Simple things

... laughter
... snail mail from Missouri
... Skype with my brother and his family
... a delicious apple in the fall
... church coffee
... 65 and sunny
... Flatirons church
... Bjorn's belly laughs
... chocolate covered almonds
... hearing a great song and playing it over and over again
... flying to St. Louis
... scarves
... sauntering
... the drive into Boulder, staring at the Flatirons
... emails from the cute math teacher at Parkway Central High School
... pictures of sweet Nora



















They make me smile... I am thankful.

I love laughing

College days are such sweet memories and my college friends are always so good at bringing me back to those special four years. On Saturday night, I got together with five amazing women: Caley, Sarah, Marissa, Mandi, and Jen. We're all in very different places now and so it's great to get together and reflect on what the Lord is doing in our lives.

Marissa's uncle owns a restaurant at a golf course in Loveland. We insist on always having girls nights at Uncle Dan's restaurant... it's a great place to build new memories. The very best part of the entire place is the dessert that we always share...

Famous...Award Winning..Stone Ridge Bread Pudding -
Our own recipe served with "scotch sauce" and with a side of ice cream... $3.99

Delicious.

Enjoy some fun pictures from the night!

Obsessed Auntie Syndrome has begun...

Happy 0th Birthday, Nora Jayne!

Nora's Birthday from Eric Versluys on Vimeo.

Exhausted from the move...

Sweet sweet Nora... she's had a busy 30 hours!

Love

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."

Psalm 139:13


Nora Jayne Versluys
September 26 at 3:20
7 lbs, 5 oz

This morning we welcomed sweet baby number three into the world. After 18 and a half hours of labor, Nora made her grand appearance. Nora, Danielle, Eric, Roma and Quincy are all doing well. Wow, a family of five!

I am Nora's godmother, so I already feel a special bond with this little one. I was thinking about her this morning and thought of Psalm 139:13. Even though we're just meeting this little one, the Lord has known her intimately since even before she entered our thoughts. He created all of who Nora is and all of who Nora will be. He sees her first day of kindergarten. He sees her first date. He sees her college graduation. He sees her wedding day.

And I see a sweet baby girl who warms our hearts with who she is right now.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

A fun date with my littlest friend

Bjorn is obsessed with Big Bird. Actually, the entire Sesame Street cast, so Big Bird is included in the mix. This morning the giant bird was at the South Boulder Rec Center for "Story time with Big Bird"... so we hopped in the car and went to this once in a lifetime event.

Bjorn was so excited when we walked in the room. He didn't care that Big Bird was half-man-in-a-referee-jersey-and-yellow-gloves-half-paper-mache-bird-head. I mean, the guy was even wearing tennis shoes as if he had run over to story time that morning. But regardless, Bjorn was starstruck.

this picture just says "excitement" and "joy", doesn't it?

My mom came along to the story time, so after it was finished we ate lunch at Noodles and Company. Bjorn is a pasta-lover through and through, so he had a great time.

Eight hundred forty six.

My weekend away in St. Louis was really great. Marty was an awesome host... we had so much fun while he showed me around the place he calls home.

I flew in on Thursday night. He was standing at the door waiting and it was really special to see his face again.

On Friday, Marty had to go to school to give his students the beloved tests, so I tagged along. It was neat to get to meet his students (they were pretty excited that I was there... they referred to me as "the girl in the pictures") and to talk to a few teachers who he thinks highly of. Parkway Central is a big school and so Marty gave me the grand-abbreviated tour during one of his off periods.

On Friday afternoon, we played. We ran through a historical park, dove into the freezing cold pool, played croquet with his parents, and enjoyed dinner and conversation with them until dark.

Saturday was a busy (but oh-so-fun) day. After a lazy morning, we headed into St. Louis where we went to the zoo and the art museum. The art museum was a neat experience... a few years ago, I took an African Art History class and I saw a few of the pieces in the museum that I had seen in my text book. After those two little adventures, we went sailing at Creve Couer Park where Marty taught me a few of the sailing basics. I'm ready for more sailing... as long as he's in the boat!

After sailing, my belated-birthday celebration began. It was honestly the sweetest thing anyone has done for me... so much thought in who I am and how we'd want to spend our time together. It included a saunter and some wine... and that's all I'm going to say.

On Sunday, I got a taste of the church that the Lessmanns are so involved in. They go to Trinity Lutheran Church and all three of them sing in the choir. Even though the song they sang wasn't Marty's favorite, it was still so fun to hear them sing.

Marty and I ended the weekend with a nice walk through the neighborhood. It's so special to me that we can do just about anything and truly enjoy it because it's about the time we're spending together. Sappy, I know...

