Almost Gypsy Soul

Let's be honest, I've got some serious catching up to do. I'm going to attempt to hit on all the highlights of the last several months since I've shared my life with you. Of course, these shares will mostly be fun, awesome stuff because who really want to hear/re-live the not so awesome parts of life...can I get a Heck Ya!? I was feeling pretty blah last summer and thought that something out of my comfort zone might be just what I needed to get back on track. Read my teaser here .... I signed up to head to Puerto Rico on a Hurricane Maria Relief detail with the Farm Service Agency. I was gone for 4 weeks, worked in 4 offices for an approximate 275 hours of work. I worked exclusively on a new program for hurricane relief called WHIP. WHIP provided growers assistance who lost both crops and a means for production. The most common crops we dealt with were coffee, plantains, bananas and mangos. Most of these crops do not produce the first crop until 18 months to 3 year...

On September 28, 2010 I made one of the easiest decisions of my life, even after I read how difficult donation can be. I signed up on the Be The Match Marrow Donor Registry . It wasn't too long after Assistant Pack Leader was in possible need of a marrow donor that I made my decision. While I haven't been a match yet, I still can't think of better commitment that I've made so far in my life. I could save someone's life, I could give someone the opportunity to experience life. Assistant Pack Leader has gotten clear scans for several years now, but it doesn't make the possibility of being a donor any less close to home for me.

That one person that just shocks the shit out of you. Someone who it never crossed your mind that they gave a crap about you or what you are doing in life. An acquaintance that goes above and beyond and makes you realize there is hope for humanity. and.it.made.my.day. I think we all struggle with our own self worth at times and I'm no different. I struggle because my life looks nothing like I envisioned . (but what does an 18 year old kid who thinks they are ready to take on the world really know anyway) Just as this angel told me on a day that I needed to hear it most, I will tell you.....you make a difference, you are here for a reason, you are loved,  you are enough .....maybe not to everybody, but to someone you are inspiring and you can make your dreams come true. In a world where hatred and selfishness is running rampant, its a world that strives to tear others down to lift ourselves up a little higher on the pedestal. That is not where strength comes from, strengt...

I've got a special treat for you guys today. Jaron was my soldier when I volunteered with an organization called Soldier's Angels. I gained as much from our friendship as he has and I am truly honored to call him and his wife, Maggie friends....even though we haven't yet met in person. Please take time to read Jaron's story and check out the Clayton's dream of  Running Dogs Brewery, the brewery for Vets by Vets! Thank you Jaron for sharing your story with Almost Gypsy Soul! And I can't wait until you are up and running, I'll be headed West for a visit and a big tall beer! Dear Almost Gypsy Soul Readers, My name is Jaron Clayton and met Jennifer in 2008 in a letter received while in Iraq explaining that she was my Soldiers Angel. This surprised me to say the least I had no idea that there were people that would care enough to write a complete stranger asking what we needed and wanted while we were away from home. The care ...

The angel tree is absolutely my favorite thing about Christmas. I love imagining the faces of little kids opening presents on Christmas morning when they may not have had a single present if not for the thousands that play "angel" at Christmas. I love imagining the relief and smiles on the faces of their parents, who probably worried and lost sleep over not being able to afford presents for their children. While I love the angel tree, I have repeatedly been disappointed by the number of requests for xbox, iphone and the like. Pretty much if you ask for one of those things, you will still be hanging on the tree when I walk away. After spending some time at the nursing home with one of our ranchers and with Bonnie's mom, I've added senior citizens to the angel tree as well. Those living in nursing homes are often forgotten or no longer have family nearby. I can't imagine how difficult the holidays must be when they are so lonely. While the season has become mor...

I admire those who can work in professions where they are charged with saving lives every single day because they can't save every single life, every single day. Its something I'm just not sure I'd be able to handle well enough to call it my profession. But, to save a life. wow, what an awesome opportunity. Even if we are not called to be take on saving lives every single day, we can be called to save a life someday....which is why I re-upped my commitment to the Be a Match Registry.   Its free, donors never pay and you could save someone's life. Easy, go to the website, browse around and see what good you could do if call upon as a match and signup. They send you emails each year to renew your commitment. easy peasy. I was first called to join the registry when Assistant Pack Leader was in the situation of needing a possible donor. The doctors were able to use her own bone marrow, so she didn't have to find a matching donor, but not everyone is that lu...

