Summer Vacation Part 1

Author's Note:  Prior to diving into this post you may want to grab a comfy chair and cool drink!  It's a long one!!

Last week we took a crazy road trip for our summer vacation.  We weren't certain what we were going to do during the week Craig had scheduled off.  We were on the fence about if we wanted to just stay put and save the money in case we sold our house, or if we should just press on and enjoy a week of family adventures.  By the time the first day rolled around, we decided we would do a couple of day trips.  Maybe and overnight or two.Perhaps a camping trip. So on Saturday, we jumped in the car and headed to Estes Park  via the back way.  It was a beautiful trip that we had never done before.  The mountains have received quite a bit of moisture, so everything was so green and lush and the rivers are raging!  Of course I don't have photos of this to share with you so I guess you'll just have to go for yourself!  As we were making our way home we decided to take a detour to one of our favorite burrito joints in Fort Collins.  Big City Burrito.  The best and biggest wrap we've tasted.  We've been going since college and introduced it to the kids when they were little.  Now they ask us often if we can go.  It's a bit of a drive from home, but we've been  known to do it a time or two!

 

On Sunday, we woke up late and missed church.  We were still very tossed about what the plans were for the week.  By noon we had made a decision.  We  packed the suitcase with a few days worth of clothes, the cooler with some ice and drinks and jumped in the car.  We had a few places in mind that we wanted to go--The Great Sand Dunes, Ignacio and Ouray, to see if we could learn any more about Chief Ouray [a peace maker from the 1800's that Caleb studied in school] and the Grand Canyon. 

The Dunes turned out to be super windy with sand blowing in our faces and pelting us on the legs.  Along with a few thundershowers and no water running through the creek, we decided to hit to road.  Just a few miles away is a fantastic hike to Zapata Falls.  We've done it a couple of other times, but the kids couldn't remember so we reminded them just how fantastic is was!

 

After a good nights rest, we ventured on to Ignacio and Ouray.  We caught up with another hike adjacent to a rest area called Treasure Falls.  BEAUTIFUL!!

We stopped in Ignacio to find Chief Ouray's gravesite, but after searching the entire graveyard, we had no luck.  So, we pressed on to Ouray.  What a fantastic mountain town.  Loved everything about it.  Especially the bike outside one of the shops!

Just love this bike!

Where do you live?  On the corner of 5th and 5th!

  We new we couldn't make it to the Grand Canyon from Ouray given the time we had left, so we ended up sleeping in Cortez.  We made it there around 8:00 after driving thru some pretty barren land for many hours, so we stopped by Wendy's for dinner.  Unfortunately, during the meal we a little incident that landed us here at 10:00 at night.

Please don't be fooled by the smile.  The pain was awful

Now I am sure you are wondering why a trip to Wendy's landed us in the ER in a small town in Southwestern Colorado. You see my wonderful Mann has a tendency to get things in his eye. Easily.  This is actually his 3rd trip to the ER for having a foreign object in the eye.  He's also been to the regular doctor a time or two for a flushing!  Well let me just say, I was so grateful this town even had a hospital! Now we aren't certain exactly what it was that landed in the eye this time, as the doctor said Craig actually got it out prior to arriving, but we are thinking it had to be a small part of a french fry or even better, a piece of salt! After a few crazy questions, an exam under the black light, and some fantastic numbing drops, the doc did determine he had definitely scratched the cornea. Again. By 11:00 they let us leave and carry on with our adventures! 

The next morning we ventured to one of the world's natural wonders.  The Grand Canyon.  Not much to say here except WOW!

Just a couple of great kids!

Absolute Beauty!

After three great days, it was decision time.  Do we go home or do we press on?

To be continued...

All in God's Timing

For the past week, we have been traveling across our state and into New Mexico (briefly albeit), Arizona, and Utah. It was a last minute decision last Sunday and we returned home on Friday.  It was an extremely eventful trip and I promise to update (with photos later this week!)  But the biggest shock came when the phone rang while walking around Las Vegas.  It was our realtor, Diana.  She had to leave a message as our cell phone service carrier has shotty coverage in the downtown Vegas area.  Much to our surprise, an offer came in.  It wasn't exactly what we were hoping for, but after one counter we signed the paperwork yesterday and sold our home at full asking price!  Wow.  With just two weeks left before we were to pull it off the market we actually sold our home.  A true testimony to allowing God to be in control.  I had to leave the state to stop thinking about the process.  As soon as I was relaxed and no longer thinking about it, we get an offer.  Praise God!  I can see him laughing at me as I write this, saying, "I was wondering when you were going to let Me take care of you!"

