#JanelsBigAdventure2013

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you might have noticed that I have been on an adventure. Well at least, that's how I'm stating it. My job recently moved from Southern California to Denver, Colorado, and I trusting God's providence moved away from home for the first time in my life. So now I'm a southern California girl living in the mile high city. Having lived within the same county my whole life, changing states, altitude and climate would be an adventure to anyone. Instead of being scared or regretful, I've chosen to see this as my Big Adventure and therefore, it cannot fail.

Adventures can be scary, tumultuous, hard and difficult, but adventures are never bad. I don't believe one could regret going on an adventure. Adventures are full of new experiences and memories. They shape a person's being and so this move, has been my great adventure. And here, I will write about it, vent about it, cry through it, laugh about differences and overall experience all this adventure has to offer. At the end of the day, if I find, that this is not where I should be or I don't like it, I won't regret making the decision to come here. I will always have home to return to.

In this day and age, I'm so grateful for technology and being able to stay in contact with everyone at home. I couldn't imagine moving here and not being able to FaceTime with my family and friends, or being able to document first experiences through Facebook or Twitter. I've been so enamored with snow too. I've been in snow before, but having to do everyday things, like cook, drive to work, run errands around when snow falls, it's all so new. And I know I've been posting about it a lot, but I think that when it becomes a way of life, you notice new things about it. Like who knew it was so quiet? I think I'll do a whole post on snow sometime, but for now, it's amazing!

So now this blog will have a new section. The Colorado Adventure. I will still continue to blog about travel and food and wine and singing (don't worry--I'm still going to be part of the Harborlites Chorus). But there will be posts about seasons and snow and why Denver doesn't have street lights--really Denver??

Look for #JanelsBigAdventure2013

National Park Adventures: Joshua Tree

Disclaimer: This was written several months back, but was never posted. So now I bring you the original post:

I visited a National Park I had never been to before: Joshua Tree National Park.

I have for a while now, wanted to visit this National Park. When I was in High School our youth group would go rock climbing there. Being the girly girl--and not really the athletic type, that did not appeal to me and so I'd never go. It was after High School that I began to fall in love with the parks, and really that love has grown over the last few years having discovered my love of camping.

A friend of mine wanted to go to Joshua Tree to see the meteor shower a few weekends ago. I do not do well in heat, so the idea of camping in the desert was not first on my to-do list. Yet it was with a friend, whom I love dearly, and we were going to see the meteor shower. So I packed up my stuff and away we went!

I cannot describe the excitement I felt when we pulled up to the gate--which, by the way, you get to by driving through a neighborhood--WEIRD. I know that people romanticize the national parks, but there really is something so beautiful about a piece of our land, set aside, not for resources or for profit, but to just enjoy the beauty, AND at an affordable price that anyone can pay. God Bless the USA.

Our tent in a great spot!

Sunset from our viewing spot. 

When we got to the campground we had to find a spot--it was first come, first serve, and I think we found a pretty good one. The only downside to our camping site was that we were at a campground with no running water. There's only a few sites with running water and those fill up fast. I was the only girl on the trip, and guess who was the expert in putting up the tent? That's right, ME! After the tent was put up we found a great spot high on a nearby hill to set up our camping chairs for the meteor shower.

I went to the top of the hill and started journaling with a glass of wine in my hand. Such a peaceful place. Watching the sunset happen all around was a wonderful, peaceful time, which I had been craving.

Overall we had a great time and the sky was beautiful. We didn't stay up ALL night, because well we were tired, or at least I was. Saw many meteors but wished I had seen more. Isn't that always the way?

Beautiful Cactus with the mountains in the background.

The worst part of the trip, for me, was the next morning. I so badly wanted to make breakfast burritos for the guys, but I woke up with a terrible headache. So we packed up early and drove through the park and saw wonderful sites. There was a cactus garden, old mining sites and great rock formations. I was the encyclopedia in the back seat reading about everything as we were driving by it. It's really a very beautiful National Park. I was awestruck by how many colors there are in a desert. Truly a wonderful sight everyone should see.

