My Gift

Wow! What a birthday! Facebook was so humbling to scroll through all the posts. I will say again. I am the lucky one. To know so many amazing people. Thank you for a simple thing. Thank you for the messages. You have NO IDEA what that meant to me today. I sat overwhelmed in my chair tonight looking over everyones kind words and was just blown away that the Lord has blessed me so much. With family and friends who are just incredible. People who love the Lord with all their heart, mind, and life. It was so humbling to have so many people text me or send me a message from all across the world. From back home, from school, from Seminole. Do I really get to live THIS life?! This is truly crazy. I am such a blessed southern girl. I am pinching myself right now because today I just felt loved. That meant so much because I think for the first time since the move I gave myself permission to miss home. And I stopped (really stopped) to do just that. To miss my friends (I'd love to sit with so many of you and talk). My family (miss you bunches). My pets. My church (miss you dearly). Through all the thoughtfulness today know that I was truly reached. The Lord used that as my gift. To look back and love the life I've been blessed with. And absolutely be blown away with how fabulously the Lord weaves our lives together with who we meet and get to do life WITH. That was the best gift.


I sat in all this reflection to read Psalm 139. OH MY WORD! This is a read every birthday for a reason. It is so incredible to be so loved by God. To be so planned for. To be thought of before anyone else knew me. There are many things that I want to do. There is so much left to learn. So many people to reach out to. There are few things in this world that have meaning without the precious love of Jesus. There are few things that I can do from here that would mean more than what He has given me. Oh How he loves me, oh. How he loves me, oh. My heart sings because He knit me together. Quirky, goofy, driven, passionate, fun-loving. Forgetful, comfortable in my skin even if you're not ok with me. Me. Sometimes it is nice to give ourselves permission to just bask in that kind of love over us. And I did tonight. After coming home from the game, Jody and the kids crashed and no movie night happened as planned. Mom made her way to bed after talking with me. And there I was. By myself. No TV show, movie, or book could satisfy. God met me in my chair, my room and poured over me. Showed me things about myself in these years I've been alive and reminded me that I am loved. As completely as I will ever be loved.  He reminded me that I'm here for a reason. I'm here not to be comfortable. I'm not here to just live here. (As if I could forget why I'm here....but I fully intend to enjoy this place as well.) He reminded me that it is important to listen to His voice. TO know His voice. To ask for His continual direction. To take things to Him first. To be recharged by His Spirit. To be directed and live by His Spirit. To love the people he has let me live in community with. To ask how they need to be loved and treated. To meet them where they are and only by His Spirit make a difference in their life. Like so many have made a difference in my life by their encouragement, words, prayers, cards, calls, texts, and walks. We are here to live this life together not apart. I'm thankful for connections that span distance. Those are bonds the Lord gives us and strengthens through Him. Keep up your day to day faithfully. Live overflowing. Outpouring. Pursuit to give Him the glory He deserves and that we do not. He is so good to us. He is so good to me. What a birthday to sit and close today with my King. My God. My Comforter.

I found a new doctor this week. Rechecked thyroid levels. I've been pretty good, pretty regulated and dreaded having to change. God provided that. Someone who was compassionate and listened to my history. Really listened. And at the end of the visit said, "You're pretty amazing to do everything you have done through that. Something like that might have slowed most people down. You just kept on going refusing to be derailed."  I am nothing. God did that. And I will add He did that to prove that His Strength, His Spirit is enough. Even with good care, there's an end. There's a stop. He is a provider like no other. My energy who keeps me on path, supplied, and focused.

How nice it is to close a birthday in fellowship with Him. I'm so grateful to have known Him this long. Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.....

OCEANS
by: Hillsong

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise my soul will rest in your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and you won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

The Love of Family

Thursday after school/work Kent & Sharla and Jill and the boys started the long trip to Steamboat to visit. It was a weekend marked on the calendar that we all looked forward to for a long time. I had stashed back meals for the weekend and as always, had a blast planning the menu!

They were supposed to arrive Friday after lunch early afternoon. I was working and in typical clinic fashion, I silenced my cell phone and ignored the loud rattly, vibration against the wooden desk. I called them back an hour later before several of my last patients. I'M SO GLAD I DID.

Jill told me that they had been stopped on the road to give a statement for the horrific crash they had witnessed on Rabbit Ear Pass about 18 miles outside of Steamboat.  She said that they were re-routed and would be on the road longer than expected because the pass was now closed due to the wreck. A woman had been swerving violently lane to lane and they had called 911.  While on the phone reporting it, she hit a fuel tanker head on and burst into flames. They watched as the car burned, helpless to do anything.  Thankfully the trooper arrived within 3-5 minutes on-site and attempted to put out the flames. My heart dropped as she told me knowing that they had all just witnessed something terrible, the boys included.

