The Birthday Blog- 31

I took another trip round the sun.

Last week, I turned 31. Everyone says the 30s are the best years of your life. For me, it has been the biggest growing year of my life- spiritually, emotionally and professionally. I feel like I’m learning so much about who I am, what I can handle and what I want for my life. It’s been fun and hard work. It’s been happy and sad. It’s been amazing and disappointing. It’s definitely been a year of extremes and I’m happy for a fresh start as I move officially into my 30s.

I always like to reflect when it’s my birthday. What did the past year entail? What was good? What was not so good? What did circumstances and experiences teach me about life, love and God? How did I change? How did I grow?

Those are all still questions I’m answering and mulling over and writing about in my journal. I started this blog 3 years ago on my birthday. I’ve shared about so many good times had and also about one of the hardest seasons of my life.

Not surprising, I learned more about myself in the hard times than the good.

I learned that I am resilient. I can be strong and forgiving. I also learned that I can be weak. I can be mean and bitter. I learned that being the latter does no good for anyone…especially me. I learned that no matter what happens to me, I’m never alone in this world. God is always guiding me. My family and friends are just a phone call away. I learned the power of prayer is undeniable. I learned having a community of people lifting you up in prayer during a hard time can be the most remarkable thing. I learned life can get messed up and broken but restoration and forgiveness are beautiful things.

I definitely don’t have it all figured out, and I know that I never will. But seeing glimpses of renewal in the everyday experiences give me hope for the future:

I spent time in El Salvador meeting some of the most incredible people who materially have so little but spiritually are overflowing. I spent a week laughing harder than I had in so long. I made friends for life.

Travel Outside the Country

60. Go on a missions trip

I spent a weekend in the nation’s capital walking the grounds where so many of our country’s leaders have spent time. I spent a rainy day remembering the Holocaust and feeling very thankful to live in a free country.  I walked all over downtown Washington DC and then I ran my fastest race to date along the Potomac River.

See the cherry blossoms on the mall in DC (and run a race there!) 

I made a last minute hair appointment and decided it was time for a change.

26. Grow my hair really long then cut it off for Locks of Love 

I also: moved, changed jobs, started a business and ran another marathon. I got rid of half my clothes, lost 10 inches of hair and gained 10 lbs of winter. :)

The day before my birthday, a co-worker from the tax office passed away. He had been battling cancer and heart issues for some time. He would read this blog and send me an email or post on Facebook.

About a month before he died, he sent me an email to tell me he was in a rehab center and his cancer was going to take him ‘sometime this year.’ He said he always enjoyed me at the tax office and he hopes that I ‘have a great life and marry that guy you like.’

It was a goodbye email.

After a couple days of mulling over a response, I told him that I hope he lives for many more years, but if he doesn’t, that he enjoys every minute and I was so happy he was at peace. He responded with this:

I have really enjoyed your writing. I think you should pursue writing a book our something it would be enjoyable. I have always thought that you were really smart and have always hope that you could fulfill all those dreams you have "coffee shop,writer,etc"…. No one knows when one will go, that's in God's hands. I have had a good life with nothing to complain about. I wish you the very best and really hope you find all the happiness you are looking for.’

I met Steve’s wife, Diane, just a couple days ago at his visitation here in Des Moines (he was living in Chicago near his kids when he passed). I introduced myself and she shook both of my hands and said ‘Oh I’ve heard so much about you.’ She told us Steve was a great husband, father and grandfather. That he lived a full life and he was ready when his time came.

I saved Steve’s final email.  I read it often. It is a constant reminder to me that we only get one shot at this life and we MUST make the best of it. And leave the rest to God.

This past year held so many experiences. Some I’ll never forget and some I wish were different. But honestly, I wouldn’t trade a second of it. God has such an amazing plan for me. I can feel it in my bones. I’m going to live life with no regrets. The one I imagined I would have. All the while, I will seek His face every step of the way.

Steve , just like I promised you in my email- I WILL write that book and I WILL make sure you are in it.

