Our Life & Times

It was a gorgeous September Sunday afternoon in Colorado, so we headed off to the mountains to the Smith Mountain Park and played some frisbee, played catch with the football, and skipped rocks in the Big Thompson River. The park was beautiful with the changing colors of the fall leaves, the sounds of the river flowing over the rocks, and children playing on the playground. We saw Blue Jays flying from limb to limb of the tall Pine trees. There were high school seniors with their parents getting their senior pictures taken in the park, and grandparents having picnics in the grass with their grandchildren. What a beautiful day!

(Konnor in the middle on his adoption day with our friends' children, Chance and Brooke)

Friends come and go, some come back after they've been gone, and some friends were never friends at all. For a big part of my adult life I thought that since I was married I didn't need friends in my life anymore. I didn't have time, they didn't have time, whatever the case may be, I sure was wrong! I wouldn't say I have one BEST friend, but many GOOD friends, and maybe even one or two CLOSE friends. (Ok, maybe that's not entirely accurate. I have a BEST friend that I haven't seen in years that means the moon to me and although we missed a
large chunk of each other's lives, I sure hope we never do that again!!!!) Anyway, what was I rambling on about??? :-) Oh yeah, I am realizing that friends are important and I feel so much better now that I have people that I can lean on and cry to and complain to, etc., etc., etc. and they don't think I am TOO crazy or hopeless. (Or maybe they do, but they don't say so 'cause it could hurt my feelings!) I see people I know that are SO CLOSE with their own family, such as sisters and cousins. I think that's great and I sure do envy them. I would give anything to have that closeness with my family. I would give anything to have that closeness with Brian's family, but instead I lean on my friends.

Every day is a gift...Untie the ribbons!!

Well, I should be in Denver today for the Women of Faith conference that I've been looking forward to going to, but my friend Kathi's little boy came down with the Croup (not sure if that's how its spelled...) We thought about just going today but it is so cold and windy outside and she didn't sound too comfortable leaving Mateos at home with his dad when he is so sick. Poor little guy. He is in my Sunday school class too, and I hope he is feeling better tomorrow so he doesn't get us all sick! I am a little disappointed about not getting to go, but atleast now I won't miss Konnor's football game today.

Ahhh! I finally have an hour since this last weekend to sit down and post a blog and read some blogs! Actually, this was the first time I have turned my computer on since the last time I blogged, and do you know I had 246 emails! Of course, 245 of the 246 were junk. It figures...

Anyway, I had a real unpleasant experience this morning. It was raining so I had to drive Konnor to school, but I needed to be in Longmont by 8:30 am for a Doctor appt. It usually takes me about 45 minutes to get to the doctor, so I knew I would be running a little late. I have waited well past my appointment times in the past and no one ever apologized for that, but today I was 10 minutes late for my appt so they decided they weren't going to see me and I had to reschedule my physical. Needless to say, I was steaming mad! Especially since I had a horrible ingrown toe nail that was badly infected and I had been waiting for this appointment to have the doctor look at it. So, I gave my sad story about my toe and they fit me in for my toe only, but not my physical. The infection was so bad that it took the doctor about 8 shots of numbing medicine to get it to where I could just bear it, I still felt most of it. I am all bandaged up now and have to take antibiotics 4 times a day for 10 days. Then, I had to go grocery shopping on a half-numb foot. That was pure entertainment!

I am leaving for Denver tomorrow after work to spend the night for the Women of Faith conference with my friend Kathi. It should be fun, but this is the first time I have actually ever spent the night anywhere else without Brian. He has gone on business trips and tractor pulling overnights before, but I have never spent the night away by myself. I am sure Brian and Konnor will have a great time lying in front of the TV, eating junk food, and scratching themselves while I'm gone...:-)

I was planning to blog a little about my own spiritual journey this week leading up to the WOF conference, but as we all know, my plan is not always God's plan and it didn't get done. I guess to sum it all up in a nutshell I am still seeking answers to life's questions like Why me? What is my purpose? You know, probably the same things most people wonder about.

I was a proud mama today! Konnor was an animal on the football field today, and they won something like 54-0!! Way to go Steelers!!!! Brian's Uncle Randy and Aunt Linda also surprised all of us when they showed up at the game. They live in New Mexico and no one knew they were here, as a matter of fact we are not even sure how they knew to come to Konnor's football game! Brian's mom and dad and his sister, Teri and our brother in law, Rick and Konnor's birth grandmother, Sandy were also at the game today. It was a cold and blustery day outside too, and the first half of the football game it poured. We were all soaked to the bone. Definitely good football weather! So anyway, tomorrow we are back to Sunday school. I have spent most of this evening planning my lessons and activities for my preschoolers. The hardest part, I think, is finding meaningful activities that will really drive the Bible lesson home. Tomorrow's lesson is from Exodus 13:17-14:31, "The Israelites Cross the Red Sea." This week I think I will blog more about my own spiritual journey through life since this coming Friday and Saturday I will be staying in Denver with my girlfriend Kathi and some other ladies from our chuch for the Women of Faith conference. I am really looking forward to it all. As I've said before, if you ever have the opportunity to attend a Women of Faith conference I would strongly encourage you to do it! It is such a meaningful, uplifting, soul searching, gut wrenching experience all in one!

