Weekend Get Away

My weekend started off with me passing out in my clothes (unbrushed teethed and unwashed face) at 9PM Thursday night! I hadn't gotten an uninterrupted night sleep since the Wednesday night before (that is how I roll...) woke up at 9AM Friday morning. I seriously can not tell you when the last time that happened! I got a facial from Ann at Venus Allure Spa! Go see her! Seriously she rocks! And if you mention my name you get a discount! (Contact me for details!) Then my mom and I headed up to Mt. Hood for the weekend. Friday night we checked out Ski Bowl's 80th Anniversary Celebration. I got to rock my 80s outfit for the second week in a row! Won a new pair of gloves. Which totally rocks because I torn mine over New Years and have been borrowing my brothers cause I'm too poor to buy a new pair and their WAY too big for me. Saturday was an awesome day of skiing! It felt like Spring Break skiing, sweatshirts and sunglasses kind of weather. Upper Heather Canyon was open, and there were some awesome cruisers off of Cascade. Sunday was a whole different story. It snowed! Much needed snow, but the visibility sucked, so we called it an early day and headed home to watch the Oscars. All in all a pretty sweet weekend.

How was your weekend?

God Said "No"

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, No.
It is not for me to take away,
but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations;
it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No.
I give you blessings;
Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No.
You must grow on your own,
but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life,
so that you may enjoy all things.

When has God said "no" to you?

The Dash

My boss emailed this to me today. Just thought I would share.

The Dash
Linda Ellis (1996)

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth...
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
the cars....the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they
say about how you spend your dash?

Andrew Hoffman

Today I got the opportunity to listen and meet, Andrew Hoffman, the Holcim (US) Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan, an Associate Director of the Fredrick A. and Barbara M. Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, and author of “Climate Change: What’s Your Business Strategy?”, on The Business Strategy of Climate Change. The event was put on by the University of Oregon’s Center for Sustainable Business Practices.

A couple of highlights from Hoffman’s lecture include the fact that climate change is a market shift in the business world and needs to be part of the core business strategy.

The Wrong Questions to Ask:

1. How much will it cost? (WRONG!)
2. What is it going to do for your business especially compared to your competition? (RIGHT!)
3. Does it pay to be green? (WRONG!)
4. How are you going to innovate? (RIGHT!)
   

Case Studies: Duke Energy, Shell, Whirlpool, DuPont, Aloca, Swiss Re

Why Take Action:

1. Increase profits

• Uncertain energy costs
• Investor interest
• GreenTech sector
• Growing consumer demand

2. Pending government regulations

3. Enhancing corporate reputation

• Reputation benefits
• Hiring practices
• Mission statements

How To Take Action (from the PEW Getting Ahead of the Curve):

1. Ensure strategic timing
2. Estimate appropriate levels of commitment
3. Influence policy development
4. Create business opportunities

Stages of Climate Strategy Development:

1. Develop a climate strategy

• Assess emissions profile
• Gauge risk + opportunities
• Evaluate action options
• Set goals + target

2. Focus forward

• Develop financial mechanism
• Engage the organization

3. Focus outward

• Formulate policy strategy
• Engage external relations

“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.” – Thomas Edison (1931)

Check out these cool technological developments:

· GE Eco Dashboard

· Tokyo Train Station

Winter Camp 2009 "Love Wins"

Here are some highlights of Sunset Presbyterian Church's Middle School Camp: LOVE WINS!

• Learning Phil Wickham's "True Love"
• Getting to know my 6th grade girls story
• Watching those same 6th grade girls go through "The Experience" without help from our leaders...there is something about the sound of hammering that just brings me to tears every time.
  
• Finally understanding my mom's "Clean Up Fairy" This was their first winter camp, lots of "learning experiences" packing for themselves, cleaning up for themselves, making healthy habit choices, etc.
  
• Being "Jenna, the Game Girl" Shaving cream hairdos, oreos, mummies, and dollar dollar bills ya'll...
  
• Dance Party! Busted out my classic 80s college costume. First middle school dance party since I was IN middle school...DJ Five-Oh was jealous...
  
• Being farted on by one of my girls during free time...YOU HAVE TO ASK ME ABOUT THIS ONE!
• Watching my girls finally grasp how great an awesome God truly is...you could literally see their minds explode during this conversation. How great is God that He can be so small for a 6th grader to understand, and yet so complex to create the universe and then push that same little girl to grow even more in Him.

Pictures coming soon...

Winter Camp

In 2 hours I'm heading to Sunset Presbyterian Church's Middle School Winter Camp! The theme of this weekend is Love Wins! (Fitting since it's Valentine's Day weekend.) I'm going with a group of 6th grade girls (starting all over again). I haven't been to middle school camp since I was a senior in high school, so I'm like 5 years out of touch. I'm also the "adult" leader. Which is usually a mom, instead their getting a 22-year-old women and awesome co-leader Emily. Here's to not being mistaken for a 8th grade boy! Long story, ask me about it sometime...

Prayer Requests:
* Camp in general, safety, etc.
* My 6th grade girls - it's their first winter camp!
* My co-leader Emily.
* For the games - I'm leading those this year.
* For my energy and my heart. I'm feeling a little unrested and down heading into camp. Not a good thing.

See you Monday night!

WAY LATE BUT...