On a side note here is little something that is rather interesting:

• We put our house on the market 12.16
• We signed the contract to sell on 7.16
• Our closing is scheduled for 8.16
• Craig and I have been married for 16 years.
• We met when we were 16 years old.
• Yesterday we viewed our 16th property.  It wasn't the one, but there is one or two that could work out...one in particular, but only God's timing will let us know if it is the one or not!!  

I am not a numbers person, but I did find this to be kind of crazy!  A least a fun story to share with you all!

Summer Hockey League

 Caleb has been playing inline hockey since he was in first grade.  It is truly one his favorite things to do. In all of the games I have been to throughout the years, I have never been to one quite like this one. It was a hoot! It started 15 minutes late because over half of his team was on vacation.  In fact, in order for them to be able to play, they had to recruit players from a different team. This was the last game of the evening and while there is normally a pee wee league playing at the same time, tonight there wasn't.  This took me a little off guard because for the first time ever, the rink was actually quiet.  I must say it felt a bit awkward to even cheer the kids on.  Usually the place is filled with energy and excitement.  However, tonight was truly an exception.  By half time, all of the players were exhausted from not having any line changes.  But the best part of the game came when there was just 7 minutes left to play.  Coach Pete blew the whistle for an impromptu time out so that our team's goalie could use the bathroom!  When I looked up this is what I saw.










The players taking a rest on the rink--probably grateful for the break from playing the entire game.  In the end Caleb's team one 5-3.  This makes for an undefeated season!  Just 7 games left.  Good Luck Flyers!

Summer Blooms

Just about this time each year, my daisies bloom.  It's like clockwork. The reason I know this is because it happens right around the time I celebrate my birthday.  This year it was about a week after.  Last year it was about a week before.  I just love the freshness of these daisies.  I planted the bunch below the year we moved into our current home.  They have matured quite nicely.  The bunch above I transplanted last summer.  They are considerably smaller than the original bunch, but it reminds me the with all good things a little bit of time can do wonders!

 A few years back I planted these lovelies.  Can't remember exactly what they are.  Picked them up at the local Lowe's when I was feeling the need to fill in the planting bed under our favorite tree--a purple autumn ash.  They have filled in like crazy and I just love them.  In fact, I think my neighbor has an even better close up of them.  The best part about them is that they bloom all summer long.  While summer has never really been my favorite time of year, there are a few simple pleasures that I can appreciate--summer blooms being one of them!

Home Care

While our house is on the market until the end of this month, I am not convinced we are truly going to sell at this point, so I have decided to go ahead and start some projects.  For the past 7 months I--the project queen--have been in complete limbo waiting to find out if we are going to be moving or not.  Of course I do not have a crystal ball, but I just kept saying to myself, why put anymore effort into this home if I won't be living here.  What a horrible attitude.  In the event we do end up selling this home, wouldn't it be nice to leave the new home owners with a fresh coat of paint here or there?  I am sure they would appreciate it.  So, I woke up yesterday and adjusted my poor attitude!  I decided to pull out my trusty old paintbrushes and  my paint bucket (of course I didn't go and buy any new paint---yet!!!) and I proceeded to start a project--FINALLY!!

I am sure you are dying to know what I decided to paint first!  Well, don't get too excited.  Many people won't even notice, because after 9 years, I decided it was time to freshen up the trim and doors in this well loved home!  This time, I am definitely going with a semi-gloss.  While the satin is washable, the ground in dirt from the many children (and adults!) that pass through the doorways simply doesn't wash off very well. So, while the thrill of redoing a room still taps at my heart, I will just have to wait a little bit longer.

In the meantime, my crafty do-it-yourselfer mentality can be somewhat satisfied knowing that my OCD cleaner mentality will be happy today!

A Fresh Start

While I have been blogging for a while, I am recently coming back from a break. I was under the mindset that making regular posts was a bit time consuming. Yet, now that I have been away from it for a while, I am finding that it is really a great way to journal.  Not only for myself but for my family, we well.  So...

I am back!

In recent months I have been in a place of waiting...

• waiting to find out if our family will be making a move and if our home will sell
• waiting to start some home improvement projects
• waiting for some motivation to take better care of myself

But in all honestly,  I am really waiting to learn how to live my life with balance.

During this time of waiting, I have learned much about myself.  I am a control freak who lacks much patience.   I have never been a patient child.  In fact, I would say I am more like a toddler.  I want what I want, and I want it now!  However, my Father is growing me up in this area.  He is a great teacher that way!  Patient enough to wait for me to figure out what He wants for me next!  For this I am so thankful.  I don't deserve His love, but it is a gift that I will accept graciously! I do not yet know what changes are in store for our family, but I know that the Lord is good and that He will not give us more than we can handle.

Until next time...