Author: RHonda (Page 6 of 10)

November 17th, not a banner day for many but a banner day for our Kristina. She is moving. Not one of her favorite things to do but a necessary thing at different times in life. This is a somewhat significant, special move. Kristina and Josh have decided that living together as brother and sister has been a great adventure but now their life choices are not compatible any longer. There is a cozy studio apartment on the west side of town that will be Kristina’s new home, her first home on her own. Josh will keep the townhouse for now.

It has been a wild time finding “the perfect” apartment. I felt, at times, I was shopping with Goldilocks. “This ones too big, this ones too old, this ones too dark” but the studio apartment on the end of the building at Cheyenne Vista features a big sunny window looking right into a huge pine with a quaint little patio tucked off to the far end. The apartment allows just enough room for her furniture and is not overwhelming when it is time to clean. Simple. As things in life you can control should be. It makes dealing with the complicated things in life easier. Those, often, we cannot control with the exception of our response and attitude.

Today marks a full seven days since the headlines shouted the news nationwide about our pastor and the life changing power of a temptation answered. I woke this morning hearing all of your voices calling, emailing, and asking, “how are you both, how is your church body?”. We appreciate your love, concern, and prayers so much. We have truly felt them! I had toyed with writing a story here about the week’s recent events and how God has poured out through the situation but wasn’t sure I could articulate my thoughts and feelings. That has been especially true since each day brings a different layer of emotion and growth to the surface. This morning, I felt it only fair that your concerns for us, at the least, be partly addressed.

Well, this seems to be a weekly occurance – SNOW! I am not complaining though, I am rejoicing! We woke to approximately 5 inches of new snow that had fallen over night. It has continued to snow 1 to 3 inches an hour since that time and we now have a fraction of a inch shy of a foot on the patio. It is only 10 AM and it is predicted that it will continue all day. Matt left for work early this AM and I couldn’t stand all that beauty being outside my window. With a little extra time in my schedule, I had to go and play in the snow!

It barely seems time for Labor Day to me for some reason this year. The leaves have not finished their seasonal shedding and their lovely fall color display. However, yesterday afternoon while I was trying to complete some late season painting and caulking, it started to rain. I cleaned up my mess and decided to run a few errands. The weather man has said spotty rain showers, well, he totally missed the call! There were scattered rain showers and then sleet. After an hour of those spotty rain showers and sleet, I looked out a store window to an inch of snow! The snow fell all evening at a fairly rapid pace and this morning there is more than 7 inches in the backyard! It paints such a lovely picture, the trees are flocked as if they were preparing for a Christmas party. I need to go get my snowshoes out and tromp around! It won’t last. The lovely Colorado sunshine will come out and make it all go away quickly. Wish you were here to see the beauty!

Yes, it is true! On September 26 of 2006, our lovely Kristina turned 21! It was a grand celebration! We couldn’t celebrate on the day as the boss lady (Kristina) had to work at the last minute and we rescheduled for the next eve. Grandma Peggy had come out from Des Moines to help us celebrate and we just couldn’t let the actual day go by without a little notoriety for Kristina. We gathered a balloon bouquet and a warm plate of cookies and headed to the salon to surprise her. She had not told most of the staff so they were all surprised when we arrived. I’m not sure how she got any work done as Kristina had gotten so many phone calls from friends and family calling to wish her Happy Birthday. A number of them sang to her as well! How awesome is that?! Funny, she didn’t look any older! The next day we were able to all gather at our house for Kristina’s favorite meal and carmel apple pie with candles. No cake for this girl, just one of Armetta Keeney’s award winning pies! Welcome, Kristina to the “adult” world! We love you, Sunshine.

I have written about my own personal hike up the great Majestic Lady, Pike’s Peak. That trek was a pre-event to the Ascent Race, which is why I went up the mountain in the first place. Doris and I were there to assist in running an aide station. After the summit climb, we met with our team captains, Amy and Jeff Solverson, got our camp made, and had a very welcome dinner. There are a number of aid stations on the mountain for the Ascent and the Pikes Peak Marathon. They are designed to support the racers with water, Gatorade, fruit, candy, and medical help, which is given by the El Paso County Search and Rescue teams. Everything that is needed for that support is packed in from the top or the bottom of the mountain and then back out when the races are over. There are pounds and pounds of Gatorade powder to bring in, water purification equipment, food, cups, bowls, the all important duck tape, trash cans to hold the water, Gatorade, and of course, trash. Volunteers are crucial to the success of these two interesting races. I have realized after this experience – volunteers make the world go round!

As you already know, I turned 50 this year. Not a milestone that everyone wants to herald but I see it as a threshold to the banquet that is my life. Five decades! WOW! How cool is that?! There were a few things that I wanted to accomplish this year since it is a “significant” birthday year. Only one of my goals appeared to be manifesting. These are the “special” goals I had for this year.

1. Make a trip to the Grand Canyon to hike and camp. We made a plan with our small group to go together since several of us had decade birthdays.
2. Climb a ‘fourteener’ one of the 54 mountains in the state of Colorado that is 14,000 ft or more. It meant being disciplined and training.
3. Decide what God wants me to do with the rest of my life, now that I am truly grown up.

I figure if you aren’t grown up at 50, you have a challenge that may need professional help! There will always be a kid inside but I am trying to be grown up on the outside, just to make those around me feel more comfortable. It is a hard thing at times! Continue reading