Tolkien and Colorado (a great combination)

“For if joyful is the fountain that rises in the sun, its springs are in the wells of sorrow unfathomable at the foundations of the Earth.”- Tolkien, The Silmarillion

I have been reading The Silmarillion. For those who don't know, The Silmarillion is another of Tolkien's works that tells the story of the origins of Middle Earth, how the dwarves, elves, and men came to be. It also describes the rise of Sauron and the making of the rings of power. It most focuses on the loss of jewels called The Silmarils.

It has been awesome to read this book while driving through the mountains. Everything looked even more majestic while reading about Middle Earth. Everything looked "Tolkienesk". When we first saw mountains, I was half expecting Elves to come riding over a ridge. So, here is my suggestion: If you are ever going to visit the mountains, read some Tolkien along the way.

Anyway, here are some photos of our vacation through the Rockies. I am in Greeley now for preliminary orientation, then I will fly to China on Monday.

Garden of the Gods! It was beautiful here.

The Alluvial Fan Waterfall. Sometime in the last century, a damn broke sending billions of gallons of water down the Alluvial Fan, and that is how this waterfall came to be.

With the best Dad in the world. I'll miss him more than anything when I'm gone.

We saw this view on our drive up Old Fall River Road. It was breathtaking in person.

Love this family shot!

I can't quite remember where this was on the trail, but we were up pretty high.

Jennie and I at Bear Lake

Another view of Bear Lake. It was beautiful. Afterwards, Jennie and I hiked to another lake called Nymph lake. I didn't realize when we started that it would be uphill THE ENTIRE WAY at 10,000 ft elevation. Needless to say, I was a wee bit winded when we got there.

This was a river we passed on our drive up HWY 7. It was a magical little place. I would love to live in a cabin right here and wake up every morning to the sound of rushing waters.

Goodbye Texas

I left Texas today.

Let me state that again so you grasp the weight of that sentence.

I left Texas today.

I love Texas. It's been my home for 25 years. I'm proud to be from Texas. I thought I would leave you with the a list of the 10 reasons I will miss Texas the most.

1. These two people right here:

 

I know, I know. They're pictured in a Tropical Paradise in this photo. But, they reside in Texas. I'll miss them more than anything and everything I'm leaving. 

2. These people:

 

They have been a second family to me while I've been in Lbk. I know they will be lifting me up while I am gone. The Father is so gracious that I was able to be a part of this GC. (Some people aren't pictured, because they weren't there that night. I'm including them too in the missing!

3. These Girls here: 

 

 Wow- I can't even describe how much I'll miss these girls. They are my family too, my best friends from college, my best friends for life. They know me. When I say know, I mean really know me. They've seen me at my best and my worst. My soul feels at home when I spend time with them. I can be the biggest goofball in the world, or I can cry my eyes out with tears. 

4. Redeemer! The best local fellowship in Lbk. They were there for me during the hardest three years of my life. Meeting with these people every week stirred my soul to more love of the Father, and a closer walk with Him. I will miss this community so much. I know I've been blessed beyond measure to be a part of it.

5. The sky. Yes, the great, big, breathtakingly beautiful West Texas sky. This includes blue skies, cloudy skies, SUNSETS, sunrises, and even the days it turns brown. :)

6. Space. Wide open spaces. As I will soon move to a city of over 8.6 million people, I know that I will miss the wide open spaces of Texas. You can be alone whenever you wish. In Lbk, the streets are wide, and nothing is very crowded (except Texas Roadhouse). I'm going to a land of opposites.

7. Thunderstorms! Oh, how I love West Texas Thunderstorms. They roll in and strike with a vengeance. And, because it is so flat, you can see for miles as the storm comes. One of my favorite things to do in college was drive out down a dirt road and watch the storms roll in.

8. The Food. Need I elaborate? 

9. TTU games. I've been going to a TTU basketball game with my Dad once a year for as long as I can remember. I'll truly miss those games, and especially time with him. Also, once I met people from my GC, I started going to TTU football games, and those are a blast!

10. Once again, because they deserve another mention: My family.

 

Two Weeks!

That is how much time I have left in Texas. Just two weeks! 

I'm busy packing and finishing up homework for my TEFL certification. Many emotions are running through my heart at the moment. I'm excited about the move, excited about the people I will meet and the new experiences I will have. I'm nervous too, nervous about starting a new life in a new place. I'm most nervous about being away from my family and friends. As I've been saying goodbye to close friends, I've been realizing more and more how utterly blessed I am with the community that I have. I have the best friends in the world, and such a loving family. I know that missing them will be the hardest part of being overseas. 

Even with all the conflicting emotions, the emotion I am feeling most deeply is peace: soul-satisfying, restful peace. I feel so sure and settled about this decision. I know that I am supposed to go to China. I was expecting to be a bundle of nerves when I was this close to leaving, but I just feel so at peace. I know this could only be the work of the Father. He is so faithful, faithful in my decisions and readiness and faithful to be sovereign over my mind and heart. He can be trusted. Continue lifting me up. The days ahead will be exciting, though difficult with many goodbyes. If you would like to support my move, click here.

A Friend's Birthday

It all began the very first night of my freshman year of college. Everything was new and exciting, and just a wee bit scary. I was so unsure of what I was doing, afraid I wouldn't make friends. But, then I met a group of girls who would become my family at school and friends for life. Amy, Mary, Heather, Hannah, Jordan and I all sat in a circle in mine and Heather's room. We took turns telling each other about ourselves, our hearts and our dreams. Amy played the guitar. We formed a bond that still endures. Soon, we met some more great girls, like Laura, Lisa, Carrie, Stephanie, Jessica, Ashley, and Kristine. We called ourselves the 12, and we did everything together, from Motown dance parties, to trips to the Canyon, to numerous movie nights. These girls made my college experience more wonderful than I could have ever hoped for, and they have given me lifelong friendships that I don't deserve.

A little over a week ago, I took part in a birthday celebration for one of these amazing girls, one of my best friends, Amy. Amy is so great. She is more full of life than most people I know. She loves the Father, and has such a steady heart. Life would have a lot less color if I didn't know her. Amy's birthday has become one of the best times of the year. A couple years ago, we took a trip to San Antonio to see Michael Buble in concert for her birthday. Last year, we stayed at a fancy hotel in Lubbock and had a blast. This year was different, because it is no longer just us girls. Mary is now married, and Amy has a gentleman caller. This year it was goodbye to a girls night, and hello to the men. We ate at Amy's favorite restaurant, and then went to the Drive-In to see Brave. The movie wasn't great, but spending time with my friends was amazing. I'm going to miss them more than I can express when I'm in China. But, I know they'll be there for me; these friendships are lifelong. Also, I am SO THANKFUL FOR SKYPE!

Here are some pics of Amy's party:

I made funfetti cupcakes from scratch!

 

Love them so much!

 

Lovely girls

 

 

Me with some of my girls. :)