Yellow Fall

I still remember my first fall. 2005 in Yosemite National Park. It was amazing. I would walk to work early just so I could take my time and take all the colors in. There were leaves everywhere! I couldn't figure out if my hometown had "fall" and the colors that can come with it, and may be I just was blind to it all those years?? But that particular Fall changed that season for me forever.

Then I moved eventually to North Carolina. Wow!!! Nothing compares to the eastern trees during this time of year. Every color imaginable is painted over the forest. The colors change daily. You don't have time to even blink because you WILL miss something incredible. 

Now here we are in Colorado. It is definitely different. There is a fall. But you have to be looking. Your eyes have to be open. It won't be something that just hits you in the face, but it is there. Sometimes early in the morning when the sun is coming up, and you get those first rays on the trees, it can make them look almost on fire. It is just something else. You also can get a great alpine glow on the mountain range. The entire thing can look hot pink soaking in the sunshine. 

My reason for moving to Yosemite was to work with Pastor Steve Hughes and his ministry in the park. One of the best moves of my life. The way I grew, what I learned, who I met, it has just molded me into the person I am now. God fixed many hurt places inside of me while living there, running and hiking in the Sierras, climbing up the perfect granite walls. I could say SO much about my time there. BUT, Steve actually lives in Denver now with his wife Karen, so for the first time in several years we have been able to spend some real time together. 

Steve took me hiking up about 45 minutes from our house about a month ago. It was just great. It was a beautiful day, with great weather, but just being able to spend some quality time with Steve made my insides happy. I am so blessed to have so many great friends and mentors in my life. They have come and gone as God has had me all over the states and world, but I do carry so much in my heart so many lessons from each of them. 

So here are some pics of the day. Bryce couldn't come because he was on a rock climbing trip with a local school here. And notice the boy isn't with me either!!! Thanks to Grammi and Papa!

Enjoy!

A Month

Some days feel longer than others, then sometimes you realize you are 10 days into October and you don't really remember entering the month to begin with. It has been a LONG but GOOD 4 weeks. 

We made it through various obstacles and sicknesses. Cap had his first real throw up, which I almost feel should be a whole post on its own! He is talking like crazy! Putting 2 words together at a time. But we pretty much spent the last 4 weeks getting over one sickness...then another...then another....yuck! Cap's mood has been so fowl, lots of crying, but that tends to happen when you don't feel good. I was starting to think this was his new attitude, but Thank the Lord my boy came back Monday!!!!

He is back to laughing, playing, occasionally taking 15 steps away from me:) and acting like his smiley self again. I am so thankful he is better! So sense I don't take pictures anymore with our good camera, here are some pics from a cheap phone camera! These are all from the last month or so'ish.

On the way home from zoo passed out before even leaving parking lot

straw in hand of course

picking apples from our two trees out back

a day where i needed some smiles

this always makes you feel better!

trail running at Garden of Gods

turned my back on this guy and he was eating flour and cocoa with a fork!

getting ready to go to MOPS one morning

shaves with his dad now

one of those kind of lunches...and me needing to learn he just 

won't eat if he's sick...he lost 3 pounds!

fun new park i thought would lift his spirits...

not so much

this is what happens when your nap is too short

we were sitting on a rock watching the big trucks work

close to our house, he was just holding my hand

he found this bag clip one day and starting scraping the windows

it was making an awful sound, but then i realized he was trying to 

be like his dad and wash the windows!!! he was so proud once 

i recognized what he was doing.

climbing rocks on our first good healthy day in a month!

learning about scat that morning

being silly before bed with dad

my two guys whom i adore

Little Cabinet and Sign

Here is another home project I did in August. I forgot to post about this one when I finished it! This is a little sewing cabinet that was given to me. I just LOVED it the moment I saw it! 

The top part opens up and has a place to store all your thread and bobbins, 

depending on how big your stash is:) Not sure why I didn't take a pic of the inside.

Then two small drawers. Sanded it down, wiped it clean, applied undercoat some sort of green yellowish flavor, applied top coat some sort of family of turquoise, then a stain and finish in 1. 

I like how it turned out especially with the red knobs. I would have like the top color to be more teal, but that's what I had on hand. Still looks great! 

I also made a sign using some extra pallet boards we had.

This is 5 of the many things we hold important in our marriage and family.

We really like how it turned out. 

Hope you enjoy and next time I will throw some pictures in of Capitan!

"Mostly" Reclaimed Wood Bookshelf

I have several home project that we have done in the past month in a half. First up is our bookshelf which holds currently 1 book! Mostly just made it for displaying photos!! We spent about a $1 each on the 4 shelves from Habitat ReStore. The small pieces that hold up the shelves came from the backyard. Old wood that just wasn't being used. The 2x4's came from Lowes which was great because they cut them to the size we needed for no extra charge. I think we spent about $6-7 total for them. I already had the paint and stain. Oh and we did spend about $5 on some screws. So we made this whole thing for under $20. We think it's awesome. Looks different in the photos than in person because the flash was on, but you get the idea. Enjoy!