Hitting the slopes

A week ago our family trip to Colorado found us driving the winding road up the Grand Mesa to Powderhorn--the local ski resort about 45 minutes outside Grand Junction.

I learned to ski at Powderhorn when I was in 7th grade--I remember I took a bunch of ski lessons with my BFF Megan. Our parents would take turns driving us up on Saturdays--we'd have lessons in the morning and then in the afternoon we could free-ski (not that we skied for "free," just that we were allowed to ski on our own). Those were good times and looking back I have no idea how I talked my parents into the luxury of allowing me to participate in a several-session-ski-lesson adventure...

Anyways, when we arrived on the slopes a week ago, getting back on the skis was like riding a bike...given that I haven't been skiing in more than a decade. But I was in good company with my brother and his wife who also hadn't skied in a very long time. And my 4-yr-old nephew had never been skiing (much less spent much time in snow!).

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day--clear blue skies and no wind. I'm sure it was deja vu for my parents who hung out in the lodge with my 2-yr-old niece (they don't ski and would often hang out in the lodge when they took us skiing years ago).

I had always been under the impression that Powderhorn was more of a "regional ski resort"--it's small, doesn't get a ton of snow, and is a bit off the beaten path (though it's the closest ski resort to the Colorado town I lived in). But riding up the lifts I met folks from Delaware and Pennsylvania (the woman from DE had just spent big bucks to ski Telluride for two days and the gentleman from PA was trying to figure out where he would ski the next day--"either Vail or Telluride"). And, when I was in line to rent my skis, I got to talking with the woman behind me, who had driven up with her family from Yuma. And my sister-in-law mentioned she had ridden the lift with someone who was visiting from Gilbert! Apparently Powderhorn is more a destination place than I realized (though I suppose it was the holidays)--yea for supporting the local economy!

Powderhorn is the only place I've ever skied and it was as great as I remembered it. I think my nephew had a good time too--by the end of the day he had done a run on the bunny slopes without any falls!

I can't wait to hit the slopes again--hopefully it won't be another 13 years before I get back out there!

Come on, ring those bells!

Despite no snow and no cold weather in Phoenix, I love this time of year. I love the joy, the carols, the sharing of the story of Jesus' birth, the presents (I mean, of course, that I love wrapping the presents!), the Christmas lights, the food--and I even love the hustle and bustle. I love the chance to reconnect with old friends and to reminisce about old memories as I pull out the Christmas decorations. And I love singing Christmas carols (anyone want to go caroling with me?!).

The other thing I love about Christmas is the sound of ringing bells. A few years ago, while living in South Dakota, I started playing hand bells with a group at my church. Though I had taken piano lessons for several years and knew how to read music, I had never picked up a hand bell before. The biggest difference between playing piano and playing the hand bells is that with piano you're an individual, with hand bells you're part of a larger group and everyone has to work together as a team to make the music "work." (And at times, it can be hard work!)

(This is me ringing alongside my friends Karady and Nancy)

This past spring my church here in Phoenix purchased a used set of hand bells and I've enjoyed being part of the first group to ring them. We rang several Christmas pieces this past Sunday and the weather was nice enough that we could play outside!

Anyone who loves music should try their hand at hand bells (pun intended). There's really only one thing you need to know in order to play--you need to know how to COUNT! Being able to read music is helpful, but not required since most people mark the notes they're responsible for with a highlighter or colored pencil. Having a sense of musicality is also helpful, but not necessary (it's helpful for when you get lost in the music and you're waiting for your neighbor to whisper the measure number!). But being able to count is a necessity--your assigned bells play at different times, in different measures, and you need to be able to follow along with the beats!

I love the challenge of playing hand bells. I love the fact that I have to let go of my perfectionist tendencies when I play--not only do I make mistakes, but my fellow ringers also make mistakes and I've had to learn to let go and just have fun! Wrong notes can very clearly be heard when playing bells but the show must go on!

I also love that like all music, every hand bell composition has some sort of musical story, or rather, a musical journey--a journey that I enjoy traveling with my bell ringing colleagues.

(My nephew Carter enjoyed "directing" the bells, and niece Halle had fun dancing to the music!)

Oh, and though I forgot to blog about this earlier in the year, this completes #92 on the list!

Fa la la la la!

This past weekend I made my debut performance in the Festival of Lights (FOL) at Palmcroft Baptist Church. For 15 years, Palmcroft has hosted a FOL Christmas production (different every year) that includes choir, drama, live orchestration and lights that hang from the rafters and criss-cross around the room (75,000 lights in all!). Though I had attended the performance last year as part of the audience, this was my first time involved as a member of the choir and I had a blast.

(See the lights hanging from the ceiling above the set? They're strung all around the auditorium like that!)

I loved it all--the singing, dancing, acting, sharing of the Christmas story and that God is the "Hope of the World." I loved the months spent memorizing music and the extra rehearsals leading up to the performances. I loved getting to know my fellow choir members more personally and making some new friends. I loved praying for people in the audience who were perhaps hearing the salvation message for the first time in their lives. Truly it was an amazing experience to be part of something with eternal implications.

I loved seeing everyone's costumes, and hanging out "backstage." And I loved that the program didn't list any names--though we were having a great time, it wasn't about us--we were simply a vessel, a tool, to be used for God's purposes.

(My friends Kara and Heather made great singing partners and wonderful new friends!)

A quick note for anyone interested in attending in future years (it's never too early to start thinking about who you'd like to invite!): the event is completely free--an outreach to the community, friends, family, co-workers, neighbors--but tickets are required (the performances are packed--we even had to add an extra performance this year!).

(Carter and Halle came to the first performance with mommy and daddy, and then came back
on day 2 for cookies and hot apple cider with nana and papa!)

Lets party like it's 1980!

This weekend we gathered as a family (the Kappes Clan and the Beachy's) to celebrate my brother's birthday (in the picture below, he's the big kid in the middle). My brother may be married, with two kids, a great wife, and a law degree, but I'll always be the big sister...which makes me both older, and wiser (though I'll let him help me fix my computer every now and again).

A good time was had by all, especially by those who took the opportunity to chill out in the pool.

Since Zach isn't in this picture, I can only guess that the splash is from his jump...

Ben was practicing his diving--looks great!

Carter was going free-form.

Josh, Jon and Halle enjoying some shade.

(I didn't take a picture of the ladies, but we were hanging out on the patio, sipping our homemade Mojitos--yummy!!)

The evening ended with lots of great food, and a small viewing party (for the Transformers two-disc blu-ray gift set that I gave him).

Happy Birthday Jon!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I can't believe I'm posting this on my blog, but it made me laugh. Out loud. And anything that does that is worth sharing with others, right?

This is actually a real Hallmark Valentine from the 1920s that I came across on the Hallmark 100 Years celebration site...over 90 years old, but still appropriate for today (or maybe just appropriate for me?)...

Contrary to public belief, I actually don't mind being single on V-day...I love having another opportunity to tell those close to me how much I love them and this year I even made homemade valentines. They weren't as cool as this one from the 1920s, but they came from the heart and were made with love! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!