Visit to Bishops Castle

James and I went on a bit of a road trip this Saturday. We went down to Pueblo West, CO to get some pictures for work and then went up into the mountains south of there to visit Bishops Castle. It was really really interesting, but for some reason, my apparent fear of heights kicked in and I really couldn't go up in the towers. I went up into one that had concrete stairs to the top, but the other two had wrought-iron steps. You could see all the way down to the ground in those. I got halfway up one, and I had to turn around. I was sooo freaked. So, here are a couple of pictures and I'll type some more after you see them.

This is James heading up into the tower with the iron ball on top of it!

This is a look from the bottom of the stairs up. If you click on the picture and make it bigger you can see all the stairs!!

Check out these stairs! Mom, you wanna walk across it?? I didn't and would not!!! These too! Yikes!!

Here is a look down from the tower with the ball! Yikes!!

So, the last picture needs some explaning!! We had been climbing around the castle for a while when we heard some guys starting to yell at the top of their lungs about politics. CRAZY stuff about politics. So, we decided to get the heck out of there. We didn't want to be involved in it, so we got out of their quick. I wanted a picture in front of the castle, but one of the guys picked up a megaphone and started spouting his theories over that! It was crazy. Totally scared some people away.

Other than that, we had a great day!!! An excellent day!!!!

Random pictures from this week

Jet and I were lounging on the hammock on Monday. It was beautiful outside.

James got me a ring for Valentines Day/Birthday. I wear it on my right hand. It is a pink saphire. I love it. He couldn't wait to give it to me till next weekend so I got it last night.

Random pictures from the past couple of weeks

Jet

The proud triplet mommy feeding Levi green beans at Christmas!

James took these pictures at Denver City Park around the lake. It was a wondeful day!! Jet playing in the chilly water at the City Park Lake!

This was over Christmas! James and Aria were watching Baby Einstein!

Smile, Levi, you just got green beans!

A dose of conviction

Have you ever been sitting in a room full of women, most of them 40 years your senior, and heard the voice of the the Almighty God??

Well, I have been having that experience a couple of times this weekend and I have been loving every second of it.

I am at the American Baptist Women's Ministries of Colorado Winter Retreat at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Colorado Springs. This place is a beautiful, peaceful, serene place. It is a retreat center run by the Sisters of the Convent of Mt. St. Francis. Wonderful and very spiritual place. It is the perfect place to hear the voice of God.

I did not expect it to happen, but happen it did. More than once.

Friday evening, we started the retreat with an introduction and teaching from our speaker, the National ABWM President Terri Simpkins. She introduced herself and gave some of her life story. One bit stuck with me, and I knew it was God talking to me. She said that one of her sons (5 at the time) asked if Romans 8:28 was in his Bible. Just to save you some time here it is:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love
him, who have been called according to his purpose."

I knew not what it meant for me at the time, but I felt the tug on my heart that I should study that verse some more before I tucked into bed on Friday.

So, turning in for the night, I sat on my little twin bed in the small 9x9 room I am in and read Romans 8, the whole chapter. I stopped and wrote down the verses that touched me in the moment.

"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all.
Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet
have, we wait for it patiently." - Romans 8:24-25

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of
God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39

Do you see anything that could be relevant to me in those verses? I did, and I knew that God led me to these verses through Terri.

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." What a conviction to a heart that is craving and wanting something that only God can give me! Many of you know that patience is not one of my virtues, but I have had to acquire a strong taste for it.

James and I have been trying for almost 2 years now to conceive a child, yet God has told us to "Wait!" We are to wait patiently. God just told me so last night.

I have felt far from God in these last couple of months. Why? I am not certain. Is it because I have been so busy with the holidays? Probably. Is it because we have been in a rut with our church? Possibly. Is it because I have been searching for something that has been there all the time? I don't know what I mean by that, but probably. I just know that I haven't been relying on God to show me His Will for me. I have been praying for it, but not earnestly.

So after my "epiphany" on Friday night I was expecting great things from the teaching this morning. And was I ever surprised to find that God was still there wanting me to hear his voice.

"Are you expecting a miracle? You won't get one if you don't expect one."

That is what Terri said this morning. What a strong statement to a women who just told her husband two nights ago that she was not confident that this round of Clomid would work!

God is preparing me and preparing my heart for what is to come. I know not if He is going to provide that miracle to me immediately, but I do know that we will get our miracle. I believe we will. I "expect" that miracle.

All the words that were coming out of Terri's mouth today seemed pointed directly at me. God had opened up my heart to receive those words and put them into action. I heard His voice more times in these last 30 hours than I have in the last (at least) 2 years.

I can only hope and pray that God keeps my ears open so I can hear, my eyes open so I can see, and my heart open so I can receive and discern His will for me, and for me and James as a family.
I know, I ran long, but I just had to share with you wonderful people who read my blog!!! :) I hope you all have a blessed day on Sunday and remember to open your eyes, ears, and heart to learn what God wants you to know.

Christmas (a little late)

So James and I spent 9 days in Gillette with my family over Christmas. It was a great time. A little crowded (a preview for Christmas' in the future??) but it was good. For some reason, I didn't get out my camera until Elizabeth, Dan, and the triplets got there, so I have no pictures of us this Christmas. That is ok! I am kinda shying away from the camera right now!

We had an extended Christmas holiday this year. It actually started around Thanksgiving when James' parents were in town. We did our Christmas with them while they were there since they were in Dallas for Christmas this year.

