Oh modesty... you awkward gal

I have always known that I am a strong, determined, and competitive and dare I say it...stubborn woman. Just ask my mom, she will tell you. I grew up playing sports with the boys and dancing both in a studio and on dance team, competing not only against others, but myself. I feel fairly certain that playing sports greatly helped me to grow into the confident woman that I now am.

Much of my adolescence was spent in the outgoing shadows of my closest friends and I was happy for it simply because I was a part of it. Did I wish that I could have been as outgoing as my friends back then? Of course. It would have been great not to be the shy one, however, being shy was the person I was meant to be at that time, I realize that now at 35 years old. Who knows the person that I would have become had I been the outgoing one in high school. Being outgoing and learning to be confident not only as a woman, but with myself was something that I had to do in my own time.
It was not until somewhere during college and the years that followed that I decided I did not really care so much what others thought about me. I had a sudden desire to be bold...to be brave...to be loud. I wanted to be someone that spent a majority of my time smiling, laughing, and most importantly, someone who was confident in my own skin.

Living and teaching abroad in Thailand was just the catalyst I needed to further my growth as a strong, independent woman. I had already traveled with two close friends, backpacking all around Costa Rica earlier in the summer and was searching for a way to experience life in a new way. I had developed a new found love of traveling and no longer felt happy simply living my life day to day the way I always had. It was a need that emerged inside me. As a newly graduated teacher, I knew that if I took a full time teaching job in the town I grew up in that was it for me. I would grow comfortable and complacent and my life would be decided. Instead, I set my sights on where else I could go to teach. The Peace Corp seemed logical, but two years was daunting as this would only be my second time out of the country on my own. Then I found it...teachers wanted for a private school in a city three hours North of Bangkok, Thailand. I already was planning to travel to Thailand...why not spend a year teaching and traveling at the same time? I applied, interviewed and was offered a job teaching Thai children ages 2-4 English.

Being a natural fan of performing, once I decided I was no longer shy Rachael I had many avenues open for expression, one of my favorites being karaoke. Once I could get to a place where I wasn't constantly thinking of what others would think or say about me, my choices or my attitudes it seemed so much easier to be me. It is a truly wonderful feeling to be so free of the judgments of others, for the most part anyways; I'm still human after all.

Bienvenido 2015...Au revoir 2014

Seven months is a long time to be dormant. I wish I could say that I have been short of writing material or that I haven't been writing blog after blog in my head. Alas, this is not the case. My lack of posting comes from being too busy living my life to sit down and just do it. I was incredibly lucky as a nanny to have time while the kiddos napped to blog daily, to keep myself accountable. Once I started my new job teaching preschool for Oregon Child Development Coalition in April, my free time for writing became after work and workouts and in between time with Adam and our families. Not the most air tight of excuses, but honest at least. That being said, it is officially the start of a brand new year and like so many others out there I want to work to better myself and bettering myself means making time to write and share. Hence, I plan to make more time for this blog-o-mine that I love so dearly.
As my first step into 2015 I offer you all out in blog land a quick re-cap of the moments, memories and adventures of the past seven months that meant the most to me.

May:

Adam and I did a paint and drink for our moms for Mother's day gifts

We also trekked up to Seattle on Memorial day for a Mariners' game!

 

 

June:

I completed my first OPK school year-all one and a half months lol and started my first Migrant summer program switching my hours from 7:30 am-2:30pm to 8am-5pm as the pm closer!

 

Adam and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary with Peruvian food at Andina! I got my very first sparkly watch and a beautiful flower! Love this guy!

                                               

 

July:

Sunshine and Matt came to Oregon for their honeymoon and a quick visit :)

 

 Adam and I enjoyed a day at the beach together!

 

We actually got some friends to join us for summer brewfest!





August:

Got the ladies together for a baby shower brunch for Janelle's second

 

Tyree and Sean tied the knot on August 16th, 2014!

 

First OSU football game of the season with the die hards!

 

Adam, Kasey and myself enjoyed an evening at the Symphony in the park on the waterfront

September:

 Annual Clear Lake camping trip

 

                                  

 

 October:

Adam and I saw Drop Kick Murphys' at the Roseland Theater

 

Racheal K celebrated her 32nd birthday 80s style aaaaaaand on a boat!

 

 

 

Halloween annual pub crawl with Wario, Luigi and Yoshi

 

 

 November:

Happy 32nd birthday to me!

 

 

 

Bastille and Abyss with my love!

                         

 

Thanksgiving spent with the Fetrows and Sapinas

                         

         

                               

December:

 

Celebrating Adam's 32nd birthday with beers and bowling!

          

 

Our beloved Pop Pop passed away on 12/8/14 from a brain aneurism.

 

Still can not believe our family lost this wonderful man, my dad's dad, this morning. My heart aches at the fact that I will no longer be sharing emails and phone conversations with my Pop Pop. Hearing him answer the phone, "well hello there young lady!" always made me smile
Pop Pop, you were the most loving and supportive grandfather that I could ever have been lucky enough to have cheering me on... these last 32 years. Thank you for all the unconditional love, good, strong hugs and interest in your grand daughters' life, it meant the world to me. We will all miss you dearly, but are grateful you passed with little pain. I will cherish the memories we have forever.
Please keep our family in your thoughts as we grieve the loss of George Morris Fetrow: hardworking son, loving father, kind husband, proud grandfather and doting great grandfather.

We love you Pop Pop

 

Josh visits Portland close to Christmas! The first time in years!

 

Fetrow (early) Christmas!

 

 

Adam and my first Christmas in our first place together! We even got a wee tree!

 



 

Our last big trip of the year...10 days in Bolivia to celebrate Norman and Daniela's wedding!

 Leaving PDX on our looooong journey to Santa Cruz, Bolivia!

Arriving after over 24 hours of traveling! Yeeesh!

 Bolivian beers with friends

 Party bus through Santa Cruz!

 The happy newlyweds!

 We clean up nice!



 

 At Guembe for the day

 En route to the ruins at Samaipata!

Bon voyage Bolivia and Norman!

 

Finishing out 2014 with two of my favorite guys, Adam and Kasey around Belmont Street

 

2014, you have been a year to remember for sure. Thanks for the memories and adventures! Can't wait to see what is in store for 2015! Hugs and Kisses, Rachael