Mary Day!

Last week was VERY exciting because I was able to spend time with one of my FAV PCVs who came back to Denver for the Holidays.  Mary came to Dominica a year after me and we had a lot of wonderful memories while we were serving together! She is one of my girls from Dominica and I hang out with her family here in Denver! It was great to get a little piece of Dominica from her and just catch up on the last 7 months of our lives! She is amazing and continues to do amazing work in Dominica!

Future Career? 

While we were hanging out we decided to go to the Denver Nature and Science Museum! It was the first time I have been to a Museum in Denver and it was a great experience.  The Museum is extremely hands on for all individuals who are kiddos or kiddos at heart.  They had an exhibit all about the DINOs with Sue the T-Rex! There was also an exhibit about space, your health, and a lot of stuffed animals that Mary and I were not a fan of!

One of the best parts was seeing a 3D movie on the I-Max theater! It was my first I-Max Movie and I have not seen a 3D movie in a very long time! Maybe 7 or 8 years! The best part was, Mary and I got to be Scientist and we did do lab testing! It brought back memories of Middle School! 

Zoo Lights!

Last Week, two of my fav girls and myself went to the Denver Zoo to see their Christmas Light Display! It was amazing!! There had to be a 100,000 lights! The night was not too cold, so we enjoyed walking around, seeing the displays, climbing on a ox and carriage (Oregon Trail Style) and just enjoying each others company before we go our separate ways for the Christmas Season! And of course we had to stop by the 'Warming Tent' for a snack!  Overall it was a marvelous evening!



This will be my last blog until the New Year! I will be far to busy loving on McKenna and Austin (Roller Skating with Santa, Reading With Santa, etc), catching up my lovies, and spending time with the family to write a blog! 

I wish all of you a joyful Christmas filled with amazing company, marvelous food, and endless laughter! I hope your New Year is filled with adventures, journeys which will make you grow, and only positive surprise! Embrace 2012... it WILL be a good year! 

Finding Peace...

The Cabin from the Road

I finished classes the week of Thanksgiving and have had some time on my hands! Honestly, I have enjoyed it.  I love my weekends and time off! I can always find something to do and that I enjoy, rarely do I find myself bored.  The activities are just sitting reading, watching TV, catching up with friends but I will always find something busy. When I heard about my 6 week long break I made a promise to myself to enjoy CO and what it has to offer!  The Peace Corps has made me a lot more content with life and my activities.  I do not always have to be running around like a chicken without a head, I can just be and I am OK with me! 

View from my reading spot

Anyways, last week I went up to a 'Cousin's' family home in the Mountains! Let me tell you, words cannot describe how gorgeous the view is during the Winter! We went for a Hike a little higher up from his cabin and sat down in this open patch of snow! I said "Now, this is the snow I enjoy! Untouched and covering the mountains!" 

It was the most relaxing two days of my life! He had to go to work so I just hung out in the cabin, drinking endless glasses of tea, reading hundreds of pages of my book, taking walks, and you cannot forget about taking a nap! It was just amazing and refreshing to just Be! The air was so fresh, life seemed to stop, and I had no agenda for the day! Besides the weather it reminded me of Sundays in Dominica which are my fav! I spent those two days laying on comfy couches, lost in my thoughts, and recharging my batteries! I am extremely fortunate and grateful for my Denver Family and these moments that they have given me!


I look forward to the next time I can head up to the Mountains and maybe going Skiing! Before that I must head back to MI to see my lovies....  

Red Wings!

Last Sunday, I went to the Red Wings Game with two of my friends! One being from Michigan and the other just being forced to cheer for the Wings! They ended up losing but it was still a lot of fun and amazing to see the Wings Play in CO against one of their longest rivals! :) 

Jennie, Myself, and Nate

Painting!

Last Saturday I became a PAINTER! My girls and I went to Canvas and Corkscrews! The ideal of Canvas and Corkscrews is each day the studio has a different painting and the instructor walks you through step by step of how to paint the picture. I had soo much fun even though I am not a painter! The studio provides all of the supplies, you just have to show up! Even though we were all doing the same painting it was very interesting to see how each one turned out just a little different!

I was very proud of my owl even though he is a little plumb! :) 

Thankful on a Snowy Day!

A pretty picture of CO taken from the Internet

On Thursday, the weather changed dramatically! It became cold and snowed on Thursday and now this morning! 

