Guidance

Instead of writing my paper, or studying statistics, or reading my never-ending homework chapters, I took a moment to ponder what possible insight I could glean from the writings of Gilbert Keith Chesterton. In his piece called Enjoying the Floods and Other Disasters (July 21, 1906 Illustrated London News), he mused that he had missed the flooding of London for his trip to the country and rambled on of all the inconveniences one faces which can be joyful in some aspect. He wrote of some of these, such as waiting for a train and grumbling while a child sees the station as a vast play land filled with immense discoveries yet to come; and, chasing a hat on a windy day as such an unpleasantry (I know that's not a word, but it should be), and yet one could chase a leather ball and be applauded. (This is paraphrased of course and I am sure I have all but butchered his eloquent thought process.) He sums it all up by saying that inconveniences, whatever they may be, should carry within us some form of poetic enjoyment. This was pulled together to call attention to the importance of guidance as a spiritual discipline. While I was delighted to read this article in all of its romantic illusions of seemingly disastrous events; I still sat back and wondered what in the world does any of this have to do with guidance as a spiritual discipline. Then it hit me...
I used to look at guidance as having someone there for me to consult with; someone who actually knows what I am attempting to accomplish in the future so that if/when I unknowingly diverge, I can be lead back not too much worse for the wear. :) While I don't believe I am too far off, I think I will add to my thought process. I can see guidance now as also a way of seeing things that aren't focus driven, but rather "now" focused - if you will. Today is a day rushed with goals to accomplish and eyes so set on the results, or the proverbial "bottom line," that we fly by (at hyper-speed I might add) the beauty of the day, the wonder that God places right before our very eyes. A.W. Tozer said "In the deep heart of the man was a shrine where none but God was worthy to come. Within him was God; without, a thousand gifts which God had showered upon him" (The Pursuit of God: The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing).
I am of the opinion that to deeply pursue the things we desire without looking around and taking note of the "gifts" the Lord has given to us, is to endure the race with all self-sufficiency - self propelled - and selfishly, not trusting in or being guided by the One who gives us life, passion, and the drive to press toward that goal.
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained." (Phil 3:12-16)
I am not thrilled about clichés, but stop and smell the flowers along the way - they were a gift to make the journey far more pleasurable than rushed. Who is in a hurry anyway...God will complete his purpose any way He chooses, so I will choose to be guided by Him and find the wonder again in all the gifts He so freely gives me.
ps...if you choose to do the same, don't forget to give thanks. He is above and beyond worthy of it. :D

I think I did it! Take 1

For explanation, see previous post...a bit dizzying at times, but I hope you like it as much as I liked making it.

Such a fun day!

The hills were sweeeeeeet yesterday, so I thought I would chronicle the day.
Thank goodness I was the one with the camera. :D lol

Ok, we are heading out just after 7am.




This is my ski & boarding buddy Cindy (we skip work together to get some jibbing in)...lol...ok, I really don't jib - intentionally anyway.

Just as we thought Anthony had slept in this morning, he arrived.

Ok...so, we're off. Now, Breckenridge really isn't that far; however, on an early Saturday morning, it seems far because it everyone on the road wants to be the first on the lifts too, so traffic is HEAVY, but tolerable. So, we're stuck in traffic, but lightly talking - not quite sure what about...something to do with my ski's and Cindy took a deep breath and said "we have to go back." To that I replied "whatever, I saw my ski's on the rack." She said again "we have to go back; I forgot my boots." I laughed and grabbed my camera for the most awesome moment of panick ever! I got the hand! I tried to load the hand for all to view, but for some reason it wouldn't upload. She wasn't very happy, as you can imagine, so I offered my counseling expertise and asked her if she would like to discuss her anger. Ok, so we are all in a better mood now after couch time with Kate...so I snapped another pic on the sly. lol
She's not actually smiling...she's biting her lower lip 'cause she is still thinking we need to go back.
I know I am such a bratty friend. hee hee


Ok Cyn...I know you're reading this, so you might as well just get that blogger account and respond. What were you thinking?

Here are my guesses:

"Hmm, if we turn around now, we can get back to the house by 9am, then back to this spot by 10:30, then at least we could get some good AFTERNOON skiing in."
-or-
"With all this traffic, maybe I could jog back and catch up with them by the time they get to the first tunnel (sure wish I could remember the name of that tunnel)."
-or-
"Should I drag her on her ski's behind the jeep or just break her camera."

