Last night I met two new fun friends: Charity & Adrian. We had dinner at California Pizza Kitchen and then headed into Downtwon Denver to walk around and get to know each other better. We hit it off right away (we knew we'd be friends because our outfits were all color-coordinated :).




Jess brought this AMAZING cake.





Taking the bull by the horns, one of my favorites things to do. :)

Ridgway with the Kriegshasuers

on saturday morning i left littleton and began a seven-hour drive southwest to a small town called ridgway (half an hour from montrose, an hour from telluride). i went to visit the kriegshausers, good friends from virginia who moved out there in january. the drive out was long but beautiful! here are some photos from the roadtrip:


early on in the trip. notice the "elk crossing" sign. :)

blue mesa lake, the largest in colorado.

it was very desert-y out there...

approaching ridgway.


I blinked and missed the turn onto the one-road of ridgway, so i turned around, kept my eyes WIDE open and finally found the kriegshausers' house. That evening, Kellie, Chris, Michael, Lisa, and I went to Ouary (closest town) for a trip to the hot springs. it was very relaxing. :)


the quaint town of Ouary.

Lisa points out where they'd gone hiking last week.

The HOT SPRINGS!!! the water's temp was about 104 degrees.

Lisa and me at church on Sunday. (Roger gave an excellent sermon.)

This is the lot where the Kriegshausers new house will be. Amazing, isn't it?
kellie, roger, chris, lisa, and michael.

i left sunday around 3pm and made it home around 8:30. i encountered some weird weather on the drive...





i've decided that i LOVE aspen trees. they're so beautiful, especially when the wind's blowing because their leaves sort of "shimmer."
(sepia-toned)
i think this is a ranch...either that or some sort of convent.

(sepia-toned)

Boulder with Mallory

Tonight I traveled one hour northwest to Boulder, home of the University of Colorado. My super-special "Godsister," Mallory, is there for the summer. (We call each other Godsister because her parents are my Godparents and vice-versa.) Anyway, she and Jayson (her boyfriend) and I had a blast walking around campus and downtown.


Mallory lives with about 35 other college students in a former frat house where there are...


FOUR fridges!

Huge bean bags!

mice (her pets).

and a stuffed buffalo head.







The CU campus is just beautiful. Amazing architecture... a few times I thought I was on the set of a Shakespeare play.



Getting a bit bolder in front of Boulder's boulder. (You like like that play on words? :)


Godsistas for LIFE! :)

New Plates

This morning I went to the local DMV to get a Colorado license and new plates. I'm used to DMV visits being absolutely terrible (notorious in Virginia), so today I was pleasantly surprised. Coloradans are just so friendly and nice, even if they work at the DMV. Within 20 mins or so I had my new license. For my new plates, I had to first get an emissions test. I was nervous about my car passing because last year in VA I had quite an ordeal with the emissions test (as some of you may remember). But it passed and I went back to the DMV to get my new plates. I feel like an official native now (well, maybe not really, but I can at least appear to be while driving my car). Only problem is that when I don't know where I'm going and inadvertantly cut people off, I won't be able to say, "at least they know I'm not from around here" because my Virginia plates have been replaced.


Old Plate.


(Shedding a tear because I miss Virginia.)


New Plate.


(But happy to be living in Colorado!)

Hiking in Mt. Falcon Park

Toady after church, Jessica (my new friend!) and I went hiking at Mt. Falcon Park, about a 20-minute drive from Littleton. The weather was uncharacteristically hot, but we still had a blast enjoying God's beautiful creation. Here are some photos from the afternoon's adventure:










can you see the bee?







On our drive back, we spotted a huge elk! It was very exciting, especially when he started walking toward my car. :)



"As the deer [or elk] panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee..." Ps. 42:1 :)

And now, the photos you've all been waiting for...

My completed apartment! Kinda hard to encapsulate it in photos...I tried to snap shots from all different angles so you'd feel like you're getting a virtual tour. :)




That's a pull-out couch, so when you come to visit, you'll have a place to sleep! :)
Don't worry, the bop-it's here (just hiding)! :)
The balcony's view.

my new wind chime from the dollar store! :)











(My oval mirror will go above my dresser, but it was damaged in the move, so I have to wait for them to fix it.)


