Time for a little reflection....

I think this is the first year I have enjoyed my birthday because I have finally realized that I don't have to celebrate me and feel like I'm being doted on (which I hate). I realize this is a chance to see all of the wonderful people that have been put into my life for very specific reasons.

And as I look on this past year I have come to realize this one thing. 

I am the luckiest person alive because of all of the people in my life.

So if you are reading this, you need to know that I have been blessed by you and I truly appreciate everything you are to me.

I love you all.

Day by Day... Minute by Minute

I can't believe that summer is almost over. Earlier this week I was SO ready to go home. I really just missed everyone back in Illinois and I felt like I was just missing out on a lot of life there. Now I am feeling nervous to leave Colorado! I may just have to come back next year :)

Sunday night was really good. I didn't know where my workshop was and so I ended up going to "The Secret Life of Women". SOOO GOOD! It was totally a God thing that I ended up there. I really realized that I am really good at staying just friends with guys but they are not very good at staying just friends with me. I realized how much I need to watch what I do because so often my actions don't affect how I feel about someone but it does affect how they feel about me. So if you are one of those people I am so sorry. I'm just really sick of feeling like I play guys. 

Tuesday night's worship was awesome. I haven't been that happy in a while. I was so full of joy that I cried. It was amazing. Here are a few songs that everyone needs to listen to and just mull over the words and see how much truth they speak:

Remedy -- David Crowder Band

How He Loves -- David Crowder Band

Shine Your Light on Us -- Robbie Seay Band

So good. 

Thursday I did an epic hike. I hiked FHOT (Flattop: 12,324 ft, Hallets: 12,713 ft, Otis: 12,486 ft, Taylor: 13,153 ft.) Super awesome! But kind sucked at the same time. The fast group (which I was in) had to keep waiting for the slow group to summit each mountain and so a 7-9 hour hike turned into a 14 hour hike which was crazy. We had to slide down Andrew's Glacier (the only way to get down the mountain quickly) and because we took so long a huge thunderstorm rolled in and we got hailed on while sliding down this mountain. Crazy! It was really fun thought and there were BEAUTIFUL views from up there. I'll have pictures up on facebook soon that you can all see. We also saw a marmet, a pika and a bear up there which was really cool and you had an amazing view of Long's Peak and all of these mountain lakes and ponds. They are all so clear and beautiful.

Yesterday we got to go talk to people in Fort Collins on CSU's campus which was really cool. We were just asking people what they thought spirituality meant to them and stuff and we ended up sitting down with this girl Hillary. She was the nicest person I have ever met in my life. Hillary, Rachel and I talked to her during her lunch break and we just had the same views about everything even though she isn't a Christian. She talked about how hypocritical she sees Christians being and how love is not their first priority and stuff and I sat there and I was like I AGREE! We also talked about how we really don't like organized religion and how injust the world is an stuff. It was just a really good talk and she was really open with us and we were really open with her. So cool. She told us at the end that we had given her hope that there are true Christians out there who really believe what they say. That was an amazing thing to hear from this girl. She has been really hurt by the church like so many people have and it is totally unfair. 

Sometimes the church has done a really bad job of loving people and that is the theme of my life. Learning to love people to the best of my ability in the way that they need/want to be loved. That is what I pray for every day of my life, that God would show me how to do that.

Then that night, we went to the staff talent show and Katie and I stayed with Karissa and her sister Kira before they left for Idaho to go to their friend's cabin (who wants a cabin in Idaho? Woot we can frolic through potatoes? haha)

Well, that is all for now. I will hopefully talk to you all soon! 

Much Love.

And the days keep moving...

Hello all!

Wow. It has been over a week. Here is the latest update starting with not this past Thursday but the Thursday before that.

