Cairns

Cairn (noun) a mound of rough stones built as a memorial or landmark, typically on a hilltop or skyline.

Today on my run I caught site of a rock cairn about 4 miles into my route. For the last 6 months, cairns have been of special significance to me, which made this sweet little cairn feel like a significant sign. It felt symbolic of the, spiritual, and physical journey I’ve been on.

The concept of a cairn is rooted in Norse history, but cairns have also been used by hikers over the years. In the later context, hikers would pile rocks to mark the trail and guide those coming behind. This idea of leaving a physical marker has resonated with me and brings to mind the Biblical references to an Ebenezer (a stone of help). In the Biblical context, one of the reasons an Ebenezer was erected was to stand as a tangible reminder of the Lord’s faithfulness.

From a personal marrying of these two terms, “cairn” and “Ebenezer,” has come my own love for the small rock piles that convey a story, a journey. Sometimes we need to place things down, and use those experiences or items, to mark the hard or the healthy seasons in which the Lord has carried us. The stacking can be symbolic and sweet and can go forward to show others that the Lord is indeed faithful.

So, running down the Poudre trail, on my run today, I couldn’t help but stop and snap a photo of the cairn you see photographed above. May this symbol bring courage and encouragement to you, as it did to me.

House Plants

My plants died and seeing them withered and sad somehow felt symbolic, mirroring what I felt inside. I couldn’t dispose of them immediately and when I did, it felt like a part of me left alongside them.

Now, before you accuse my of being dramatic, I know they are just plants, let me explain.

A week ago, Joey, A, and I returned from a sweet and special trip to Texas to visit my family. We drove through the night on the way there and surprised my siblings, then took the trek back a week later, driving 13 hours to make it home to resume ‘normal life’ on Monday morning. The 24 hours following our arrival home were flooded with complexity as we encountered home-owner issues with our heater and frozen pipes. With both of those things safely tackled, we moved on to the challenge that COVID brought as I tested positive Monday and began my quarantine at home.

I stop here to share that in the midst of the difficulties these three adversities brought, I am thankful for how I have come through COVID on the other side, with little to complain about. I grieve for those that cannot say this for themselves.

Now, I digress.

Perhaps now it makes more sense that my dead house plants, who could not survive the low temps in our home when our heater kicked off, sat on their shelves waiting for me to dispose of them for much longer than they should have.

When I finally got the courage and confidence to place them in the trash, I took a deep sigh. There is something special about house plants, for me at least. I love the warmth they bring to a home and the brightness and color they offer. Over half of mine were gone now.

After releasing each one, I then addressed what was to be done with their containers. That is when I realized that one of them, a cheerful little Pothos, that my mother gave me some time back, was still hanging out in our room, happier than ever. I made a clipping and put him in water, to grow roots. Hopefully, that intention become reality.

Standing in front of my plant, trimming it to provide a new plant, I realized something profound. The heaviness and darkness of the week, those emotions I was feeling, were symbolically visualized in the letting go of the old (dead parts) and the trimming to create new growth in exchange.

Sometimes the releasing of the old, the parts that no longer serve us well, is painful. It often feels that way for me and yet, there is something beautiful about the hope of new growth and beauty.

As this year begins, perhaps you can resonate with the releasing of old things, old habits, old relationships, or an old part of yourself. If that is the case, or whenever that season comes for you, I hope and pray that you may be reminded of the truths that nature displays in its very essence, dying leads to new life. It often requires patience, but it is worth the journey and the wait.

Social Distancing Diaries

Lent is a season of the church calendar, the forty days leading up to Easter. It is characterized by prayer, fasting, and reflection as the Christian community leans into central questions such as, “What does it mean to be a Christian?” or “What things are holding me back from a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Christ?”

The beauty of ashes (acknowledging our human self), recognized on Ash Wednesday, leads into new growth and life, celebrated on Easter Sunday.

Where Lent represents death to our selves – Easter represents life to the fullest, through Christ.

Lent is characterized by a proverbial holding pattern, as the church “waits” for Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday.

As I’ve been reflecting on the recent experiences of social distancing, due to the pandemic, COVID-19, it has felt to me like the world is experiencing its own season of groaning. The anguish, the darkness, and the loss have been ever-present in minds and hearts across the globe, on the forefront media. While COVID-19 is a heavy reality, symptomatic of our struggles as humanity, as a world we are still experiencing another burden, the need for redemption, freedom, healing, and hope. Just as the church longs for Christ’s resurrection, coming on Easter Sunday, I believe the world is unknowingly “waiting” for the hope and healing that only Christ can bring.

