One of my favorite bloggy gIRLs

I've been blogging for what seems like really long time. Actually, it's been about five years...which IS a really long time.

What started as a way to keep our family and friends caught up on our life in Colorado has evolved into something much, much more. I think most bloggers probably feel the same way. And they can probably articulate much better than I can about the amazing relationships that develop from this crazy world wide web.

I've been privileged over the years to meet some of my favorite bloggers IRL--in real life--and now call them my real-life-friends. I guess that makes the rest of you my non-real-life friends. And that makes me snort-laugh. 

Last week I got to (finally) meet His Girl Amber. She flew to Colorado to attend a conference and we worked out some time to hang before she flew back home to California.

I LOVE Amber. I've loved her from the moment (years ago) that I started reading her blog. She's the real deal, folks. We decided long before we met IRL that we needed to be neighbors. We have kids close in age and she has a fat beagle too. A female fat beagle that rivals Jack in terms of naughtiness. I always feel (slightly) better about our disobedient dog when she tells me stories about hers.

Amber is a wealth of wisdom for me in regard to raising a teenage boy. She's been a sounding board for me (more than once) in regard to that and other things I've found myself struggling with. So, even though I'd never met her face to face until last week, we've been friends for awhile! She was every bit as honest and real and smart and witty and beautiful and thoughtful and wise as I expected her to be and now I want her to move to my 'hood more than ever!

If you haven't met her, trust me, you'll love her. She blogged about our meet-up today too! Amber, it was my privilege and pleasure to hang out with you! I'm sorry that I was unable to deliver some Colorado snow while you were here. :)

(Oh, and this was the "big" thing I was referring to on Saturday. I thought it deserved it's own post!)

Ache

I certainly don't want to sound like a broken record, but my friend Joanne still desperately needs your prayers. Due to some seizures she had yesterday, doctors put her in a medically induced coma to give her brain and body a chance to rest and heal. That's really all I know at this point. Again, the best way to get information is to follow Joanne's blog, Janna's blog, or tobenheim on Twitter.

I can't tell you how much my heart aches for her family. Not just her husband, but her daughters, her parents and her sister too.

I so desperately want to KNOW this is all going to turn out good.

I believe God can heal her and I'm trusting that's His plan, but what I really want is certainty.

It really all boils down to control.

I want to control the outcome. Not just in Joanne's situation but in almost every daily situation I face.

I hate it when I don't feel like I'm in control. I hate it even more when I catch a glimpse of myself striving for it. I'm trying to cast off the need to control and remember that it's a load that I've not been asked to carry. It's harder than it sounds...

A couple of things...

First of all, thank you for praying for my friend, Joanne Heim.  All I know this morning is that she is resting in ICU and her family is just in wait mode. She still desperately needs your prayers. Many of you have asked how to stay updated on her progress. My best suggestions are to keep checking Joanne's blog, Janna's blog, or if you use Twitter, you can follow her husband: tobenheim He's updating when he can.

It seems almost impossible to not let Joanne's situation give perspective to our daily lives.

Hug your kids.

Kiss your husband.

Apologize when you're wrong.

Say "I Love You". And say it often.

Focus on the things that really matter. (Note to self: A perfectly clean house, other people's bad behavior, blog templates and the iPhone 4 don't qualify as things that really matter).

I think you guys can take it from here...

Fragile

A couple of years ago, just as summer was ending and school was beginning, I got a phone call from a dear friend informing me that another dear friend was fighting for his life after a terrible, terrible accident. The minutes and hours were critical, but during that time and the days and weeks that followed, literally hundreds of people were praying for my friend. He made a complete and full recovery and is living proof of the power of prayer.

Yesterday was an eerily similar, gut-wrenching day.

Right after Abbey left for school, I got an urgent email message from my friend, Janna, informing me that our sweet friend, Joanne, aka The Simple Wife, was fighting for her life as well. Joanne had a stroke yesterday morning while running on her treadmill. Upon arrival at the hospital, doctors found a blood clot in her brain and she had immediate surgery to dissolve it. She spent the night in ICU but is about to have more surgery to remove part of her skull to alleviate the swelling on her brain. You can read her husband's latest update here.

