uprooting

For the past few days we've been busy trying to see and do all we could in Arizona. We hit up some awesome restaurants, went to see the "world famous fountain" of Fountain Hills, golfed, and did some last minute shopping.

Brice and I got into DENVER (!!) this morning! We came back to go to a camp with the youth group that we've been going to for many years. It was harder than I thought it would be to leave Arizona. The desert for sure grew on me and I sure did love the people (you know who you are!). I decided I am much like a weed. It's hard to pull me up from the ground, but I can flourish and be replanted anywhere. It's super hard for me to leave places, especially after I've gotten to know awesome people. But then, after I'm plucked up, it's really easy for me to get rooted again quickly. As for now, I'm in the awkward stage of feeling like I'm in limbo. I'm sure that'll all change quickly ;)

As for my parents, they are staying in Arizona to continue with dad's treatments. He was having trouble with his veins this past week so he took a break for a few days. Because his veins are so full, they have (in a sense) disappeared into his arm, making it hard to access them. So, to fix that, on Monday he is going into the hospital and getting a procedure done to put in a port. This makes it so that they won't poke his veins to do the IV treatments, but they will just use the port instead. Please pray over that procedure and that everything will go great! Also, the PET scan went well and they found that he only has the 6 tumors in his lungs. It did not spread to anywhere else in his body! YAY! Thanks for the prayers! They were definitely answered!

So now, we're off to camp! Pray that my parents don't get too much "empty nesters" sadness! And please pray over our trip and just thanking God for all the lives that are sure to change this coming week!

Mmmm

This past week or so we have been busying ourselves with:

-Transformers 3 (!!!)
-Late nights with Brice watching Brian Regan
-Trying out new and amazing restaurants
-Pool
-Running (I've never sweat so much in my life)
-Evening in Old Town Scottsdale
-Driving range/attempting to golf.
-Mini golf (aka: a test of my patience)
-DUST & HEAT!
-Saturday night & Sunday morning church
-College group
-Went to Sedoma, about two hours away, and went sliding down a river!

Haha that makes it sound like we've been super busy, but we usually just sit around and hang out. There are for sure times that B and I get a little stir crazy so we go drive somewhere or go for a long, sweaty run at the gym. But hey, it's for sure taught me how to slow down, relax, and read a book! haha, what a concept!

It's been a little hard to do much lately because Dad gets pretty winded easily. He usually tanks around 4pm and really hurts. So, we've been trying to figure out how to do stuff after his morning treatments but before 4pm. Tomorrow is his PET scan, so please pray that he is filled with peace and that the results are stellar!

Brice and I fly out on Saturday to go back to CO! Surprisingly, I've got such mixed feelings about going back. I'm kinda sad to be leaving the hot and dusty Arizona! Partially because I'm finally conquering my parking skills in the truck, I'm figuring out the ins and outs of the town, and getting to know some pretty awesome people. But it really stinks to be leaving my parents here, it'll be weird without them. I feel like just as I'm putting my roots in the ground, I've gotta uproot again. Well, such is life! I'm really pumped to get back to my beautiful ColoRADo and see all my awesome friends and family again!

But as for now...trying to soak up every last ounce of Arizona! :)

faithful beauty in everything

Woah baby!
We've been here for over a week now. Whew! It feels good to be past that one week mark and to be settled in here. I think the stress of trying to find our way around town and figuring out a schedule and stuff is over (for the most part). So man, that sure does feel nice! haha

Sunday: best day in Scottsdale. We went to a church service on Saturday night and then to a different church on Sunday morning. The Sunday morning church made my life 1,000x brighter! It felt like home. The church was comprised of like 1/4 Mexicans...I mean, how could you go wrong?!? I also got the opportunity to go on my first adventure alone in good ole Scottsdale! I drove across town for a college group (which was stellar!). It was totally an answer to all my prayers - that I could get connected with some legit people, be encouraged, and be able to blast some country music with the windows down in our big ole pickup truck ;)

Brice and I woke up at 4am to go hike "Camelback" mountain this morning. My parents thought we were crazy but when we started hiking at 5am, there were already 30+ cars in the parking lot (I guess we weren't the only crazy ones!). It was so gorgeous and fulfilling to get to the summit just in time to watch the sunrise over God's beautiful earth. There are few things that can just fill up your soul like that, ya know? Well, watching a sunrise like that always reminds me of how faithful God is. He is more faithful and beautiful than the sunrise.

"You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands."
-isaiah 55:12

This song describes how I felt at the top of Camelback.

Haboob!!

Yesterday I had the (great) pleasure to go to IKEA!! Woop woop! That store truly is amazing. It was so much fun to be there. Makes me so pumped for JULY 27th! :)

Last night we decided to go for a late night dip in the pool before we headed to bed. We all got ready and were walking down the steps when all of us asked each other, "Does it look smokey to you? I can't see anything!" It looked like someone just shot off a million fireworks and the smoke was filling the air. We turned the corner and all the parked cars had a weird film of dust on them. Almost all at once, we yelled, "Go back! Cover your mouths!!" Hahaha. So, we experienced an extreme dust storm here, also called a "Haboob." It was pretty gnarly. My mom talked to a lady that's lived here 20 years and she said they've never gotten one this bad before. Ooooh the craziness of Arizona...

