WKU Days

Every summer our family makes it back to KY to visit family. Sometimes the trips are shorter than I would like. Other times I find myself with opportunities to really sit back with good friends from the past and reminisce about the old days. So far, this has been a reminiscing vacation. As I write, I'm in Louisville at my mother-in-law's house. It's great. We have been fed and loved on. The girls have been given 24/7 undivided attention. And Kevin and I have had the opportunity to not only enjoy family, but also to enjoy friends. Just tonight I'm sitting here realizing that I feel alive like I haven't in a long time.

Have you ever experienced that feeling? Something or someone just resonates with your spirit. . .For me, it's one of those things that hits me out of nowhere. I usually don't even realize that my soul is so thirsty, but after drinking in that huge gulp of life, the refreshment proves to be almost overwhelming. That's how I have felt the past 2 days, thanks to some time spent, and love shared, and common bonds felt between us and some fantastic people. . .Pete and Brandi Wilson, Jeremy and Kelly Nelson, Kevin's sister, Carol, and Jeff and Vicki Rogers.

For me, each of these connections are very unique. I went to school with Brandi from middle school through college. Kevin and Pete were roommates and great friends at WKU. They were the studs of the BSU (then the Baptist Student Union), or so they think. I even brushed shoulders with Kevin's sister, Carol, at WKU during those days. Yet through it all, our paths were always crossing (some more than others), but never completely woven together by God for quite some time.

Jeremy and Kelly were other WKU BSU faces that I only recognized but never really knew (Kevin was friends with them and they knew all of his OTHER girl friends, but not me). And to me, Jeff and Vicki were always just doing life on a different level of "cool" from me. Although I knew them enough to say, "hello," that was about it. All of these great people struck me as somebody to take note of during those days. None of them were really my close buddies. Yet somehow this entire group mentioned danced through mine and each other's lives for 4+ years on that WKU campus.

This week I have been amazed at how God has brought these fantastic people back to the surface of my life once again. To each of you, you have given me "life" through our conversations and memories and LAUGHTER and your boldness to serve the Lord. Each of you have impacted my life with your faithfulness and relentless passion. In your own way you have inspired me with the way you are living life out in your corner of the world. And you have encouraged me to continue to take giant leaps for the sake of Christ.

Years have passed since we first met. . .12+ to be exact. I never had a clue that these last few days would happen. In the grand scheme of life, our brief time eating and drinking coffee together may have been nothing more than just a fun vacation moment. Who knows. But for those moments, your hearts and lives spoke into me. And your passion for a relationship with the Father shone brightly. You taught me to never underestimate any relationships, that's for sure. And maybe God will continue to do the weaving and maybe he won't (I hope he does). . .but for this week. . .thanks for the time you shared with us. I can't wait to see what adventures God has planned for you next!

My New Favorite Author

No one directed me to Debbie Macomber. I wasn't shopping for a fiction book. But as I passed through the book aisle at Costco a few weeks ago, this one just seemed to beg, "take me home." It's rare that I ever spend $ on a book unless it has been recommended and researched heavily first. Books are so stinkin' expensive, even though I admit that I love owning them much more than I should. But for $4.49, it was a risk I was willing to take. And let me just tell you. . .I have discovered my summer vacation! Who knew it resided in the pages of a book. I was thinking something tropical or adventurous sounded like a nice plan for the summer. But no, I discovered my summer vacation for $4.49. Now THAT's a deal!!!! And in my opinion, these books are somewhat equal in comparison to sipping a fruity concoction on the beach. You just need a little imagination.

Since reading Twenty Wishes, I have now researched and planned out my entire summer reading list. I feel like an elementary school student again doing my summer reading program. I wonder if I can get Kevin to buy me a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut when I complete my "vacation?" (That's what I remember getting as a kid when summer reading came to an end)

So, if you are like me. . .needing a good vacation. . .I simply suggest to you readers out there that this is a great place to start. Sorry, guys, it's pretty much a ladies only kind of book. But there is not mushy romance happening very often. . .just a lot of good clean and compelling fun. Click Here to start your vacation. . .and make sure to pick a series and read it from start to finish. The books seem to stand alone and yet I'm discovering that the order makes the journey much better. You'll find LOTS of them at the library. I can't help but wonder if I'm the last person standing to discover Debbie Macomber. Now that I mention her, EVERYONE seems to know her stuff. Check it out!

1st Grade! 1st Grade!

Today was the last official day of school. We now have a 1st grader, 2nd grader and 5th grader in the Colon family!! Girls, you did it again, and Daddy and I are so proud of you!

Kindergarten graduation was a very big deal for little Olivia.




I just love these priceless moments. . .

Olivia's Kindergarten Graduation from amy colon on Vimeo.

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

I have to say that Mother's Day, although it has always been celebrated in our home, is usually pretty low key, just like birthdays beyond 30 and President's Day. I prefer it that way. Just give me a day where I don't have to cook or clean, do laundry or pick up after anyone other than myself and I'm good.

This year, once again, was a fairly low key day. I am blessed to have a husband and kids who make sure that Mommy is taken care of well year round. So I don't expect or even feel the need for HUGE celebration. But as the girls get older they seem to get more excited about the whole idea of celebrating special occasions. And this year, I have to say that my greatest gift was getting to watch their excitement in their scheming and whispering and giggling as they planned to celebrate Mom.

Here's how the day went. . .
6:15 - Kevin and 3 little girls woke me up to go on a scavenger hunt. . .



And the treasure at the end of the hunt?. . .



Emma quickly took credit for this surprise. She is a great little shopper. Watch out future husband!

The Gift - Okay, so I was really good at making it obvious what I wanted. For weeks I have strategically walked the girls past the bikes every time we went to Target and said, "girls, wouldn't it be fun for Mommy to have a bike now that all of you are riding without training wheels? We could have so much fun this summer." Olivia, the precocious one that she is, quickly took the idea and ran with it. She has probably been whispering and telling this to Daddy over and over again for weeks. I guess you might call me sneaky to go about getting a gift in this way. . .I call it a valiant attempt to assure my family a very happy mommy - my gift to them. See everybody wins!