Today is my dad's birthday, he is 61. When I was little I was definitely a daddy's girl. My daddy could do no wrong! My mom tells me stories of when I was a baby and when I would wake up in the night my dad wouldn't let my mom get me, he wanted to do it. I remember whenever I wanted something my daddy would make sure I got what I wanted. There was a time when those Barbie doll heads were popular that you put make up on the face and fixed the hair. Does anyone remember what I am talking about? My sister had one, she is about 7 years older than me, and Sharon and her friends would all play with their Barbie heads and I wanted one too. Finally, my daddy came home from work one day with one for me!! It was all mine!! But things happen as they tend to do, and my parents were divorced when I was about 6 years old. My mom basically became both parents to me, because my dad used the divorce as an excuse to drink. Over the years our relationship diminshed. Now that I am an adult, our relationship is down to birthday and Christmas cards. We don't even talk on the phone. The last time I saw my dad who lives in PA was in 2002 when my grandpa Wayne passed away. My dad promised me he would help my Aunt Betsy take care of my grandma, but he never did. Alcoholism destroys lives and destroys families. It is an ugly disease. Anyway, I guess this wasn't too much of a "Happy Birthday Tribute" to my dad, but it is reality. I wish God would touch my dad's heart and release him from the chains that bind him. That would be the best birthday gift he could ever get!

I just want to tell Joe Klopfenstein (Tight End for the St. Louis Rams) and his family that they ROCK!!!!!!!!! If you read some of my past blogs from August, I think, we had the distinct priviledge to have lunch with Joe, his mom Patti, and his cousin Debbie. It was a HUGE day for Konnor who SO wants to play in the NFL someday. Anyway, this last Sunday the Rams played their season opener against the Denver Broncos (and won!) We got to see Joe play on TV, it was very exciting! Anyway, Joe told his cousin Debbie that he had gotten Konnor's thank you card at the Rams office, and he sent back an autographed sideline cap and his autographed rookie card for Konnor. If you notice the pictures above the cards and the hat are safe in Konnor's room. So, we just wanted to tell Joe and his family THANK YOU, and GO RAMS!!!!!!!

Just like our parents and grandparents probably will never forget where they were when they heard the news that JFK or Elvis died, I will never forget the morning when I heard over my car radio that the world trade centers had been attacked, and then the pentagon, and then the plane crash in PA. It was frightening, just as our enemies had planned it to be. Five years later as we remember those who lost their lives, and those who continue to fight the good fight to keep our country free from terrorism, let us not forget their sacrifices.

Konnor's football team (the "Steelers") lost their first game on Saturday something like 21-0. He was bummed, but they will do better next time! I think it has something to do with the team name, now if they were called the "Chiefs" then maybe they would have had a chance! :-)

I am extremely busy with United Way, and I think it will just get busier! I am learning alot though. One day this week I will have to try to get to the church to set up my Sunday school classroom since we will actually have class next Sunday. The western round up was a lot of fun for the kids. Konnor really liked riding the horses, and bobbing for apples!

They are saying it should be about 48 degrees tonight, so it is about time to turn off the A/C and drain the pool. We will also have to drain the sprinkler system soon. Oh yeah, and for those of you who were wondering about my tests at the dr., they did come back positive for hypothyroidism, so as soon as I find the time to drive to Longmont to get my prescription I will be taking some new meds.

Tomorrow should be a little quieter (I hope.) I don't work at the United Way on Tues or Thursdays. I do have class though, and so I better go get my homework done before bed!

Brian (right) and Brad (left) riding the horses @ our church's round up.
Konnor is learning to lasso him a plastic steer head! Yahoo!
I think Konnor is in deep concentration as he rides "Ginger."

Today is Konnor's first football game of the season. It seems like we have already been doing football forever, but we are finally at the point of having some games! Konnor's team's name is the "Little Steelers", so GO STEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! He and I made a poster last night for the team to run through when they start the game today. He thought that was pretty fun. I just hope everyone can stay in one piece!!! The 5th graders got to go to a Jr. Broncos training camp/Gatorade Challenge yesterday for a P.E. field trip and Konnor had a blast! (He finally found something about school he likes, football!!!) Unfortunately though, one of our players for Konnor's team hurt his ankle during the training camp. Then, another player has strep throat, and another one is out of town... Ugh!