If you remember back when I decided to join the Pay It Forward movement I got at least 5 comments and consequently 5 chances to pay it forward, to make someone's day with a surprise gift. So I've been working on this post for about over a year to share with you what I thought these people would most love getting in the mail from me! #1 Fellow blogger and OSU alumni, Amy - If you guys don't know Amy you are missing a gem. Check out her blog and get to know her a little better! I followed accounts of her proposal, engagement and am looking forward to the accounts of her wedding day....both from her and Football Fan. She lost her dad in a car accident in 2011 and I know she might miss him a little extra on her way down the aisle. So for her pay it forward, I thought she might like a bouquet charm so that her dad could be with her on her wedding day. Congratulations on your wedding Amy, I wish you forever happiness! # 2 Fellow blogger and OSU alumni, Tiffany - Tiffany...

Are you already running, walking or biking? If you are then download the Charity Miles app on your phone. By logging miles, a sponsor picks you up and donates to the charity of your choice based on how many miles you log. Bikers earn 10 cents per mile and runners/walkers earn 25 cents per mile. Join me....for 100 miles this year!

Christmas is the second most wonderful time of the year....sorry, July 4th is my absolute favorite holiday. What does Christmas look like around here this year? 1. I like to buy Christmas stuff right after Christmas because its so cheap....and this year when I opened my decorations box, I had some surprises that I had forgotten about. BAM, brand new tree decorations this year! 2. If you are on the angel tree and you ask for cowboy boots, you pretty much get everything that is on your wish list. I'm a sucker for kids that don't want video games or iphones. 3. I finally have outdoor Christmas lights....complements of the after Christmas sales! 4. My nativity set.....only took me two years and bribing my friends and family to help me finish it, but I have a nativity set....that I painted and its awesome! 5. Don't forget the seniors. I love the Angel Tree and picking out gifts for the younger generation that needs a little extra boost around the holidays, th...

Last Saturday we went to Wingers for some dinner and a cocktail or two. I was insistant on not sitting at the bar "because we were eating dinner too"...which I was overruled and we moved to the bar. Our bartender was a neat young lady with a terrible limp. Come to find out she had fallen on the ice, but was unable to catch herself because she had been carrying her baby. The baby was fine, but her knee was a different story. We had a great dinner and friendly service. The next day I cleaned out my closet and listed some clothes for sale on Facebook and got a buyer right away, when she came to my house to pick up the clothes I recognized her face, but couldn't put it with a time and place. We chatted briefly and I learned that she had recently lost quite a bit of weight, but was still trying to lose more so she didn't like to buy new clothes for herself until she got to her goal....completely understand that one! I also learned that she was a single mom so most of her...

Preface: I have actually considered having my own kid for the sole perk of Elf on A Shelf....then my wits came back to me and decided that maybe I should just borrow one for a few weeks of the year, might fit my current life stage better. As in better for me and WAY better for said kid. Current: I got the following letter from Jacob in Tennessee.   Dear Jennifer, In school we read a book about a boy who got flattened by a bulletin board. His name was Stanley, now is Flat Stanley. He wanted to go on a trip, so his family folded him up and mailed him to California. I am mailing my Flat Stanley to you. Please take him somewhere and write me back telling me about his adventures. if you have pictures, postcards or brochures, please send them back with him.  I will share his adventures with my classmates and this will help my classmates and I learn more about other places in the world. Thanks for helping me with this project. I wish I could fold myself up and visit you. L...

so before you think I'm a terrible person I'll just say I love the movie Dumb and Dumber and since I'll be writing about senior citizens today and didn't have a great title, I though Lloyd Christmas would be appropriately not appropriate. I'm scared to death of nursing homes. I don't know what to do, I don't know what to say, where to sit...nothing. I'm a fish out of water. My co-workers mother had to be put in the nursing home and she faithfully goes up each day at lunch to sit with her while she eats. And if you remember here , we have another special man to visit in the nursing home. I'll admit that I hadn't been up to see him lately and Bonnie told me several days that he asked where I was, so I made time, put the important things first and up to the nursing home I went. I sat at a table of mostly wonderful old guys for lunch. I cut slathered baked potatoes in butter and sour cream, I cut up pork loin, I poured water, I handed out napkins...

"Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us everyday" This quote is at the bottom of every single email I send while I'm at work. And I'm at work alot, 8, 9, 10, 12 hours a day. Yet it still escapes me how true these words ring. A while back I posted this picture on Facebook with the title "Do something awesome....donate blood"   And there were comments about how my friends and family....MINE were still with us today, thanks to blood donation. Wow, now that'll hit ya right in the forehead.  It took an hour of my time and I saved someone's life, actually probably 3 lives. That makes me a hero to someone. And that made my day. Please, please, please give blood donation some thought. Ask yourself if you can take an hour of your time and give life to someone else. You'll be their hero. I was going to promise that this would be my last blood donation post, but that is probably a lie. And see th...

Our place of work isn't normal. We just aren't. Since coming to this office nearly 5 years ago the saying about who you work with is what makes the job couldn't ring more true. I didn't want to come here, I dreaded moving here and now I'm not sure I want to ever leave. We make house calls to get paperwork signed. We sit at kitchen tables and share a pot of coffee and tears over the loss of 50 head in a forest fire. We hold the hands of dying old ranchers while they tell us stories followed by how much they appreciate what we do. We drive pick-ups to help feed sheep during a particularly dry winter. We (Bonnie, I'm not very good at this one) comfort widows while they cry because they are lost without their husband. We visit nursing homes just to make sure they know they aren't forgotten. And while I don't like to admit that things change. While I often don't know what to say. The smile spreading across an old ranchers face when we walk into the ...

When I found out that the herders LOVE sweets, I knew that this was something I could deliver. I love to cook desserts that aren't good for me. The problem is then I proceed to eat said desserts. So its the perfect arrangement really, I cook yummy desserts, have my one allotted dessert and package the rest up to take to sheep camp. Win-win if you ask me. Arejullio, is my favorite herder and I his favorite dessert deliverer. He is super nice and he gives me giant hugs when I take him goodies. Presumably, a hug is used because we don't actually speak the same language, but we can both understand the gratefulness of a hug. (I really need to get on that Spanish learning goal). Unfortunately, life called and I wasn't able to hand deliver the goodies this time :(  but rest assured the rancher got my hug. ok that didn't really happen, but all the herders were grateful for some sugar! And because I do what I want (and that I can't eat fast food anymore) I'm co...

Excerpt by Marie - This fund has been set up to help our family with the expenses that come along with Jeremiah having heart surgery.  For those of you who may not be familiar with our sweet Miah our journey began back on October 5, 2010 on the day that he was born. I was scheduled to have a c-section in Hereford Texas but when I went in that morning they found a blood clot in my leg and decided that it would be best for me to be sent to Amarillo. When I arrived I was in active labor, so much for a easy c-section! I was sent to ultrasound so they could locate my blood clot and get a plan together. To all of our amazement there was no blood clot to be found!!!! A God thing for sure only HE could know that our sweet little man would need the best heart doctors in the area the min he was born. After he was born I had the moment every mother waits for I had a screaming baby that I was shown and then he was carted off to be looked ov...

First off, a huge thank you to all who participated in our 2013 Virtual Turkey Trot . Football Fan and I promised a donation to the Salvation Army if we had participants in at least 10 states.....and you guys delivered, and we will too!   To read all about (and look at pictures) from everyone's run click here , and here , and here. Like Football Fan I had a couple fashionably late reporters, but we like 'em so we count 'em. California - I will say I'm jealous of California Girl. She got to run in 75 degree weather. She knows she has it good so she ran a few 5Ks over the weekend. She's got a cute little husky pack that runs with her. She runs to be healthy and beat stress. She runs for those who are unable to run. California Girl is so thankful that she is able to run! And on other end of the world Alaska - Alaskan Mom completed her 5K on the elliptical because it was a whopping -5 degrees in Alaska. Her son Tate also wanted to participate....

Its time to tell us all about your 5K Turkey Trot! Grab the button below and link up with Football Fan over at Figuring Out The Plot and here with me at Almost Gypsy Soul. Then visit the other link up and see how we celebrated Thanksgiving across the country! Don't forget, if we have link-ups from at least 10 states, both Football Fan and myself will be making generous donations to either the Salvation Army! Wyoming - My Turkey Trot included a pack so I guess I'll go ahead and take credit for a 20K, although I think the small one might have ran more than a 5K, she went crazy running all over. Which is kinda scary because she is so small even with the drought stricken sagebrush....she can't be seen! Because I haven't been running, I looked for a flat place to run. I've come to the conclusion that there is not one that exists in this county and I'll be honest there was some walking in my turkey trot, but we got in just under 4 miles and made plent...