Girls weekend....Heck yes!

So Sauniers, Suse, Nicole, and I have been talking about a girls weekend for a while, well it rather turned into a girls day. However, it was quite wonderful. We started our Saturday off by enjoying a meal at the S.A.M.E. cafe. It's this place where you pay what you can to eat or donate an hour of service time. Very cool!



We then ventured out to City Park since it was a beautiful 50 degrees. We walked around for a good hour just enjoying being outside and catching up on life. Next, we proceeded to Massage Envy for hour long massages. Amazing...that is all I have to say. If you have never gotten a massage before, it's worth spending the money. After our massages, Sarah and I decided we really wanted 2 things and we wanted them together...a hot tub soak and coffee. Since we figured 24 hour fitness would not allow us in with our Starbux cups, Sauniers had the brilliant idea of bringing nalgenes and taking them in with our coffee. It was pure bliss! WONDERFUL. So, I raise my glass to girls weekends, wonderful friends, sunny weather, and massages.

Me with my coffee...



Sauniers pouring into her nalgene...mad skills, mad skills



Enjoying the hot tub and our coffee at the same time...AHHH!



And to end this lovely, long post...I decided to die my hair last night. Was just feeling something different, so here ya go:)

2 MK's and a bottle of wine...

So last night, Brandon and I decided to celebrate his med-school interview from yesterday, which went amazingly well. I made herb linguini and we decided to open a bottle of wine. Well, I have issues opening wine in general, but surely had problems last night. I started by totally stripping in the cork. Then, we attempted to wedge it out using a couple knives, scissors, and other handy gadgets. Finally, we thought that if we could just get the cork down into the bottle, then at least we could pour the wine out enough to drink it. I am pushing with full force, and POP! The cork goes into the bottle, and wine literally is all over my face, my clothes, and all of our cabinets in our kitchen. Successful? Some might say no, but I get my wine...didn't I?

Updates in my life

I realize it has been a while since I have posted on here. Life has surely been busy, but I am learning about boundaries in my life. A lot has gone on over the past month, and I feel very overwhelmed. It is crazy it is already February, 1/12 of 2010 is over!!! Can you believe it? Here are some of the things that have gone on over the past month.

#1. Allie got married. Enjoyable wedding, exciting times, great friends...all at the same time. All of our JBU friends got together and celebrating another "marrying off." It was a wonderful time.
#2. My grandfather is dying. It has been a very emotional roller coaster and I get updates daily. I am actually in Florida right now, enjoying time with family. This morning he looked me straight in the eye and said, "Carissa, don't forget that God loves you! He cares about you and wants the best for you. Live every day remembering that." I started tearing up and just nodded, and I realized how devoutly he has exemplified that over the years.
#3. I have added a significant other in my life:) Nic has been a great blessing over the past weeks, and we figure out life together while dating long distance (which might I add...is not fun). He has been a wonderful listening ear and such a strong support system as I process all that is going on with my thoughts and emotions.
#4. I have set some big boundaries this year. I have been leaving work by 5pm every night, getting to the gym, and still having time for myself in the evenings. It is wonderful.
#5. I have a new Bible study with my roommates. We are doing a new Beth moore study and it is amazing, truly challenging me in many ways. It's called "God's Dwelling Place." As of now, a week in....highly recommend it.
#6. I have a new mentor, Sarah Tafoya, who is an amazing Christian woman who I've started meeting with bi-weekly. What a blessing to have an amazing woman of God investing in me. I've desperately needed this1
#7. Work is good, school is good, my kids are learning and my co and I are getting along great. What a big blessing!

For those of you who actually check in, you will be surprised at this entry, but I am going to try and update more often. We'll see what happens. Thanks for all your love and prayers!

A White Christmas...

So we have been hoping and praying for a white christmas. This morning we woke up to 3 inches of fresh powder in Colorado Springs. We were so excited! So, how do the Coles celebrate? We go out and play in the snow, take a hike, and enjoy some good steaks.

A Rejuvenated Perspective...

Lately, I've found myself a bit overwhelmed by life, school, friends, and pretty much everything else. However, yesterday I found myself taking some time to be with good friends, relaxing by being outside, and enjoying nature. I walk away with a renewed perspective on life, and am realizing the importance of taking time to just "BE." I often forget how important that truly is!

#20: Play bocce-ball

So, my original list mentioned glow in the dark bocce-ball. I have yet to be able to track down a set of glow in the dark bocce. Due to this, my completion of this item on the list is playing regular bocce. I have to admit, I am not very good...actually, I am quite awful. I lost terribly, but it's still fun!

#13: Spend a day in the mountains!

Last weekend, the Cole family, minus Bryan made our way up to Copper Mountain for a great weekend of relaxing, hiking, sleeping, and fishing. We were up there for 3 days. Here are a couple fotitos from the weekend:

Once we got up hiking, there was a lot of snow. There was a whole ski run covered in a about 6 feet of snow. Here we are surprised at how much there was at the end of June.
We went on these beautiful walking paths. It was a bit chilly this day, but still a beautiful Rocky mountain afternoon. Check out those lovely mountains! :) AHHH...so often I love living in Colorado.