Basketball

Ever since last March- right when basketball season ended- Camille has BEGGED us to play basketball. Finally, her dreams arrived! Yesterday was her first basketball practice. She was highly offended that they didn't follow the rules and didn't dribble like they were supposed to. They did dribble, but definitely not the "right" way.

She didn't want to talk about her game afterwards. They never let her dribble down the court, and I think she wanted to have a bigger role in the game. She is very intense about the game. She is definitely our competitive child.

She always wants her hair in pigtails for sports- she is thereon the right wearing a pink shirt.

She is number 7, blue:

Murder Mystery

For over a year we have been trying to get some of our dear homeschooling parents together for a Murder Mystery dinner. Finally tonight we were able to make it happen! It was a huge success! I made coconut rice with chicken kebabs, bacon wrapped dates, bacon wrapped shrimp, homemade Hawaiian rolls, and double layer smoothies- so there was a yellow mango layer and then a purple blueberry layer. The guests brought salad and dessert. The food was AMAZING! And, the company even better. Yes, there were a lot of dishes afterwards, but it was so much fun and totally worth it!

I was very excited for this pineapple boat!

65 Degree Swing

Yesterday was 80. Today was 23. Weird? Yes, but it's a regular fall weather pattern for our neck of the woods.

 I sent the girls out to knock the snow off the trees to try and save our poor tree whose leaves haven't even changed color yet.

Daddy/Daughter

Claire's Activity Day leaders did an amazing activity for the girls and their dads. They had such a great time!

Howdy, Cowboys! A great night for some great people!

They Say It's Your Birthday!

Whew, yet another Birthday has come and gone. I definitely feel that I am getting older! I remember when my dad turned 40. We all wore black, put tombstones around the house, and walked around like dead ghosts. Now I'm 41, and I'm glad the girls haven't yet busted out the tombstones.

Anyway, the stars aligned and Ben had the day off work. It was sunny, but there is definitely a fall chill in the air, so I wanted to go on a last season hike before the cold weather hits.

I asked the girls to gift me with doing their schoolwork without complaint and singing me "Hoch Sollst Du Leben"- the German Birthday song.

Well, they definitely delivered- they were amazing getting their schoolwork done! They proved that it is possible to do schoolwork without whining. Who would have thought?

Ben bought me some flowers:

We hiked Deer Creek Canyon:

Then, since Beth is my Birthday twin and DJ is just two days before ours, we all went out to dinner at a yummy Mexican restaurant:

Then back to Grandma and Grandpa's for three different Birthday cakes:

It was lovely. Here's to another great year!

Come, Follow Me

We were studying Ephesians as a family today and talking about Predestination. This is not a principle we believe in. I said, "What do you guys think about the idea that God says, 'it doesn't matter what you do, but Dad and Camille automatically get to go to Heaven and the rest of us are going to Hell.'"

Claire didn't miss a beat and said, "That's absurd! It would be me that goes to Heaven!"

I love her confidence.

Crystal Fitches Roosa

17 years ago, when I moved to Colorado as a scared recent college graduate who didn't know anybody here or anything about this new place I called home, I met this woman: Crystal Fitches.

Her megawatt smile lights up the room. She is the life of every party- big laughs, big voice, big personality- and everybody's best friend. I met her immediately, and we became friends. She was always a joy to be around as we navigated the singles scene.

We each got married. I married my perfect match, she did not. She married a man who would not treat her well and was not kind. But, they had two beautiful children who she adored. She divorced. One night at dinner she told me why her marriage failed. I was mortified. I didn't know marriage could be so bad. I came home so grateful for Ben, and Ben said I needed to hang out with her more often so I would appreciate him more.

She earned her Master' degree. She got a great job making great money- which she  needed and deserved after her divorce.

She met Scott. He was a little older and has disabilities- but he treated her as she deserved to be treated! They had a child- a child who also has severe disabilities. She worked and cared for her husband and three children. She was the sole breadwinner.

Her sister died a year ago.

And, a week ago I got the message from her best friend saying Crystal passed away in her sleep.

To say the word "shocked" is an understatement. How could somebody so full of life, so boisterous and aglow, be taken from her disabled husband and child just a year after her sister died? How can the world be so cruel? Why, God, does something so horrible have to happen?

It isn't fair. It isn't right.

And yet, it is.

Ben went to high school with her. We knew attending her funeral was a priority.

Yesterday we went. It was beautiful. It was gut-wrenching.

I am reminded that without sorrow there can be no joy. And, she brought so much joy!

It is a stark reminder that life is short. That life is fragile. That we need to focus on the things that are most important in life- faith, family, friends.

I will never forget this beautiful woman and her absolute and pure love of everyone around her. I will try to be kinder and more loving. I will show my family greater patience, and hug them a little tighter. It seems surreal that she is gone, but she will not be forgotten.

Crystal loved to sing- it was a huge part of her life. She would love this quote.