If you're the praying type, please pray for my sweet friend.

Please pray for her husband.

Please pray for her daughters. My heart is particularly heavy for them. Audrey and Emma are almost the same ages as Sarah and Abbey. Her youngest, Emma, is the one who found her mom unresponsive yesterday morning. She and Audrey had to be very brave and handle some very grown up matters and witness some very intense scenes yesterday. It simply breaks my heart.

Life is so very fragile.


And prayer is so very powerful.

Joanne's family has been reading the prayers and well-wishes that people are posting on her blog and on her Facebook page out loud to her, so post away if you'd like her to add yours. You can also help "wallpaper her room" with scripture.

The start of something new!

Raise your hand if my post title makes you start humming that song from High School Musical!

Sunday night our family joined with 9-10 other families from our neighborhood and went Christmas caroling.

The weather was absolutely perfect, the voices were strong and enthusiastic, and it was great fun! Our group was very large and I'm afraid we might have scared a few people when they opened their door to see all of us on the lawn but they seemed to enjoy having us sing to them! The one neighbor who listened to us sing every single verse of The Twelve Days of Christmas with a smile on his face the entire time was such a good sport!

After singing, we went back to our next door neighbors' home for hot chocolate and Christmas cookies. We even had an ornament exchange. I love that this is the ornament we ended up with. What a perfect reminder of a fun evening with our neighbors.

The snowman is holding a candle and a songbook that says "2010". It's just perfect!

My creative, energetic, generous, and amazing friend, Heather, organized the whole night. She made songbooks for every family (easy, kid-friendly favorites) and distributed them beforehand so the kids could practice. Believe me, the kids took her seriously and were well rehearsed! She also bought battery-operated candlesticks from the dollar store and gave each family a couple to use for the evening. We gave everything back to her to save for next year because it was such a great evening that everyone wants to do it again next year!!!

If our neighborhood 4th of July Pancake Breakfasts and Block Parties, and Halloween carnival and hayrides, and Bunco, and Summer Happy Hours haven't convinced you that we live in the BEST neighborhood ever, then maybe our Christmas Caroling party will?!? WE ARE SO BLESSED TO LIVE AMONG SUCH AMAZING FAMILIES!!!

This is what we're giving our neighbors this year for Christmas.

It's cookie dough that they can refrigerator or freeze until they're ready to bake again (are y'all cookied out yet?) I totally copied the idea from this blog. I copied the Chewy Chocolate Chip cookie recipe too. My Silhouette and snowflake punches came in handy yet again for the red wrapper. We still have more dough to deliver, so if you're my neighbor and you're reading this, please act surprised when we show up on your doorstep bearing gifts later this afternoon.

Up, Up, UP!

I hiked the Manitou Incline on Sunday.

It was by far the most strenuous hike I've ever done. Even more so than climbing Pikes Peak. Okay, not really but it's close.

For those of you who aren't familiar with this legendary trail, it's a one mile hike with a 2000 foot elevation gain straight up the base of Mount Manitou. The grade is 41% for most of the climb, but there is one super steep part that has a 68% grade. Crazy. The Incline is actually the old railbed for the Scenic Incline Railway, hence the railroad tie "steps", and even though it's a heavily populated trail, it's privately-owned land so hikers are technically trespassing when they're on the Incline. Oops.

My friend, Heather, asked me early last week if I wanted to go with her. I've been wanting to try it for awhile now so I said "sure". I was re-thinking that decision when we were walking to the trailhead. It really is daunting. See the top? Yeah, that's not even the top. It's a false summit. Once you get to that point it levels out a little before the final ascent. Wowza.

This was not even halfway up. And yeah, that's the "false summit" behind me. Here's the view looking down!

I didn't even take a picture from the summit! What was I thinking? 

It was a really beautiful day to hike. It was sunny and cool. I didn't need my fleece on the way up, but I definitely needed it on the hike back down.

I took the above pic from Barr Trail. There were some patches of golden aspen that really stood out against the evergreens. So pretty.

The Incline connects to Barr Trail (the trail that leads to the summit of Pikes Peak) and that's the recommended path back down. We saw some people walking and even running back down the Incline. Amazing. Lots of people were running up it too. I canNOT imagine.