Brice and I went on a little adventure today (because the pool was filled with sand/mud/junk). We decided to find downtown Scottsdale! It was slightly stressful but we finally found "Old Town Scottsdale." It reminded me of the Indian/Mexican/Arizona version of downtown Parker. I loved the quaintness of it and it feels good to know how to get around town now.

Random: I'm going to be BOMB at driving & parking the truck by the end of this Summer. Also, I don't get burned by the sun down here! After 3 hours in the sun, I'm just dark. No red! Crazy, right?!? I'm pretty pumped.

Dad update: He had his first appointment two days ago. It was more of a meeting where they talked about what they are going to do and how they are going to do it. I'm pretty sure they were there for 4 hours. Today, he got more blood drawn and then did a blood transfusion type thing (haha I have no idea what I'm talking about...can you tell?). Anywhoo...today has been real stressful. Each day he feels more pain in his chest. And the treatment costs up the kazooha. I guess that's the easiest way to say it. So, my parents are a bit frantic and stressed and that's no fun. If you could pray that God would pour out his blessings, financially, that'd be great! I already know He will...so I guess you could change that to: Thank God for blessing us financially so dad can get the treatment he needs!

P.S. I could not be more thankful that there is a gym with our condo complex. The treadmill was my sanity pill for today (and will probably continue to be for each day)!

welcome to the sauna

Weeeeeee MADE IT!

After driving all day, we got in town around seven o'clock last night, exhausted. The road trip went flawlessly! Thanks to all of you who were praying over the trip! We all had a great time - good talks, good laughs, and great company! I'm pretty sure it was the most low-key road trip I've ever had with the fam haha. Instead of fighting or pulling hair (as we did when we were all little), I'm pretty sure Brice and I slept 90% of the time. We somehow found how to be comfortable in the back seat of the truck and passed out.

I kinda wish I had a good story from the trip...but I think the most interesting part was when Brice gleeked on me so I flicked his ear and said "Bad dog!" Haha I think that shows how out of it both of us were.

It rained here last night when we got in and let me tell you...it was WEIRD! I looooove rain but the rain down here is so different! It was 95 degrees, the rain was hot & sandy with whipping wind that made it feel like a straight up sand storm. And, it did not smell good. It kinda smelled like a rotting plant or something. Haha for sure a different experience.

I haven't ventured out of the condo yet today. I'm kinda scared. The condo is so awesome and filled with glorious AC. Last night I was sweating and the sun was down...haha just looking outside at the sun blazing down makes me want to jump in the pool. It literally feels like a sauna. If you don't know what I'm talking about, GO find a sauna, sit in it for 3 hours and then you'll know how hot it is here :)

Today is our "day off". It's after all a holiday, right?? Dad's first appointment is tomorrow at the clinic so please pray over that. Pray that God's hand will be in the planning of the treatments and everything that they'll be figuring out tomorrow. Thanks!! Okay, I think I'm going to go wake up Sleeping Beauty (Brice) so we can workout/pool it UP! :) Hope you ALL are having a glorious day!

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!

new chapter

Goodbye Colorado.
Hello Arizona.

Tomorrow (Sunday) I will be hitting the road with my parents and my little brother for a road trip to Arizona. My dad is in need of special treatment that they only do down there (and overseas) so we are all moving down there for a while. You're probably thinking, "What? Now??" Yes, now. All of this is happening so fast I don't really know what to do/say either. But, just like any adventure, you don't always know where the road will lead or when you'll have to leave. You've just gotta roll with it! The thought of leaving all my amazing Coloradans behind along with my gorgeous Rocky Mountains seems a bit daunting. At this point, I feel like there are just a bunch of unknowns that are on the road ahead. It's like those video games where you're going full speed on a dirt bike and the hardest part is that the screen doesn't show you the turn that is coming up until 2 seconds before you get to it. That's my best description of it. I guess we will only know what turns are ahead when we are down there.

I am so sad to leave all my besties (you know who you are!) and my church family. Thinking about leaving all you guys behind gives me a huge pit in my stomach. If I could, I would have said goodbye to each of you individually. But, like I said, all this happened super quickly. I know God will provide for us down there - he has already blessed us with a place to stay (YAY GOD!) - and I know that he will also provide a great church for us too.

If you could continue to keep us in your prayers, especially as we drive tomorrow, that would be great! Now...to pack up my life in a suitcase! haha...this should be interesting ;)

"Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine
like the dawn,
the justice of your cause
like the noonday sun."
-David (Psalm 37:5-6)

P.S. You should totally skype, call & text me while I'm gone! Also, if you know anything about Arizona, please tell me! Haha, I have no idea what is down there. We'll be in Scottsdale - is there anything fun to do there for two months??

focused strivings

"I consider everything a loss
compared to the surpassing greatness
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whose sake I have lost all things.
I consider them rubbish,
that I may gain Christ."
- Paul (Phil. 3:8)

Tonight I was struck by the awesome truth that is in this scripture.
The sunset tonight was breathtaking. I was so happy to just stand there and watch God at work with his brilliant coloring combined with the sunbeams coming through the clouds. As the sun went below the mountains my heart was telling God, "YOU are all I want." I just want to be so focused on Him. The answer really is: Jesus. When I'm striving toward Him - my ultimate prize - all other things seem to fall into place. Nothing else truly matters, all I need is GOD.

Great song:
Divine Romance by Phil Wickham

"I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame."
-David (Psalm 34:1-5)