September happenings

Hi everyone- I've been so busy with school, work and home that I have not been able to post this month.

First off, I guess I should update everyone on my school. Naropa is a totally different school experience compared to the traditional colleges I've gone to. We don't take test, but we read a crazy amount, do experientials and then write about it. For me, this is the best way to learn. If I don't understand how to apply what I've just learned... I typically forget about it. We are also required to learn the practice of meditation. This is a new class for me and I think it has been really helpful to be more present when I'm with people. I feel I'm less annoyed at work with others. Well, I wouldn't say I'm less annoyed, but I'm more aware of where the annoyance comes from. I recognize I'm feeling that way and I'm able to not let the feeling consume my thoughts and actions. I've also been practicing my listening techniques of mirroring/reflecting and minimal encouragers. This has helped me when I talk to frustrated clients at work. It has made the resident feel heard and valued. I've even had a few of the clients say this to me!

September has been a crazy month as far as personal life goes. We had a visitor stay with us for 2 weeks while she worked volunteering for the Obama campaign. She is an acquaintance from Utah and she rented out the spare room for the 2 weeks. Also during the 2 weeks Kelly, Carmen, Jason, and Robert came to goto the Monolith concert. Red Rocks is by far the coolest place to see bands. The atmosphere is great and the music is too (if the sound person doesn't mess it up).

Yesterday, Taylor had his first show. His new band, Black Sleep of Kali played at the Old Curtis St. Pub. They were really good and you could tell the audience was really into it. It's nice to see that Tay was able to find some musicians to play with in Denver. Tonight, Tay and I are going to Sigur Ros at Red Rocks. This is an Icelandic band and I love their music. I'll post pics soon of Red Rocks and Tay's show.

1 Year in Denver

Today marks the 1 year of living in Denver. We have had so many new experiences and challenges since moving here. Although we miss our friends and family we know we were met to be here and I'm happy we decided to go outside our comfort zone and move.
I have learned more about other cultures and have been exposed to more ideas and people.
Taylor and I are finally forming our group of friends, which always makes living easier. We have also had plenty of great friends and Taylors family that have visited us this past year. This year We bought a house and I got accepted to grad school.
I started school this week and I must say I am glad we didn't wait till this year to move. There are many people in my classes that just moved to Colorado and they seem extra stressed out!
School is going to be challenging and fun. I will be in it for the next 3 years so we won't be moving anywhere for awhile. So it is official for now.....Taylor and I call Denver home.

Here are just a few pics of the things that have happened over the past year:

Belize it or not!

What a trip!! I had soooo much fun! We started off nice and easy and went to the islands for a few days. Caye Caulker was great. No one drives cars, just bikes and golf carts. HAHA! We got to meet lots of local and travelers alike.
Then we headed to San Ignacio to explore a Mayan Cave where they did rituals including human sacrifices. We had to swim in the cave and fit through tight spots to get to the huge opening where everything was done. It was dark and full of bats and we waded through water that was chest high. If you ever go there you must do this tour! We saw old pottery and skeletons. We also met lots of travelers there too and we hung out for a few days together.

After that adventure we went to Guatemala, Tikal. We saw some amazing Mayan ruins and climbed to the top of some. It's an experience no one should miss... being able to see the ruins of an ancient civilization that had such a sophisticated system. You could feel something was different there. While we were there we met some more travelers and had dinner with them and shared traveling stories. It's so fun to meet other who are traveling, you get to know so much about them in such a short period of time and then you go on you separate ways.

To end the trip we went back to the islands to Ambergris Caye. This was a bigger and more popular island. It had good food and nice beaches. The dogs were friendly too and we had a few following us around town! We also met some locals and spent most of our time hanging out with them.

This trip had it all: adventure, relaxation and new friends... I couldn't ask for more!

got my haircut

Let me tell you how great it feels to have short hair again. It's not in my face constantly and it takes 3 seconds to do. Plus it's not in a ponytail everyday. Tay likes it long but when have I ever cared about that! HAHAHA!

Oh how we've grown!

I starting to scan old photos into my computer. I have come across some funny ones. I also noticed how many there are of Curtis and me. We've really done a lot together. So I just wanted to post a few collages of the old photos.




Curtis and Kendyl throughout the years!

Boots went on an adventure

This last Thursday Boots did not come home. We looked for him Friday night and Saturday went to shelters and posted fliers. Taylor even put a missing ad on craigslist in hopes of getting a response. Well we did get a response from a man who said he had our cat, he read off the description Tay had written. Taylor asked the man where he was and the man responded, "I'm in the graveyard burying your cat because I killed him." Who get pleasuring in saying something like that? It made me sick! Taylor was very unset and so was I. But happily Boots came home that night around 11:00pm. He was very hungry, thirsty and needy! He purred all night.
Welcome home Bootsy Boy we are happy you are safe at home!

The Veggies of our Labor

Our garden is now producing a ridiculous amount of Zucchini!! We only planted 1 this year too! We also now have fresh squash and peas and green beans and tomatoes! I'm making zucchini bread today and giving the rest to co-workers tomorrow.