Home is where the heart is...

So a death in the family prompted an unexpected visit home. Making the best out of every situation I tried to cram as much as I could into four days....

The trip home could not have fallen on a more perfect weekend with the fall weather, the color color change of the leave, the smell of apple butter (still in the farmhouse)...and of course the beauty of spending time with family.

Death helps up remember the brevity of life and really-there are very few things in life worth getting really worked up over.

I was excited to catch up with life long friends, favorite people, family, and I even got to catch up with one of my favorite patients of all time. Mark, if I were closer I'd still be beating you up and loving it!

My amazing sister...she and her husband both work full time jobs. She is in law school in the evenings and he is getting his MBA....I am glowing just talking about them.

Mutti- Ah...she is enjoying retirement....MOM-Come visit me! :)

Just bought this mug. I love pictures like this...scroll down and you'll see another one similar in a different post.

My crazy cousin Ben, and his beautiful mother Dottie. (She's one of the PT aunts)

My cousin Jayme...we're the two oldest cousins! And clearly the most mature!

Yep...that's Ben again....He loves me.

The homestead.

Ah. my girls- Shelly, Rachel and Amy.

My lovely aunt Margy- My tenacious yet delicate Grandmother, Clara...and the beautiful Kathy, Mom.

Ben.

I miss the regular colorful sunsets.

Taking a break from the house.

This weekend some exciting news- I found a family that needs a place to stay until Jan 1st. They are willing to do some trade for living there! The husband contracts and tiles, and will to refinish the hardwood floors...What does that mean? Well excitment since that will cover the cost of my labor! God answers prayers in the most amazing ways! It also means less worry for me. I know, you're thinking to yourself, "Worry? Wow! I had no idea Lisa worries." :).

This Saturday and Sunday was Fall retreat for the Jr High in Estes Park. A moderate amount of snow. Lots of singing, loving God and just getting to develop relationships with our youth. It was fantastic! There were some great Sr. High leaders that also volunteered in big ways! It was a magical weekend!

Next weekend family will be in town. I can't tell you how excited I am for that as well....

My amazing...fantastic...awesome cabin! You girls are marvelous!

Joseph...the tree hugger. :)

We had a "murder" mystery...that was more of a scavengar "kidnap" mystery....We kidnapped J.

The evening- Looking at Mount Meeker, and Longs.

Oh the things we can talk the youth into doing.

The Posse

The bus ride.

My new home!!!

The day of closing. I dragged Nader with me just to see exactly what I was getting into...
This is post day 2 demolition.

Post day 1 demolotion.

My demo guy Brian....Oh that stuff I get him into....

No more toilet.

Back yard.

The tree stump I tease and say I will throw a table cloth over and serve wine and cheese off of.

The garage.

Laundry/mud room.

My colorful kitchen.

Master Bedroom

Spare bedroom

The built in between the two bedrooms at the end of the hall.

And the lovely bathroom!

Nope, didnt' remove the medicine cabinet...they took it out for us.

New Camera

Capturing the moment with my new camera. I am having entirely way too much fun.

Rheya Lee. My dear friend's beautiful and happy daughter.

Christian. One of the most fantastic 7th graders EVER!

A shot in San Fran. I just love this.

Miette. A delicious patisserie by the harbor.

My great cousin Zach

Carolyn, my partner in crime.

Jason, our fearless youth leader.

Jason's wife, abby...aka, my great friend...at our favorite store. My Sister Knits on Mountain.

Breakfast at Lucile's. I love this restaurant. It's even better when my mom is there.

And that is her. The greatest woman everto walk the face of the Earth. Yep, and she's my mom.

Dr. Laura Caton. Another amazing woman.

Janie, and her babe Rheya Lee....another amazing woman. Isn't it great I am friends with all of these amazing women? I think so too.

and this little guy Lawson. Our youth pastor's nephew. A little boy and the puddle from the rain. Have you ever seen such joy?

City Park after the fireworks.

My longest friend EVER. Karl. I just love him. He is the best brother I could have ever chosen. His adroable and fantastic girlfriend Bridget and her friend Stephanie. She is nuts, but fantastic.

My love.

I forget just how much I love music. I love the amazing impact it has on the soul. It energizes, it calms, it brings tears from a memory long forgotten or a smile from childhood. Griffin House, David Gray, Barenaked Ladies, Belly, Kelly Clarkson, John Denver, Carol King, church hymnals. Each tune, and pause between notes bring back a flood of memories.
Songs from band in high school. The Planets by Holst. John Sousa Phillips. Writing this I envision our black loaned dresses we had to wear for wind ensemble, the drama to be accepted into the band, and then which chair did you get? Concerts on week nights. Marching band practice and camp. Getting in trouble and having to get out of the cabin to do calasentics.
The mix CD one of my best friends Kim made for me to travel cross country...a quarter life crisis and the adventure of becoming an adult on my own- half way across the country from anything that I knew, or was comfortable with. She knew my heart. Uptown girl. Wide Open Spaces, Abba, Faith Hill.
What is it about music that etches memories a little deeper on our hearts?
Songs of a love that was never meant to happen. Love that you desire. Battle cries that your own emotions were never able to put into words.
I love music. I love the hope it offers and the memories that it won't ever let me forget.

Love, Peace and Happiness....

Funny how you can be a Christian your whole life and after 31 years of faith an epiphany nips you in the rear...What is the one thing most everyone-EVERYONE- hates...judgment. And isn't the one thing that non-Christians despise about Christians? It really exhausts me, always apologizing for the judgmental behaviors of a "Christian".
I was reeling in my brain and trying to recall one bible verse when Jesus walked up to a prostitute or a tax collector and started jamming "religion" or passed judgment without asking questions about their life. I really couldn't thing of a verse. What if we are missing the big picture. Aren't we only asked to love and leave the judging to God. Asking questions, educating, and living a life that is an adherence with the bible as much as I possibly can...these are important but cramming our thoughts or our walk of faith down someone else's throat does not bring them any closer to God.
It's important to me that people push my thought process by asking questions about my actions- my belief system and then let me find it myself. Do any of us really have the ability to "Save" someone? We are God's hands. feet and mouth, but never did he ask us to do his job. So until something different is asked of me, my only job is to love.