In the process of mulling these thoughts over, this passage from 2 Corinthians 1:2-5 came to mind.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 

With this beautiful parallel in mind, in combination with the verse above, I believe that we as believers have an incredibly unique opportunity in this season to share with others the hope, healing, and comfort that can be obtained through Christ’s death and resurrection! We are not living without hope in this time, as we know the beauty of Christ’s presence.

Friends, I encourage and implore you. Share this news with others! Encourage your friends and your family during this season to seek out The Way, The Truth, and The Life!

Our Top Five Baby Must-Haves

Becoming parents we quickly learned that the market for baby items is both large and overwhelming. Everyone we talked to had their own suggestions and recommendations for baby must-haves, parenting techniques, and even personal birth stories they wanted to share. Some input was appreciated and other advice we took with a grain of salt.

That being said, we have learned a few things over the last four months, with our little guys and wanted to share our top five must-haves for a little one.

1. Solly Baby Swaddles – If you have not heard of Solly Baby before, you are missing out. These swaddles are incredible and at the top of our list for a reason! They are generously sized, butter soft, and come in beautiful prints/colors. In addition, they are affordably priced and help with charitable efforts in Guatemala. Does it get any better than that?
2. DockATot – A DockATot is designed to be used, by babies, as a safe comfy space for lounging or napping. Our little guy loved his and spent countless hours enjoying its coziness. Though they can be rather expensive, we snagged ours on clearance at Target. The DockATot website also has a sale section with great prices from time to time.
3. Sophie the Giraffe Teether – As Atticus has gotten older and started teething, he has wanted to chew on anything he can get his hands on. Sophie has become a quick new friend. She is the perfect size, can easily be washed, and is cheerful, and sweet. We love her!
4. Parker Baby Diaper Backpack – The first gift we received was our diaper bag! Joey scoured the internet for the right bag and picked this one out. We love the versatility of this bag, the durability, and the hands-free flexibility of a backpack. It has insulated pockets for bottles on the go and tons of storage space!
5. Milkbarn Gown Pajamas – When babies are little there are an awful lot of diaper changes needed. We fell in love with the gown pajamas from Milkbarn. They are super soft and have the most adorable prints. We were given the Hedgehog set and brought Atticus home in it. There are plenty of others designs available though.

If you have a little one, we’d love to hear some of your favorite baby-friendly items!

Full disclosure: None of the above mentioned brands have sponsored us. These are our unbiased opinions. That being said, we are totally open to being sponsored – so if you represent a baby-friendly brand, hit us up! (Winky Face)

I N T E N T I O N A L

2019 was a big year for us!

In May we bought a house and officially became homeowners. In August our rainbow baby Atticus was born, bringing such joy into our lives. Both of these things brought huge transitions, but have also been two enormous blessings. Our life certainly looks different now than it did at the start of 2019.

As we move into this new year, Joey and I have been talking in-depth about the things we would like to focus on and prioritize in our lives. This led us to the word intentional and the song See the Light by Hillsong Worship.

The chorus of the song goes, “All, all of this for your glory…” This phrase repeats over and over and from the first time I listened to it bore a hole in my heart. This phrase has continued to resonated with us, as we are actively choosing to create balance in our lives and prioritize the glorification of God in all we say and do.

As last year was a big one for us, we are hoping to intentionally hone in on the smaller things in our life that need tweaking. We plan to use the following questions to guide our choices and behaviors.

1. Does this bring glory to God?
2. Does this embody the values of our family?
3. Does this love our community well?

If the answer to any of these questions is “no”, then our response is simple, it does not deserve our time and effort. We are choosing to be an intentional, purpose-driven family in 2020!

Were you given a word for this year? We would love to hear!

…and that’s a wrap

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Back in August, I took on a fun and unique challenge, committing to photograph myself every teacher work day for the 18-19 school year. My original intention was to document my first full year teaching, for myself. I had no idea how many of you would come to appreciate and respond so favorably to my photos, logging in daily to social media to see my update. Thank you for following along! As the 18-19 school year has come to a close, it is time for me to reflect, as well as share what the future holds for this English teacher.

