The Beginning of the End of the Rest of Our Lives

February 14, 2013 By

Our engagement photo

What is more apropos for Valentine’s Day and the day before our 10-year anniversary than to reflect upon our journey to togetherness?

I’ve written about our Love Story here and also briefly about our wedding day. Tomorrow I’ll share oodles of pictures from our wedding album for posterity.

Though I’ve written much about our courtship, I’ll likely never reveal it all online because it was an intensely personal, sacred experience for both of us.

It all started when I messaged Jamie on July 22, 2002 after seeing his profile on LDSSingles.com. Though I was in the process of ending a five year on-again, off-again relationship, I felt very strongly impressed to write this guy in Colorado (I was in Utah) who had posted a picture of himself a mile away on an Alaskan glacier. Note: His screen name was “ArvadaFun” and mine was “BlackDiamond”and I wrote about the Colorado mountain towns I referenced in this article.

I’m not sure about “Arvada Fun” but I will say that I recently experienced “SilvertonFun,” “OurayFun,” and DurangoFun.”

So, how does it feel to be living in Pleasure Sponge Central? (I’m JEALOUS!!)

-Amber

And yes, I did reference a “pleasure sponge” on the very first email. #Hussy.

Thus began a whirlwind long-distance courtship. Five months later, I dropped everything to move to Denver and a month and a half later, we were married. Before our wedding, Jamie compiled the volumes of emails we had exchanged into two beautifully-bound keepsake books that are an absolute treasure. He inscribed them for me with the following message:

On July 22, the great events of my life took place. I got a message. A message from the woman who was to be my eternal companion. That message started a two-month email and phone correspondence that brought about a marvelous work and a wonder and a great love.

From the very beginning of our correspondence the Spirit was very strong. In some ways the words on these pages do not completely convey the depth of the messages sent back and forth. I look back at some of the things I said very early on in our correspondence and I can’t believe I was so bold. At the same time, saying the things I did felt very natural. Time had no meaning over the first two months of our relationship and everything seemed compressed. It is difficult to explain, but things that happened over a two-week period felt like two months in the most wonderful of ways.

The two months of emails, IMs and phone calls ended in the most amazing revelation of my life: The clear promoting that I needed to get engaged to Amber before we had ever met each other. After much pondering, fasting, prayer and a blessing from my father, I knew exactly what I needed to do. I proposed marriage to Amber via email.

A week later I knocked on the door of my fiancée and for the first time saw her lovely face. We now eagerly look forward to our sealing in the Denver Temple on Feburary 15, 2003.

-Jamie

December 2002

Filed Under: Favorite Posts, Jamie, Marriage

Take note, guys

February 13, 2013 By

A few years ago, I jokingly dubbed February as Ambruary because Valentine’s Day, our anniversary and my birthday all fall within a week of each other. On Friday, Jamie and I will celebrate 10 years of wedded bliss. When I was driving home from skiing on Monday, I stopped by Chief Hosa Lodge, which is where we had our wedding reception. And, like that night 10 years ago, it was snowing. The whole day was perfect–from our ceremony in the Denver temple when it snowed for the first time in months (some would have been devastated; I was thrilled), to a luncheon at the Marriott, to our reception that evening at this lodge with white lights, roaring fires and a dreamy harp.

More on all of that later but when I came home from a busy day yesterday, Jamie had left some roses and a sweet note wishing me “Happy Ambruary” and a promise to cook us a delicious dinner that night.

The roses? Lovely. But making dinner counts as a hundred roses in my book.

Filed Under: Jamie

The Ultimate Cure for Cabin Fever: Discovering Colorado’s Cossetted Camelot

February 12, 2013 By

After a week of caring for sick kids, a wave of cabin fever washed over me. Life is good on many levels but also so overwhelming with major, saddening issues over which I have no control. I just needed to get out and for me, that means outside. I left Hadley with Jamie and headed to the mountains. I have a bucket list of trails I want to tackle and one of them is Lair ‘o the Bear Open Space. We spend a lot of time playing in the creek in the summertime but the Bear Creek Trail extends 12.6-miles through three contiguous Denver Mountain Parks to the west. I had no idea how extensive it was until I set out but it was just what the doctor ordered.

Or he would have if I’d been sick but remember I was the lone holdout in the family for the first time ever?

