Art and Creation

Yesterday I was climbing a tree at Barnum Park, which is on the top of a hill near my house. I could see hundreds of miles of the Rockies on one side, on the other, most of the Denver metropolitan area followed by hundreds of miles of flat land. It was seriously beautiful. All I could think about was how majestic all of God's creation is.

I said, Thanks for creating so much beauty in this world, God. I just want to see all of it!
And He said- Well then go see it. That's what I made it for. You're an artist too, that's why you love seeing others' creation. I put in you this longing to experience the whole world, act on it.

I was completely at peace, and filled with joy. The greatest artist of all time is my friend, and he has a bunch of art that he made just for me and my brothers and sisters. He made all of this just for us!!

So. I'm beginnning the next step of my journey to see the world. I'm trying to avoid doing any of the planning myself, so I don't miss any of the things God has in mind, but the first gallery will be Texas. I'm not sure exactly what sort of beauty is beheld there :) Just kidding,
There is a lot-
Ron, Bev, Joshua, Lori, and Daniel of course, who I would love to see. We'll be headed to Houston, so I'm sure we could stop in Lubbock. Will ya'll be around in about 2-3 weeks?
There's also my friend Andy Baker, who lived with us here at the community for a few months, and lives in Houston now. Also, lot's of money to be made driving pedicabs for the rodeo. Then, it's on to Austin for South by Southwest music festival to see Explosions in the Sky!

We don't have anything planned after that, but we (JakeRyan, Andy and I) will be traveling by bicycle from then on. Possibly up the Pacific Coast to Canada...

Alissa and Stuff

Hey, guys!

I'm pretty sure most of you know all this already but stranger things have happened than people not knowing everything about my life. So here's what's going on with me lately.

I started back to school on January 21 at UCCS. I'm pursuing a Bachelor's in English Literature. Hopefully this will be good for things like editing and publishing and other fun stuff like that. I'm just going part-time, taking 6 credit hours this semester. I have no idea when I will be done with the degree but for now I'm just going to try to enjoy the ride. So far it has been expensive and administratively aggravating, but the classes are looking good.

One reason I don't know when I will finish my degree is that my future is slightly up in the air right now. I am nannying a three-year-old boy (not a big fan of the potty training process!) and also his sister on her days off of school. I love it! But it's highly likely that this job will be over in June so I'll need to find something else, hopefully part-time which will allow me to still take classes without overwhelming myself. I know that God knows the plans He has for me, and sometimes I really wish I knew those plans too, but I hear they're plans to prosper me and not to harm me, so what more can I really ask?

Overall, things are going great and I'm happy. Now, how are all of you doing? Why isn't anyone else updating?

Set hopes for "up"

Wow. Seven weeks! I will definitely be going off to basic training on March 3! I have 15 pounds to gain in half the time I thought I had. Wow. Very exciting, and pretty scary too.

In case you missed it...

I'm shipping out April 28, or something. Don't get your hopes up, but my recruiter called me Thursday afternoon and asked me to come in on Friday, where I waited 40 minutes or so for him to come back to the office and he told me there is a chance I might ship on March 3, instead. Wow. Sooner than that, and I'll leave with regrets.

Oh, and there were no medical jobs available, so after discussing (to death) all the available jobs I qualified for (given my poor depth perception), I signed for Open Electronics. That has a good chance of putting me in the space program, which in turn will likely bring me back here! So I'll see you all around, and hope to see you again very soon afterward!

New Job

Hey everyone! I completely forgot to post this on here, so it's old news to a lot of you, but I finally found a job (!), although it's only temporary. I'm filling in for a high-school Spanish teacher while she's on maternity leave and I'll be there until the end of February. Today was my first day with the students and it went pretty well, although my last couple classes didn't seem to think my jokes were funny, and let me tell you, standing in front of 20 high schoolers who think everything you say is stupid is even less fun than it sounds. Anyway, I'm teaching 5 classes worth of 1st- and 2nd-year Spanish and also have 2 periods of counseling and study hall. I'm not looking forward to having to start up the job search again in March, but I'm so thankful to have something steady for now. Thanks for all your prayers for the job situation!

Happy (Late) Birthday to Elizabeth

Shame on us for forgetting to post about Elizabeth's birthday yesterday. So, yesterday, January 6th, our sweet cousin Elizabeth turned 28. Is that right?

