I said............

 Okay, because I'm feeling so generous with my words/blogging today (or maybe I feel guilty) I'm bringing back a video that I'm sure we've all seen, but can still laugh at, none the less. Enjoy!

Lessons Learned, this week at least.....

So, I bought this awesome game on my iPhone called Angry Birds - and this one liiiiitle game has consumed my time and blogging has seemed to take the back burner. Okay, not really. Although, I did buy that game on my phone, and it is pretty awesome to play while laying in a hammock in the Rocky Mountains, but it doesn't excuse my hiatus from blogging. So much has gone on - you know what that means! A TOP TEN! yeah yeah. Don't get too excited now, there is more to come this week. Here is a list of the 10 lessons I've learned within the past week:






10. Don't charge over the old runners while weaving your way through thousands of other people while trying to get to the water station. Oh, and try to catch the marshmallows neighbors are throwing at mile marker 2.22. Say hi to Dr. Oz as you pass him being interviewed on TV and enjoy that cold Mich Ultra beer after completing 6.2 miles in less than an hour.

 *The Bolder Boulder was Ah-mazing! I will do it again next year, hopefully dragging along my reluctant husband. So entertaining - tons of amazing costumes, bands, food, and interesting people that are passing you while you say "how are they running faster than me????". Oh, and I placed 15,818 in probably a 54,000 field. Gender field: 5570 out of 26494 - I suppose that's decent.


9. Working Sundays are the pits, but it's totally worth it on Friday when you realize that it truly is Friday and not Saturday and bam! you automatically have one extra day added on to your weekend. Sa-weet! Worked a Sunday, again, today. Sucked, but I know come Friday - totally worth it.


8. Dancing hippies involved in dancing at shows at Red Rocks don't mind sharing their space. Josh, Beth, Mike and myself shimmied (well, I shimmied, I don't know about the rest of the crew) down closer and closer to the front and poof! Soon our view was like this: 



Look at that John Butler cutie! Take a look at the video at the bottom - rockin'! I think Red Rocks might be, no, I'm pretty sure it's my favorite venue EVER to watch a show. You know you want to see a show here, just do it. We got tix to see David Gray & Ray LaMontagne at the end of August, you still have time to buy some plane tickets and high tail it out here!


7. Dreams really can come true! I was driving home from work one day early last week and dreaming in my head, "I could really dig an Ale8 right now. How awesome it would be to have some Ale8s sitting on my front porch when I get home." Of course, Ale8s only appear when you BUY them.  Then, like a weird deja vu, I see a UPS truck pull out of our subdivision. My heart skipped a beat; Could it be? I slowly pull up to the driveway, and I'm not kidding folks, there, on my front porch were two beautiful, brown, cardboard boxes. Beauty only a case of A Late One could bring. And so, I just want to thank my mother for making my dreams come true, thanks mom!


6. Marriages are happy when husbands are happy. And my husband is happy, so there!

5.  Friends that let friends home share music off their computer must be true friends. True friends put together composters for friends. They also leave a case of local beer in the fridge and some other yummy treats when they leave. Oh! And they introduce you to a TV show on FOX called Glee - AND give you the entire run down of the first season so you can watch the finale and know exactly what's going on. Thanks Josh and Beth Graham for being such good friends. Please come and visit again, soon.






4. Dogs that get locked in the Gaga Pit can't get out.


3. When it rains on a tin roof of a cabin you are sleeping in, instant joy warms your heart and sleep ensues for hours. Then, when you wake up and it's still raining you say, "Guess I'll just sleep more, not much to do outside today." This is especially memorable when you have a dog that is scared of thunderstorms and a dog that is spoiled up on the bed taking in the same noises. Although for some reason they don't find them near as relaxing. Has someone marketed that sound in a sound machine?


2. Raising money makes me feel sleezy - but good non-profit companies like Boys and Girls Club and Susan G. Komen for the Cure make me happy. Only 75 more days until my walk - I have to continue to raise money, but I just hate being pesty!


1.


That list is in no particular order, only by which I could remember what exactly has transpired in the past week. Mom and Dad Skaggs are arriving in the Mile High City on Thursday....a weekend of The Buckhorn Exchange, fly fishing, Rockies Game, shopping and showing my parents our life here in CO will bring another top ten list to the surface in a week, I'm sure. May the Lord continue to bless your life, send amazing friends and family your way, and may you give thanks daily for the many blessings. I know I don't do that enough. Love Wins!

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.

The Rush for Gold.

The actual "gold rush" started only a few miles down I-70 into the Rockies, so I thought it would be delicious and appropriate to make a dish known in my family as Gold Rush. But, as I am quickly realizing - my pan is too small, my meatballs are falling apart, the cheese is oozing out of the meatballs, and the sauce is too thick. How did my mom make the dish look so easy? Mike wasn't here to help me (or laugh at me, whichever he preferred at the time) and my attempts at cooking are so menial and unsuccessful at times that I shouldn't even deem myself a cook. I'm starting to realize that cooking is a talent that is coveted by women like myself who dream of creating meals that take no time, use one pan, are healthy, have limited leftovers, and taste good. Too much to ask for, I suppose.

Anyway. I've been rather busy recently with work. The state surveyors have made their little home in our facility as they pick apart our building and all the bad things that could/have gone wrong with it. I cannot even describe to you how stressed and tense the entire building is - well, I will say that our poor administrator slept in the facility last night because state showed up AGAIN around 11:30pm. It figures too, that the only problem they have found with the therapy dept. so far is a communication error that occurred when I was on vacation last month. Of course OT and PT weren't involved. Of course, a resident would have to choke, be suctioned, then taken to the ER and then proceed to tell me that he doesn't care if he chokes and dies. Of course all of this would happen this week when we are under such scrutiny.

Blah work. Who wants to hear about that anyway? Mike and I have been cooking away on items that are going to be on our Derby menu for next week. We have made Burgoo and Mini Kentucky Hot Browns (which were delicious!) just to make sure we could make them ....still on the list to make is Bourbon Balls, Sugar cookies with Grand Marnier sauce, and Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce. OH and cleaning, organizing and making the house look presentable.

A couple of days ago we had some crazy weather. And I know, those of us from KY think that the weather there is kind of nuts-o - But it really doesn't compare to this. At work I saw a TV channel with a radar showing what was going on, and seriously on the SAME PAGE was : Tornado warning, Severe T-Storm Warning, and Winter Storm Warning. And all within the Denver area. Depending on where you were in elevation, that's the card you were delt for weather. Weird.

Well, I registered for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure! My website it up and running and I'm planning on sending out my emails today to take a look at my personal web page. I have yet to join a team, however, I've done some emailing and found a 10-year survivor and her 2 girls that are walking in this race and have openened their time to me, if I wanted to join. I just don't want to walk alone.

Sorry about the random post today. It all seemed very unorganized. No new pictures, either. Boo on that. I promise though, my Derby Party post will be next....and it will be awesome!

Love wins!