Allison visits the Wild West!

I have found that one of the hardest things about being away from home, is the lack of knowledge that new friends have. It takes time to become old friends...and lots of sharing of stories and new experiences. I find so often, that when I try to explain where I am headed, I have to back up and explain a lengthy back story or preface.  But that is what made a visit from home so special this past weekend. Miss Allison came out for a few days and I had all day Friday to soak her in and show her a bit of my life here in Colorado. 

I met Allison back in high school on a three week mission/choir trip to Mexico. We only kept in touch minimally through college, but a couple of summers ago, we both ended up back in Springfield, and hung out quite a bit as we both figured out what we wanted to do.  She knows my story of the past few years, watched as I hesitantly stepped out into what God was calling me to, and she is more than ever supportive of where I might be headed. Such a sweet, dear friend.

So for our very special day, we headed to Manitou Springs, mainly because I wanted to eat at the Heart of Jerusalem Cafe...mmmm....hummus and dolmas! But we also checked out the penny arcade, played some skee ball, and tried the famous Manitou Springs water.

This next picture doesn't really fit in to this post, but I thought it was such a crazy head... possibly the face of the voice in my GPS titled, "Dr. Nightmare"?

And true to form, as most stories in this chapter of adventure out west, whenever I find myself trying something, someone happens to come along to explain the history, offer help/guidance, answer questions. When we came across the first fountain, a woman came up as well with an empty water jug waiting to fill it up with the spring water. There are multiple fountains across this little town, each fed by a different spring with their own mix of minerals....quite disgusting, but fascinating to try! Our information lady told us this was the fountain that made the best lemonade and that she drinks this water everyday. We had fun making faces as we tried each different fountain we came across.

Darci came along too!

Probably the worst fountain is one found in a little candy/tourist shop. It is mostly full of sulphur, but luckily after you try the water, the owners give you a sample of fudge.

In the midst of our wanderings around Manitou and later a tour of New Life, Allison and I discussed life, dreams, and everything in between.  A beautiful day, with a beautiful friend. Allison...thanks for visiting!!!

20 Days Without Coffee

Sounds like the title to a bad book...20 Days Without Coffee.  But I did it! May not seem very long, but if you know me, you'll know I have severe issues with the morning hours and having to be not only awake and present, but present with the ability to think and discuss and process.  My love affair with coffee began back in my days of working as an assistant with children with autism.  I needed a jump start before a 7 hour day of wrestling.  And since then I've enjoyed the many benefits of coffee...primarily, the explosion of options at coffeehouses and energy boosts for long drives.

But while I was home for Christmas, I detoxed under the quite painful foe known as a stomach bug and with traveling, I held off on drinking any until my return to Colorado.  And then in an experiment to see if I could adjust my sleeping habits (or avoid insomnia), I just went about life coffee-less.  I didn't feel my usual perky self, and I even let something as fantastic as a nationally known fruit cake toss pass me by, but I still held on.

And then our first student chapel back, Brad Parsley spoke on fasting, and the various degrees, from the supernatural (which we are told to only do if told by God since no food or water leads to death), to fasting from certain things (i.e. coffee).  Now I did not start out "fasting" from coffee with any spiritual intention, but Brad also mentioned that many times the actual fast may not bring any results, but that God may impart something when the fast ends.

Fasting from coffee was no fun. I still couldn't sleep, I didn't have energy, and I just didn't feel normal.  You would think that I gulp it down all day, instead of just a cup in the morning... but regardless there was a huge difference to me.  And I didn't feel any different in my relationship with God....but I have to tell you it all changed when I broke it on Sunday. I went to the earlier service at New Life on Sunday morning, went to gas up, and finally made a stop at Starbucks.

My plan was to get a white chocolate mocha and settle in for some time by myself. But the second I had that cup in my hand and was headed back to my car, God stepped in, in the form of a very welcoming Irish family (part of the school) and I spent the day trying to absorb everything God wanted me to know.  It would be premature and foolish to try to process it all out here, but let's just say that God has sparked a hope and a dream in my heart.  And I have moved across the state of VA and across the country on less confirmation than I've had in the last week....so we will see where God moves.

And I'm back to drinking my daily poor man's mocha. Content to have this dependency if it means I'm semi-normal in the morning!

Happy 2011!

I've snuggled up in a booth at Panera, soothing my insomniac soul with a bowl of black bean soup. It is Tuesday afternoon...reminds me of all those Tuesday afternoons spent at the Panera on Gallows Road while working at The Vine....good times.

We had a snow day yesterday, made it really hard to get up this morning. Most of the snow is melted off the roads...I'm trying not to think of how much snow we could get in the next couple of months and just taking it one snow at a time.

Christmas break had its rough moments, but it was so great to be with family. And even harder to leave again. I cried at the airport, especially when standing outside of security, my 2 1/2 year old nephew said, "Amy, you come home to my house?"  I bawled until I was outside my gate.... my flight didn't get any better: turbulence, people sharing horror plane stories, crying babies, and after a two hour delay being told we would most likely land in Albuquerque instead of Denver. Luckily we landed in Denver and my host family picked me up for an arrival back in the springs at 2 am that night.

I'm trying to settle in to the second half of the year. I'm getting reacquainted with my guitar and destroying old journals in editing and finding stories and inspiration. This time around I find I have a lot of time on my hands....apparently I can only stand to be without responsibilities for a little while, maybe I'll find part time work? Or take up underwater basket weaving.....

Through it all, God is so good. The lessons are going to go even deeper, and his presence is just so...close. I can only hope to be ready for what the next five months are going to bring.