I was delighted to wear my YakTrax traction devices on my shoes for the first time this winter. That’s my nice way of saying, DENVER–YOUR SNOWLESS WINTER HAS SUCKED.

But my winter expedition did not and I loved it all–from hiking in snow to the beauty of the crystallized river to the chilly temperatures to the complete solitude where it seems even the birds had abandoned the forest for warmer climes. Just alone in my thoughts without any of life’s distractions.

When I was about 15  minutes into my hike, I was stopped in my tracks by enchanting classical music that saturated the area. I looked around, saw nothing and deduced I was imaging it. But as I pressed onward, the music grew louder and more urgent so like the Pied Piper,  I blindly followed it and it lead me to the Dunafon Castle.

Now I’m not sure about you but it’s not exactly happenstance in my life to find a cosseted château in the mountains–particularly one that is located off a road I’ve driven a hundred times. Built on a peninsula overlooking the crystal-clear waters of Bear Creek, I later found out this stunning seventeen-acre “Colorado’s Camelot” was built in 1941 and is a residence that opens for private events May through October.  The property was securely gated off but I’ve vowed to return for one of their guided tours.

That fueled my fire and the hike I’d only intended to be a brief escape turned into a three-hour, who-knows-how-many-miles hike. I simply couldn’t turn around; the mountains are among my most sacred places. When I happened upon this view of the peaks that worship 14,26-ft. Mt. Evans, the thought came to my mind, “God is in charge.”A wash of peace came over me…and I walked away from my brief interlude with Colorado’s Camelot with gratitude for a renewed perspective.

 

 

Filed Under: Colorado, hiking, outdoors

Contraband Popcorn and the Accusations That Bind Us

February 11, 2013 By

Happily, the family has turned the corner and they are on the road to recovery. Bode got the worst of it but was well enough to return to school on Friday. Hadley quite enjoyed her two days off and hunkered down with our big-screen TV in the basement where I walked in on her contraband popcorn-making operation.

Dude, I’m OK with popcorn but let’s not pop it and melt the butter on the carpet, K?

Then, the remote control went missing which, if you’re on your sickbed, is apparently as bad as being sick. Jamie blamed me (as he always does when it goes missing), I denied it (as I always do) and we found it later that night tucked in the duvet I’d hung over the railing to air out.

“I wasted 15 minutes of my life…and I only watched one channel!” Jamie accused.

First-world problems.

Filed Under: Hadley, Humor, Jamie

Smooth operator (and virtual baker)

February 10, 2013 By

We have a ban on cartoons, video games and most electronics on Sundays as we try to spend time together as a family.

At one point, Bode snuggled up to me, grabbed my iPhone and started playing with the Cake Pop Maker app.

“I don’t know, Bode. Does that count as a video game?”

“Hmmmm….no. I’d call it a ‘fun activity.’”

Filed Under: Bode, Humor

The sick and afflicted

February 8, 2013 By

This picture about summarizes the week we’ve had with sickies that resulted in a canceled trip to Steamboat Springs this weekend.

Though it should be duly noted I am the Last Woman Standing and have yet to get sick. If you know anything about me, you know how miraculous this is.

On Tuesday night, I was up with hysterical Bode from midnight-5:30 a.m. as he screamed out in pain from an ear infection. We went to the doctor who prescribed antibiotics and we spent most of Wednesday passed out catching up on sleep. When I woke up from my nap, I found the poor little guy asleep on the floor outside of my bedroom–he thought my door was locked and couldn’t quite make it to his bed.

Then, this picture of Hadley yesterday with Fat Kitty.

I assure you we have beds in our family. And have been using them a lot this week.

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley

Valentine’s Day or Bust!

February 5, 2013 By

Crummy health is the theme chez nous. Bode and Jamie are still sick and Mom is in bad shape. The only people holding it together are Hadley, Fat Kitty and me (and yes, we count him as a person).

Since I’m my slammed tending to the sick and afflicted and my deadlines are on the back burner, check-out my latest hilariously painful Denver Post column about the worst Valentine’s Day ever.

Because we definitely need a few laughs around here.

Filed Under: Family

Who to blame for the 49ers’ loss

February 4, 2013 By

Following our WiiU party, Hadley invited her friend Maeve for a sleepover and we headed over to a new playground the following morning. I’ll confess I’ve been watching its construction for the good part of a year and wasn’t 100 percent sure it was open yet. Regardless, it was totally worth it.

