God is Apparent

October 26th Friday! The day before my Birthday! But today was the day that we decided to celebrate :) I have been getting pretty homesick recently. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Colorado, but home is where the heart is and this would be the first birthday I wouldn't get to celebrate with my family and friends in Oregon. However, I feel so blessed with the AMAZING friends that are so sweet and good to me here in the Midwest, I forgot about my homesick feeling tonight.
We had a delicious home cooked meal with some of the best company I could ask for:) One of the best parts of the night though was the cake that the girls baked for me! haha with frosting decoration of a muscle made my night lol

I can't tell these kids enough how much that night meant to me.

 

October 27, what is so awesome about this day?? Well, besides that it was my BIRTHDAY, I got to spend it doing one of the most awesome things I can think of! Going hiking, and bouldering with some of my best friends exploring more of the Mid West. My friends decided to wake up and get me out of bed at 4 am (not an easy task) But I am so happy they did!

We drove about an hour and a half to Moab, Utah! Which, is home to the Arches National Park, to watch the sunrise and it was gorgeous!

Here's a quick video I did of the arch we were below when we watched the sunrise. I most of these photos and videos with my phone so sorry that the quality isn't that great. And you can most definitely hear in my voice how tired I was hahah

Nehemiah 9:6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

I live in a place where God is apparent in the everyday beauty that surrounds me and the people I am with. I couldn't be more blessed... -Kenzie

 How cool is this place?

The national park lies atop an underground evaporite layer or salt bed, which is the main cause of the formation of the arches, spires, balanced rocks, sandstone fins, and eroded monoliths in the area.

 

It is known for preserving over 2000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch.

 

I'd have to say this was quite the successful Birthday weekend. Thank you to all my family and friends who wished me a happy birthday and reminded me that I am loved no matter where I am. And thanks mom and dad for the balloons <3 

Devil's Kitchen

Can't handle the heat? Get out of the kitchen! Devil's kitchen that is... 

It's Fall Break! And while that means a four day weekend, let me tell you this weekend was well-deserved. I haven't blogged in a while, and that is because I have been having my nose in a book constantly the last week studying for my mid terms. And they were, terrible... college is hard! But they are over now and it's time to have some fun :)
Went hiking this weekend up at Devil's Kitchen. I love that there are so many hiking trails right in my backyard. And with my new rock climbing class that I am taking I will soon be able to anchor along any of these rock formations and climb as much as I want! :)`

Isn't it cool?

I love being outside as much as possible while I'm here, at least until winter comes around and being outside might not be quite as enjoyable. 

Getting ready for the cold winters in Colorado I went to Gene Taylor's who was having a big sale, 25% off the whole store! So... got myself a nice thick coat :)

And now I am SO EXCITED for the snowboarding season! There are some awesome mountains around here I can't wait to try out and even though for this next quarter I will be picking up a new course I am determined to balance my school work and make it up to Powderhorn as much as possible!

Well two days left of break! And it's gorgeous outside! I'll blog at ya again soon. Happy Monday!

P.S. T- 12 days till my BIRTHDAY!! whoop whoop!

Road with Irons - Via Ferrata - Telluride

Another OP (Outdoor Program) trip in the bag. This weekends agenda, The Via Ferrata in Telluride, CO. I think the perfect way that I heard it described was that it was neither climbing, nor hiking. It's a hybrid of the two... like extreme hiking.

The trail definitely gets your blood flowing and shouldn't be attempted by anyone afraid of heights.

It’s pretty basic. Clip in,  shimmy along the rock, unclip, repeat. However there are some sections with out cables or handholds. And because I’m short I couldn't reach some of the footholds, so those arm workouts came in handy during those sections of the climb. 

Via Ferrate means “Road with Irons” in Italian. In climbing the term Via Ferrata refers to a route with additions like ladders or cables. It’s so hikers and climbers can feel safe while above exposed terrain. The concept for Via Ferratas started in the Dolomites during World War I when the Austrians and Italians were fighting in the mountains. Routes were built and permanent lines installed to help troops climb.

This is a link to a video that will give you a look at exactly what we did this weekend. No this isn't a video of my group but it is the same exact route we took. 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1908361709037&set=vb.357683390122&type=2&theater

Pretty awesome right?

After we passed, what I think was the most extreme part of the trek  I had to go to the bathroom BAD. And as you may of guessed, there aren't many public restrooms up 700 feet above ground. So, with the help of another woman,Julie, we tied a rope around my harness and attached that to a cable and repelled me off the side of the cliff to a spot where I could do my business. Needless to say there couldn't have been a more beautiful  spot to go. While that was probably the most memorable part of the trip I was the talk of group for the rest of the trip haha with every time someone said "shit" or "poop" heads would turn and you'd hear someone say "Jess? you gotta go again?" haha I can cross that off my list of most awesome places to relieve myself.

