The Aurora Century 16

Ian and I had just stepped out of the Dark Knight Rises midnight movie premiere. We were talking happily with our friends about how exhilerating the movie was and how much we had enjoyed it. We bid adieu to our friends and got into our car.

NPR was reporting a story live. The first thing we heard was something to the extent of "There are numerous ambulances and helicopters surrounding the area. So far we believe there are at least 10 confirmed dead."

"Hmm, must be the violence in Syria," Ian comments.

"We are reporting live from Aurora, CO where there has just been a mass shooting."

Our hearts dropped into our stomachs. Really? How could this happen? We were in shock and disbelief on the very short ride back to our house. Luckily the theater we had gone to was less than a mile from our home.

Lying in bed that night, it was difficult for me to fall asleep. You could say I was quite rattled - mostly because I remember lying in that exact same spot about a week ago when Ian and I made the decision that perhaps just saved our lives.

When we moved to Colorado from Waco TX, one of the things we were dismayed to see was how expensive the movie theaters were around Denver compared to Waco. The two major theaters in Waco cost $5.00 and $5.50 for a student evening ticket. The cheapest theater around our home in Colorado is $10 for an evening ticket. We could buy 2 tickets for that in Waco! Then we found the Century 16 theatre in Aurora. $6.50 for an evening ticket - that was more up our alley! So this theater became our usual go-to theater when there was a movie out we wanted to watch. The downside about this theater is that it is about 15 mins away, but it was still worth it to make the trip, even considering the gas money (believe me, my accountant husband did the calculations ;-) ). Because of the distance, a lot of times Ian and I would try to make a date out of it, so we would go to the Chili's or BJ's near the theater before heading into the movie.

So naturally, on this lazy Saturday morning lying in bed across from Ian, I told him I thought we should buy tickets to the Dark Knight Rises premier at the Aurora Century 16. Ian suggested we buy tickets at the theatre right across from our home - for $10.50 a piece. I wasn't a fan of the idea. The tickets here are almost double what it is in Aurora, but Ian brought up the point that I had work on Friday morning that I needed to get to, so it would be nice to shave 15 minutes of driving time. I thought "well, I'm going to be up till after 3 am in the theater... does 15 more minutes really make a difference?" Little did we know, it would mean all the difference in the world.

Somewhat relunctantly, I agreed to buy tickets at the theater across from our home.

After arriving home around 3:20 AM on Friday morning, Ian and I popped open our computers. We verified what had been terrifying our minds - it was the Century 16 Aurora. At that point I begin shaking.

Ian and I tearfully prayed together asking for God's protection, healing hand, and comfort over the victims and their families. And we incredulously thanked him for his protection over us.

I couldn't believe that God had so tangibly stuck out his hand and spared us from such unthinkable tragedy. Thoughts flooded my mind. Why did He do this? I'm not worthy of this. I feel guilty for continuoulsy thanking my God for protection when others weren't so lucky. Why couldn't he have reached out his loving hand and protected them?

But, I believe he did stick out his hand and protected many that night. Ian and myself included. But also many, many others who were in theater number 9 and the surrounding theaters. Whenever there is loss of life, it is a tragic thing regardless of the number. So far there have been 12 deaths, which is absolutely terrible in itself, but to compare that with the fact that there were about 58 others who were shot that are still alive and hundreds of others in the theater who escaped with no physical wounds, is something worth thanking God for.

This experience also convicted me. So many mornings I feel too tired to spend time with God. Pray to him, or read his Word. It is shameful. How could I not find it in myself to give a little bit of my time in my day completely to God when he just saved my life? Then I thought about it some more. Jesus Christ did, and God is continually, saving my life.

I didn't deserve to be spared from the tragedy of that Friday morning. No good deed I do ultimately makes me a more worthy person of saving. Neither did I deserve to have Jesus die on a cross for me so long ago, thereby freeing and saving my soul from eternal damnation.

We never deserve to be saved, but God does it anyway. And for that I am incredibly grateful. Who knows how many other times God has physically saved my (and everybody's) life, and we have no idea. He has probably kept us from so many accidents and has worked through police officers and others to keep us safe. I owe my soul, and my physical life, to the God who saves me -every day.

He has, in his infinite mercy, decided to give me another day to live. How can I not but rejoice and give thanks to him for every day that he has gifted to me?

Taking the Roads Less Travelled

When we booked our trip to Europe, we knew we would be renting a rental car, but we didn't quite know what we would be getting into by doing that. Even though time spent in that tiny, must-have-been-running-on-2-cylinders car were some of the most stressful and worrysome times of the trip, I wouldn't have had it any other way. And no, it wasn't just because you could go 150 mph on the autobahn - although Ian had some fun with that.

