Some people gamble,

Some people do drugs,

Some people lie on their taxes,

Some people eat too much...

~I buy new bedding~

Ever since I was little, I loved getting a new comforter for my bed. My mom will probably shout "amen" when she reads this since she paid for countless when I was growing up. I don't know what it is about a new comforter that makes me ready to take on the world. Maybe it is the new smell or that the room gets an instant face-lift...who knows?! The only things I love more are, well, Jesus and David, of course! ;)

We bought a new bedding when we got married {2.5 years ago people!} so I have been scouring the stores trying to find a new duvet that both David and I like. He is not so into the flowery patterns and solids are not my first choice.

Well, we had a deal that when we moved to Parker I could buy a new duvet... and this is where the story takes an un-expected turn. When we got here I couldn't find any duvets that were {worthy of my adoration} better than what I already had. So, I made peace with my addiction, received prayer and decided to stay with what I had ...until this weekend when I sauntered into Pottery Barn {1st mistake}. I wanted to look for some decorating ideas {lie: I really wanted to check out the bedding}. David obliged and we went in... and came out 36 minutes later with a new duvet {which was actually on sale, which is important to note because if you have ever been into Potter Barn then you know that everything is fifty times as much as a person anyone should pay for it!}. While I was there, I was also introduced to the fabulous Euro-style pillow {by the sales lady that is most certainly paid on commission}. Confession: I bought two of those as well.

So here is my new bedding in all it's glory...

What's your favorite thing to splurge on?

New Birth

Today my heart is full for two reasons:

1.) My friend Amber had her baby this week and... "it's a boy!" All of my friends having babies lately have been having girls so it is nice change it up a little bit.

Isn't Caleb Matthew handsome? :)

2.) One of the guys that is on David's Golf Committe for his tournament this June gave his life to Christ last week!!!! David was so excited that when he called me he must have been talking a mile a minute {I adore my husband}.

It is the first time that we have seen the fruit of our labor here in Parker and let me tell you, it makes everything worth it..everything! I know the Lord is doing many things here that I have yet to even see.

Lord you are SO good.

You know you live in Colorado when,

the sun is shinning, the sprinklers are on and there is still snow on the ground

Working, working, and a trip to Vail

But don't be fooled, going to Vail was for work as well.

So really the post should be titled:

"working working and even more working in Vail"

Mother Nature decided to DUMP a TON of snow on Colorado last week as I was en route to Vail, CO for an organ donation case. Subsequently, many of the roads were closed and my colleagues and I got all-expense paid trip to the Vail Valley Hospital

For all you Bachelor fans out there...
yes, that is where Ryan and Trista Sutter are from (the only "Bachelor couple to ever make it)
yes, I asked the nurses there if they knew them
yes, they rolled their eyes
yes, they gave me the low down on each of them :)

So here I was in Vail trapped at the hospital, trying to find a way for the surgeon (in Denver) to get all the way up I-70 (which was closed) to recover organs. The State Patrol was too busy with all the accidents and snow problems to help but they did recommend this a guy that does critical care transport for them in these situations. We called up the Good Samaritan and he volunteered to drive our surgeon from Denver to Vail (typically a 90 min drive) and back in the middle of the night in his Hummer, the Beast.

And yes, that is the name he gave his car...which truly is a beast because 3 1/2 hours later they arrived at the hospital safe and sound. The roads had to be bad though because even the Beast went off the road, into a ditch full of snow, on the way up the mountain. But the difference between the Beast and the other cars on the road was that "the Beast is able to get herself out of the ditches."

Thankfully, we were able to recover the liver and kidneys to save three people's lives. The surgeon and the Good Samaritan made it back to Denver safely and I got to stay in a SWEET hotel room in Vail. There was a fireplace in my room, a full view of the slopes and deliciously- overpriced room service. Too bad, I was only in the room from 2 am to 9 am but nevertheless I enjoyed the bed.

Sometimes I get tired of working but honestly, I do have a great job.
On most occasions, I know that no matter how long and hard I work that people's lives are saved.

And sometimes, I get paid to go on fun little adventures.

Twitter (Blog-style)

Right now I am...

• Sitting here on the computer catching up on all your blogs--what fun people you are!
• Warm because Turbo is snoozing on my lap
• Scouring the Internet looking for a simply devine homemade chocolate cake recipe to take to our friends house for dinner
• Anxiously watching my blackberry and sending it subliminal messages: "don't you buzz or ring or do anything for the next two days...do you understand me??? It is Easter and you better make sure I don't get called out!"
• Trying to figure out why Tiger Woods isn't kicking butt in the Master's because he truly is the best golfer EVER!
• Hoping that someone will buy our old desk and bookcase so I can finish decorating the office already.
• Thinking about how much my bathroom needs to be cleaned.
• Wishing I could go to Express and buy a new outfit that would only cost me $25, ha!