Then our weekend took a turn for the worse when the boys got really sick so H and I had a girl’s day out at church.

By Sunday afternoon, everyone was a bit stir-crazy. Bode has his 100th Day of School Party this week so we decided to make Valentine’s Day cookies for his project (take that you lame people who bring Goldfish crackers or buttons). We also made our Valentine’s Day cards for the grandparents. I had too much to do to be bothered with the Super Bowl but I encouraged the kids to watch with Jamie as he cheered for the 49ers. Before the game, my daughter made a prophetic statement.

H: “I’ll bet they won’t win.”
Me: “The Broncos aren’t playing this time.”
H: “Yeah, but I’ll bet whatever team Dad is cheering for loses.”

Mourning 49ers fans can blame her…and Jamie.

Filed Under: Hadley, Humor

The Anti-Super Bowl Sunday

February 3, 2013 By

While watching Super Bowl coverage on the Today Show, Hadley observed:

“What’s so great about football? All you do is put your head down and shoot a basket.”

I’ve taught her well.

Filed Under: Hadley, Humor

Our Wii U Par-tay all the time!

February 2, 2013 By

The big news around our house is we got a Wii U for Christmas and my kids have been local celebrities because of it.  So when Nintendo offered to throw a party in its honor, we were game.

Pun intended.

We’ve had a great time becoming acquainted with our new Wii U GamePad controller and the kids love the fun new games, camera, microphone and the LCD touch screen. I like that the console is Wi-Fi-enabled and supports HD content, Netflix, Hulu+, Amazon Instant Video, etc. Jamie loves the Nintendo TVii where you can input your favorite movies and TV shows and then build a custom TV guide around your preferences. The Wii U GamePad acts as a big, easy-to-read touch screen remote control.

But enough of the logistics and onto the party! Nintendo told us we could invite 20 friends. At first I was stressed we wouldn’t have enough people but turned out we had way too many (there is no middle ground in my world). Nintendo sent two fun and informative “ambassadors” Lauren and Amy to get the party started.

My friend Kristen told me her kids had been counting down for the big event all week. A huge spread of food from Qdoba Mexican Grill + unlimited access to the Wii U? Those kids thought they’d gone to heaven but without the death part.

Of course, being me, there were a few hiccups. We had not yet installed Nintendo Land (which has 12 mini games in a virtual theme park) because Bode has been too busy playing all-things Mario and Kirby. So our lovely ambassadors had to take the time to download the software. And then, right as we were ready to play, the Wii U GamePad died because Bode had forgotten to recharge it, which caused me to joke, “Worst. Wii U. Party. Ever?”

Fortunately, Jamie came to the rescue, plugged it in and our party was finally underway. With so many kids, I figured some would filter in and out but I was wrong. They all sat by, patiently waiting their turn as they went head-to-head in Mario Chase, Animal Cross: Sweet Days and Luigi’s Ghost Mansion (there was a lot of screaming in that one). The kids played asymmetrically: one player had the GamePad and faced off against everyone else with Wii Remotes, a fun new feature. I appreciated that they were playing with each other and not against one another.But I didn’t bother to point that out for fear they’d be anti-kumbaya.

Following Nintendo Land, our ambassadors switched us over to Sing Party, a karaoke bash on steroids where we chose two teams, took team photos with the GamePad, chose our songs out of their collection, passed off the microphone every few verses to our teammates and a winner was chosen in the end.

The cool guys ran for cover by my gosh, it was hilarious to watch the girls dancing, screaming and laughing as they sang to fan-favorites like “Call me, maybe.”It’s like we have tweens or something.

The party was a raging success and at the end, our ambassadors gathered us around for a little quiz with prizes. I thought they would hand out stickers or less-inspired swag but they actually awarded our guests with real games and a Yoshi. The grand prize was won by my friend Tina’s daughter Rowan: a Nintendo Sing Party game, complete with the microphone. We had laughed at her as she sang her favorite song, Bieber’s “Baby.” When she won, she clutched it like it was her most prized possession and wouldn’t let anyone hold it. “Do you think she’ll want to sleep with it?” I joked with my friend, Tina. “She already said she was,” she divulged.

It looks like Tina will be buying a Wii U really soon.

Thanks to Nintendo for the fun party!

Filed Under: Bode, Family, Humor Tagged With:
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