Were I went in '08

I've seen a couple people log where they traveled last year, and unfortunately, I already threw out my 2008 Calendar, but here was the bulk of my travel:

Phoenix, AZ

Steamboat Springs, CO

Portland, OR

Detroit, MI

Portland, OR

Phoenix, AZ

Orlando, FL

Sarasota, FL

Detroit, MI

Nashville, TN

Phoenix, AZ

Maybe more edits to come if I remember them...

Oh Humanity

Sometimes, when I take a second to think about all the hard stuff my friends are going through, it becomes overwhelming. I want to be there for each one of them. I want to comfort them, sit with them, give them a hug, and help fix it. This week I found out two of my friend's marriages have fallen apart, someone else is in critical condition after having two strokes at my age, a couple others have lost their jobs, and some are just frankly hurting. Why? WHY?

Then I'm reminded of something....I don't have to take these things on by myself. In fact, I shouldn't. There is Someone much larger than me. Larger than any of these hurts, pains, struggles and situations. Someone Who knew these things would happen. Once I turn to Him, and express my hurt for these people, my cares, concerns and worries, I then receive comfort and solace in the fact that my prayers were heard and will not fall on deaf ears. There is a lot of hurt in this world, and it is too big for any one of us to try and take on ourselves. But there is Someone who can take it on, who did, and who is there for us 'til the end of time.

Pile your troubles on God's shoulders—
he'll carry your load, he'll help you out.
He'll never let good people
topple into ruin.

-Psalm 55:22 (The Message)

Full Circle

Yesterday I went for a hike to Maxwell Falls, just outside of Evergreen, CO with my friends Anne Marie and Nanci. As we pulled into the parking lot, it looked quite familiar and I was almost positive I had been at this trailhead before. As we kept walking, it dawned on me that this trail was the very first that I hiked after I moved to Denver, a little over three years ago!

It was such a neat feeling thinking back to where I was when I went on that hike three years ago, and where I am now. It's so interesting how one can grow and change, and yet, on the same token, stay the same in a lot of ways.

While hiking, Nanci asked me where I saw myself in five years. It was the second time in a few days that I had been asked that question, and I felt the same both times...I hate that question. I think I dislike it so much because the future is so uncertain. I can make my plans and goals, but most likely, the next five years will look nothing like how I planned. The thought of being disappointed or even failing is not something I want to voluntarily inject into my life. So I usually don't think about what I will be doing in five years, because who really knows except for the One who knows everything.

Today, in church, I was challenged to be someone who is willing to give everything of myself to God. That includes giving up everything that I own or thought was mine. A woman who put two coins into an offering box, equalling a penny, gave more than anyone of the rich aristocracy because she gave all that she had. She gave it all. Am I willing to do the same? Am I willing to give so much monetarily that it hurts; that it makes me question how I'm going to make rent this month?

Getting out into the wilderness, going for a hike to Maxwell Falls, helped me remember that my life is a gift, it's fragile, and it is not my own. I need to remember that I cannot get too attached to the things of this world or this life. They are fleeting, and temporary. Hearing the sermon in church today helped me remember that I need to be open to letting go of all I hold dear on this earth so that I may reap a greater reward.

Now, I ask you, are you willing to give EVERYTHING? Are you willing to give up everything?

A New Look!

Yesterday my friend Conor and I busted out painting the kitchen in my house in less than three hours! Check out the before and afters!

Before


After



Before



After



All smiles after admiring our work!

Customer Service

I don't usually do this type of blog, but I was so thrilled with the customer service of High Sierra, that I just had to share it with you all and give them a little plug. When I was traveling in Europe this past summer, I took a High Sierra small backpack with me that had a pouch for my hydration device as well (a Camelback-ish type). To my dismay, very time I had the pack on and bent down to pick something up from the ground, water would leak out all over the inside of my pack and I'd have to empty out all of my guidebooks, papers, etc. I thought I had made the mistake of not screwing the top on correctly, however, upon my return to the States, and further inspection of my water reservoir, the falty party was not myself, but a hole in the top of the reservoir! UGH! I was so mad, a) because I had blamed myself for the misfortune of getting all of the contents of my pack wet, and b) because I'd have to call customer service and wade through the multiple phone operators to try and figure out how I could get a replacement reservoir.

To my great surprise and delight, my phone call lasted less than 5 minutes with High Sierra and they didn't even ask me for any information, they just took down my address and said that they would send me a new water reservoir! Now, High Sierra wouldn't be the top of my list for outdoor gear, the pack itself was a gift, but they have certainly climbed the charts with this act of goodness!

