possibilities

My mom, Amelie and I took a trip up to Estes Park yesterday and on the way up I told her that one of my new goals is to climb Longs Peak, sometime in the next couple of years. That particular hike makes my mom nervous. She’s never been but she’s heard stories about treacherous areas and falling climbers. 

Long Peak, East Face

Before my mom was paralyzed, she hiked many of the mountains in Colorado. Hiking was a passion that she and my dad shared, and they conquered many mountains together, dragging along four children with varying degrees of willingness. We lived in Kansas but spent nearly every summer vacation in Colorado, mostly in Rocky Mountain National Park. I know that it hurts my mom terribly that she is no longer able to do certain things that she always loved, but sometimes it hits me like a punch to the stomach how painful this must be. So we got to talking about alternatives. There are some things she won’t be able to do but there are still so many possibilities. 

The three of us at wheelchair-friendly Lily Lake near Allenspark, CO

I’ve been reading a guidebook on Longs Peak and found out that you can ride all the way to the Boulderfield of Longs Peak on horseback. In fact, there are a ton of trails in Colorado that are accessible on a horse. We went back and forth on the logistics of a paraplegic riding horseback. A special saddle would be necessary. Some assistance getting on and off the horse. A second horse to “pack” her wheelchair.

We both knew we needed to do some research. Here’s some cool stuff we’ve found since our discussion: Accessible custom saddles. Therapeutic Equine Centers where paraplegics can learn to ride horses again. Most amazing: an exoskeleton that allows paraplegics to walk. Possibilities.

I'm inspired by the tenacity of people with incredible challenges. My mom wants to get on those trails and I think she's going to make it happen. I'm looking forward to seeing that empty place in her heart heart filled again.

chasing a dream

Last week I celebrated my 30^th birthday. It was a typical weekday in many ways, but made extraordinary with little things like flowers at my bedside when I opened my eyes in the morning. I finished Chris Guillebeau’s The Art of Non-Conformity and started to list my own short and long-term goals, with deadlines around my 31^st and 35^th birthday. Check out this book, it is refreshing and encourages the active chasing of dreams. So I started making strides towards my own goals each day.  I’m still working on my lists and I’ll be sharing soon.

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My birthday, always a long summer day, unraveled slowly and I followed along. In the morning, Amelie and Tekka took me to the park.

 We went out to lunch with Jeremiah.

My talented friend and neighbor, Monica, created this beautiful and incredibly delicious cake (lemon, mmmm). Two layers just for me (I shared a few bites).

So far, I like 30.

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We visited the Denver County Fair this weekend. It was part old-fashioned fair complete with ferris wheel and other rickety rides as well as a freak show (is that politically correct?) and part trade show with a variety of local businesses. My friend, Michelle, and I spent a few minutes with a psychic (a first for me). Jeremiah and Amelie enjoyed the petting zoo the most.

The fair was a good reminder for me to get started on my inventory. My sister and I will soon be setting up shop at Broomfield Days, our hometown festival, and I have about six weeks to get ready.

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Back to dream-chasing. Have a wonderful week.

thirty wonderful things

 

Thirty. It really feels like one of those milestone birthdays. This last year has been an incredible journey. When I turned 29 I was a new mom, stumbling my way to the next chapter of my life. As the pages keep turning, I find myself humbled by all that has happened and all the people who have lent a hand, some empathy and good company.

Here are 30 wonderful things I am grateful for as I complete my 29^th year.

 

- My sweet little growing daughter, Amelie, who has turned my world upside down and gave me a new start in life.

- My funny and loving hubby, Jeremiah. 

Celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary

- Our menagerie. Furry, feathered and finned.

- Yummy cakes made with love.

-The good fortune to work not only with an incredible group of young people but amazing, talented and caring colleagues.

- A trip to see the Dalys in Virginia, where everything slows down and the past is present.

- A hot cup of coffee with just the right amount of cream.

 - Donuts.

 - Having the luxury to witness birds in flight and other masterpieces each day.

- Our amazing, generous and giant family.

 - Girlfriends.

 - A good book. I’ve read many since Amelie was born: The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Momma Zen by Karen Maezen Miller, The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett, At the Gates of the Animal Kingdom by Amy Hempel, The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood and so many more.

 - French fries.

 - My daughter gets to grow up with views like this:

- Amazing works of art created by family and friends.

- Warm sunlight on my back.

- Any stretch of sleep that lasts longer than two hours.

- Our van that goes and goes, is comfy, fits almost anything into it and keeps our daughter safe.

- The library. My favorite use of tax dollars. 

- Loud, passionate female musicians. 

- Soft grass under our feet.

- My Mama.

- My Dad.

- Finding the time and giving myself the space to create, and the opening of my little shop.

- A trip to Kansas to see Amelie’s great grandparents and great-great grandparents. 

- Late nights with friends in the front yard.

- The big, open Colorado skies.

-  Long walks with fun companions to important destinations like McDonalds breakfast, garage sales and grazing cows. 

- All the family and friends who have traveled from far away to visit with us. 

- Discoveries.

 

summer rolls on

Sneaking in just before midnight on hump day to join in with my fave blogger - Nici Holt Cline - and her hump day nuggets tradition (little bits of the season in photos and words about the last week), so here goes.

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The days are growing hotter and longer but somehow Amelie and I are getting out more and more. Daily walks with friends have gone from a light stroll around the neighborhood park to two miles to five miles in a matter of weeks (admittedly, five miles only happens when breakfast is the destination – over two miles away - then of course we have to turn around to get back home). 

We stop at parks to let the kids play. Amelie is fascinated with wood chips and rocks.

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Amelie’s pool is out and filled up more often than not.

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Recently my mom joined Amelie and me on a trip to the Denver Zoo. 

My mama and Amelie

I love the flamingos – its so much fun to see these brightly colored ocean birds in our landlocked state. 

There is an orangutan baby who is the same age as Amelie. We visit often and each time I feel like I share a bond with the orangutan mama. The last time we were there the baby, Hesty, was dangling from a rope, swinging and jumping on mama, Nais, who was lying on the floor covering her head with a sheet. Makes me laugh just thinking about it! This time Nais came outside with Hesty for a little time in the trees. I snapped this pic of the two.

Hesty is so tiny, she still looks like an infant. My little primate is getting big. This is our first trip to the zoo since she learned to walk on her own.

I like the juxtaposition in this photo – the humans gazing at the gorilla, gazing at the humans. 

The giraffes are so beautiful with long eyelashes and peaceful demeanor. 

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The summer keeps rolling on. No more lightning strikes in our backyard but storms build up and race to the plains daily.

Sun breaking through the clouds in Boulder

This hump day is practically over. Hope it was a good one!