Thursday: We hiked Twin Sisters (over 11,000 feet). I decided to be awesome and go off the beaten path...by myself because I wanted to boulder up to the next switchback and meet the people i was hiking with there. Well.... turns out there was no "other" switchback because the trail went around the back side of the mountain. So here I was bouldering and lost for an hour and a half screaming every so often so I could see if my friends were around. I made it to a false summit and I finally heard a faint yell. And then I found the trail because we kept screaming at one another. All in all it was a fun adventure, I got to boulder halfway up Twin Sisters and I made it to the real summit. Suhweet! All in all...a great hike. Then we got back to the Y and my family came at 4pm! Got to chill with them and then go to the LT service. Shhhuper great.

Friday: On this day, my family and I headed to Boulder to chill. It was pretty fun. We did some shopping and I got some new hiking boots sooo that's cool. I think that is really all I did that day.. yea that's it.

Saturday: This day. We decided to go on a hike. I wanted to do Twin Sisters but we didn't leave early enough and I had a meeting. So. We did Eagle Cliff instead. I was feeling pretty sick that day and so my mom and I just talked on the side of the mountain instead of hiking all the way up. It was a good talk and stuff soo yea.

Sunday: We left for my Uncle Bob's house in Paonia, Colorado. We took Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road and made many stops along the way to do some hiking in Chasm Falls and on a random mountain. It was really fun. The road is pretty intense. Here are some pictures of the two roads...

This is Trail Ridge Road

And this is Old Fall River Road.

Pretty intense.

Soooo yea. We got to Uncle Bob's house that night.

Monday: On this day, we went on a picnic in the woods. It was really fun cuz we grilled burgers and stuff on a portable grill. That's all I remember.

Tuesday: This day was AWESOME! I got to go white water rafting in the Colorado River. Our guide was crazy. I don't feel like writing a lot so just ask me about the crazy adventures our raft had if you get the chance.

Wednesday: Got back and went to work...the end

Thursday: Don't remember this day at all. But I do remember that after the LT service God just spoke to me and was like hey why don't you just spend time with me. I love spending time talking about God with other people I think it's soo cool and can be so good but recently I've been neglecting quality prayer time with God because I just have been spending that time with other people. But I had a really good prayer time with God and yea. I just need to do that more often for SURE!

Friday: had project day. We worked at this place called O.U.R. Center in Longmont, Colorado. We did volunteer work for them and stuff which was really cool. Pulling weeds all day! That's right, be jealous. They have a really cool organization there. Then we had ISU time and then I went to the dance lesson thing that Daniel and Brain had. I got to teach salsa with Daniel and dance a lot of Swing and Charleston with Brian. He was actually really good and I was impressed.

Then I got locked out of my room all night and had to sleep in the hallway until Katie got up...ask me about that too cuz I don't feel like writing.

Saturday: And now here I am after work still in my work clothes, talking to Max and finishing up this blog post. Epic Sweet. 

Thanks for all being wonderful people!

Love and the Cosmos

Went to the bonfire last night. It was pretty fun! Then we went on a late night walk to the Livery (where they keep the horses) close to the outdoor chapel. We wanted to walk past it but instead we just sat by this cross that is out there and we got to experience God first hand. We prayed together, out loud which was so cool. I just really felt God saying that we have His unlimited power behind everything we do, so nothing is impossible. NOTHING! Not even a road trip through South American next summer...cough *Mom and Dad* cough. Can't wait to for His plans for me. Anyway... As we were praying, we were all looking at the stars and right when we finished the stars multiplied to 20 times the amount that were in the sky while we were praying. It was SO cool and totally a God moment. It's amazing people can say that all of this came to be without intelligent design. Crazy.

I had a really great talk with my amazingly awesome co-worker Meredith about love today.

