Finally, summer has arrived in Co!

Seriously, ya'll, Colorado has so many dogs. The metro Denver area has 177,000 alone. I noticed a lot on my run today through our neighborhood.


Just thought you might find that interesting. It was 96 degrees here today....and I loved every moment of it. I mowed, washed my car, went to Home Depot, ran, and enjoyed sweating. For once.


Know what else is interesting? My brown thumb is turning green! I bought an orchid at least 5wks ago and its still going stong - so I bought another one today. I love them. I bought a couple annuals for our front porch and......a composter! It needs to be put together but Mike and I are excited about decreasing our trash/waste even more. We now have maybe one bag of trash/wk, but I'm looking to cut that down with the use of our composter.


I'm also VERY disturbed by this oil leak. I don't get politicky, in fact, I tell Mike on a regular basis I don't want to talk politics. This is mostly because I truly feel as if there is no one in politics whom I can trust. But, this oil leak has really made me wonder about our dependence on oil and the push to start developing other sources. I actually felt guilty filling up my car today...thinking all this oil that I'm paying for is gushing into the ocean killing habitat, animals, and destroying the ecosystem for many years to come. It just seems weird. Maybe Mike and I can start developing our own biofuel. Maybe the Colorado "way" has rubbed off on me; what I mean is that I have become so much more aware of the little things like: where your food comes from (and the importance of buying local), what a food co-op is and how it works, the importance of eating healthy and exercising, and keeping the beauty of CO intact by recycling/composting. Good things, of course, things that I would encourage you to investigate! Farmers Markets should be in full force by now!

And speaking of very Colorado, this is Gates Camp. I'm packing my Eagle's Nest hammock with me this weekend as I head up there so that I can read my book and enjoy the scenery and quiet. Dogs are coming too, hopefully they won't find any unfriendly wild creatures. God's Holy Spirit truly speaks to me through nature and I can't wait to spend my weekends enjoying the presence of Christ.


Bolder Boulder time on Monday. I'll post pictures.....wish me luck!




Enjoy life and enjoy summer! Love Wins! 

weekend getaway

Mikey and I celebrated 2 years of wedded bliss this weekend by driving to Grand Junction, CO (through much snow and rain across the mountains). Grand Junction is on the other side of the rockies and it's quite the desert. It's about 1,000 feet lower in elevation than what we are living at now, so it's much warmer and drier; the perfect place for vineyards! We tasted about 4 of the 24 wineries and came home with 5 bottles of wine! It was so much fun! Granted, it wasn't fun looking for a hotel room that would take 2 dogs when the local college, Mesa State, was hosting their graduation. But, we finally found one (thanks to an older couple that left because there was a
 "Mexican Dance" held in the Lounge part of the hotel that had the music up too loud) that was cheap enough even with 2 dogs. Here we are at Calson Wineries (our favorite!). I would definitely recommend the wine country of CO if you come to visit. It's about a 4hr drive.....scenic, of course, but totally worth it. I think we're gonna go back in September for their Wine Festival and they also have a peach festival, too! We're already planning another trip! Cheers!


I'm heading up to camp this weekend to see what life is like up about 3,000 feet. Plenty of room to roam for the dogs and apparently plenty of wildlife to view (Mike has spotted moose!). Just hope the wildlife and the dogs don't mix. Love my life right now, don't really have much else to say. I'm excited about the summer and what it brings - i.e. good friends, familly, concerts, and warm weather.

Well, if I can make it I am going to try to run in the Bolder Boulder with 50,000 other runners. Mike can't run with me b/c he has to work (booooo!) but he called me out that it was on my list of things to do this summer. So, I guess I'll do it alone...unless anyone out there wants to run it with me? It's only a 10K, but I'm so out of long distance running shape, I think I might struggle a bit. Are the weeks flying by for anyone else? I feel like the months are rolling by so quick! Before I know it, I'll be in Winchester for my best friend Sarah's wedding! AH! I could really handle a nice cold/slushie Ale8 out of a returnable bottle right about now, but I guess I'll have to stick with the Calson Winery Sweet Baby Red (a blush that tastes like White Zen). Seriously not as good, but I'll take it. I had to get a picture with the rustic horse....it reminded me of home.


How have your new year's resolutions been going? Forgot about them? Changed your life? Like I said, I have to keep myself accountable for them because this year I actually wrote them all down. Love you guys! Love Wins!

Thundersnow.

Ever heard of it? Of course not, because it's another one of those crazy weather patterns that Colorado is blessed to have. But I'll tell you what, I'm getting tired of the crazy weather and unpredictability that elevation brings. If it's going to be summer, then gosh golly, be summer. But, if you insist on switching up the seasons like this, I might inclined to take the humidity. There, I said it. 

