Most of us have them, call it an ultimate “to-do” list.  Well, believe it or not mine is relatively simple, mainly because I’ve been blessed with so many unique and amazing experiences already.

The biggest item: live outside of America for a year has been an unshakable desire since I met a group of “us crazy kids” volunteering from Germany, Switzerland, Cambodia, Ukraine, Laos, Vietnam, Ethiopia, South Africa, and many other countries when I was about 25.  These friends stirred a passion in me for something different.  They walked outside of their comfortable place into a land where the language sounded like gibberish, there were no pedestrian streets, and outside a family they were placed with, and a job, they had to figure the rest of life out.

Fast forward several years and now I am in their shoes.  It’s soon, so very soon that I depart.  But not without living life to the fullest where I am.  A few months ago, I looked at my calendar and realized that with everything I wanted to accomplish, I just didn’t have the time.  Well, it is a rarity to be given more time, but I did push my travel date back by 3 weeks, and because of that I’ve been using these final weeks in America to the fullest.

Many of you know the last adventure that planted me in a different location was receiving my degree at Colorado Christian University.  I’ve been blessed with relationships that will last a lifetime through those years, but one thing i  neglected to do in Colorado was feeding  discovering my sense of adventure.  (I mean we spent so much time studying after all!)

just a couple photos from those moments…

the Maroon Bells at daybreak.  watching them illuminate from the top down was breathtaking.

after a quick breakfast in aspen, we returned to the lake, most of the photos i see focus on the glorious mountains above, but looking the other way is equally as beautiful.  here’s a panoramic view.

another dream of mine was to see the hanging lake.  with its own ecosystem, the waters are pristine, and I felt like i was in paradise.  the water was so clear you could watch the fish swimming from the shore. Now, another thing i have ALWAYS wanted to do was see a show at Red Rocks.  It’s a natural amphitheater which is  a dream venue for many artists.  3 days before a concert, I discovered Third day was playing and I ate up the opportunity to enjoy some quality music in the most beautiful place I could imagine for a concert.  a single photo cannot capture the majesty of worshipping with 9,000 other people at red rocks.   here’s a panoramic to get close…

what really makes red rocks an experience to remember is when the sun has gone down, and the lights come on.

but above all, the biggest joy i experienced in colorado is shared with these few photos.  you see, so much of our lives are shared with the people we love.  shared memories are something that can never be fully expressed … “you had to be there”, you know?  During the time away I remembered some things are invaluable: laughter, sharing hearts, taking a step into someone else’s life for a moment, the new life of a child, dreaming, rejoicing, doing construction, planning a bit but leaving the details to be discovered.  all rhythms I strive to have be a part of my life, but somehow without friends like these, it’s impossible.  Thanks for being there to enjoy life with me, in good times and hard… looking forward to sharing life with you in new and different capacities.