This post is for you.

Why Not

It's hard to believe that in just over a week I'll be in a village in El Salvador digging holes in the hot sun and attempting broken Spanish.

It's a far cry from my current 10+ hour work days and frigid Iowa weather. 

I was thinking today about the stark contrast of how I live to how the people of Anemona live. Disclaimer: This is of course complete speculation as I've not been there yet but I've seen enough pictures/videos to make a pretty good assumption. 

I was thinking about how my days are currently full of meetings and coffees and ringing phones and emails and spreadsheets in a climate-controlled building. I was thinking about how my days are seemingly laced with technology and convenience- from the moment I wake up to an Iphone alarm, my treadmill run, a quick stop off at the coffee shop for a latte, short commute to work, white-collar job and home to relax in a fully furnished carpeted apartment. 

What is the daily life of an El Salvadorian like? 

I'm guessing there aren't cellphone selfies in the gym followed up by hot showers and green smoothies. I doubt there are conference calls and take-out and Netflix. Do they even have gyms and hot showers? Power to run a blender? They are lucky to avoid conference calls really. But all jokes aside, when I think about the details I realize just how different life is for them. So different I'm having a hard time wrapping  my head around it. 

I'll admit it.

I'm a little nervous about this trip. 

In a really embarrassing way. Like I-can't-believe-I'm-going-to-share-this-on-the-internet-kind-of-way. 

I don't think I have been aware of how convenient my life actually is until I started thinking about the details of this trip.

Here are all the embarrassing 1st world problems I've thought of in just the last 24 hours:

- How close is the coffee shop?

- Will I have time to take a run through the city? Is it even safe to do that? 

- Will I get cell phone service anywhere? Should I even take a cell phone?

- What if I have to use the bathroom and there isn't a 'decent' one?

- What if someone is speaking to me in Spanish and I have no clue what they are saying? Do I just smile and nod? What if it is important?

- What if I drink the water and get really sick?

- What if I get homesick?

You know what else I've thought of though?

- What if I speak Spanish just fine and the people speak a little English too so its not bad?

- What if I spend all day in the village playing with kids and singing songs and digging ponds and filling my head with memories?

- What if I meet amazing people that become like family to me?

- What if the food is amazing? (I'm totally counting on this one you guys...I've heard stories! HA)

- What if I miss home but then realize that this is a once in a lifetime experience so a week away isn't so hard? 

- What if this experience so ding-dang amazing that I look back on it and say 'That was the trip that changed my life'?

I decided today that I'm just gonna stop worrying about all the negative, stupid, cushy, 1st-worldy things that are getting in my head and trying to tell me this could be terrible. I'm going to quit listening to all the silly 'what ifs' getting in my head about stuff that doesn't even matter.

I'm trading in the 'What if' for the 'Why Not.' 

I'm going to show up in El Salvador with my nervous broken Spanish and my old running shoes and my pale midwestern skin and not be nervous about all the things I don't know and instead be excited about all the things I get to learn and all the people I get to meet. 

I'm going to trade in my Instagram for a notebook and a pencil and I'm going to write my thoughts and experiences with lots imagery and description because I don't want to forget a single second.

I'm going to leave my preconceived notions on US soil.

I'm going to land in San Salvador ready for an adventure.  

I'm nervous. And excited. And nervous. And EXCITED. 

I can't wait to see how God works in the life of the people of El Salvador. 

I've heard stories of hot, sweaty church services filled with badly tuned guitars, loud singing and lots of dancing and I can't wait to be there in that stuffy building with those people praising the one thing we have in common.

You guys!

This is where life happens. In the 'Why nots.'

It's going to be epic. I just know it.

If you are so inclined, I'd love for you to pray for me and the team from The Gateway Church as we travel next weekend to El Salvador to support the people of Anemona through Enlace . Please pray for safe travels and health of our team (physically and mentally!). 

Pray that we are a guiding light to the people of El Salvador and that we bring just as much joy and peace and Good News to them that they bring to us.

