off the top of my head...

Colorado, you were AMAZING!!!

Carter & Kofahl Fams, I MISS you so much.

Sarah & Jenn, thanks for the uncontrollable LAUGHS this past Friday.

Blonde Girl, step OFF my unicorn be-@tc#!!

Unicorn, get in gear and become a stallion ALREADY.

Those who aren't in the unicorn know, so SORRY!!

YMCA of BV, oh shucks...I HEART you. So happy to see as many of you as I did.

Lady on the plane, you really need to learn rules of PERSONAL space.

Sickness, here's a flash: I'm SICK of you. Go away.

Shannon, I love YOUR love of the Bachelorette and Adam Levine.

Utah, I missed you. I feel I'm getting into the swing of things here. You make me HAPPY.

Alka Seltzer, WORK your healing wonders.

Bed, I'll be seeing you SOON!!!!!!!!

Rx for Homesickness

What up bloggy blogerson folks? To my faithful few readers, sorry i've been MIA. Its been a bit since my last post. I have been busy with my new job. It's an amazing job too. Be jealous, very jealous. I'm so thankful and blessed that God loves me so much that He would have a job for me within 2 weeks of arriving here. I've also been busy exploring life here in the beautiful and quirky state of Utah! I'm looking forward to seeing everything that unfolds. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. If you were here with me right now as I'm typing this you would see the big smile of wonder and expectation upon my face. That's right!!

I won't lie though, I'm still homesick, but I've come to understand, in a way, I always will. My friends, who became my family, in Colorado will always be utterly important. After all, they are some of the most dear and special people I know who have walked with me through the trenches, laughed with me in good times and are always there for me, even if I am 500 miles away. And when you can't be with them as before, your heart can't help but long for them. That's right Colorado folk, my heart longs for and misses you.

Below is a personal list of Rx for my homesickness...

1. Ikea.
You all know about my love for Ikea. I wandered around that store the first 2 weeks I landed in this state. It has a way of making me feel better as you walk around and peruse all the fun things they have.

2. Walks
You know, get those endorphins pumping. Once the endorphins pump, you can't be sad. Know what I mean, butter bean?

3. Sunday hikes with amazing Friends
Exploring the Utah mountains. Where there may be rattlesnakes that are ready to pounce if you're not careful. Seriously. Cody almost got it.





4. Singing
Lots of singing with my invisible air microphone. Yeah, I said it.

5. "Double L" with Sharon & Corky
L + L = Lattes and Love. I haven't been afraid to ask for some L&L from those wonderful Seevinck folk.

6. Wednesday Night Pizza and Ice Cream dessert
I have an amazing new roommate who wanted to carry on my Wednesday night pizza & ice cream dessert tradition that I had with Ellyn & Rhonda, so I have something comfortable and familiar that feels like home. Though she puts her own twist on it and we make pizza from scratch. That's right foks...from SCRATCH!! But, I do miss that Digiorno.

7. Exploring, living and being happy
Just out and about and exploring!! Seeing what life has to offer and learning to not be so afraid of everything.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, and it always helps the homesickness when you get an email, text or phone call. And I do a happy dance when I get cards in the mail. Today I about broke something when I did spontaneous cartwheels* because when I got home from work I found a package waiting for me from the Stum-y-Garcia's full of goodies and comfort from home. I loved all the little sticky notes on each present. I had stuff for pedi's. Some yummy snacks. (I was told it was okay to NOT share sometimes, ha!). I think the one that really made me laugh was the AdvilPM with a note that said, "Get some freakin' sleep already".

They really know me well!!




*You can decide for yourself if I really did spontaneous cartwheels! ;)

Rewind: 35th Birthday

2 months ago I had another birthday--the 35th--and had many mixed emotions about this particular one. Happy, sad, strangely adult and still overwhelmingly young and behind on "my plan" for my life.

I know, I know. I'm such a mess.

All that aside, what I want to focus on here is that fact that I was able to celebrate plentifully; first with my Utah Lovelies and then with my Colorado Lovelies. I feel adored and blessed by all of the amazing people the Lord has placed in my life. Seriously ADORED!!!

