The Greatest Treasure

I didn't realize how much I missed Tom & Jen and their great cooking until last night. I had never experienced gourmet cooking within someone's home until I was introduced to Tracy's boss and wife 7 years ago. They live in this amazing kitchen (I mean home, with a GINORMOUS kitchen!) What comes out of that kitchen is music in my mouth no matter what it is and I am honored to sit at their table each time we are invited over. The food and conversation has been missed.
There is history between Tracy and Tom. Tracy became an "orphan" in their home as he moved to Denver and took an internship with Tom after college. There was a long hiatus from their cooking and their friendship as both families started having more children and Tracy moved to another job for a few years. We have been so fortunate to be reunited as Tracy is back working with Tom and our younger children are the same ages.
Tom's turning 40 tomorrow and so we went to his birthday party this weekend. There were new and old faces - laughing, talking, eating and recalling memories of Tom's yesterdays. Tracy works with a group of goof-balls who have so much fun together. Each of the men were there. Mark arrived late (the newsome to their office foursome), way overdressed, ready to go to a black tie event. Who was he going with? Someone he met at the dog park! He never ceases to amaze me. So very handsome, debonair, always meeting new people and sharing amazing stories. He makes you feel like an old friend from the moment you meet him. He's had lunches with millionaires and has had experiences like no other person I have ever known. His connections are impressive to say the least. He seems to have it all.
As he stood to go, we went to Tom's side, hugged him, wished him a great birthday, looked around the dinner table and said - It is an honor to know you all.
I couldn't stop thinking about it the rest of the night. I looked around at each face; there were some great people sitting next to me and across from me. There is something amazing and sweet that happens when children of God come together who are open to sharing their faith, their lives and their love - Lives are touched in an eternal way. Mark is curious but has not accepted Jesus' love and forgiveness. He sees it everyday though and he is being pursued by the Holy Spirit. I don't know him all that well, but I think he would have rather stayed with us around that table than leave for his formal affair.
I am becoming more and more convinced that now is the time for deeper friendships. There are too many people searching for the answers I hold inside my heart. They need to see that Jesus doesn't live in the neighborhood church but inside his people. Be that friend, find that friend who needs you, share with that friend the greatest treasure. Chances are if you are living your life for Christ, they are already honored to call you friend.

2 Cornithians 4:7 - But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

These are a few of my favorite things

A friend blogged about her "favorite thing" in her home and so started my quest. Did I have a favorite thing? Was there something that I looked at daily that reminded me of my past, the blessings of my present or the hope of my family's future? Would it be a particular picture, a gift given long ago, or a trinket decorating an end table? I looked up from my computer and there they were. My teacups...In high school, I started collecting them. I love sitting and having tea (or hot cocoa) with the girls on a cold morning. They pick a different cup each time. I can point to each cup and tell the girls who it's from (as they ask almost every time we use them). Each cup has been a gift, I have never purchased one for myself. I have gotten cups from my mom, friends, Tracy's mom and grandma. Each woman has made an impact on my life in a great way. I look forward to the day when I can give the cups to my girls as gifts so they can pass on the gift of spending time together - talking, crying, praying together over a great cup of tea.

Let's Go Fly Kites

As soon as it came out of my mouth, I wished I hadn't said it...
"When Ellie gets home let's go fly kites!"
Today, I am tired from staying up 'til midnight working and have a lot of work to do today, but Kiki didn't get to go see a horse at preschool today (which almost devastated her little 4-year old heart!) and I was trying to make it up to her.

By the time Ellie was home from school, the newness wore off for Kiki so she didn't want to go and Ellie did. Now they're both crying (sooo many hormones!) Just great...Now, I have to put effort into convincing Kiki that kites will be fun and I don't even want to go.

We finally make it up the hill to the park with minimal complaining and the kites go up. The turn of all our hearts is amazing. We are laughing, cheering, running, yelling and having a blast being kids. I snapped this pic on my camera phone. It's not the best pic but it will forever remind me of that October day that I took time with the girls to enjoy the moment.

Jumping on the Band Wagon...

I remember the summer before we got married (6 1/2 years ago now) when everyone and their brother decided to be Colorado Avalanche fans. You'd better not wear red or mention anything about Michigan - you could have easily been lynched for using swear words like (shh Detroit Red Wings). It was exciting times as our Avs took us all the way to the Stanley cup finals and took the cup!!! My excitement for the team was one steeped in memories of a first date with Tracy (P.F. Changs & hockey - ahh those were the days), meeting Tracy's co-worker & wife (now GREAT friends) Russ and Nicole, meeting Jen & Micah downtown for dinner and hockey (and waiting for WM - white man- before crossing the street!). When we went to the games, we stood up to watch the action, skipped bathroom breaks, looked for ourselves on the jumbotron, cheered for hat tricks & fights, booed at penalties and really loved our team! By the time we knew they would make it to the Stanley cup, everyone seemed to be a fan. People who didn't even like hockey were talking about it - at work, the grocery store, church. You could stop anyone on the street and say "Go Avs" and you'd get a whoop. As we watched the final game on T.V. from Dave's loft, which happened to be in the parking lot of the Pepsi Center, we were as good as there. As the final game wrapped up and we were declared the victors, thousands of fans poured out of the stadium cheering, hugging strangers, holding already printed newspapers declaring victory - it felt like the biggest craze I had ever been a part of! We were all a part of that team. We had somehow helped the Avs win the highest honor in NHL.

Since 2001, all our teams in Denver have been struggling. Fans stop buying season tickets, the sports writers commentate bleak outcomes and enthusiasm for the sports are reserved for the die-hards. It's not as much fun to root for teams that are just so-so.

Well, hold on to your bats & ball gloves! Our Rockies are going to the World Series! Admittedly, I feel guilty that I am now one of "those fans" who is jumping on the band wagon as they are winning and playing an awesome game with as much action as baseball can have. I have been watching every game for the past 3 weeks and am so excited to be able to watch baseball in October (which hasn't happened for me in a VERY long time!)

I try to put a spiritual spin on pretty much everything that happens in my life but admittedly, this was a tough one. I mean really, we are talking about baseball here. But I couldn't help but feel that twinge of guilt - if only I could call myself a true fan... If only I had been to even 1 of their games this season. I could actually feel proud that they are my Rockies - that I am a part of what is happening down at Coors Field. But instead, I am trying to reap all the benefits of victory without any of the misery of sitting through lost games and boring 9-inning snoozers. The Rockies weren't looking so hot even 3 months ago in the midst of their season. The stands weren't full and people were losing hope of even making the play-offs.

Dear Christians, don't lose hope. We have already claimed the victory! Even though we know the outcome, we aren't exactly sure how it will all play out. Wouldn't we love to take the benefits of heaven with all that God has to offer us in eternity without the losses? It'd be great to jump on the band wagon right before Christ's return and go straight onto glory without all the spiritual struggles that plague us as believers today. It would be great to skip over the tough parts of life and move straight onto victory, but there never seems to be an easy way to winning it all. If there weren't losses, the winning would not be as sweet. Along the way of life, there will be critics and cynics, those who don't believe that victory is imminent. Don't listen to Satan and his lies, keep focused on your goals God has planted in your heart and be an active part of this life God has called you to. There is so much more joy in being a part of something huge when you are invested and know all the pain and struggles it took to get here. Be thrilled, for the journey is part of the victory!

Play ball! Go Rockies!
(If I'm too corny today - I apologize)