Dear family and friends- THANK YOU for your encouragement and support ever since this was an idea in my head when I did the MochaClub purpose project. Your monetary donations were MUCH appreciated and seemingly God-breathed. But mostly, your kind words and heartfelt prayers have meant so much. I can't wait to share this experience with you. 

xo-

N 

#30years

I wrote this the other night in about 5 minutes. It just came pouring out of me. I have so many thoughts and dreams about what the next phase of my life holds.

This is just the beginning.

I can send out a tweet. Or a facebook status update. Or an instagram. Someone might like it or retweet it or whatever, but will anyone remember what I said? 100 years from now, will that profound tweet be making any kind of difference in the world? I’m not sure that anyone will remember what I said an hour from now.

I’m starting to think some of the though-provoking questions and conclusions I've made about life and love and all manner of soul-searching would be better suited to something more permanent.

Tangible.

I don’t want to be forgotten amidst the chatter of meaningless words and phrases floating around the interwebs.

100 years from now, I want people to remember me as someone who had something important to say and it mattered.

I think about that guy, Bret. He lives a small quiet life in Wisconsin and no one would ever think twice looking at him about what resolve and determination he has. About what he has overcome and what his entire life can teach us about humanity and spirit and love.

There’s a line in this One Republic song: ‘I hope you spend your days and they all add up.’

I want my days to add up.

I don’t want to waste one second of this precious gift not being me.

I want to leave behind a legacy of LOVE and LIFE.

I have this feeling inside me…like maybe I was put here for something great. That when I spend my days at a job I don’t love, as a number no one will remember….I’m wasting this gift. That my days don’t add up.

Some days it physically hurts my heart to be there knowing that I’m not DOING anything. I’m not making an imprint on the world. My heart and talents could be better served elsewhere. I get choked up some days thinking about how I have so much to give and time is just ticking by.

I don’t know what this means for the next decade.

I don’t know how I’ll end up.

But I can feel it in my soul.

The stirrings of something BIG.

I DO know I’m not wasting any more time.

I do know that when I turn 40, I can look back on the past 10 years and be proud of the ‘editing’ I did. I can reflect on the chipping away at the pieces that don’t belong. The way I allowed the best parts of me to emerge and grow and share with others. I can look back on that time spent in laughter and love with the people that really matter. I can tangibly hold in my hand words I’ve written, things I’ve made, pictures I’ve taken- all showcasing the best parts of this one incredibly imperfect life.

At 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100….I can say ‘I lived.’

A Historic Moment

It's Election Day, friends.
And like most Americans, I exercised my right to vote this morning at the local community center.

Today's experience felt a little different though.

Last night, the POTUS was in my state.
In my city.
Mere blocks from my house.

And for the first time in my life, I was able to see the President of the United States IN PERSON.

These pictures may not be that great (Iphone and 5000 people away) but I have to tell you it was one of the coolest experiences of my life! I have never felt so moved by patriotism and love of my country. The way the people came together and hearing Barack Obama speak is something I'll never forget!

So here you go....a brief picture post of my very first political rally:

Representin': 'Iowans: The Few, The Proud, The Extremely Attractive'

 



Walking toward the rally- there were so many BRIGHT lights

Waiting in the metal detector line....

Through the line- Secret Service and K-9s

Our first position- only able to sorta see the jumbotron.

Then somehow we got waved up closer! I think it was my Obama button. T's convinced it was his patriotic Adidas (I didn't get a picture but they are blue with red stripes).

The crowds of 40,000 all around us. Noticed all the space we had on the outside of the fence. Like I mentioned- somehow we were waved into a special area.

 

Pretty excited about how close we got to be without a special 'ticket'

Bruuuuuuuuuce!

The First Lady

Everyone 'getting fired up' for Obama

The President of the United States!!

I've never been a super political person....and by that I mean I never listened to the debates, never really paid attention. Didn't care that much.
This election has been a little different.
I listened to the audio cast of each debate.
I talked to my friends and family.
I read up on the candidates.
I thought about what issues were just a 'no-brainer' for me with each candidate.
And today, I made an informed, personal choice when casting my ballot.