Anyway, I talked her in to renting boots for the day...good idea.

Anthony slept. Apparently our conversation couldn't hold his attention.






WELL...




As it turns out, the rental shop was right next door to Starbucks! HOW CONVENIENT!!!! Guess what I did...















Guess what Cindy did...










Ok, pic's a little fuzzy, but I don't have a paparazzi fast action camera.




Finally we arrive. I'm in my gear and ready to run...just waiting on the Gumby's:

















Pose Time

Goofy Gumby on the left,
Regular Gumby on the right.

FYI: Goofy & Regular are boarding terms for which foot you lead with. Goofy leads with right & regular with left.

Gumby refers to that little green man of long ago with a horse named Pokey...yeah, remember how Gumby walked...that's how boarders walk when on their boards.


Ok, I thought I would take you on a short jaunt with me; I created the most awesome video of our trip (with some live ski action from yours truly), but I couldn't get it posted because of it's extension (I created it in Windows Movie Maker), even You Tube couldn't post it! So I have to figure out how to convert it (that's ok, it helps me sharpen my evangelism skills...lol)...ok that was a bad joke. Anyway, I'll post it as soon as I can figure it out.

So, here's the rest of our day...

Cindy and Anthony decided they were going to do some jumping, and well, I just happened to notice that Anthony caught a bit more air than Cindy did...even today, I bet Cindy is pondering how Anthony could have possibly jumped higher...not that she's COMPETITIVE or anything. Side note: I actually told her I was going to ski because when a boy is with us...she tends to get aggressive on those hills...thus the helmet too. Now, I'm all for safety, I wear my helmet every time I board, but Cindy only wears it sometimes (like when boys are with us...lol). Truth is: I HAVE to ski to keep my edge on Cindy - I don't like being left behind...(yup, I've got the C* streak myself).

The guys at the gondola stop were decorating again...I thought it was charming:
















Anyway, Cindy is still not over that fact that Anthony jumped higher than she did and began practicing her jumps in the parking lot....and...

WOA... Ok, either the rapture just took place, or Cindy jumped pretty high. I don't know, Anthony and I didn't want to find out, we just got in the car and left...isn't that what friends are for?
haa haa

Just kidding, we all got home safe and sound, another great day on the slopes.

Huh!?

What do you title a blog you don't intend to go anywhere? So, if you're really interested, this is just a hodge podge of stuff from the past couple days.

First, I am going to leave because I am craving coffee and since I have been eating raw (for the most part...I took the day off yesterday), I don't have half-n-half, in fact I have nothing in my fridge that can't be planted...ok, that's an exaggeration, but not much of one. Anyway, must jog to Walgreens for some half-n-half. Oh man, I need to change out of my pj's first...hmmm, if I drive I can just put my trench coat on...yeah. Ok, so I am going to drive 1/2 block to Walgreens. :D
Ok, coffee is brewing...ahhh the sweet smell of Boca Java's Courtside Chocolate...mmm.
(__)> yum, just what the doctor ordered (well ordered me not to drink anyway).

Ok, yesterday: What a cool day. I got to meet some blog sisters for lunch. Oh, they are such wonderful people. I, of course, am painfully shy so I felt a bit akward and out of place, but they are such lovely & friendly people the akwardness didn't last long. Joanne was the hostess, and did such an awesome job with everything...the gathering was absolutely charming. Let's see, Holly was there (which I am so grateful for 'cause she was the only real live person I knew), and the other ladies, Meridith, Angie, Kimberly, and Kari (although I had frequented most of their blogs) I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time. They all had camera's, but I was in such a hurry to finish my paper and get over there that I forgot to grab the camera; however, I have the best picture of all.

Oh yeah, eat your heart out ladies...photography is highly overrated when it comes to the artistic visual mastery from the heart of a child. BUT...if you must see a pic of us all, I believe just about everyone in the group posted the actual gathering picture...just click on their name. :)

Today: You know...work and stuff. But tonight, I put on some Elijah Streams internet radio (prophetic worship), and didn't cook dinner...lol...I love it. I had soft taco w/fresh tomato salsa...I think I over did it with the spices in the salsa though 'cause my chest was burning, but it was awesome. The shell was a collard green leaf, and the filling was made with walnuts, cumin, coriander, & Nama Shoyu (aka health freak soy sauce), and of course the salsa (tomato, cilantro, onion, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, cayenne, cumin, & coriander).

