Where has time gone?

For those of you (and I can't imagine that there are any) who have been diligently checking for updates and ergo disappointed in the lack of updates, I apologize. Here is the grand update you all have been waiting for!

Wow - life is good. Did you hear?! LIFE IS GOOD. I have been in Colorado for somewhere over or around 9 months. And out of the four other states I've lived in, this one feels pretty darn right. I love wearing my birkenstocks with socks when there is snow on the ground and not get weird looks. I LOVE that there is barely any humidity. I love the mountains in my backyard. I am learning about the community and appreciate the people who I have relationships with. My job is a job that sometimes is really good and other times not my favorite. But it has taught and continues to teach me more about myself, God, life and how to love people well. So again I say, life is good.

Mike and I have been dating for going on 9 months in January. Just about a month or so after I moved to CO things just clicked. And what a guy he is. It has been so wonderful having someone to do life with. We have learned a lot together and are still learning how to love each other through the everyday stuff. I also love his dog Buddy who has provided me with lots of joy. Since I am living on camp property, I am unable to have a dog of my own, but God is even faithful in the little details of allowing me to "have" a dog through Mike.



 So many fun things have happened and are happening! A little over a week ago, my best friend, Clare got married! It was so awesome being able to stand next to her on that day and celebrate a beautiful love between Clare and Dez. Mike was my date, and turns out we can look pretty snazzy together!

Tomorrow I fly home to Chicago to be with the rest of my family as we are all together this year for Christmas. And this year our family will be growing as we all anxiously await the arrival of my brother, David and Kendra's first child. A new chapter of life for all of us, but especially them as they enter into parenthood. I can't imagine it all will be easy or fun for that matter, but I know that together the two of them will be amazing parents as they lean into each other and God to lead them.

Mike will fly out to Chicago the day after Christmas to hang with my family for a few days. We plan to get Chicago style pizza, see the city and continue to build relationships and just hang out. Unfortunately, Buddy won't be able to make the trip.

And we have lots to look forward to in the upcoming months! In January I finally get my car back from being fixed! I head to the dentist for a short course of Invisalign to correct my moving teeth (I'm very excited)! Mike, his siblings and I will head to Denver to watch the Aves take on the Black Hawks! Mike and I are going to a Gregory Allen Isokof with the Colorado Symphony Concert, part of Mike's Christmas presents! Perhaps something else in January that I can not disclose quite yet!

February I will fly to Texas for a week for work to obtain my Level 2 Ropes Certification. And then In March Mike and I will fly to Florida to spend a week on the beach. Mike will have the opportunity to meet my Dad's side of the family and we both will hopefully get a little sun!

So you see, life is good! Not without bumps in the road or frustrations. But even those are good in hindsight. I am thrilled with where God has lead me through life and will continue to trust in his faithfulness and perfect timing.

Last little bit. December 22 last year was a Tuesday. And it was a Tuesday that I will never forget. It was the Tuesday before the 23, as most 22nd days are. But that 23rd happened to fall on a Wednesday, and Wednesdays were the beginning of shift. Last year on the 23rd I got up and drove to work to live in the woods for 2 weeks with a bunch of troubled teens in North Carolina. And the 22nd was hard. I cried more that day than I ever remember crying. It is amazing to think about how different these days are one year apart. Today, I woke up with news of soon being an aunt. I packed my bag not with a sleeping bag and raincoat and extra toe warmers but with sweaters and climbing gear. I drove to Mike's house with snowflakes gently falling and was greeted with a wagging tail and a wood burning stove. Today, I have shed happy tears and drink a warm vanilla latte next to a Christmas tree. BUT I would not trade that day

a year ago or the 15 days that followed. Instead I remember and in some ways really miss that. I will never forget that Christmas morning, waking up in my sleeping bag on the ground and seeing the faces of those kids who didn't expect anything and received something. It was beautiful. And today is beautiful too.

I think it is so important to remember how different and how similar things are from a year ago. And I encourage you to look back and remember. Maybe life seems harder now than it did then. Look over the past year and seek to understand. But also do not overlook the current joys and gifts that are in your life today - because I promise that if you look, you will find them.

Life is good my friends. I wish you a Merry Christmas. Joyous times with family and friends. And a new year filled with blessings and lots of laughter.

Until next time, just look how cute Buddy is!