Everything happens for a reason

My life motto and a saying I always use when something doesn't go my way. So when I started crossing my fingers really really hard back in September, as hard as I crossed them I knew deep down that it was out of my control. Something that doesn't sit so well with a control freak. And when we found it wasn't in our favor (even to begin with), I still got really down on our current situation.

Casey and I have always talked about moving to Colorado to settle in on life. It's not just the fact that my family lives there, but also the fact that Colorado is adventurous, seasonal, cozy, amazingly beautiful, and just a great place to live and grow up. I know. I lived there for 18 years and I'd describe my childhood as "brady bunch"-ish. So when an opportunity came up for us in the Colorado Springs/Castle Rock area, we were all over it. We've actually been looking at options for over a year now and we're stoked to find something so close to our dream town of Castle Rock.

We waited day after day, week after week, and month after month for any information. At one point we were told the application passed round 1 and we were moving on to round 2. When I checked back just this past week, turns out they've put a halt on their hiring process until 2011 with no further information. The economy (I hate that word these days) is to blame. Sure we would of had the added stress of selling our house or renting it out, paying a moving company to haul all of our junk, and figure out where to live before we get there, whether rental or buy new home. I've signed up on all these real estate websites and get updated weekly and sometimes daily on new houses for sale. I know what I want.

I may not understand why we've been destined to live here for at least a little while longer, but one day it will all make sense. Perhaps we still have unfinished business here. Maybe I haven't had enough of Arizona just yet. I love it here, I really do. I love where we live, I love my job (despite the fact I drive 40 miles one way), Casey's been lucky enough to have a pretty damn good schedule considering he's only been on for almost 4 years, and I love the fact that we can take a short drive north for cooler temperatures whether to get away from the unbearable summer heat or to play with the dogs in the winter snow; we can head west to the California beaches and visit some friends; south to mexico; take a quick weekend getaway trip to Vegas for cheap; or even find some pretty good deals to fly to Denver for a long weekend like we did last weekend for my sisters graduation.

So we'll start the research and process again with hopes for a better outcome this time around. But in the meantime, I've come to embrace the fact that things happen in God's time and not mine.

Thanksgiving Greatness

We have yet to establish a Thanksgiving Holiday tradition. One year I was in Minnesota visiting Grubb. We spent time at the bars.. she got ruffied.. we don't remember much about that night. A couple years we were down in Tucson for the Gers' Thanksgiving tradition. They always play games during these big family and friend get-togethers and I was a little nervous to be joining in. After all, I was "Casey's girlfriend" at the time and who really knew how long I'd stick around (ha! little did we know!). One year, Casey and I made our own quick-fix Thanksgiving complete with a pre-made rotisserie chicken from Fry's, mashed potatoes and stuffing from a box, and a Fry's homemade pumpkin pie. That same year our roommate ate a burrito for dinner.

This year was no exception. Casey worked until about 6am the morning of. I was just waking up and gearing up for my 10-mile race in Peoria. In my slippers and robe, I had my usual toast with peanut butter while my dogs stood and watched me until my last two bites. They get those. I recently started drinking black coffee in the morning before a race so I made myself a cup, but only drank about a quarter of it. I'm not a big fan of caffeine but I hear black coffee is occasionally good for you. And a few weeks ago when I started this, I ran the best long distance race to date! So my superstitions tell me to keep doing it.

The race was packed with people. Everyone was in incredibly great moods which just made the atmosphere that much better. Even I was talking it up strangers.. yes, me! The weather was perfect for a good run and despite my competitive tendencies, I told myself to just enjoy today's run and not attempt a PR. At the 5 mile turnaround, I was feeling pretty strong. For the second half of the race, I picked it up and ended up passing those girls I had been trailing for the first few miles, the three Peoria Police officers that took off full speed at the start, and finally, that girl in the booty shorts. I can't let someone in shorts smaller than my underwear beat me! One minute shy of a PR.

I spent the late morning sitting in the backyard enjoying my favorite meal of all time, cereal, while soaking up the sun. I even enjoyed a mountain dew. I noticed during some of my longer distant races, if I get a sense of a certain smell, I crave it. Like the time during my half ironman, I smelled green beans and so that's all I wanted. But instead, I picked up a single twizzler I saw on the ground and ate it. So, when they had mountain dew at the finish line, I couldn't resist. I also treated the boys to some Thanksgiving bones and all was well in the Sticht Household.

Our good friends invited us to join them and their visiting family from Virginia and California for a big feast in the late afternoon. The food was phenomenal, the conversation was easy, and there's no better way to start a meal than with a blessing from the visiting mom who thoroughly enjoyed her 3, 4, or maybe 5 glasses of wine during preparation. "We thank you God for alcohol." The weather continued to be beautiful as we sat out on the back patio enjoying pumpkin and apple pies around the fire as we grunted about how full we all were but couldn't stop eating.

So for now, our Thanksgiving tradition is to not have one. And I love it!

Two becomes three.. or more

Ask any newlywed what the most common question is asked of them immediately following the "I do's" and 99.9 percent of the them will say, "so, when are you guys gonna have kids?!". I was expecting that question no doubt, but didn't realize the impact it would have on my thoughts and feelings of, "man, I need to have kids soon." Not to mention my sister in law and brother in law announced the coming of their first baby about one month after our nuptials and a year after theirs. Cadence Hailey was born in July of 2009.






The next year, the first of our marriage, took us to Denver, St. Louis, Dallas, Los Angeles, and then a last minute trip to Madrid, Seville, and two months later to New Zealand for our dream vacation. Seriously the trip of a lifetime inclusive of business class internationally, glacier hiking, skydiving, bungy jumping, and helicopter ride to the top of the Remarkables. Just to name a few. I fell even more in love with Casey on that trip.

So this made me realize. My ultimate passion is to be a great mom for my kids and an amazing wife for my husband while we live our lives in a small, growing community near family and friends. I want the neighborhood block parties, the family holiday gatherings with all the kids running around, and all the PTA meetings to come. And of course, Grubb and I want to be sugar-sharing neighbors. However, there are things to be done, places to be seen, and adventures to be had without the added responsibility of something I know one day I will cherish.

Here it is. My adventures laid out before me. More to come and I can't wait!