the U.S., so far I’ve been to Canada, Mexico, The Dominican Republic, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Greece, Serbia (Yugoslavia), Egypt, India, Nepal, Thailand, and most recently Indonesia.

23. I studied Intercultural Studies (missions) and bible in my undergrad at Biola University. This May, I will finish my Masters in TESOL (roughly--teaching ESL).

24. I like reading about and listening to messages on marriage and family. I listen to Focus on the Family and Family Life Today frequently online.

25. I lived 14 and 1/2 years in southern Georgia, 5 years in southern California, a total of over 8 years in Washington state, and about a year and a ½ in various places overseas. Add it all up and you’ll get about 29.