My baby is all grown up

A new dawn unfolds as we took our baby girl to college today.  The last of our beautiful daughter's to move out and move on in their lives.

Alicia packs the last of her things for college.

Of course I am thrilled and super supportive of Alicia going away to college to discover her life dreams and witness her reaching life goals she's set for herself.  Yet, it came with a few tears that never fully formed, they just filled my eyes.  "She's my baby, my precious little girl who has been sheltered from most of life's yuck."  

Alicia was a great sport as we helped her unpack her belongings.  She didn't mind that I hung her bath towels neatly in her closet, and I didn't mind when she simply took them back down.  She's all grown up, a young woman, a beautiful high spirited soul ready to soar in her world.  I just stared at her, wanting to memorize everything about her beautiful self.  Her room warming smile, her pretty brown hair flowing over her shoulders.  The red high school sweatshirt she wore to stay warm proved evidence she was not too proud and still had some high school humility.  Her short shorts....oh yes, she could have left those behind, but she really does have the most beautiful legs...and I'd much rather her keep them covered than to show them off to any wandering eyed boy.  I hate to let her go....I hate to see her change....I hate the thought that something may happen to her....but I trust we've prepared her to stand proud and stand firm in a good up bringing.

Alex, Alicia, and Anna

came to help get Alicia settled in

This is it....the first time Michael and I have ever been alone....just the two of us.  Not even when we first got married as Amanda was 2 years old when that happened.  I think we're ready, I think we'll be okay, and I hope to stay focused on all the good things, but I won't stop praying.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

These past few months have been busy times as the newest addition to our family arrived leaving us all so busy.

GIRLS R Us!!  Here we are to prove it.  Preparing for the baby shower is like shopping for Christmas but maybe I went a wee bit over board.

Nursery theme is in Elephants.

Just a few of the gifts I passed by while shopping for 

this baby shower.

I even knitted a baby blanket

All the shopping for gifts and opening gifts is fun and all, but in reality, all we are wanting is the baby to hold and love.  I remember how time dragged on during the last month of Amanda's pregnancy.  

Heck, I wasn't the one who was pregnant but the anticipation was time stopping in my opinion.  So, I started on a nursery in my house.  Something to consume more of my time, which is why I have struggled to post anything on my blog.

I love keeping a blog so I can reflect on the events that happened during the year, and this one was the highlight to our year.

Journal entry from 2011...remembering my time in Kelly Flats

.....Each year I've made it a goal to memorize the drive up the Mountain that leads to Kelly Flats Campground.  Including every rugged rock, every winding road and the beautiful Poudre River that escorts us up the mountain and the sound of it's raging purr that greets my ears alerting me "we've arrived."
This year however I managed to gain a terrible and very painful bladder infection as I chose to pass by every rest area as I eagerly longed to be in these mountains and as soon as possible.  Not a good choice as each bounce in the road causes agonizing pain within my bladder.  Thankfully I brought antibiotics with me in the event something should occur with one of my girls.  Who would have thought I'd be the one in need of these emergency held capsules?  A moment of distraction as we traveled up the mountain and stopped at every out house we could find along highway 14.
The first morning is always my favorite as I exit our little pop up camper and bask in Gods Glorious beauty held within the walls of the mountains.  "I'm HOME" is the one thought that rushes through my mind as I look up each tree, listen for any wildlife.  "This is where I belong"
Once a year visit is just not enough for me anymore, and while my mind thinks more of the luxuries you find in a condo, the work and effort it takes to pack up our camper, along with preparing a menu for 12, buying food for a week and it's expense, unpacking the camper, setting up camp, the work is soooo worth waking up to this gorgeous place.  All to have yet another moment in Poudre Canyon, nestled in Kelly Flats campground.


I love nature, and I am in awe and very much in love with these Mountains.  You can bet I will always be the first one up in the morning, sitting in a chair, breathing in the aroma of the pine trees and calling out praises to God for creating such a beautiful and peaceful place.

Day 2
This morning has been the most unusual morning with clouded overcast and the temperature is rather mild.  Normally, I start morning coffee and build a fire while I bask in all of Gods glorious beauty within these mountains.  It's quite dark still with just a wee bit of light casting silhouettes of pine trees all around.  Alicia has joined me this morning to embrace the beauty of the mountain sun that is about to top over the ridge of the eastern mountainside.  My hope is the clouds will part so she can witness God reflecting His light  as He shows off His wondrous creation.  I fell as though I am on the grandest of dates with God.  While man may want to show off his car, house or whatever may be his beloved treasure, God too is revealing a portion of his beloved treasure...these great and marvelous mountains.

To think that these mountains could sit here all by themselves and I'd still be in awe, yet as the raging Poudre river rushes down the mountain, it's voice bounces off the rocks that hold it in it's place.




"Oh Lord, how beautiful You are in my heart, in my mind, in all that I see around me...You alone have created all things, the grandest of all technology which no man can take credit for.  YOU, Oh Lord, have made everything so wonderful.  No camera can capture the beauty of all you've made.  When I'm here in these Mountains I hear your voice, I feel your presence...Not with specific audible words, but I feel your presence.  Here I am, Fill me Lord with your love, with your Holy Spirit....I am yours."