What keeps me goin...

I was thinking today about the things in my life that I love and appreciate. I must say, this creature is one of my favorite things in life! The scene pictured is scene a daily occurrence- Bella standing staring from the ball to me and back to ball, just waiting for the moment where I make the lunge towards the ball to pick it up and toss it for her, indicating that her response will be to fetch the ball and bring it back to me with an indefatigable energy.

Ah the simple life and pleasures of a dog. Do I appreciate the simple pleasures in life as much as this Black Lab? She is a constant reminder to do so.

Christmas!

This year was a busy one for me. So when I had the opportunity to go back to Phoenix for Christmas with the Heller Family, I took full advantage of waking up slowly and staying in my pajamas late into the morning. I used the first couple days to catch up with old friends, and then used the remainder of my stay to visit with my parents and brother and sister in law. We took walks together, played games, and baked. Here are a few photos from my visit:

These are a few of the original members of the Shamrock Crossfire soccer team that I joined when I was ten. Joey (on the left) lives in Denver now and we see each other frequently.

We spent a day making our traditional Christmas treats! Mom and JJ are hard at work.

One of our finished products....oh so good!

One night we played a competitive game of Imaginif; it's a good one!

Out enjoying the warm Arizona winter weather on a walk with JJ

Quite the contrast upon my return to Denver, a 10 degree day with snow falling steadily! This is my view from the kitchen window.

A few Favs

A Rendezvous with the Rocks

This past week I had the honor and privilege of spending five days in Joshua Tree National Park rock climbing with some of Outward Bound's finest women! There were 27 of us in sum, and we came from all over the nation (one even came down from Canada). The women were all different ages and skill levels and we all came together with perhaps different expectations or goals, but for the purpose of getting to know others in the Outward Bound community, to improve our personal climbing skills, and most of all, to have fun!


This mission was definitely accomplished, and expectations were surpassed, personally, during my time in JTree. I drove out with three other gals from the Golden Headquarters; thus we
were so named the Golden Girls :) We took turns driving and in two days and 16 hours of driving time later, we ended up in California's town of 29 Palms at the Joshua Tree Basecamp.








I slept under the stars, woke up with the sun, felt the strength of my body radiate through my fingertips and down through my toes. I bled. I sweat. I learned. I grew. I observed. I listened.












I found a new appreciation for the desert. I grew up in a similar environment but usually preferred the green grass to the brown desert. But this last week showed me some of the desert's true colors and they shined brilliantly into my heart and soul. I soaked in the sunshine, I smiled at the cacti, I made footprints in the sand, and I drank as much water as I could!


My time in Joshua Tree was magical, and I feel quite blessed to have had the opportunity to spend the time there with 26 other strong, beautiful, talented, wonderful women!

Viva Italia!

I just returned from an amazing three week backpacking trip with my friend Elaine in Northern Italy. We flew into Venice, out of Rome, and hit some of the most amazing countryside in between the two! The jet lag is certainly in full effect right now, but I don't care, it was well worth it!


My favorite stop was definitely the Cinque Terre on the western coast of Italy.
"Cinque" translates to "five" in Italian, and "Terre" means "land". These five lands, or towns are connected by a path that is cut into the countryside right along the Ligurian Sea, and can also be accessed by a train that runs through each town. All five towns have their own charm and beauty to them.




We stayed in a hostel in Manarola that served organic food and was very energy efficient and eco-friendly (showers were limited to five minutes). The views were spectacular, the sea was such an amazingly beautiful blue hue, and the experience was unforgettable. I enjoyed seeing the transformation of towns from their daytime crowd to the nightlife experience. There was a certain hustle and bustle feel during the day, people getting their shopping done, running errands and such. But at night, the lights are dim, the chairs are all setup outside, the wine starts flowing, and the sounds of laughter and good times permeates the streets.

Some of my favorite things while on the trip: FOOD! The gelato is a must have. It is to be eaten as often as possible, preferably when the afternoon I-should-be-sleeping feeling starts to hit. In the Cinque Terre region, pesto is plentiful and bursting with flavor! Our hostel and served up some killer Gnocchi pasta with pesto. So good! In addition to the food, a favorite was also the fact that we could pack it in or be as relaxed as we wanted! We really concentrated on perfecting The Stroll over the last few weeks. It was so nice to have the freedom to just sit, people watch, and walk the streets of the Italian towns.