But most of all..I am thankful that Christ died for me and that He purchased my freedom (at such a high price) so that I could hear His voice and spend eternity safe in His love.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Sold

On March 24th it was official, the sale of our house that is. It was rather, what shall I say, anti-climactic. I was never quite convinced that it was going to happen and didn't even believe it until the money was in our checking account. I kept thinking something would go wrong.

We put our house up FOR SALE in September (as most of you know) and had been begging the Lord for months and months to sell it in the "terrible" market. David and I were both commuting to Denver (since January) and it was putting somewhat of a strain on our marriage. I needed to be in Denver to do my job and he needed to be in Denver to be able to minister effectively. We essentially felt trapped and unable to go forward in the new calling He had placed on our lives.

Truthfully there were times when I felt like the Lord was mocking us because it all didn't make sense. Especially when our next door neighbor put her house up for sale, when there were houses identical to ours in worse condition that sold for more money, when foreclosures went on the market for SO CHEAP! Then there were all the weekends we spent looking for houses up in Denver to buy so that when ours sold we would have somewhere to move and each house that we were even remotely interested in sold (yes, in this market).

We kept pleading with God to show us what to do and then a miracle happened that allowed us to rent up here in Denver while our house was still on the market within our budget. So we found a great condo in Parker and moved on Valentine's Day.

Then, the next week a lady put an offer on our town home! Not even kidding...the next week!

Of course at that point, I was moved, already unpacked and had accepted that we were going to be renting. I had made peace with the fact that the Lord would take care of us (He already had). I had let go and trusted without stress, without fear, without worry and that is when it happened.

Now I don't think that is the "formula" for getting God to do what I wanted but I must say that I did learn a lot through the 6 months. The biggest lesson I learned was that what I treasured most wasn't that God sold the house but that He stayed by me through the trial and He taught me valuable truths about Himself and my relationship with him. Now, I have a greater understanding of how He communicates with me and my relationship with Him is better for that experience as hard as it was for me at times.

That is the short story about the "house" and what happened. I thought I would need a house to make a home...I thought "that" was the next step for us. But truthfully, I am content in our condo--I like the location, I like the layout, I like the people we rent from and most importantly, David and I can do what the Lord has called us to do.

Thank you to everyone who stood with us during this time and offered up prayers and encouragement on our behalf. You were all such a blessing!

I am waiting for the walls in our condo to be painted to post pictures of our new place...more to come soon.

Another Little One

She was just so perfect that I could stop holding her...

Welcome to the world,

~Sarah Elizabeth~

Excuse me while I pick myself off the floor...

Today I came face-to-face with the realization that I am apparently not as "in shape" as I thought I was.

I love all the different classes that 24 hour fitness offers and have been trying to go whenever I am NOT on a case. It is nice to do a something different from running and have a motivating instructor tell you what to do and how long to do it.

Spinning classes are one of my favorites but the only caveat is that you have to show up to the gym an hour early just to sign up. Sometimes, I only have the hour free to work out, not two hours to sit and wait to work out. If you haven't tried a Spinning class yet, you should. Nothing can make you sweat faster!

Turbo-kickboxing was a lot of fun even though I didn't get all the choreography down right away. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to hang but I did and hopefully my upper cut will look better next time I can go. After that class I still had the energy to run 3 miles and felt pretty good.

Today I decided to try 24-hour's version of boot camp. {"Self, what were you thinking!?"}

Just before going to the gym I sent David a text, "going to try boot camp and probably do Pilate's afterwards." Ha! Little did I know...

Have you ever watched the Biggest Loser?

Yes, well then you know Jillian.

Today I met the Colorado version of Jillian and she was my "boot camp" instructor.

I did enjoy the variety that she included in the workout but I was definitely not able to keep up with all the exercises {pushup's for 2 minutes, ha!}. Apparently being able to run 6 miles on a treadmill under 60 minutes and training for a 1/2 marathon doesn't really mean you are "in shape" because I could barely keep up with the lunges, the push ups, the frog leaps, the mountain climbers...

Let's just say I didn't make it to Pilate's afterwards and I had to do a pretty darn good job of convincing myself to shower. You can be sure I rewarded myself with ice cream tonight!

Here's to hoping I make it out of bed in the morning!

:)