I was suppose to post this TWO days ago but I've apparently had the IT week from hell and on top of working, having my boss in town, I'm leaving for SPC's middle school camp tomorrow. So it's been all I can do to just survive this week. But I wanted to get this post out so here it is:

My super-awesome-blogger-friend-whom-I-can't-wait-to-actually-meet-in-May-friend Crystal is writing a book called Dirty Girls: The New Porn Addicts, that pretty much summarizes the book right there. Women and porn. Something that is not talked about ever. I'm probably the worse person to be talking about this topic. Being freakishly prude about all things related to sex and never actually seeing porn (minus the countless college parties that have it playing on mute in the background...) But what I can speak of is the affects and personal relationships porn has tarnished. One of my best friends in high school (who was male - not the Dirty Girls target market) struggled with a sex addiction, which included an addiction to porn. I watch him ruin countless relationships with his family, friends, and girl friend. Luckily, he found God, found an awesome accountability partner, and while he still struggles with this issue he is doing way better.

I know porn is an uncomfortable issue to talk about. Which I think is why Satan uses it to capture so many people. But won't you stand with me and start talking more open about it? If you want to be even braver, Crystal is collecting data for her book. Please take one of her surveys.

What are your thoughts on porn?

3D Glasses!

[3D Glasses Throw Back to Last Halloween. We saw Nightmare Before Christmas!)

Coraline Review

Before I start this review it should be noted that I:
(a) Love children's movies - Little Mermaid, Never Ending Story, Fern Gully
(b) Love cult classic movies - Boondock Saints, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Donnie Darko
(c) Love all things remotely related to Nike - If you don't live in Oregon or have been under a rock lately, Coraline was made at Laika Studios, which is owned by Phil Knight...

Anyways, the movie rocked! I saw it in 3D which ALWAYS makes movies better in my opinion. Fun fact, Coraline was shot entirely in 3D, 24 frames per second for shot animation. Double that to 48 frames per second for 3D - INCREDIBLE! The soundtrack was amazing, very mystical and fun. Each character has their own personality, posture and movement. The sets were amazing, you can tell that people put their hearts into them. The opening credits were my personal favorite. And while I believe the black cat in Coraline is a direct reference to Vincent in Nightmare Before Christmas. (Who was the ONLY character who gave me nightmares when I saw that movie for the first time when I was 7). My friend, Katie, who went with me to see the movie pointed out that the story is told in segments (or episodes) which is something I hadn't picked up on, but in hindsight can totally see. She has read the children's book too (also something that I didn't know - but plan on reading soon).

Great movie! Go see it and tell me what you think!

Growing Up

I need something to write about...it's been awhile...Here is what I'm thinking:

1. This summer will be the first summer I won't have a summer break. No more working at the swimming pool. Finding a sub so I can go wakeboarding when it's nice out. No deciding I can take a two weeks off to go to Houseboat Camp (which isn't happening this year - silver lining) or go to China or who knows where else. I'm not counting the first 5 years of my life since every day was summer...
2. I need to get health insurance...I'm currently one of 47 million Americans without it...working on it though. Talked to my boss, talked to my parents, talked to my friends who are paying for insurance out of pocket, talked to my friends who work in the medical field, checked out some websites, called some agents...I have the ball rolling. I just live a life where I need insurance. I tend to be a little too outgoing and my body is falling apart faster than a normal 22 year olds should be. Yeah competitive sports!
3. My mom recently started talking about paying rent. Not in a bad way, just brought it up, talking about it or more debating on how much I should pay. More to come on this. But my question is (if you feel comfortable answering):

How much did you pay for rent right after you graduated from college? Any special details?

Skiing Weekend

Was AWESOME! I learned how to ski backwards...good skill to have when your younger brother can already do it...

[Mom and I]

[Ted and I]

[Ted, Mom, Mike and I]

Books, Books, Books

I love to read. I love learning. I love the way books feel. I love how they can transport me to different places. I can't wait until I have my own place and I can go to Goodwill, Ikea, hit up garage sales, and Craigslist to get tons of bookshelves to rescue my extensive collection of books from the attic. I'm also one of those people who can be reading more than one book at a time. What are you reading right now you might be asking. Here is what I'm currently working on:

1. A Lion Among Men, by Gregory Maguire, the guy who wrote Wicked. Which is by far my favorite book by Maguire (Wicked that is). This one (A Lion Among Men) is the story of Brr, the cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz. Once I finish this one, I just need to read Lost, and I'm all caught up with Maguire's writing. Anyone want to let me borrow it? This is my right before bed, read a couple of pages then fall asleep book. [Just checked on Amazon.com, looks like Maguire is coming out with a new book...better get going].

2. The Necessary Revolution, by Peter Senge. This one I'm reading for work, Peter is friend's with my boss, Darcy Winslow, and she is actually quoted in the book! Crazy. I pretty much only read this book while riding to and from work on Max or when I'm waiting for something to happen in the office. Just started reading it. It is helping me wrap my head around this whole "sustainability" thing that I do...

3. Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell. My mom loves getting books on CD to listen to on her way to/from work as well. Which I love because I load them up on my iPod and listen to them on Max when I can't sit down and actually read. I've listened to Gladwell's other book Blink. Which I loved! I also want to read (or listen) to Gladwell's other book, The Tipping Point. Once again, anyone own it and want to let me borrow it?

What are you reading right now? Why?