Colorado air, it bends my knees, and I go weak with joy and anticipation.

What a love I have been graced with for this place.

I arrived here on Sunday afternoon after one of my sweetest friends married her fond fellow.
(congratulations cory and allisa)



beautiful, eh?

So I got here Sunday and I met Snowridge 2011. I can't believe 2 years have gone by since that first summer. Caleb, now 7, came running down the hill yelling in happiness "margot's here" and jumped into my arms. Broke my heart. Made it real. Everything here is bordered in memories. The tight little cavities I try and squeeze through, the mornings with the sparrows and the aspens hit by sunlight. I love it. And I hate it. Because I need it more than I wish to say.

I am living with Wendy, Scott and their four kids this summer. I've been sent back to the bunk bed years and it has never been such a delight. Waking up to cheerios and the little bickerings of siblings. Feeling welcomed by their family. I was even presented the opportunity to wash the floor. The boys left it filled with grime last summer. And at 9,000 ft. elevation, we get to walk up a ginormous hill many times a day to reach home. God is so gracious to challenge me.

We have hit the sanddunes, embraced soul-to-souls, played with baby Elijah in the sand and water [He calls me marmo], eaten hobo dinners, opened up the word, had time to rest, and we have a new cook and his wife this summer- Hendricks and Judi. Currently Hendricks is singing his favorite melodies, Italian opera, as he makes charcoaled hamburgers. Couldn't be better.

Tonight I am going on an adventure with the boys. Lucas says we are going to collect freaky bugs.

Will post pictures later,
in the meantime follow the link to this song,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ

love,
margot marie

grace

(un) healthy addictions,

mm mm good.

1. pomegranate chobani: pure, sweet delight. try it!



2. heartbeat: a story for the heart of a child. thump, thump. thump, thump.





3. First season + two= done...in 2 days. (first step to healing is admitting you have a problem). but seriously, it's fantastical.



4. caramel macchiato fix.




5. hands and babies. God is so clever.

love love. find your happy spot.
-M.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYcV6OXruuA&feature=related

[the wailin' jennys-all the stars]

And you pick up the crippled man,
and the world feels so alive.

my my my.

what 3 days have just happened.
you know what climbing trees are like, yes?

[the tree] it begs you upward.
it says, climb me, there's so much to see.
but,
you hesitate
...
...
slowly choosing to do it anyway,
cause you can't reject the rush.

and you climb, climb, climb.
even if you are afraid of heights.
cause you know the rush has moved from your head to your toes
and is now deep inside of you.
you can't escape.
so you grab and go.

and then gravity [or sunday night] calls you back down.

and you let the tree cravings wait patiently for another time.




things i am a fan of that have taken place in the last 72 hours:

1. thunderstorms and willow trees
2. oxytocin
3. clay in my hands
4. bathroom talk
5. sweet old lady's and little babies
6. yummers consisting of:
macchiato, gushers, and pesto.
7. my jesus
8. the music man
9. husky
10. my momma celebrating another year of
a beautiful life (happy birthday!)
11. lifers

a start to something new

beautiful new faces. beautiful new hearts. and learning to breathe deeply in a new way.
its amazing to me how God shows up in the midst of complete uncertainty.

Patrick, Jean and I got to Bailey, CO on Saturday afternoon and it has been a flood of emotions. Honestly, not the instant mountain high that I anticipated...but still everything I need. Right now we are still sorting through the change of camp, beginning to know each other more as a spiritual family and learning what it means to embrace the unknown.

P.S. there has been sightings of mountain lions and many bears, I'm just waiting to see one for myself...can't wait!!! Patrick says he'll wrestle it to the ground.

Getting ready for a good night sleep after a long day of work and learning how to not fail at cards as much as I do. Missing you all and sharing the mountain air with you at heart.

also, listen to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRQruZ_oX-8

from here to wherever you are,
marg

funny

thank you songwriter. putting words to how 37% of my heart feels.

"No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God when it's gotten real late and their kid's not back from that party yet

No one laughs at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God when they see the one they love hand in hand with someone else and they hope that they're mistaken
No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door and they say, "We've got some bad new, sir"
No one's laughing at God when there's a famine, fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious
No one's laughing at God
We're all laughing with God"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aieNKcJcFDw

done away

this is my beautiful friend, kelsi.

i saw this photo in my weakness and i could say, yes, that is me. her hands on the barb wire, probably not pain free, but craving with everything, to go on. to see whats beyond the gate. the gate that's named our limit, when really its just dead wood, crying out for life-like you, and me. she carries the world on her shoulders and the curiosity in those bold eyes. the faint whisper in her lips that says, come with me. the world asks if shes scared? certainly. but her skin is on edge ready to run and flee from that old, painted sweater worn by days and days of yesterday. the trees call her on to bolder days and freedom. push past the unwashed answers and make your own. the journeys brighter there... her small, still smile says she can see.

----------------------------------------

i love this photo. God's beauty and mystery caught in a focal lens.
it has been a rough week of heartache, questions, anguish, uncertainty and reflection.
the whole, why God?
goes unanswered. leaves me breathless. but surprisingly drawing me
closer and closer to Him. Good thing He's jealous for all of me.

my hands tell me that this week is cyclically difficult. i look at the calendar a year ago
today and a year ago before that and go down until i was seven. i think it might be His favorite time of year for me, but for now I can say its not on the list of most beloved moments.

oh, the paradox that it is to feel such a disconnect from everyone you love, but knowing its their love you can't find the will to move without.

apparently, its deeper than the face i put on. the, i'm fine voice done away with. causing me to sketch out my heart with my hands. reminding me of how fragile life is, and how tender our little spirits are inside.