The view from my bedroom window.
the furnace closet. (also where I store the ironing board, iron, vacuum, a suitcase, and toolbox.)
the washer/dryer closet...because I don't have those, I use this for more storage.
Last night was the first time I cooked in my new place...
looks colorful and well-balanced, eh? :)

Adjusting to Colorado

I can tell I'm going to like it here. It's insanely beautiful--constant view of the Rockies, nice "wide open spaces," weather in the 70's-low 90's without humidity, and frequent sunshine. The culture's nice too; not nearly as face-paced as the DC area. People seem more laid back and outdoorsy. Fashion is much more low-key around here, which is an advantage for me, since I've always been one step behind when it comes to fashion and what's cool. People seem to value comfort over style. For example, this afternoon I saw a woman in a jogging outfit (pants and a jacket) that was tye-dyed aqua and pink (I was on the phone with Catherine at the time, so she can vouch for me :). The Washingtonian in me scoffed and muttered, "oh my gosh, she totally doesn't shop at Ann Taylor!", but the Coloradan in me thought, "hey, you know what? that looks comfortable and fun...you go girl!" :)

I think I'm gonna like it here. Of course, there are many differences and things that I'm still getting used to...things like:

-the Altitude (I still get winded climbing up two flights of stairs to my apartment)
-Nice drivers (they actually slow down to let me in when I have my blinker on!)
-the dry air (lotion and chapstick are essential here...along with drinking lots of water)
-Seeing the mountains in my rear-view mirror
-living alone
- seeing motorcyclists without helmets (there's no law requiring them to wear one, so most don't. It kind of freaks me out and makes me nervous.)
-people-oriented people (i.e. grocery-store cashiers, bankers, neighbors, etc.) who don't mind having a conversation with you

I might add more later...right now that's all I can think of.

Setting up the Apartment

Whew! I forgot how much work it is to move into an empty place! There are so many random things you have to buy...like a broom and toilet paper and ziploc bags...and furniture. I quickly found the local dollar store, two Targets (one's a Super Target!), a HUGE thrift store, and a Bargain Barn, where "Everything's One Buck!". After 4 and a half days of unpacking, organizing, shopping, unpacking, putting stuff together, hanging pictures, unpacking, organizing, buying groceries, and cleaning up, I'm finally ready to call this place "home." It's a beautiful apartment; just the right size, and it's been fun to decorate. Here are some photos from the past few days of setting up:




Had to buy some furniture from Target. The two teenage guys who helped me load up were cracking up at my little car. But I told them, "hey, this car made a cross-country trip and then a trip up a 14,000-foot mountain...being loaded up with several large pieces of furniture is nothing!" (okay, I didn't really say that, but I should have.)

I quickly realized that doing a solo-move forces me to do things that I don't really like and/or am intimidated by. For example, opening up a new bank account, mounting shelves on the wall, and putting furniture together. I've never put furniture together all by myself, so this was a daunting task for me. Fortunately, a friend gave me a toolbox the day before I left, so I was fully-prepared, complete with safety goggles. (thanks, jon! :)


Ta-Da! It turned out all right! Altogether, I assembled an end table, a coffee table, and a three-drawer cabinet...quite an accomplishment for me!

And now for something completely different:

A serious post.


Saturday afternoon I drove Liz to the airport...it was hard to say good-bye to my roadtrip/move-in partner! She made the trip so much fun and I thank God (and her husband, Dom!) for allowing her to come out with me. As I drove away from the airport alone, it finally sunk in: I'm not going back to Virginia; Colorado is my new home. Then I felt overwhelmed: missing my friends and missing the familiar sights of Northern Va. I got a bit emotional and fearful. That night I read Isaiah 33:5-6, which says,

The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high;
he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.

He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.

I find such comfort in those promises. I was reminded that God has always and will continue to be my sure foundation. And when things feel uncertain and scary, I can trust in Him and the salvation He's provided through Christ. He has already blessed me with a smooth transition, a supportive and generous family, a friend to accompany me on the roadtrip out here, and amazing friends who call and write to remind me of their love and support. I'm overwhelmed at His goodness and blessings; without Him, I am nothing.

And I want to thank you, my family and friends who are reading this, for being so amazing and supportive. Knowing that you're praying for me and hearing your encouragement is like wind in my sails. Thank you so much! And I hope you enjoy the blog--it's my way of showing you around Colorado, at least until you come to see it for yourself. :)

Installment 8: Liz's Last Day

Saturday, June 9th.

We slept in and took our time getting ready before heading into downtown Littleton for some lunch and exploration. Downtown Littleton is super cute; it reminds me of downtown Fredericksburg, but not as big. There's a Main Street and several privately-owned restaurants, boutiques, and shops, all of which are unique and full of character. We ate at a cafe called "Abe's," which I know will become a favorite spot for me. The good thing about where I live is that I'm only about a mile and a half from downtown, so I'm going to try to make it there at least once a week, to absorb the inspiration and quaint-ness. When you come to visit, we can walk around downtown and you'll see just how cute it really is.





outside of "Sisters' Coffee Shop"

installment 7: Adventure Day

Friday, June 8th.

