Getting past my first blog.

Beautiful Sitka, Alaska

Well a lot has happened since the last time I wrote ;) Here's to hoping I can be more consistent with my blog entries so I do not have to try and write about all the stuff that has happened in between blogs. Just know that all of my friends visiting me and our Alaskan cruise was AMAZING!!! But on to the now...

I love following blogs. I LOVE reading other people's blogs but I often times say to myself, "why does anyone care about what I have to say?" Or what is so interesting in my life that people will want to read about?! Well while reading one of my favorites tweets from Shelia Walsh, she posted a link from a friend about getting past your first blog, I recommend reading it http://ht.ly/2ZVpc . Anyways my favorite thing that he said was that the practice of writing makes you want to discover more in life...so you can write about it. I thought that statement modeled my sentiments exactly.

Halloween

For Halloween Kevin and I are going as football players. However, the twist is that he will be an English Football Player (for those of you that are confused that is a "soccer" player) and I will be going as an American football player :) Basically what it came down to was I wanted a Peyton Manning jersey and Kevin wanted an EPL jersey. P.S. Did I tell you I got to go watch the Colts play the Broncos? Meaning I got to see Peyton Manning in the flesh?! Well anways, we thought Halloween was an excuse to get those articles of clothing and kill two birds with one stone. I have never liked that saying but nonetheless. I wanted to post a picture of Kevin, me and the pups at a Howl-O-Ween festival we went to...

Farah is a princess and Fenway is Count Dogula. I think the costumes fit their personalities perfectly :) We are going to a Halloween party this Saturday with some friends, so that should be fun. On Halloween I'm thinking we will go to church, hang out and then in the evening maybe watch some Halloween movies and I can make a yummy dinner.

Oh and here is a picture of Kevin and I at the Colts/Broncos game :)

Weight Loss Plan

So one of my very best friends (Jana Wingo) is getting married in May and since I am her Matron of Honor I get the privilege of standing next to her and toasting to her and Jake's marriage. SO. Excited. However, I HAVE GOT TO LOSE WEIGHT. I want to do this to look better and to be healthier but I will be honest, standing next to gorgeous Jana and her equally gorgeous bridesmaids have given me the extra push I needed:) I'm thinking since the wedding iss in May I can do this!! I just HAVE to stick with it! Why is that always the hard part?! So what I have been doing is counting calories. I am allowing myself 1200 a day, however if lets say I work out and burn 500 calories I should actually consume 1700 calories for that day in my food intake. Make sense? Let me know if you think it does not! BUT I am doing this through http://myfitnesspal.com/ . Great site and it is free!! But there are days when If I lose 500 calories I will not end up consuming all the calories the website says I can. But I have been working out every day and have actually been enjoying my work out time.

OKLAHOMA

I miss home. Have I told that to anyone lately? :) I miss my family and friends. I miss my church. I miss Braums. I miss the suburbs. I miss seeing cows. I miss my animals. I also miss hearing crickets and other insects at night vs. a loud freight train right outside my window. I know that Colorado has WONDERFUL and BEAUTIFUL things to offer, but through this experience I have truly come to realize that there is nothing like home, and there is nothing that compares to family and true friends. Also, I know without a doubt that I am not a city girl :) I often listen to the song Cowboy Take me Away by the Dixie Chicks and savour the sweet lyrics while dreaming of when we move back to Oklahoma :) Ha, pathetic I know.

I wanna walk and not run, I wanna skip and not fall,

I wanna look at the horizon and not see a building standing tall,

I wanna be the only one for miles and miles,

Except for maybe you and your simple smile :)

I miss my family for obvious reasons. I love them more than anything in this world. I just really miss my friends. They understand me. They laugh at the things I laugh at. Have a heart for the things I have a heart for, and they let me be me. They also love the things the Lord loves, and their heart breaks for what breaks His. I just want soooo badly to have a slumber party with them all :)

Well folks, it's time for me to put the p.j.'s on and watch Scared Shrekless and The Office. My

Oh also...My Mommy is coming to visit me next week!!!!!!Yipppee!!!