We basically have the same view on love which is pretty cool. We are both afraid of the "L-word". It's a pretty intense deal. Basically we talk about how love is a choice, day in and day out. In addition to that, I think that it is crazy when people can honestly say that they love someone when they haven't even been dating for at least a year. I kind of don't want to say I love someone until there is talk of a ring. Sounds insane but I guess I just want to know. Until you get married, I really think you don't know true love. I mean, I think you can experience a version of love. Enough love that you think, "This is as good as it gets". It gets better! I don't know if that made any sense. And where does the phrase "I love you" lead to? Shenanigans or marriage or false expectations. That's just how it is.

But we had fun today just goofing around and trying to set Lorraine up with the Espresso Machine repair man. HILARIOUS!

I am over halfway done in Colorado. I can't believe it. I feel like school is creeping up fast and I am excited to go back. I am not excited to not have amazing bouldering spots a 5 minute walk from my dorm. Sad day.

Good thing is, I think I am going to get FiveFingers if I can convince my parents it is a great investment and that they should get them for me for my birthday! WOOT! I love walking barefoot now.

And that's it. Done.

Yep. I totally got sick Saturday night and so I couldn't go to ISU time. I didn't go to work the next day but thankfully I felt fine by Sunday afternoon.

P.S.    HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

A little late... oh well

So Fourth of July was good. I finished reading this book called Jesus Without Religion which was really good. It just talks about Jesus and his life. Pretty cool. I got to meet with Mike Klunke too and we talked about how the New Testament came to be the 27 books that we have today. Pretty fascinating stuff.

Historical non-fiction is awesome. I just cannot get enough!

Must. Read. More.

Anyway. Highlight of my day was climbing Lumpy Ridge to see the fireworks! It was probably the most fun I have ever had seeing fireworks. Some of us are gonna climb Lumpy Ridge again and sleep up there since it's so beautiful. I have realized (since I have done it twice now) that hiking/climbing without shoes is the BEST THING EVER. I think I am going to start walking around barefoot much more often than not... I really need to get those FiveFingers things. Epic (look 'em up). While climbing up we had 2 people almost fall off a cliff we were climbing. Amanda had to scoot along an edge and then she grabbed my hand for support so if she had fallen I would have gone too. And then, we were spotting my friend Sam and she fell backwards. If Amber and I didn't catch her backpack, she would have fallen down a long way and probably wouldn't have made it. We almost got dragged down with her too. Hurray for cheating death! Love it. We had to climb down the mountain after fireworks in the dark which was really cool. Again... all barefoot, people!

My family is coming on Thursday! I get to see them after I get back from hiking Twin Sisters. I'm gonna be above tree line and one more step closer to LONG'S PEAK!!! So excited :)

Well that's all the update that I have for now. I'm off to read some more and work out. Then bonfire for Andrew's birthday!

Have a wonderful day :)

Who needs a title anyway?

Wow.... Gotta eat my words again... Didn't keep that vigor of blogging almost everyday. Why does this always happen to me?

Anyway. Let's see if I can recap the past week. Here I go!

Saturday: This day, I worked and then we had ISU time. We talked about how we aren't really growing as a group like we wanted to. It kinda sucks because that was one of our goals coming out here this summer.

Sunday: All I remember about this day was being really really tired during workshop. It was the last one in the series so I will have a new workshop for four weeks starting next Sunday. Pretty sweet!

Monday: I went to work and then after work I ran up Bible Pointe. That's right, I RAN! So I can say that I have run up a mountain now. I haven't had time to run up Bible Pointe again but it will happen soon for sure. I also got to see Kelsey Gorman on this day. We had an awesome talk pretty much about everything and about where we are both at, things we don't like about organized religion, stuff like that. It was awesome!