Then why?

Well maybe some of these photos will help explain. 

Because if you take a trip off the beaten autobahn, you see things like this everywhere you look.

Everything so serene.

  

And these places weren't hard to find.

Not to mention, some of the little towns were really cool.

As we travelled along towards the Czech Republic, we saw signs on the side of the highway occasionally pointing us to an area of interest... Museums, historical sites, parks... CASTLES.

Hmm, oh there's a castle coming up... and there's another one over there. No big deal.

WHAT?! Awesome! So we had to go check one out. This one coming up is called Meissen Castle located in, you guessed it, the tiny town of Mesisen. By the way, "castle" in German is "schloss." It's a good one to know. ;-)

So we took about a 15 mile detour, and at first we were scared we weren't going to be able to find it, but then we rounded the top of a hill and there it was!

 Meissen Castle.

 And the surrounding view of the countryside and the town of Meisen wasn't bad either...

And as if a gorgeous castle nestled in the German countryside wasn't breathtaking enough, the spot we happened to end at was a beautiful sprawling vineyard - complete with a little old lady tending to it.

So grateful for life's "detours."

From this point on we have entered the Czech Republic. Equally as beautiful.

We followed directions our printed-out Google maps gave us - we had no GPS. That is one of the biggest things I could recommend to someone that chooses to drive in Europe - bring a GPS that works internationally! We went on some crazy roads through the Czech Republic, and it's only by the grace of God we found our hotel in Prague... Google maps had us drive through some little hillside Czech towns that looked like they had been around since the 1400's (and the roads looked like they had not been updated since then, either).

Regardless, we got to where we needed to go, but even more importantly - we enjoyed the adventure along the way.

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. -Robert Frost

History and Beauty in Berlin

A big reason I wanted to start a blog in the first place was so that I could record and remember trips that my husband, Ian, and I have been on. He and I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, and before I forget everything that happened on our wonderful trip, I want to make sure it is recorded somewhere for me to look back on and for everyone to enjoy.

Berlin, Germany
May 9th, 10th and 11th - 2012

We were very happy to reach our hotel in the late afternoon of May 9th. It was quite nerve-wracking to be driving around a car you are unused to in a country that you've never driven in. We stayed at the Hotel Feuerwache.

A lovely little hotel. The man at the front desk was very friendly. Although there was a misunderstanding about which nights we would be staying, they invited us to sit at their cafe and order a drink on the house while they sorted the issue out.

 The hotel's cafe.

I miss European coffee, already.

We had such a charming little room. The window looked out onto a peaceful neighborhood. We left the window open all night, and it was so quiet. I still remember waking up with the birds singing softly to themselves outside.

The Hackescher Markt, one of the main market squares in Berlin. We met our walking tour group here, and had a nice tour around Berlin.

A memorial to the Jewish women of Berlin, who stayed strong and worked together to keep each other alive after many of the Jewish men were murdered or sent to concentration camps.

The Berlin Cathedral

A lovely lawn sprawls out in front of the Cathedral. It seems to be a popular place to read, study, and play frisbee.

"Palace Bridge" crossing into a more historic area of Berlin, the Bebelplatz.

Humboldt University

These chairs were placed here as a memorial. Upon most of the chairs lie books that were ordered to be burned or destroyed during Nazi rule. The chairs beckon people to sit down, read, and meditate on the literary and artistic freedoms they now are able to enjoy.

Ornate lamp-posts.

Throughout the city there is a line 2 bricks wide that silently reminds Berliners and tourists alike of the Berlin wall that used to be there.

Every wall is a challenge.

Murals on pieces of the Berlin wall.

Berlin memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe. The artist who designed the memorial intended the meaning to be up to individual interpretation. There was a solemn feel about the place.

The Brandenburg Gate, the central hub of Berlin.

There was a lush park near the Brandenburg Gate where we took a stroll. This park used to be the official hunting grounds for Nazi leaders.

The Reichstag, a very prominent building during the Nazi reign, and now the seat of German Parliament.

The head of Museum Island - a literal island completely covered in museums. We took a walk around the German History Muesum. It was a beautiful and comprehensive museum, we were only able to view about half of it before we had to leave!

This is the TV Tower, built in 1965 to be a symbol of Berlin. It is still the tallest structure in Germany.

Neptune fountain built in 1891.

I hope you enjoyed browsing these pictures; I promise, everything is even more breathtaking in person. Thank you, Berlin, for sharing your beauty and history with us.