So here it is. . .my new Schwinn Cruiser



And here they are. . .the one's who call me Mommy



The day continued with a fabulous day at Cool River, a trip to every bike store in town, an afternoon nap while it rained, a solo outing to the AMC to watch 17 Again (two thumbs up and no, not just because it was Zac Efron. . .I'm married for goodness sake!) and dinner at Chili's. Kevin put the girls to bed. I read a book. Goodnight, Mommy! Now that's what I call a perfect day of celebrating!

Thank you Kevin! You amaze me at how you go above and beyond all expectations to love me!

Encouragement for Your Day

Simple Fun

Simple Fun is all it takes. . .

Just because we are a church planting family, it doesn't really mean that we are any different from anybody else. We work hard and often don't play enough. It's the typical story of just about everyone I know.

Kevin and I learned very quickly how important it is to calendar life. I fought this idea for some time. It sounds so UN-FUN. . .okay, I made that word up, but you know what I mean. Calendaring life is often for those black and white, spreadsheet kind of people like my good friend, Sharon. It never sounded like Amy, the procrastinator. But let me just tell you now, IT WORKS!! And the proof is in the pictures. . .

Earlier this week our family spent 2 nights and 3 days in Estes Park at the YMCA of the Rockies. For the last 4 years we have taken a spring getaway to the mountains. This year we chose Estes. It's only 45 minutes from our house. Granted, a lot of people can't say that. But regardless, just about everyone lives 45 minutes or so from someplace at least kinda cool.

And here's the deal, getaways aren't about the glitz - that's the difference between a getaway and a vacation. . .they are much more about the slowness and simpleness and quiteness of the moments. We didn't actually RIDE the horses. We just attempted to pet them. We hiked and we ate yucky camp food and we swam with over 70 LOUD middle schoolers in an indoor pool. We played putt putt on a course that was probably older than me. We climbed on rocks, watched deer and elk and swung on a tire swing. It was fantastic! And the renewal those moments provided was invaluable. Take it from me. This girl needed to be renewed! I'd be willing to bet you do, too.

So, if you haven't had a personal or family getaway lately. . .what are you waiting for??? No one can put it on the calendar but you.

Spring Snow

Easter 2009

March Recap

Look Out World, Here She Comes!

My 5 year old, Olivia, just learned how to ride her bike a few weeks ago. I'm posting this one especially for Pop because I know he's been wanting to see her ride. . .


Olivia Riding Her Bike from amy colon on Vimeo.

Gotta Love Kindergarten Performances!

Olivia's Kindergarten Song from amy colon on Vimeo.

Funny how this song brings back old memories. . .Our principal, Mr. Anderson, used to make us sing this song in chapel at West Side Elementary. . .YES, chapel in a public school! How times have changed!!

Our Spring Flower

Claire has been taking a dance class on Friday for about 6 weeks. . .not a bad debut performance for my rough and tumble middle girl. . .(beware, it's definitely a "home video" quality movie, but it's still super cute.)


Claire's School Dance Recital from amy colon on Vimeo.

February 2009

Chocolate is Great. . Chocolate is Grand. . .

Happy Valentines Day, everyone! Sit back and enjoy this video just for fun - from me to you - guaranteed you'll feel the need to go out and buy some chocolate right away.

Trying To Catch Up - January 2009

Obviously I have had little time to blog so far in the new year, so I thought that I should at least post a few pictures to catch everybody up. . .

A Day at Cool River


We took a family walk to the park - it felt like Spring in January!


Inauguration Day - I'm so happy that I thought to snap a few pictures as the girls watched such a historic day unfold. . .I was amazed at how much they enjoyed watching it all with us.






A 70 degree day at the zoo


And I can't forget to show you ECO - did you know he is part poodle, part cocker spaniel, part mountain goat?

From Our Colorado Family to Yours. . .

The Last of Christmas 2008

Pink Razor scooters from Pop for everyone!

Emma's Christmas gifts have officially gotten smaller - no more little girl toys for her. . .this picture actually kinda makes me sad.

The first official web admission of my short hair - not thrilled. . .the next one you see I will be back to the old Amy :-)

I wonder if Taylor Swift started out in her pj's?

Preparing for a tea party with Gran

The men watching basketball

I can't even think of an appropriate caption for this one. . .Any ideas??
Hope you had a fantastic Holiday, too!!!

Joy to the World

Joy to the World from amy colon on Vimeo.

New Sister

Meet Ingrid, the girls' new Compassion International "sister" from Ecuador. They don't realize it yet, but Ingrid is definitely the best gift they received this Christmas. We will start supporting and communicating with her starting this New Year. It took over an hour of sitting in front of the computer browsing for the girls to choose Ingrid. Such indecisiveness (and Kevin was so patient!). . .but after praying about it, we are sure that we chose the right little girl for our family.

Christmas Eve and Morning

Merry Christmas Morning, everyone!!

Up on the Housetop

Emma's Piano Recital - Up on the Housetop from amy colon on Vimeo.


I'll add a few more songs later. . .

Claire's First Score

Claire's First Score from amy colon on Vimeo.

Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Traditions (Part 3)

Just finished reading this one to the girls. . .it's so much fun to hear them laugh out loud as I read. . .

Christmas Traditions (Part 2)

Every year since the girls were tiny we have made a gingerbread house during the holidays. I have done everything from making it from scratch (the overachiever Christmas about 3 years ago) to buying the Wilton Gingerbread kit (the one that made me so mad that I threw half of it on the floor in anger in front of the kids and they still remind me of it to this day.) But this year my goal was simplicity during the holidays. So, here is our 2008 gingerbread house.



It took 30 minutes to complete. There was no mess except for all of those little white papers from the sticky foam shingles. No one cussed (oops, I guess I forgot to share that part from last year) or threw it down in anger.







And we still have a lovely "gingerbread house" to be proud of. . .actually a gingerbread house with LANDSCAPING!



Are you doing anything SIMPLER this holiday season?

Flatiron Youth Chorale Christmas Performance

December 2008 - So Far

Thanksgiving Day "Must Haves"

**Making and eating Cranberry bread on Thanksgiving morning with our own "secret recipe" while watching the Macy's Day Parade.





**Emma LOVES her homemade cranberries - she doesn't eat turkey or dressing, only cranberries.

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**And homemade applesauce makes the day complete.