A few of the things I missed while in Italy: Free toilets, my bed, free e mail access, Peanut Butter, and ice cubes. :)

I had a really wonderful time of reflection while on the trip, and the opportunity to while away to remember what is important to me and what things should be a priority in my life. And perhaps what things I should say no to in order to open up some space for myself to have a break once in a while.
Elaine and I certainly grew closer while living together and traveling for three weeks straight. She is an amazing person, and someone that I feel quite blessed and fortunate to have in my life. It was an honor to be able to be by her side and experience God's creation together. She is such an encouragement in my life, and I will miss our evening talks over a glass of vino rosso!

It's been a few days since I arrived in the States and I am very much still adjusting, but I would be happy to tell you more about my trip if you have questions or want to see more pics! I am so thankful that I was able to go on this trip, and it is something I will treasure in my heart for the rest of my life! 'Til next time!
JH

A New Addition!

She's still alive folks! It's been a busy last few months, but a really wonderful time as well. Since my last post I have had two big events happen: 1) I moved into a new place! 2) I have a wonderful black lab puppy (her name is Bella)! She's full of energy and personality. She's a about 19 months old and a wonderful companion for me. My job allows me to take her to work with me, and Denver is a very dog friendly city. You can even bring your dog into Home Depot!

I'm excited to take her camping and hiking this summer, she loves to be outside, especially in the water, and she's a wonderful retriever. She could play fetch for hours if my arm could hold up! AND thanks to the invention of the Halti dog harness, she's become a very good walking partner :) Thanks David and JJ!

Peace Child

Something that has recently been on my mind is the subject of pluralism. It is something that my church has been discussing, and a topic that is prevalent throughout society in regards to religion and theology. I get the feeling that the people of the city in which I live are quite spiritual. Maybe even religious. Perhaps not religious in the same way that one might usually use the term in a way to describe one's church-going habits, but in a ritualistic sense. This is especially clear to me during this time of year. Winter. Coloradans religiously make their way westward on I-70 to numerous congregations with tall summits and plenty of seating every weekend. Some of the more popular destinations you've probably hear of, such as Vail, Breck, Copper. Some might say they make a connection there. They feel most at peace with the world when they are going top speed down a beautiful mountain packed with powder and full of grace. Heck, God created nature for us to enjoy right? Why do we need to go into a man-made building in the city to be with God when I can dwell with others in His presence in nature? Can't I find God in everything? Aren't there more than just one way to get to God? Is there?


Recently I read a book by the name of Peace Child, written by Don Richardson. He writes about his life years ago; of going into a canniballistic culture in New Guinea and making his home there with his wife a newborn son. He knew nothing of their language or traditions, but puts forth all of his energy into doing so. Eventually, not only does Don learn the language of the Sawi, he also learns of a way that he might be able to present the Gospel to this people in such a way that they might understand, through THEIR oral traditions and culture. He was able to use something called a redemptive analogy in such a way that this people would understand the love and grace that God has for humanity, for them. Richardson found common ground with a people who had never come into contact with a white man before his arrival. He was as different to them as anything they had ever imagined. And yet, he was able to find ways to relate with them. He translated the whole Bible into the Sawi language, and was even allowed the opportunity to show this culture how God, sending his only son to earth to die on a cross as a criminal, was the ultimate peace child. You'll have to read the book to understand the full significance of what the Sawi's called a Peace Child. But through reading this book, I was given a renewed sense of hope for this city of Denver. If a man can step into a culture that he has nothing in common with, and find common ground to share Christ with them, how much more should I be able to find common ground with a fellow Denverite? Does Denver, as a city, have a redemptive analogy? Does each one of us have our own redemptive analogy? How can we find common ground with one another? Comments are encouraged and welcome!

Oh Snow!!!

Even though I have lived in Colorado now for a little over a year and a half, I am experiencing a TRUE winter the second time around. Ever since the weekend of Christmas, it has snowed every weekend. And, as most of you know, a few of those weekends brought TONS of snow!!!! In fact, I was definitely blessed that I left on the Tuesday evening before Christmas because Denver International Airport CLOSED FOR TWO DAYS that next afternoon.











In the meantime, I have begun the adventure of becoming a ski bum. :) Well snowboarding bum anyways. The snow is so much more enjoyable when you just embrace it and play in it....lots! Here are a few pics of me and some other transplants enjoying the good stuff!