Then we did Christmas with my parents, Douglas, Grandpa Dickey, Donna, and Marie on Christmas day. There were lots of presents opened and lots of laughs. We then had a yummy steak dinner for Christmas dinner.

Elizabeth and Dan, with the kids, got there on the 27th and we did more Christmas then. You can see some pictures of that on the Nebelsick Triplet blog at http://nebelsicktriplets.blogspot.com. It was a lot of fun and enjoyable to be around the babies.

For New Years' Eve, James and I went to Jami and Brandon's for a while. We played MarioKart, ate some wonderful things (especially the cookies... yum), and then played a dice game. We then made an appearance at McKenzie and Shaun's where all my family was (except my parents and the triplets).

It was an uneventful vaction, and we are glad to be back in our own bed. So, here are a couple of pictures that were taken of the babies. They seem to be the only one that the camera would take pictures of :-). Have a wonderful 2009 everyone!!!!

David lounging on the couch!!

Smile for the camera!

Aria on Mommy's lap

Levi's tummy time

Look Levi! The "horsey" is taking some tummy time too!!!

Uncle James and Grandpa Rigsby took the triplets to the basement and piled all of Grandma's Christmas bears around them. They enjoyed the bears and pictures!!!

Cherry Cheese Pie (YUMMM)

Thank you to Sarah for this recipe! It is an excellent pie!

Cherry Cheese Pie

Graham cracker crust
8 oz. cream cheese
½ cup sugar
2 cups Cool Whip
Canned cherry pie filling

With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar together until creamy. Turn the mixer down and add the Cool Whip. Mix until it's thoroughly incorporated. Pour filling into the graham cracker crust, and top with the cherry pie filling. Refrigerate several hours before serving.

Christmas Survey

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love wrapping presents! Plus, I love un-wrapping presents.

2. Real tree or artificial? Real, but we have an artificial one we use just because.

3. When do you put up your tree? This year I put it up a week before Thanksgiving because we were having company for Thanksgiving and I didn't want to have a mess when they were here. Usually we put it up the day (or weekend) after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take it down? Sometime after Christmas. When I get to it!

5. Do you like eggnog? NO

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I think I would have to say Big Jim, my huge bear I got from my Aunt Marie one year. I still have him sitting on the bed in the guest room.

7. Hardest person to buy for? James, usually, except this year! He knows what one of his presents is, but doesn't know the other! :)

8. Easiest person to buy for? Jet, my dog. Just get him a squeaker and he will love you forever! :)

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. Two years ago when I was working at Hallmark I bought a really really nice one that sits on top of my piano.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I like to mail them, because I know people love to get mail since it is so rare these days!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I try to push those memories out of my mind... aka... I have no clue!

12. Favorite Christmas movie? You know, I don't know if I have one. I guess I would say Rudolph the Red Nosed Raindeer.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? The day after Christmas (that is when you get the best sales on ornaments and other stuff for Christmas) or once we get Christmas lists from everyone.

14. Have you ever regifted a Christmas present? Um... i think I probably have. I don't remember though.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Butterhorn rolls (for Christmas and Thanksgiving) they are usually the only times we get them in the year.

16. Lights on the tree? yep, i like straight white lights. i really don't like multi-colored strands.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night. For some reason I always get teary eyed, but I love it.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Since we don't have family we spend Christmas with here we love to go places. I really don't think we will be having Christmas on our own till we have a couple of kids!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes, because of the song!

20. Angel or star on top of the Christmas tree? We have a star, but I would like an angel.

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? We open one on Christmas eve and the rest on Christmas morning. It satisfies the urge to open them at night, but keeps the surprises for the next morning... you still have to wait for most of the presents!(Kristen, this could solve your problem!!)

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Santa! Not that I don't like him and I will have this tradition with my children, but I hate the fact that people seem to "worship" Santa more than worship Christ at this time of year!

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? Each year, after Christmas, James and I go to Hallmark and pick out an ornament (on sale) for the next years tree. We don't open them, they just get put away with the other Christmas decorations and we get them out the next year and are surprised. It is something fun we like to do! :)

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Usually turkey or marinated steak. (of course with the Butterhorn rolls!!)

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Kitchen Aid Mixer, parafin wax foot/hand thing, Kung Fu Panda DVD... ask James or my mom... they have my list! :)

This idea just might work!! **Warning-politics**

I think this is so funny, and it could just work. I got this over the email.

Bush should resign now.

Then Dick Cheney becomes President (that would really PO the liberals)!!!

Then he appoints Condoleeza Rice as VP.

Then Cheney resigns two weeks later and Condoleeza Rice, A Republican,
becomes the first BLACK President and the first WOMAN President !!!

Which one should we use for our Christmas Card??

So I am trying to decide on which picture to use for our Christmas cards. I would like you opinion. Let me know which one you like best, 1, 2 or 3!! Thanks.

1.) James and I (from the pictures by Tina)

2.) James and I (2nd picture by Tina)

3.)

5 Questions

1. Four places I go: work, church, grocery store, Gillette

2. Four people who e-mail me regularly: Mom, James, Elizabeth, spammers

3. Four of my favorite places to eat: Taco Johns, Johnny Carino's, Hoong's Palace, Pizza Hut

4. Four places I would rather be right now: in bed, Gillette, Rock Rapids, Somewhere warm!!

5. Four TV shows I watch: Chuck, The Biggest Loser, Law & Order: SVU, Days of Our Lives