The Game

7:05 was the start time. It was a warm May evening as a group of us sat down to watch the Rockies game, some of the kids watching for the first time ever. And while the game was fine, would have been better if the Rockies had won, what I found to be absolutely wonderful was the entertainment from the people around me. What a great group of people to do ANYTHING with.


There was Aaron...my husband who is always fun to me. Unless we are fighting and then I still love him but he isn't as fun. But we weren't fighting and in fact he was just making me super happy that evening by just being very sweet and happy.

There was Ian...an absolutely insane, hysterical scottish co-worker of mine. He lives in England actually, but he is out at our office in Colorado often and when he is in the States it creates a completely different, and good, environment. I love having him around.

They also like to take "cute" pictures together which make me laugh every time I look at them!

Then there was Matt, Rocket, and Roxanne. They belong to Naomi, or Naomi belongs to them or something, but Naomi will be talked about in a different section. Matt is the guy who is quieter, but it just wouldn't be the same without him. Especially when he finds something funny, it makes me want to find the same thing funny. I don't know why, but I just like his laugh. And he, like Aaron is to me, is such a wonderful complement to Naomi that it is always so amazing to see them in settings together.


Rocket and Roxanne, they are so different but they love each other so dang much. And on top of that they have a great amount of energy which is so fun. I know it can drive their mom crazy at bedtime, but I am so glad she has active kids (which I know she is too) as opposed to lazy, boring kids.


Then there was Wil, Neil, and Wannee. Wil is here from Thailand and this will probably be her last Rockies game before she goes back...so she was completely engaged in the game watching. And that was nice because the rest of us could ask her what happened. She was almost like the designated watcher! Then Neil and Wannee, they are just superb. Neil's my boss, I am Wannee's boss, and Wannee's Neil's boss so together we make quite a group. They are always fun to be around, especially when you get to know them. I was really glad they came.


Jadon and Jami got to come with us too. This was their first pro-baseball game EVER. I had to get them to be Rockies fans before they left for Washington. Jadon was pretty tired and said that the guys on the field were too small. HOWEVER, he definately wasn't too tired for a good ol' baseball stadium hotdog or cotton candy. He was quite awake for those moments. And depending on the sugar rush level at the time, he would occasionally, and randomly yell out "Go Rockies, Go Rockies". A side note to this, Jadon also had the best line of the evening. He asked me who the "Grey guys were" and I said "Those are the Minnesota Twins" and he said "Why" and I said "because they are from Minnesota" and he said, "Oh so their french?!!" Apparently he knows stuff about our country that none of us do. Minnesota has been claimed by France. I was cracking up.


And Jamison, she was just a bouncy happy little 3 year old. I can't tell you how many people said, "She is so adorable", which of course I then acted like she was mine and said, "Thank you so much". Thanks for letting me steal her for those moments Jada! She stayed awake the whole game (probably due to the Cotton Candy...which was our evil plan) and was dancing and clapping the whole time.


And last but not least, there was Naomi and I. Two peas in a pod who love each other very much. I love doing things with this girl and while sometimes I am crazy busy, she is patient with me. She makes me laugh. I think that cheering with her at a Rockies game is just wonderful. This girl adds so much spice everywhere she goes it is just contagious, at least for me. I am always inspired, even to be a better cheerer at a Rockies game. And I have to sneak this in there too...she is a superb mom and wife and I love the moments when she doesn't know I am watching (kind of like a creepy stalker but not really) and I am haning out with her and the family and kind of sit in the background and watch them all interact. Those moments are precious to me. SO along with all of that good stuff about Naomi, the most important event of the whole Rockies game was that Naomi and I got our FIRST picture together. Up until this point we had not had one single photo to prove that we are friends, but now it is official and I have proof so she can't disown my friendship without me at least having some good evidence in court. (And I hope she knows I am writing this blog for her!)

My life savers

I believe that so many people go through life without ever really truly opening up to people and letting themselves be vulnerable. I on the other hand, almost have the opposite problem where I usually throw my heart out there even in situations it is not safe to do so. And in recent years I have learn the health of boundaries and vulnerablity and try really hard to maintain an appropraite balance.I remember my amazing councelor, Chris, pointed out to me that even Jesus did this with his friends and people he interacted with. What a refreshing thing for me to realize. Jesus had what Chris labeled a "Circle of influence". If you look at the example of Christ's life, he had God in the center. Then John was the next circle out. Then Peter and James. Following them were the 12 disciples. Then the women and the 70 other disciples. Next came the crowds of people that he interacted with. And last were the Pharasees. Chris pointed out that Jesus apprpriately interacted with all of these groups of people, but he also had strong boundaries with them as well, being the least vulnearable with the Pharasees and the most vulnerable with John.

All that to say, that I am so thankful for the women who I have close in my circle that I can be vulnerable with and that I can trust. These women are truly live savers for me and I am so grateful for them.

JAMI: I have known this girl since I was in diapers. She has been with me through thick and thin. And while we may not always have a lot of time to connect, we are always there for each other. We have gone from playing together in each other's back yards, to standing with each other in weddings, and now she has her own child that one day will play with mine and the cycle will continue! I love this girl and she will always and forever be the friend I have known the longest because one day we will be 90 years old and remembering when we were 5...or not remembering because we lost our memory, and it will be awesome! I love her. By the way, this is a picture of her being sneaky after her and Paul agreed to be our "get away car" at our wedding so no one would to anything to my car. And what does it look like she is doing? Yep, she got my car.