It's quiet here, not much to discuss. My friend Missy came to visit from FL this past weekend, it was amazing to laugh at nothing, soak in beauty together, and just be friends. I've missed my friends. Nothing out of the ordinary going on at work. I'm attempting to train for the Boulder Bolder at the end of May, but this weather is deeply inhibiting my training. Still working towards raising money for the 3-Day...you know, the usual.

But, I've been thinking recently about my husband. We are celebrating our 2yr anniversary on the 17th of this month and although 2 years does not seem like a long time, tack on about 4 more years to that to take into consideration the amount of time we dated long distance. I used to pine for just a single moment we could spend together amidst his crazy hours at Loucon and my schooling. And now? I take for granted he's home to greet me every night when I walk in the door. I would have never moved to Colorado alone. I would have never stretched or challenged my faith, if it wasn't for my husband. I live with my lifelong companion to enjoy life, to raise our children, a shoulder to cry on, and my biggest supporter. But, ultimately, my husband cannot satisfy the intense desires of my heart. Only the Lord can meet those needs; and this is something that I have definitely struggled with in the past. I have yearned for the acceptance of others, desired the best career possible, expected things from my husband in which he could not provide - these have all failed. I have filled myself with selfish pride and tried to "pull myself up by my bootstraps" showing the world that I have it together - again, failure. Dear friends, it is only by our heavenly Father that we are given breath; He is the only one that knows our daily motive, purpose, and plan. So, those times in which I feel our marriage is crappy, it's mostly because I'm not truly believing in a promise from my Father. I cannot expect Mike to provide things that I don't tell him - but, I should be believing the truth and receiving my acceptance from there.

Everyone struggles with relationships, I've come to realize that. Those relationships that look picture perfect on the outside are probably falling apart on the inside. So, I guess my challenge for you is to truly accept who you are in the Lord. Don't expect to receive your acceptance from anywhere else, it will fail. We all have our journey - may yours be filled with love, compassion, acceptance, and beauty all given to us by our most Gracious God. That is my prayer tonight as I watch the snow/ice fall and listen to the thunder. Our God is capable of anything...don't ever forget that. Love Wins!

The Sun Shines Bright on my old Kentucky Home

Derby Party at the Colorado Curry's was a huge success!! We had around 15 people, some of which this was their first Kentucky Derby experience. We had friends from work, friends we met at Buffalo Wild Wings, and Community Group friends.  Honestly, it was just nice to finally enjoy having, well, friends. For the first time, I feel like we are making connections with people within our environment and finding our place within this new home. Although it's hard to believe we have been here 11 months!!! So, here are some pictures of what our house looked like and some of the dishes we made: 


 Sugar Cookies with Grand Marnier icing

 Kentucky Burgoo (with a Colorado kick, buffalo instead of beef)

Bourbon Balls

 Roses, for the Run for the Roses, duh!

Our trusty recipe book (I would highly recommend this book, especially if you are Kentuckian).
 

 Our collection of Mint Julip glasses, donated by Herb & Liz Swindler. 

 The table with the Derby plates & cups given to us from my mom and mom-in-law, Thanks!

 Hosts that passed out after everyone left! 

  
We also had Ale8s and made Mint Julips for those that desired. In fact, we made a mint/sugar syrup the night before to add to the Julips....still strong, but bearable for those not so in love with Bourbon. Didn't have time to make the Bread Pudding with Bourbon sauce, guess I'll just have to make that next week for us to enjoy,  oh darn. We also had Mini Hot Browns that were a definite hit from the peanut gallery. Basically, I'm ready to plan next year's party!! I think I could get used to planning such an event...and really, to share my love of horses with others is rewarding as well.


I miss Kentucky home on a regular basis, though. I miss my farm, I miss the weather (it has snowed here several times in the last week), I miss my family. But that's one thing I have grown to accept about myself, I'm never satisified with what's given to me. I'm working on that, though. More like the Lord is working on that....there's no way I could change by myself. 


I'm working on a Sunday (tomorrow) in order to take off Friday because my friend Missy is coming to visit. We have a pretty darn full weekend planned and I'm super excited to have her visit! Here's another praise - Mike starts his job on Monday! I've only been talking about this forever, I feel like. He'll be working in the Denver office for about 3 weeks. He's really excited and we are looking forward to see what kinds of opportunities/friendships that develop from this job. 

We will sing one song for my old Kentucky home, for my old Kentucky home far away......

 Until next time dear friends, love always wins.