November / December

Hello Again!

Well, since Halloween, November and December have been quite busy with various activities, but it has been a lot of fun and very memorable. In early November, one of Don's close friends married a very special lady and I would show some pictures of them but I also want to respect their privacy so you're stuck with just these:

After Thanksgiving, a small town named Beaver Creek had their annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree celebration to where all the little kids go nuts as Santa skates across the rink to light the tree. This night was a lot of fun as they had a huge firework display and Christmas Carrol's sung by groups spread throughout the place. Afterwards, Don and I found this Sushi restaurant and ate octopus, squid, and who-knows what else was inside - but I might add that it was very very delicious!

As some of you know, I have purchased my very first pair of skis and boots, and in the beginning of December, Don and I went skiing in Breckenridge. The snow was so awesome and my skis fit perfectly and a blast! I am so glad that I bought them. As we were skiing along, we found the "Enchanted Forest", which is a haunted trail full of ghosts, witches, graveyards, and spooky buildings. As you can see from the pictures below, we definitely amused ourselves and had a lot of fun.

This last weekend, I took a road-trip North to a city called Steamboat Springs, to where a natural hot-springs exists. This hot water that comes out of the mountain flows into various pools of different temperatures to suit your particular preference. As the afternoon passed, more people came, but I should forewarn you that after dark bathing suits are optional; luckily I left before then. :)

This last Wednesday, I also made the trip to Denver to do my Christmas shopping, then later took a stroll downtown Denver and the famous 16th Street with live music and lights. I had a blast driving through all the traffic and looking at all the Christmas lights strung throughout the streets. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to meet up with my brother or close friends, but I still had a good time and enjoyed the entire day.

Some of you have asked if I even work at all because you never see any pictures, so here are two that were taken. One of our anesthesiologists was having a rough day, so in order to make him smile two nurses and I formed "Team Hagaback" in honor of him. Everyone at work is so awesome and I am blessed to work right besides them.

I hope you all have a VERY wonderful Christmas and am blessed with the company of family and friends! May we not become too distracted with this busy season, but always remember our Saviour who came to die for our sins and create a way for us to come to God. I am so excited, for I am leaving this Saturday to spend a week with my family for an early Christmas. I will write again in 2007!!!

Month of October

Hello Everyone!

I appologize for taking so long again to update this blog. Life has been very busy for me and challenging, but it has been good. I cannot believe that I have been here 2 1/2 months and feels so much shorter than that - almost as though I have barely blinked my eyes. I do enjoy life here, but at the same time I have missed Montana as home: my family, and dear close friends. Yet even with that, everyone here has been very wonderful and super nice. For those of you who do not know, I have signed on another contract to help this hospital throughout the winter season and will finish sometime in March. Winter has definately set in and as soon as I get some pictures I will update that as well. Most of the ski resourts have opened and supposedely this weekend Vail Ski Mountain is supposed to open - to the absolute joy of everyone here. I am very excited for this ski season for I have bought my very first pair of skiis and boots and am dying to try them out sometime soon. Anyway, below are some pictures of what has happend, but I need to be taking much more to show all of you.

Last month, the Dommer Family came up from Denver to stay at their Time-Share - to which I stayed with them that weekend in Breckonridge. It was very relaxing and a wonderful time. My brother was going to try to make it, but due to school was not able to. I keep hoping to make a trip down to Denver to see him and others, but unfortunately that hasn't happened yet.

A couple weekends ago my good friend Don took me out to the Sweet Basil restaurant, which is a very fancy North-American cuisine and to-die-for food with quite the artistic arrangements. That night it snowed so much that interstate was closed and many people were stranded until the next day when the roads could be plowed; still, it was a beautiful winter-wonderland and the perfect night to head out. Don is a very sincere, strong christian whom I admire in many ways and has helped made life feel more like home. I am greatful for having someone who loves the Lord and who has a huge heart for the people in this valley.

For Halloween, one of the nurses that I work with had a "Pumkin-carving party" to which was very fun. She went to so much work in creating quite the halloween foods and provided everything needed to carve the perfect pumkin. :)

The pumkin on the upper left is the one that I carved; all the other pumkins are ones that the others had carved.

For those of you who pray, here are some things that you can keep in mind. Please pray that God will continually use me and that I will not loose focus of the real reason of why I am here and that is to share the gospel and living out the light that God has called me to be. Sometimes I feel alone - but that is when key friends like Don and Shae are huge encouragements and blessings to me. There are a few surgeons who contstantly challenge my faith - which I encourage them to do, but sometimes I do not know the answers and feel beaten. I know that it is good and healthy for me because it then makes me search out the real reason why I believe the things that I do. Through this and other ways, God is really refining who I am and that has been challenging but good and I am thankful for that. I ask prayer that I will not let my heart become discouraged by the challenging things I face, but that I will continually stand firm in Faith in the Lord - my life is for my God and I don't want to become distracted and loose focus or passion.

Pictures from the last 3 weeks!

Hello Everyone! Here are some pictures from the last 3 weeks and the things that I have been doing. On September 22- 24 it snowed like crazy - Vail ended up with 3-4 inches, and the top of the pass had around 7 inches. That snow was so much fun and making a "snow-bear" was a blast. Although the snow is gone now, I am looking forward for winter with all of the various out-door activities!

After that weekend, the weather warmed up again as the snow melted revealing the extremely beautiful aspen trees. Considering the facts that the leaves wouldn't be on much longer, I decided to take a road trip with 2 of my really good friends from work: Shae and Don. This road trip started from Vail, headed South through Leadville, over Independence Pass to Aspen. Below are some of the pictures that were taken of these gorgeous mountains:

Shae is such an incredible and awesome person. She is so full of life and joy, but her heart for the Lord is rich. Being able to spend the whole day with her made me smile and laugh so big inside :)

Top of Independence Pass: 12,095 feet.

Pictures between the Pass and Aspen:

Aspen, Colorado

Outside of Aspen are the famous Marroon Bells. These moutains get their name from the maroon colored rock and the fact that the mountains are shaped somewhat like bells. If ever passing through Aspen, I highly recommend stopping here for a breath-taking view:

After sight-seeing Maroon Bells, we traveled North to Glenwood Springs:

At the very top of the mountain they have a gravity-pulled rollercoaster ride built upon the mountain-side. This ride is such a blast because you can control how fast or slow you choose to go. Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed and the caves competely booked for viewing.

Living here in Vail, Colorado has been such a blessing to me in many many ways and I am so very thankful to be here. Actually, I have re-signed for another assignment which will keep me here till March or so. God has been using my life in many different ways and has become so real and alive to me. I have joined the worship team at Vail Bible church and am playing their grand piano and singing with 2 other guys who play the guitar and sing. I have also become very good friends with my next door neighbors and many people from work. Without a doubt in my mind, I know this is the place where God wanted me to be and what an awesome and incredible road it's been so far! :)