 Displaying my sign for Election Day

 



 

Regardless of how you voted today, or how the election turns out, I hope each and everyone of you had the opportunity to make your voice HEARD.
 

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Me: Future Coffee Shop Owner

Two weeks ago, when I went The Influence Conference, I handed out a bazillion business cards.
The organizers suggested we bring cards to share information with all the other ladies we would be meeting and of course, to promote our blogs!

I used my same business cards that I have for everything.
They are nothing fancy.
Vistaprint specials.
They have the basic info, my picture and blog URL.

But do you notice the second line under my name?

'Future Coffee Shop Owner'

Pretty bold claim, right?

Almost every single person, (especially Anne), wanted to know 'What's that about?'
Tell me more...


About two years ago, I decided to network more around town- possibly get involved in some volunteer activities.
My first stop was a local Young Professionals Connection (YPC) happy hour.
It was at a suburban sports bar that I was not a patron of and much to my dismay, I could not encourage or otherwise coerce anyone into going with me.
Instead I 'womaned up' and went solo.
When I arrived, it was a lot of professional-looking YP's with nametags huddled into groups of people they appeared to already be familiar with.
I signed in, stuck a nametag on my chest and ordered a beer for a bit of liquid courage.
Luckily, someone noticed I looked a little overwhelmed and introduced himself.
That guy was Mike Banasiak (now current president of YPC). He asked me where I was from, where I worked, and then said 'So what brings you to YPC?'
I told him some spiel about how I was looking to network- I'd been working for the same company a long time and wanted to expand my professional and social circles. He asked me if I had a business card.

I gave him a blank stare.

I though,t 'Why would I have a business card? What would I put on there? I don't really have a job that requires me to meet with clients or any reason that would require a business card...'

Then Mike said, 'What do you want to do? Obviously you came to YPC because you are looking to network for a reason...so if you could do anything you wanted, what would that be?'

And without a second thought I said:

'I'd own and operate a coffee shop.'

He then asked me a lot of questions about why that was my dream and started introducing me to other people: 'Meet Nicole. She wants to own a coffee shop someday.'

The idea stuck.

There are a few things about me that I believe led to this dream:

• When I was a kid I wanted to own a bookstore. I love to read and I love the feel of being in a bookstore. (Sidenote: do not take me to a bookstore unless you want to lose hours of your life). I think bookstores and coffee shops have a lot of similar features. In fact, most bookstores have coffee shops in them!

• My very first coffee shop experience was in 8th grade with my friend Jane. It was called Java Row (I think) and was located as part of this florist's shop up the street from our school. Once, during an early dismissal, we walked there to hang out. We ordered mint chocolate mocha's to sip on while we gabbed and did homework. I thought it was SO AWESOME. 

• Coffee smells like home to me. My dad and my grandparents are both big coffee drinkers. The smell of percolating coffee conjures up a swirl of great memories: leisurely weekends complete with big, hearty breakfasts; loading up my kiddie mug with sugar and milk so I could hang out with the grownups; strong, hot cups of joe served with after dinner conversation in my grandparents kitchen... The smell literally warms my heart. 

• The atmosphere inside a coffee shops just makes me HAPPY:
• I love the community- the way people rally around causes near and dear to their heart - using the coffee shop as their gathering spot.
• I love the talking- the way people gather and chat about their neighborhood, their day or even just the weather. Coffeeshops are for story telling. I have yet to see another place foster conversation the way a coffee shop does. Something about a hot drink and a slower pace invite casual coming together.
• I love the education- coffee shops always seem to encourage students and lifelong learners. I adore being in a learning environment and am naturally drawn to any place where I can be exposed to something new and different.
• I love the ownership- most coffee shops are locally owned and managed. If you don't know, I'm a pretty big advocate of keeping it local.

