Today is a good day

Right now I'm sitting at Buffalo Wild Wings, half watching the Buffs get demolished by the Rams, and half reading A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. I found something I can eat on the menu, which is always exciting for me....and enjoying time with my husband.

I think sometimes I forget to stop and recognize the simple blessings in my life...maybe spending the morning out in the country made me reflective today. Yngvild and I rose early this morning to go out to a friends family farm and go horseback riding. I love visiting farms, almost as much as I love going to the mountains....almost. Getting out of the city, watching the sun rise, smelling the fresh air....and the only creature you have to communicate with is the horse. God, me, horse....peace. What an amazing way to start a Saturday. Yngvild is a natural on a horse. You could tell she was at peace, and totally in her element at the farm. She lives on a farm in Norway.

I dropped her off with friends to go watch a soccer game, and I retreated home for a bath and get ready to come watch football with my hubby. I think he loves that I come to spend time with him. This is my husbands element. He gives me a hard time about bringing my iPad and a book when there are so many games you can watch all at the same time. LOL I don't think I'd have it any other way though. :)

Well...I think I'll check in on Facebook and get back to my book.

Blessings!!

Pure Joy

I am having a great time with my Norwegian “daughter”.  She does so much that brings delight to my everyday life.  Some random things that make me smile:

 

·         She asks me to braid her hair.  It might seem silly, but I just love sitting there chatting and braiding her hair.

·         I love reading, and I love being read to.  Yngvild likes to read out loud to work on her English, so last night she asked if she could read to me. Pure bliss.

·         She talks…a lot.  I love listening to her…whether she is talking about her day, or Norway, or whatever.  I can tell she is comfortable because she just opens up and starts talking.

·         She loves music as much as I do.  When DH isn’t home, we mostly listen to music and talk.  I love that we like a lot of the same music, and that we can introduce each other to artists we weren’t familiar with.

·         We both love movie nights.

·         She sings.  She sings in the car, in the shower, when she is getting ready in the morning, when she is hanging out in her room.  I love hearing her sing…it tells me her heart is happy.

·         She has this phrase she frequently uses which just makes me giggle.  She always says “I couldn’t be bothered to…”  She uses it like we might say “I didn’t feel like doing…”  For example: “My feet are cold, but I couldn’t be bothered to put on socks”.  I love it, makes me giggle every time.

·         Most importantly, she just has a heart of gold.  She genuinely cares for people and animals.  She rejoices with them when they are happy, and her heart breaks if someone is sad.

 

We are blessed to have such a great girl in our life.  I know DH is enjoying having her around as much as I do.  We have a long weekend together, and I’m so excited.  I think a shopping trip is in order.  J

 

Blessings!

Meet My New "Daughter"

Last Thursday night our new foreign exchange student arrived from Norway.  Her name is Yngvild, and she has already captured our hearts.

Here is a photo from her arrival:

The outside are two girls I've known for most of their life.  They were getting an exchange student as well. Yngvild and Charlotte flew together to CO from Norway.  Charlotte is the 2nd from the left, and Yngvild is to her left.

Yngvild is so sweet and makes me laugh constantly.  It has been fun watching her experience America with new eyes.

One night when we took her shopping for school supplies there was a bin full of foam swords.  She thought it was so funny that it was something a store would sell.  She bopped me on the head with a sword and exclaimed "I love America!" 

Yngvild was also excited for her first trip to Wal-Mart.  I usually view going to Wal-Mart as a chore, but when I pulled into Wal-Mart Yngvild squealed with delight saying "We are going to Wal-Mart?!? The whole world knows Wal-Mart".  Unfortunately it was late and we were in a hurry, so I'll have to take her back when we have time to wander around for awhile.

Yngy (as we've been calling her) loves the arts and has signed up for dance classes, theater, and choir.  I'm thinking the next year we will be attending many performances.  We are excited for the 10 months to come and wanting to show her as much as we can.

In other news, I'm trying to figure out what to make for Christmas presents this year...any ideas??

Summer Update

I've needed to update my blog for some time, and a friend of mine just posted a Summer Update.  I thought that sounded like a good idea, so I'm stealing it. :)  LOL

So this is what has been going this summer:

* Traveling for work.  I made trips to Grand Junction, Steamboat Springs, and Craig to meet the agents newly assigned to me.  I love having the opportunity to meet the people I talk to every day on the phone.  I miss my Reno, NV agents greatly, but my new CO agents are pretty awesome.  I also took a trip to Tempe, AZ for a meeting.  113 degrees in AZ...need I say more?

