Denver Adventures

This past weekend, Kyndell and I waved goodbye to the piney woods of East Texas and bounded for the Rocky Mountains in Denver! We went to visit one of our besties, Diana! The whole weekend was a total blast and full of fun adventures, LOTS of laughing, and an absurd amount of pillowtalk.

We started the trip off with the best nachos I’ve ever had at Diana’s favorite restaurant. We sat on a patio with, of course, a sweet view of the mountains. I loved that this view was consistent the whole trip—no matter where we were, you could always spot the mountains. And it was 75 and sunny the whole time. Best. The rest of that night, we just sat on Diana’s couch and chatted life until our eyes wouldn’t cooperate anymore.

The next day, we shopped with reckless abandon, as there is nowhere to shop in Tyler. Kyndell’s 5 dresses later, we finished our time in downtown Denver. I love the downtown area in this city because it’s big, but it’s not crowded. And it’s a bustling city, but it’s clean. It was awesome!

The next day, we went to the Palm Sunday service at D’s church and then went on a mountainous adventure at Echo Lake! This was my favorite part of the trip. On our way there, we stopped at an outdoor amphitheater, which happened to be…incredible. By night, it’s the host of many concerts, but by day, it’s everyone’s personal workout venue. The hike was so pretty and full of unforeseen obstacles! We slid and sunk in the snow on numerous occasions, and by sunk, I do mean up to my hip at one point!

After our adventure, we went to BeauJoes (Translation: best pizza place ever), which included yumyum pizza, drinks in mason jars, and a killer view of the mountains in an adorably quaint town.

The trip, all in all, was so fun and refreshing. And there were a few great takeaways from the trip, but one seems to stand out above the rest. And I don’t mean Kyndell’s 5 dresses (which by the way, are super gorg!)…

I AM TRYING OUT FOR THE AMAZING RACE.

Seriously.

Somewhere between the concert venue and arriving at the lake, I got a text telling me that The Amazing Race was holding a casting call in Tyler and that “I had to apply.” WHAT? In Tyler, TX?? APRIL FOOL’S? I freaked out and started going on and on about how this is a life dream, would be the greatest adventure, etc. Meanwhile, Kyndell listens to me drone on and then volunteers as tribute…wait, I mean my partner.

So, from there it was off! We agreed to be partners, which launched us into non-stop brainstorming about our video, what skills we need to learn, what they look for in competitors, and, of course, “training.” IE: yesterday on our way to dinner with friends, we had a contest in the car to see who could hold their breath the longest. Training is round-the-clock until we get a “no” or at least until it’s clear that we didn’t get a “yes.”

You don’t know if you don’t try, right? If I can win blackout Bingo, then I feel like I can win almost anything, right? Flawless logic.  At the very worst, we will have a killer awesome video from this stage in life and always laughingly look back and say, “remember that time we tried out for a reality show?” At the very best, we will go on the adventure of a lifetime. Stay tuned, I’ll post our video when it’s done!

HAHAHAppy Birthday!

This will always be the day that we all laughed too hard to finish singing “Happy Birthday” to our Debs.

We were having another party in our department—just another day in paradise, really. This day’s special occasion was Debbie’s birthday. Marguerite made a cake and painted Debbie’s face in icing. It was awesome. And hilarious. So our department is decorated, as it so often is, with the usual balloons and streamers.

It comes time to light the candles on the cake and sing “Happy Birthday.” We all start singing and we are all laughing from the start anticipating Debbie’s reaction to the “face cake.” By the time we get to the last round of happy birthdays, we all erupt into laughter leaving the end of the song with “Happy birthday dear Deeeee-ebs, Ha-hahahahaha.”

It was just one of those moments when you are delighted just to be alive. It sounds silly, but that moment really struck me. I was hit with how much I have loved my job for the past two years. And how I am thankful for the camaraderie of my team. So many decisions have been made after processing with this group of ladies. So many tears and laughs have been shared among all of us. I have received countless words of wisdom from Debs. I have also learned to be a multi-tasking extraordinaire…which says a lot since I was a procrastination extraordinaire all throughout college.

"Good humor and laughter are far too wonderful not to come straight from the heart of God."-Beth Moore

So Close, Yet So Far...

Yesterday will always be referred to as the day that I tried to go skiing with only 2 days’ notice. To set the scene: Sunday night I talked to my friend Kristin on the phone. We were just catching up and such when she mentioned that this weekend is when they are going skiing with her parents. The conversation goes as follows:
Kristin: Too bad Jordan has to work and you guys can’t come.

Jenny: Yeah, too bad he doesn’t even have to work this weekend anymore!

K: Well…so is there any way that you guys could come?!

J: ……………(long pause as I contemplate the many logistics that would play into this)

J: Well. Hmmm. Maybe?! Ok ok I will check into this!!

