Sorry Mikey - but summer has stolen my heart. Swept me up in its warm, long nights, smothered me in late aftenoon thunderstorms, growth of orchids and other plants (I've recently gathered a love for Black Dahlias) have overwhelmed my living room, and my dogs have discovered the true meaning of the "dog days of summer". Red Rocks rolls on almost every night with its concerts and movies on the rocks. I take my residents outside to enjoy fresh air and the ability to see at 9pm at night is fantastic.
We most recently returned from Chincoteague Island with the Skaggs family and enjoyed a week of fishing, sunning, and horsing around. This island is known for its Pony Swim/Pony Pinning every year. Knowing us horsey Skaggs girls, we just had to see where this takes place. It was one of the most interesting and historic places I have ever visited. We had to venture out of Sanibel, but totally worth it!
I've done something crazy, again. I'm telling you - this summer weather makes me be over zealous and disciplined. 2 things, really.
1. AdvoCare - https://www.advocare.com/110110431/Products/ This is the link to my sister-in-law's page, but you get the idea. Not that I want to lose weight, but this program is basically sweeping the country and I had to see what it was about. I'm starting the 24 day challenge in 2 days so updates are in order.
2. The Moab 1/2 Marathon - http://www.moabhalfmarathon.org/otherhalf/index.cfm So, I've done a 1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles) every 2 years and I thought that I would get through this year without doing one. But, this opportunity came up and Mike and I have pined after Moab since we moved 5.5 hrs away from its beauty. So, not only does this make me start running seriously again, but it also gives us an excuse to go to Moab for the weekend with the pups. This picture came from the website of "The Other Half" Marathon. October 16th is D-Day! I really am excited. It'll be almost 2 years at the time of the race that I've completed a 1/2 marathon! yay!
I am so thankful for my life here in Colorado. We are still in the process of looking for houses in Golden....finally found a realtor and going through a mortgage broker for our loan. Timeline looks like the end of September to close on the house/ move in. I'm looking at houses everyday and driving by them mostly to see what neighborhoods are good/bad. So Fun!
Caught up till the present. The rest of July is pretty calm, August holds some exciting things..... hold on!
It was warm today.....and I loved it. Up in the 90s with no humidity, ahhhhh - just plain hot. Mike asks me all the time if I would want to live in the mountains, and I always say, "nope". Partly, because summer is shorter here anyway, and in the mountains it snows basically every month. David, Amanda, and myself experienced this first hand when it started snowing in Telluride last week. In fact, we chose to drive home late Sunday night per nasty, cold, rainy/snowy weather.
So, lots of things have happened since we last discussed, blog page. Here are the top 10 best things that have happened in the past 3 weeks:
10. Littleton Adventist Hospital now has a new PRN speech therapist. I'm still plugging through orientation stuff, but Littleton is part of a network of hospitals in Colorado called Centura Health, and if something full time were to open at another hospital, it would be way easy to transfer.
9. I love my job at Bear Creek. I don't know if it's because I was so miserable at Sable, and just didn't have a choice at that time, or if this job really is THAT much more enjoyable. I'm pretty much content with sticking around.....
8. Mikey started summer camp. Yay for him, boo for me. We will see each other minimally throughout the next 8 weeks.
7. This -
6. or this - 5. A Skaggs family vacation, NOT to Sanibel Island, is occurring next week through July 4th. It may or may not be a Christmas Miracle that we're all getting together in the same place. Hot, but beautiful, Chincoteague Island Virginia. Look it up - http://maps.google.com/
4. This Picture - how perfect!
3. We are moving along in the house hunting process. I've talked to 2 different banks and we're meeting with 2 maybe 3 realtors next week. I've been searching online for places......everything in Golden is just SO expensive! We'll find something..... I have a feeling we won't be looking seriously until the end of summer.
2. Summer is here. And summer is my FAVORITE season by far. I love the smells, the sunsets, the kids outside our windows, and lemonade stands.
