So good to be HOME for Christmas!

So, last year I was in Utah working for Christmas. And while it was a great experience and made me so much more grateful for my family holiday traditions...it is SO much nicer to be at home!!

This year we didn't have anyone but mom and dad and I at home for Christmas. BUT we did get a surprise visit from The soon to be Kansas-Washburns. IT was SO great to spend time with the kids. We went to Zackie's, my favorite hot dog place in nashville and visited coach at the titans facilities. It was so fun to have all 3 all to myself! Then we enjoyed a great lunch with mom and brady and ashley at J. Alexanders! It was a great gift just to get to see them!

Dad has a game the day after Christmas in Kansas City, so he left on Christmas morning. So we decided to open our gifts on Christmas eve. We also had a big dinner because we were all separated for Thanksgiving; I was in the field, mom was in Detroit, Dad was home. Dad and I also started a new tradition of going out to Fattybread on the day of Christmas Eve and hiking and sitting by the fire! We also got to skype with the for now Missouri Washburns!!

Mom made an amazing dinner and we all enjoyed the rare time to sit around the table together and eat and talk. We all gathered around the fire and opened gifts. I got an especially special gift from family friend Des Maxwell. She, and everyone else knows of my love for Dolly Parton and she was able to get me a personalized autographed picture of her!!! I am more excited that Dolly knows that I exist!!! I cried, mom cried!! It was amazing. We most of all enjoyed the time of giving to each other!

This morning we woke up to snow on the ground! It is so rare for us southerners to enjoy a white Christmas! With dad gone to the game, Mom and I skyped with the Michigan Washburns and then went to see a movie and when we drove home it was Snowing again!! How wonderful!

I am so thankful that I can be home for this Christmas and not miss all these special moments with my family!!

Dad and I enjoying our stockings

Dad's bracelet for mom was a big hit!

Tears of joy for my favorite gift!

Enjoying Fattybread on Christmas Eve

Yay for snow!

The house sure looks great in snow!

Avery Jane the giggle box

So, I have recently written down on a notecard all the people I want to pray for during the day and I was surprised how quickly my list filled up. That left me with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for all the people who I love and love me. When I go through my list sometimes I think of qualities that remind me of that person and today when I was going through my list and came to Avery Jane my mind filled with her giggles.

I think she has one of the most distinguishable laughs that I have ever heard. It is so unique and fits her personality to a T. Everytime I see a picture of Avery jane smilling I can hear her giggle come through the picture. I hope that she will be able to keep that laugh as she gets older bc i sure do love hearing it;)

Three Bird Spoons

So, when working at Second Nature Entrada we taught the kids to make spoons out of wood to eat with. It was a sign of taking care of yourself and learning a new skill so you weren't so reliant on others. And it just pissed them off sometimes ;) As many things go, I learned by teaching. I had never made a spoon in my life either! But after working out there for 2 years, spoon making became something that I truly enjoyed and did to relax, even in my off time.

That has continued since moving back to the southeast, although I have had to adjust to a different palet of woods to work with. A great surprise came when my parents bought 52 acres and we discovered cedar that is a deep dark purple! I was so excited. The spoons that we've made are so beautiful! The Lord provided!!

My family has been encouraging me about my spoons and loves getting them as gifts. Lately they have been telling me that I need to start selling these, and have a little side business. So, I decided to do that! The problem is, is that I have started making more and they have been wanting them!! Ha, I guess I will just keep going and make more so that they can have some and I can sell some!!

So, if you know anyone who wants a custom spoon, let me know!!

I will post some pictures later!!

Double Washburn Win!

Jeremiah and Dad have both been NFL coaches for a season and 5 games now, and i think we have had one weekend where both teams have won. It happened for the second time this last weekend when the Lions killed the Rams and the Titans beat a tough Cowboys team.

It is hard to explain the pure joy of a Double Washburn Win. Both of them work so hard day in and day out. Jay is getting his coaching legs and dad is working with only one good one, so they def work their butts off, so it is special that they can both celebrate together...well at least on the same day!

SPT Wedding!

This weekend I was blessed to watch one of my dearest friends Lauren walk down the isle!! What made this wedding so much fun is that during our college days, Lauren was ADAMANT that she was never going to get married...never people! So we always laughed and had no trouble agreeing with her, she didn't seem like the marrying type!

So, today seeing her up at the alter saying her vows was a funny, moving, powerful moment for me and my friend Anna! We have all been friends for the past 5 years, we met at MTSU and spent every day of our college careers together.

When I was growing up and moving all around I wished and prayed for friends like this, and the Lord has blessed me with these two ladies. It was also fun to get dolled up and look pretty. And the great thing is we all cared about each other, Lauren kept commenting on how great we looked and loved of course her dress and everything going on for her. The love was infectious, as it often is when we get together!!

