Consider the Columbines

Brut Aftershave and John Mellencamp. Reflections on Sibling Grief.

julieabel — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:19:56 +0000

Today my brother Jim would have been 48 years old. This time of year I miss him terribly and I’m reminded of how intentional we should be while we are alive. Sibling grief is a strange thing. You are suddenly faced with your own mortality on a regular basis once you experience it.

In a few years I will reach the same age he was the year he died. That is really weird. While my sadness for this loss is nowhere as intense as it was in the first years following his accident, emotions are still set off by the slightest reminder of him. A John Mellencamp song on the radio, the sound of a older brother snapping his sister with a towel at the pool, the smell of Brut aftershave or stale beer (don’t ask).

We were so different. But he was such a presence in my childhood. Years have gone by and now it is only in my dreams where I can fully remember him and what he looked and sounded like.

This new year I have committed to be very intentional to love my family well. It was a simple and personal resolution I made to myself. Today I am reminded yet again why this commitment is so important.

Happy Birthday Jimmy. I miss you.

Learning True Koinonia

julieabel — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:37:41 +0000

Celebrating God’s faithfulness and life together over the last thirteen years.

Today marks an important day in the history of our family. Thirteen years ago today we packed up everything we owned in a small Uhaul and moved our stuff and our three-month-old son halfway across the country. Our destination was Colorado for Jeff to take a job at the Focus on the Family Institute.

A page from one of my scrapbooks of our new home and life in Colorado Springs.

We were young and scared out of our minds. We felt pretty certain though that whatever awaited us in Colorado Springs God was calling us to it. It was exciting and terrifying all at the same time. I will never forget the hours driving across the vastness of Kansas for the first time. Jeff looked at me with Jacob wailing in his car seat and admitted— “If this is not of God then we are in serious trouble.”

Well the move proved quickly that it was for sure of God. In no time made many new friends and developed an amazing support system. As it turns out, we learned that Colorado Springs is a hotbed for transplants who just like us, have no local family or connection, but God calls many here to the Front Range to serve Him and build community with believers.

I remember some of those early days clinging to Matthew 10:37-38 NIV “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” With extended family on the other side of the world—or so it seemed, we were forced to cling to God and each other. God was forming our own nuclear family into something very special for His glory.

Over the years some things changed, we moved from apartment to apartment, I also took on a job at Focus on the Family and for a season moved from job to job. Our kids grew and started school. In 2002 Jeff became Director of his department and after over six years of literally living with college students we bought our own home. I am now working directly in the city that I fell in love with all those years ago in a ministry role that I absolutely love and believe in. Colorado has become home.

So many graduation pictures over the years! Today more will be taken.

One thing though that has not changed for Jeff and I, is the absolute belief in the mission of the Focus Institute— now called the Focus Leadership Institute. Semester after semester God calls a group of young people together and asks them to look at Him more closely. He invites them to join in an authentic community and to prepare for leadership. This looks different for every student, and some semesters are smoother than others, but every semester has for sure been an adventure for our family.

A group of students celebrating their last Koinonia at our home.

It is fitting that I write this on Graduation Day. Today marks Jeff’s 39^th. I don’t believe that since we have been here that he has missed a graduation. It is fitting that today we spend celebrating with the students their commissioning day of going out into the world to make a difference for Jesus Christ. Just like today thirteen years ago we did the exact same thing.

How the Locals Roll

julieabel — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:21:17 +0000

We didn’t make it up to Estes this weekend (Insert BIG sigh), but we did manage to have a great day at Garden of the Gods. We decided to hike trails that after 13 years of living here, we hadn’t hit yet. Oh yeah- and funny I should use the word “hit”. I actually took a pretty nasty fall when one of those rocks on the trail jumped up and bit me.

So today I am stiff as a board and can barely move, but it was so worth it. Just check out these views. I love Colorado. The sky and mountains are two reasons why I thank God for allowing this to be the place we call home. Hope you enjoy these pictures. I’m going to get some more ice now.

Kissing Camels, Garden of the Gods

So this is what the tourists do, but on this day we couldn't resist.

I call this one Before the Fall.

When we go out, this is what Jeff does.

No matter how long I live here, it never gets old.

My pick of the day. Jeff snapping photos on the backside of Pikes Peak. Our daughter by his side.