Thankfully they got to my house about the time I was getting off work. It was the best feeling in the world walking into a loud, noisy, excited house.  I laugh thinking back about Friday night because we were all SO glad to see each other we were practically sitting on top of each other on the couch, in each other's face talking and completely content. I knew at one point I was sitting right next to Jill talking and the rest of the couch was open. I DID NOT CARE. It was so good to see her and everyone that I was literally glad to be near all of them again...and obviously near meaning as close as possible. (LOL)

Needless to say, we had a great weekend of foods, fall festivals, parks, shopping, games, church and togetherness. It just does not get better than that. Kent giving me a hard time for nothing and me egging him on. Sharla and I delving deep into our discussions about what God is doing and where we want to go with Him. McKenna talking about work and home and knowing that we were now just hours apart! Callee and Reece screaming and running through the house. Jill and I just enjoying watching the kids play and catching up.  Game night of mexican train dominos and Hedbanz and senseless laughter til you can't sit up straight and laughing just because you forgot what was really funny in the first place. These days are what memories are made of. These are the times when you wish family were closer, but thankful for the technology that makes it partially possible. The only thing that would have made it better was to see my dad and see our dogs again too.

I'm so grateful for my wonderful family. Each one of them is special. I love those boys and miss them. I miss the big family meals and weekends we had back home. I'm glad McKenna and Callee are close to us. It does make me dive deeper into why I'm here and why we said yes to Steamboat and fellowship. It is giving us more of a chance to become a closer family ourselves. I was reminded of that tonight as Reece read me a book and as Cale ran wildly through the house.  While we are missing our family we are thankful for the experiences that God is giving us here. What a wonderful place to have an adventure and become the best version of therapist and self that I can become. Lord teach me as I go. Lord teach us how to listen and let you lead.

Oh the memories they give us!

Granny teaches Reece what a SONIC cup looks like.

Aunt Jill giving Cale a dip in the pool

Graduation 2005 am/pm :)

THIS KID HAS THE BEST SMILE!

 Our Boys

Baby Drew

  Whereever he is, she's right there. Sorry Dylan but she loves loves loves you!

The cool cats

WE MAY NOT HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER, BUT TOGETHER WE HAVE IT ALL!

Love and miss you all already! Thank you for loving and supporting us always!

A Time TO

A time to mourn. A time to dance. A time to pray. A time to cry. A time to plead. A time to be silly. A time to search. A time to learn. A time to serve. A time to study all night long...over and over and over.  Now a time to remember and time to support.

College. What a time in our life that will never be again! A time to meet people and stretch ourselves beyond the borders of expectation and realization. A time to grow into our own. And meet some of the best people we will ever meet. 

This last weekend we took the family to Denver and got to see 2 friends from college. Leigh Christensen who I spent countless hours with during my time at WBU watching movies, rewinding movies, praying, laughing, getting into nothing but good, frisbee golf, etc. Oh my goodness those days! We laughed as the kids ran through the Aquarium and all but diving into the sting ray petting tank, soaking themselves and laughing all the way. What sweet memories. 

The second was breakfast with Brandon White and his sweet wife and new baby. This guy! He carried me through the rough days after Jody's wreck more than he will ever know. Took me to the hospital, Paradigm worship at FBC Lubbock, and was just hilarious during a rough time. Brandon has an amazing heart.  It was awesome to hear the experiences that he has had to bring him where he is today. It was only brief and a snapshot but so good to reconnect with him.  I know the Lord has given him incredible influence where he is today and that is awesome to see. 

Today was another day. I forgot to put my phone on silent at work today at fellowship which I never do. My phone rang to "Defy Gravity" from the desk drawer and quickly rushed to silence. I looked later at the end of the day and I had 2 messages and 1 missed call from Crystal Morton Leake in Alaska. My dear friend and accountability girl still...she had 2 prayer request. One was a friend's mom. The missed call referred to a tragic FB post today. I quickly checked FB to find the sad news about Matt Rusher and my heart broke for his wife Amanda.  If you remember or know, she lost her dad only a short time ago. 

I made a quick FB post earlier about what a great place Wayland was for me especially in times like this when memories rush back and remind us of friends and fellow Christians we have met along the way. My heart hurts for Amanda tonight. I'm so reminded of the time spent at Wayland and serving on rejoice/rec at Highland Lakes with them. How incredible to know people that have a heart for the Lord. How special to share the common ground of serving the Lord together. Matt was amazing. He's resting now and having a party up in heaven, No DOUBT!

Wayland, Wayland. What a special place. Glow in the dark golf. Pizza party at the last golf hole by an Owen dorm window (JULIE!!!). What a blast those days were. What preparation they were for so many days ahead. The Lord is good, faithful, and true. 

I have only a few closing thoughts that I will exercise when I finishing typing. My heart is heavy. There is only one remedy for this. Pray and worship. For anytime the Lord moves it is on a mountain where the worship happens. Wherever or whatever the mountain may be. There's no other way for the heart to express joy, grief, tears, relief than to worship.

