All photos were taken by my husband, Cory, and edited by me.

Before we get started, do you SEE all those columbines up there in that photo? Ridiculous. Ok, moving on :

Last weekend, the day the fire started, Cory was hiking.  Fortunately nowhere near Waldo Canyon, but in the south of the state – his goal was to reach the summit of Mt. Lindsey and knock another 14er off his list.  He’d already climbed Pike’s Peak earlier this spring.

From Cory’s accounts, this was a really fun trail and from the photos, I’d definitely say it’s a beautiful one.  They crossed a mountain stream a few times and stumbled upon a whole slew of colorful wildflowers.  I was jealous, of course, but my love of flat ground is strong (as flat as you can find here in Colorado – it’s a challenge), so I stayed behind on this hike.

The latter part of the hike involved some climbing as they approached the summit.  I adore the photo below, though I’m not entirely sure why – I think it’s a combination of the vibrant colors spotting the rocks and the completely imperfect lighting and the composition really makes you feel like you’re climbing – it’s just lovely.

The view from the top is spectacular of course – you can see for miles.  The mountain landscape is one of my favorite things.

The group even found some friendly marmots to greet them on their arrival.

A side note – if you’re planning on climbing a 14er, grab a bag at Which-Wich on the way and you’ll earn yourself a free sandwich when you bring back a photo of yourself with the bag at the summit.  Pretty fun.

Another side – since I wasn’t actually ON the hike, I can’t give you many helpful pointers.  However, Cory filled out a detailed trip report on 14rs.com and you can check it out there – that website is full of great info if you are planning on making any mountain ascents.

Hope you all had a great weekend full of adventures!

Filed in:Everyday Adventure | Travel

Ah, SO much to be thankful for this week.  Like being back in my house after a week of craziness.  So so thankful.

1. This was the sky Tuesday afternoon, when the Waldo Canyon fire crossed the ridge and evacuated the entire west side of Colorado Springs. Yeah, that’s the sun.

2. I wore this three days out of the last seven.  Also, I found a willow tree. In Colorado.

3. Whole family squished on a couch.  Never have I been more thankful for my bed.

4. My coping mechanism of choice.  I don’t think I’ve ever had so much Starbucks in a week – or coffee for that matter.

5. Nothing like a meal cooked in your own kitchen. And vegetables. I was not made for a fast food diet.

6. Watching the sunset through a restaurant window and the shadows were doing fun things.

7 & 8. The smoke cleared enough on Thursday for us to get some outside time at a playground.  Good for the soul.

Thanks to our great friends who made this week as smooth as possible, to all the emergency workers in Colorado who have fought and continue to fight to get these fires put out and people back home.  This has been an insane experience – but more than anything I am overwhelmed with the care people have for each other and how many things, even in the midst of insanity, that we can truly be thankful for.

(Find me on instagram : @bellatheball)

Filed in:Life

Challenge Summary / Week 1 / Week 2

Ok, here’s the recap from week 3 of my challenge.  One more week to go – I decided to just end at 28 since I ended up only using 28 items (I left a few spots open for “just in case” pieces and didn’t end up adding anything). I think my favorites from this week were #15 & #17 – something about simple just appeals to me lately.  It’s probably a summer thing, summer lends itself to simplicity.

Huzzah, we’re almost at the finish line!

Filed in:Style

It’s pretty surreal how something so horrible can, in its way, look so beautiful.  We have had the most incredible sunsets.  And yet at the heart of that is something so painful and broken.  My home is right at the front lines, so I’m not trying to belittle the situation at all, because I feel it acutely.  But as far as I know, no life has been lost, and this is the most precious victory.

What I keep turning back to is the passage of the bible from Isaiah 61 – where we are promised that beauty will come from ashes – that what was devastated will be rebuilt – that the end is a beginning.  And somehow in the midst of fire, I find a strange peace.

There’s a type of pine tree here in Colorado that needs the heat of fire to release its seeds and bring new growth to the forest.  The devastation was intended for evil, but new life turns it for good.  Let us hold on, in the midst of struggle, in the midst of unpleasantness, in the midst of devastation – to the knowing that good remains, that beauty remains, and that life remains.  I believe tragedy does not come as judgement or as testing from a God who is inherently good, but that this God can turn all things around.

All things can turn around.

(image via, text added)

Filed in:Life

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