Friends, family & neighbors...I would like to introduce you to a very special little girl, Cami Kinser. She has been diagnosed with lymphoma at the young age of 10. I first learned of her when my sister asked me to create a piece of art for her with her favorite bible verse for her room to encourage her while she battled cancer. 

I wanted to do more, so I decided to find ways to help her family pay her medical bills. Having been faced with enormous medical bills for our own daughter, I can empathize with their fight. There are several ways you can help. (1) if you would just like to donate money to the family you can visit a link I have set up to collect donations for them athttp://www.gofundme.com/KinserMedicalFund or click directly on the link to your right in my blog.

(2) you can purchase a print of the art "believe" ($30) I made especially for Cami or a set of notecards ($15), just contact me locally or msg me 


(3) if you don't live here in the local area and would like to purchase, you can visit my etsy store and purchase the "believe" print (shown above)


(4) if you know any local businesses who would like to help in any way, please contact me.


(5) you can share this link with others you know via email, facebook, twitter.


 Thank you in advance for your help!!! 

Around Here...

around here...we are enjoying "cooler" temperatures in the high 80s instead of the record-breaking heat we had at the beginning of the month.

around here...I have been perusing my cookbooks for new recipes to cook, made jalepeno hummus from our garden jalepenos, and canned pickles from our cucumbers.

around here...I am working hard to organize, brand and create a new look and website for Kirsten Reed Designs which I hope to launch by the end of August.

around here...I have been on a creative binge, painting almost everyday and loving my new creations (not always the case).

around here...Ben is getting ready to leave to spend 10 days with my parents (which he loves) and I will have 10 long days of missing him!

around here...Sarah has been busy with soccer tryouts and is nervous about making the team as the coach informed them he will have to cut about 1/4 of the girls. I am praying she makes it ~ it will break her heart!

around here...Ben and I have been working on our biggest puzzle yet, a 2,000 piece Coca-Cola puzzle. We are about halfway finished.

around here... there is already back to school emails in my mailbox and paperwork on my desk to fill out before orientations on August 1 and the first day of school on August 10.


around here...my office is in need of a desperate extreme makeover as I dodge piles on the floor of 'things to do'.


around here...Vince has been working and traveling as usual.


around here...I found out two more of my close friends are moving away and I am wondering what my year will look like without them.


around here...I am savoring my last few days of summer with my kids and trying not to be too busy with other stuff so I can embrace the moments.

Been Absent...

My grand plans for documenting every day of our Planes, Trains and Automobiles trip failed miserably. Partly because we had no internet connection most of the trip and partly because by the time we did, we were homeward bound and I was overwhelmed with the whole "back to reality" phase of life.  Two days after we came back from our 18 day trek, I flew to Florida for a reunion with classmates from my high school in Germany (more on that in another post).  So you see, I was REALLY busy.

So what to do ~ now that it has been more than a month since the MOST AMAZING trip ever!?? Well, I thought I would break it down into two posts ~ this one with a slideshow of the sights we saw, and a second one with some insight on "things we learned" with input from the whole family. We really are a funny family ~ something I discovered on this journey.

Here is a slideshow of our trip ~ above, because I could not get it to cooperate and embed into this post. (my apologies for my lack of techie knowledge) enjoy!

 Recipe for Memorable Train Trip... PTA Day Four

It’s the “T” part of  our Planes, Trains and Automobile trip.  A long train ride from Denver to Sacramento, California. 

Take one crazy ride to train station (almost got lost), have oldest child use her high-tech phone to get you to the station;

Add in:

Four backpacks. (okay, and several carry-ons ~ I can NOT pack light!!)

Fold in:

Beautiful mountains, canyons and yes, lots of  “moons” along the ride (and I don't mean the kind in the sky)

Stir together:

Two sleeper cabins and two very silly kids

Mix in:

Lots of game playing and laughter.

Bake for:

30 hours of together time….you will get Memories that Last Forever. Serves 4.

Here are some photos that capture it all:

The Olympic Spirit...P.T.A (Planes, Trains & Automobiles) Continues

Today we made some time to visit the Olympic Training Center. It was an amazing complex with several gyms for training US athletes.  I found the video to be the most inspiring as you see these athletes devote so much time for one event, one day in hopes of a medal hanging around their neck.  The complex itself is impressive with several gyms and top-notch equipment donated by corporate sponsors for the athletes. They even have a cafeteria that serves food that has apparently beat out every Ritz-Carlton in taste tests.

Here are a few snapshots from our visit to the Olympic Training Center.

Future Olympic Soccer Star? :)

 Watch Out USA Bobsled team!!! Here come the Reed & Rush team!

We hit the Peak...P.T.A. Day Two

DAY TWO

After a relaxing morning, we learned a new card game, Aggravation and a fun dice game to play on the train. 

Then it was off to see Pike's Peak.  Here are all of us on the Cog Train that took us up to the summit.

At the summit ~ temperature was 34 degrees with a wind chill of 25.  Sarah and Ben were freezing and not loving it sooo much!

The view was fantastic.

And the famous homemade donuts ~ simply amazing.

We saw these little bottles of oxygen being sold at the bottom, so we decided to purchase one just for the novelty of it.  At $8 a bottle, we decided it was a rip off, but something we would probably never do again.  It looked like we were teaching our kids how to do drugs as we huffed in the oxygen!

Then it was off to the Rush's house (younger Rushes) to enjoy a cookout and honor Trevor's service of 20 years in the military. We were greeted with lovely homemade signs, treats and chocolates on our beds and our own chilled waters for hydration.

Our awesome host and hostess! Cheers!

A little Rockband after a long day!

 The whole gang in a group shot!

 It was a great Day Two...thank you Rush family for all the wonderful hospitality!

And we're off... P.T.A. Day One

Let the crazy trip of a lifetime begin....Day One of our Planes, Trains & Automobiles (P.T.A.)

Our trip began with mixed emotions ~ excitement for our long-awaited adventure and sadness to say goodbye to our sweet "weekend daughter" and Sarah's best friend Amber.

We hopped on a plane to Denver. I felt like I was a contestant in the Amazing Race with my cool backpack. (Not so much with my purse, laptop and rolling suitcase full of snow clothing though!!)

After some sobbing at the gate, we all slept a bit on the flight and arrived to a warm welcome from Aunt Cindy. We journeyed to their house in the hills and enjoyed a wonderful homemade lunch.

Ben was excited about the extended loan of a digital SLR and snapped away from the time we landed. Plus he loved seeing the horses, he loves animals.

We met Banjo and Mandy. 

I think Mandy wanted us to stay and pet her longer, I think.

After visiting the horses, we ventured through the rest of the "hood" and saw llamas; Uncle Charlie even picked me a small bouquet of Colorado wildflowers. I am loving the orange ones. They are Indian  Paintbrushes. Cool, eh?

And then we ended the first day of our trip with a visit and toast from the younger Rushes. 

A perfect day.

Cheers!