is this thing on?

I really enjoy living in a smaller community; we have everything we need but we also get to dream about all the things we don't have. We leave this weekend to spend the holidays in Colorado Springs and I'm really excited! In fact, I made a list of all the things I want to do upon arrival and I'm reminded there's something to be said about having to wait for things that you want. For the 6 years we lived in Westminster we had easy access to just about everything we could think of. So and so is playing at the Fillmore next week? Let's get tickets.  Rockies game tonight? Sure!   I think I'll drive over to a different Target today and check out their clearance. Should I have Qdoba, Noodles, Which Wich, Chipotle, Panera...? Now I'm realizing how that type of environment eventually takes the magic out of things. The magic of anticipating that in 4.5 days I can eat Blue Bell ice cream, go to a really big chain craft store, and eat at Red Robin. The mag...

Since we moved, we've been trying to find a church to call home. There are quite a few churches around town so we just decided to try them all and see which one might fit us best. I tend to be more traditional and I love me some liturgy (having an order to worship that includes historical traditions, reading & response, traditional prayers, creeds, etc). We've been going to the denominational churches (Lutheran, Presbyterian, & Methodist so far) and I've been struck by one thing: There are no young people in these churches. Like, NONE. Today we went to the Methodist church and a gentleman came over and said, "I had to make sure to come say Hi to the youngest people here! How does it feel to be so young?" Now, I need to clarify that I have nothing against the older generation (think late 60's-90's- we sang happy birthday during the service today for a lady turning 97) but there's obviously going to be a gap there and we're probably no...

I'm sharing this at the risk of sounding uber-lonely and /or creepy: For a while now I've felt like Brian and I are cursed. I don't know what magical being we disturbed but it seems to have cursed us to never have really good friends. That's not to say we haven't had great friends over the years but not really the kindred spirit type where you just know, "We are going to be BEST friends". They are the people you instantly feel comfortable around and who are easy to be with. Friends you don't have to go out of your way to plan a time to hang out- it's a given that you'll be hanging out or stopping by. The Academy Awards are on? Which house should we use? There's a sale going on? What time should we go? I know I'm not having a pipe dream. It's happened to me before and I want it again. However, here's how our curse plays out: We meet people who potentially fit that bill and shortly after we start hanging out with them they...

I love children’s sermons (when kids are responsive and don’t just sit there like a deer in headlights). We are currently searching for a new church and visited First Presbyterian Church this weekend. During the children’s sermon, the pastor asked the children a handful of questions and the kids did their best to answer correctly. I’ll try and recreate it to the best of my memory. Pastor: Does anyone know what we are preparing for this month?        Kids: ….Christmas Pastor: That’s right! And what makes Christmas special? Kids: …Snow! Pastor: Sure! And what else? Kids: …Snowflakes! Pastor: Ok… Anything else? Kid: …Jesus? Pastor: That’s right!! And what do we do to prepare for Jesus’ birth? Kids: … Pastor: What about this tree (points to tree)? Kids: Christmas tree! Pastor: That’s right! And why do we use this kind of tree? Kids: …  …Jesus? Pastor: …Yes, it does all go back to Jesus but…what kind of tree is this? ...