Peru Bound!

well, in 16 days!

My best friend Jp and I are headed to Lima then Iquitos Peru for 2 whole weeks on July 30th! I am so excited to discover a new place and do it with my dearest friend. We don't have a lot planned at the moment, and we are most excited about ALL the time we will have to catch up and talk, or sleep or do whatever we'd like. That part is most exciting for her, being a mother of two, working full time and being a wife...getting little time for JUST her.

I know this will be the trip of a lifetime and I will really cherish all of it since we live so far away from each other these days!

Covering up from a sandy sandy day at work in the desert!

Happy Birthday America

Since our family are the busiest during the "normal" holidays...we have our "Christmas/Thanksgiving" get together during the July 4th holiday. It has become a great tradition that we all count on attending. One of our traditions is running a 5K on the morning of the 4th. Last year was one of the only years we haven't ben together in a while bc of Jay and Susan moving. So it has been 2 years since we have done our traditions.

This year we did the "I Run for the Party" 5K in downtown Nashville. We were not excited about waking up at 5:45 to make our 7am start time, but by the time we got down there, we were happy to be keeping up a tradition. We even decided that the complaining before hand is tradition! We all ran well, I had my personal best! After the race the 3 of us went to Nashville's Pancake Pantry to enjoy a siblings only breakfast! We enjoyed the time together just the 3 of us. We will definitley be doing it again next summer!

2 months later...

Well, I have fallen back into my old patterns of not blogging....i feel so shameful! To all 4 people who read this;)

Well, since my last entry a lot has changed in the "Young Woman Gone" world. I have moved from Utah back to Tennessee to work in Georgia. I have gone to Europe with mom. Well, that's it, it seems like alot more when you live it, i promise;)

The "summer break" has been a wonderful re-charge for me personally and I have enjoyed getting to spend time with family, and since that is the primary reason for the move, it has been a great reinforcer for the move.

I started my first shift at Second Nature Blue Ridge last week and while it was a good reminder of this being a job I love, it was also overwhelming to be in a completely new environment without so many of the people I love to be around and work with. At Entrada I felt so confident in everything about my job and it is humbling to have to start over in a way and learn a whole new system. Luckily for me, therapy is therapy and I have found that my skills and love for that part of the job are still intact!

To say the transition has been smooth would not be correct and there is still a feeling that this is the right place for me to be right now, is it long term? I couldn't answer that and won't try to. I have a lot of options for my next move in life and for the time being am trying to enjoy getting so much special time with my parents and a break from some grown up things like BILLS!

I miss Utah and my friends there Dearly and think that they are the kind of friends that will hold up to all of these miles, and that is comforting for me during all of this change! here are a few pictures from the last few months!

Enjoying some pool time before Luke and Avery moved to St. Louis

Mom In Rome
Mom and I on the Eiffel Tower

Jp and I the night of my going away party in Utah

Went to MI to visit and saw drew's soccer game

Megan and I playing soccer, it was a close match!

Jeremiah and Susan are coming down with their kids for the 4th of July this weekend which is the unofficial yearly reunion time for our family since football season gets in the way of us spending time together during the holidays, we have to be flexible! can't wait to enjoy some pool time and hang at fatty bread with family!

Last shift in the desert

Well, tomorrow I am heading into my last shift at Second Nature Entrada. It seems like just yesterday I was going into my first shift, shaking like a leaf on a tree. And that is pretty much how i'm leaving, just more tears this time.

Here is the post before my first week...

http://jesswashburn.blogspot.com/2008/08/headed-to-woods.html

How funny how time has changed, now I'm feeling the total opposite about being here. The Lord can be tricky that way.

I will be heading back to a group that I've worked in the past 4 shifts, so I've got some relationships with the girls and I spent my first week at entrada in Group 4, and my 1 year anniversary in Group 4, so it is only fitting that I end there. The therapist for G4 is an amazing man that I have built quite a relationship with and am happy to end it with him.

This top picture is from my second to last week when we got to hike in a river for a few miles...the second picture is from my first internship week when we hiked a 7,396 ft mountain

I will def have more posts next week hopefully as I am getting ready to leave the wonderful state of Utah.

We have think called Inservice every tuesday morning before going into the field and obviously tomorrow is my last one...Jp is doing a training and not working a regular work week, but is coming to inservice anyway to support me because she knows it will be an emotional thing for me. What a friend right!?

To Clarify

My earlier post today was pretty vague, so maybe I can clear things up so that people don't have to wonder and you can just know what's going on in Jessica Land.

I have 2 off shifts left here, so that is basically 12 days out of the field that I have left here. So, basically, not much time at all considering I have to prepare to LEAVE Utah for good and spend time with people I care about here and tie up all of my loose ends. I have done a lot and I guess the most overwhelming part is trying to squeeze time in with people and thinking that my time is dwindling so quickly and then...poof...I will be gone from their daily world and them from mine. I always knew I would move back to TN so when I left almost 2 years ago it wasn't like "bye forever". What really is the chance that I will ever live in the same town as these friends ever again, slim; so it is seeming very final, this upcoming goodbye.