How interesting to stare at our campfire and it's bold yet contained fury.  While it provides warmth, it's flames climb high trying to get out, longing to reach and spread it's sharp arms.  It's popping sound snaps me out of my comfort as the wood screams out in pain while being devoured by the flames.  While the flames may devour all in it's path, it cannot devour the earth.  The earth is the foundation for all to live, to grow,, to flourish.  What a picture that is painted here for me..............


I never realized the power of those words would actually be a reality in Roosevelt Forest one year later.  This journal entry was originally written in my quiet time book Beth Moore wrote on "Breaking Free"....

Photo's of Kelly Flats and Memories behind our camping there

A wildfire is currently devouring Poudre Canyon along with Roosevelt National Forest.
This Canyon has held generations of memories for Michael's family and it began with his grandparents who started this family tradition.
Ironically and heartbreakingly, both Michael's grandparents have passed away. His grandfather, who passed away on my birthday last month, was a retired firefighter in Brush, Colorado.  While he taught us all about the joys of camping and shared many stories of the years they spent in Poudre Canyon, I can't but thank God he passed on before knowing of this fire that is about to consume their longtime family getaway place.

Each morning during our camping trips, I spend praising God for the wonders and beauties of the Mountains.  Last year, I took time to journal and intended to post that journal exert on my blog.  Of course, time and distractions prevented that from happening.  Before I post what I wrote, I want to remember some of the wonderful moments we've had in these Mountains.

Entrance to Kelly Flats Campground

The Poudre river surrounded by Gods greenery

Alexandra, Amanda, and Alicia at Kelly Flats

I took senior pictures of Alex in these Mountains

Our girls bring friends each year to these Mountains

I bask in the beauty each year of the Mountains

We bought all this camping gear specifically for 

our trips to these Mountains.

We all made new friends here in these Mountains

Michael baptized Alex at Kelly Flats within

these Mountains

The memories are endless.....

K is for Keely

Keely's first day at House of Hope, was also my first day "shadowing" the House Staff as a potential sub.  I remember Keely looking somber and scared as she began settling in as a resident.  She quickly became a favorite of mine because we were both new to House of Hope.  


Within weeks of her arrival, Keely expressed anger, frustration, and a desire to go home to her parents. (All which is normal for any new resident teenage girl)  She confided in me her thoughts and anxieties, and I encouraged her to talk to her counselor and to pinky promise me she would keep it together until she could.  By the end of that night, I would be face to face with Keely as I got a knife from her grip.  A knife that another resident was about to use to cut potato's.  I looked in Keely's eyes as I pleaded with her to please let me have the knife.  Keely let go but did not let go of the ideas she had to hurt herself.  


The Police were called, and Keely was taken to the nearest hospital for potential "psych" evaluation.  She was back at HOH the next day, and she did not look pleased to be back.


It wasn't long where Keely would move up in the phase she was in and get opportunities to see and talk to her parents.  A position each of the girls earn as they do work requirements by HOH, and show themselves trustworthy.  However, it didn't seem to encourage Keely overall as she would run away and call her parents to come get her.


Throughout Keely's stay, she has rebelliously bucked the system, but my heart still favored the potential I saw for the breakthrough I believed Keely could in fact have.


Unfortunately, Keely continued to fight an emotional battle for her own control....to the point she has run off yet again.  Only this time she has not called her parents, and has now been missing for 3 days.


I pray to God she is found safe and sound.  Keely is from Wisconsin and her parents are heartbroken and scared for her safety, as any parent would be.
I too worry for her safety, and can't even imagine what her parents could be going through during this time.  


Here are a few pictures I have taken of Keely during my time at HOH.  I love this girl, and I sure hope she feels the love that really is felt for her, and for her safety.

taken during one of my volunteer outings I had with a few of the HOH girls.

taken at the horse ranch the girls go to twice a month

J is for Jammies

No surprise, I love Christmas traditions and one of the annual traditions is the gift of "Jammies."  No joke, every year I meticulously pick out the girls jammies.  Yeah, I'm a bit neurotic that they match to some degree.

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2011

I'm not sure if the girls love their jammies, but they sure strike the most precious of poses each and every year.

I is for Inspiration

My favorite Christian singer was and is to this day Sandi Patti.  From the time I was 12 years old, I began listening to her music and she inspired me to sing as well.  I loved her praise and worship music to the Lord and her voice was such an inspiration to my personal walk with Christ.

A few years ago, I attended a women of Faith conference where I got to meet my musical inspiration, Sandi Patti.  I'm sure she has met many people and my introduction of her music and it's inspiration it had in my life was probably a dime a dozen, but it made my day to finally meet her.  When I was in my 20's, I sang many of her songs in our own church at that time.  My favorite of all was when I sang her song "More than Wonderful" as a duet with another singer from our church.  I was able to hit every high note Sandi herself does so flawlessly.  It was a moment and time in my life God used my voice to sing praises to Him, and I pray that it somehow inspired others.