I hope you all had a terrific Turkey Day!
What were your "Must Haves" for the day??

Let the Traditions Begin

Emma is my girl who loves TRADITION. . .she is always very intent on sitting in the same place every Christmas morning as she opens her gifts. She wants very specific kinds of food every Thanksgiving. . .so this year I decided to chronicle every holiday tradition that our family enjoys.

Here is tradition #1. . .Operation Christmas Child. Last week we delivered 51 boxes from Cool River. The girls always shop for and prepare one box of their own. This is a tradition I'm always pretty excited to keep.

Happy Holidays!!! Keep checking back for more.

(Also, Click here for photoblog pics of Claire playing basketball. . .)

Family Fun WEEKEND!

So this weekend we took advantage of this perfect time of year and had some extra family fun that took us all the way from Saturday morning to late on Sunday night.

We rarely go the to theater as a family. It's pretty crazy what 2 hours at the AMC can cost a family of 5. My girls weren't really interested in taking pictures, but I was able to catch Claire grinning in her High School Musical attire. Yep, you guessed it - what brings a family of 5 to the theater on an early Saturday morning - only Gabriella and Troy in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3! Yea, it rocked! I'm not sure who liked it more, the girls or me. . .or maybe even Kevin. . .I did see his head bopping a little bit to the music a time or two. . .



Saturday afternoon was yet ANOTHER birthday party. Thank goodness this time all we had to do was attend. The girls had a great time at Julia's American Girl mystery party.

Finally, Sunday night was the official Family Fun Night #2. It was a bit impromptu and after a long day of church activities we were a bit pooped, but still, we had a lot of fun celebrating Fall by dipping caramel apples (thanks for the idea, Wilson's) and carving a giant pumpkin into none other than Snow White.

















Isn't she beautiful??!! Happy Fall!

A Gooey Twist on the Original. . .

During family night a few weeks ago we tried this fun new dessert recipe from my friend, Brandi Wilson. . .it was a huge, sweet and yummy hit.

This morning we decided to try our own new twist on the recipe and make "cinnamon rolls" for breakfast. You've gotta try it!


All you need is a bag of large marshmallows, one package of original crescent rolls, cinnamon sugar and a cookie sheet.



Roll marshmallows in the cinnamon sugar and place them on the crescent to be rolled up. MAKE SURE you seal off the openings so that marshmallows are completely covered.


Cover wrapped marshmallows with cinnamon sugar - the more the better!
Bake at 375 for 10 minutes


I was surprised that the marshmallows popped out, but it didn't matter. . .



It's gooey and yummy and sweet - everything a kid loves!!

ENJOY!

Is She Ever Going to Write Again???

For those of you wondering what has happened. . .I'm still around. It's just not as easy to keep up with 2 blogs as I thought it would be. If you haven't heard, I am also writing for a really great organization called Glocalnet. You can follow me here .

As for keeping up with the family - I'm really trying, but forgive me for being so brief. I did successfully post new pictures this morning from September. Click here to see those.

I will continue to use this blog to let you know what is happening in the life of the Colon family. Don't stop checking!

Have a great week!

Venture Vietnam Fall '08

Check out Kevin's blog to see pictures of Cool River's latest relief trip to Vietnam. . .http://kevincolon.blogspot.com

My Little Olivia Turned 5!!

Click Here for lots more photos of our week of festivities

Check Out My Newest Adventure!

For a long time I have dreamed of sharing my stories and experiences and lessons learned with other church planting wives. It has always just totally amazed me that these brave ladies aren't loved on more or equipped more fully. But for me, life has been crazy since we started Cool River. And I needed lots of experience before I could ever speak anything worth hearing into their lives.

I suppose God has now decided that I am ready to get my feet wet. Check out my newest adventure. I feel very honored to get this opportunity. . .pray for me, please, and wish me lots of luck. It's going to be a lot of fun!

Family Fun Night #1

So I've been following my friend, Brandi, as she has started blogging about their testosterone filled family nights. Minus the testosterone in a house full of girls, it sounded like fun. So this week I decided to give it a try. I must admit, I stole some ideas. Hopefully I will get more creative as we continue. But for now, here are some pics from the first official Colon Family Fun Night. (And by the way, Brandi, Kevin and ECO may be interested in joining your family every once in a while for some rough and tumble boy time. Next week I'm planning a fairytale princess night!)

Ingredients to a yummy Family Night - Emma was my Sous Chef as we cut up everything for make-your-own salads.
Appetizers - Mine, Kevin and Emma's favorites - the other girls just said "EEEEWWWW" and dug the white bread out of the leftover French baguette.
Make-Your-Own salad buffet was a hit!
And dessert was yummy! (This is the idea that I stole. Thanks, Brandi!)

We ended the night with everyone's favorite game - Apples to Apples. . . Claire won! (I just didn't share the pics because she didn't have a shirt on and I don't want to be one of those moms who scar their kids by sharing naked photos :-))
O yea, and ECO joined in the fun, too.


FUN, FUN family night!!! You should try it!

So Proud of My Claire!

I can't let the evening pass me by without sharing a quick story that was just so fantastic from today. I wish I had a picture to share as well. Maybe next time.

Today Claire and Emma went to try out for a theatre group in Boulder called the Peanut Butter Players. It's a kids group for ages K-6th. They are terrific, and because my girls have been twisting my arm for such a long time to let them be in a play, I finally gave in.

Anyway, a long story made very short is this. . .there were 30 kids. Each child had to prepare their own song to sing for the audition and they had to sing it in front of everyone. For my girls, this was their first solo experience. I have to admit that I was very nervous. And I thought that they would be nervous as well. My heart beat so fast when each of their names were called. I really had no idea what to expect.

First up was Emma. She did fantastic! She rocked and her boldness shocked this introverted mom who has thought all along that she had the introverted first child in Emma - but theatre definitely brought out the best in her.

Next was Claire. Now Claire is my sweet and innocent 6 1/2 year old. She has a heart that is bent towards God and loving others. She is so sweet. And Claire chose "Jesus Loves Me" as her solo debut.
(Now let me just remind you all of this. I LIVE IN BOULDER COUNTY, COLORADO. This is the place where they say that 1 in every 10 people that you pass on the street MIGHT believe in Christ. This is liberal-town, USA. Obama rocks here! Trees are loved a lot here. And "Jesus Loves Me" - well, let's just say that it's NOT the first song that most preschoolers learn like in my home of the South.)

