Yowzers...where to start?

Time really flies when you try to blog but can't seem to find the time. It has been quite a while and I am not entirely sure where to start. I guess I can give a brief summary of the past few months and just go from there.

Since I came out to Seattle to work with Habitat for Humanity...I guess I can give an update on that. We currently have just under a month left and it will be a little bittersweet to be done. I have enjoyed the time on site with staff, co-workers, and homeowners but I am also looking forward to starting the next chapter of my life. We have been busy and have made good progress on 2 buildings that will house 11 families. Here are some initial photos and updated photos:

Needless to say, assisting in building these units have kept my busy but it has been an extremely rewarding experience. I have had the privilege of working with some amazing people and have discovered a lot about myself in the process...I might go into that a little later.

Outside of work I have been volunteering at a young adult shelter in Seattle. It has provided me with outside service I can use towards my AmeriCorps term in addition to finding another rewarding way to spend my time. ROOTS serves homeless youth aged 18-25 and is another way to give back and try to use my experiences to benefit others. It would be nice to be a little more involved but it is a great start towards what I want to be doing and I recently accepted a position as an overnight counselor there. I started last week and have been working Wed-Sat on site with Habitat and the graveyard shift at ROOTS from Sat-Mon night...it can be a very exhausting schedule but it is only for another month or so. 

Lastly, but probably more importantly, I met someone!! Her name is Molly and she is from, of all places, Minnesota. Kind of funny that I traveled 1700 miles to meet someone from so close to home. She has been here for 3 years after coming out for an LVC term followed by a year as an AmeriCorps also working with Habitat for Humanity. She decided to stay on with Habitat and now works at the Habitat store in Bellevue. She is a genuinely kind and compassionate person, and she enjoys my sense of humor...crazy, I know. We started hanging out in April and spent countless hours hiking/walking and just talking...it was a great way to develop a relationship even though neither one of us thought the other was interested. I truly consider myself lucky and try my best to make her aware of that...hopefully y'all will get to meet her soon enough. Anyways, things are fantastic and I couldn't be happier...we are actually taking a trip to Port Townsend to go whale-watching in a couple days and I will definitely post pics of that adventure.


Until next time all...take care, god bless, and much love. 

That's right....December.

As most of you know...I spent almost half of my December back in Minnesota. The first trip home was a little bittersweet, I was reunited with loved ones but had come home to lay one of them to rest. I had planned on coming home over Christmas and making it a surprise for most of my friends, but when the news of my best friends father passing away hit me...I knew I would be coming home earlier. There was never really a decision to be made...when looking at the big picture, being there for friends and family should always be a priority because in the end...that's all we really have.

Tom Biegler was someone that impacted many of my close circle of friends lives. He was a father figure to some, he was a coach to most, and he was someone who accepted us no matter what the circumstances. From the time I was 14 he was involved in my life be it sports related (coach/fan) or just as a friend. He could take a ribbing as well as dish it out...there were many good times due to and at the expense of Tom but it never deterred him from being a stand up guy. I know that all of us were able to take something away from knowing him and that is the greatest testament to a persons life...we were all better for knowing him. He will be sorely missed but we will always have the laughs, the wins/losses, the good times and the bad, the teachings, the jokes, and the friendship in our hearts...love ya big guy.

After coming back to Seattle for a week after the funeral it was right back to Minnesota for the Christmas. I know that I have been stroking the scenery in Washington quite a bit...so I made an effort to find some beauty in Minnesota that I had missed (outside of my beautiful friends that is). This is what I came up with.

So there...I was able to find some pics that I really liked. If you can figure out the one I like best I will buy you a beer next time I see ya.

So, while I didn't come home under ideal circumstances the first time around...it was still awesome to be reunited with people that mean the world to me. I was able to spend time with friends I hadn't seen in a few months, my niece greeted me with a heart-melting hug when I saw her, and I got to spend the holiday with my loving family. It never seems like enough time, but when you have the relationships that I believe I have...you are never really that far away.

Not sure home I almost forgot about this but I was also asked to be a Godfather to the beautiful Harper Biegler. I never thought I would have had the opportunity to be a godparent (since neither of my brother's asked me (angry face)) but it was such an honor...I might have even got a little teary.

Until next time all...take care, god bless, and much love.

That's right...I'm a slacker.

I don't even know where to begin...over 3 months since my last post. I am not even sure I can recall all the goings-on...not that things have been that overly exciting, but still. I guess I can go ahead and start with Thanksgiving.

It was the first time, I recall, spending a holiday with that many family members and it was rather awesome to have them all here to celebrate. I think, all in all, there were around 25 or so family members...yeah, little hectic. I was in charge of appetizers...I have never made anything for that many people and took the easy way out with mozzarella sticks and pickle roll-ups. Most people hadn't had pickle roll-ups before but judging by the empty platter I can safely assume that at least 1 person like them. My Aunt Drusilla did an amazing job making sure that everything was ready and entertaining that many guests...other family members pitched in to help and cook so at least it took a little stress off of her. Turkey, taters and gravy, stuffing, corn, adult beverages, amazing family, and football...what else could a guy ask for?

