Dilemma? Pretty Pastor or Not?

I would love your thoughts on this. As I have written, we are going to start visiting churches tomorrow and I have had a moment of self-discovery. I am not sure how to put it in simple terms so I will just ramble and you will get the point. I have been doing some on-line research for churches. Checking doctrine, youth programs, etc. And have come to the conclusion that I don't like preachers to look "pretty". It makes me uncomfortable if he looks like he just walked out of a Toni & Guy salon. I don't know why exactly. Maybe he looks like he spends too much time "manscaping" or uses botox. It shouldn't bother me but it does. I am not saying the picture can't look trendy or for the guy to have a trendy hair cut or even done with nice clothing, but if he looks like he takes more time to get ready than I do or has more highlights, then I am just not interested. And I am sure somewhere at pastor conferences they discuss how to look more hip and connect with a younger audience along with dialog about using power point vs not using power point. I just don't want my pastor to look like Billy Ray Cirus (presently not achey breaky heart days-the mullet wouldn't bother me a bit) or Max Headroom (all plasticy). Maybe because I think it would be hard to take him seriously if he looks like he is that into his appearance....any thoughts? So, needless to say I was debating about which church to try tomorrow and clicked on pastor pics and my decision was very clear. How much thought do the pastors put into what kind of picture to put on the web...my guess is quite a bit.

Snow in 6 weeks!

It snowed on Pikes Peak yesterday. So beautiful! Legend has it that once the first snow on Pikes Peak occurs, we will get snow here on the "front range" in 6 weeks.

10 Things We've Learned About Colorado

1. They have a billion license plate choices...Ok, like 30 but still that's a lot! So,we still find it entertaining to watch for different plates. I am getting the breast cancer support plate (even though it is pink! Yuk!) and Mo wants the red one...doesn't stand for anything, just red.
2. Respect the bike lane. They actually have bikers using them.
3. Respect the crosswalks. They actually have walkers using them.
4. You get a very unsavory look when you don't bring your canvas bags to the grocery store. This actually helps me as I struggled with this for the last year: use plastic bags and reuse them in the trash cans vs use canvas bags but buy trash bags. The problem is I keep forgetting my canvas bags in the car.
5. Most homes don't have a/c units.
6. 85 degrees is a "scorcher" outside.
7. You don't really compete in athletic programs in school until you get to high school. If you want to be competitive before that you have to do club ball. All middle school kids take PE then try out for an inter murals type program after school. Very low key.
8. PE here is a different world. They get to do wall climbing (even in elementary), in line skating, field hockey and cross country skiing.
9. No one goes out to eat. Like the whole culture of eating as a form of entertainment is non existent. Our new friends (who are not natives) are so excited to have someone to eat with for once!
10. Most turn lanes are double turn lanes. So the two left lanes can turn at just about any corner.

and, one more for good measure:
11. Our community has bear/coyote safety warnings in the community newsletter. Haven't seen any but have seen deer on our way to Wal-mart, geese in the backyard, snakes on the front of the town house and rabbits everywhere. So it is recommended that you keep your grill clean and chain it up to the house.

Time Flies! (When You're Unpacking)

It seems like forever since I have had a chance to blog! Here is the short story of it all. The girls started school a couple of weeks ago and both already have a good friend. There are still some growing pains but all in all I think we are settling in quite nicely. We joined the local YMCA which has a pool. That has been fun and I am sure we will really enjoy it when the weather gets bad. Mo started his new job last week and has enjoyed wearing shorts to work. Still waiting on the house to sell but it hasn't been that long on the market. We are clearly the youngest people in the town home subdivision which is fine with us. It is quite and there is a trail with a small lake to walk around.
We begin "church hunting" this weekend. Never really liked doing that. Just like to get right to the "right" church and get to livin!
The most incredible thing to me since we moved here is how amazing the landscape is. I am just in awe every time I walk out the door. I walk Kori to her bus stop in the morning and back in the afternoon and it just makes my mouth drop. I will have to take pictures. I pray I never get tired of looking at the mountains. And to think God just spoke it into existence! I wonder if those native Coloradians get used to it. I know I never will. To be in a place where God's masterpieces just slap you upside the head every time you walk outside! I feel really blessed.
So, the McDaniel Inn is open for reservations anytime you want to come visit!

We made it!

"I am officially a Coloradian" is what is coming out of Kami's mouth but don't worry my fine Texans. I am quick to correct her that we are still obnoxiously proud Texans at heart! The move itself was uneventful but the packing up needed a 911 call. Mo lost consciousness but is better now. EMS thinks it was heat exhaustion due to playing 8 rounds of golf in the last 5 days in the Texas heat mixed with coming home and doing the lawn then moving straight to loading the Uhaul. We had tons of help loading, he just tries to do do too much! In his mind, he is still 18 years old.
We got in last night and God has already blessed us! The rental is in pretty good shape and I think will do nicely. You never know when you look at something on the Internet and the price was great. Mo was a bit leery (he is such a girl when it comes to living in less than desirable places) but all is good! Thank ya, Jesus!
We will unload it all today in this brisk 70 degree weather!!! I know, don't hate us. Then we register the girls for school tomorrow and school starts Thursday. As one of my patients used to say, "No rest for the wicked and the righteous don't need none!".
Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers. We will be doubly blessed if we find friends as great as our Texas friends here.
Will keep you posted!!!