Anyway, my sweet Claire, of course, has no idea of these things. She loves Jesus. I'm fairly sure that she believes everyone loves Jesus. She has no fears or apprehension in talking about God like her best friend. And as she marched up onto that public school stage in Boulder, Colorado, she gave it all she had. She sang at the top of her lungs. She hit every note. She was confident. She was so darn cute. And she had no idea, but she was one of the greatest witnesses at that moment that I have seen in a really long time - knowing the crowd as I did.

I breathed a sigh of relief when the entire group applauded. No one raised a hand in protest or yelled any rude remarks. And Claire was beaming.

The best part was still to come, though. At the end of the auditions - when we had successfully made it through and I knew that no one was going to give a second thought to her song selection, the teacher gave one final call. She said that she was giving anyone who thought that they might need one more shot to re-audition and do a better job the second chance. Any takers? And whose hand shot up in the crowd? Calire's! I have no idea why. She did so great the first time. All I can figure out is this. . .God wanted somebody to hear those words ONE MORE TIME! And so once again. . .she bounced up on stage. "Jesus Loves Me" rang throughout the school auditorium. She smiled her biggest Claire smile. Everyone cheered even louder than before. I didn't have a heart attack after all. And at the end of it all - it was a beautiful thing.

I fully believe that God was using Claire today - if only to plant some little seed in one little child's mind. Who is Jesus? What was that song about? I suppose we'll never know the real significance of today. But I'm so proud that I have a brave little girl. I'm so proud that God is using her even in her niavity. I'm so proud that the Holy Spirit prompts her. I so wish I was as brave.

Honky Tonk Murder Mystery Night

Meet some of our very best friends in Colorado. They are a rough looking bunch - an up and coming country music star, a bar maid, a guy named Rowdy who just got out of prison, a trailer park manager who much resembles Mama on Mama's Family, the sheriff, the corn dog machine cleaner, the tv evangelist and me, Mary Kay, the preacher' wife.

You move to a new place and you never know what kind of friends you're going to get. . .Kevin and I lucked out and got the very best!!!!

Another Birthday Has Come and Gone

I can tell I'm getting older. The birthday celebrations aren't quite as anticipated. The gifts are becoming more practical. And I'm blogging about it 3 days late.

On Monday I turned 33 years old. It really didn't seem that old to me until some of my Facebook friends who were once little bitty kids when I knew them were all amazed that I was so old - thought I was still in my 20's. But this year, once again, I'm embracing my 30-something and finding thankfulness that at least I'm not in my mid-thirties just yet like my dear, sweet hubby.

Here is a photo rundown of this year's birthday festivities. . .




Kevin cleaned the house. . .
while I got a pedicure with my friend, Jenna.

I got cards and gifts from family, lots of hugs and kisses from Kevin and the girls, and 46 Facebook "Happy Birthday" wishes. I felt loved.

WooHOo! Happy Birthday to me!

DNC '08

It all starts today! All eyes will be on Denver for the next few days. I'm only 30 minutes away. It's so tempting to go celebrity seeking. But I think I'll stay in the suburbs and watch it all on TV like you. They say that we in the Denver area will get 6 hours/day nonstop coverage of the Convention. Somebody save me now!

First Day of Friday School

Yes, we homeschool, and we love it. . .but my saving grace is Friday School. Because there are so many homeschoolers in Colorado, the public school system started offering a day of school just for them. It's full of extra curricular activities such as art and science lab and geography and PE and Kindergarten and. . .you get the idea. So at the end of every week the girls get one day, 8:30 - 3:30, to really go to school. It's a great balance for us. This year there are over 130 kids in the program we attend and today they were all thrilled to say the least. . .especially Olivia. There has never been a more excited Kindergartener. She bounced all the way to her class, waved and blew me a kiss as she ran to high five her teacher and enter into her classroom.



To celebrate the first week of school, tonight we went to Chuck E Cheese. The pictures are obviously not made with Chuckee. . .instead, the girls were more excited about the little girl statues outside of the restaurant.

It's Official

Summer has come to an end in the Colon home and all three girls are officially in school this year. Here is Olivia on her first day of Kindergarten.



I was reading a friend's blog this morning and it made me laugh so much that I had to share. . . I'm not sure if the humor can be appreciated to the fullest until you have tried to teach the English language rules and phonics to a child learning to read for the first time, but at least it will give you a glimpse into my world for a few minutes. My girls have asked so many of these questions already. I feel like such a dummy when my answer to "why?" is always. . ."just because. . .I really have no idea."

Let me know if it makes you laugh, too.


Let's face it
English is a stupid language.
There is no egg in the eggplant
No ham in the hamburger
And neither pine nor apple in the pineapple.
English muffins were not invented in England
French fries were not invented in France.

We sometimes take English for granted
But if we examine its paradoxes we find that
Quicksand takes you down slowly
Boxing rings are square
And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

If writers write, how come fingers don't fing.
If the plural of tooth is teeth
Shouldn't the plural of phone booth be phone beeth
If the teacher taught,
Why didn't the preacher praught.

If a vegetarian eats vegetables
What the heck does a humanitarian eat!?
Why do people recite at a play
Yet play at a recital?
Park on driveways and
Drive on parkways

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy
Of a language where a house can burn up as
It burns down
And in which you fill in a form
By filling it out
And a bell is only heard once it goes!

English was invented by people, not computers
And it reflects the creativity of the human race
(Which of course isn't a race at all)

That is why
When the stars are out they are visible
But when the lights are out they are invisible
And why it is that when I wind up my watch
It starts
But when I wind up this observation,
It ends.

Lao Cai, Vietnam - Tragedy Hits the Area Where Cool River Works

Click Here to Watch Video

Tropical storm leaves 100 dead, missing in Vietnam


HANOI (AFP) — More than 100 people were dead or missing in flash floods and landslides as heavy rains brought by tropical storm Kammuri pounded mountainous northern Vietnam, officials said Saturday.