Heather and I climbed at a slow, steady pace and still had to stop often to catch our breath. I felt really, really nauseous at one point too, but it seemed like it got easier after we got past the really steep part. A little past the half-way mark there is a bailout point where you can cut over and connect with the trail back down. We had considered bailing but we were feeling better at that point and we both just wanted to finish and savor the feeling of accomplishment! Considering that three months ago I could barely walk without pain/limping because of my leg/hip injury, I'd say it's a big accomplishment!

Would I do it again? Absolutely! But first my glutes need to recover. That's the only place I'm really sore, but man oh man, I am VERY sore!

Here are some interesting links about the Manitou Incline and it's history. I love all the old pictures, and these more recent ones as well!

Friday Night Lights

I suppose it would be redundant to tell you guys that I love football. You know that already. College football is my favorite, but thanks to fantasy football I'm starting to get back into NFL football again. And high school football? Yep. I love that too.

Friday Night Lights is one of our favorite television shows. John and I started watching Season 4 on dvd this week. If you've ever lived in a small town and/or like football then there's a great chance you'll love Friday Night Lights too. It's no secret at our house that I have a crush on Coach Eric Taylor--he's a big reason that I love the show.  It's also not a secret that John has a crush on his wife, Tami, so it all evens out. Smile.

Anyway...............

We went to a high school football game--a real life Friday Night Lights game--last night with some good friends.

Despite being very COLD and very WINDY, it was loads of fun.

The game was a big match-up between the two high school teams in our town. They've never played each other before so they're not really rivals at this point, and I sort of hope it remains that way. I have so many friends who teach, coach, or have kids at each of the two schools that it was hard to choose who to cheer for. In the end, we chose to cheer on the high school that Will will attend next year.

Oh my gosh. Did you catch that? Our son will be in HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR. How in the world did that happen?

High school football games are such a community event. We've lived in this town for seven years [this weekend is actually the anniversary of our move to Colorado!] and in that time we've gotten to know LOTS of people. I feel blessed to call many of them my friends.  Last night we saw old friends, new friends, friends we go to church with, friends we know from work, from school, and we even made brand new friends. [The lady sitting behind me joined the conversation my friend and I were having about Friday Night Lights while waiting for the game to start. She practically told me her life story--probably because she's from the South--ha!]

We left with a resolve to go to as many home games as we can next year. I think I might be out for the rest of this season though simply because it's just getting downright cold at night. I wore my parka and took my Slanket. Oh yes, I did. And our children, who repeatedly balked at my instructions to wear their winter coats, were thankful.

People and football are two of my favorite things, and both are on the agenda for today and tomorrow as well. [Big, contented SIGH!]

Lots-o-stuff

Yesterday I made a big batch of refrigerator bran muffins. The batter keeps in the fridge for six weeks and the muffins are yummy and warm on our cold, fall mornings. I'll post the recipe soon! I was home almost all day yesterday and accomplished little more than making those muffins and making dinner. I guess I needed a lazy Monday. It was nice.

October is a busy month. I've finally learned not to let that catch me by surprise. Or overwhelm me. 

I love football. L-O-V-E football. This is the first year since we've lived here that we've had a cable package with the sports tier and let me just tell you that I'm in heaven on the weekends. The only problem is that we only have one television and the kids prefer Disney over ESPN. I'm having trouble sharing the remote these days.

I'm thankful for friends who've mastered the art of sharing though. Look what my friend, Jen, left on my porch yesterday. 

She told me she had a gigantic zucchini to share with me. She wasn't kidding was she? I'm thinking that baby will make lots of zucchini bread and muffins. 

I think I mentioned that our neighbors were growing pumpkins and one had started growing on our side of the fence. We've loved watching it grow bigger and bigger and change from green to bright orange. So cool! I felt like our neighbors probably wanted to keep their pumpkin and I've been telling the kids that it wasn't really ours so they were pleasantly surprised when our neighbors told us yesterday that they wanted us to have and enjoy it. We picked it last night!

Sarah titled this photo "Lean on Me". Cute.

