Thanksgiving Thoughts

I don't want you to think that I'm writing this post simply because it is Thanksgiving.  No, I've been writing it for a much longer time, but today just seemed like the prime opportunity to release it.

This thanksgiving I have so many things to be thankful for.  Even though it's been a rough month and I've had some very hard weeks at school, I am definitely thankful, first of all, to be home. And, despite being very worn out from school, I am also thankful for it.  I have been given a great opportunity to learn at one of the top Geology and Mining schools in the country. And even though I get stressed and frustrated, I remind myself what a blessing it really is.

I am thankful for my family, for helping me pay for college and for raising me to be the person I am.  Thank you Mom and Dad for putting up with my crazy antics, my quirks, my weirdness, and my flaws and for teaching me so much about life and how to be a good person.  I would not be where I am without you. I love you guys!!

I am also extremely thankful for my best friend/sister/not-really-my-sister-but-you-know-what-I-mean.  We're so far away, and I've missed you so much!! However, you never fail to make me laugh, even when we're Skyping! (By the way it was hilarious when you fell under your desk). It's a really awesome feeling to be so far away and know that nothing about our friendship will change because of the distance.  It's been so great seeing you again! Those brownies were the best! Gotta love ol' Betty Crocker! ;)  Love ya!

And last but definitely not least, I'm so thankful for my amazing boyfriend.  You give me so much to smile and be happy about every single day. And even when it's been a terrible day, you never fail to bring out the best in me and show me that I am worth so much more.  

Thank you for being you, because you are perfect that way.  Thank you for being strong, sometimes for both of us.  Thank you for being a gentleman and a leader in our relationship. Thank you for always being there for me through thick and thin, for supporting me through everything, for helping me get up when I fall down.  Thank you for teaching me so much about myself, and about life, computers, and math. You inspire me, and you are my role model for so many things.  I am so blessed to have you in my life.  Thank you for being my rock. :) 

I am so thankful for what we have.  Our relationship even makes me thankful for all of the ones which failed in the past. Each of them taught me some aspect of what I was really looking for, and in the end they brought me here. You are everything I could have hoped to find and so much more, and I thank God in my prayers that you are in my life. I love you so much! :)

Finally, I'm thankful for all of my readers! I hope everyone has a wonderful, warm, and safe thanksgiving! Thanks again for reading my blog! Cheers!

Beyond the Blanket

I don't know about the rest of you, but when I was little, I always saw the world and its problems as things that our parents had to deal with. The world was meant for adults, and as children we couldn't even see past the edges of high counters, let alone manage the world's issues.  Being so young, we didn't have responsibilities.  We essentially reported to our superiors, and our superiors governed our lives.  As we grew older we were slowly given more and more things to be responsible of.  First it was dressing ourselves, making our own lunches, then it was driving vehicles and paying for our own things.  But now it is different.  As adults, we are now plunged into an entirely different realm of responsibilities and duties.  Namely, to our families, to our country, and even to the world itself.

When we were children, it wasn't our job to deal with these things. Maybe I took that for granted and started thinking it would never be our job.  But now, suddenly, it is our job.  The world and all of its wars and conflicts are now our burden to bear.  We can't hide under the blanket of childhood carelessness anymore.  Now it is time to grow up; time to emerge.

As we shed the warmth of naivety, the world seems to be a cold and cruel place.  This cannot be the nature of the world.  It is because of the actions of people that the world appears to be this way. It is, sadly, the nature of men toward one another.  And while the duty for our generation to mend this evil has been thrust upon us, we have a choice.  We can cower under our blankets in fear and effectively allow the evil to win, or we can stand up, brace against the cold, and refuse to let it defeat us.

Adulthood: Dreams Becoming Possibilities

I realized something new today.  As we start going to college we go through lots of big transitions.  The transitions of living with other people, living alone, living in a new place, experiencing new kinds of people, getting a taste of the real world without being under the shelter of our parents' wings.  But there's also another, bigger transition we go through.  When we change from being a child to being an adolescent or an adult, we not only experience aging but also a change of mindset.  As children, we live in the 'dream' mindset.  We fantasize about silly things, pretend that we are older, and dream about what we may become when we grow up.  A little further down the road, we start realizing our goals, and the dreams we had when we were younger start to get a little clearer.