At least 72 people have died and 37 are missing since the storm hit the poor and widely deforested region on Friday, having previously lashed Hong Kong and southeastern China, said central and provincial emergency services.

Worst hit was Lao Cai province near the Chinese border, where at least 36 people died and 32 were missing, hundreds of houses were destroyed or damaged, and transport links were cut, isolating some areas, emergency officials said.

"Landslides have hit many areas, but flash floods have caused the largest number of deaths," said Pham Van Quang, an official with the provincial flood and storm control committee. "It's still raining hard here.

"At least 800 houses have been destroyed or damaged. We are still trying to get in touch with local authorities to help the people there. Rescue efforts are ongoing but they are being slowed by the severe weather."

State-run VTV showed residents in Lao Cai moving on wooden canoes through a town where flood waters reached the roofs of one-storey houses.

Quang said that authorities were updating the figures of dead and missing, but that they had no contact with some districts because of damaged telephone lines and cut-off roads, including the "completely isolated" Bat Xat district.

PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR THESE PEOPLE WHOM WE HAVE COME TO LOVE SO MUCH. IT IS HARD TO BE SO FAR AWAY FROM THEM AND UNABLE TO HELP AT THIS TIME.

Gifted to Lead

I read this entire book last night and today - less than 24 hours!! That's my kind of book. It is FANTASTIC! So, I had to give it some blog time. . .

"Nancy Beach encourages women with God-given leadership and teaching gifts that they are not alone, their gifts are not a mistake, and God has exceedingly important work for them to do."

What an Honor (Part 2) - the Concert

So like I said in my "Part 1" post, I spent last Sunday evening with Steven Curtis Chapman. At least I like the sound of that a whole lot better than saying that I was one of thousands that filled the stands at Coors Field to hear his story and concert. Alas, it is true, though. I was just one of thousands. . .check it out!

And yet, what an honor it was to be one of the thousands.

I'm sure that many of you have heard the Chapman story about how they lost their adopted daughter, Maria, back in May. If not, Google it. You'll easily get the whole scoop.



I have been to numerous SCC concerts over the years - quite a few in Nashville, the Dove Awards, in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Colorado Springs, churches, amphitheatres, and now in Denver at Coors Field. (FYI - I had to laugh. . .you could even have a beer at this concert as long as you bought it before the end of the 7th inning stretch) Some concerts were more intimate than others. Some were more flashy and loud than others. All have been worshipful and wonderful. But this one. . .this one was different from all of the rest. This time with SCC sat in a league of its own.

I wish I could really express to you what it was like. . .to see his determination. . . to watch his sons behind him. . .to watch his face on the big screen and see no smiles and little excitement. It was so real, his pain. And yet I found myself drawn to his words and his stories like never before. He and his kids were on a mission. You could tell that they were out there not because their hearts felt light and worshipful, but because they had to do it. . .they had to re-enter life.

God had given them a story to share and they had determined to put on their game faces and go for it. . .in the middle of the pain. And the authenticity from SCC's story about Maria was both heart breaking and refreshing. It made him real - one of us - and at one point, no lie, the thousands were crying (this came when he told us that the first song he sang in the emergency room after her death was "blessed be you name") Then he sat at the keyboard and played "When love takes you in(a song about adoption). And in the middle of it, it started to RAIN! It rained hard. . .

But 20 minutes later the coolest thing happened. Almost within the same second, the rain stopped and the sun popped out so bright that I went scrambling for my sunglasses. And SCC and the band must have noticed it too - the dramatic change in weather that seemed to be a gift from the Father. And in seconds he was up on the stage again. . .if only for a few moments. . .the old Steven. His smiles had returned. He started joking around with the crowd. "God is God and I am not" was the first song he opened with after the rain, followed by all of his signature stuff like "The Great Adventure" and "Dive." And it all ended with "How Great is our God!" How appropriate it was.

What an honor it was to be there on that wet and cloudy evening in downtown Denver. What an honor it was for God to allow me to be a part of this story. I was only an observer. I was only one of the thousands. But for some reason, God decided to give me a bird's eye view into the heart of a family on that night - I heard the breaks in Steven's voice and and the notes that passed without a word being sung because he simply couldn't sing. And then I saw the sun pop out and the smiles return and the joy of life fill him up again. And it was a precious picture of what the Father does for us every day. We go through the valley and yet he promises to make all things new.

Steven, thanks for being determined in Denver.

Looking forward to the rest of my week!

What an Honor (Part 1)

Last weekend was a lot of fun for me. It's not very often that for two days in a row I get to fully play. But this last weekend I had 2 great days of fun and play and relaxation.

It started with a trip to the Nature and Science Museum for Emma's 9th birthday. On first glance, I know that does not sound like a ton of fun. You are imagining having to keep up with 20 wild and crazy kids in a public place, cake and presents and chaos. Though we've had many birthdays that looked a lot like that, this one was different. Emma is growing up. And this year all she wanted was to be with her best friend, Megan. No sisters, no other friends, no mound of gifts to open. . .just Megan. So that is what we did. I let her pick ANY place that she could imagine to go with Megan. And being the "eco friendly, green girls" that they are, together, they chose the Nature and Science Museum. Just 2 girls who never even disagreed for a second, and me. . . what an honor it was to watch Emma on that day. She truly is growing up. And it was a lot of fun!



Next came Sunday afternoon. It was gray and cloudy and everything about it screamed thunderstorm. But in the back of my mind I knew this. . .Steven Curtis Chapman was in town. Now for those of you who know me and who read my blog, you know that it would be the rare occasion of hospitalization or extreme disaster that would keep me away from one of his concerts. This time he was going to be at Coors Field (only 30 minutes away!) and perform after the Rockies vs Padres game. And all I had to do was get there before the game ended, purchase my $10 ticket and sit back and enjoy. That is exactly what I did. I arrived at the top of the 5th inning, found my seat, did the wave once or twice and sat back - not to watch the World Series team play, but believe it or not, to read a book. . . okay, that's my confession. I read a book at the Rockies game!!!

And 3 innings later, I packed everything up and began to move to the third base section of the lower level of Coors Field. Upon arrival to the field I got the inside scoop from the guy at the ticket counter as to where the best place to sit for the concert would be. So off I went - just me at Coors Field - on a mission to get the best seat in the house. BTW - The Rockies lost - I did at least notice the final score.