Speaking of pumpkins. Check out these adorable scrapbook paper pumpkins. I'm definitely going to try making some later this week. I'm in charge of the craft for Abbey's fall party in a few weeks and I think this might be a fun idea to try with them as well!  Ohhhhh...the Mac software for the Silhouette finally became available and I downloaded it over the weekend. I had fun playing with it while watching the Broncos game on Sunday. It is so C-O-O-L. I need more time to experiment with it!!!

I met a blog friend last week for breakfast! Dawn and I had a really great time getting to know each other (except for the part where we talked about maggots). I love it when blog friends become real-life friends, don't you? If you've never visited her blog, you should so you can love her too. 

We met at one of my favorite places--Panera. Did you know that Panera started in St. Louis as the Saint Louis Bread Company? Yep. I flew into St Louis last week and spent the night before driving down to Arkansas with my aunt. She took me to the "Bread Co" as the natives call it. She also took me to Trader Joe's. I couldn't figure how to get all my loot home with me on the plane without checking a bag--and remember, I'm the queen of the carry-on--so I shipped it home to Colorado and it arrived the day after I did.

John was out of town last weekend. The day after I got home from Arkansas, he left for Canada but he's home safe and sound now and we're thankful to all be together this week. ANYway, John usually takes Sarah to her horse lesson on Saturdays because he loves horses and he loves Sarah and that's kinda their "thing". But since he was gone I got to take her. She's doing great and has made some terrific progress, but more importantly, she loves it. 

Abbey was more intrigued with this baby deer than her sister. She actually thought it was a statue because it stood so still for so long. It sorta did look like one. 

Alright. I think it's time to get going. I have some lots to do today since yesterday was a wash. Peace out, peeps. 

O to the B to the U!

Ouachita Baptist University will always hold a very special place in my heart. Ouachita (pronounced wash-i-taw) is a small liberal arts college in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and it only took one visit to a summer camp (shout out to Super Summer Arkansas!!!) on that beautiful campus for me to fall in love with OBU. I knew immediately that Ouachita was the college for me. I was so absolutely certain about it that I didn't even apply to any other school!

Things took an interesting turn for me during my first few days on campus. A hunky senior took notice of little 'ole freshman me and went to great lengths to find out my name and phone number. Click here for the longer version of that story! I ended up dating that hunky senior my entire freshman year and marrying him two years later.

After we were married, we moved out of state for John to begin seminary and (gasp!) I did not graduate from OBU. I have to remind myself of that sometimes because it honestly feels like I did. The relationships I have from my years in Arkadelphia still feel so strong. The third floor of Perrin was my first home away from home, and the friendships formed during that freshman year have endured to this day. One of those freshman friends lives just a few miles down the road from me here in Colorado! How amazing is that?

John and I had the privilege of returning to Arkadelphia after college when he was called to pastor a church there, and I got to fall in love with Ouachita all over again. Our church had a huge ministry to students and it was such a joy to get to know them and have them in our home. I love it when the Ouachita Circle arrives in our mailbox because I feel like I know so many students from decades other than the 80s/90s! It was also a joy to get to know the faculty and staff. Our next door neighbor was an OBU basketball coach, our music minister (who doesn't love Randy Garner?!?) was the Director of Admissions, our across-the-street neighbor was one of John's OBU roommates and his wife was our pediatrician! It felt like one big happy family all the time and I loved it!

I think the most profound thing I've walked away from Ouachita with is relationships that seem to continually intersect with my life. I think all OBU alumni (and friends) have similar small-world stories.

We moved to Colorado seven years ago for John to co-pastor a church with one of his OBU friends. God had other plans for us once we arrived, but I'm still amazed by the way that God used that relationship to move us across the country!

Two particular OBU friends journeyed with me through my dad's illness and death last year. We reconnected at a time when each of us were hearing the words "cancer" and "father" in the same sentence. God used those friends to comfort and sustain me in the midst of some really dark days, and I am forever grateful for their friendship. Another OBU friend of ours is a doctor in NWA and he just happened to be on call the day my dad died. His presence and prayers that morning were a gift and blessing to my family.

My sister was a year behind me in school and she also went to Ouachita. Her/our OBU friends were the first to rejoice with me when she gave birth to her baby last week! And there was much rejoicing!

