Snow??? I need out of Minnesota...

So, I think those doomsday global warming people should have been in Minnesota last night. I can't believe I woke up to snow this morning... April 26th... ridiculous.

So, what I've been considering for the last week or so... I jumped on it today. Rose & Korey just moved to a suburb of Charlotte, NC... I'm going to go visit them. Next weekend. Turns out that they will be in Charleston, SC for a couple weeks for Korey's work... so I'm going to go visit them there instead, which works out well considering it's further south, warm, and includes the ocean. I love the ocean. And I've never been to the Carolina's... at least one more to check off on my goal of making it to all 50 states! Charleston, South Carolina here I come! (May 2-6th) Yay!

Day off...

My day off was semi-productive after I finally rolled out of bed around 10am.

I hung out with Daisy for awhile. Daisy does not like getting her picture taken.


Then I went to get my hair cut and highlighted. I struggled to get a good picture of it for you... this picture doesn't do it justice... it's pretty fun. :)


I stopped at Scheels while I was at the mall and got myself a chair to sit on outside and read in the BEAUTIFUL weather.


And, last but not least... I changed my license plates! My car has Minnesota plates for the first time! Yay!

Brownie goo...

Last night I got to hang out with Sheree, Corey, & Zach. They are so fun. After dinner Sheree and I decided we needed something sweet. So, first idea was Special K Bars... but, unfortunately there was no more Caro Syrup in their house. But, there was a box of fudge brownie mix. We decided brownies would work well too. Turns out Sheree doesn't eat eggs anymore because she's allergic to them, so she had a box of powdered egg substitute. That should work right? Well... no. The mix looked good when it was liquid... but we opened up the oven when they should have been done... and the brownies were boiling! I've never seen brownies boil. Turns out the oil kind of came to the top of the brownies... so when it cooled off Corey tried to dump the oil off the top. What we left underneath was fudgy brownie goo... but it was actually kind of yummy.




And... a week later, I finally have my Colorado pictures up for you to look at... link on the left.

Focus on the Family Medical Conference

Wonderful. This is where I've been the last few days.

I have gotten 12 hours of continuing medical education... but more importantly i got to be encouraged in my faith by hearing some big names in the Christian world who are wonderful speakers and can proclaim God's word in amazing ways.

Thursday night: John Trent, PhD

Friday morning: Henry Blackaby - who wrote http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Experiencing-God-Member-Book/Henry-T-Blackaby/e/9781415858387/?itm=3.
He said we must have an unhurried time with God every morning, and that that time is the best way to always be aware of and responsive to God's leading in your life. That was something I really needed to hear.
AND...
Del Tackett from The Truth Project.

Friday afternoon: JAMES DOBSON!!!


Friday evening: Gene Rudd, MD who is the Christian Medical and Dental Association Senior Vice President
Gene Rudd on suffering: "Is it necessary for you to know why? Or is it acceptable to know God who knows why?"

Saturday morning: Henry Blackaby again (see link above)
"In EVERYTHING you should seek to please God"
AND...
John Patrick
Dr. Patrick on how not to offend people with your thoughts or beliefs: "Never make a statement. Always ask a question. There are no politically incorrect questions."

Saturday evening: KEN HUTCHERSON
"You cannot fear and have faith at the same time - you can switch back and forth real quick - but you can't do both simultaneously.

This is just a short summary of the last couple days. It was totally worth it... if you want to know more, just ask! :)

Exploring in the Colorado Springs Area...

Yesterday was my day before the conference begins to explore the Colorado Springs Area. This morning was supposed to be as well, but unfortunately the weather did not agree, so I'm hanging out in the hotel until the conference starts at noon. Here's a synopsis of yesterday...

I started out the morning at the Garden of the Gods. It's a big area of red rocks standing upright in interesting formations. Beautiful. The sad part is that the coolest part is paved trails that you're not supposed to leave. Bummer. But there were some other areas I discovered that you can hike around.


I had to leave Garden of the Gods before I saw everything to make my reservation for the 1:20 Cog Railway ride up Pikes Peak. Here we go... you can see the peak out in front of us...


Unfortunately, we couldn't go all the way to the summit because of all the snowstorms and wind in the past week, they can't keep the tracks clear. The road hasn't been open in over a month either. So, the only way up to the top now is to hike through snow deeper than you are tall... or a helecopter. This is where we had to stop and turn around because of the snow.


Then I headed to see the ancient cliff dwellings. They were cool, but not my favorite part of the day.


Then I went back to Garden of the Gods and did a bit of hiking around and taking more pictures from the good photo opp places before the rain/sleet/snow started. I got wet getting these pictures, but it was worth it. :)


All my pictures will be up soon... you can see them using the link on your left...

Drive to Colorado Springs

Today I dropped Daisy off at a new kennel in Mankato and drove off to Colorado Springs. In the just over 13 hours alone in the car I learned a few things...

1 - My newly LASIKed eyes are still sensitive to bright sunshine.
2 - I re-discovered how yummy Little Debbie's Star Crunch. Yum.
3 - Did you know Nebraska is the "Home of Arbor Day"? How can a state be a home of a holiday? I mean... Israel could be considered the home of Christmas or Easter... but how is Nebraska the home of Arbor Day?
4 - 13 hours in the car alone is about the limit of my sanity.
5 - I really miss the mountains. I could spend a lot more time out here...
6 - Why is Jesse Ventura back in the political scene? We had enough of him in Minnesota.

Well... now some rest. Tomorrow is my day for adventuring before the start of the conference.

Goodnight.