In the morning, Liz and I headed an hour south to Colorado Springs. First stop: Focus on the Family's welcome center (Liz and I both enjoyed "Adventures in Odyssey," so we had fun checking out Whit's End). The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs, and Pikes Peak. The evening ended with a relaxing visit to the hot tub in my apartment complex and then an AWESOME dinner at "Claim Jumper."


That's Pikes Peak in the background.

Yes, that's the Focus on the Family Bookstore, yes that is a cardboard cutout. And no, they didn't kick us out.

Liz and John Avery Whittaker.

At Garden of the Gods.






Refusing the refuse (leave it to English majors to get a kick out of that).


We had lunch in downtown Manitou Springs, at the base of Pikes Peak.


the sign at the entrace to Pikes Peak Highway. This would be quite the drive...the entire trip took about 3 hours, and we praised God for keeping us safe the whole way up and back. The drive's not for whimps, that's for sure.


beginning the drive to the summit. an hour and a half later, we'd be at the tippy top of that mountain.


a beautiful resevoir lake about 7 miles into the drive.


gorgeous views the whole way up. (liz had my camera...i can multi-task, but not during this drive.)





several times i had to coax my car to keep on climbing.


those are the guard-rails.


we got stuck behind this truck, which made the drive extra fun.



the last mile was the worst, with high winds, snow drifts, and muddy roads. i'm not gonna lie, i was nervous...and praying the whole time.

finally at the top! it was SO COLD and super WINDY. probably in the low 30's with a wind chill below zero.


breathtaking views (literally!)...there's half the amount of oxygen in the air up there than at sea-level.



Katherine Lee Bates wrote the lyrics to "America the Beautiful" from this summit.



where the railway ends.

my little "engine-that-could" among all the "big dogs."

the drive down the mountain was interesting too. several signs warned "HOT BRAKES FAIL. USE LOWER GEARS."

there was even a mandatory brake check halfway down.

We stopped at the lake to take in the gorgeous view.

"i can't believe we were at the top of that mountain," said liz. :)

the bumper sticker reads, "i survived the drive. pikes peak."

my car was so muddy after the Pikes Peak journey...

...but there's a car wash place across the street from my apartment!

"this is my specialty!" -said liz as she grabbed the vacuum.

our celebratory dinner at "Claim Jumpers," a restaurant recommended by Liz's husband. I'd never eaten at one before, but I can tell you right now...it'll be one of my favorite places to eat.



liz and i shared all that food, i swear. :) it was seriously one of the best meals i've ever eaten.

installment 6: Move-in Day

Thursday, June 7th.

Liz and i arrived at my new apartment Thursday morning (after an unintentional scenic tour around denver--apparently E470 is different from C470), just in time to meet the movers. we spent the morning taking inventory. After an MSG-filled lunch at a local Chinese buffet, we drove into the city of denver to check out the sights.

Location: Littleton and Denver, CO.



Poor plant barely made it.

liz takes inventory

me in my new living room with all my stuff

downtown littleton

on our way to the city

we had a little...incident at starbucks.

i was so excited i did a cartwheel (that's the captial building in the background)

liz snaps a shot of the U.S. Mint.

in front of the capital



the mile high city!!



16th Street Mall = very cool place for shopping and eating and general merriment.

with Riley, Megan's cat

installment 5: Road Trip, Day Three.

Wednesday, June 6th.

Liz and I left lawrence around 8am (central time) and headed north to visit Ft. Leavenworth (I lived there from 1993-1996). it was a walk down memory lane to see where i spent my 7-9th grade years.

Around 11am we were on I-70 heading west. Winds were dangrously high--about 55mph--so the drive was more tedious and we had to keep the top up all day. We enjoyed Kansas's exciting landscape (wheat, cows, and the occasional tractor) for about 7 hours before we finally crossed over into Colorado.

We arrived at Megan Lake's beautiful apartment in Littleton around 9:30pm, mountain time (two hours behind EST).


Daily Stats:

States visited: Kansas, Kansas, Kansas, and finally COLORADO!

# of hours driving: (including trip to Ft. Leavenworth) about 10

Gas stops: 2

Where we ate: McDonald's for breakfast, Arby's for lunch, Qdoba (awesome Mexican place) for dinner

Rest stops visited: 2

Number of Cokes consumed: 4 (two each)

Saw lots of: wheat fields, prairie dogs, goats

Goals accomplished: fed goats, saw the "biggest prairie dog in the world."

