It's my Birthday, I can _______ if I want to

Copper is officially CLOSED! and I have been let go. haha. So since we cant ski there, there is another smaller resort still open, but its definitely more of a local's place. Shanna and I took Brittany and Hannah (her 5th grader) to ski at A-Basin. And then Alison and Nic joined us. So that made for a fun group. We skiied morst of the day from like 11-3. Yep those are the hours when you should avoid the sun. Yep those are the hours you should wear sunscreen. Yep those are the hours when you cover your skin at all cost. I did. Except on my face. And I some how didn't put on my normal moisturizer that has suncreen, but I assumed I had. So I have an extremely burnt face. ugh. It really sucks. And its only my face.
But after we all got burnt. haha. They all have goggle tans. But after we got home from skiing, the Berry's threw me a surprise Little Mermaid theme party! haha it was awesome! We had a bubble machine (so you were under the sea) and a fish pinata and leis and sunglasses and umbrella straws. We usually have ladies bible study on monday nights so all the ladies came for a party instead. We broke the pinata -- haha Andy had control of the pinata. I think he enjoyed me making a fool of myself. But then we ate cake. Alison made it! It was confetti cake with white icing, but she decorated it with jawbreakers, licorice and lifesavers. Very cute cake. And then we opened presents! haha Alison got me hugs and kisses (the candy) =) Shanna got me a cute tshirt and a black and white photo frame. So me. And the Estes girls (Shanna's family) got me chocolate and then each made me a card. So we had alot of fun. The Berry's are just amazing thoughtful caring people who have truly blessed me.
In other news, I am by myself this week. They went to visit Andy's family in Idaho and I'm also house sitting for some friends for the week. haha Thanks for all the birthday wishes!

Elitch Gardens

Yesterday was a blast! The Berry's took me, Shanna, and Alison to Elitch Gardens in Denver (Formerly of Six Flags fame). For background information, they love roller coasters (becca doesn't) and Nathan has always been too short to go on most rides. We got there at 10:30 and we had fun until like 5:00. =) This year Nathan was tall enough so he was brave and tried everything that was appropriate. We went on a kid ride to begin, and it was so cold! Not scary, just cold. haha. But then we went on the ship ride that swings up and down. Woo- Nathan did not like that one, but we had fun being silly and screaming. We went on a ride called the rainbow which was a platform of seats that rides up and then over and then down and around (painting a rainbow in the sky and circling around). Very fun. Brittany was my partner both times we wode that one. Then I went on a wooden roller coaster that was scary, but fun. I had decided that I would go on all of the things they wanted to even though I dont like them. But I had a blast on that. Brittany was my partner on that one too. We then went on this scary 0-60 mph loop thing that went forward, then stopped and went backwards through the loop. AHHH! but i did it. =) Alison and I were together on that one and we had our eyes shut the entire time. But then the last ride of the day was the carousel. haha we did a chinese fire drill on the horses. Yeah I'm corputing the children (Brittany and Nic and Alison haha), but the worker lady wasn't has happy as we were. Then for my birthday we went out to eat at Chilli's. haha. I loved it, but it makes me laugh that we always go there. =) They are just an awesome family. My second family.
And to add to how great they are. They got me a photo journal book and then she put pictures of me and the kids inside it. And then she got me a framed picture of the rockies so I will always have them with me. =) How fun and sweet. The frame is a broad flat white frame, so i am going to get them to write their names on it and then I'll put in another frame and really keep it forever. So anyways. They are just the best. And I am truly getting sad that my time is coming to an end. Today is our last day at work. So pray for the final day and for the relationships I formed.

Beauty

So this isn't for people to neccesarily respond to or for people to judge me on. Its more of me to share my heart and struggle right now and for me to try to let go of it.
What determines beauty? Who is beautiful and who isn't? If we are fearfully and wonderfully made, created in the image of God why do I feel inadequate? Furthermore, Jesus had "no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him". And Peter says that "your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." Umm well everyone that knows me knows that I do not have a gentle and quiet spirit. As tonight's conversation showed. But yet all I hear is beauty is skin, and makeup, and revealing clothing. And while I have been here, all that has gone by the wayside. I spend my days in burnt orange uni-sex uniforms, flooding pants, hair pulled back, and little to no makeup. And then add layers of clothing, gloves, hat, and sunglasses, and I'm completely covered. haha maybe some of my sexy neck is showing. Most of the guys here only want to see beauty as skin, makeup, and revealing clothing so after a while it definitely starts to wear on you...
The funny thing is... well its not surprising the way God works... that is the very thing that we want to teach the 5th grade girls at the retreat. Great. I guess I get to really learn the lesson before I can teach it.
What is beauty and who determines it?

Birthdays!

Well its April. Definitely one of my favorite months. =) Last week was Brittany's birthday too, so its going to be a great month. Her birthday was on Friday and so we threw her a surprise party with her friends and neighbors. I got to pick her up from this afterschool ceramics class and then stall in taking her home. It was fun to do that for someone else, especially her. And of course once we got there, her friends had parked their bikes on the porch so the surprise wasn't so much of a surprise anymore. But we played this scavenger hunt game to find the presents and then we ate and played games and just had fun. Its definitely been a while since I went to a 5th grade birthday party so i was enjoying the sillyness of it all. Being a kid is too much fun, especially when they are trying to grow up so fast.
And then yesterday set the benchmark for one week until my birthday. =) At the Berry house, the birthday person gets a week of fun little gifts leading up to the special day. So yesterday I got a poster with Happy Birthday written on it and a flower pen, and today I got these cute rubber gloves (the story is with the dog leaving me presents...) that actually match my rubber boots. Haha. So funny so now I am all set for the weather...and matching... =)
And so the next excitement of today is that Shanna and I are going to get pedicures!! WOO HOO! I am so excited. I am long over due and its getting ugly. haha.

Coming to an end

Wow, its so weird to realize that my job at Copper is almost over. Copper is only open another 10 days and i only work some of those days. Very sad. I really enjoy my coworkers and bosses and the job itself -- although there have been moments. And then after Copper closes, we are going to try to ski for a week and then i have one more week really and I'm headed home. That is so weird!! I dont even feel like I've been here that long. I have truly enjoyed my time here, although I have missed everyone like crazy! =)
But yeah. Please continue to pray for the retreat Shanna and I are planning. We officially have a speaker (Thank you Jesus!) and tshirts are in the works (Praise again!) but we really need to nail down our location. You would think there would be something available at decent prices in a resort town! And then the next thing is for people to attend. The idea of church anything is just scary to people, so its going to be something to get past...

Thanks for all the emails and notes on the blog! They have been very encouraging...