Now, I have been known for writing blogs that are way too long. . .so for now, this is where I will stop. But you absolutely HAVE to check back later today or tomorrow, because the best is yet to come. . ."What an Honor (Part 2) - the Concert."

Until then, what have you done for fun lately?

Steven Curtis Chapman Family on GMA this Morning

Global Art Inferno

Do you love art? I mean the real deal art. . .from famous artists and not the art you can buy at Target or TJ Maxx. Too expensive? My thoughts exactly. I have been to Vietnam and brought back quite a few knock offs of famous Vietnamese paintings. But I never imagined that I could ever own the real deal. . .But check this out!

A friend of mine, Ben Roberts, is starting this super cool organization called Global Art Inferno. . .Read on. . .it's really impressive and a terrific idea.

Global Art Inferno is bringing exclusive art to the nonexclusive customer. By forging partnerships with Vietnamese Artists Global Art Inferno is able to bring real talent to the American market for a fraction of the cost. We are not selling prints, we are selling original works of art that represent the vibrant color and style of contemporary Vietnamese paintings.

Global Art Inferno creates exclusivity in three very unique ways:

1. You must be a member of Global Art Inferno to purchase art.
2. Global Art Inferno only produces small run commissions of art, never over 500 paintings in any collection. Consumers can be assured that they are receiving something that very few people in the entire world have.
3. Global Art Inferno brings art to life by predestining its death. Every GLOBAL ART INFERNO painting has a life span of one year after it arrives in America. All art not purchased within that year is burned so that excess inventory does not stack up and sell at discounts.

Through this innovative model we are offering premium products that are sold at less than wholesale prices. Our mantra is art for all. We will change what it means to have access to art in the 21st century.

Here is the deal. We want this company to be completely consumer driven. We want our members to help make all business decisions. From the very beginning we will be committing 10% of our profits to the Non-Government Organization Glocal Ventures because of their work in the communities we will purchase the art from. To keep membership as the decision makers it is imperative that we raise capital in unique ways. By the middle of September you will be able to purchase unique t-shirts directly from www.globalartinferno.com. When we have reached 5,000 t-shirts sold we are ready to move forward.

Can I get an Amen for collective action?

Website: http://www.globalartinferno.org

BTW - Glocal Ventures is the global/local ministry arm of Northwood Church in Keller, TX, and the organization that we at Cool River go through when we send our people to Vietnam at least 2 times/year. I encourage you to check out the website above. . .even if you don't think you would enjoy Vietnamese art. . .even if you prefer your kids refrigerator art to the real deal. . .this is going to be a terrific organization to be a part of.

Monday Morning at the Colon Home

Like a typical morning in everybody's household that is full of kids, you can always hear cartoons in the background of the Colon home, too. My girls always participate in the morning ritual of watching cartoons while eating their breakfast. But this morning I just had to laugh. . .check it out. . .

Like most, we have more than one TV in our house.


The "Papa Bear" size


The "Mama Bear" size

And yet, this is the one they always choose. . . .


The "Baby Bear" one from my college days in the dorm.

Everyone looks happy and content - even the dog. It's kinda like buying toys for your kids. . .they have more fun with the cardboard box. Of all the tv's in our house, this little cardboard box version of a tv has received more love than all the others combined. My grandmother would be happy to know that her high school graduation gift to me has been put to such good use.

Home Again!!

The Colon Family is officially back in Colorado!!! We got home last night at about 10pm. My wonderful husband graciously let me sleep in this morning until 9am, so I feel a bit recovered. But as soon as my feet hit the floor, I have been running around like a wild woman. No matter how hard I try to get things in order before leaving home, it is always a chaotic time for a few days getting life back into routine again. Thanks to mom, at least I don't have piles of laundry staring me in the face. What a great gift she gave me in washing everything before we left.

Anyway, I just sat down a few minutes ago to update some photoblog pics as well as check my Google Reader. (FYI - the other photoblog pics are on the sidebar)There are hundreds of blog and news entries that I read on a daily basis that I have to go through tonight before bed. While reading through everything I found a nice surprise. . .an actual good picture of me that made it onto the world wide web. I snagged it off of Brandi Wilson's blog, so Brandi, thanks for letting me steal from you.

I snagged it for 2 reasons. . .1. I rarely take a good picture. Kevin is always telling me to open my eyes more. Believe it or not, the waitress at Rafferty's actually caught me at a good moment. So. . .that alone made it worth sharing. 2. I wanted to take time to send out some much deserved cudos to the couple in the picture with us. It's Pete and Brandi Wilson. A lot of you who read this already know who these exceptional people are. If not, you must add them to your own Google Reader, because they are some pretty cool friends doing some pretty amazing stuff in Nashville, TN. You can read both of their blogs and get a bit of our history. (Pete and Kevin - Brandi's story)

A long story made as short as possible is this - Brandi and I grew up in the same county in KY and went to school together. I almost said that we grew up in the same town, but she is a Fredonia girl and those Fredonia-ites would not be happy with my lumping the two towns of Princeton and Fredonia together as one. We both went on to Western KY University for college. Pete and Kevin were freshmen roomies at WKU. Pete and Brandi hooked up. Pete tried to set Kevin and I up somewhere along the way, but we were both almost always in a relationship with someone else. Kevin went to seminary and I was still in school. Brandi and Pete ended up getting married and through a series of events, Kevin and I went on our first official date to their wedding where Kevin was the best man. WHEW! Fast forward. . .Kevin and I married about a year later. Pete was Kevin's best man as well. We went our separate ways only for God to bring us back together again for a few great years in Morgantown, KY, where Pete started his first church (Morgantown Community Church). Fast forward more. . .God moved Kevin and I on after about 2 years and now we are in Colorado. Pete and Brandi are now in Nashville after starting a second rockin' church - Crosspoint Community Church.

All that being said - WE LOVE THIS FAMILY!!!! They are terrific people. They are the kind of people that you wish you could hang out with every Friday night. Thanks, Pete and Brandi, for crashing our date night and hanging out with us for a few hours this week. How I wish we could do it more often!!!!