Realizations: Western Kansas is REALLY flat and there's nothing to block the wind, my car is really light-weight, the "biggest prairie dog in the world" isn't real--it's made out of cement (but it still was the highlight of our day).

Aaron and me on his balcony.

Where Liz and I slept.

The Main Post Chapel...so many memories here!

where the Romaneskis lived for three years.

Cannons overlooking the Missouri River.


Patton Jr. High School...many memories here too!

















Yay for Colorado (finally!) !!

installment 4: Road Trip, Day Two.

Tuesday, June 5th.

After seeing some tanks and the Gold Depository at Ft. Knox, Liz and I were on the road by 8:30am. The day's weather was perfect, so we drove most of the trip with the top down. Around 3pm we saw the St. Louis Arch and we reached our destination--Lawrence, Kansas--around 7pm. We stayed with my good friend, Aaron Brizuela, who happened to be celebrating his 24th birthday. (He and I have known each other since 1987!) Aaron took us to Chipotle and then to the movies to see Shrek the Third.

Daily Stats:

States visited: Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas.

# of hours driving: about 8 1/2

Gas stops: 2

Where we ate: Fazoli's for lunch, Sonic for root beer floats

Rest stops visited: 0

Number of Cokes consumed: 4 (two each)

Saw lots of: tanks, bugs on my windshield, cows, farm fields

Goals accomplished: rode with the top down, got Sonic root beer floats, got a truck driver to honk, drove through a drive-thru and ordered only water.

Realizations: I love the song "Black Tambourine," by Beck (Liz played it for me, and it was the first I'd heard it.), you can have a dance party in the car, Aaron's car is almost dead but can be started by rolling down a hill and shifting into first gear (we experienced this first-hand).

Installment 3: Road Trip, Day One.

Monday, June 4th:

Liz and I set off from my parents' house in Alexandria, VA, around 8am and arrived at Fort Knox, KY (close to Louisville) around 9:30pm. It was a long day, and we were glad to make it to the LLoyds' house that night.

Daily Stats:

States visited: Virginia, Maryland, West Va, Kentucky

# of hours driving: about 10

Gas stops: 2

Where we ate: picnic lunch (with home-made sandwiches from Gramma), McDonalds for dinner

Rest stops visited: 4 (we liked West Virginia's best)

Number of Cokes consumed: 4 (two each)

Saw lots of: butterflies, rolling hills, thunder clouds, hail.

Goals accomplished: finished one audiobook (Man of Vision, by Merilee Pierce Dunker), bought an atlas, rode with the top down.

Realizations: Liz and I both have and love our Crocks (see photo), when taking a roadtrip, normal eating rules do not apply (i.e. you can eat Pringles at 10am and have two milkshakes a day, etc.), plants aren't meant to be in the backseat of a convertible while driving 65 mph, "Shimmy Shakes" from Sheetz are AMAZING, Kentuckians are into hunting and taxidermy.












We encounted a few intense thunderstorms in Kentucky. One was so bad that I had to pull over on the side of the interstate until it was over. It hailed for about 3-4 minutes. It was neat but also a bit nerve-wracking.

Installment 2: Saturday, June 2nd

What a fun day! Began with hiking at Great Falls with Kate.


Dinner at church celebrating Katherine's graduation from the Fellows Program.


Saturday night my roommates threw an incredible Colorado-themed goodbye party. There was--among other things--trail mix, granola, Coors beer (tap the Rockies), watermelon, and cake. And some friends came dressed as Coloradans (open to interpretation)...it was a great evening, and it meant a lot to me to spend it with so many friends.



(John Denver made a guest appearance.)



(Do you get Matt's shirt? Hint: Focus on the Family's headquarters are in Colorado Springs.)










Paul came ready to quote Dumb & Dumber: "Big Gulps, eh? All right! Welp, see you later!"

Installment 1: Transition to Colorado

Friday, June 1st: Moving Day

This is the first in a series recording my move to Colorado. Yesterday was moving day...the movers came at 9am and were gone by 11:30am. I'm not sure when I'll see my stuff again...sometime on or before the 18th. The three-day roadtrip begins Monday morning...stay tuned for more installements! :)

Some "before and after" shots.








Leslie, William and Elizabeth come to say good-bye.





Kelly came up to help me clean. We sanded and spackled and sprayed anti-mildew stuff. Now it's all ready for Erica!






Good times.