The girls. It was a blast because all of us signed up for the trip together and early, so it turned out to be an all girls trip! Well.... for the most part, we had three guides who were guys. But by the second day (when we did the Via Ferrata there was only one). I've got some pretty BA girls who love doing outdoor adrenaline stuff as much as I do:) 

Me and Kenzie :)




















Telluride was BEAUTIFUL!! It was just tucked in between mountains, and you could see in the aspen trees that fall was approaching by the gorgeous yellow color of their leaves. The blue skies, great company and gorgeous view made this trip definitely one of the most memorable for sure. I am sure I will never forget this trip.

Blue Angels and Blue Water

Saw my first angel this weekend. The Blue Angels that is! haha Here are some videos and pictures from the airshow I saw this weekend in Grand Junction, Colorado.

It was amazing. I've always had a kind of awe and love for fighter jets (something I think I get from my momma) but this weekend was the first time I've really seen what they can do! And oh man, it was "so cool" haha you will hear my continual expression of this in the videos below. 

The airshow was Friday night and Saturday day. So Sunday I went to the Potholes up on the Monument and went cliff jumping :) I love the hidden spots in CO that are so pretty and natural. 

 

This coming Friday I am excited to tell you I will be going on a rock climbing/hiking trip at Via-Ferrata! I am so stoked because not only is spending a weekend in the God's wilderness glorious but almost all my friends here at Mesa are coming too! On top of that we will be celebrating Michaela's and Kendra's Birthdays this week!!! PLUS it's homecoming week here at CMU so there are awesome activities and dances all week long. Needless to say I'm pretty excited :) HAPPY TUESDAY!

Campfire Hotdogs and S'mores

First off, can I just show you how pretty Colorado is? While there's no comparing to Oregon, I think I live in a pretty awesome place.

So this weekend we drove our way to the back country of Grand Junction.

And in attempts to miss parents weekend on campus we camped Saturday night. Woke up early Saturday morning and got to camp around... idk maybe tenish. But the time we arrived isn't the important part. The important part was how much fun we had when we got up there! I have to say there isn't a whole lot that I love more than sitting around a campfire with friends, exploring reservoirs and going on dirt bike rides!

I wish I would've gotten a picture of that but I seriously had the most fun this weekend just chilling and riding on dirt bikes with Max and Jeremy:) Made me miss going on rides with my daddy.

Here are some pics from the weekend!

<<Jordan in his Danny Dukes :)

Little miss Molly>

VOD : 2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

Safeway Shopping/ My Mesa Family

Yep, went and got some groceries. It may be hard to believe but the food in the caf is getting pretty old.
Anyway been pretty busy this week, just keeping up in classes, doing boring stuff like homework and stuff. But somehow, Kendra, Kenzie, and Michaela always find a way to make even the boring stuff fun :) I kinda love my friends... Queso!

 

hahah Anyway... It's parents weekend here and since my parents can't make it out :( a group of us are going to go camping at the Monument. I'm stoked it should be a blast:) So i will definitely be posting some pictures post trip. Pray that it all goes well and no one gets hurt! But before I leave I might add I am VERY excited to be meeting Kendra and Michaels parents! I feel like I am being adopted into multiple families in the mid west. And I truthfully don't mind :) While there will never be a family like mine back home...

"Here, at mesa, we have to make our own family, our core people to lean on. I already consider you girls a part of that family... I am so glad I met you and that I have had a chance to become so close with you in such a short amount of time... And although we haven't known each other long at all I feel like it has been a lifetime, and I want you to know I am always here for you: to listen, to laugh, to talk with, to cry with and for anything else you need.You girls are my support system, my sisters, and I don't know what I would do in college without you. All four of us are here for each other and want to help in whatever way we can. God blessed us with each other and we should take advantage of that:) I love you guys and am here for you always" - Kendra Wildenberg <3

 

So I guess this blog goes out to my amazing family, my brothers and sisters here at mesa. I love you all and feel so blessed to have found such strong children of God to help me and be there for me through this journey we are taking together.

No Dining Hall for me This Weekend

 What did my Sunday look like?? ohhhh.... something like THIS

:)

Went boating this weekend! Yeah, it was quite an eventful weekend with shooting, and boating. Like I've said a hundred times on this blog, I REALLY like Colorado :) We woke up Sunday morning and headed out to Highline Lake, we were probably on the lake around 12ish. Started off wakeboarding a bit.. then some of the guys decided to try tandem with a wakeboard and ski. 

It was pretty impressive haha

Stopped for a while to do some swimming and then tubed! It was a BLAST, but needless to say I am definitely feeling it today. The water was pretty choppy and I took some not-so-graceful wipe outs on the wakeboard. Not to mention boating with guys is probably one of my favorite things because they aren't afraid to go fast and fight to the death haha (ok well maybe not quite so dramatic). Anyway I was still able to get home and do some major studying for my Anatomy test which I took today around 2 (fingers crossed)! Here's a couple more pics I snapped during the trip. Sorry about the quality, I may be adding a camera to my birthday wish list because of all these photos I've been taking! Happy Monday!



(Disclaimer: not all pictures are of me haha obviously)