So, my main struggle the past few months and really what I feel lately is, is do I push through these feelings and really make the most of my time here and make it harder to leave these wonderful wonderful people, or do I start pulling away from them to make leaving easier? I think this is something I have always struggled with, and now it seems like it is a daily debate with myself...stay or run?

Today I had a moment that really tested me, and I came close to just leaving and seperating myself and convincing myself that was the best choice for me. I was able to push through it and find some kind of resolution with it, and it was hard. And now there is more of a bond than there was yesterday bc of it...does that make sense? So, essentially that has made leaving just that much harder?

Ok, I am getting myself into a pity party. I guess I am daily dumbfounded at how hard this leaving Utah project is turning out to be. I think work this week will be a great distraction from all of it...or it just might force me to look at it...let's cross our fingers for distraction.

Speaking of distractions...I have been running a lot lately...5 days straight now to be exact! It is hard to run in the field, so 6 in a row is all I can do now. I am keeping it to 1-2 miles right now, but that is still enough for me. I am also now going daily to the sauna at my gym. If you have never done it, I suggest it! I love the feeling of so much leaving my body in the form of sweat. There are plenty of health benefits and I also enjoy the mental benefits of sitting still and focusing on my thoughts. I am trying to build up to staying in there for an hour. Right now I am at 37 mins with one break. I am doing it bc I love the feeling and also to work on my self discipline, being able to sit in an uncomfortable place(a good metephore for my life)

Ok, I'm really done. I need to get some sleep!

Need some Prayers

Hey to those who read this on a semi-regular basis. I'm having one of those days, and could use some prayers from some peace to come live in my heart. I am sure some of you will read this days after I read it, and I'm sure I will still need those prayers whenever you read it. Thanks to those who can send up some prayers for me.

-Jess

Easter Eggs!

One of my favorite things about spring time is Easter, and I think the south celebrates it more than most regions. It is an all day event for us southerners! So, last year I had to work on Easter and this year I will be again:( As sad as it is, it is really great to spend that day in nature and think of what Jesus was going through and how it all happened in nature. So, when I stop feeling sorry for myself, I realize I am probably getting more out of the day than most will.

Still, i am a fan of tradition and dying eggs is one of my favorite things to do! So, I found this kit that said it was super easy, so I bought it planning on doing it with JP, big surprise. So today she and I and her oldest son Taegyn boiled up some eggs and had a egg dying party! Jp and I probably had more fun than Tae did, but he was having fun too! Here are some pictures from our fun!

Hope everyone has a great Easter!!

Spring in the Desert

I have to say that spring time is my favorite season in the desert. Everything is in bloom and the heat is just right...not like the oven it can feel like in the summer time. I am so thankful that I get to spend another spring here before I leave Utah, maybe it wasn't the best timing that I leave during my favorite time...hmm. I got to work in our lower field area this week and it is about 10 degrees warmer than the upper field area where I have been ALL winter long. So, it was a welcomed break from the cold and snow. I actually got a little sun burned and I love it!! I took a nap one day and the sun felt so warm and comforting on my back, like a big blanket! Here are some pictures from the week.

The Lizards enjoy the warm rocks just as much as I do

Chaco weather! You can still see the snowy peaks in the distance

Happy to be at work!

First Duathlon in the books!

So, a few weeks ago I was in the middle of a great workout streak and decided that I was going to do a race. I proceeded to look up any races in the St. George area and found a Duathlon and for some reason felt compelled to sign up...so i DID!

It was a sprint distance; which means it was 1.5 mile run, 12 mile bike, then another 1.5 run. It was in a gorgeous area of town and part of our bike ride was in Snow Canyon State park...pictured below.

Today was race day and I have to say that I wasn't AS prepared as I could have been, but I had been running a lot in my off shifts and had biked a couple of times at the gym. My boss graciously let me borrow his wife's road bike so that I didn't have to ride my mountain bike..which are not fun to ride on roads for long distances!

I got there early this morning and got nervous right away when I saw a lot of serious looking competators and me strollin up without a helmet (oops) wearing my KVB jersey! So, I called dad and told him I needed a pep-talk and he sure did deliver (just like every other time!) So, I got off the phone remembering I'm a Washburn for heaven's sake!!! And that is something special.

My first run started off fine and I did my best to not let my competitive spirit get in the way of me having fun. I am usually hard on myself when I do races and don't let myself enjoy the journey, that theme was starting until I jumped on my bike, it was so much fun to ride that smooth bike through the beautiful red rock scenery and I had great music playing and found myself smiling the whole bike ride.