1. Here's Sara Watkins proving to you that summer days are indeed, hot. -
Voila! Basically, we went to Telluride...and survived thanks to ear plugs. I'll blog again probably when we are in Virginia....drinking a wine time beverage with the family. I love you! Love Wins!
Okay, so I'm still alive...just busy. It has taken 2 years now, but I've finally developed things to do, people to hang out with and activities to keep me busy. Mike is doing the summer camp thing, so I've packed my days full of planting, cleaning, golfing, sleeping and reading. I have lots of things to catch up on, but I'm so exhausted tonight so I'm planning on wrapping up with a blanket and a nice glass of Reisling and blogging on Saturday. I bet the suspense is killing you! It is me, because I honestly don't know how I'm going to fit it all in one post!
So, let's begin with this - a video of a song that I sing often in my heart. As you watch it, may you think about a time when you didn't want to open the blinds covering the darkness in your own heart. Maybe there were ideas, thoughts, bitterness, or anger that you felt like the continued festering in your heart would make troubles disappear. It is so much easier to hang on to anger as opposed to forgiveness. Bitterness rather than acceptance. But, Lord, I am not afraid to let Your light shine - bearing all of my weakness knowing I have a kingdom to gain.
Jennifer Knapp - Martyrs & Thieves
"Well I've never been much for the bearing of soul
In the presence of any man
I'd rather keep to myself all safe and secure
In the arms of a sinner I am
Could it be that my worth should depend
By the crimson stained grace on a hand
And like a lamp on a hill Lord I pray in Your will
To reveal all of You that I can
So turn on the light and reveal all the glory
I am not afraid
To bare all my weakness knowing in meekness
I have a kingdom to gain
Where there is peace and love in the light, in the light
Oh I am not afraid
To let Your light shine bright in my life, in my life"
Chew on this thought for a while, it'll keep you extremely humble and your heart prepared for change. Wait, you're saying in your soul, ch-ch-ch-change? Yes, change. May the Lord reveal things in your heart that need to be changed - in a good way! Prune away all those dead branches so the new leaves can grow! You'll be surprised.
Mike and I were in My Old Kentucky Home last weekend for a weddingand Mother's day! Here is my first cousin Patrick and his bride Jess. I remember at our wedding, my cousins and I were discussing which of the remaining bachelors would be next. And I do distinctly remember all of us (Adam and Jake and myself) pointing to Pat. Well, 3 years later and after obtaining a Law degree, they tied the knot! It was a mini family reunion with all my Aunts and Uncles - complete with a grooms cake that looked like clay pigeon. Classic Eastern Kentucky wedding - I'd do it again in a heartbeat!
It was serendipitous that it happened to be Mother's Day weekend as well. After church we went to the country club then had some photos taken to solidify the moment. It was beautiful in KY - green, lush, and boy did my allergies act up! I was sneezing and blowing my nose the entire trip. Literally, as soon as I got off the plane the pollutants attacked my body! Anyway, a shout out here to my cute mom and my sister, Nancy.
I love our family. It truly made me miss "home". You know, being close enough for birthday parties, weekend get togethers and just the comfort of "home" if needed. But, for once, I feel extremely comfortable with my job, this area, our church and the life we have created here in Colorado. Our prayer has been "may we stay here until something tells us otherwise." So, we're in the process of looking for a house and settling down. I've haven't lived in one place longer than 2 years since I graduated high school in 2002. It's time.
How can you leave a face like that??? I mean, come on people! This is not an easy decision for us! I made a list in my head of the amount of friends and family that we saw over the weekend and it was extensive. I mean, my immediate family, extended family, friends, in-laws, grandparents, etc. Not quite a vacation weekend, but worth every moment of it. We have a Skaggs Family Vacation planned for the 4th of July week that I just booked a flight for. Then we'll be home hopefully in Oct, Nov & Dec. It would be nice for our parents to come and visit us, hint hint!!!