Being together last weekend was special. We're learning so much about each other and enjoying all different aspects of our relationship. We're also learning that according to the world's standards, we're very different... and we like that.

Marty is headed back to Colorado in a week for my best friend's wedding. We're going up to Camp Timberline (where it all began) for the weekend. I can't wait! I'll definitely be posting a ton of pictures and stories about Jill and Zach and all of the festivities...

i don't even know this little guy, but seeing him that close to a monkey was a neat thing

my man at the zoo

art museum...

frank lloyd wright... no big...

this piece made a big statment

do tell... do you think this is a photo or a painting?

saunter

so happy together!

Note to self...

...it's time to blog about last weekend...

He's baaaack!

A long long time ago, my cousin Scott lived down the street. We'd play house. We'd go on adventures. We'd bug his little sister. When I was 11 and he was 10, his family moved to Ohio.

Now Scott and I are grown up. We've both graduated college. He's even found himself a wife.

This week Scott and Jenna moved BACK to Louisville! I'm so excited that they're here so we can enjoy the wonders of cousinship again.

blurry as all get out... but still fun!

One more day...

...until I board a plane to the 'Lou.

Marty has a lot of things up his sleeve, so I've decided to not ask any questions. Apparently Saturday night includes dinner and wine and a live band, all while seated 500 feet above the Missouri River Valley. Well, well Mr. Lessmann... you sure know how to treat a lady right!

last summer at camp timberline... an oldie but goodie!

He moves mountains

The kid is sleeping, the french press is brewing, and it's time for me to blog about the weekend in the mountains.

This last weekend was the Young Life fall retreat for staff, leaders, and college students from the Front Range (From Pueblo all the way to Laramie!). We took 27 girls and 9 guys from CU up to Crooked Creek. It was an intentional time of precious community, valuable conversations (we were encouraged to go deep rather than dabble), and laughter. It was good for the students to get away from Boulder and to experience God... many in new, refreshing ways.

The theme of the weekend was Luke 10:27... " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " We talked about loving God with all that we are and that God Is. The first night, we had to write our own interpretation to the verse. I wrote:

Put God first, in His most rightful place. In my core, my breath, my waking and sleeping. In my emotions, relationships, joys and tears. In my knowing and unknowing. In my passions, my gifts, my chores, my desires, my words and my actions.

Love God. Love people.

I've been a Christian for a while and felt convicted with the fact that I'm not often amazed by God.

"Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Habakkuk 1:5

The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" Matthew 8:27

"The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law." Mark 1:22

"He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this!'" Mark 2:12

I know that God does amazing things every day... it's me who doesn't see them.

The whole CU crew went for a hike on Saturday afternoon. We didn't really get to a specific destination, but at one point Paul (our leader) stopped us and talked about how Jesus would go to the mountains to spend time with His Father.

He went to the mountains to gain perspective. And so did I.

While we were spending some time with the Lord on the hike, God reminded me of something really neat: the last time I was at a Young Life camp (in November of 2000), I met Christ for the first time in a real, personal way. It was there that I trusted Christ. I felt God telling me "look at all I've done in your life since then." Great perspective! I was able to dwell on the fact that God has moved in mighty ways in my life. I sat in silence with my God and was truly amazed.

::A few pictures from the weekend::

carpool buddies... liz and anna

mealtimes are noisy and fun at camp!

"...and he will make my paths straight..."

paul, brittney, skyler, and me... fun friends!
brittney and i had no clue we were matching til it was time to leave...

we are beyond!

I also appreciated just how simple the worship was during the weekend. Two guitars. One drum. And 500 voices all singing to their King...

I'm so thankful for a weekend full of perspective and friends!

At times I find myself living with an anxious heart. Trusting in myself and undoubtedly letting myself down. But it's those times that Christ gently invites me to again trust in Him. What a blessing that God is the God of second... and third... and countless chances.

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty...

I hear those words and am reminded that God is bigger. God is bigger than anything I'm feeling or thinking or experiencing. But not only is God bigger, He loves me exactly where I am.

9.7.09

Labor Day 2009... I sure enjoyed having the day off!

Yesterday three other Beyond leaders and I took six of our girls hiking. What a great time! The weather was beautiful, the scenery... ahhh... and the company was sweet. I'm really enjoying being part of such a great community!

On new friends and faith

::new friends::
I've gotten the PRIVILEGE to lead with Younglife at CU. College freshmen are unique in that they're so excited to start fresh and to explore who they really are. They ask questions. They're willing to hear answers. They want to hang out at a coffee shop. They're adventurous. They're excited about their new surroundings. It's a special time.