The school year started off strong, back in August, with staff preparing for our students to return. Once quarter one kicked off, I continued to support the Goal site out in Craig (virtually), while rotating between the campuses in Greeley and Loveland. This rotation was a schedule I would maintain all year. In quarter one, I taught three course (in our online platform, Schoology): Gladiator Connect (our on-boarding class), Gladiator Math, and Gladiator Reading. These last two courses served to support students as they transitioned back to school, post summer. They were tailored to each student’s individual needs and covered basic math skills, as well as reading comprehension.

Quarter one also held a brief trip out to Craig, so that I could spend time with the staff and students there, in person. It was a positive and uplifting time! I am so grateful for the incredible colleagues I get to partner with daily, across the Northern Region of Colorado.

Quarter two launched into our core academic courses, with me teaching six English sections (10A, 10B, 11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B). These six classes would be the majority of my load for the remainder of the year. It was originally a bit daunting, being assigned this many preps. However, quarter two stretched and grew me in so many ways. During this time-frame, Joey and I learned that we were expecting our baby. It was so exciting to learn this news and we looked forward to the day we felt comfortable sharing with everyone we loved! (Cue hiding my ever-growing belly bump in daily photos).

Coming back from Christmas Break we began quarter three and I took on a new responsibility, leading the Academic Guidelines Committee for the Northern Region. Coordinating and hosting regular meetings, sending out staff surveys, and consolidating group ideas scared me at first. This experience was so far outside of my comfort-zone. I am beyond thankful however, for the opportunity my principal provided, as it was empowering in many ways.

Quarter four was bitter-sweet, as the realization came that the year was winding down. Some of my dearest students were on trajectory to graduation and stress-levels and tensions were naturally high for everyone. In this most difficult portion of the year, teams I am blessed to be apart of, came together to support one another and bond, like never before. On March 30th, we shared publicly that we were expecting our little bundle of joy! The outpouring of love and excitement from others, meant the world to us. (This also meant it was time to start showing off my belly bump in my daily photos!)

On June 8th I celebrated alongside, staff from five of the Northern Region locations at Goal Academy High School’s Greeley graduation ceremony. This marked the end of my duties, as a teacher for 18-19 school year.

So, what’s next? Well, this summer I intend to spend time settling into our new home. A huge part of that will be preparing for our little one’s arrival in August. I will return to work July 31st and will participate in training sessions for several weeks, while also preparing my courses for the fall. I am beyond blessed with a supportive group of colleagues who have committed to supporting me during maternity leave and the weeks of transition back to work.

The school year ahead will no doubt be different than the one that just ended. I am certain however, that it will be just as impactful and growth-filled as I add the title of mother to my ever-growing list of names. I do not know how I will choose to chronicle the 19-20 school year, but stay tuned on social to see our little family grow and learn together.

If you would like to help us prepare for the arrival of our little one and the new season ahead, our baby registry can be found here.

Ten Things We Learned in Buying A Home

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On May 7, 2019, Joey and I closed on our very first home! This was a monumental day for us as we had been house hunting for a year and a half. We are so very thankful for our new home and the memories we will make in this beautiful space. However, this would not be possible without the support, encouragement, and valuable insight of so many people.

Because this was a growing experience for us and full of unexpected turns, I thought I would share some of the things we learned in our home buying process. The following list is in no particular order, but I hope at least one of these can resonate if you are considering buying a home at any point in the future.

