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I am a rock collector.  The rocks I collect aren’t shiny and they don’t sparkle.  Although to me they hold great beauty.  They aren’t worth a lot of money.  However I won’t part with them easily.  No the rocks I collect are just rocks to anyone else but to me they are wonderful, because of what they represent.  Every rock I collect has a story, a moment that I shared with my God.  Many of my moments with Him occur on a hike or on top of a mountain.  I can’t seem to step into the beauty of nature without finding Him.  Our conversation begins.  I speak, He listens, then He speaks and  I listen.  Sometimes we argue and almost every time I cry.  But then something always happens.  Life becomes very clear, not simple or easy, but clear.  I don’t necessarily have the answers or know exactly what I am to do next, but in that moment where I am enveloped in my Father’s love, I can see life clearly.  Maybe it’s because I start looking outsi ...

I doubt Tim Tebow will ever actually read this but I thought I would write it anyway.  Dear Mr Tebow,    First let me say  thank you to you and the Broncos for beating the Raiders on Sunday.  There was much rejoicing in our home because of it.  I am not a crazed Broncos fan, in fact I really dont like football.  Sorry, I really have tried.   So I am not writing to you because of your celebrity status or because I love football.   I am writing to you as a mother of two Middle School boys.   I am writing to you to say thank you.  In a world where famous athletes are disgustingly prideful, self centered, and too often in trouble with the law, you my friend are a breath of fresh air.  I have had many discussions with my boys about you and the crazy "Tebowing Trend".   My 7th grader is quite upset that people are making fun of you for that and yet he is seeing someone else live out what he struggles to do everyday. Be the same person in publi ...

My Mom used to babysit this darling little girl named Shauna.  Shauna was one of the sweetest little girls I have ever met.  She was a beautiful.  She had lots of friends and was very smart.  There was one thing though Shauna was terrible at; riding a bike.  That sweet little thing fell so many times you just wanted to say “honey let’s take up roller skating or maybe chess”.  My mom however believes every child should learn to ride a bike so there they were…day after day, band aids in hand, practicing on the black top of the local elementary school.  It went something like this.  My mom runs beside Shauna’s bike.  Shauna gets it.  Mom let’s go.  Shauna turns.  Shauna runs into the giant pole.  Repeat that about 15 times and you pretty much have it.  Now, one thing I love about my mom is her persistence.  Most people would have walked away convinced this child should never get on a bike again, but not my mom.  She star ...

Last Christmas a relative sent one of my kids a gift in a large box that was filled with packing peanuts.  You know those little styrophoam things.  Anyway I was carrying the box, along with some other things, out to the trash when this giant gust of wind came and knocked the box out of my hands.  The box busted open and the packing peanuts started flying everywhere.  I ran over and tried to scoop them back in the box but the little boogers were so light they were impossible to catch.  As soon as I caught a few another fifty went blowing down the street.  I felt horrible.  Our block was littered with trash but they were scattered so far at this point that it was hopeless trying to contain them.   This is how rumors are.  It may start as innocent as you talking to a friend about someone who has hurt you or made you angry...you say a few things you don't mean, and voila..instant disaster.  Suddenly the rumor spreads and spreads. You feel bad and try to stop i ...

Life brings pain.  I’m not talking about Physical Pain although there is plenty of that.  Trust me I’ve given birth four times.  :)  I’m also not talking about when our feelings get hurt a little.  There are some things we just need to let roll off our back.  No I’m talking about that deep, gut wrenching pain that leaves you feeling exhausted and numb.  It may come from the death of a loved one, the betrayal of a friend or rejection from people you care about.    But regardless of where it comes from, it all hurts and it leaves us wondering what do I do now? I have experienced this deep pain on a few different occasions.   Each time I learn more about myself, God, and others.  I have learned there are two roads.  One road may seem easier and it’s usually the one we feel like taking.  We usually say something like, “I can’t do it anymore”.  “I quit”.  “Everyone’s a jerk”.  “I don’t need anyone”.  Or “I’ll be fine” ...

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE A couple months ago I spent a week with our High School students at CIY.  Great week!  If you ever get a chance to go to CIY, I highly suggest you do it!  Anyway I sat down with several students to talk about life and ending up talking about how they were having a hard time forgiving someone in their life.  “They’ve just hurt me too bad” “I can’t let go of the hate I feel towards them” Jo I know I’m supposed to forgive them but I just can’t” were some of the things I heard in these conversations.  My heart hurt for them.  Because I know how it feels to have such hurt, such anger in my heart towards another human being.  It feels like everything is off, like no matter how hard you try you just can’t seem to make life click.  Sweet teenagers there ...

You ever have one those days you just feel down.  No energy.  No smile to pass on.  If you were a color you’d be neutral grey.  Well I was having one of those days, one of those weeks actually.  I felt down, kinda sad. I just couldn't seem to find my laugh.  That’s when I realized I needed to escape.  I have several favorite places I escape to…the Resevoir, Garden of the Gods, Castlwood Canyon.  We all have different things that heal us, fill us up, and connect us to God.  Mine is nature. For some reason I hear God more clearly sitting on the side of a cliff or dangling my toes in a cold lake.  So today I headed off to the resevoir.  I love sitting on the quiet swim beach, listening to the sea gulls and geese.  I love watching the schools of fish swim around, unless they come to close to me, then I kinda freak out.  ?  As I was sitting on the beach today just listening to the quiet, I could feel myself healing.  I started to feel bette ...

One Sunday, I made lunch for my family.  Sunday lunches have always been traditions in our families.  My mom made Sunday lunch, my Mother-in-Law made Sunday lunch, both great cooks by the way.  So now it’s my turn.  The Sunday lunch torch has been passed on to me and I must not disappoint. Ya I know my nerdiness is really shining through right now.  Anyway..I rolled up my sleeves and began preparing my masterpiece….Glazed ham, mashed potatoes, homemade rolls, Caesar salad, fresh corn on the cob, and double fudge brownies for dessert.  Oh ya, I was going for the Sunday Lunch gold medal.  We gathered around the table and thanked God for the food set before us.  It was very Norman Rockwell.  I had succeeded on pulling off the perfect Sunday lunch!  Yaaa!  We started eating, that’s when I noticed a strange look on everyone’s face as they tried the mash potatoes.  “Does it taste OK?” I asked.  “Mmmmm yea, great” they replied….liars.   ...