God continues to allow my life to overlap with the lives of Ouachita friends. Sometimes it catches me by surprise the way He orchestrates it all, but I know it's not a surprise to Him. I'm grateful for the deep and lasting bonds that were formed at OBU. My life is richer because of them. And I would love for my children's lives to be enriched in that same way. I'll be lobbying hard for Ouachita in just a few short years. It is truly one of the most special places on earth!

I know there are lots of OBU alumni who blog! If you're one of them and want to link up or just want to read what others have to say about OBU then click HERE!

Got Answers?

I'm soliciting answers/advice to these three questions today:

1. Does anyone know of a brick and mortar store that sells open stock Fiestaware? I only want to buy dinner plates and bowls, but every store I've been to only sells the place settings. I don't want or need more cups/saucers. I know I can buy open stock online, but I'm looking for an actual store!

2. Mothers of teenagers: do your kids handle all of their own social scheduling? Am I being old-fashioned, unhip, and/or unreasonable by insisting that I hear from a parent when my kids are invited somewhere? I almost always talk to a parent (by phone, text, email) when my kids invite a friend to do something, but my kids are being invited places by text and I'm often so far out of the info loop that it's not funny. Am I alone? Am I wrong to expect a little more parent-to-parent communication? John thinks this is just how kids do things these days. I need insight from experienced moms!

3. Does anyone have a recipe for a meal that freezes really well? My friend, Elizabeth, is expecting her fourth baby soon and she's trying to stock her freezer with meals she can thaw, cook, and serve. I do lots of meat prep and freezing, but when she asked me for meal ideas I realized that I don't really have any meals that I make and freeze. Suggestions? Links? Recipes? Please share!


Thanks, you guys. You all are really my best resource!!!

Marking time...

It's been a year since my dad died. The actual "day" is tomorrow, the ninth, but it happened on a Sunday morning.

Some days I am fine.

Other days, not so much. My heart just hurts.

I was reminded of this photo a few weeks ago.

My friend, Amber, was visiting Whidbey Island with her family and sent me a message saying she passed the spot where a group of friends prayed for me last summer just days before my dad left this earth. I had hoped to be there with them on Whidbey but for a myriad of (providential) reasons I wasn't able to make the trip.

I sat and cried when they sent me this photo last year. I sat and cried again when I realized I had saved it to my computer. These friends are so dear to me.

I've received many emails and texts and letters this week from people telling me they're thinking of me and praying for me, and I'm grateful for each and every one of those notes and the kindness that prompted them. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

If you live here, they will come.

If you've never seen Field of Dreams, then you might not "get" my title. And if you've never seen that movie then I suggest you watch it soon.

Anyway.

Two of my college friends have been in Colorado Springs lately. I've found that sooner or later most everyone visits Colorado and when they do, we'll get a chance to connect!

A couple of weeks ago I got to have dinner with Susan aka Carpool Queen and her boys. I didn't get a pic of the boys, but here's a pic of me with Sus. Our time was short, but very sweet. I loved it, Sus! Thanks for making it happen.

If you're not reading her blog, then you are missing out on some funny stuff. Seriously, I can't read her blog while drinking anything. She's that funny. But she's also deep and serious and I wish to goodness I'd known her better back in our OBU days.

I suggested to Susan that she should change her name to CarTripQueen. She made a 5000 mile journey across the good ole US of A with her guys last month. Brave, brave girl.

While Sus was trekking across the country, she stopped to see Deena, another friend from OBU. Deena happened to be Sus' little sister from their "social club" days. [Note: Ouachita didn't have sororities or fraternities but instead had social clubs.]

So guess who also visited Colorado Springs recently?

Yep. Deena. (She doesn't blog but she really needs to!!!!!!!)

Deena and her family spent the 4th of July weekend at the very swanky Broadmoor and I got to have dinner with her one evening.

As soon as she emailed me this pic, I titled it: Snow White and the DWARF. Good grief I am short!

Deena is another friend I wish I'd known better back in college. She was a year behind me so we were really only at OBU together for a year before John and I married and moved to Dallas/Fort Worth. I like to think we made up for a lot of lost time when she was here! Thanks, Deena, for making time for me in the midst of your fun getaway. And thanks for listening to me talk and talk and talk! I loved seeing you and meeting your beautiful family!

