7/28/2009 - Posted by Nicole - 0 comments
I realized today that our blog is way overdue for an update. So much has happened, that I should probably just make a list:

1. We found a great little house- 2 bd/2bath with a garage and mudroom!
2. Michael got a part time job doing maintenance work for our property manager
3. Pepper and I hiked our first 14er- Mt. Quandry 14,265 ft!
4. We learned that making pancakes and cookies at 9,100 feet is a little different than at sea level
5. We met some amazing neighbors- Krassy and Anna who are from Bulgaria and will take care of our house while were at NOLS
6. We got to see how the Summit County ER works from the inside after I fell off my bike and broke my right arm
7. We found the Walmart and the Target!
8. We saw our first bir of Colorado snow- in July!!
9. We found our family vet after Pepper got an eye infection
10. We found our family doctor after Michael got a boil under his arm pit (yes, we realize that our little family has been plagued with doctor visits, but we're pretty much out of the woods at this point)
11. Michael has checked in with his unit in Denver and they are great! Very flexible about him missing drill the next few months which is a huge blessing
12. We're both applying to be ski instructors in December
13. My orthopedist approved me going to NOLS and has prescribed physical thearpy starting August 17
Although things have been a little rocky, the Lord has reenforced over and over that we are here for a purpose and that he is going to take care of us along the way.


We Made It!
7/17/2009 - Posted by Nicole - 0 comments


After an event-filled couple of days, which included getting on the road a little later than expected, we have finally arrived in Colorado! It's quite surreal to actually wake up this morning and see the breath-taking Rocky Mountains against the clear blue sky. We have been talking, dreaming, and planning for this day for months and now we are standing on the edge with nothing holding us back any longer.
Throughout our move, the Lord has provided for us tremendously. Recently we had to fix a flat on Michael's truck and determined that he did not have the proper "Nissan specific tools" to raise and lower the spare. Consequently, we had to go to the dealership in town to get the spare reattached, but we failed to acquire the jack and other tools prior to our departure. There was much going on, and it simply slipped our minds.

After signing all the documents on Wednesday afternoon, we went and picked up our puppy from our wonderful friends Les and Kelly. While there, the boys started discussing the truck and we came to the realization that it was a very unwise idea to travel for 16 hours without the ability to change a flat. Les, who also owns a Nissan Frontier, offered to let us buy his tool set and order his own so that we would be well-equipped on the road. Incredibly, just a few hours later, Michael and I were in the car, on I35 just north of Temple and we heard a loud rumble under the truck. I glanced behind us, just in time to see our spare fly 20 feet in the air, bounce off the concrete median and roll across two lanes of rush-hour traffic on the opposite side of the highway. Although there were numerous cars and 18-wheelers on the road, miraculously, no one was injured and the spare was left intact.

We turned around, picked up the spare which had rolled back into the grass median, and exited at the first available opportunity. We had no idea where we were and so we began praying that the Lord would lead us to someone who could evaluate the tire and reattach it. Not two minutes later we came across the Pedroza Tire Shop- a tiny tire shop off the side of road in the outskirts of Temple. There, three hermanos en Cristo (brothers in Christ) assisted us and ensured that we gave us doble seguridad (double security) on the reattached tire. Because of their wonderful service, we made it all the way here with no trouble at all.

Praise the Lord that no one was injured and that our truck did not sustain any damage. And, had it not been for Les's generosity in providing us the tools and the skills of these wonderful men, there's no telling when we would have finally gotten on the road.

The Lord never ceases to amaze me in providing for the "little things" in our lives whether it be clothes on our backs, food on the dinner table, or something as obscure as a tire iron. In Romans 12:12, we are reminded to always be rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, and continue steadfastly in prayer. My precious mom shared that scripture with us when we finally arrived at their home Wednesday night. What a wonderful reminder as we start this new chapter.


Each end is a new beginning...
7/02/2009 - Posted by Nicole - 4 comments
Well, hello blogging-world! I am finally actually posting to this thing after having first created it a few weeks ago. I have spent the vast majority of my evening just trying to figure out how to make this page look somewhat presentable as well as checking out other people's blogs to see all of the wonderful little do-dads and extras that you can add all over the place. I have to admit, the options are a little overwhelming, but the main purpose of this blog, is to keep our wonderful family and friends updated about the new happenings in our lives.
As many of you know, Michael is getting out of the active duty Army on September 1. His last, actual day of duty is July 9 and from that point forward we will be moving on to our next chapter. This past week, we (really, Michael) began packing our precious home into boxes. It has been quite bittersweet for both of us to cull through all of our memories from the past three years at Fort Hood.

When we first moved here, I remember driving down (the infamous) Rancier Blvd (a local hangout for drug dealers and 'ladies of the night') and wondering aloud "What have we gotten ourselves into!?". However, as we get ready to drive away for the last time, I now realize how amazingly blessed we have been to have lived here for the past three years. For one thing, Michael was able to join the 3d ACR and remain at home for well over two years prior to his deployment (an absolute miracle in today's Army). Additionally, we have had the opportunity to visit family easily; gotten to attend/be in numerous of our close friends' weddings; spent multiple weekends at the lake; and most importantly established some of the dearest friendships we may ever have. Our experience here has truly taught me not to "judge a book by its cover". Because let me tell you, I would have never chosen to read this here book, but it's turned out to be one incredible page turner!
It's beautiful to step back and see how our Father's divine plan has unfolded. The fulfillment of His previous promises confirms that we have not seen, we have not heard, and we cannot conceive what God has prepared for us down the road.
And I cannot wait!