But the real transition happens around the time we go to college.  As children we may have known what we 'wanted to be' when we grew up, but it was never really possible to actually achieve this dream.  But, as an adult, we are given the freedom to make our dreams a reality.  It is at this age that we realize what we will become, and we have so many options to make it happen.  Whether we want to get married and start a family, pursue a career to the fullest extent, make beautiful music, or change the world, all of the doors are opened to us.  When we become adults the world is at our fingertips and we are given the option of seizing it. 

The Social Unicorn

There's something I've learned from being at college.  You might say "well, that's why you're there, to learn, right?" Yes, that is true.  But I mean more on the social aspect than the book learning.  Honestly, getting used to the people at college has been the biggest adjustment for me.  Once I came here I was swept away by how many new kinds of people there were.  Everybody here is different.  I know this probably doesn't seem like news to anybody, but to me its very new.  There are so many different kinds of people, types of people I didn't even know could or would actually exist. They're like a social unicorn: I've heard about their existence, but before now it all seemed like a myth or something impossible. But now that I've met this social unicorn I am amazed.

Grounded in Friendship

Sometimes I feel like I'm not good enough. Not good enough for my own standards, mainly (I know I tend to be my own worst critic). But then I am reminded by my friends and those that I love that I am always enough for them. Even when I'm under the impression that I can't accomplish whatever task is before me, I can fall back on the realization that these are people who will never leave me if I fail. Their love and their friendship to me does not rely on how well I perform, the kinds of grades I get, or the way I carry myself through life's adversities. Their connection to me is not that superficial, but so much deeper.

So despite feeling inadequate at times, I can (and I hope others of you can relate) rest assured that I have at least accomplished one very important thing: finding wonderful people who see more potential in me than I sometimes see in myself.

Watchful Eyes

Sometimes it is during the most precious times in our lives that we forget to remember.  Now, that might sound strange right off the bat, but think about it.  Its almost as if when those precious moments come along we are so caught up in them that we don't think about remembering them for future reference.  Wouldn't it be nice if we could just take a snapshot with our eyes of those moments?  I mean, sure, memories are great, and sometimes we remember what's really important during those times.  But other times the memories are blurred and not everything is always captured as it really happened.  Those are the times when I wish I brought a camera with me and secretly shot a picture without ruining the moment.   If only our eyes could take mental pictures and make them as lasting and memorable as a photograph.  Wouldn't it be interesting and beautiful to flip through the memories like a slideshow of your life?

Best Summer on Record: Glen Eyrie and Boxcar Coffee Roasters

Apart from hiking with my boyfriend, we also took a trip down to Glen Eyrie to visit the Glen Eyrie Castle.  The whole idea of going came from my boyfriend's love of all things medieval and castle related. I had been to the castle once for a wedding shower earlier this year and absolutely fell in love with the place, so I also wanted to return anyway.  Nestled in a more distant part of the town where tall sandstone rocks loom over head, a river rushes by, and eagles nest, it really is quite beautiful.  But not only is the outside beautiful, but the inside is stunning as well.

Nearly all the walls in the castle are intricately made of wood, and the ceilings are sculpted.  As well as a tea room, there was a great room on the top floor, an old carriage house, special rooms for the man's children, a den for himself, and so much more.  The technology that he implemented in the building was truly amazing and far before his time.  For instance he had fire hoses built into the walls, vacuum connections for cleaning the castle, and a heated table to keep his food warm while he was hunting.  

After we went to the castle, we visited Boxcar Coffee Roasters in Boulder and tried two of their coffees!  While very expensive, the coffee was definitely very good.  Anyway, it was a very beautiful day all day, even when it down poured at the coffee house (because rain is beautiful and exciting).  I absolutely loved touring the castle more in depth this time, and the coffee house was really neat.  I hope my boyfriend had as much fun as I did on this adventure! :) 

Best Summer on Record: Fern Falls Hike

One of my favorite adventures this summer was most definitely the hike my boyfriend and I took to Fern Falls.  After doing some research I found the hike and decided it would be super beautiful, so we went for it.  The drive up there was really pretty, but when we arrived we realized there was literally no parking anywhere in multiple lots.  After driving around looking for a spot like vultures, we decided to park along the road about 3/4 of a mile from the trail head.  We grumbled a bit about having to walk so far, but even the walk to the trail was beautiful, with aspens lining the road in places.  