So the rest of Sunday night and then yesterday morning were a whirlwind of details and number crunches. How many miles is the trip? How many gallons to the tank and miles to the gallon? Ok, so then how much will gas be? And I have PB&J supplies already, so how much for groceries? Lift tickets are an outragesouly good deal at $50/day. Check. Lodging, also a good deal. Check. Good good. Ok, 32 hours in the car in 5 days. Wowzers. But doable. And worth it.

From logistics, it turned to responsibilities. How many vacation days do I have left? What all do I have going on at work in the next few days? How would I reschedule tutoring? Do I have any available time to reschedule that tutoring? I still have college group to think about too. Two people will be out of the office while I would be gone, making our team 3 people short—not preferable, but definitely doable. I just found out Saturday that I need new tires. Can I afford this trip? Yes, but I need tires. But yes. But I need tires. But I have to do this! IT’S BEEN 3 YEARS!

I went to breakfast with some of the girls from my college group. Over bagels, they told me that I HAD to go. Then my coworkers said, “Jenny, this is a must!” They were all confirming what I already knew. With that, I went into my boss’ office. All the numbers, dollar signs, and questions quickly vanished when she said, “Jenny, you can’t miss Monday.”

I FORGOT! I forgot that Monday is a big day in our department. Alas, I will not be going skiing this weekend. It was an exciting and crazy 24 hours of hopes and adrenaline. Even though a ski trip with only 48 hours’ notice would have been epic and an event to remember, I will not be going skiing. This time. But I feel good about it because I exhausted all the possibilities. It just wasn’t meant to be.

Getting the occasional “no” is all part of living an adventurous life. Until next time…

2012

So for 2011 I tried something new.  I made a list of 100 things to do in 2011.  I am not much of a list maker, which, incidentally, was proven true when I never actually finished making the list...It only had 96 things on it.  Of those 96 items, I completed 44...which isn't too shabby for this non-list maker.  These things ranged from visiting my sister in Boston to driving a tractor... from learning to tie a tie to performing a choreographed dance in front of 1,400 people...and from putting together a 1,000 piece puzzle to finding that oh-so-necessary recipe to call my own.  I am glad I did the list. But.  As it turns out, 100 things was a tad ambitious.

Now, what to do for 2012? I'm not one for resolutions because as exhibited with the 2011 list, among other things, I struggle from time-to-time...cough cough...with follow through.  Year after year, I have vowed to be on time, to quit double-booking, and to work out more (sidenote: I did actually purchase a gym membership today...but it was less of a New Year's resolution and more of a giving over to fear of all the wild country dogs near my house).  We have all made those resolutions that die out somewhere between "this is a great idea!" and January 31st.

With this said, here are my hopes for 2012.  Maybe goals is the right word?  Meh, I dunno.  We'll find out.

I hope 2012 is a year filled with adventure and risk-taking.  It already appears that this year will be one for taking risks and embracing the unknown. I have a sneaking suspicion that this year will be one where I really start to look at what direction I want my life to take.  Eek, that sounded too big kiddish.

Moving on...

I hope 2012 is a year for developing my strengths.  The past 2 years have really been about developing my weaknesses.  Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful for how much I have grown and what I have learned, and overall becoming more well-rounded...but let's face it, developing your strengths is way more fun!

In 2012, I hope to read and write more.  This one partners with the previous one.  I was an English major, after all.

In 2012, I hope to manage my time better.  This past fall was absolutely out of control.  I had way too many committments and nearly every hour was blocked out with something and every weekend was a trip or a schedule.  While I loved everything I was a part of and got to do, I recognize that I was stretched too thin and wasn't doing any of it with excellence.  This is the story of my life--saying yes to everything--and always hoping to do it all. FOMO* at its finest.  I am going to trim back some stuff for this year and try to put more focus and heart into each thing.

Lastly, I hope 2012 is filled with lots of fun, new experiences, Neon Dynamite softball, laughing, road trips, Bingo, and a Sooner championship team. =) Stay tuned...

"There are years that ask questions and years that answer."-Zora Neale Hurston

*Fear Of Missing Out

Thankful for: my family

My sister.
This girl will make you laugh so much! Jill is sarcastic beyond words. But what you may not know at first glance is that under all the sarcasm she has a heart of gold, which is so sensitive to others. She is so loyal and will have your back for life. No matter what. We are only 16 months apart, so we are close in every way possible. I also don’t hate it that we can share clothes…although that doesn’t do us much good now that she lives in Boston.

My brother.
I know I said my sister can make me laugh, but my brother is by far the wittiest and funniest person I’ve ever known in real life! Justin is the owner of 3 record stores, Guestroom Records, and has a very creative and innovative mind. He is very caring and takes care of the people around him, especially his wife. He surprise visited me in Tyler and drove down just to take me to lunch one day last spring. I know that I could count on him for anything.

My sister-in-law.
I am so happy for the older sister I got in who my brother married! Julie is so sweet and caring. She may be quieter than the rest of us, but that doesn’t mean she can’t laugh and joke with the best of us! She has been such a great addition to our family and it was so natural for her to become a Sowers (and it didn’t hurt that she has a “J” name!).