My studies: I thought I would introduce you to my homework helpers. This is Chloe in action:

Of course she has to perch herself on top of the pillows I have used as a lap table and contemplates her next naughty move.

Drawing her claws and moving in for the kill.

She's a stinker, but ahhhluvher!

My Simon isn't so aggressive...he just sits between my feet while I work on the 'puter.

There ya have it...a day in the life of Kate and her kitties.

Break Time

Hi all. Many apologies for not keeping up with the blog. I started back for my final semester in school woooooo hoooo. Anyway, I am taking five classes in order to get through it this semester. It was 6, but I was booted out of one of my classes because the enrollment was too high...that class will have to be completed after graduation.

Let's see...where did I leave off...oh Houston. Well, I had a wonderful time with my beautiful niece Nikki...we had a great time. I had to do my duties and wake her up the first day...girl could sleep forever...I mean really...it was 7:30 when I started singing and making loud rise-n-shine noises...ah youth, but I'm sure she'll love this picture! hee hee That's what Auntie's are for.


Note worthy event: My hair was AWESOME. Maybe that's why I love Houston so much, I have great hair days there. Must say though, I had a couple of travel size items...one was face moisturizer and the other was hair gel...well, I kind of got the two mixed up 'cause I was talking and primping at the same time...that just doesn't work...I put face moisterizer in my hair...my niece just stood there and smiled, then said "what are you doing?" Of course she said that after the fact, so I thanked her kindly and we laughed.


Anyway, we went to La Madeline for breakfast (yumm), then I dragged her all around the Galleria and watched the ice skaters. I think it's pretty cool that they have an ice arena in the middle of the mall! We have a couple ice arena's at malls here, but it's cold enough to keep them outdoors.

We had a great time just hanging out with each other. It was so cute seeing her all grown up and in her own place...she actually unplugs all her appliances before she leaves her house...lol...I remember when I was that responsible. :) When I left she called her mom and cried 'cause she didn't want me to leave (I'm not supposed to know that of course). She's a doll; I can't wait to go back. I'll see her in Kansas in May for her little sister's graduation.

I started school the Wednesday after I got back...woo, class until 10pm, a 40min drive home, and at least an hour wind down before bed...it was rough getting up the next morning for work, but I am back in the swing of things. Well, sort of...I have two papers to write for tomorrow and I am so disciplined that I am writing you all...I'm a last minute sort of gal. I have a work best under pressure sort of thing going on. You know, in my psych studies I found out why I do that. I can't remember where I got this, so take it with a grain of salt, but I read that the reason for procrastination in studies is actually a fear of failure. For instance...I typically make A's on my papers, so I think "Wow, that's awesome, and I did it all last minute." However, if I make a B on my paper, I can say "well, it's ok 'cause I did it in a bit of a hurry." Good excuses. Here's the kicker: If I spend quality time on my papers and do not make an A, then I have failed at my endeavor to make an A and therefore, I have failed. It's true too. My first B I was devastated...I even cried. I called a friend of mine all boo-hooing and she said "who told you that you have to make an A?" I did of course, so she said something to the effect of - they don't stamp your degree with your grade. From then out, I decided to scrape by with C's and D's...ha ha...kidding...just seeing if you were still with me. I'm up late posting 'cause I took tomorrow off to meet up for lunch with some blog siesta's. I'm excited about that! Of course, I can't go if I don't get my homework done because class is tomorrow evening...eek...I think I'll make a last minute A...lol.

Well, school isn't all I've been doing. I've had to take a couple breaks and head to the hills...a must for educational as well as everyday morale. Here's a couple lovely pic's from a hill in Keystone:
















Heading back up for some ski time on Saturday with a couple friends of mine.