Next time I go, I will try to go in the winter when it's not so hot and when I can really enjoy the park and go rock climbing. And I will be staying at a campsite with running water... that's a must next time for SURE!!

National Parks

Sorry it's been a few weeks. Lots going on right now (don't worry, I'll tell you about it later). 

In the last few years I've grown to really appreciate America's National Parks. When I was a child, my family would vacation in Yosemite often and I loved it. But as and adult I've learned their history and really been loving the nature and the preserved wildlife. My love of the national parks grew when I began camping.

One of the first times I went camping, I was in Yosemite. We were camping in the Wawona campground. I can remember waking up to birds singing, seeing deer drinking across the river, staying up late talking around the campfire, sitting and talking with my friends around the campfire. But the best part is the relaxing. The enjoying your surroundings and just taking a break from everything.

Camping in Wawona along the river.

That's what's so wonderful about the National Parks. They are places where you can go and purposefully not encounter the outside world. You see these amazing wonders. The Yosemite Valley with the beautiful granite walls scattered with waterfalls. The Grand Canyon with the colorful rocks and never ending canyon.

Yosemite Valley

Grand Canyon

All of this leading up to this weekend. I will be going to Joshua Tree National Park to view the Meteor Shower this weekend. It's a National Park I have not yet been to and I'm excited to add it to my list. It's also been some time since I've been camping. Oh to be in nature again--granted it's a desert, but nature is nature! I hope to see the great rocks of Joshua Tree and the Joshua Trees themselves. What's so wonderful too, is the benefit of being in a National Park is the star gazing and experiencing the wonders of the heavens, without the interference of city lights. The views should be great! This fall I will be seeing Arches National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park too. And I'm sure you'll hear about all of them.

But now I've gotta go pack and get ready--cuz I'm going CAMPING!!!

Fall in July

Since lately my blog has consisted of a lot of the "sing!" category I thought I'd write today about the EAT part.

I love food. Oh do I love food. I love cooking and baking and sharing meals with my family. Last weekend I had the opportunity and time to just spend the entire day in the kitchen, testing out some recipes I've been wanting to try.

Huge smiles all around.

One of my favorite food blogs is The Girl Who Ate Everything. She is smart and clever. The posts on her blog range from new dishes to everyday cooking reinvented. I find myself loving the new twists on classics and I often will think to myself "Why didn't I think of doing that!?" Her recipes are easy to understand and she posts great pictures of what she cooks and the steps. I love that.

In the fall of 2011 she posted a recipe for Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins and looking through my Pinterest page last week, they looked so tasty, I just new I had to make them. I know it's the middle of summer and we usually don't eat pumpkin until October, but I figured, why not?! I went to the store hoping to find pumpkin and of course it was there. As I was checking out of the store with the pumpkin and other food for the weekend, the cashier asked "What are you going to make with the pumpkin?" I told her "Pumpkin muffins. I don't want to wait until fall. I love the flavor so why wait!"  She heartily agreed and we began to share our love of fall. I went home to make them, and as they were baking in the oven, a thunder storm rolled in. It was a perfect day!

End result of the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

They were a little time consuming but delicious and I will make them again. I brought them to work this week and they are all gone--so that says something!

Lesson of the Day: Don't wait for the season to enjoy your favorite flavors! It's possible to have those things all year round and I say, indulge!

After speaking with co-workers, friends, and the nice cashier at the store, I realized that we all love pumpkin flavored things. We love peppermint ice cream. We love strawberries in winter. So go out there and cook what you want when you want it.

It'll make you happy.

Happy Eating!

Shine Like Stars

Last Thursday I got to see some old friends Shine Like Stars. My friend Dale and his wife Ashley lead this amazing worship band at City Life Church in Wichita.

They began leading this band at our old church, and then they were called by God to move to Kansas. I have missed them terribly, especially because when they moved Dale and I were working together at the church and we had become good friends.

