Visiting Katie

This blog post is extremely overdue and under illustrated. I have lots of excuses for the neglect of my blog, but most of them all boil down to the same thing, I have been sick almost non-stop since the middle of November with one cold/flu after the other. This has left me wanting to do nothing but sleep in my spare time. Well, sleep and visit my beloved Katie that is. With her hubby gone for 7 weeks, I figured she could use a little cheering up from Nebraska and I could sure use a little nursing back to health in the mountains. 

It was the first time in a while I have been away from my guy, and Katie and I both felt a little something was missing. But if one must be away from her man (or her man away from her) then there is no better way to spend the time than with her sister. We made good use of the time talking, shopping, talking, eating, and did I mention talking? 

I am so blessed to have my best friend not only be related to me, but also someone that it doesn't matter if I go to see her while I am sick as a dog and lay around feverish on her couch, it is still a wonderful time just because we are in the same place. Love you lots, Katie, and looking forward to the next visit. My house this time! 

Sometimes

I believe that sometimes 

God makes beautiful things like this,

Just so we will grin at them like this. 

Arizona Road Trip

The day after Christmas we went on a road trip to Arizona. 

There is nothing quite like an open road rolling out before you and 6 days on the road coming up. My camera was both forgotten and dumped in water during the trip, so here are pictures that we did get . 

After settling in at my Uncle's we set off on a day's adventure. First stop, the historic Tombstone, most famous town in the west. 

We toured an old silver mine. Our guide told us Tombstone got its start as a mining town, all the drama came later on. 

It was my first time in a mine/cave of any kind. I foresee spelunking in my future... 

Next we headed up Mt. Lemmon Highway to what turned into the real adventure, rappelling down the Seven Cataracts of Willow Canyon. For those of you who were wanting to hear how I and my cell phone took a dip in a waterfall, stay tuned... 

Mt. Lemmon Highway is right next to Saguaro National Forest. For someone rather infatuated with the oversized cacti, it was a spectacular sight driving through a literal forest of the endangered fellas. 

Willow Canyon turned out to be beautiful. We parked on the road and hiked down into the canyon. The plan was to hike down the canyon, including rappelling down the Seven Cataracts, whereupon it would deposit us back on the road and we would hike back to the car. The canyon had way more water than the guide description had us anticipating, which made everything take much longer than we had planned. After two successful rappels we came to one that went down a waterfall. To make a long story short, Josh got caught in the water for 15 minutes with rope problems and when I came down I slipped on the rope and took a lovely feet first dive into the pool at the bottom of the falls. Now it was dark, we were both soaked, Josh was freezing to death, and we were pretty much unable to contact anyone thanks to my phone getting a bath. 

We found ourselves a little corner in the rocks, brought out the ever handy package of toilet paper and started trying to light a fire. And the matches wouldn't strike. There was a good deal of praying quite loudly as I worked my way through the matches, and suddenly there was a spark. Once we got our fire going, it was just a matter of time to dry off, collect and repack our gear, and head for the road in the dark. What we didn't know was there were two canyons, not just one between us and the road. After several hours of crashing through the brush up and down incredibly steep canyon walls we made it to the road, 4 miles from the car. I was never so happy to plant my feet on the road in my life and the 4 mile hike to the car felt like a breeze after what we had just pushed through. What was supposed to take all of 3 hours took us 9 hours, but we arrived back safe and sound, albeit still a little cold, with an awesome story of adventure and God's provision. 

This would be the rice, in which my phone and camera were revived. I love rice.... This would also be where my camera was the second day when we climbed Mt. Glenn with my cousins.

 This photo is thanks to my cousin's iPhone.  Highlights of that climb: stretching out all my sore muscles from the day before, one cousin making it to the top in Chucks, lovely views, another summit (4 in 2012 for me), and one of my cousins sitting on a prickly pear in an accidental slip. Hehe, can't even let down your guard to sit down in Arizona, everything bites... 

My dive into the waterfall earned me double bruises on my elbows, but the really exciting stuff was what the hike through the canyons to the road did to my shins. This picture does not do it justice. Try to imagine basically my entire shin as a bruise. 

After a final day in Tucson visiting my Aunt and more cousins (sadly, the camera missed this part) we headed for home, the long way. We drove past many fantastical rock formations in Northern Arizona and Utah. Including Mexican Hat Rock that has a town named after it. 

We took it upon ourselves to name this rock. We dubbed it "The Simba Rock". 

The beautiful LaSals. They just rise out of the desert, flaunting their beauty over the barren landscape. 

We made a pit stop in Arches National Park, one that has been on my list for a while. 

Where I saw many strange rocks, and decided to return for further adventures. 

We took a quick hike up to catch the sunset over the Delicate Arch. Pretty much best New Years Eve celebration I have ever had. 

Voted best picture of the trip. 

Josh hiked up to a little arch on the way back. And stood at the top attempting to convince me to join him. I was feeling somewhat unsure on the snow and took a rather large amount of convincing. This would be him at the top, "Emily, come on. It is just like stairs... the view is great up here! You can do it." 

This would be me at the bottom, "I don't really think I can. I will just wait here... are you going to make me? Okay, fine, here I come."

He was right about the view. And about how easy it was to climb up there. And that I could do it just fine... 

It was a long trip home and while I was happy to see the sun rise on Nebraska soil, I am already itching to hit the road again. Anyone interested in a trip up a 14er on spring break? 