Ok, I best sign off. Thanks for checking in while I was away. Monica, all is well. ;)

Houston...Here I Come

I'm leaving for Houston today to hang out with my niece Nikki. I love Houston. I used to travel there for business and loved it so much. I would live there, but I would miss the mountains too much...and the 4 seasons. I'm not a mall person, but for some reason, I can't wait to go to the Galleria again. I have done some of the best shopping in Houston. When FAO Schwartz went out of business there, my co-worker and I purchased over $600 in toys...everything was 90% off...yes, I said it right...90%. It was so much fun, it actually cost us more to ship everything back than it did to purchase the stuff...even still, you couldn't beat the price. I din't have to purchase toys for three years. And, actually, I just gave away the last of the Star Wars action figures this past Christmas.

Ok, so I am, for the most part, an organized person. I work for Colorado Baggage & Paridise pen part time...very part time. I must keep my love for fine writing instruments and beautiful luggage at an affordable price. If I loved shoes, I would work at a shoe company; if I loved jewelry, I'd work at a jewelry company...'cause I'm pretty cheap, but I do love nice things. Anyway, there is one company I must plug here...Eagle Creek...they make the best travel accessories (which I get at around 65% off...woo hoo). Why am I telling you this??? Check this out.


Do you know I packed for the entire weekend in this 11x16x8 boarding bag. Three outfits, jammies, uhh the extra clothing bits and pieces, two pairs of shoes, and all my toiletries & cosmetics (of course those all have to be in 3oz containers in a ziplog bag...classy!). Pretty sweet huh. My helpers: 1 EC packet folder, 1 EC packing cube, and 2 shoe-ins (a must for keeping shoe grimies off the other stuff). I should be hosting some online packing seminars. Here's the #1 question I get from travelers "How do you keep your business attire from wrinkling?" I'll share a secret...you can't! lol However, there is a way to minimize the wrinkles...when you place your clothes in your suiter, wrap each item in dry cleaner bags. The constant shifting during travel is what creates the wrinkles in your clothes, but if you use drycleaning bags, your clothes are less likely to wrinkle because they aren't getting hung up on other clothes or fasteners that cause them to bunch up...and I think it may have something to do with the static that is left in those bags, but that's just my opinion.

Ok, that's all I have for now. I'm off...leaving the 40's/20's weather for 60-70's/40's weather. woo hoo...spring time in the middle of winter.

Woo Fun

Oh this day was just AWESOME!!!! I took off from work and headed to the hills (since I missed out on Saturday's ski time). Just so ya know, the weekends are for skiing, and the weekdays are for snowboarding. There's much more room to jib during the week. :) Anyway, here's a photo tour of my day.

The breathtaking scenery. Vail pass was closed both ways for avalanche control, so, as you can see, traffic was backed up forever, but the hills were a radiant white...and calling our names. It took us 3.5 hours to get there...but, full tank of gas, good music, good company, and good looking boys to smile at in the passing cars...who could ask for more? Of course, my friend Cindy's dad was on the phone making sure we had a full tank of gas and food with us...lol...we had no food, but we certainly didn't forget our Starbucks! Starbucks...it's the important things that matter. :) (side note: dad's don't seem to stop being dad's even when you're in your 30's.)



Well, we finally made it and of course we had to get ready by doing the snowboard doo...it's the thing. :) Mine doesn't spray out like Cindy's does, it just kind of flops...guess it's too long.



We then took a gondola ride to the lifts.



Kicking back...oh yeah.



) Nice boots.


( Thanks, they match my outfit.




Apparently some of the gondola operators were pretty bored. They were utilizing their literary freedom in a snow pile at one of the gondola stops...quite possibly a play on words...but ya never know, and I didn't have time to ask...we were all laughing...even the guys in their cage. I never thought of New York City as being boring, but then...I've never lived there.




We then strapped in and took off down the slopes....ahhhh fresh powder! (Note: fresh powder is a necessity for soft landing...which I happen to do plenty of.)


I didn't do what this kid was doing...I should have. I made many prints in the snow, but none of them were angelic.

(note to self: stop to make some angels next time)











We ended our day as any die-hard Colorado ski/boarder would...at the infamous (at least in Colorado) Idaho Springs Beau Joe's Pizza. MMM...we split an individual pizza and had salad...yumm.

Look at the big fluffy snowflakes!

The drive back was much better than the drive there...even though the roads were actually in worse condition.

So, that was my day...now I'm going to soak my soreness away and prepare for a new day.