What does the future hold for our friendship story? Well, Pete and Brandi just so happen to have three boys (Jett, Gage and Brewer). We have 3 girls. . .I personally think that the next chapter in the story should be entitled, "Reinstating the Tradition of Arranged Marriages." What do you think?

O yeah! Here's the picture. . .

I'm on Vacation!!!

We will be in the great state of Kentucky from July 21-31 visiting family and drinking lots of sweet tea. So, I probably won't write very much. . .but watch the side bar for photoblog pictures of our adventures.

Late Night or Early Morning?

It's 2:55am and why am I awake? Let's see. . .I have blamed it on about 10 different things so far. My mattress is extremely uncomfortable and kinda sinks in the middle. Kevin is snoring. Olivia woke up with a bad dream. The bedroom isn't dark enough. I'm hot and sticky and should have taken a shower before going to bed. The neighbor's dog is barking. Someone's sprinklers just came on. . .these are the things that prompted me out of bed tonight and onto the computer once again. Does this ever happen to you?

So now I sit here - wide awake and halfway asleep at the same time. And in the quietness and darkness of this house it is the perfect setting to think. . .think about bills that need to be paid and things that need to be done before leaving for KY next week and how dirty the house is and how much I have to do in just a few hours when the sun comes up. . .I've searched homeschool websites and Facebook and Food Network and all of my regular blogs and for Rockies tickets and CNN. . .and my brain is on overload. . .and all I want to do is sleep. . .Please tell me I'm not the only person this happens to. Wish me luck on an afternoon nap!

A Sunday in the Life of a Church Planting Wife

Sunday. . .it is traditionally the holiest of days. . .at least that is what I was taught as a kid. My thoughts on the matter? Sunday. . .it is the CRAZIEST of days. But maybe that's what ends up making it so holy. . .

Yesterday I woke up to what I had braced myself to be a fast a furious exercise of leading and directing and mothering and running back and forth and driving and smiling and. . . I knew it was going to be jam packed. I knew it was a day that I was going to wear 42 hats instead of the usual 20. But I never could have prepared myself in full for the whirlwind that it quickly became. And I could have never imagined the crazy sense of fulfillment that it gave me at the end of it all when I finally snuggled into my pj's and fell quickly asleep to the voice of Paula Dean as I ended it all with Paula's Party on the FoodNetwork.



5:45am - alarm goes off - I only hit snooze 2 times!

6:15am - shower, dress, gather all the last supplies for church, out the door

7:15am - Safeway hadn't even finished making their fresh bread for the morning. . .communion bread and grape juice would have to be bought later. BUT Starbucks is already open. . .Tall Americano with cream, please!

7:30 - Unload my van at the doors of the school - trays and bowls for Communion, 4 boxes full of children's supplies, oj, half and half, coffee to be made, bags of nursery items, my purse, my Starbucks. . . all unloaded. AND the door is locked! I know Kevin is in there. . .bang, bang, bang on the door.

7:40 - "You really are early!!" - Kevin

7:45 - All the contents of the van are now in the school - Starbucks in hand. . .run. . .

8:00 - I have now run down the hallway to the gym of the school a total of 12 times delivering various kids supplies and getting things set up. The setup crew is here now. They (okay, I mean, Kevin :-) ) stole my cart so I am carrying everything down the LONG hallway by hand. . . this is where the smiling part came in handy. . .

8:20 - "Can you please make the coffee - make 30 cups, that's 3 cups of coffee - thanks, Matt." "Where is that box full of name tags we use for the kids check-in? Has anyone seen it? They must be lost. Martha, can you run to Wal-Mart and grab some? - O, and the communion bread , too, while you are at it?" "Kimberley, we had to set up the nursery in a different hallway today because they are cleaning out the classrooms and our usual spot is full of desks and books and globes from the library - can you manage?" "Kevin, you look stressed. . .how can I help? (Kevin) My cell phone isn't working and I'm leaving for South Carolina at 3:30. (Amy) Don't worry. Give it to me and I'll somehow take care of it." "There are chalk drawings all over the walkway coming into the school. Can somebody find a bucket of water and clean that up?" "Where are my keys?" "Who is working the greeting table today?" "Jenna, this is Amy. Did you find someone else to work in the nursery today since it's the 5th Sunday? Yep, they'll need a new name tag." "Can I give these snacks to our kids? I checked and they are peanut free, gluten free, wheat free. . .taste free. . .yep, they'll work." "Karen, I'm so glad to see you! I've gotta go home and pick up the girls and Kevin's mom. I'll get back as quickly as I can."

8:40 - Out the door of the school and driving back home

8:50 - Oops! That was a cop! (hold my breath and keep going) Whew!

8:56 - "Where's ECO?" - he needs breakfast, feed the fish, luckily all the girls have had their showers and are dressed. "SHOES! Would you girls please find your shoes? And please make sure they match! No boots, Olivia! It's 90 degrees outside!" "Get your hair brushed, brush your teeth, "No, you can't bring that rock to church or that Barbie or that magazine. Let's go, get in the car." "Please, please stop whining!"

9:15 - In the car headed back to the school.

9:20 - Greeted in the parking lot with more questions about children's activities for the day. . . Smile, more conversations, the band sounds great, "Is that coffee ready yet? My Starbucks got cold." Where are the keys to the cabinet? Are my teachers here yet? Emma, where's Emma? She is up in the tree outside with Dylan. "Emma, please don't fall. There is no time to go to the the emergency room this morning." "Olivia, stay inside and watch Presley." Claire needs orange juice. Looks like I'm working at the children's greeting table today. All ready to go. . ."I wonder what time the AT&T Store opens?"

10:15 - Everyone is in place. The kids are ready to start their classes. Emma and Dylan find their way out of the tree just in time to go to the gym. The band starts. Alena (2 years old) needs a sticker so she can stay in her class without mom. We take a walk to the cabinet to find just the right one. Finally in the service. Worship ends. Communion. . .video. . .

10:55 - The service is still going on. Kevin starts to speak. Out the door to figure out how to take care of this broken cell phone.

11:00 - Cell phone is dead. $300 for a new one.