Psalm 99:9
Extol the Lord our God  and worship at His holy hill, for the Lord our God is holy!

Psalm 22:3
But You are holy, O You Who dwell in the holy place where the praises of the Israel are offered. 

Devils Causeway and Flat Tops Wilderness Hike

DISCOVERING THE FLAT TOPS

This was no ordinary Sunday. Started bright an early with yoga 9-10:15 downtown and raced to church, yes in my yoga gear with a large north face 1/2 zip to cover. Only in Steamboat! :)

After church, Jody and I had been tossing around the idea of hiking Devils Causeway for a while but with the colors changing it was definitely a sign that the days are numbered before the snow falls in upper elevations.  So a quick sandwich with the kids and off we went. 

Devils Causeway takes you through Oak Creek and Yampa to Routt National Forest. Simply tucked into the beautiful landscape of changing trees and gorgeous mountains, the drive itself will likely take us back next week to let mom and the kids enjoy a picnic among the colors. 

Here's just a few of the drive through the forest before we had to park. 

                                                     My FAVORITE tree. This will be framed!

This description is what you'll find on the web. There's a scary picture of some hikers actually WALKING across the causeway instead of crawling on the site. Check it out.

Devils Causeway is named for this ridge at 11,800 feet which brings chills to those who are afraid of heights and causes those who are not afraid of heights to become afraid. This hike, which ascends the Chinese Wall in the Flat Tops Wilderness, contains a narrow 3-foot wide, 150 foot long segment of broken rock with 1,500 ft drops on either side. This segment, which gives the trail its name, is demonic indeed. Anyone with the slightest bit of acrophobia will cower, cringe.




                                          Getting closer. This just makes anyone feel small.

                            View from the top before the steps ascend toward the causeway

                                      Clouds cleared to let us finish. Isn't God good to let us enjoy this?!

                                     This is as FAR as I go. On either side the peripheral is tripping! The wall insets a bit more than this picture shows and drops straight down. I'm terrified of heights. But today I overcame this. I stood here looking out until the fear passed and sense told me, you're good. You did it. Turn around and walk back up. That was the worst part. THE PERIPHERAL still works. I needed horse blinder. Never had vertigo, but this could do it to you.

                     Devils Causeway. Connects to the china wall so if you make it across (crawling) to the Chinese wall then continue across you can complete the 10.5 loop. NO THANKS, not that way. :)

               Jody's AWESOME! He got further than I did, but sadly forgot to the leave camera.    SELFIE!!!!

                                               Climbing down, the winding trail below.

                                                        We DID IT!

                                              Capturing some beautiful golden tops!

Little girl, great big heart

Today is the day that Reece and I make the cut! About 8 years ago I donated my hair to lock of love and today I get to do this with my daughter. She's amazingly grown up about it. About 3 months ago she asked me about a picture with our dog Tucker. "Why is your hair so short mommy?'' And I told her the story about wanting to donate for someone else. Hair is a simple thing to give I told her. And she quickly wanted to do the same. With the big move this summer to Steamboat I didn't want there to be so much change that she regretted it. But as the days pass, she has really grown more and more excited about doing this. "AHH. I'm so ready to cut my hair. I'm tired of it being in my face!", she would say. Reece is amazing. While still a child who naturally does selfish things like steal toys from her brother, makes sure she is first every time, and knows nothing about fair sharing, she's giving someone else something that they wouldn't have.

As we looked over the website last night and looked through donor and recipient pictures, she was excited about it even more. It became very real to her what she was about to do. Underneath all the kid is a great big heart for other people.  It is amazing to watch this child unfold and grow everyday into more of the little person that God has designed her to be. 6 years old and giving. Learning to look beyond herself to the world around her and say, I can do that, that's not much to give for someone else. I have to say that I'm a proud momma today. She has a beautiful heart!

Proverbs 21: 29-30
Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all. Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

May 2006, First locks of love cut

July 2006

Last Sunday, Middle Creek Ranch/Anchor Way BBQ

  Picture Day, Wed Sept 10th

  Walking into Brio Salon, Steamboat Springs

 Waiting. She can hardly stand it!!

 BRIO!

 Angela makes the cut!

 First glance. She loves it! Chopped the 11 inches for Locks of Love

All done! Pretty girl!! You're getting so big!

First snap. 

"I want my picture by the hammock!"

WHAT a fun Girls day according to Reece! We finished it off with shopping for clips at Walmart and bought her a new north face fleece and sunglasses at Sports Authority. GREAT GIRLS DAY!!!

Mom went along for the fun and so I could actually enjoy getting mine cut while Reece was waiting. Thank Angela @ Brio! We loves our cuts! We were able to donate 25 total inches today! WOW! That was fun!!