You have to watch this!

Just two lanes away

This blog is neither funny or fabricated in any way. I am not even sure if this is okay to blog about. I think it is necessary because I can't sleep and I pray that people could learn from this lesson. As if I wasn't aware, it was drilled into me this summer just how precious life is. I hit an Elk coming home from camping in Arizona this summer, actually a little less than 2 weeks ago. I will blog about that later, it is just important to know that it could have been very serious. Thank God, myself, my four close friends and the elk were all 100% healthy. The elk's health rating is an estimate but I am sure she is doing well by now. My car is actually just fine considering the circumstances. So that was a close call. The rest of this blog is completely dedicated to strangers......
Tonight I was driving my sister and two guy friends home from down town Denver. It was about 2 am. A guy in the car with us was giving me directions, he told me to turn on a street, I signaled changed lanes and was getting ready to turn. After I changed lanes and approached the intersection, he said "Oh, no not this street". I said oh well I am turning here. I came to a stop at the intersection and saw a group of people crossing the street in front of my car. That would have been okay except the light was green, the cars in the lanes next to me were going....
The next thing I knew I heard brakes squealing and the unforgettable sound of two pedestrians being hit by a Honda. A car much like mine, in a lane I would have been in, if not for poor directions. We threw my car in park and dialed the police. I witnessed the friends of those two people that were struck by the car sobbing and trying to keep their friends conscious I imagine. I watched a helpless friend scream for an ambulance for his friend. The fire trucks, the ambulances, the police cars, the stretchers, the tears, the people, the driver's sobriety test, the crime scene tape, the horrible reality of the situation, I witnessed. The cops kept apologizing for keeping us waiting and thanking us for being coherent witnesses. I couldn't care less how long I stood there, my life had not been altered in the most earth shattering way that others had. In a blink of an eye, someone lost their life, someone is in serious condition and the driver's life will undoubtedly be altered significantly. Please if you have ever thought of driving home after just a few drinks, don't . If you have been drinking and people run in front of your car, it is your fault. The police officer told us that tonight as we waited for the detective.
I pray for the people and their families and the way their lives will be changed forever. I haven't cried yet, I feel so numb. Yet, I feel so selfishly thankful that I am alive and that I had bad directions and was not driving through that intersection.
I was feeling pretty sorry for myself earlier today because after the elk incident, I also had a fender bender in a parking lot today. A lady and I were backing out of parking spots and didn't see each other (maybe because my side view mirror was knocked off by the elk). I was upset about my insurance rates. I can't even fathom the pain and agony the driver of another Honda just two lanes away feels at this moment. My prayers go out to that driver and the families of the victims.
As I drove home I saw a sign outside a church on my street it said "Each sunrise is a gift from God". It made me realize that we are not entitled to another day tomorrow just because we have things to do and people we love. Everyday is a gift and we certainly do not know how long our gift will last. Make the most of each moment, drive sober, wear your seatbelt, look both ways and know that I love you.

Summer Camp Sensation

I have been at camp in Flagstaff for 2 weeks now...wow how time flies! The first group of students I had were amazing as always. They will constantly be in my thoughts and prayers as they are now back at home hopefully taking what they learned from camp and using it to help them in their daily lives. It is so nice to be back working with the people I have grown to love over the past 5 summers of working together. My cousin Andrea got a job here at camp too, it is so nice to have her here. Just wanted to quickly update you on why I haven't blogged in so long. I have been busy changing lives :) Oh and just having a great time partying with great friends on our days off :)

Happy Birthday Patrick

Today is my little brother's 25th birthday. It is on days like today that I can only wonder who he would be today. Every year on his birthday I remember how much he loved being the same age as me for one whole month. I remember that I hated it. Today I wish that just one more time, we could be the same age for one whole month. Of course when we were both six, I had no idea that would be the last time we would share an age. I miss you Patrick! I will cherish this month of time when we would both be 25 years old. I know you are watching over me and I thank God for your love and protection. Happy birthday Angel.

Katie and Andrea's Day of FUN

This is what I do when I feel extremely happy! Can you believe I can jump that high? Look Amy, its almost like the pictures you take of Jonathan! I think he can jump much higher than me :)

This blog is a long time coming. My cousin Andrea and I ran the Running of the Green, the St. Patrick's Day race in downtown Denver. We always have so much fun together and this day was another in a long line of fun running memories. Andrea was cracking me up as she mimicked serious runners warmups and just acted like a goofball all around. So these t-shirts have a story all their own....

Just in case you didn't already know this about Andrea and I...we are SO worth it! I saw this shirt at the volleyball tournament at the convention center and Andrea and I thought it was great. What a good reminder to yourself and it this particular moment in my life, it was just the reminder I needed:) Andrea thought the green shirt would be perfect for our race and the rest was history. We had some interesting comments by people about our shirts. Overall we felt great about ourselves and had so much fun. I was a bit disappointed when a guy on the street said, hey I like your shirt and you are worth it. I responded with "Oh, thank you." He looked at me and said, "Not you, I was talking about her," as he motioned to Andrea. It was hilarious.
Andrea could not resist the urge to take home this sign...

I tried to pretend as if I didn't know her as she took the sign down. She reminded me later that everyone knew I was with her, we were in matching outfits. I have never laughed so hard as I did walking with Andrea carrying that sign through downtown. After we reached the car we took tons of photos jumping in the air like leprechauns...see this blogs first photo. Here is Andrea...

After we got back to her house we tried to recreate the magic for the family.
What a fun day. It is days like these I feel so blessed. Thank God for days like this.

I'll take Yoga...on the rocks please

Sunday morning I had the wonderful opportunity to go to a one hour "Butts and Guts" class followed by a one hour yoga practice. Class was held at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. I have conditioned my volleyball teams there and ran the stairs myself till I thought I might just throw up. Today I was able to experience Red Rocks in a whole new way. There are hardly words to describe the feeling of practicing eagle pose with the wind causing my yoga mat to dance and my pose to gently sway in the breeze. It was so amazing to do sun salutations and have the teacher encourage you to reach to the sun, and you can actually feel the sun beating down on you and for a moment you do really feel as if you can reach the sun. As we were taking in the beauty around us, the teacher encouraged us to appreciate the beauty but to also remember that beauty also lies within each and everyone of us. What a powerful message. I left yoga with my butt feeling a bit tighter and my spirits soaring. What a way to start the day.

Poetry for Amy

We are working on poetry with my writing groups. Here is what we came up with today as it was snowing like crazy outside!!

If today was a snowday I would get more sleep,
If today was a snowday the students wouldn't make a peep!

If today was a snowday I'd read a book,
If today was a snowday I would email Mrs. Hook!