I had gone into the race wanting to finish under 2 hours, but didn't get my hopes up so I didn't get disapointed at the end. Well near the end of my bike section I realized I had a great chance at beating 2 hours and then some, so I kicked it up into high gear even though my legs were killing me and I knew I had to run another 1.5 miles. I got off my bike and had to walk a bit to regain my walking legs and then was able to find some kind of a grove for the last bit.

My final time was 1:40:00 flat!! When I crossed the finish line I almost started crying I was so proud of myself! I am pretty hard on myself most of the time and don't let myself enjoy a lot of stuff. So the fact that I crushed the time I had set for myself was enough to let me celebrate!

My only sad point was that there wasn't anyone waiting at the finish line, but hopefully I can keep doing these races when I move back home and I know that there will always be a clan of Washburn's cheering me on to the end!

Snow Canyon

This was the image that was on my finisher medal!

Senior Time

So, today marks a great day for me...I have become a Senior level staff at Second Nature Entrada! You start as you may know as an intern, then progress to level 1, then eventually level 2, which is where you spend most of your time. After you go through Senior Development so that you can try it out as a senior with a "real" senior there with you. After they feel like you have done enough to get through that, you take a test and are officially a Senior! That just means you are the head staff in a staff team that works with a group, so basically you are in charge and legally where the buck stops, so a lot of responsibility is placed on you at that point. So, after starting as an intern that was not gauranteed a position, I have made it a year and a half later to become a Senior! It is hard to explain how excited I am to be able to be a senior with this company that I love and respect. And another cool thing is that there are only 3 female seniors right now and the other two happen to be my best friends Jess and Jp! So, I'm excited for my first week as a senior even though it is only going to be a half week because I am taking some vacation time for the Super Bowl and headed to Detroit!!! I am excited for a break from hard work and the snow, and we are supposed to get dumped on the day I leave the field!! Here's hopping I make it out!!

Bring on the SNOW!

So, this last week in the field, I saw more collective snow than I have ever seen in my life, and I'm sure that goes for most southerners I know too! I went into the field on Tuesday and there was maybe a foot of snow on the ground (still alot!) and that night it started snowing and didn't stop until saturday morning!!! That's right, no sun for 5 days! It is amazing the mental toll that takes on a person, and it was doing numbers on me. Thank goodness I was working with amazing people so we were able to laugh and keep our sanity as much as possible. Here are some pictures from the week, the biggest bonus is that the snow in Utah is very dry so it isn't the sticky wet snow that comes to us in the South, it is perfect for snowballs and snow sculptures, and doesn't get nasty very quickly....

what to put here...

I tried to find a bible verse that talked about how God puts wonderful people in our lives for a reason, the extent of my search was google, so maybe i didn't try hard enough...

I have made it official that I am leaving Utah in May, the 8th to be exact. And it has amazed me how much support i have gotten with my decision and i don't know why, but I am surprised at how much of a life I have built here in Utah. I guess because I am almost always on the go, it surprised me that when i slowed down that there are all these people who care so much about me. And if i wasn't so attatched to being close to my family then i could see myself staying here for a while in this world I have created for myself. But alas, family is who I want to be close to, and even though they are the driving force behind me leaving, it is already becoming hard for me to imagine myself leaving. Knowing it is the right choice doesn't make it the easy choice by any means. Keeping in touch through email and phone doesn't touch the bonds I have created in person and a part of me is fearful that those relationships are going to waver because of distance and that is something I have seen happen a lot in my life and I guess I am hopefull and fearful that they will hold up and know that there is a good chance that they won't, hard to admit to myself. It is hard to prepare myself to let go of certain friendships while i still try and get the last few drops of fun out of them. Soudns self defeating right? Just whats in my head at the moment, it helps for me to write it down sometimes and not feel so alone in my sad thoughts.

Ok, enough sadness for tonight. I'm going to try to go enjoy some time with a dear friend before heading out to the snowy snowy snowy desert (said snowy 3 times for how many feet we are supposed to get)

Thanks for reading!

Sleepy Ship

So, The sleepy ship is a couch, a very very comfortable couch that belongs to my friends Shad and Jp. Jp happens to be one of my closest friends here in Utah an older sister figure to me out here away from family. I spend a lot of time at her house on this couch and we usually end up chatting and then falling asleep...hence the sleepy ship.

I have decided to make some changes in my life coming up this summer and they will be taking me away from Utah and sad and happy thing. And something I will miss the most about living here is my friendship with Jp that has grown over the past year. Most recently we took a trip to Seattle to see the Titans and Seahawks play, it was an amazing trip! Jp has worked at Second Nature for 10, yes 10 years! So she has been a great resource for me and helped me develop into a better staff than i could be without her.

Anyway, I just wanted to post a little about JP so people back home could know a little more about her!