Allison: Al and I have lived together in college and she currently lives with Aaron and I in my house. She will eternally be my "roommate" even when she doesn't live with me. We have had our ups and downs but no matter what we have stuck it out and just grow stronger. She is like family, she sees me at my best and at my worst. She has taken care of me when I had a broken ankle and has let Aaron and I take care of her when she has needed some cheering up. Also, she is ALWAYS a person I know will be praying for me and it is the most reassuring thing ever!

My mom: This woman is amazing. I can't say more than that. She has been my sounding board, my outlet, my comfort, my friend, my mom, my councelor, my cheerleader, my nurse, and so much more. I am so grateful for her. And while we sometimes drive each other nuts (and others who are around) because we are so stubborn, I would do anything for her and she knows that.



Naomi: What a breath of fresh air. Naomi walked in to my life at the absolute perfect time. Truly there was something very divine in us meeting. She brings out the artist in me in a way that is so freeing! We can talk about everything and I know that she sees me for who I am. She is my MTV-watching, scrabble-playing, blog-reading, BFF and I am so glad that she is in my life.





Laura Lily: This was another divine meeting. Long story short, I had to rearrange my college orientation because of medical reasons and ended up going to the last one of the summer. I didn't know anyone and felt super awkward there. However, at this lame dance that was put on I met this awesome girl Laura who ended up being one of my absolute best friends and truly a soul mate if you will. This girl has spoken truth into my life unlike any other, she has helped me to laugh so hard, she has been a great companion on roadtrips, she is the best co-dancer in a car that I know. She helped me to love coffee and "The hampster dance" song. Also, we have our special tradition of painting our toenails whenever we need to laugh, cry, or anything in between.

Beth: I have known Bethy since the second grade. We went to the same elementry school, middle school, and college. She was my roommate for a year and a half during which we had some wicked dance parties and have lots of memories of talking to each other on our bunk beds. I have seen her say goodbye to her dad and hello to her new son. I listened to her talk in middle school about this boy name "Chad" who is now her husband. We have only got in one fight that I can remember during which I called her an earing and she called me a bracelet...which at the time was the meanest we could be to each other. Later we apologized and moved on.

Becca: Becca and I met when we were both working with students up in Greeley and ended up leading "Platoon 4:20" for quite a few years. Her husband was my boss at one point, and they both were life savers for me in college. Becca and I were always late to meet each other, so we would plan things 15 min. early so we would both be there on time. We both love art and good coffee and things that are genuine. Becca and I have a hard time connecting but we leave each other fun messages and know that no matter what, we are still always there for one another.

Jada: This is my older sister. I lived with her and her family for two years, during which I became family. I am "Auntie Cheryl" to her children, I saw her daughter Jamison when she was only a couple min. old. I know both her and Jon's families and I know many of their friends. They were the ones who answered the door on my first date with my now husband and they were both in my wedding. I tell her that I know her better than she knows herself...and I am too stubborn to believe differently!

Czech and all it's beauty...

As I sit here in Colorado, thinking about the fact that Aaron has handed out Czech trip application, and having heard just recently from so many of my friends in Czech, it makes me think about how much I love that country, the people, the scenery, and the way God is moving over there. Everything in my body wants to go back so badly. If I could live half of my life there and half of my life here, I would do so. And in fact, I feel like I already do that in a way. My home and my heart are split between the two countries, the families I have here and the families I have in Czech are both so dear to me. In fact, when I got married, I was so nervous to have Aaron meet my friends in Czech because they mean so much to me. It felt like I was introducing him to my parents or something. And they all loved him and he loved them!!!

But as I sit here thinking and praying about if God is wanting me to go back again this next summer, I want to reflect on some of my most favorite times in Prague and in Czech.

My Top List: (in no specific order...they are all top)

1. Returning my second year and feeling like I was "back home"

2. Staying with the Lipus family and eating European cheese and drinking Czech beer

3. Hearing Jumper tell me "The cool thing about you is that I can tell you are not here just to do a 'mission trip thing' and check it off some list. You actually love the people and care about it here and that's awesome"

4. The moment when the Czechs stopped calling me Seleny Americanka (Crazy Amercian Girl) and started

calling me Seleny Ceska (Crazy Czech girl)

5. Sitting in the pub with Cilco and Georgey

6. Talking with Osvald about Heaven

7. Singing with Adela and having her in my english class

8. Hiking and talking with Radek and Boris

9. Going to a Czech hockey game with Cilco

10. Watching Ondra accept Christ

11. Seeing Daniel accept Christ and then watching him lead the next year

12. Introduing Aaron to everyone, specifically Jumper and Osvald

13. Staying in Cesky Tesin with Jumper and his family

14. Going to a concert put on my Jumper and then catching a train with Lukas, Darius, and Petr at about 2 in the morning

15. Going to a cajovna

16. Sitting on the trains watching people or going past sunflower fields

17. Having Cilco request "It's a Beautiful Day" by U2 for me on the radio and all the sudden hearing the announcer say "Americanka Cheryl" over the radio and then having the song played!

18. Listening to Dave or Nate or any of the other missionaries talk about what God is doing.

19. Eating Hot Raspberries with Lenka

20. Spending New Years Eve in Brno...CRAZY

21. Having discussions with my class from 2006 where I was also able to have Georgey as my translator.

22. Getting coffee with Monica

23. Hot Chocolate in Malenovice
24. The blueberry fight I had with Jumper, Lucka, and Tomas

25. THE FOOD

26. Watching the American students grow

27. Going on the morning walks with Cindy

28. Talking with Pavla in the pub

29. Coming back again and again and again.
30. The friendships that have turned into family

Osvald, me, and Jumper after I introduced them to Aaron and we got to sit in a pub for a while and just chill.

My Class from 2006 (Georgey and I are in front)

At the top of Serak after the hike we do with the students!

Daniel back at camp as a leader!!!