Love from Denver,

Karen

Home in Colorado...

Hello to all!!

So I'm starting this blog to try and keep family and friends up to date on Kevin and I's adventures in Denver :)

I feel really blessed to have the opportunity to be in this beautiful state. We have been really busy and taking advantage of living here. I really am so thankful that Kevin already knew someone here. His friend Michael works at Cimarex too and is from Tulsa as well...in fact they went to TU together. Anyhoo, he and his lovely wife Tiffaney introduced us to the apartment complex we are living in and to our new church and to all of our new friends :) So hows that for hospitality to a new state?!

Some may ask..how are you staying so busy Karen? You do not have a job, and no kids to take care of?! (Although I beg to differ, I have my furbabies!!) Well I have been keeping myself busy doing lots of fun things! Tiffaney has been so sweet to invite me to do things during the day; shopping with the girls, going to Boulder to shop on Pearl Street, swimming, etc. She has a super cute little boy that is 9 mo. old that I love to hold and love on :) But other than that, I have been getting things for the apartment, cleaning, meeting Kevin for lunch, sometimes working out, walking the dogs, reading...before I know it it's 5:00 and Kevin is home!!

Kevin and I went to our community group last night for church and ended up coming home and talking until midnight about God. This was one of my favorite moments in our marriage (we just celebrated our 1st year!). At church and in community groups we have been talking about the foundation of the church and the trinity. We've also been talking about God's plan for redemption and the great commission. So I was talking to Kevin last night about a point that he made stating that when we go to our place of employment every day we get caught up in the fact that work is what we need to accomplish, but really that's not the case. God did not tell us that his first command is to go out and get a job and be successful. He told us to, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surly I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt. 28:19-20)

Obviously people need to work to make an income, and people want to work to do the things they are good at and I know in your work place you can witness to others. These points are all true and valid. However, for me this really impacted me. I have been feeling less important, and not accomplished lately because I do not have a job. I have basically defined my self worth in having a job. I mean think about it, we go to school from age 4-18. Then you go to college until you are 22...or however long it takes :) So your whole life you are preparing yourself for your "career" which is supposed to be what defines you. WELL, I think that if God was in my living room today he would tell me that I am not defined by what earthly job I have. Instead, my 1st priority in life and what my "job" should be is to tell others about Him. To show love and compassion to others, and to walk with God daily. If you REALLY think about that, I hope it speaks to your heart. I want to make God my 1st priority and give him EVERY area of my life.

In other news, my beautiful friend Allison will be here this Saturday!!! Yippppeeee!! We plan on going to Estes Park and hitting up all the cute shops and towns that Colorado has to offer :) She is my granola/girly friend and I love hanging out with her because we love all of the same things :) SO thankful for her and how she is spending her own time/money to come visit me! It will be fabulous. When Allison leaves on the 5th, my other amazing friend Katie will be in town!! I cannot wait to spend time with her and to also show her around and go see the beautiful mountains :) Our new friends Megan and Micha invited us to go to Mt. Princeton that Friday and stay at a cabin until Saturday...So I'm hoping that Kevin, Katie, the dogs and I can make that happen! We would go hiking and swim in the natural hot springs! Can't wait!! Once Katie leaves, we then leave for ALASKA!! WOW. I cannot believe I am actually going to be going on an Alaskan cruise!! I am SOOOO pumped to see Jana (she dances on the cruise and got us a stellar deal) and be with my Mom and mother-in-law and Kevin, it will be a trip to cherish and remember for sure!! I am sooo nervous about leaving the dogs at a boarding facility for 8 nights and 9 days...but I need to just TRUST that other people know how to take care of my dogs besides me and that they will be safe and loved on. Anyhoo, WOW. What a long post. Hope I did not bore anyone and if so, get used to it! :)

Love to all!!

Karen