1. Expect stress – One of my largest pieces of advice would be to go into the home buying process with your eyes wide open. The average experience does not go as quickly or as smoothly as a 30 minute HGTV episode implies.
2. Take time to rest – Remember that buying a home may be more of a marathon than a sprint. Take time to take care of yourself, along with your spouse or any children you may have.
3. Ask lots of questions – Never feel uncomfortable to ask questions! Your realtor, lender, and anyone else in the process are there to help you! Ask questions! Ask questions! Ask questions! It is important that you understand what is going on!
4. Seek advice – Find those in your life whose opinion you value and trust. For us this was our parents and grandparents. Whoever it is for you, ask them for their advice, listen with an open mind and then pray for God’s guidance.
5. Be patient – As I mentioned above, home-buying can resemble a marathon so be patient in the process. Do not rush into a situation or get discouraged if things taken more time than you want. Remember that God’s timing is not always ours!
6. Budget – Finances are a large part of the home-buying process. Make sure that you have your numbers in order and know what you can afford. Early on in our marriage we got impatient and discontented and looked at every house that caught our eye. This created additional (unnecessary) frustration as we were not even financially capable of making an offer. Know and understand your budget, friends!
7. Be organized – With so many moving pieces in purchasing a home, stay organized. Make yourself a list. Communicate with your spouse, if you have one, and place things on your calendar.
8. Stay healthy – Because of the natural stress that comes with this process, take care of yourself. If your body starts to wear down, this is a good indication that you need more rest and rejuvenation in your life. Take this seriously!
9. Lean on your tribe for support – This is such an important thing! Buying the house is stressful and it felt doubly so for us since we were expecting a baby at the same time. Nevertheless, make sure that you surround yourself with patient, understanding, and helpful people. We cannot be more thankful for the family and friends who prayed for us, encouraged us, and helped out with even the most practical or tiny pieces of advice in our process.
10. Be thankful – Remember at the end of the day, when you finally have the honor of sleeping in your new home, as that one day will come eventually, be thankful for the process. There will be things you’ll learn and help from others along the way. Because of this, be thankful!

In the spirit of a thankful heart, I would like to give a huge shout out to our family, friends, and realtors! Without the help of each one, our new home would not be possible. Thank you all so much! Our doors are always open to you!

27 Days & Counting

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This school year launched the start of my second year teaching! Year one was hard, but for some reason, year two has been even harder. With just a few weeks back, I feel like I have already learned and grown so much. What follows, in no particular order, are the things I have been processing:

1. Jesus is my rock and source of strength.

Leaning into the Lord for strength has been a large part of my growing process during these beginning weeks of school. There have been many long days and I am constantly reminded that the strength I have on my own is not enough.

2. I still have so much to learn.

With the beginning of a new year, comes change upon change. Every day I am reminded of the importance of flexibility and patience! A great verse to keep at the forefront of my mind is, James 1:19 which reads, “Listen, open your ears, harness your desire to speak, and don’t get worked up into a rage so easily, my brothers and sisters.” (The Voice)

3. Self-care is of the utmost importance.

Keeping a separation between work and home-life has been a challenge I am constantly fighting! Leaving the never-ending pile of grading and the daily stress-induced factors at work has been hard this year. I am working on this diligently though and am thankful for a loving husband who tackles many of the home responsibilities, providing me time to decompress and rest. (Thanks honey!)

4. It’s okay to say “no” sometimes.

Yes friends, I did just say that. I know, it was a hard pill for me to swallow originally too. Being a yes-person is not the same as helping others. One is the extreme and the other is healthy. Over the last few weeks, I have had to retrain myself to let people know that I am willing to help them, but that I cannot drop everything to do what they would like or need. I need boundaries and time to complete my own tasks, before I can help others. This may sound selfish, but it is actually a very healthy thing.

5. Essentials are my go-to and an absolute necessity!

This may seem like a silly thing to mention, but working in a school, I feel like I work in  a petri dish of germs and stress. I have been a fan of essential oils for a while now, but have only started using them daily this school year. Now, a large part of my life includes them! I diffuse them in my office and at home, I have a roller ball (or two) with me at all times, and I have an amazing linen spray (that I made myself) to improve quality of sleep! Also, if you’ve never tried it, Dr. Bronner’s lavender hand sanitizer is the best there is and an awesome way to combat icky germs!

As I continue to teach, I am constantly humbled by the challenges and situations I face. Never the less, I am finding that with each day, the Lord is faithful, as are my (essential oil) roller balls. 🙂

 

 

Learning to Avoid Burnout

As a teacher, the words “stressed” and “tired” have taken on a whole new meaning for me. As the school year winds down, I am forced to acknowledge my lack of rest and self-care and the impact that is having on my life and that of my husband. I am investing substantially into important areas of my life and often times, without knowing it, I place myself and my marriage on the back burner.

So, I decided, what better topic to cover than one I am wrestling with learning myself – rest.

Two weeks ago, our worship and A/V (audio/visual) teams met to share a meal and fellowship with one another. We discussed ways to improve our ‘craft’ as we continue to serve. One of the meaningful things shared during that time was a quote by Rick Warren: “To avoid burnout: Divert Daily – Do whatever whatever relaxes you. Withdraw Weekly – Participate in a Sabbath.  Abandon Annually- choose to disconnect completely.”