Anyway, I have discovered there IS a world out there beyond my schoolwork, cleaning the house, and going to little league football practices, and it is called the United Way! Since I started my internship there a couple of weeks ago, I have been to big corporate meetings, I have taken on 4 accounts of my own, and I am assisting in the organizing and planning of HUGE corporate fundraising events. It makes me feel important, although it also makes me sick to my stomach since I am such a "Nervous Nelly!" I hope I can handle it all! :-)

Oh yeah! I have been having some tests run lately with my dr. The dr. office left a message yesterday for me to call them, but I haven't gotten a chance to call them back. Anyway, I am able to read my lab tests online and I know that they are going to put me on meds for my thyroid. It seems I have an underactive thyroid (which, Hallelujah could be causing me grief with my weight, and now it can be controlled!) So, yet a new adventure with Kaiser Permanente is about to occur! Wish me luck!

Not too much going on here besides working, school, and football. Konnor's football team had a scrimmage game against the older team yesterday and Konnor got his "bell rung" a few times. I panicked a little when he was crying, because Konnor does not cry often. He seems to be ok though.

We could get a little thunderstorm here this afternoon. We haven't had rain in a while so it would be a welcome sight!

Sunday school starts Sunday for the year. (We usually take the summer off.) I teach the preschool class, and I have 7 boys and 2 girls in my class!! I love them all individually though. They each have their own sweetness and ugliness about them. We are kicking off the Sunday school year with an old-fashioned western round-up. Brian and Brad, one of my preschool boy's dads, are going to do a steer roping station for the kids. We are also going to have pony rides, stick horse races, apple bobbing, and face painting. It should be lots of fun! I hope to take some good pictures to share on the blog next week.

I was very sad to hear the news this morning that the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, has passed away. We have been a fan of the crocodile hunter since he first aired on the Animal Planet channel. He died doing what he loved and that was exploring the animal world and educating others about what he had found. Of course, I always thought he was a little nutty for trying some of the things he tried and got away with, but this time he didn't get away. I feel so sorry for his wife and children and for his crew that tried to save him, but couldn't. This is just another example that God does not mean for us to live on this earth forever, and we never know when our time might come.

I think I mentioned a few blogs ago that Brian bought me a new wedding ring set because my old ones got ruined from mercury. I don't know if this picture does them justice, but I wanted to show them off! There are 19 diamonds all together. I must be doing something right!

Because of the cold front that came through on Friday, we moved our BBQ over to Jenny & Terin's house, because they have more room inside for the kids to play and it was too cold for them to go swimming at our house. It was me, Brian, Konnor, Jenny, Terin, and their 2 boys Tyler and Dillon, Jenny's mom and dad, her sister Amy and her little boy Tanner, and then Ted (who is Konnor, Tyler & Fabian's football coach), his wife Lisa, and their 4 children Jose, Fabian, Natasha, and Adriana. During the afternoon the kids were playing next door on a dirt pile when one of Ted and Lisa's little girls told me that Konnor was bleeding on his head. Konnor was still playing on the dirt pile. I asked him to come down so I could see his head, and sure enough he was bleeding pretty badly from about an inch and a half cut on his head. I asked what happened and the story we got was that he slid down on the dirt pile and a rock came behind him and hit his head. I was thinking he would need stitches, but who wants to sit in the ER on a Saturday night when you know you will sit there for like 8 hours before they see you??? So anyway, thank goodness Jenny is an RN! Her and Terin, who is also in the medical field, cleaned Konnor right up and put some stuff on his head to seal him back up. He is as good as new! So the evening went on without incident, and the kids made s'mores over the fire pit then they turned Terin and Jenny's house into a war zone with their play guns and swords. Ah, to be a kid again! Thanks, Jenny & Terin, for moving the BBQ to your house!!!!!!! We had a great time!!!! And thanks for helping Konnor!!!!! :-)

My nose is stuffy on one side, and it is running on the other side. My throat is scratchy. My eyes are watering, and I have gross phlem in my throat, yuck! It is allergy season, although Brian thinks I have a cold. However, in Colorado when the seasons change and we get a cold front come in or whatever, the WIND BLOWS! Yesterday, we had a cold front come in (which is fabulous since we planned a Labor Day BBQ this afternoon where the kids were all supposed to go swimming, and now I have no idea what we're going to do...) and when I was driving home from my internship job at United Way I decided to turn off my AC in the car and roll down my windows. By the time I got home my head was clogged and I was a mess! Boy, am I smart or what? Then, to top it all off we went to the Roosevelt High School football game last night (which was a reward for Konnor's good behavior this week in school), and it was like 40 degrees outside and drizzling. Another smart decision on my part! So, this is how our long weekend is starting off. I hate to be sick though and I am not a good patient, so I hope it is allergies and they will go away. Ugh! I can't breathe through my nose, this is no good!