• Two years ago, I went to San Francisco to visit my friend Jane. (Another sidenote: just realizing how much she has influenced this coffee dream! She's getting a drink named after her. Or a sandwich. Or both.) In SF, there are coffee shops everywhere. And they are all locally owned. I didn't see one Starbucks the entire time I was there. It was amazing.

• I love people. Seriously LOVE them. I could spend all day just chatting with people and sending them off smiling with a hot (or cold!) drink to accompany their day.

• I have always wanted to own my own business. I'm pretty good with numbers (I mean, I have an accounting degree...) Plus, I've always wanted the freedom to create my own schedule. Once the shop is up and running I suspect I'd still spend most of my time there, but maybe some of that would be in my own booth, storytelling with my customers or writing that novel I've always dreamed of.

I remember one day, not long after I started this blog, I woke up with a hundred ideas in my head about my someday-coffeeshop.
I wrote them all out.
What the name would be and how the sign outside would look.
What kind of ingredients I'd use and what I'd name the drinks.
Where I'd locally source food and supplies.
Where the local art wall would be.
What the interior design would look like, complete with a crudely drawn layout.
I even scouted some real estate.

I can't remember if someone told me or if I read it somewhere, but they said 'If you want to be something, you should introduce yourself that way. Make your dream a reality."

Shortly after waking up with a head full of ideas and a heart sold on a someday-entrepreneurship...I ordered my business cards.

A couple of months ago, one of my favorite local shops came up for sale.
I looked into it briefly. It was affordable, had a strong brand, clientele and a great location.
But I just didn't feel like it would work. Not then.

At Influence, I had the pleasure of attending the session of Barrett Ward, founder of The Mocha Club and fashionABLE.
His session was all about finding your purpose and your passion.

He said this:
Your passion refers to gifts from God.
Your purpose refers to things God has asked you to do.

We went through a series of questions to help determine what that would be.
Questions asking about what we enjoy to do, what we lose track of time doing, what things we value the most, what we are inspired by, what we could not live without.

Some themes emerged for me:
People
Story-telling.
Giving.
Running.
People.
Story-telling.
Healthy habits.
Balance.
Empathy.
People.
Story-telling.

Notice anything?

I'm a story-teller.
Whether I'm chatting with friends over coffee or writing a blog post...I'm telling a story.
I love people.
I like hearing how they became who they are. Who they want to become. I like talking to them about what moves them and what keeps them up at night. I like seeing them happy, thriving and balanced.

 

Story-teller + Lover of all people= Future Coffee Shop Owner

I don't know when I'll own a coffee shop.
The one opportunity I had came and went. (Sidenote- the local shop I was talking about was purchased by an amazing group of people and I frequent it often. You should too- Mars Cafe.)
I'm sure there will be others.
Or maybe my love of people and story-telling will somehow morph into something else down the line and my dream of coffee entrepreneurship will never come to fruition.
Like Barrett said, 'Don't get destination sickness on any road. The process of living out your passion and purpose is ever-evolving.'

So, in the meantime, I do know this.
My God-given calling and talent is clear.
I'm a story-teller.
I'm a lover of people.
AND I'm a writer.
Every single day, I have the ability to share my story and love people right here at Even Me.

So please...
Pull up a chair.
Grab a cup of coffee.
Let's share stories.

Have you discovered your passion and purpose?

How do you share it with others?

BIG Post and BIG News

Well Helllllooooooo there. (I'm saying this in my best Jerry Seinfeld voice. Remember that episode? Never. gets. old.)
What's shaking?

I have so much to catch you up on.
LOTS.