11:20 - Back at the school just in time to catch the final song. Smile, smile, talk, talk, Say "hello" to some visitors. Gotta find Kevin's mom. Where did she go? Clean up the gym. Pack the cabinet. Load the trailor. Dump the coffee. Where are the girls?. . .running in the parking lot and hiding in the McCormick's van. Reload my van. Turn off all the lights. Whew!

12:30 - Drive out of the parking lot. Spend $75 on gas. Grab some Sonic for the road. Kevin has to go home to sync his new phone (which by the way, brightened his day). Let the dog out to pee. Jump in the car again and fly to the airport. 45 minutes later, hugs and kisses to Kevin and hurry up to get out of the departure lane before the security guard motions me along. Drive home 45 minutes.

3:00 - Crash. . . .

And there is still at least 7 hours left in the day. . .

To say that my day was crazy yesterday is an understatement. It was insane! But the oddest thing is that it was the greatest insanity. . .why? Because in the middle of it all I knew that I was doing exactly what I has created and equipped to do on that day. . . and I wouldn't want it any other way. Days like this are such a rush for me. I get so amazed when I see it all come together - all the craziness and frantic rushing - when it all does come together - when all is accomplished and well done - when it's finally dark and I'm in my pj's watching Paula's Party. . .it's almost like a holy moment. . .because there is no way I could have ever pulled it off on my own.

Emma and Dylan Sitting in a Tree. . .

They had better not be K-I-S-S-I-N-G!!!





























This is where I discovered Emma and Dylan before church this morning. . .hanging out in a tree in front of the school where we have church. These two have been friends since they were toddlers in Texas. Look how they have grown! But hey Dylan, no kissing my little tree climber until you are 35!!!

Why Do I Love Boulder County, Colorado? (Part 4)

I actually have a love/hate relationship with the local Safeway grocery store. I hate to pay the prices that they charge for their food! It often borders on highway robbery what Safeway charges for a carton of blueberries - $9.99/lb for 15.2 ounces today!!! No. I did not indulge. I'm no math wizard, but I don't think that's even a pound! In my mind I fuss and complain up and down every aisle as I load my shopping cart with the most minimal amount of groceries as possible. And yet I continue to shop Safeway - not for the big shopping trips. Those journey's are reserved for Target, my absolute favorite place in the world. But I can't seem to stop going to Safeway. . .and do you want to know why?

I LOVE Safeway because everybody knows my name! It makes me feel like Norm on Cheers every time I enter through the automatic doors. You see, it's the local "spot." For those of you reading this who live in Superior, you are shaking your head and you understand exactly what I mean. There aren't many places in Superior for locals to meet up. But at Safeway I can always count on running into multiple people I know. Even the ladies who assist me in spending way too much money in the checkout line greet me with a "Good morning, Mrs. Colon" before I even place my first item on the belt to be scanned. Those stocking the shelves ask me almost immediately where my girls are if by chance on rare occasion I get to shop alone. And I dare to say that never have I gone into the store when I have not run into someone from the community whom I recognize. And what does that equal? Talk, talk, talk. . . Kevin always wonders what takes me so long when I say I am just running out to grab one quick thing at the store. This is why.

In Superior we are a small town. . .small in comparison to Denver. . .enormous in comparison to my hometown, Princeton, KY, where EVERYWHERE you go EVERYBODY knows your name. Do I love Safeway? No. But do I love going to Safeway? Yes. For some reason in the middle of the hugeness of where we live, it makes me feel a bit. . .I don't know,. . . bigger.

Cold Tangerines

Today I am reading a book that has proven to be the breath of fresh air that I needed, even though I didn't really even know that I needed it. I picked it up on the bookshelf of my local bookstore last week and admittedly laughed at the title and quickly placed it back on the shelf so that I could continue to look for a book with real "substance." You see, I love to read, but I am very selective of the books that I choose to spend my time on because my actual reading time is so few and far between.

There are 2 ways that I choose a book - *First, I read the title and the summary on the back, but the real selling point of the book for me is not whether the author has 5 bestsellers, but instead, who is endorsing their book. If I recognize the names of those people as solid in their area of expertise, then I generally feel good about purchasing the book. *Second, it has to have a cool looking cover. IF the two can be checked off my list then it is off to the counter that I go.

This particular book didn't even get my second glance. I read the title and imagined it to be one of those cheesy women's self help, manage your money well, love your family, be encouraged and smile books that I can't stand. But after a few more minutes of browsing and finding nothing to wet my appetite, I found myself back staring at the little bright orange book entitled, "Cold Tangerines." I picked it up again, performed my book choosing ritual, all of a sudden became intrigued and impressed, still not knowing anything about the author but recognizing every person who endorsed it for her, and reluctantly headed to the counter with my most unusual selection.


Let me just say that this book is quite the surprise!!! Come to find out, it was actually written by Bill Hybels daughter (though she never actually says that in the book, you can figure it out if you know anything of him and his church, Willow Creek). This book has been one of the most enlightening treasures of my summer so far. Maybe it's because she speaks my language. Maybe it's because she has said so many of the things that I am feeling these days. Maybe it's because she is hilarious in a way that is not goofy, but endearing.

I just finished reading part one of the book while sitting at the pool with the girls this morning. Something she said so much summed up the way I am feeling about life and God these days. I just have to share it. . .

"I feel, in the best moments, in spite of the uncertainty, in spite of the fear, like Lily Briscoe in To the Lighthouse. Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I had my vision. I had that line written on my wall for years, years ago, and now it holds a whole new richness. I had my vision, and I thought it would come in a flash, a bright beam of knowing. But is has come in the same way that all things come to me. It has come to me with a fight. It has come to me the hard way, through tears and fog and fear and chaos, and now has landed int he palm of my hand like a firefly. There now, I have had my vision."

Lately I have been in the middle of the fight. I struggle against no one but myself. It makes me mad and scared and sometimes, once I get too tired to fight with me any more, a window begins to slowly open and light starts to peek through and I see glimpses of God's vision for me. But O how I seem to love the fight. It is so hard to give up. I am stubborn and I make life a lot harder than it is. But the prospect of sitting back eating cold tangerines always eventually pushes me towards excellence and vision. I'm not there yet during this time of fog and fight and chaos. But I can almost taste their juiciness.