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Make Your Own Family Cookbook: A Gift That Warms The Heart and Spans the Generations
I read somewhere once that the most treasured heirlooms that you can pass down to your children are memories. Our son recently lost his beloved grandma, my mother-in-law, at the tender age of four. How could I help him hold on to his memories of her when he was so young? The answer…. I needed to be very intentional in documenting those memories for years to come. Fortunately for us, we were blessed with the gift of time. You see, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer almost 14 years ago. Her prognosis was poor at diagnosis, but she fought bravely for years and she (and God) gave…
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Hike Colorado: Handies Peak From American Basin
Every year, I get together with a few of my favorite girlfriends and we laugh our way through some epic Colorado adventure, usually followed by a lot of caffeine and Tylenol because #almost40 and #thepainisreal! We’ve hiked into Maroon Bells (near Aspen) from Crested Butte and last year, we hiked the ever-popular Ice Lakes Basin and Island Lake trail outside Silverton. This year we decided to summit our first 14er! Out of 50+ 14ers in the state of Colorado, we picked Handies because it’s beginner-friendly and still packs in alpine lakes, a beautiful river, little waterfalls, stunning wildflowers, and incredible views!! If you have a good recommendation for one of…
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God Whispered, “Give It To Me.”
I stood at this very spot when I heard God whisper, “give it to me.” Give you what? “Your shame.” I can’t, God. I deserve it. If people knew what I was really like, they would say the same. “Give it to me.” His words were so powerful that as I type them, I’m drawn to tears. But, let me go back a few beats because I believe that God has been preparing me for this moment for months. I have lost several people over the years to suicide. Some I knew only a little. Others I had lost touch with. I felt saddened, and if I’m honest, sometimes angry. …
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Chasing Waterfalls in Southwest Colorado
There are so many incredible places in Colorado that deserve to be on your bucket list, but some of my absolute favorite adventures are those that end under a beautiful waterfall! Below, you’ll find my own personal “Bucket List” of waterfalls in SW Colorado! Feel free to bookmark this page and check back often, as I love adding new waterfalls to the list! Or better yet, drop a suggestion in the comments with one that I haven’t included! While here, click on any waterfall name to be redirected to a site with additional information. As you scroll through my bucket list for inspiration, keep in mind that I haven’t been…
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Piano Upcycle: Milk Paint Transformed Our Old Piano!
When our entertainment center started literally falling apart, my husband and I began to search for something old and sturdy second-hand that we could upcycle into a cute and unique tv stand. I love old furniture! It’s rock solid and lasts forever! After several nights cruising Pinterest, I realized that people were using old pianos for all kinds of upcycled purposes and an idea was born. I talked my husband into letting me try to find an old upright piano with the intention of using it as a one-of-a-kind tv stand. (Talk about a conversation piece!) I still think that this would have been an amazing idea, but what happened…
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Bucket List Hike: Ice Lake Basin & Island Lake (Silverton, CO)
Hiking Ice Lake Basin, just outside Silverton, Colorado, has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. If you’ve ever seen photos of the area, the images just stick with you. Ice Lake Basin and its sister lake, Island Lake, which is just a bit further up the trail, are true SW Colorado gems and worth every bit of effort that it takes to reach them. In fact, when I was doing my research for the hike, one reviewer said, “5 stars is not enough.” I couldn’t agree more. It is everything that I love about Colorado all packed into one amazing day hike. First off,…
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Let’s Make Nature Art!
We absolutely love going on nature walks. For me, there’s nothing quite as rejuvenating as being outside and letting my senses take in all of the sights, smells, and sounds of the great outdoors. So, naturally, when I saw this idea floating around social media to create art out of things you find in nature, I just knew that we had to try it out! (…and I’m so glad that we did!) This project not only ended up being fun and creative, but it also brought the whole family together around the table because everyone wanted to try one! Before we get started, I wanted to mention a few small…
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A Note to My Mom on Mother’s Day…
You know that beautiful Footprints poem about how the Lord carried us through difficult and challenging times in our lives… “When you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.” Well, God has carried me through many difficult and challenging days in my life (and many absolutely beautiful ones too), but today, I’m calling it a joint effort. You see, there are two other people that have never left my side and have carried me through many of the ups and downs of life… my beautiful and loving mom and dad. I am truly blessed with amazing parents. Over the years, they have carried me…
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Hike Colorado: Crested Butte to Aspen via West Maroon Pass
Every summer, a small group of my girlfriends and I plan a weekend get-away centered around whatever epic hike we have been eye-balling for the year. This annual tradition started in 2018 when we decided to hike over West Maroon Pass (elevation 12,500’) from Crested Butte, CO to Aspen, Colorado, ending our 13-mile hike at the iconic Maroon Bells Lake. In this blog, I’ll share the logistics of our planning, the experience of the hike itself, and the realities of some of our miscalculations. In all, we had an amazing time and it’s a hike that I highly recommend! The Logistics Lodging Transportation To/From Trailheads When to Hike What to…
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Travel: Moab,Utah
Moab, Utah. It’s a busy little tourist hot spot with all the small-town charm and hospitality and an endless outdoor paradise as its backyard. Every time we leave Moab, we are plotting and planning for our return. It’s just one of those towns that steals your heart and leaves you craving more! And the best part… it’s a place that we truly enjoy as a family! In this blog, we will discuss the family-friendly activities that we recommend in Moab, Utah: Arches National Park Canyonlands National Park Dead Horse Point State Park Mill Creek Hiking Trail and Waterfall Moab Giants Lin Ottinger’s Moab Rock Shop and Fossils Quesadilla Mobilla ……
