7 Days.

In the past seven days, I...

...read this book in one sitting. Following the near-death experience of a 4 year-old child in emergency surgery, this book is seriously a very good read. Regardless of whether or not you believe in life after death, it certainly gets you thinking about what happens when we die. I started the book a little skeptical, not really sure what to think about claims of visiting heaven and seeing Jesus. However, I finished it pretty convinced that this child experienced something very real. Obviously, no one can ever know what happened. But as a Christian, I believe in divine intervention and in the reality of heaven -- and this book certainly convicted me of whether or not my life really reflects those beliefs. 

...hiked to this waterfall. Our friend David came in town over the weekend, and we managed to work in an overnight camping trip to Glenwood Springs. Hanging Lake (above) is in the area, and I'm so glad we made it! It was gorgeous!

...purchased a mountain car! Mike and I are the loving parents of a new (used) 2002 Subaru Outback, and we couldn't be more excited! Now we won't have to call AAA when we can't get out of a parking spot in Keystone in the dead of winter at 5am. Yes, that almost happened. (Thank you to the random stranger that helped push us out -- we still owe you)

In the past 7 days, I also managed to spill my Iced Skinny Caramel Macchiato all over my work pants, eat 15 mini Reese's in one day, and rack up 50 cents in library overdue fees. 

Peace, love, & ReallyExcitingWeeks.

Antero.

Mt. Antero specs:

14,269 feet high

15 mile round trip if you don't drive up the 4WD/high clearance vehicle road (we didn't)

5,200 foot elevation gain

1 creek crossing and 1 proud American with an ATV

5 hours to summit 

 1 false summit

Recipe for a great hike, I'd say. :) It was certainly the most difficult hike we've done so far, simply because of the length. But, it was a great time, as everything is with Mike Wall as your husband. He kept calling it Mt. Arturo and I think he broke out some Elton John again. Anyway, Antero is in the Sawatch Range, near all of the Collegiate Peaks, which is an incredibly beautiful area! I'm excited to explore it more. 

We also enjoyed a wonderful evening at City Park Jazz on Sunday evening with some friends. City Park Jazz has been a highlight of the summer -- live music, no admission fee, tons of people-watching, bottles of wine and picnic dinners. It doesn't get much more summer than that! We've shared it with some great friends as well, which we've really enjoyed. We're so thankful to have met some incredible people out here who share not only our love for the state, but also for the God who created it. Unfortunately, it was the last weekend for Jazz, which makes it really feel like summer is coming to a close. Sigh. Oh well, I'm sure fall will bring even more adventures!

Peace, love, & jazz.

Confession.

I have a problem: I love bright colors way too much.

I try really hard to be an adult and wear "grown up" neutrals; I feel like my closet should be littered with browns, tans, blacks, and grays. Maybe some slate blue or forest green here or there.

Oops, it's not. I have a penchant for all things bright, cheery, and sometimes neon. I can't get over it, and I'm not sure if I ever will. One time I found a gray snowboard jacket that I liked. One time. But I really like the obnoxious ones -- you know, the kind where you can see me from a mile away.

So today, I was at Marshalls, trying on these shorts...

...when I decided that I will no longer be ashamed to purchase and proudly don loud, bright clothing. So, I marched up to the cashier, paid my $7 for my North Face shorts (Mega sale! I love Marshalls!) and walked out the store grinning like a 5 year old. Sorry world, I might blind you with my neon pink t-shirt or my bright green jacket, but I will wear it and love it. Occasionally I will grace your presence with some solid black...but secretly I'll be wishing I had my turquoise shorts on.

Other items I have recently purchased that further prove my inability to buy normal-colored things:

I thought about showing you things I have almost purchased, but then decided against it. I realized that it would 1) take too long, and 2) blind you.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! We're climbing Antero tomorrow, so check back for photos! 

Peace, love, & neon colors.

Bierstadt & BBQ

Second 14er: complete!

Along with our friend Stacy, Mike and I made it up another 14er! Mt. Bierstadt is now checked off, and it was absolutely breathtaking (in terms of scenery as well as what it did to our lungs). I didn't like Quandary all that much, mostly because of the hoards of people that accompanied us on our trek, but Bierstadt was a completely different experience.

We started out at 6am, and watching the sun come up over the Sawtooth Ridge was incredible. It didn't just slowly rise over the mountains, but it broke through with full force and drenched us in light. It was wonderful.

