I have added a special page to this site, called "Special Stories". I will post my feature stories not published elsewhere here. Tonight I posted a story about my visit to a Mennonite Farm in Pennsylvania this past July. Here is the link:

PA Mennonite Farm Story

Well, I am down to only doing weekly posts; not my ideal but I'm trying. Life is very busy. I started classes at Pacific and now have several books to get through on leadership. My professor is excellent, and willing to offer any help. I think this first class will be very good for me, once I can start digging into the work. I have to develop a leadership plan, for myself. I may be needing to contact some of you for feedback.

Other than school, we've had nice summer weather here in Oregon. It's been hot really. The evenings are cool and the sun is setting earlier. I don't like it getting dark at 7:30 but know it will only get worse.

Jeff and I will be celebrating our first anniversary on Monday. We have had a great year, despite the tragedy of losing Jeff's dad. We're still coping with this loss and will be for a long time.

I've continued with my travel writing but have limited my frequency of articles. I am still working on my articles for Wyoming. Here's one of my favorite pictures that I took in Wyoming at the Flying A Ranch :

I am alive! I apologize for the delay in posts. I have been extremely busy. I just finished an article titled "Payment Pain" for Brass Magazine, about medical billing errors and what to do. It was a great experience, writing about healthcare, especially since I begin classes this week. It was like a refresher course on researching healthcare issues. I went through countless stats and resources to find the information for my article. I just hope it gets printed. I am waiting...

So, as I said, I begin my graduate classes this week at Pacific University. I am very excited. I even have a homework assignment before classes even begin. I will be busy reading and writing soon.

I've had a great time visiting with family the past few weekends. It's been great to see people who I don't see very often. I really enjoyed it, even though I know I had a lot to do.

I still have several Wyoming articles to write, and also several other NW travel articles - one on Washington. So, look for those in the coming weeks, as I find a little bit of free time.

Wish me luck with all I have planned!

Well, yesterday I got the news that I had been accepted to the Masters of Healthcare Administration program at Pacific University. I will be in the first class ever. How exciting!

Although this may seem as off topic from my writing, I will now get the chance to bring my writing skills together with my career in healthcare. Though it may sound cliche, I want to make a change in this world, and I know that God is pushing me to do it. I have the skills, ability and insight needed to get things going in healthcare. I just need to do it. I need to stop talking and start doing.

I will continue to do my freelance writing, for as long as possible. I hope I can find just enough time to keep doing it.
Please feel free to ask me about my studies and what I am working on.

I am getting very excited about my trip to Wyoming coming up later this month. It is considered a press trip, as I have agreed to complete several articles about the area. I will be publishing several articles at Suite101.com. But I am also looking at other publications for submission of longer articles or personal travel account stories, such as print publications and other online publications. I would really like to get my article in a print publication.

I am also excited that my photographs for my articles will be taken by an excellent, experience photographer. My mom will be coming along as my photographer, ready to take some great shots of the Southwestern Wyoming wildlife and scenery. You can see some examples of her work on this website under the "Images" link. I will be able to link to the gallery of our trip once we have all the photographs ready for viewing.

So, make sure to check back for my articles and my mother's photographs from Wyoming.

Have you ever been so excited that you just can't focus or feel so energized and full of thoughts, even though your body is tired? That is me today!

I'm either a bit crazy or it's a sign from God. Today as I flipped through a health care magazine at work, I saw an ad for Pacific University, announcing their new program for Masters in Healthcare Administration. I had to check it out, because 1. in high school I had researched Pacific University and thought of going their to study Communications, and 2. because I was interested in their MHA program and also 3. because my sister-in-law went there.

So, I pulled up the school's website, only to find the program had just been established and announced on May 13th. It is a 2-year program at the Hillsboro campus but can also involve online courses. The main thing was that they don't require GRE test results. That's the one thing that has kept me from completing my Masters at OSU. Why would I want to go take a test, which includes Math, just to finish my Masters? I've already completed a third of my requirements.

So, I will go to the program's open house this month to meet people, learn about the program and see if my credits will transfer over. Then I have to complete the application and we'll see. I will be able to apply to have my employer pay for some of the tuition, which is very nice.

It's exciting to me because I have been wondering what to do in life. Of course I want to write and I will always write. But I've been wondering what to do with my healthcare experience and education. I did want to finish my degree at OSU but wasn't sure about completing an MPH - Masters in Public Health. I would much rather complete a Masters in Healthcare Administration, since that's what my graduate certificate is in.

Now, I think this is a sign. Either that or I want to be so busy that I won't be able to function, ha ha! That's where I think I might be a little crazy. But at least it will be 2 years or less!

Wish me luck! I will let you know how the process goes.