Shine Like Stars leading worship

For the last few weeks, they were touring the western part of the US and they have had quite the adventure (you can read their blog here). By the time they reached LA, they had already replaced all 4 tires on their RV at least once, due to flats in one form or another, and then their RV's transmission was shot. They were scheduled to play in Colorado last week, but weren't able to make it due to the RV being out of commission.

Our very good friend Daniel arranged for them to have a concert in Orange County. Now I don't really like using the word "concert" for what we experienced on Thursday night. It was a worship experience. They lead us all in singing worship music, that they had written most of, but it was amazing. I attended with a woman I had worked with at the church, and as we were pulling into the parking lot we saw another family that we knew, and it turned out that a lot of the people in attendance were from our old church. It was a great reunion.
As their set started, I was immediately transported back to our old church 6 years ago. It was an overwhelming feeling of opportunity, happiness and nostalgia. They played well and filled the space. They played one of my favorite songs, Just a Place. It's message is so wonderful--Christ's Church should not just exist on Sunday Mornings or in a building, but Christ's Church should be in all we do and everywhere. Here's a video I shot of them doing this song... sorry it's a little rocky--I was into the music!

If you haven't seen or heard of Shine Like Stars I encourage you to check them out. They currently have a video on rotation on the Gospel Channel and their song is being played in a few states across the country, but it should be everywhere.

They are good people and it was wonderful to see and worship with them again. I've really missed them.

And while you're at it, buy some of their music on iTunes too (I'm in the recording of Gospel Song--I'm just saying).

Saving Mr. Banks

I wasn't going to write today. I wasn't feeling inspired. And I just posted what I had written yesterday. I don't want to overwhelm you with blog posts all of a sudden, but then I came across the trailer for Saving Mr. Banks.

For those of you who don't know, I love Mary Poppins. It is my number one movie. I own a lot of Mary Poppins paraphernalia. My bedroom is decorated with my Mary Poppins records, paintings and more. I own all the books and I've read them and loved them. If you haven't seen the movie in a long time, or since you were a child, go see it again. It's beautiful.

This trailer is so great! I cannot wait to see this movie. I love the look of it, the cast, the music, the humor, the heart. I really hope the movie lives up to it, I'm sure it will.

Ok so here's the plan everybody! We watch Mary Poppins, then we go see the movie on Opening Night. Who's with me?

And really if we can, we should see if it's playing at Grauman's Chinese Theater, you know, since the original Mary Poppins premiered there. Do they still show movies there? Is it still called that?  Things I must look into before December.

So... What's new?

I'm so glad you asked!  I figured since it has been awhile since I was blogging I should update you on where I am at and what I'm up to.

I am now and Auntie to 6 amazing kiddos. They are my world and I love them so dearly. There truly is nothing better than being an Auntie. Yes, I am Auntie Janel. The oldest, my nephew, is starting High School in the fall and nothing will make you feel older or more of a spinster than a nephew starting High School and you're feeling like you're in the same relationship status as him. Is that weird? And that should mean that you understand that yes, I am still single--let's not go down that road just yet. I talk and email and text a lot of my nieces and nephews now, which is also weird, but great! I love that I have a relationship with them outside of seeing them at holidays. Each one is so amazing and bright and adorable and unique and if they asked me for anything, I'm sure I'd melt and do whatever they needed. They have my heart.

I've been living on my own and really making great food (see future posts) and falling in love with cooking and baking more than ever. My biggest challenge is candy making. I just can't do it. I should show you pictures--I don't have any, but the next time I attempt it (because someday I will master candies) I will be sure to share with you my disaster. In living in my own place I've also taken up some crafts and sewing projects here and there. Those happen a lot less often than I'd like and I'm currently working on making that a more consistent thing.  I now live with a roommate and we get along great--it's working out really well for both of us. Our apartment is nice and I love living there.

Last year I stopped being a youth pastor--there were changes at the church I was at, and now I currently am an Office Manager for a local company. Except they are moving to Denver next month so I'm now looking for a job again. In the last year I've discovered that you really can't take the ministry out of the girl so I'm looking at getting back into ministry. If you know of something in Southern California, let me know! I love the people I work with and I'm going to miss them a lot, but I think I need the push to get back to what God has called me to do.  That's currently a big theme in my life--"What Direction Should I Be Facing?" Journaling and talking to friends about that one...