Anyways, I was walking to the Light Rail Stations on Thursday (about a 20-25min) and I was COLD! In my head I had a bad attitude about life and how I had to be walking right now, how I wish I had a car, and I just wanted to be home in my bed not out here where my hair is freezing! 

The negative thoughts got out of hand and I decided I was going to change my thought process because a negative thought process was not going to help the matter. 

This is what I was Thankful for while I was walking (Continued to repeat it in my head)...

My Keen Boots which I LOVE
(Mine are all brown!)

1. That I had a warm place to sleep and go to

2. My boots which were keeping my feet warm

3. That I DID NOT have to clean off my car this Morning 

(I truly hate doing that)

4. That I was not driving because I know my anxiety would of been through the roof

5. That I had kind of warm tea in my hand

Today it is snowy big flakes and I will be putting up some Christmas Decorations in my warm apartment which I am very Thankful for!

Turkey Day!

The Group in our Hats (Minus four)

Apps

I hope everyone had a marvelous Thanksgiving filled with your lovies, good food, and endless conversation. I personally know that is how my Thanksgiving went this year.  I celebrated my favorite Holiday with 13 of my nearest and dearest.  I could not of been more excited to host Thanksgiving because I just love this holiday.  To me it is about gathering with your favorites, eating yummy food, laughing until you cry, and sharing stories of the past.

More Apps

I would be lying if I said I did not think of my MI and Dominican family (truly my PCVers who I spent the Holidays with) but it was amazing to provide a 'home' for these 13 people who do not have roots in CO a place to eat Thanksgiving Dinner! I love hosting parties and it went soo well! I did not want it to be stressful or the vibe to be rough, rather I just wanted people to enjoy and that is what we did!

RALPH!

I made my first Turkey, Ralph! It was a teamwork effort for sure and he turned out pretty well. THANK YOU to Aunt Sue for walking me through how to clean Ralph and laughing with me as I totally grossed out! :)  I did not have any but my guest said it turned out very well.  One of them said it was a little dry so I told him to put some gravy on it! :) I do remember a moment right as we were about to eat and the whole group came together! There was a group of people in the living setting up the tables and a group in the kitchen making the stuffing, rolls, and craving the Turkey! I found myself with not a lot to do but just take a moment to be Thankful I have these amazing individuals in my life! 


This day will always hold a special place in my heart and I am excited for next year when we can do it all over again! :)

Family!

My Host Mom

My Volleyball Girls

FAMILY, it is such a strong word with an enormous amount of meaning and emotion.  But really what does Family mean, who is the one that defines it, who was the one who put such a powerful word in such a small box.  That 'who' is society that told told all us who we should and should not define as Family.  I am about to break the intense word out of its box and define 'Family' in my own terms.

My Denver Family

I am beyond blessed with the amount of family I have.  Now, I am not talking just about my blood family who I love to death and am continually amazed by the support and joy they bring me on every day.  I have family in two different countries, a handful of States, and a few cities in Michigan.  

My Rocks in Denver

PC Lovie

How does this all work, I will tell you how I define family! It is simple! Family to me is a place or group of people I can surrounded myself by and feel love/support, share a meal, and have a place to sleep! Basically, my basic needs will be met when I am with them.  I know it sounds simply and I may be selling myself short but I find I am doing the complete opposite. I am enriching my life with individuals I CHOSE to be around, who always have my best interest in mind, give me an ear to listen, and joy to share. 

That is my family, near and far I will always have family close!

Lions Game!

The Stadium during the open ceremony 

Aaron and in front of the Stadium

One of the Fans! 

Last Sunday I watched the Lions beat down on the Broncos! It was an amazing game and I was able to go with a follow Michigander! I am blessed and grateful beyond expression of the family who is continually showing selfless acts of kindness and gave up their seats so I could watch my lions! 

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

I hope you are all had a GREAT day and was able to eat a little candy today with no guilt!!

Who said you are too old to dress up! 

Pushing!

Plan of Attack!! 

MY LOVES that sit on my desk and smile at me while I am working

Well World!

These Sweet Things are my desktop!
They remind me where I have come from and the joy of the simple things!

I am in Graduate School! It is lovely most days but always toward the end it gets a little rough around the edges! This quarter is no different! I felt a little lost with my assignments and when they were due.  For those who know me well you know I have no sense of time, dates, directions, etc so I need a visual! That is what I did! 