My mom.
My mom is one of the most loving people I’ve ever known. She will love anyone’s socks off, but also isn’t afraid to shoot you straight. She is definitely a servant and loves to take care of people. What I have come to appreciate as I’ve gotten older is how she loves people by taking care of the details. I am lacking in this area, so I extra love this about her! My mom ALWAYS encourages me to go on adventures and I love that.  I am also so thankful for her accounting/financial help in my life…gotta love that accounting brain of hers!

My dad.
In a lot of ways, I am my father’s daughter. Most of my obvious traits, I get from him. My love for people most definitely comes from him, and this, of course, is something that I love about him! He will talk to absolutely anyone around him and has a way of putting others at ease and making them feel loved and welcomed. My dad pays attention to the details of my personality and always lets me know that he loves me and is proud of me. I feel so supported by him. And where would I be if my dad hadn't always told me these two things: "Jen, pay attention to what's going on around you" and "Don't forget to leave time to have some fun (not that I necessarily struggled with this, but great that Dad supports this)."

Giving Thanks...

I am going to celebrate Thanksgiving awareness month through a few different posts in upcoming weeks to share some of the blessings in my life. Thanks, Chelsea, for this idea! See? I am giving thanks already! It’s working, it’s working!

"Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day." -Robert Caspar Lintner

My roommates.

Where the heck would I be without these 4?! We have a policy in our house, that somehow has come about in the last few months—No Secrets. These girls know everything about me and I know all there is to know about the happenings in their lives, as well. It’s been so incredible living in such a way that they know the best and the worst about me and love me just the same. Legit.

In addition to “no secrets,” we have SO much fun together! The volume level is stuck on loud. And 9 times out of 10, there is trash rotting in our pantry. But I love it all and I would have it no other way…ok, well maybe we can work on the trash thing. The overall dynamic goes a little something like this: Hannah exclaiming some sort of bold statement. Jenn office houring with one or all of us. Ally laughing at all the madness surrounding her, while also being the steady hand of wisdom. Kyndell getting real, real fast and pillowtalking with the best of ‘em. Regardless of our individual differences, we know how to laugh. A lot. And pillowtalk. A lot.

Sooner football.

I love it. I can’t help it. I literally was Sooner born and bred. It’s so fun to have a team to root for and want them to succeed. Additionally, I love to still be connected to my school, which I love so much, even though I graduated 3 years ago. It’s a loyalty that transcends tens of thousands of strangers, and who doesn’t love that?!

Tutoring.

I recently started tutoring high school seniors in English. I am helping them with their college admittance essays and doing a little ACT prep. It has been such a blessing to be able to use what I studied for 5 years in college. I love being able to help kids develop a life skill and help them to discover their own potential. Who knew that teaching English would be just like riding a bike…

Group text messages from my family.

Hahaha, it was a funny day when everyone in my family learned about group messaging. From there, I can count on this occurrence at least once every other day…if not every day. Last night, I was hanging out with a friend, when I saw my phone had texts from brother, sister, dad, and mom. I thought that it was to update me on a family member who was in the hospital, so I stopped what I was doing to check my phone and brace myself for what update may be awaiting. Low and behold, false alarm. All my family members were just talking nonsense about who knows what. I laughed a lot about the late night discussion being had by the Sowers fam.

There is so much to be thankful for...Always.  No matter what.  These are just the tip of the iceberg; stay tuned...

An update in numbers:

1: The number of new jobs I accepted. I am going to be the Woods Family camp Guest Relations Coordinator! I am so so very excited about this! I think it will be a job that will develop my strengths, as well as prepare me for jobs later in life. Can’t wait!

7: The number of months until I start the Woods position. I will start in April or May.

2: The number of trips that I am currently daydreaming about, while simultaneously hoping like crazy that they will become reality.

8: The number of girls in my college small group. I started helping with the college ministry at church and…I love it! We meet every Tuesday night at 9pm…Yes, I remember the days when meetings started at 9pm instead of 9am. Oh, the glory days!

3: The number of games won by my Sooners!

1: The number of times I have gone longboarding in Tyler and the number of times my car key flew out of Jordan’s frocket (front shirt pocket) into the black hole known as Ms. Simmons’ front yard...never to be seen again...

5: The number of girls living in our house this year! It’s been so fun so far; the more the merrier!

2: The number of new membership classes I attended before officially becoming a member of Grace Community Church. Just makin’ it offic, you know!

3: The number of pumpkin spice lattes I have had. And oh my gosh, are they YUMMMM!

100: The number of degrees outside tomorrow. Fall, where are you?!

2: The number of times I have played volleyball since summer ended…We’ve all quickly realized that sand volleyball was just a summer fling. Bumskies. But a summer fling is a summer fling—so fun while it lasts, but then soon forgotten when the busyness of life happens again in the fall.