First, here's all the things I've found interesting on the internets the past few weeks:

• I've been on a HUGE decluttering kick.  This article had some great points.
• I've had situations where I feel burned out and this article on NOT multi-tasking made a lot of sense to me. Focus on the task at hand. Work is for work. Weekends are for weekends. :)
• I found these 100 tips about life on Twitter. I love 32, 58,68,98 and especially 66!
• I've posted an email from Relevant daily emails before, and like in the past- this one really stuck out to me:

"When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory."
 Psalm 73:21-24 NIV

 IN POP CULTURE, it’s cool to explore your spirituality, escape religion and search for God—it’s not cool to find Him. It’s definitely not cool to tell people once you do.
In a spiritual age that celebrates authenticity over assurance, it seems that questions are the new answers. Rather than embracing doubt as a vehicle to truth, the two have become nearly indistinguishable. Blessed assurance isn’t so blessed anymore.
For many, the temporary “dark night” of the soul is now a permanent reality. Rather than searching for truth, today’s postmodern climate finds truth in the very act of searching. There is an upside to this—questions are necessary to facilitate exploration. However, when the entire Christian faith is consumed by the deconstructive machine of postmodern culture, what’s left? For many of us, the answer is “not much.” My soul’s “dark night” nearly destroyed my personal faith. Pursuing authenticity was a goal in and of itself. Intellectual curiosity was what I aimed for, and I hit the target.
But I’ve discovered searching for a light switch is the best usage of a flashlight. Living in constant darkness just isn’t sustainable. Eventually, you simply run out of batteries. The means have to point to an end lest they become it.

I especially love the analogy of the light switch and the flashlight. Good 'food for thought' writing. I like reading things that speak to me.

• My friend Courtney sent me this article: 15 things you should give up in order to be happy. I think giving up my need to be right and giving up the past are the most freeing things I've accomplished in my life.
• This is a great list of things to STOP doing. It's career-orientated but can be applied to personal life too- spend time effectively and quit making excuses!

That's a lot of lists...but you know how I love a good list!

Speaking of lists, let's talk workouts.
I've fallen off the wagon recently.
I'm still working out, but it's not on a regular schedule and I'm having a heck of a time getting up in the morning and sticking to a regular routine. I know much of that is circumstantial to what's going on in my life right now, but still. It's annoying.
So here's what I've done in the past month or so (note* The ?s are because I can't remember what I did those days and most likely slept in instead):

3/19 Run 3.17 mi 28:48
3/20 KB?
3/21 Resistance? Run 6 mi 56:17
3/22 Run 3.3 30:33, Walk 1.08 mi with Rox
3/23 Resistance?
3/24 Walk 1.85 mi  with Rox 32:06
3/25 So this was the day of the St Patrick's Day run. My foot had been feeling sort of funky so I did a little run down the street and back to make sure it was good to go. If I had any pain, I was going to skip the race. Didn't want to cause any issues. It felt pretty good so I raced. My Garmin time was 6.31 in 57:55. It was a gun start (and I wasn't even too the line because I didn't know where it was) and there were no chips. My time from the website was 57:54. It was a 6 mile race...but obviously I went a little farther than 6 miles!
3/26 Resistance?
3/27 3.01 mi 28:04
3/28 Resistance?
3/29 Kickboxing?
3/30 Resistance?
3/31 Run 5.5mi 53:05
4/2 Resistance? Run 3.01 28:15
4/3 Kickboxing?
4/4 Resistance? 3.26 mi 33:31
4/5 Kickboxing? Walk 1.7 25:53, Run 2.09 mi 19:59
4/6 Resistance?
4/8 Run 3.42 mi 37:22
4/9 Resistance?
4/10 Kickboxing?
4/11 Resistance?
4/12 Kickboxing?
4/13 Resistance?
4/14 I was supposed to run Loop the Lake but I was nervous. My foot had been bothering me off and on so I took the whole week off of running but was afraid I would 'push' it since it was a race. Decided to test it out around home. Ran 5.76 mi in 53:46. I guess I could have raced after all... :)
4/16 Resistance and Run 4.14 mi 39:35
4/17 Kickboxing
4/18 REST
4/19 3.01 mi 27:11

So it's been interesting with my foot. I really backed off running to keep it rested for my HALF MARATHON race next week. To say I'm a little worried might be an understatement. I haven't ran over 6 miles since February. I plan on running 8 or 9 this weekend. I just need a mental boost. I know I can do it, but I definitely won't be PR'ing in TN. I am looking forward to checking out the race expo and all the stuff that a large race has to offer.