Christmas Break

Finally getting around to blogging a very few pictures from Christmas break. I actually went on break a day early, thanks to the snowstorm that dropped a good 8 inches on my birthday and shut down some of the city, including Compass. 

Josh and I went to Hitchcock where we made first tracks in the new snow. 

It was gorgeous with all the thick snow on the trees and pretty much everything. 

It was like hiking through an enchanted forest. 

After a lovely Christmas Eve in Omaha with family, we made the trek out to the farm. Josh brought Fisher Techniques, toys he played with growing up. They were quite the hit. 

He and John made several projects, including a crane. 

Timo and John showing off some of the things they made.  I regretfully didn't get any pictures of almost all the family in one place, but it was a blast, cooking with Dad and the girls and watching the traditional holiday movies. 

Another highlight of my Christmas break was getting to see this little man a few times. I don't know how, but he completely melts my little heart. Once all the family parties were wrapped up, we packed our bags and headed for Arizona on a 6 day, 3200 mile road trip. Coming up next, Arizona pictures... 

New House, New Baby, New Cute Picture...

With only two boxes left to unpack I consider myself officially moved into my new house. It is tiny, but I have always thought less room means less to clean and I love it! 

My little kitchen. 

 

With the table fitting nicely into the corner. 

My tiny living room. Complete with my modern art that I love adorning one wall and my bike map on the other. 

And my bedroom! There is actually more room than in the apartment.... Note the two unpacked boxes left in the corner. 

So that is the new house, here is the new baby... My adorable nephling, Daniel Angel Osuna. I have been pretty smitten with my nieces, but this little guy took Aunthood to a new level. Maybe it is his small, dark and handsome good looks. Maybe it is the fact that he is my baby sister's baby. Or maybe being an Aunt just gets better with time. Either way, I am madly in love... 

And the new cute picture. In the midst of moving and Hillary's wedding we managed to squeeze in time for a few Thanksgiving pictures. I think this is my new favorite. I especially like being as tall as my guy, even if it is because he is sitting down... 

Biking

Today I ran a few errands on my bike. 

First to blockbuster right down the street. 

Then to the post office to change my address and get some stamps. I love the post office so I don't have to lock up my bike. 

Then to Hobby Lobby at 90th and Blondo to get some watercolors for the kids back home. 

I have fallen in love with biking trails. Keystone made the trip to Walmart on 72nd from Hobby Lobby fast and traffic free. 

I also love riding my bike over Dodge. 

After 15 miles or so, back to the apartment. And hence, the joys of running errands via bicycle. 

A Year Later

It is that time again. Moving time. After a year in what I now lovingly refer to as “my neighborhood”, I am moving a few miles to the south for at least the next 6 months. I love adventure, new things, new experiences, meeting new people and learning about new culture. But I also love things that I call mine. My neighbor kids. My No Frills. My Panera’s where I go to use the internet and my waiter with the dreads who flirts with me every time I am there. My running routes. My big tree in my front yard. My parking spot. My commute to work. My cashiers at the store. My QT where I get hot chocolate more often than I should. My beautiful houses in my neighborhood. My streets I bike on to run errands. My library and my post office with my favorite clerk named Zig. My Saint Cecelia’s. My eye level view of the world out my basement window.  And now I am leaving all those things I love for an adventure. Someone tried to comfort me by reminding me I could find new running trails, new grocery stores, new waiters to flirt with me. And I will. But this place will always have something special in my heart. After all, the year I have spent here has been a very full one. One year ago exactly I started working at Compass. My heart has grown so entwined with my Compass kids I don’t remember my life before I loved them. In one year I went from not knowing anything to teaching by myself, leading on days when my boss is out of town or sick, taking the kids on field trips with me in charge, and even a whole 8 hour van ride in charge of the kids. Let’s not remember that one actually. Nine months ago today I started dating the most amazing man in the world who makes me happier than I thought was possible and still keeps me on my toes as well. 

This year has been one of many adventures. I have been inside a pipe organ, on a sailboat, on the back and front of a motorcycle, 60 miles on the back of a tandem, across the finish line of a half marathon, on the top of 3 mountains in 3 days, on a zip-line, to Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Colorado, able to read more books than I have in the last 3 years combined, everywhere within 10 miles on my single-speed, on the stage with someone I was extremely proud of as they graduated high school, under barbed wire through a mud pit, to the World Series for the first time ever, to the cancer center, called Meme by the most adorable 2-year-old ever, to a Brad Paisley concert, and not home to the farm often enough.  This year has been one of tears as all years are, but also one of more healing and laughter than I ever expected. With a year like that in this place, I feel I am leaving a little part of me behind in #14. But not so much of me that I am not ready to start it all over again in 1439 ½. 

I am moving to a different part of Omaha, one infamous for its Hispanic population. I have jokingly said many times that I am moving from the hood to Mexico. But I had two choices. When it came time to find a new place two places came up. One was here in my neighborhood, less than half a mile from my apartment now. It was in a really nice house where I could still go to my No Frills, my running trails, and I wouldn’t get lost trying to find everything because I already knew where everything is here. The other one is the place I am moving to. On the other side of town, in a totally different culture, where I got so lost the first time I went to look at it, it took me half an hour to drive like 2 miles back. It is a new adventure. With new neighbor kids to meet and love, new cashiers to talk to, a new library, new beautiful buildings to look at on my skyline. It is going to be a busy week or two while I get packed up, moved, Hillary married off, settled in, and figure out how long it takes me to get to work. But in the meantime, feel free to leave a comment and get ready to hear about the next chapter in the beautiful things God is doing in my life.