Once the hike began it was even more beautiful than I had anticipated.  Not far along the trail we were greeted by several little creeks and streams which we had to cross, plus an excellent view of the rushing river.  And even though the end half of the trail got pretty steep, it was beautiful all the way there.  There were awesome rock formations, bridges, flowers, the water formations, and so much more.  Once we reached the top it was like a total change in atmosphere!  We went from being super hot to basically being air-conditioned by the spray from the falls. Overall it was spectacular and I loved every minute that I got to spend my favorite person on this gorgeous hike! :) 

Best Summer on Record: The Beginning

To all my friends and faithful followers, I am truly sorry I have not kept up with my posts most of the summer.  Everything has been so busy, but also quite amazing!  I shall now share with you the details of my adventures.  WARNING: the retelling of events may become: exciting, adorable, and/or long winded.  I am not liable for any damages. 

Before graduation I started catching up with a friend who had graduated the year before.  Then one Thursday afternoon we went out for coffee and we found that we had quite a lot in common.  Long story short, we have been dating all summer, and many of my favorite adventures have been made with him. 

To begin my adventures, this summer has been one filled with lots of hiking.  My best friend and I went on several great hikes together and took many pictures.  I, for one, collected many rocks as well.  Our first hike was to Coyote Ridge.  Though it was a hot hike, it was worth the view we got at the top and in the green valley beyond the ridge.  

Our next hike was first to Round Mountain and then a much more difficult hike to Sheep Mountain. On Round Mountain we saw a beautiful little lookout and we made a smiley cairn to leave our mark.  Though we didn't make it to the top of Sheep Mountain because we ran out of time, we made it a little further than halfway. Our excitement when we saw that 2 mile marker was through the roof.   Maybe next year we can push all the way to the top!  

It is at this point that I am realizing how long this post is becoming.  I'm going to have to split it up into short series of adventures.  This is only the beginning of this fabulous summer! :) 

Seconds of Summer

It's been so long since I've posted!  I am so sorry!  Inspiration has thankfully finally struck again, though.

Sometimes, as we work through the day, we get so fed up with things that we just wish that time would accelerate.  Perhaps everything that day is just not going right, we stayed up too late the night before and can't wait to go to bed, or we are bored out of our minds.  This happens to every one of us, and it's honestly unavoidable.  There are just those days, sometimes even weeks.  And while it may seem important to us at the time to rush through the day and end it quickly, it is more important that we pause, look around, and savor the flavor of the moment.  

I'm writing this today because I've noticed that my care-free summer days are slowly dwindling.  Pretty soon it will be time to head off to Rapid City, SD to go to school.  The time I get to spend with my family, my friends, and the ones I love is limited, and to me that is a scary thought.  So even though I still have those days that I just wish would end, and I'm usually pushing for weekends so I can surround myself with fun, I am trying to remind myself to take as many virtual snapshots as I can.  And honestly, this should apply to more than just this summer.  It should extend to every single day that I have on this earth, because my time (like everyone else's) is limited and must be spent wisely.  

So here's a tip for all of you, some of you will really take this to heart while others may not:  Even though you might hate your job, even though getting up is a drag every morning, even if you are going through a rough time in life, make sure to bring your mental camera and your sense of appreciation with you.  Right now it might not seem worth the effort to enjoy every second you have, (especially when those seconds are spent being bored) but it will be worth the memory bank you can reflect upon in the future.  So please, just try this.  Take a look around you.  Notice the people, even the ones that bother you, and appreciate them.  Notice the weather, enjoy the warmth of the sun.  Smell the roses.  No, seriously, go smell them, they smell great this time of year!  Fall in love.  Spend as much time as you can with those you already love.  Watch a sunset, then watch a sunrise.  Don't push time forward, hang back as much as possible.  Savor every second of summer.