I really dislike these two pictures of myself because I think I look so, um, shall we say LARGE in them? Ugh. That's what 12 weeks of no cardio will do to a girl. Ugh. 

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I'll be back tomorrow with details of Sarah's 12th Birthday! We've got a super fun day planned for her!

A Fun-Filled Fourth!

A better title would be a fun-filled 3rd, 4th, and 5th since we celebrated ALL weekend long!

Saturday:
Small-town parade with dear friends | sun | more sun | candy | not enough sunscreen | red-white-and-blue EVERYWHERE | lunch on the patio at La Casa Fiesta | more friends | ice cream at the Rock House | playing with neighbors | rest | burgers | dinner with Deena | bedtime collapse.

This guy was dancing to the Village People's Y-MCA!

Sunday:

SUPER DUPER fun 4th of July block party | crafts for kids | slip 'n slide | water balloons | perfect weather | grills everywhere | so much food! | laughing kiddos | laughing adults | birthday candles, singing, and cake | adult water fight | NO PHOTOS!!! | love our neighbors | they've become dear friends | exhaustion | attempt(s) to nap | failure to nap | a trip to fireworks stand | excited kids | rain | thunder | lightning | hail | more rain | waiting | more rain | waiting | tornado warnings | crazy lightning | rain, rain, rain | hail, hail, hail | fireworks viewing plans cancelled | but fireworks shows NOT cancelled | one shocked mama | fireworks viewed from patio door while it poured | pretty much a bust | disappointed kids | disappointed mama | sparklers in the rain | not much fun | tucked sun-kissed kiddos in bed | everyone asleep within minutes | including parents.

Monday: 

Fun continues | John home from work | blueberry scones for breakfast | lazy morning | soaked up some (more) sun | rested a bit | drove to Castle Rock | Toy Story 3 | (tears) | (more tears) | Chick-Fil-A | home | visited outside with neighbors | impromptu street fireworks | happy kids | exhausted parents. 

Perfect holiday weekend!!!

Things I Learned While Camping

You can get a wicked sunburn at 9500'. Wicked. I did use sunscreen, but evidently not enough.

Vault toilets are totally worth driving a quarter mile up the road for.

Laughing with friends around a campfire is priceless.

So is watching your kids roast marshmallows and make s'mores. And homemade Rice Krispie treats will give the non-chocolate lovers their marshmallow fix.

God loves my family. Proof? The Friday afternoon downpour held off until just after we got our tent put up.

A vole is the same thing as a mole only it starts with a "v". Inside joke. You had to be there.

A Vita-mix is the ultimate machine. And it makes some pretty tasty salsa too.

You can camp for free in Colorado's national forests. Free. I had no idea.

The back of your van makes a perfectly good surface for preparing/serving food should you happen to leave your folding table at home. In the garage. Propped up right next to your van.

Kids are tough. Scrapes, falls, wet, cold--they're immune to it all.

A Handi-Wipe is indeed handy when you need a "flag" for a game of Capture the Flag.

It's nice to have friends with a camper when it's pouring rain (again) and your tent is already packed up.

It gets cold at night in Colorado. Even in June. Lows in the 40s mean sleeping in toboggans and fleece jackets.

That's SNOW up above treeline!

Even a really bad book will help pass time when you're the only one left at camp while your family and friends hike your favorite hike. I'm not bitter. Okay, just a tiny bit.

Columbine. The state flower of Colorado. Isn't it beautiful?

Knives and spoons are overrated. You can eat oatmeal and spread condiments just as easily with a fork. I thought I bought the variety pack of plastic cutlery, but I didn't.

All food tastes better when you're camping. Even Folgers singles aren't half bad.

According to the other four people in my tent, I snore. Loudly.

Teenagers look WAY cuter in pigtails than adults do. H rocked 'em.


Some people are a wealth of information. Thanks to our friend, Mike, I now know how to make my own firestarters and recycle my dryer lint.Men love to play with fire. And grill meat. And stand with their arms crossed and their legs far apart.

And camping is ALWAYS more fun with good friends. ALWAYS.