63 Days!!!

In 63 days I will be on a plane to start for 27 month journey with the Peace Corps in Cameroon. I am starting to sell things in Portland and buy things for Cameroon. It just dawned on me that in less than a years time I have moved to 2 states (from Arizona, to California and finally Oregon), have traveled to 8 countries (Canada, England, Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia) or 10 countries if you count Monaco and Rome. I have also traveled to Washington: 3 times (Seattle, Bellingham and Spokane), Arizona: twice (Phoenix and Tucson), California: twice; home (and I will be going back for Easter) and have been to San Francisco: 3 times, New York (Andy & Carole's Wedding)and Pittsburgh for work.

Now I am off to Cameroon! This year has been a whirlwind. After looking back on my travels this year...I realized that I am just like my Dad in regards to that I have been bitten by the travel bug!

Looking back on those 365 days I am exhausted, looking forward to the 63 days it stresses me out, but looking beyond those 63 days to 820 (about the time I am serving) I am excited. As I think about those 820 days that I will be serving, I am thinking about the quote I used in my high school yearbook: "Only the curious have something to find." I think that couldn't not be more true.

Please save these dates: Going away party at my parent's house in North Tustin, CA May 28th...everyone is welcome to come!

4:52 AM

I cannot sleep. I have been frantically searching the internet about people's experiences in the Peace Corps, Africa and Cameroon. I keep reading blog after blog attempting to figure out what I should expect and how I should prepare. I am tired, but I cannot keep researching. My emotions are going crazy...at times I am through the roof excited, other times I want to vomit because I am so nervous. My sister said it best today, Don't think...Just do. That will be my mantra.

I have started to get things for my 27 months. So far, I have a backpack, pair of pants, skirt and a couple shirts. I am not quite sure how one prepares for this. If anyone has suggestions...I would love some help!

I leave for Cameroon in 73 days.


Don't think. Just do.

Mt. Hood

I never thought that I would say this...but 25 degrees and sunny is amazing! I would take that any day over 40 and rainy. I went to Mt. Hood yesterday to soak up the sun and get a few runs in. I am determined before I leave to hike as far as I can up Mt. Hood. Anyone care to join me?

Valentines Day Dinner & Grammy's!

I love awards shows. I love looking at the fashion or lack thereof. But my favorite is the Grammy's. So it was necessary to make a night out of it, especially when the next day was Valentine's Day. I went over to Jessica Silverman's new home and we made a night out of it. We made a delicious dinner...I recommend making this recipe. It was beyond easy and delish!

Start with 1 lb. of shrimp. Make sure to have them deveined and shelled. Rinse them then saute them in butter and EVOO. Remove them from the pan before they are fully cooked. Set them aside, because you will put them in the sauce later. In another pot start to boil water...once it is at a roiling boil add salt and put it 1 lb. of pasta of your choice.

Once you have removed the shrimp, chop 1 onion and 2 cloves of garlic. (depending on your love of onion, you might want to use less than we did). Saute until the onion is opaque.

Add about a glass of white wine. I recommend pouring yourself a glass while cooking!

Once the white wine has reduced a bit...add an 8 oz. can of tomato sauce. Then let that simmer. To make the sauce even more decadent, add a bit of heavy whipping cream. Continue to let that simmer. Then add the shrimp into the sauce. We cut the shrimp into bite sized pieces, but you could leave them whole.

Next add the pasta into the pan. Once you have added the pasta, add fresh basil. Roll the basil up then thinly slice it. Add that into the sauce right before you are going to serve it.

Lastly to make it even more of a hearty meal, serve the pasta with a fresh salad. We toasted slices of bread. Once removed from the oven we took a garlic clove cut in half and we rubbed it on the bread while it was still warm.

Finally enjoy your dinner! People will be impressed and you will know how easy it was! My last recommendation is to use salt and pepper along the way and taste as you go along. Enjoy!

Our dinner was a success and the Grammy's was too. Enjoy my favorite performance!

"You are Never Strong Enough that you Don't Need Help"

This amazing quote is from Cesar Chavez. My good friend from Arizona, whom also shares a love of quotes, sent this to me. As June 1st quickly approaches, it is starting to sink in that I will be leaving for a long time. So I ask this of you because I know that I am not strong enough that I do not need help. I ask that you pray to help prepare my heart for my upcoming journey. I am coming home this Wednesday and I am starting to move things home; so also ask that you pray for my move back home.

On a side note, for my move back home my good friend from high school, Lesley, is making the journey with me. She decided that because she is not about to visit me in Africa a fun road trip should be in order. So our plan is for me to be back in good old North Tustin by May 8th!!!

Like I said earlier, I will be home Wednesday! I am so excited. I hope to see as many people as possible. If I miss someone, don't worry I will have almost a month of free time in May :)

As I conclude this post (and I apologize for the bouncing a around), I just ask that you pray that God gives me the Strength as well as my family the Strength to prepare us for my journey ahead. But please remember this quote, because more often than not, we think that we are strong enough to handle it on our own. We are not, which is fine. That is why we have a community to lean on and an amazing God on our side.

Little Time Left in Portland

I am writing this blog post sitting on Julie's green couch in San Francisco. I have decided that I am moving here at some point. I just love the city! I wanted to update everyone on what is going on. This is my tentative schedule before I leave for Cameroon. I am planning on stopping work by mid to late April and move home on May 8th! I will be home for a month before I leave for Cameroon!

But seeing as I only a few more months in Portland these are my goal:
- Eat at as many food carts as possible
- Run in the Shamrock 5k & in the Portland Rose's 10k
- Explore beyond my Northwest Neighborhood
- Volunteer more with the Junior League of Portland
- Enjoy all of the wonderful beers Portland is famous for
- Hike Mt. Hood & Mt. St. Helens
- Snowboard more
- Have fun & explore!

My list is long and it feels like it is not obtainable...but I am excited for what the future has in store for me and I need to embrace where I am at now.

This is all for now! I will be home from February 9-13th...I cannot wait to see everyone!

Drum Roll Please....

I AM GOING TO CAMEROON!!!!!!

I got my packet last night telling me I will be going to Cameroon on June 1st! My Dates of Service are August 14,2011 - August 14,2013. I will be a Small Business Advisor. My first stop is intensive training for 3 months in Bafia, Cameroon. From my understanding I will be submerged in the French language and learn about my project. The Pre-Service Training is from June 3 - August 14.

As you all know this has been a long process, so these dates are all tentative. I will keep you posted as I hear more information.

Thank you all for your prayers! I am beyond exciting! I keep looking at pictures of where I will be going and I am gitty!