Breaking

When a relationship is ended, we are heartbroken.  But the absence of love and companionship is not the only reason why it feels so miserable.  It is also because of how much of ourselves we poured into the relationship: all of the care and concern, our highest joys and our deepest secrets.  We put so much of ourselves into this thing we called 'love,' because we thought it was important, we thought it was meaningful, and we thought it would last.  Even though we may have emptied ourselves into making it work, what do we have to show for it? A stinking heap of meaninglessness.  None of it did anything, none of it mattered enough to hold the relationship together.  This is heartbreak, and I believe it applies to things besides relationships too.  When all of our labor toward any goal is so complete and it ends so fruitlessly, it is one of the most painful things in the world.

Miraculous Improvement

Visiting my cousins yesterday for Easter, made me realize how difficult it must have been for us to learn to do anything.  I don't mean that in a bad way.  For instance, I was trying to help my little cousin learn how to swing.  He told me "I've tried that so many times at school before," and then "but I can swing if you push me."  Even after he insisted that he couldn't pump the swing himself, I tried to convince him to do it, and I tried to demonstrate.  He attempted it a couple of times, and it was almost painful for me to watch how close he was to getting it right.  He had the motions down, but just not the physics.  I eventually resorted to pushing him on the swing instead, but it made me think back to when I was little and how hard it was for me to learn these things. 

I remember being at school, and how the sole purpose of my recess existence was to be able to skip a bar on the monkey bars.  Doing them one by one was hard enough, but skipping one was even harder.  I remember all of the countless times I fell in the dirt, all of the bruises and blisters on my hands from doing them over and over again.  It took me the longest time to get the hang of it. 

Riding a bike was the same way.  It took me so long to learn to ride it without falling over, and I acquired many cuts and scrapes in the process. But eventually, with time and practice, I was able to do it. 

Now, of course, we take these basic things for granted and it is hard to understand how anyone could not know how to do them.  In reality though, our ability to gain these skills is quite miraculous. And now, every grueling step we take toward whatever goal we seek should also be counted as just as amazing.

A Glimpse of Time

Looking back on all of the things that happened just a short time ago can sometimes make us realize how naive we were and how silly the choices we made were.  But as the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20.  However, it leaves me wondering how things would have been if none of those things had happened.  What would the result be if someone had died who is still alive now? What kind of a person would I be today if I were still in that relationship?  What if I had not made some of the mistakes that I have made? How would these things have altered the present?

But it is very hard to glimpse the future.  The best we can do is look back and see how certain occurrences have caused certain ripples in the present.  To our present selves, we may look back and think "how could I have not seen the effect that would have?" But are we any less naive now, or ever?  We cannot possibly see all of the threads of our lives and the lives that impact us or where they lead.  All we can do is make the very best of our every situation and appreciate every passing moment of time.  For the clock ticks on, it does not stop for us.

Single Serving Chocolate Chip Cookie

Hey everyone! So I've been enjoying this modified recipe for a while but I thought some of you might also!  Its delicious, quick, easy, and not very messy!  When you have a craving for a chocolate chip cookie but you dont want to make 20 of them and waste an hour, this is the perfect solution!

1 tbs butter
2 tbs brown sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
2 tsp milk
4.5 tbs flour
1/8 tsp baking powder
2-3 drops of vanilla (if mixture is too dry or too thick)
2 tbs chocolate chips

Melt the butter in the microwave (25 secs). Mix brown sugar with butter until smooth, then add first vanilla measurement and milk, mix until homogeneous. Add flour and mix until smooth, then add the baking powder.  If the mixture is too doughy, add only a drop or two of vanilla.  Mix in chocolate chips.  Place the dough on a small plate and shape it into a normal cookie shape.  Microwave for 1 minute.  Be careful if you eat it immediately, it can be quite hot, and it will stay hot for a while!  Enjoy!

*IMPORTANT* Scholarship Essay!

Hey everyone!  I know it has been FOREVER since I last posted, and I'm sorry I missed the last three holidays of the year to wish everyone well.  Please accept my apology and kindly accept these three belated greetings: MERRY CHRISTMAS!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!  HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Anyway, the real reason I came here to post today was because I'm currently applying for scholarships.  One of the applications required an essay which must be voted on.  The essay contestants with the most popular votes will get the scholarship.  This is super duper important to me, so if you would please spend just a moment voting for my essay, I would be absolutely thrilled.  You can vote for it at the bottom of the essay.

http://www.wyzant.com/scholarships/v5/essay102916-Loveland-CO.aspx

Thank you, and if you voted, thank you even more!