Giving Thanks....

On this day, the 23rd of November, 2006, Americans eat, laugh, watch football, gather with friends and family, and hopefully take the time to look around for a second and give thanks....but how many have actually done that today? Have you? I want to make sure that I do, and so here goes, my list of things that I'm thankful for, please do add to the list of what YOU are thankful for as well:

God
His Son
Grace
Freedom
My family
Friendship
Communication
The ability to have all five senses fully functional in my being
Reasoning capabilities
LOVE
Communication
The beauty of nature
music
laughter
puppies
The priveledge of seeing the Rocky Mountains every day
feeling the warmth of the SUN as it washes over my face
HUGS
The abundance of Coffeeshops in Denver
Shelter
Provision
The opportunity to be a positive influence in the world
My health
Hearing from an old friend
Making new friends......

Now it's your turn~

My 15 days in the Wilderness

I had the honor and priveledge to go on a 15 day expedition with Outward Bound Wilderness during this month of October for 15 days in Southwest Utah. It was an amazing experience in which I learned not only the hard skills of riverboating and backpacking, but also the soft skills of working with 6 total strangers for two weeks in order to be self sufficient and survive in our canyonland wilderness.

The course was titled the Southwest Mystery Expedition and was so named because the instructors planned the itinerary, but kept us students in the dark as to what all was planned until usually the morning of. Sometimes we would have an idea of what we would be doing due to the equipment that they would have us pack, but where we were going and for how long was always a mystery. This was a challenge to most of us because we so often wanted to ask questions to have a better idea of what to expect and be in control of our situation. But this was not usually the case. We were forced to trust that the instructors knew what they were doing, and we had to rely on each other for help and support.

We started in Potash, Utah which is southwest of Moab. From day 1 to day 9 we took one support boat, which stored all of our food in huge coolers and boxes, guided by an instructor, and then the other six of us were in a paddle boat that you typically see floating down the river when whitewater rafting. The water level was much higher and faster than normal, so some of the rapids that are normally class 3 became class 4; which made for an exciting ride! During this time we learned how to scout rapids in order to find the best route to take so as not to flip the boat or get stuck, we learned how to tie up the boats on the side of the river to tree branches or rocks, how to set up camp (the kitchen, the groover-I'll get into that, and our tarp which was our shelter for the next 15 days).

This might be too much information for some of you, but I know most of you are wondering....while on the river we urinated into the river, but when it came to #2 we used something called a groover. This was a military ammunition can in which we took off the lid and replaced it with a toilet seat and called it good. We would set it up away from the group, hidden behind trees or a rock or something, and then we could just take our time doing our business! This was one of the first things to be set up when we would set up camp for the evening. I must say, I pooped in some of the most beautiful places I've ever seen while on this trip!

On day 9 we made the switch from the river to backpacking. One instructor split from the group for about a day and a half to take the boats out while the rest of us began our journey through the canyonlands on foot. We learned how to repel, shimmy lateraly on rocks hanging on by our fingertips and toes lest we fall into a pool of freezing water-sometimes as deep as our height, construct a harness out of a piece of rope, spot each other on difficult climbs, and basically just work together in order to get the whole group to complete whatever task we were given.

On day 11, after being together every single minute of every day, we went on "solo". This was a time when our instructors picked a spot for each individual to spend a little over a day and a half completely in solitude with nature. We were allowed to bring our sleeping bag and pad, a solo tarp for protection, a journal, any letters we wanted to write, and they gave us a "solo pack" of food which did not consist of much more than crackers and electrolytes. I enjoyed this time so much 1) because my spot was absolutely gorgeous 2) because it was a good break from the group 3) it gave me time to reflect on what I had experienced so far 4) there was no schedule, I could sleep as long as I wanted and just take my time doing whatever I chose.

I think what I took away most from the course was patience. Patience with others, patience with myself, patience with time and life and God and my environment. I would say that I was physically prepared for the course, regularly exercising most days and hiking a lot during the summer season. But I would say I was challenged mentally numerous times. I did not sleep well at night, for one reason or another, so after a long night of turning from side to back to side to stomach and over again, it was sometimes quite challenging to have patience with a 19 year old boy who was crabby because he hadn't smoked a cigarette in a few days. I took many a deep breath to keep from losing it when we would be hiking for no more than five minutes and someone would ask when we could take our next break, or how much further we had to go until we were there. Patience.

