a few pics

Who would have thought my first stop for this Colorado boy would be to hike a mountain... Saddle Mountain is the place.


... not really sure if I was supposed to be there.


Finally made it to the beach. God really blessed me with some amazing weather! I'm pretty sure this is Tillamook Point.


I was going to try to make up this really fun story about learning to surf, but alas, no... I'm taking the photo not riding the wave. someday...


This photo talks for itself


Who knew that there are beaches you can drive on!?! Apparently, this is one of the few.


Budget Rental Car Employee: "Do you mind if it's a two-door?"
Me: "No, I really don't care either way."
Budget Rental Car Employee: "Well, we have a PT Cruiser or a Mustang..."
Put me in a tough spot... I was really tired and didn't really want to make such an enormous decision, but after about twenty-three minutes of quiet discussion with myself...
Me: "I guess I'll have to go with the Mustang."


I think my next career choice is a car model (is there such a thing? not really sure, but I'd be dang good at it!).

After the two day stint on the beach I headed back inland to see the cuz and their beautiful baby. Amazingly, Seaside, OR was sadly lacking in the mermaid population. So disappointing. Where to look next...?

vacation

I'm getting out of Kiowa! Can you believe it? I know for some of you this is a huge surprise, and no, not for good, just a week long trip to Oregon to see Andrew, Cassidy and Paisley (that was really cool to add Paisley's name to that list). But I shouldn't say "just a" because I'm completely ecstatic about it (and for those of you who would like to see me stay in Kiowa for a little while longer, you better start praying that I come home!)!

I've been toying with the idea for awhile now... finally decided just to go for it and bought the tickets Tuesday. I mean really, what's keeping me from leaving for a few days (sorry Cello, didn't mean to make little of our relationship)? One is only single and 25 once. The rental car company can't even give me a hard time! I do plan to spend as much time with Andrew, Cassidy and Paisley as I can, but I also want to do some exploring and see some things and places in the area (cold or not, I'm going to the beach). Please feel free to give any suggestions of really fun things to do or see in that area. Who knows, I may get a job at some beach coffee house, become a beach bum, marry a mermaid and live happily ever after... okay, so probably not, but it was fun to imagine for a second.

On top of doing a lot of sleeping, relaxing and seeing really awesome people and places, I also desire to do a lot of visiting with God. To quiet my spirit, seek His face, and really listen for His voice. Please pray for me as, as most of you know, quieting my spirit and hearing God's voice is no easy thing for me to do.

The coffee markouts are packed (just for you, Cassidy), the plane tickets bought and the trip far from planned out! Matthew on vacation - flying solo.. weird, scary, crazy and really exciting!

an end...

Well, another season of my life has come to an end. The Kiowa Volleyball team was defeated by Pikes Peak Christian last night. It was a very disappointing loss. I still believe the Kiowa team should be continuing on, but last night, the Eagles put together a more complete match than the Indians, resulting in them getting to continue to the district pool play tomorrow while the Indians call it a season and go home. God has been doing a lot in my life lately to show me that He is in control and only He can see the big picture at this point. So, even through my discouragement and disappointment I will continue to trust that He has a plan in all of this. Do I think that the Indians season was cut much shorter than what their talent has shown? Absolutely. Last night all I wanted to do was hit something REALLY hard! I felt cheated. Defeated. If only we could have rewound life a few hours and given it one more shot! But that's not how life works. It moves forward. We must live and learn and above all else continue to trust God's perfect plan.

My biggest question now is simply.. What now? "God show me where you are working. I want to find you. I want to join you. Please let me be apart of what you are doing!"

I sat down and tried to write this huge post about my life the last five months, got frustrated with what I wanted to say and finally just deleted the whole thing and decided to just talk about the present.

VOLLEYBALL. Is there anything else? Ask any of the people who I talk with on a day-to-day basis if there is anything else that Matthew talks about and you'll have your answer as to what dominates my life this time of year. This season has been another roller coaster of awesome highs and really tough lows, but overall a good year if you're able to step back and take in the whole thing. We face our closest town rivals tomorrow night for our last game of the regular season. We enter that game with a record of 12-6. Not a shabby record by any means, but as I look back, one that feels like it should be 16-2. Needless to say I still have a lot of optimism going into district tournament week. I anticipate that we will be traveling to Pikes Peak Christian (the #4 in our district) next thursday and then after defeating them move into the distict pool play on Saturday AT KIOWA which will more than likely consist of #1Colorado Springs School, #2Simla, #3Calhan and #5Kiowa. The top two teams out of that will go the regional tournament the following Friday. I'm very anxious to get there and really see what we can bring against these excellent teams, two of which we have beaten this year!

Other than volleyball, my life consists of waking up at ungodly hours of the morning to serve the castle rock public their crack in the coffee form, sleeping whenever possible, gearing up for Shane and Briana's wedding, helping with the worship at MVC, beginning to plan for a mission trip next summer, starting Christmas Choir rehearsals, staying involved with the Young Adult group and ultimately trying to stop being so complacent in my Chirstian walk and really live the identity that God would have me to, which is not all those things I just listed, a lesson that God has been trying to teach me for some time now!

she's finally off the road...for good. good bye, my love

248,478 miles!!!

72,000 ... need i say more! :)

the season pass... the 4-pass

I didn't buy myself a swowboarding pass this year for the first time in three years. I thought I was doing the "mature" thing by not spending money that I didn't think I had. But I'm quickly realizing that it may have been the cheaper option to just buy the pass. I love snowboarding! I want to go every week... but a 4-pass only goes so far. There's just something about being up in those incredible Rockies with nothing but snow and peaks surrounding you that is like nothing else!

what would you do?

ONE MORNING YOU OPEN YOUR EYES AND IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM RIGHT ABOVE YOUR HEAD YOU SEE THIS ...... What would you do??????????????