Mike and I made our calendar for the rest of the summer and it's absolutely INSANE! He's gone for parts of the summer up at camp and I'm holding the fort down as usual with the dogs. I get to see Mike's camp for the first time next weekend as we do a clean up day. I have a surprise trip planned - then a friend is coming in town for a show at Red Rocks (those are always fun). Then a trip to Telluride Bluegrass Festival with David and Amanda. Family vaca to VA. Then 4 other guys in town for the baseball trip....and another show at Red Rocks. This doesn't include the golf ladies league I'm signing up for that's every other Saturday (thanks Suzi). But I love my summers like this...just hurry up and be sunny here! We need the rain, but this overcast business is driving me crazy!
Well, I think that gets everyone (myself included) caught up on the most recent happenings in the Curry household. I've heard from several people that I need to blog more - it's going to happen. It's on my list of things to do. Along with buy a house, train for the BolderBoulder, keep the dogs happy, and try to make grass grow in the backyard. Wish me luck.
My house is a wreck, my husband is gone, and the dogs are quiet. My TV is playing a Rockies vs. Pirates game and I've spent the past couple days reflecting on this Easter season. It's hard to believe that last year at this time Mike and I went to the Easter Sunrise service at Red Rocks. It was a little too cold and I had the flu this year so we skipped out, but the evening service was plenty uplifting. There was a great crowd for the baptisms (including Kevin Durant - NBA player for the OKC Thunder) and the evening service! Lots of new faces and a very joyful atmosphere. Pastor Brian chose scripture which hit so close to my heart that I had to share. I suppose you're used to reading about my rambling thoughts related to Christianity, so just chalk this one up in that category.
Let's start here:
"2Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead,how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there is no resurrection of the dead,then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God thathe raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile andyou are still in your sins. 18Then those also whohave fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If in Christ we have hopein this life only,we are of all people most to be pitied."
2 Corinthians 15: 12-19
As you fumble your way through the first part of this passage, it may seem a little wordy - But, don't you think Paul is trying to prove a point? I mean, if Christ has not raised from the dead, then YOU/I are dead. We are still living in our sins. We are misrepresenting God. Those are huge implications! Paul is addressing those of us like "Doubting Thomas", extinguishing any idea that God's movement in our earthly lives is nonexistent. But, Christ WAS raised from the dead (yay!)....read here:
20But in factChrist has been raised from the dead,the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For asby a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22Foras in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, thenat his comingthose who belong to Christ. 24Then comes the end, when he delivers(AG) the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25For he must reignuntil he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to bedestroyed is death.
1 Corinthias 15: 20-26
Christ HAS risen and he WILL destroy death, the ultimate enemy! And if He has not been raised from the dead, then Christianity itself is a bust. A dud. NOTHING. I often think about how as a child I believed in Christ because it was something everyone else was doing. I never faltered in my faith and almost, eek, assumed everyone else felt the same way. I mean, why would you not believe in Jesus? At that time, there was nothing that would cause me to doubt. However, as life moves along and trials come along, I understand how Satan can take hold in your heart and cause a person to truly doubt if this whole Jesus thing is true. And more importantly, how and why does it affect me?
So, thank heavens for Easter. A time when we are reminded that without this resurrection there would be no Christianity - life itself would be meaningless. Vain.
C.S. Lewis puts it so clear in his book Mere Christianity:
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said, would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” (p. 52)
Our God is Lord. And may you fall at His feet. And may you take the time to search your heart and try to understand what the implications of the resurrection means to YOU. And may you know that everyone is different - open your heart and allow Christ to change your mind, soul, and emotions.
I had an incredible experience today at work. There are two women in a room. They both have Aphasia. They both love the Lord. And they both have a spirit from God that seeps through every pore of their being. Even though their language center prevents them from truly saying what they mean (Apraxic, too), the hymns are still there. Christ still lives in their heart and the 23rd Psalm is still memorized. The families were so thankful to have a believer working with their loved ones and I was equally happy to encourage the families that there is life beyond a stroke. May the Lord work through you in your workplace, you never know who needs a little encouraging!
