Christmas in November

From Mike:
Well, it’s that time of year again; the weather is getting colder, the traffic is getting suckier, and the stores are getting busier. Suffice it to say, Kelly and I are as busy as ever gearing up for the holidays. I love this time of year. I always have. This is somewhat embarrassing, but I remember sitting in my room as a kid listening to Christmas music in July! I guess the fond memories and the joy that this season brings makes this my favorite time of year. Kelly, on the other hand, still can’t believe the radio stations are already playing Christmas music…she refuses to listen to it until December 1st. Although Kelly isn’t into the post-Halloween Christmas spirit, she is not totally without some yuletide cheer…she has already begun her shopping and bought Christmas cards! I realized something funny the other day as Kelly and I were writing our annual Christmas letter: Isn’t the Christmas letter just a blog on fancy paper that you mail to people? For those who already document their daily lives online for everyone to see, technology is ruining that particular part of this wonderful holiday! Oh well…everyone likes getting mail, right?

Kelly and I recently volunteered for The March of Dimes at their Signature Chefs event in Denver and Boulder. This is pretty much the coolest event to volunteer for, ever. Anywhere from 15 to 20 of the top restaurants in Denver and Boulder come to each event and make a variety of delicious gourmet food for the attendees. People pay $150/seat to attend, but since we are volunteers, we get everything for the price of a few hours of our time. It’s quite a trade-off. They also hold several silent auctions for goods and services donated from companies across the country. Everything from massages and golf clubs, to hockey tickets and Vegas vacations are available to bid on while you walk around the ballroom filling your belly with some of the most delightful dishes you can imagine. Suffice it to say, Kelly and I left with a full stomach, and a sense of satisfaction knowing we had helped premature babies across the country. 

On a much darker, drearier note, Kelly and I went to the dentist last week for a cleaning. As usual, Kelly came out of there with a clean bill of health. I wasn’t so lucky. For those of you who don’t already know, I absolutely HATE going to the dentist. Recently, I haven’t left the dentist without a laundry list of expensive work that needs to be done to that stupid part of my face. This time, it was my wisdom teeth. Apparently I need them out since they are, in the dentist’s words, “all messed up.” He even told me that they were so impacted, that he didn’t even trust himself to take them out, so he referred me to a specialist. I read somewhere that your wisdom teeth are really close to a major nerve in your face, and if they accidentally sever that nerve while removing them, one entire side of your face could be paralyzed…forever!! How jacked up is that?? I don’t know about you all, but I like my face the way it is. Not to mention that people say it costs upwards of $3,000 to get them removed…*sigh*

This weekend, I’m going with my friend Ashley up to Jamestown with a group of high schoolers for a weekend mountain retreat. It’s been so long since I last worked with the youth group that I’m a little nervous, but at the same time, I’m excited to have the opportunity to be a spiritual mentor to them and help them grow in their walk with Christ. It will be a weekend of reflection and meditation as we spend quiet times surrounded by God’s amazing creation. Please be in prayer that these kids will walk away from the retreat with a renewed faith, and a deeper relationship with their Maker.

Kelly, for some reason, suggested that I write something about our cat, Zora. I sat here for the longest time trying to think of something interesting to write about our chubby little feline, but not a whole lot has happened with her…she’s as fat and lazy and mean as ever. Despite her oddities, we still love her. 

That’s all I can think to write now. I hope you all are blessed and well. Until next time!

Playing catch up. . .

From Kelly:
Well not much is going on around here. And at the same time, it seems like a lot has happened!!

For Halloween Mike and I went to a few different parties. I was dressed as a bee and he went in a prisoner's costume, but for some reason kept telling people he was a "married man". Not sure what that was all about. . . :) We saw some pretty good costumes throughout the night-- lots of girls dressed as Sarah Palin, a John McCain, a girl dressed as Carrie that was actually really really scary, and our friend Justin wore skin tight shorts and went as Michael Phelps-- that actually may have been scarier than the Carrie costume!

Then, as you know, just one week ago the country elected BARACK OBAMA!!! YAY!!! We went to Carter's house to watch the election results with some friends and enjoyed watching the numbers roll in as we chowed down on some pizza and caught up. Of course we were very happy with the results and I was especially moved by Barack's speech. Regardless of your politics, this is such a huge leap from even just 50 years ago to see an African American family in the white house! What an historic moment. Which is why. . . we have decided to go to DC to join in the inauguration festivities!!

Since we have a bunch of friends that live out there anyway, we thought this would be great time to go visit and witness history in the making. Well actually, we probably won't get to see the actual history being made-- tickets are really hard to come by for the actual inauguration-- but we will sure have fun joining in the festivities! Mike is leaving on Tuesday, though, before the deed is done-- just to make it clear that he's still an independent ;) Plus, Tony's coming out from San Francisco to meet up with us so that's an added bonus!

Ok well Mike's done doing the dishes, so it's time to go beat him at Phase 10. Have a great rest of your week!!