There's something about being out on a mountain, experiencing nature in its rawest form -- smelling the evergreens, climbing over boulders, tiptoeing over streams -- it just fills you with an incredible sense of wonder and adventure, but also with a sense of smallness. So often I get so caught up in bills, lists, and timecards that I forget how big God is, and how wonderful a world he made for us to enjoy -- but also to respect and marvel at. Because I don't know about you, but I think that Sawtooth looks intimidating, and I wouldn't want to be caught on it!

We finished up our afternoon with amazing barbeque in Idaho Springs, mostly because Stacy and Mike were craving sweet potato fries and talked about them the entire way up the mountain (in between singing Elton John's "Benny and the Jetts" and "Rocketman"). I have entertaining people in my life :)

Hope everyone has a great week -- remember to smile and to have fun! And if all else fails, try singing "Benny and the Jetts" when the day gets rough.

Peace, love, & Elton John.

Blog Re-Do

Just a side note: I am in the process of re-designing my blog, so if it looks different/ugly/weird....just be patient.

Quandary.

Well, we are officially Coloradoans. Why?

1) Mike has lived here for a year now (and I'm not far behind him!)
2) We conquered our first 14er

After hearing chatter about "peakbagging" and climbing 14ers, we decided we should probably attempt one. We did some research, and read that Quandary Peak, near Breckenridge, was an "easy" one to begin with. So we booked a campsite at Prospector Campground (just so we could use our sweet new tent), bought some trail mix, and went for it.

Dillon Reservoir on our way to the campground. God can make some pretty cool things.

About 8am or so, almost halfway up! I would also like to point out that I started this hike out with my ponytail in the middle of my head. By the time we reached the summit, it was a side pony because of the insane wind.

I was really excited about maybe seeing mountain goats...and we did :) This guy came down the trail like he owned it...which I guess he did, because we all got out of the way.

He really was this close! I wasn't zoomed in at all. 

Summit! 

This one is for you, Mom and Dad! One time, you made it to 12,005 feet at RMNP...now a little part of you has made it to 14,265 feet! (I mean the t-shirt, not the fact that I carry your genes)

So, we bagged one peak! I have to say that I have never been more winded in my life, nor have I ever resented my asthma as much as I did during our nearly 7 mile hike. But, the Walls are on the register at the summit, and that's what counts. I can't say that I fell in love with doing 14ers, but I do like a challenge (see Slacker post) and so I'm sure we'll do more of them in the future. 

Also, I have the best husband ever who agreed not to camp the second night (I don't sleep well in tents), took me out for Mexican/a giant margarita, and then took me to see Harry Potter. 

Peace, love & mountain goats. 

Purple Mountain Majesties.

"Man must feel the earth to know himself and recognize his values...God made life simple. It is man who complicates it." (Charles A. Lindbergh)


Hope you all had a happy 4th of July! Mike and I had every intention of getting downtown to see some fireworks, but we were exhausted by the end of the day, so we just hung out at home. Why were we exhausted? Because we climbed this sucker that day: 

That would be Mount Boreas, hovering mid-atmosphere at 13,082 feet. We are climbing Mount Quandary in two weeks, so it was good preparation! After a brief stop in Breck to pick up our friend Stacy and to catch part of the 4th of July parade, we headed south to Boreas Pass.  It was an amazing hike, a lot of fun, and absolutely breathtaking scenery!

(That's Mount Baldy there on the right, about 600 feet higher than Mount Boreas.)


Most of our posts are about exploring Colorado, which I hope doesn't get too repetitive! We just love the landscape that God created out here, and we love sharing it with all you sea-level people, hoping that you find it as incredible as we do. :) Experiencing nature in such a raw way really does fill me with this intense emotion -- it's virtually indescribable. I think one way I truly learn about God is by being on top of a mountain, or climbing around in sand dunes, or swimming in a freezing cold lake in the middle of Colorado. It's those kinds of experiences that make me aware of God's intricate involvement in our world, and how blessed we are to be able to swim in his lakes, and walk through his forests, and sit in his valleys and marvel at the mountains. Not to mention the fact that I get to do all these fun things with the love of my life, who is also a blessing beyond words! 

Mike and Stacy also found an easy way of getting down the mountain: sliding down the snowfields on their butts. I have video but it won't upload, so I'll try to get it on here later today.

Peace, love, & America.