My Utah lovelies always make me feel so special, loved and like I belong. My life has been extremely blessed since I've started taking my trips to the Great State of Utah. And, lets be honest, I just can't get enough of the Seevinck lovin' that I receive. I feel so at home and safe when I'm in their presence. Plus, I laugh so much and always come back with new insight into life. They just have a way of doing that to me; most times without even saying anything. It just happens.

Love, love, love you all!!

My Colorado Lovelies are fan-flippin'-tastic!! I went to the Rio on my birthday; then had a slumber party with the Y Besties; and just when I thought it couldn't get any better I was able to have a wii bowling party with the lovely ladies that hold me up, inspire me and remind me of God's love everyday. I would be lost without these ladies.

One of the things that blessed me the most from my birthday was some of my friends wrote "35 Things We Love About Raelynn" in honor of my 35th birthday. I ran across it again tonight when I was straightening up my room. So I thought I would share it here because I love it so much.

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"35 Things We Love About Raelynn"

From Jenn

1. Her generosity and giving spirit

2. Her creativity

3. Her love of shoes!

From Gayle

4. How she can make me laugh effortlessly

5. How she faces life straight on...whatever comes her way

6. She pursues her passions

7. She has worked with that personal trainer! I would have quit a long time ago.

From Natalie

8. I love that Raelynn's heart is steadfast with hope and that she keeps trusting even when she doesn't understand how things will work out

9. I love Rae's shiny black hair and deep brown eyes--she's such a beauty!

10. I love that Raelynn can dive the depths of conversation and have your rolling with laughter

From Carol

11. I love that Raelynn honors and values family in truly Biblical ways...living life in community, loving, serving and always showing deep devotion

12. I love that Raelynn is a friend to ALL!

13. I love that Raelynn brings me overflowing joy and laughter in my life

14. I love that Raelynn loves some Strawberry FANTA baby!!!

From Liz

15. I love how she loves kids. She has an amazing way of connecting to them and making them feel special and important

16. I love her passion for her heritage

17. I love that she uses her voice to teach and bless on the worship team and with the kids

18. Her sharing at the CME about dreams

19. Her blogs

From Jacki & Jill

20. Her honesty

21. She is an encourager

22. She is always humble

23. Her gift of wisdom

24. She has such integrity and compromises for no one

25. She is full of grace and the first one to forgive

26. She has endless compassion, even for those who have hurt her

27. She is completely reliable

28. She is a warrior and intercessor for her family no matter what

29. She honors her spiritual leaders

30. She likes cheese tortillas

31. She is sacrificial

32. She loves Jesus, but is willing to admit that sometimes she is pissed at Him too

33. She is willing to share the knowledge the Lord has given her even if she is out of her element

From Shauna

34. I love her passionate fire for the Lord and people

35. I love the overflowing joy and laughter that she brings in every situation

From Halen

Bonus 1. Raelynn is inspiring in her tenderness to the Lord

Bonus 2. I LOVE that her love language includes chocolate bars

Bonus 3. I love that her love for others is accompanied by action

********************

Hello!!!

Can it get any better than that?? I don't think so. I keep this list in my journal and when I start feeling lost or in doubt about who I am...I read this list again. It always helps me find my way back and erases the doubt that is plaguing my mind.

This list is truly one of the best gestures of love I have ever received.

God is love!

God IS love!

God is LOVE!

The WBC is in Boulder and Denver picketing the next few days. In my opinion, they are not a happy loving group that exhibits the attributes and love of Christ; but rather scream, judge and preach falsely in the Name of Jesus. This makes my heart sad. Actually, it makes me all hivey, agitated, pissed .... the list could go on. But overall, my heart is sad. I know that I know this is not how Jesus would want us to act in His Name. He would choose love. He always chooses love--even in discipline and rebuke. He is nothing but love.

But regardless of the slander they choose to put out there today, I know that,

God is good. God is love.

You can read a little about the pickets going on here!

Big Fat Cupcake

Today Jenn and I made our way to Denver so we could try some yummy goodness from Big Fat Cupcake. Of course, not thinking, we went the day before Valentine's Day and the choices were few and far between. The atmosphere was pleasing and made you feel downright giddy, the employees were friendly and most importantly, the cupcakes were divine.

Jenn's cupcake of choice was the Strawberry; and I chose Monkey Love--a Banana cupcake with cream cheese frosting! Both were topped off with edible glitter with conversation hearts and/or valentine sprinkles.

I was curious to try....but they were sold out of the Tiger Wood's cupcake, which is apparently available 'till he starts talking.'

It was scrumdiddlyumpcious. If you're ever in North Cherry Creek in Denver you should stop in and give it a try. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Labor Day: Fun, Aches & Promise

I had the opportunity to go on my second camping trip of the summer. I wouldn't say I'm much of a roughing it kinda girl so I'm never one to suggest, or even go, camping. Fortunately, my friends have a camper, so I thought I would embark upon camping again.

Basically...I loved it. Yes I did.

Of course, I wouldn't say we were really "roughing it" because it's nowhere near like camping at powwows with teepee's and tents and whatnot, but whatever. So when the opportunity came around a second time, I was on board.

Here's a list of our Labor Day/Camping Activities:

• Mountain biking: which I had a hate-love-hate relationship with. See below!
• Hiking
• Football and Frisbee fun
• Mexican Train Domino's
• Making friendship bracelets with a cutie patootie
• Sitting in the camper snuggled up with friends as it poured down rain with some serious scary thunder
• Campfire Fun: laughing, talking, laughing, amazing S'mores, laughing, stories and more laughing
• Random songs that I would make up, randomly. Hence the "random" in random songs.
• Etc, etc, etc.

There was a torrential downpour on Saturday with some serious thunder that made us all jump and scream like the girls we were. Of course, there was a simultaneous scream from the campground when one thunder hit so hard my life flashed before my eyes. I felt bad for those in tents. Actually, it was bad enough that those in tents were in their cars until the storm passed. Once the storm passed and the sun reappeared we quickly began playing football, frisbee and had yummy camping foods.

On Sunday it rained some more during our bike ride. I had a bad feeling about bike riding when I woke up. I knew that I knew that I was going to get hurt. And sure enough, during the morning ride when I couldn't figure out the gear system, managed to slice the back of my leg with the pedal of the bike. I have a nasty cut on my leg to remind me of how much I truly sucked on the mountain bike. And then during the afternoon ride, as I was feeling more confident, hit a muddy rut in the road. And as I was brave enough to push through it at a quicker speed to pull myself out of a catastrophe of a flip on the bike, ended up robbing myself of the ability to have children as the back tire slid back into the rut and got stuck in the mud. Which basically means the bike jerked to a stop but I did not; and I flew forward causing a serious injury to the lady parts. Yes, I said it. I racked myself to the point of not being able to sit back on the bike and had to walk it back on the last part of the ride. Extreme pain, my friends. EXTREME pain. It knocked the air out of me. Tears immediately fell on their own and I'm pretty sure I may have screamed something too vulgar for innocent ears. The bike & I fought a muddy rut in the road; and the rut in the road won!!

Before the unfortunate victimization from the mountain bike, I was able to snap a couple of photos of the storm that was brewing overhead. One part of our ride took us through parts of the land that had been ravaged by forest fire. It was a bit eerie with the storm clouds looking very menacing above the wrecked land. As we rode, I was reflecting on things around me as it was reminding me of some personal struggles when, lo and behold, the Lord showed up like only He can and began speaking to me about death, life, truth and His promise as I continued to ride along in prayer.

And then, there it was: we found the rainbow of promise over the ravaged land. I like to think of it as God's promise to give growth and rebirth to the land; as well as to the secrets He was whispering to me on my mountain ride.

God is GOOD!!!

Overall, I had a relaxing fun, albeit painful at a few points, weekend. I can't wait until camping season starts again next year.

Wow! Did I really just say that? I guess I did.

Colorado's Schizophrenic Weather

This morning, I woke up to snow. Yep, snow. There was no snow in the forecast when I went to sleep the night before; but lo and behold, it was there when I woke up. Everyone has been working so hard at planting their gardens and making their lawns pretty and aromatic. But, mother nature and her adamant love of snow is making it difficult to keep the gardens with any type of consistency they need to survive.



But, then by 1:30pm-ish...the sun was out and the snow was gone. WTF?!! Yet, when I came home from work it was looking dreary and overcast again. Who knows what tomorrow holds? Hopefully it will be decent as I am heading to the zoo with all of the Y kids. Yippy!!

I guess we won't really know until tomorrow. And truthfully it, more than likely, will be a winter/spring/summer mix since Colorado weather is just not sure of which season it wants to be right now.