Meet my new friends Anna and Grace. Anna is from the DC area and Grace is from LA. Two different sides of the country and already they've become great friends. Last weekend, Marty and I gave them a ride from CU to the Boulder Res. I knew we'd be fast friends. On Friday, my friend Cynthia (another Beyond leader from Chicago) and I went to a beautiful tea house in Boulder with Grace and Anna. We sat and talked while drinking chai and enjoying new friendships.

I'm excited about my friendship with Anna, Grace, and Cynthia. We get along really well and are always thinking of fun things to do. I'm all for showing the out-of-towners around my state!

waterskiing... anna, grace and me

anna, cynthia, me and grace
at the dushanbe tea house

I'm playing at Flatirons this weekend. So fun! I showed up to rehearsal yesterday to a great birthday cake from one of the vocalists... Thanks, Sonja!

what a fun cake! tasty, too...

::faith::
Playing weekends at Flatirons is such a gift. It's a wonderful way for me to get involved and to use the gifts God has given me. Plus, it's a stinkin' blast! The series is "House of Cards" and Jim (our pastor) is talking about faith and how if we lean our faith on anything other than Jesus and the "sweet swap", it'll collapse. It's a challenging thing to think about what I put my faith in. It's so true... if it's not Jesus, it's a matter of time before I'm let down.

Hebrews 12 : 2-3... "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Sometimes it's tempting to only look at what is in front of me. It's when I look to Jesus - fix my eyes on Him - and realize just what He did for me on the cross 2,000 years ago that I'm able to gain perspective and to trust Him.

The last song we play each service says it all so well...

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus' Name

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my Hope and Stay

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne

Oh Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand...

That's faith.

...and what a great birthday it was...

A sweet birthday message from Marty, cupcakes with my best friend Jill (who is getting married in less than a month!), e-mails and messages from friends and family, a football game with Uncle Steve... I felt really loved and special yesterday. What a wonderful way to say "hello" to 23 years...

September Third

Twenty-three years old today. Wow, that feels old. Even though I went to bed last night thinking "it sure doesn't feel like tomorrow is my birthday...", I feel very loved and special today. Birthdays are fun! My mom and dad came downstairs this morning with a donut and candle for me. I wished for something great... :) My niece Roma left me a sweet voicemail with her own rendition of "Happy Birthday".

I'm looking forward to being 23. I don't care so much about the age thing, but I can only imagine all of the great things that are going to happen this year. Following God has been an amazing journey thus far, and I have no doubt it'll be a great year.

In one year I'm 24. No big. But then I'm 25. Quarter-century. Whoa.

88 degrees

I loved the summer, but I'm hot. Totally ready for fall weather...

That's all I've got.

What a gift...

Marty and I live 846 miles apart from each other, but this weekend made those 846 miles seem a whole lot smaller. When we started dating long distance, we said we'd see each other every 2 to 3 weeks. This past weekend was visit number one. And what a great weekend it was!

I'm so impressed with who Marty is...

He's adventurous. We went for a hike on Saturday afternoon, but only hiked on a trail for a little bit of it. The rest of the time we were walking around the woods, climbing over fallen trees, picking & eating wild raspberries, and hanging out in a really beautiful meadow.

He's friendly. I started leading with Younglife, and we took the students water skiing on Saturday morning at the Boulder Res. Marty was comforting to have there, because he was intentional about getting to know the college students and helping them have a good time. He's a great water skiier, too! :)

He's challenging. On Saturday night, we went out for dinner and Mart was able to ask me really good questions about where I'm going in life. They definitely got me thinking and challenged me to really explore my passions.

He's fun! The weekend was great partially because we really do have a bunch of fun together. We laugh a lot.

He's willing. Marty met a lot of important people in my life over the course of 3 days. This could be an intimidating thing, but he handled it well. In fact, everyone is raving about how great he is. I couldn't agree more! I appreciate how much he talked with my parents and wanted to get to know them.

He's romantic. Enough said... :)

He's intentional. It's obvious that Marty wants to know my heart well. He thinks things through and openly shares. With his lead and example, I'm definitely able to do the same.

He's picking me up from the St. Louis airport in 16 days. I'm really excited to see Mart's life out in Missouri. To see his house, his school, his favorite places, what makes him smile, where he goes to unwind, his church, and his favorite people.

This weekend definitely made me appreciate and excited about the time we get to share with each other. The richness of the time spent together makes living 846 miles apart totally worth it.

::Pictures from the weekend::
(But really just from Sunday... my camera was dead the other two days)

saturday night was date night

pearl street with my parents

we went to lucile's with my parents, uncle steve, and cousin beth to
celebrate my birthday (sept. 3)

he's such a great guy!