I guess I never realized how much I was missing out on being so far from family...but I did realize how much I miss my friends and family back home. It would be nice to have a combination of both worlds though I will always have those who are dear to me with me in some capacity...even if it is just a thought or a memory. That takes us through November...what comes next?

Until next time all...take care, god bless, and much love.

Way too much to catch up on...

I know it has been almost a month since my last post so this may be quite the cram session...I will try and recall everything that has been going on. Not sure where to start but I guess a good place is with a 'work' update.

It has been almost 2 months now and things are going well...taking a little longer to get comfortable with all the tasks at hand but everyday is a step closer to being where I want to be. It is tough trying to explain the expectations I have for myself...I value being good at stuff and when I am not I feel discouraged. It doesn't last long but it is like competition, I don't go into things competing against the other guy...I compete with what I know I am capable of. Not sure if that makes sense but it is the way I feel at times.

I almost forgot, our AmeriCorp group went on a team building and it was a lot more fun than I ever thought it would be. We went to a spot near Bastyr College and had a sort of leadership training which included tasks that tested our communication and teamwork.

After climbing the wall we went to play WhirlyBall...this is a game that everyone should play at some point in their life. Friggin awesome. It is a mix between bumper cars, lacrosse, and basketball. Of course...my teams were 5-0 (I was the only person on an undefeated team).

Anywhoo...our crew split sites since we last spoke. There is a group of 6 (including myself) who are in Renton and another group of 4 who are working at the Issaquah site. It is kind of sad we had to split because I enjoy spending time with everyone in the group...it is an awesome group of individuals. We split before Habitat's Build a Thon but have managed to get together outside of work. Speaking of Build-A-Thon...I know that many of you reading this had received emails asking for donations and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you. It is hard to express the gratitude and appreciation of myself and other whom you have helped so thanks again.

Like I said earlier...I have been able to spend time with co-workers outside of the workplace. There has been a couple hikes, a concert/show (one member is in a band), tide-pooling at Carkeek Park and this weekend we are going camping. The following pictures will be a smorgasborg of these events.

Until next time all...take care, god bless, and much love.

AmeriCorp Hike to Lake 22

Finally...just over a month since arriving in Seattle and I was finally able to go on a hike. My AmeriCorp group set it up and it was a perfect opportunity to get acquianted with my co-volunteers and get out to see more of the beautiful scenery that Washington has to offer. It was a little over an hour drive from Seattle but felt like it was days away from any civilization...a very welcome change of pace. It was a Sunday but I was very glad I made the choice to forego my football viewing in favor of a hike through the mountains. Here are some of the pics:

This is Jordan, and yes, he is hugging a tree.

He and I spent plenty of quality time on this hike and it was refreshing to see his youthful exuberance when it comes to nature.

A view from a little over halfway up.



The group at Lake 22.

All in all it was a great day, time spent with new friends and enjoying the great outdoors...any my fantasy football team pulled off a win. I haven't been one who has partaken in much outdoor activities but I am hoping to change all that...I definitely appreciate all that mother nature has to offer and would like to see more of it. Hopefully this is the first step of many towards that goal.

Until next time all...take care, god bless, and much love.

A quiet Monday in Seattle...

I figured I would just take this opportunity to post some pics of our trip to Pike's Place Market and down at the pier.

This is from the original Starbucks across the street from the market.

I saw the sign.

No fish tossing but here is the spot.



Down by the pier after the market and lunch.



This was Josh's last day in town and I was definitely sad to see him go. It is amazing the connection you can have with family even though you haven't had the opportunity to spend time with them previously. We had similar experiences and outlooks on life and it was great to have the time to get to know him and build on a relationship that I will continue to value. Good talk(s).

Until next time all...take care, god bless, and much love.

Taking in a game...



It obviously didn't take long before I decided it was time to take in a ball game and check out a new stadium in the process. I wasn't super excited to go to a Mariners game (due to them being terrible) but they were playing the Yankees, I got to see a stadium I had never seen, and I got to spend some more quality time with Uncle Josh. We headed down and decided to get a ticket from a scalper...this sales ninja had us hooked from the start. He had a seating chart in hand and of course he had the tickets to boot. The seats were located in the 14th row and a little bit down the first base line...we were informed that they went for $70 each and he was going to let us have them for $35 each, sold. It wasn't until we were walking in that we realized the tickets actually sold for $40...well played sir.

The stadium was a quality one but nothing compares to Target Field...does any stadium? The place was far from sold out and it didn't take long to realize that Seattle sports fans don't really attend the games to cheer for their team but rather to just see a game...to each their own I guess. I am not a Yankees fan nor will I ever be a Seattle sports fan but the experience was well worth it.

The game was 3-2 (Yankees) going into the 9th inning and I was amazed to see fans streaming out of the complex, guess they have seen this too many times before. Seattle went quietly in the 9th and we were able to see Mariano Rivera's 600th career save...although it was interesting that there was no mention or fanfare for this achievement. Oh well, I was able to get it out of the way and enjoy a night out...thanks Josh.

Until next time all...take care, god bless, and much love.