I am pushing until November 21st when I will be HALF done with my GRADUATE DEGREE! Whoo-Rah! 

Snow!

Ooo Yes, you read that correct it says SNOW!! 

Outside my bedroom window

 This morning (even though I knew it was coming) I woke up to SNOW everywhere and continuing to fall from the sky! Since this morning it has not stopped and will not stop until this evening.  By the end of this all about 4-6inchs have fallen from the sky to the ground! Since it is not too too cold it is not sticking to the sidewalks just to the grass! This is why I love CO.  Tomorrow it will be in the mid-40 and Friday the 60s so by Friday the Snow will be gone! :)

Outside of my Kitchen Window

Marvelous!

Look back on the weekend it has been pretty amazing beside ALL Michigan Teams losing but I still have love for all of them! What made it so amazing you ask, well let me tell you!

- Homemade Squash Soup in the Crock-Pot (THANK YOU Jennifer!)
- Homemade Bread
- Farmers Markets with my favorite Popsicles
- Hiking 
- Winning my volleyball game
- Sitting by the river down town
- Family Dinner
- Great evening with wonderful friends
- Playing with a Wii

It made sound simply but those are the moments that make my soul smile!

Ziggy Marley!

Las Sunday my dear friend Rachel and I went to see Ziggy Marley (Son of Bob Marley) perform in a cute little venue in a College town! It was amazing! I have been missing Dominica and the life I had out there. Seeing Ziggy, listening to pure Reggae, and just being in that vibe gave me a little piece of what I was missing and made my soul smile!

What a Day!

Mike (Friend), Allie, Nate, Me

29 September 2011 will be a day that will forever carry a special place in my heart! On that day I was giving the opportunity to welcome home a solider who had spent 13 months serving our country.  I was able to join hundreds of individuals; families, friends, and even strangers of these soldiers to Welcome them Home! I was honored to see families re-unit, children over joyed to see their mom or dad, and fathers meeting their son or daughter for the first time.

Gymnasium with families to the left

What makes this moment even greater is I never met Nate before this day but I knew his cousin.  His cousin, Allie and I were talking and she was telling me about how he was coming home without anyone to greet him.  Being the individual that I am, I could not allow that and right away told her I WAS going with her.

Soldiers when they first walked in

Allie and I met up with one of Nate's Army friends before Nate came into the gymnasium where all the families were waiting.  Nate's friend just keep laughing at me as I was over joyed and excited to welcome home a man that I have never met but because of him and the millions of other individuals I can walk down the street and not fear.

Have you Thanked a Solider today?

Best Friend is Getting Married

The Bride and I

The Ladies

One of the reason I came home was because my best friend was getting married! I could not be happier for her as she has found the man of her dreams! They complement each other well, you can feel the love in the air when they enter the room, and her hubby has a smile which could light up a room! My best friend and I have had our ups and down with men but she makes me believe in love and that my prince charming is out there waiting for me to be ready. Her wedding was as beautiful as she was, it was a pleasure to be a part of it, stand beside her as she was saying her vows and give a toast in her honor. She is my everything, my sista from another motha! I carry great honor to have been a part of her day!

Wonderful!

Just some of the little lovelies I had today:

- Sleeping in fresh and clean sheets

- Amazing workout

- Relaxing Yoga

- Laughing

- Trip to the Post Office

- Calling my sister when I need directions for the bus and her tell Austin, "One minute please, Chuckee is Lost!" (I really was not!)

- A class that continues to push my comfort level

- Fall breeze during my break

- Skyping with Mom

- Chatting on Gmail

- Productive Evening

OK... so nothing big! But today was a good day in its own way! Nothing too exciting happened and some days that is all I want!

My Visitors!

- The Ladies -

My two volleyball loves came and visited me for a long weekend! We had a BLAST and was busy from sun up to sun down! We did a lot of hiking, rafting, jumping off cliffs, eating amazing food, and lots of giggling! Maria and I were a team while rafting and it was a hot mess! But we successfully made it down the river without falling out even though one time we had to 'Pick and Roll off a Boulder" and the boys (who were our guides) were ready to rescue us!



- Team Pick and Roll -



- Showing off river crossing skills to get closer to the waterfall -



-Team PIck and Roll in action -