There are 5 pillars that Kurt Hahn, founder of Outward Bound, based this organization upon. They are: Enterprising curiosity, undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, sensible self denial, and above all - compassion. These are tenants that we tried to embody while living in our, as one instructor put it, little "utopian society" for 15 days. In addition, hopefully these tenets can also be carried on into our lives now as we are off course. I think I was able to see compassion in a new light after this course by observing how the instructors dealt with students on course. Sometimes, showing compassion didn't necesarily mean making things easier for the student, but offering support, kindness, and sometimes stern words, in order to aid in one's personal growth.

I observed patience when a student was scared frozen while coming upon a portion of a slick rock area that was exposed to a 400 foot drop. The instructor would show patience and compassion by slowly talking them through what needed to happen in order to get through this and overcome their fears. They would never belittle someone or make them feel like they were silly for being scared at different points during the course, they would be there for support and guidance to aid in personal growth and build self-confidence.

One of the reasons I went on this course was to get a better idea of whether instructing is something that I would like to do in the future. After observing the instructors on my course, and talking with them on numerous occasions throughout the course, I feel that I would love to instruct to some capacity while also maintaining the commitments and friendships that I have in Denver as well. This will be a very tricky task, as courses are usually two to three weeks long, but if I can keep a balance of being home and going out on course, I think that it would be an amazing job! The influence you have on lives as an instructor for the time that you are on course with a group of students is powerful, and I got a glimpse of that over the 15 days that I was on my expedition.

Some of my favorite moments on course were the times when I would be hiking with someone and we would be dialoguing and sharing about our beliefs and worldviews. I had a chance to share about my faith in Jesus Christ on numerous occasions, and how much that faith has influenced my life and decisions that I make. I was thankful for those conversations and the opportunities to get to know six other people on a deeper level in such a short amount of time.

If anyone has more specific questions that you would like to ask, please feel free, I would be happy to share! It was an amazing experience and I was so thankful for the opportunity to be able to do it because some people will never be able to experience something like that even if they want to. At times when I was on course and I thought about how good a shower would feel when I got home, I brought myself back to the present moment when I thought about all of the people that will never see a moonrise over the Colorado River while floating down it, or get an inch away from a harvest panel that was painted by natives 900 years ago, or watch the sun rise while inside a sleeping bag atop a canyon mesa 6000 ft in elevation, stare at a meteor shower with stars as bright as light bulbs, witness a rock fall from the canyon walls, float past a flashflood, feel 15 different textures of mud between my toes (I didn't know that was possible!), hear coyote howls echoe through the canyon walls in the distance....and plenty more.

With Arms Wide Open

It's been about three months since my last post, much to at least one friend's disappointment. However, the following blog will show partially what I have been doing in that span of time. It has been approximately a year and five months since I first moved to Denver and I cannot imagine a better place to be living! In the time that I have spent here, I have managed to climbed three 14,000 foot peaks, scramble to the top of the largest sand dune in the US, play on three different soccer teams, and in just under two weeks, I will go on my first Outward Bound Course in southern Utah! Not to mention, all of my friends decided to get married this summer, so I was quite busy traveling to witness the blessed events.

(Left) Snow Shoeing in Winter Park
(Right) Hiking in the Northwest in
between weddings

During every season of the year, I have had the awesome opportunity to bask in the beauty of God's creation in the outdoors. Colorado offers recreational activities in nature all year round! (If it sounds like I'm trying to sell some of you on coming out here.....well, I am!) I was fortunate enough to have a flexible schedule that allowed me to leave work and get out to enjoy some of the most amazing views of mountains, valleys, lakes, and trees that I have ever experienced!



Growing up in the Southwest, there aren't many seasonal changes that occur, but in Colorado, to witness the aspens change from a deep green to brown with yellows, oranges, and reds in between....FANTASTIC! I feel extremely blessed to have lived here for such a short amount of time, and already to have experienced so much beauty and adventure! Hopefully these pictures reflect even a fraction of the awesomeness that the real deal posseses.

After a long 11.5 mile hike in the Collegiate Mountain Range
up Missouri Mountain, a feeling of accomplishment was in the air.

Beauty is all around us, no matter if we are walking down a bustling sidewalk in New York City, or all alone atop a peak in the Rockies. Hopefully we can all remember to take the time to see the beauty that surrounds us, and thank the one who gives us that opportunity. Sometimes life flies by and we don't notice the little things....what beauty have you seen lately?