So, Elizabeth, I love you so very much. I miss you now that you're even farther away. You're always so much fun, peppy, happy, and caring. What great qualities! And soon, you're gonna be a momma! I'm so excited for you.

Well, I hope you had a very special birthday yesterday. Love you!

28APR2009

That's... about it...

To our cousin with the Christmastime birthday....

Happy, happy birthday, Lori! I am so thankful to have you as a cousin, and especially have enjoyed how we've bonded over being mothers. You keep me laughing and are also a huge encouragement to me. I hope you have a wonderful day, and a wonderful Christmas with your new little family.
Love,
Katie/DS/BB/Harlot

finally, real progress!

On Monday, I will be arriving at my recruiter's office by noon with 3 forms of ID, and will be leaving for Denver to take my physical the next day! If all goes well, I'll be able to say on Tuesday night when I'll be going to basic training and what I will be subsequently going to tech school for! So, indeed, "what a difference a recruiter makes!"

See you all on Christmas Eve?

not as close as i'd hoped, but still closer than i was

Neglected to mention last time that I have a new recruiter. My old one, who didn't really seem to care, and kind of made me feel like I was on the back burner, switched to the space program, so I got transferred to the other recruiter in the office, who is much more enthusiastic and efficient.

I went in today, and it turned out that the old recruiter had never told me I needed to show that I had made payment on a negative credit item. So I brought in the check stub (hooray for cashier's checks!) and he told me I was high priority. I got there a little bit early, and as he was pulling all my info up, he was shocked how long I've been working on this. So now, finally, I am approved for MEPS and pending financial approval.

I should have another progress report no later than Thursday!

Up Against the Ropes

Only did this because i like music... Ten bucks to whoever can name every artist in order!

1. Put Your music player on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Tag at least 5 friends.
6. Anyone tagged has to do the same, because pointless fun spreads like a virus.

If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say...?
Which to bury, Us or the Hatchet?

How would you describe yourself?
Issues

What do you like in a guy/girl?
Piazza, New York Catcher

How do you feel today?
Someone Said Goodbye

What is your life’s purpose?
Delusions of Grandeur

What is your motto?
Janet's Planet

What do your friends think of you?
Brokenhearted

What do you think of your parents?
Perfect Disguise

What do you think about very often?
Light Grenades

What is 2 + 2?
One-Eighty By Summer

What do you think of your best friend?
She-Wolf

What do you think of the person you like?
The Death And The Berth

What is your life story?
There's No Penguins In Alaska

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Pillow Fighting

What do you think of when you see the person you like?
Red Wedding

What will you dance to at your wedding?
Collapse

What will they play at your funeral?
This Ruined Puzzle

What is your hobby/interest?
London Calling

What is your biggest fear?
Standing on the Edge of Summer

What is your biggest secret?
All That Is Good

What do you think of your friends?
The Circus That Has Brought Us Back To These Nights (Yo Chocola)

What will you post this as?
Up Against The Ropes

somebody pinch me!

I just got approved to go to MEPS! I go see the recruiter on Tuesday morning to get a date set!

I turned in my application six months ago, so finally getting close feels like a dream or something.

My arm's doing very well; the scar looks absolutely fantastic, especially compared the initial appearance of the wound. mobility's almost completely back. and that's about it, i think.

WOW IT HAS BEEN FOREVER!!!