But probably the coolest thing I've been up to is my new hobby. I am now a member of Sweet Adelines International and I sing in the Harborlites Chorus. It is the coolest thing I have ever done. For those of you who don't know, Sweet Adeline's is an organization of women who sing barbershop music. Yes, you read that right. I sing barbershop music. Our chorus is made up of over 100 members and last year at the International Competition, we placed 3rd! So... we're kinda a big deal.. I'm just sayin'. My first International and I got a medal. I was pretty excited. My mom sings in the chorus too, so it's a great opportunity to spend time with her. She and I have grown closer and it's wonderful. Here's a picture of us in all our sequined glory:

Ok.. Ok here we are singing... It's pretty fun! I'm in the 2nd row on the right end.

When people talk about Sweet Adelines as a hobby, I kinda chuckle to myself. It's so much more. It's something fun to do; it's a growth opportunity; it's hard work; it's expensive; and it's the best decision I ever made. I only wish I had found it sooner (which, by the way, is what everyone says when they join--because it's true!)

So that's new with me. I thought I'd close this post with a list of a few things I've discovered over the past few years that I love. 

My favorite guys to listen to in the morning: Kevin and Bean on KROQ

My favorite podcast: Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR

My favorite TV Shows: General Hospital (don't judge. It's the best show out there), Phineas and Ferb & anything on Food Network (that hasn't changed)

I love camping now, and you'll probably hear a lot about it. I love National Parks almost more than anything. 

And of course,

USC Football is still the best thing around.  

What's new with you??

A New Beginning

As I rediscovered this blog yesterday, I began to read through some of the old posts and it really made me miss sharing my thoughts and vents and basically the everyday things that would happen to me. I started thinking how great it would be to have the last few years as a blog and a little bit of regret started to seep in.

Regret has increasingly become an overarching theme in my life in the last few years. I've found myself wishing I could go back to when the grass seemed greener--I've found myself wishing I could change parts of who I am or what I've done. And then I instantly I think of where I am now and how, eventhough I'm not fully happy or satisfied with where I am, I wouldn't change any of it.

I had a conversation with my sister last night. We were talking about how we wish we could go back and tell our younger selves what to avoid and what to make sure to do, and what we would change about our lives. And then in the middle of saying all of that, I thought,

"But I don't want to change any of my experiences."

All of those experiences are what make us who we are today. Yes I wish I had written more of it down, but when it comes right down to it, I know I have pictures documenting it all.

Do you ever think that Marty McFly regretted going back and changing his past? Do you ever think that after that whirlwind 3 weeks where he travels all over (because let's face it, all three movies do take place over 3 weeks happening in about a 48 hour timeline for Marty).. do you think the next week when he's at school, he thinks, "Man I really miss how my sister and brother and I were closer before I changed time..." or do you ever think he tries to reminisce with a family member and they don't have any idea what he's talking about because they never experienced that? these are things I think about

Our experiences, good and bad, make us who we are. There are tons of memes all over Pinterest that remind us of that. Like this one and this.

And what made me stop? Why did I not continue writing, honing my writing skills, expanding my vocabulary? My guess is that it became so much easier to express my daily observations and thoughts on Twitter and Facebook. That has become the blog of today, well almost yesterday, we are, as a culture, I think getting a little bored with both.

I enjoy Facebook. I enjoy Twitter. But there really is nothing like writing long posts that can only come as my mind develops these thoughts.

So where does that leave us. With regret? No. With hope. I hope I can keep this up again. I hope that I can continue to tell you something about me. About what I think. I hope you can agree or disagree with me on issues I bring up and discussion happens. I hope we can celebrate great new things together.

So here it is. A new beginning. I am blogging again world!!! My thoughts are now out there again.

And I hope they make you smile.

Who knew!?!

What?!! I have a blog??? OH YEAH... I totally forgot about it. Hmmmm maybe I'll start posting again... Maybe.