This concept points me to Psalm 127:2 “ If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?” (The Message) 

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As believers, we need to find rest in the rhythm of life. Often times, at least in my personal experiences, I become so overwhelmed with everything on my to-do-list or proverbial plate that I ignore the Father’s gift of rest. This natural tendency to go, go, go leads us to a place where we are burnt out and exhausted with nothing else to give.

So, to avoid burnout I am realizing the need for intentional rest. Reflecting on Rick Warren’s quote, I ask myself, do I divert daily, withdraw weekly, or abandon annual? What do these things look like in my life, if I am already implementing them.

If they are not present, how would I like to see them fulfilled? As I process this concept, I’ve jotted down on a few ideas that have come to my mind.

Divert Daily ::

• Bubble bath
• Reading my favorite book
• Going for a run
• Journaling

Withdraw Weekly :: 

• Participating in a local Church body
•  Going to bed early one or two nights
• Turning off all electronic devices for an evening

Abandon Annually :: 

• Taking a vacation
• Reflecting on goals and dreams

Though I feel like I understand the concept of rest, I – in all honesty – do not apply it well. Joseph and I do a good job of abandoning annually and disconnecting or leaving technology, work, and responsibility for a while. I do not however, do a good job of resting daily. Therefore, whenever we ‘vacation’ I find myself working so hard to relax, de-stress, and rest – which completely defeats the purpose.

So, my challenge for myself these next few weeks (the remainder of the school year) and into the summer, is to better learn how to rest. As I attempt to navigate the balance of life’s rhythm, I would appreciate your prayers.

Please feel free to share with me ways that you perform self-care or “rest” on a daily or weekly basis. I need any advice you may have!

Breckenridge on a Budget

A couple of weeks ago, Joseph and I cashed in on the chance to step away from our busy lives to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary (September 10th)! As an anniversary gift we were given a 4-night stay at a lovely hotel in Breckenridge, Colorado. [If you have never heard of, or visited this magical place – take my recommendation and add it to your bucket list.]

Breckenridge is a beautiful and idyllic, tourist town, nestled into the Rocky Mountains. It is best known for it’s amazing ski slopes. The hotel we stayed at was filled with amenities and we quickly fell in love with Breckenridge as a whole.

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The honest truth though, was that coming into this trip, we were fully aware that our finances could not support a shopping-spree or even consecutive nights of eating out on the town. With a strict budget and a lot of stress – we had to reevaluate fun alternatives for a young (poor) married couple to enjoy, while on vacation in Breckenridge.

Below we have recapped some of the fun things we discovered and thought we would share with other budget-friendly travelers!

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Nature:  Because Breckenridge is best known for its ski slopes, you can imagine the incredible nature that is plentiful. Tall mountains, richly colored trees, creeks and rivers around every bend, and countless trails winding through the mountains.

Joseph and I took advantage of the hiking opportunities around Breckenridge ourselves and had an incredible time. From the small (unnamed) trail behind our hotel to the Blue River area we explored, the views were amazing! We asked our hotel staff for recommendations but also found great suggestions online. For any hiking in the future, we encourage you to check out All Trails – a great FREE app that gives excellent information (including maps) on local trails across the United States.

 

Coffee: If you’ve interacted with me, at any point, you are most likely aware of my passion for coffee. Over the years, Joseph and I have discovered how fun and affordable coffee shop dates can be. While on a budget in Breckenridge we enjoyed checking out coffee shops and relaxing together, in this way. Below are a few pictures of some of the coffee joints we visited!

Games: Like I mentioned above, the hotel we stayed at was full of lovely amenities! Some of our favorites included: a wide variety of board games, a billiard table, and a ping pong table. As a couple we took advantage of these and enjoyed hour upon hour facing-off playing Monopoly, Battleship, Life, pool, and ping pong. I won’t share who won what – but we both can say we’re victors!

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I suppose what I’m trying to convey friends, is that travel – though often considered expensive does not have to be. Joseph and I enjoyed a 4 night – 5 day stay in Breckenridge on a very affordable budget. We had an incredible time together and made countless memories, many of which did not cost us a dime!

Though our housing in Breckenridge was a gift, if you are worried about housing being expensive on your next trip, I recommend looking into the Airbnb website for alternatives to a traditional hotel or resort.

Wherever life takes you – I encourage you to travel! Take your friends, take your family and see the world!