I cant belive i havent been on here for so long. I know I have just tons of extra time to just sit around and blog at the computer. Any way we have a had very busy year just keeping up with the kids and all they do. I have to say that since having the 4th child I have an up most respect for all mothers Aunt Ellie told me once while I was pregnant with cade "now you are going to know whats it is to be a parent." I remember thinking what is she talking about I already have two children, I know what it is to be a parent. Well aunt Ellie I hear you loud and clear now. I must say that this is the best job with the biggest rewards and challenges. I really can not see myself doing anything else. Congrats to katie and fam, how exciting!!!!! I have so many memories of my children every time they would get a new sibling, they are priceless. When Trey was born Abbie was so happy and she called him her baby and when it was time for her to go home she cried and cried "I dont want to leave my baby here, he is going home with me!!!" These years right now are the best, most blessed years we will ever know!!! One time I was very upset at a bad day I had with my children, I cant remember what happened now, but Grandma Bon happened to call me and I was relaying my motherly problems to her and she said " cherish these days wen, they will be gone in a blink of an eye" What profound words. So Katie, Josh,Lori, and Andrew take Grandmas advice and love every min. of your life when you have children, I can already tell you it goes by way to fast.
The other day I was thinking about old times and looing back through pictures and came across a pic of me holding Katie my first cousin, I was so totaly in love with her. I wanted to do everything a mom would due with a baby, I must have drove Aunt Ellie nuts!!!! My fav doll was quickly changed from Amanda to Kaite and mom found me sveral times sitting in my room with my shirt pulled up nursing my baby Katie, just like aunt ellie....My next memory flew forward and Katie was 16 we were in Limon in my cool blue sports car,Katie in the drivers seat trying to master a clutch. That was a fun day and if I remember right Betsy (we still called her that) was in the back seat along for the ride. I was thinking there was one more cousin there but for the life of me I can not remember who. One time at thanksgiving Ellie and Warren went to florida and I got to stay with the bon kids for three days, meg was just a toddler. I made my mind upright there and then that I was going to have a large family just like PaPa warren and Miss Ellie (that is what I called Ellie before they were married)
Another time that comes to mind is a memory of My total **HOT** Aunt Patty. We were still living in co. spgs. Our home was broke into and most of my clothes , make-up, Tapes(I am aging my self, yes it was before CDS) and just about everything that is important to a teen girl were stolen or distroyed. My mother and I were distraught. There was no way we had the money to replace all that was taken. Well Aunt patty was like a knight in shinning armor. She took me shopping ,taught me the importance of finding and using coupons, and replaced alot of the things that had been taken.
A much more recent memory that will always be with me is the time I got to spend with Grandpa Amos in his last days. Baca Daddy (my name for grandpa) was a very important man in my life. As many know I didnt really have much of a father in my young child years, and Grandpa played a very important role for me. Sitting with him and holding his hand was one memory I will hold close. I felt so blessed to have spent this time. Mom, Patty, Carol,Matt,Chistian,Nelson and Warren came and we all sang some of baca daddys fav songs.......What a wonderful family we have!!!!!
Another memory, hope I am not boring everyone, Is of Aunt Carol. Andrew was just a newborn. If everyone remembers Aunt Carol was a very private nursing Mom. She would always go to a back bedroom to nurse. I would always ask Grandma "where is aunt carol?" I was always aware of her location because she had a new baby and I could not get enough of babies. Grandma would tell me Aunt Carol just needs to be alone right now. Well I couldnt stand it I had to know where she was, so I snooped until I found her in Grandmas room feeding Andrew. What was so special was she didnt make me leave she patted the bed and I sat there with her during one of her most private times. We talked , joked, and giggled. Andrew was done eating and fast asleep, we just hung out untill I was missed and my Mom came looking for me.
These are just a few of my many memories. I was thinking that in the spirit of the up and coming holidays maybe all of us could blog about some of our memories with each other. Wont that be fun!!!
Well I think I have made made up for lost blogging time. Hope everyone has a blessed holiday season. Love and miss everyone of you!!!!! Wendy

New Life in CSU

Hey Everyone!

As most of you know, I am now attending Colorado State University, majoring in Philosophy, and participating in Aif Force ROTC. I am having fun in all of these areas. I live in Allison Hall which is right next to everything and has the great dining hall called Spoons that serves phenomenal soup. I live in an all-male hall and get along with all my hall mates. I have one roommate, Brendan McGeever. I love the city of Fort Collins and all the local restraunts, coffee shops, and venues in Old Town. My favorite thing to do here is probably cycling. I ride my bike almost everywhere unless I am in uniform even though I am allowed. I would love it if any of you came to visit, so please do..and if you are old enough to look like my parents, then you can eat for free at the fabulous dining halls! Hope to see you all at Thanksgiving!

Love you,
Evan

The job hunt

So I was planning on waiting to do another post until I found a job, but with Katie's encouragement to post, how could I say no to posting something now? (By the way, Katie, thanks for being our blog mom who keeps us in line and reminds us to fulfill our blog duties).

I'm finding out that job-hunting as a recent college grad with little experience in the middle of an economic recession is not that much fun. I'm sure I've sent in at least 40 résumés and done around 15 interviews, all to no avail. Even Target turned me down for a checker position. I did get a job as the official Spanish substitute at CSCS' high school, but teachers these days are way too healthy and dedicated, so I only get to teach an average of once per month. If the pay were $2000 a day I'd be all set, but for some reason I can't figure out, they pay significantly less than that. So needless to say, the job hunt continues.

I hope you guys are all doing great and that life is swell. Love you all!