Enos Was Right

julieabel — Sat, 29 May 2010 13:37:37 +0000

Irresistible is nature’s call to play. This call comes in a thousand alluring forms. it comes at unexpected times and sends us into unheard-of places. We simply cannot tell what nature will have on us, or where next. But from near and far, ever calls her elequent voice. In work and in dreams she shows a thousand waves, suggest the presence of wonderlands yet unseen. She pictures alluring scenes in which to rest and play; in mysterious ways she sends us eagerly forth for unscaled heights and fairylands. ~Enos Mills

This weekend I pray you get an opportunity to heed her call and escape into your own wonderland.

Favorite Summer Memory

julieabel — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:37:51 +0000

Today I am just curious. What is your absolute favorite summer time memory? Today is my son’s last day of school and I’m in the mood to hear some of your summer recaps. Please keep it clean, this is a family friendly blog .

This should be fun.

Before the Tourists Arrive

julieabel — Fri, 21 May 2010 20:50:16 +0000

It has been a long week. Good, but long. Right now I am sitting at my favorite coffee shop wrapping up my correspondence for the week and getting antsy for the weekend. Like I mentioned in my last post, we have not had a ton of sun here this spring.

That is until this weekend. So I am dreaming. I want to go to Rocky Mountain National Park before the tourists arrive next weekend. I’ve sent the hubs two texts already today pleading my case. Alberta Falls is calling me. I also would really like to finish the hike at Cub Lake that we had to cut short last fall due to thundershowers. Everything in me wants to go home this weekend.

I don’t know if we will have a chance to pull away, but if the Mister says the word, I’m as good as gone.

Sun Crazy

julieabel — Sun, 16 May 2010 22:54:22 +0000

People in Colorado are crazy about the sun. You see one of the things you always hear from the locals is how CO gets over 300 sunny days a year. Let me tell you people around here get a little testy when the other 65 days of overcast shows up.

View from my front door this morning

Case in point, for last few weeks it has been down right nasty here and the people have been, well how shall I say this? Pretty grumpy about it? I often think of those people in other areas of the country that suffer from Vitamin D deficiency. I think people in CO have a lower tolerance for this, because for the last few weeks winter has had a death grip on us and everyone seems to be in a real funk.

Today, because it was so sunny it was like everyone I came in contact with grew a nice gene. I went for a walk and people said hi, Facebook and Twitter peeps (myself included) were all a buzz about seeing the sun this morning. Everyone on our block was out doing yard work. It was a sun party.

Well, it has clouded up for the afternoon, but it was good while it lasted. I am for the first time envious of my friends in warmer climates. But I know in two weeks when they are baking from the heat and humidity, those of us in the Rockies will be in Colorado bliss once again. I hope.

Did I really just blog about the weather? Oh yes I did.

Two blogs? But You Can’t Keep Up With The One You Got.

julieabel — Fri, 14 May 2010 03:02:54 +0000

I know. I keep telling myself that. But I needed another place to work through all of the non-profit ministry ideas that takes up space in my brain. You see I spent the first 15 years of my career working for large ministries thinking that I knew something about helping small non-profits. Funny thing is, I spent much of the last year laughing at myself and just how much I “thought” I knew now that I was actually running one. Joke was on me huh?

So I hope to have my second blog up soon where I can share ideas on leadership, marketing and spiritual lessons Jesus keeps teaching me on how to keep your sanity while operating a small non-profit. I think it is the best job in the world. But I am sick that way.

Stay tuned. More to come. Here at Consider the Columbines I will continue to share personal preferences, goofy stuff my family does, rants about Lost and my obsession with Panda Express. Can’t wait can ya? I thought not.

Later Gators, I have to go write posts for my other blog for a while.

A Grand Adventure!

julieabel — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:54:56 +0000

We just got back from one of the best road trips ever with our kids. Our family headed to Indianapolis to cheer on the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Final Four. Our team lost to Duke (booooooo hiss…) but we had a blast as a family. If you have kids and have a chance to visit Indy I totally recommend it. It is a great city with great things for families to do together. The Final Four is a classic once in a lifetime experience that every sports fan should try to go to.

Love it that the kids can now take our picture!

When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money. ~Susan Heller

The atmosphere here was electric!

Jessa goofing off in Egypt at the Children's Museum

and Jeff gets into the act too...

Proud to be a Mountaineer no matter where you are!

To be a winner, all you need to give is all you have.

We are so proud that Jacob WANTED to wear this on Monday night .

A happy family is but an earlier heaven. -George Bernard Shaw

The Abel Family 2010 NCAA National Championship Game

A Grief Observed

julieabel — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:02:03 +0000

“It is hard to have patience with people who say ‘There is no death’ or ‘Death doesn’t matter.’ There is death. And whatever is matters. And whatever happens has consequences, and it and they are irrevocable and irreversible. You might as well say that birth doesn’t matter.”
- C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed