To Levi: better late than never

OK, I know today is Halloween, and I do intend to post later with all the fabulous pictures of my little (and not so little) pumpkins dressed for the occasion, but before that, I need to take care of something I neglected about 11 months ago. I was just going through some papers that I haven't gotten to in about, oh, ...11 months or so. When, lo and behold, I came upon this....

Now, you would think that I would be on top of things and would have sent this off to the proper recipient in a timely manner. But, apparently, 11 months ago I was, once again, overtaken by the busyness of life. So, Levi, Aunt Laura is so very sorry that this is so very late, but here is the card you were supposed to have received for Thanksgiving last year...

I have been meaning to put up some pictures the past couple of weeks, and have gotten behind. Here are a sampling of our fall days...

Another trip to the mountains...
We decided on the spur of the moment to head up to Rocky Mountain National Park to enjoy the last of the fall colors. We had a perfect day!

You can't get a blue sky like this anywhere but Colorado!

Hot chocolate on top of Trail Ridge Road (highest continuous roadway in the U.S. (12,183 ft)

Elk along Trail Ridge Road
Musa taking a break in Willow's dog dish

He's coming along...

Hard at work

Carvin' Pumpkins (Maddie doesn't seem to excited about the de-gunking part)

ahhh...fall, good friend, coffee

I got a "just because" starbucks gift card in the mail today! My wonderful friend Jodi sent me a handmade Fall card in the mail, with this lovely gift, meant only for pumpkin spice lattes! Ahhh, it's so good to have friends that know you so well! Jodi and I have been friends since 9th grade (that would be 24 years, but who's counting??) and have laughed and cried together more times than either of us could count. She is a constant source of encouragement, challenge, laughter, tears, "Jodi-isms", and love. She lives nearly 1000 miles away, but is as close as a phone call all the time. I miss you, Jode, and I'll drink my pumpkin spice with thoughts of you! Thanks for being such a great friend!

What the...?

Have you ever wondered what I'd look like if I was born in a different decade? I'm sure you have all thought about that a time or two. Well, wonder no longer! Because I have nothing better to do with my time, here are some hilarious pictures I created from a website called "Yearbook Yourself."

Me in 1960

1964

1966
(looks a bit like Aunt Cathy, don't you think, Mom? I know she had the same hairdo)

1974

1978
(Different decade, different nationality)

1994
(I think this is an actual picture of me!)

1996

Go ahead, try it! You know you're dying to! Actually, I'm thinking about doing some of you, myself! tee hee!

adventures with a middle child

Black widow spider, found by none other than our in-house nature buff, C. I didn't believe that it could really be a black widow, but he looked it up on Google (his favorite pastime, researching on the internet) and sure enough, we had a black widow at the bottom of our basement stairs. C kept it as a pet for a day, even feeding another spider to it, but then I insisted he destroy the creature.

C has had a nasty cough for over two weeks now. He often gets coughs that hold on for a while, but this one didn't seem to be letting go. On our way home from church last night, C said that one of my friends, who happens to be a nurse, heard him coughing and said she thought he might need antibiotics. So, I gave in and took him to the doctor this morning. A breathing treatment and chest X-ray later, I was informed that C has pneumonia! What? Pneumonia? Yep! He is now on two different inhalers and antibiotics. Does this mean the Mother of the Year award illudes me for yet ANOTHER year?

bounty

We are expecting a freeze in the next few days, so today became harvest day. Here's a sampling of some of the bounty from our garden. We still have more carrots and some green onions left to pick, but they should survive the cold. I froze the green beans tonight. There's just something about freezing vegetables from my own garden that makes me feel connected to generations of women before me...

fabulous fall foliage

I wanted to figure out a way for you to be able to watch this on a full screen, but that hasn't happened, yet. So, until I can figure it out, here's a very small screen version of our trip to see the aspen colors on Saturday. We are so thankful to live so close to the mountains...One hour drive to this kind of beauty! Can't beat that (well, unless you actually live in the mountains, but you know what I mean...)

getting upright

I was awoken early this morning to the howling of our dog. Grrrrr. As I turned over to go back to sleep, I felt the nudge from God to get up and spend some time with Him. I have been praying recently to experience God more personally, to see His face. But, certainly God knew better than anyone how much I need my sleep! So, of course, He'd understand. Then a quote came to my mind that I have hanging in my office at church... "Your direction, not your intention, determines your destination (Andy Stanley)." I guess just intending to see God's face while ignoring His invitations wouldn't cut it. So, I decided to lay in bed and meditate on some scripture I had been praying through yesterday while walking the dog (that darned dog!). As I began to recite Psalm 11:7 in my mind, I got to the end, almost laughed aloud, and headed downstairs to spend time with God. What a sense of humor He has!

"For the Lord is righteous, He loves justice; UPRIGHT men will see His face."

Psalm 11:7

what a season

N just finished his 7th grade football season yesterday against Fort Carson (it was interesting trying to get on the army base to watch the game. We had to get out of the car, open all the doors and hood, while the MPs used a mirror to search under the car. I guess our Suburban full of kids looked suspicious...). The team was down 8-6 going into the half, but came back fired up! The game ended 34-24 (the last two times they scored was against our B team defense). It was a great way to end the season! The Titans ended the season 6-1, and the only game they lost, N was out sick. So, really, he is 6-0! :)

N got a ride home with one of his coaches after getting off the bus last night. He was so pumped when he got home. Apparently, he found out his coach used to be a pastor at the biggest church in the city and has spoken to thousands of people. N shared with him that he feels God has called him to be a pastor, and this man was incredibly supportive. He encouraged N to start a bible study during lunch at school. N was planning to go to school today and talk to some guys and find a room where they can meet! We're seeing God do some incredible things in our young man's heart!

forty two years

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! I love you both so much and continue to be so thankful for the love and commitment you share. You are a wonderful example of what love really is, through good times and hard times. Today, we celebrate that love and the 42 years you've spent together.