* I was one of 4 sponsors to take 30 teens to summer camp for a week in Durango.  They are awesome kids, and we had great time.  Being around teens like this gives you hope for the future.

* I go to the mountains every chance I can get.  This isn't really a summer thing, this is just just a me thing. LOL

* I've been focused on getting myself healthy this summer.  I have lost 28 lbs so far.  I realize I have a long way to go, but I feel better each day.  This has given a great boost to my self confidence as well.  For the first time in probably 10 years I am confident I will reach this goal and keep the weight off.  Who knew I could actually start to crave fruits and vegetables?

* "De-cluttering" my body has also made me look at de-cluttering my life.  Slowly I've been going through and getting rid of everything from clothes in my closet to toxic relationships.  I just feel a need to make life less complicated.

*  Jeff and I have been getting ready for the arrival of our new "daughter". This year's foreign exchange student is coming to us in less than 2 weeks from Norway.  Her name is Yngvild, she is 16 years old, and she seems to be incredibly sweet and fun.  We cannot wait to meet her and get to know her.

* I joined a book club this summer.  This my first time in a book club and I really enjoy it.  Which reminds me, I need to get started on August's book.

Hmmmm....I'm sure there are several things I've done this summer, but that is all that's coming to my mind for now.  I hope you are having a great summer!!  :)

Blessings,

Apryll

Things that bring me joy:
* My little dog jumping for joy to see me.
* Fresh air on cool summer mornings
* My husband being proud of me for my accomplishments.

*sigh* I'm one blessed girl. :)

How Can a Woman Not Love The Lord?

I got this in an email today, and I liked it.  Thought I would share it with all of you.

How Can a Woman Not Love The Lord?

• He is a gentleman
• He is confident 
• He is a provider and protector
• He is rich and powerful
• He owns everything; there is nothing He wouldn't do for me 
• He perfects all things concerning me 
• He anticipates my wants and needs
• Every day He tells me and shows me how much He loves me
• I don't have to perform in order to earn His love 
• He keeps all of his promises
• No one can influence His opinion of me
• He is the ultimate intimate partner
• He can't 'disown' me because I am a part of Him
• He prepares a table before me 
• He covers me and doesn't expose me
• He wrote His loving words down so that I'll never forget how He feels about me!  

NOW THAT'S LOVE!!!

Any man, who wants pointers on how to love a woman, should study GOD!

Ladies, wake up every day and thank God for being the best 'man' in your life!

Today I'm thankful for:

* Good friends

* Some peace and quiet  :)

* Having lost 6 pounds so far on my new diet. Yay!!

The Things I Never Needed

There is a blog that I LOVE to read.  It's by the one and only Lula.  She is not only fabulously funny, she has a great ear for music.  Monday she posted a song by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. The song is titled "Things I Never Needed," and I fell in love with this song. Can't wait to get over to iTunes and download their album.

Here is the song for your listening pleasure, and the lyrics below:




Take a long hard look at my face
Take away the things I can't replace
Take my heart, go on take it away
I've got nothing to say

Take away this sense of regret
Take the things I need to forget
Take the mistakes I haven't made yet
They're all I have left

I don't want to be the one who lets you down
All I did was run myself around
I wish I could have seen through your eyes
Maybe then I would have realized
I'm the only one who's bleeding
For the things I never needed
The things I never needed

Take a good long look at yourself
Take the weight off everyone else
Take the hardest blow that was dealt
It's all on your shoulders

I don't want to be the one who lets you down
All I did was run myself around
I wish I could have seen through your eyes
Maybe then I would have realized
I'm the only one who's bleeding
For the things I never needed
The things I never needed

I don't want to be the one who lets you down
All I did was run myself around
I wish I could have seen through your eyes
Maybe then I would have realized
I'm the only one who's bleeding
For the things I never needed
The things I never needed

Things I am greatful for:
1) The love of discovering new music that I love
2) Day's off with a nice summer breeze coming through the window
3) Taking my pup to the dog park to play fetch and let her run free (she is greatful for this, too!! We are going this afternoon and I can't wait.)

Gratitude