Tuesday: Work and then worship band practice on this day. We had a guest speaker named John Werst. He painted a clear picture of the Gospel to make sure that we all understood what that really is. It was cool but for me, unnecessary. I have been questioning the validity of the Bible and whether or not Jesus actually existed and other things recently. I just was questioning what was reality and what was not. Right before church, Daniel came up to me and asked "Hey! Wanna have a deep theological discussion tonight?" Of course I said yes and when I asked about what he said "Determining what we can know is real or Truth (yes, with a capitol 'T' ". I was so excited that all I could do was give him this big hug because I had been praying that God would reveal the Truth to me somehow and now I had a chance to sort things out in my head with Daniel. So we had a sweet talk that night and stayed up late...again. Going into the talk, I honestly thought I was gonna come out of the conversation with more questions and doubts but God totally revealed Himself (like He always does haha). It was really cool! Sam was there too and we got to talk with her about some really tough stuff. I am excited to see where God takes her.

Wednesday: This was my day off (instead of Thursday). ISU went to Winter Park as a group and it was actually kind of fun. They have this HUGE alpine slide there (the biggest in Colorado) and you just fly on this thing. Two people in our group fell off and got pretty bad road burn. Gross. But it was really cool to bond with everyone and have a fun day off. We went to this pizza place in Winter Park called Hernando's. They serve Colorado-style pizza (who knew there was such a thing). When we got there, there were dollar bills with writing on them covering the walls. We also noticed that there was Honey on every table. I asked Rob what was up with that cuz I thought it was strange and I found out that you use it to dip your crust. Amazing people! Amazing! So thumbs up to Colorado-style pizza.

Thursday: Another uneventful day. Went to work and then I went to church. During the service, the only thing I got out of it was a conviction to right the wrongs I had done to people. So, if I have ever hurt you in anyway, please tell me so I can apologize. I am truly sorry and chances are I didn't even know I hurt you. I tend to joke around a lot and sometimes it hurts people. But like I said. If you have ever felt wronged by me, PLEASE tell me. After church, I got to have a really great talk with Max. What an awesome guy. It's really cool to hear about how he is growing and yea. I don't even really know what to say about our conversation without just telling you. Then I stayed up with Daniel and Sammy till 2 haha

Friday: So yesterday was project day. We got to hear testimonies in the morning and then we talked about this book called TrueFaced. It's really good. Then, after lunch we headed to Boulder, Colorado. Some people did evangelizing and some people just hung out. Kelsey came with us which was really cool and Rachel, Kelsey and I just walked around Colorado University. It's a beautiful campus. Sort of makes me want to transfer.... But anyway. So we got back to where we were supposed to meet everyone and people were talking about evangelizing and how that went. Karissa, Brian and Bethany came back and were telling everyone about these people they met who were painting in the quad. They said they talked to the "painters" about God and the Bible. The painting people said they would love to read the Bible since they had never done so but Karissa, Brain and Bethany didn't have Bibles with them to give. So as they are telling this story I go "You can take my Bible". So they took my Bible and Nicole's Bible and ran back to give it to them. So I am currently Bible-less but for a really cool reason! Everyone wanted to go to Panda Express afterward. I had never eaten at Panda Express, so it was an experience. While eating there, we saw a double rainbow. Another cool part about the weather was that it was raining while it was sunny out and it was raining on one side of the street we were on but not the other. Crazy! Twas very epic. Then I drove home and went to Kind Coffee to try it out. I was pretty disappointed in their espresso but Chels says they have good brewed coffee. Internet was completely down because of a storm on this day which is why I couldn't post until today. 

Today: Well last night/early in the morning today, I could not sleep at all because my stomach felt so uncomfortable. You know those times where you just want to throw up because you know it will make you feel better but you can't? Yea, that is what happened to me last night. So awful. So I went into work late this morning because i was still feeling awful at 5:45. I went to work and felt alright and then right after lunch, I got the same discomfort in my stomach so I left early. I just couldn't handle it. So no I am sitting in my bed and I am about to get a lot of letters written and stuff online accomplished. Including this blog post. I think this may be the longest post yet beside the "Ec-pic Story". But that's not about my life so I suppose that doesn't count. 

Well I hope you all have a wonderful day. I will try and feel better and I will post more often if I can. 

Praise God Always!