I head out to Nashville Wednesday to visit my aunt and Grandma and then race on Saturday. I'm looking forward to a little decompressing time!! Catching up on book club reading, blogs, working on my tan and just hanging out with family!
This past month has been filled with meetings, work, networking events, and packing. Yep, because I'm....

MOVING!!!!

And I'm SUPER DUPER OVERLY EXCITED ABOUT IT!!
I'm renting a loft in downtown Des Moines and leasing my house out to some friends.
The loft I'm moving too is a little smaller than my current place so I'm getting rid of a LOT of stuff. Mostly just random furniture and decorative items I had around to take up space. I've really looked at what I have and thought 'Does this thing make me happy? Do I use it regularly? Would I miss it if it was gone?' If the answer to any of those is 'No' it was put in the trash or garage sale pile.
And let me tell you- if you are honest with yourself about the amount of stuff you have just because you'll find you don't need 75% of it.

But back to the loft. :)
It's in a repurposed old building- concrete floors, exposed brick and vents, floor to ceiling windows, 2 blocks from church, T and Gray's Lake. I'm so stoked. Roxy and I have been walking every morning to get that part of our regular schedule. I think she'll like all the new people to meet and so many close parks.

I would have let you in on this information a little sooner, but things have been a little hectic. Timing for all this hasn't been the greatest. I have to be out of my place before my TN trip but I won't have the loft until the first weekend in May AND I'm getting the bathroom at the house remodeled too...so....it's a little chaotic. When I do have a spare minute to do anything...I just sit. Or sleep. Brain is FRIED.

But don't worry. I have so many things lined up to talk about: all the networking I've been doing through YPC Des Moines, the foods I've been trying and cooking, concerts, new ink work and T's birthday celebration!

Stay tuned...next post coming to you from downtown Des Moines!!

That's a big CHECK to the Life List.

Colorado Trip: Day 2

On Sunday morning we woke up to clear and cool sunny skies in Colorado. T and I walked to Starbucks and then headed back to get ready because it was FOOTBALL SUNDAY!!

All the Bronco fans were waiting for the train that would take us all to the stadium.

 There were hundreds of people streaming off the train to head into the stadium to see the Broncos take on the Chargers. Our friend Keith is a Chargers fan...so we just didn't dress affiliated with either team. :)

 Then we found our section and headed in to the sounds of AC/DC blasting through the stadium....

THUNDER!!

 Our seats were 50 yard line, 19th row. AMAZING.

 This guy is not messing around. He was even in a little infomercial on the jumbo tron about 'Respect' for the game, the stadium and the fans.

 Check out John Elway in the white!

 The pre game stuff was quite the production. The cheerleaders put on a little show complete with skimpy outfits (I felt sorry for them it was COLD) and booty shaking. :)

 I'm not sure what this ladies name is, but every time they score she rides across the field on her horse.

This was the craziest part of the whole thing. They had people skydive into the stadium!!

 Can you see the guy landing in the middle with his Bronco colored parachute?

 Then the team came running out across the field to get the game started!!

We also paid homage to our soldiers, veterans and all other Americans serving our country.

 They had fighter jets fly across the field. I had never seen anything like it. So awesome!!

 I had to get this picture taken for my Life List. :)

 Then the game was on!! It was so exciting! I love football, but seeing it live is even better. We were sitting in a season ticket section so all the people around us were serious fans.

Jamie and I got our picture taken with this guy with an outfit made entirely out of pom poms!!

 At first, the Chargers were killing it, then TEBOW came in to try and bring them back!!

There he is with his boyish good looks.... HA

 The last few minutes of the game were so intense!! It was really close, but the Chargers pulled out a victory!

Then we stood in the biggest people pile up ever to wait for the train.

But it moved pretty fast. And I got a pretty good picture of downtown.

We had a great day!! And I was so excited to see my first NFL game. :)

See Colorado: Part 1
See Colorado: Part 3