Good-bye, Colorado!

We got back from the mountains and went to Mindy's place.

After a little rest, it was time to get ready for company.

The guys were grilling.

Jason's brother, Brandon came.  Also Simon, our nephew and his girlfriend, Morgan, and Julie, Al's sister.  Bear enjoyed the company!  He was sure they would drop food on the floor for him!

There was LOTS of KU talk, as we all have either been to school there, or lived in Lawrence, or are KU fans.

The next morning, we said our good-byes.  Good-bye kids, good--bye, Denver.

Good-bye, mountains!

Hello plains!

 We talked and laughed all the way!

Julie had never been to St. Fidelis Basilica in Victoria, Ks.

We HAD to stop and show her!

We stopped to pick up our car.  Jason had washed the mud off the wheels.  Thank You Jason!!  Then he went to feed the kitties so that no kitties were under the hood of the car when we left.

 All safe!  Good-bye, Julie!

"You're embarking on a lifelong spiritual journey.  It's a pilgrimage that will follow a different path from that of anyone else who has ever desired to grow closer to God.  The prayers you pray, how quickly you mature, the battles you fight, the challenges you overcome, and the person you become will all add up to a one-of-a-kind adventure.  Look to God instead of comparing yourself to others to guage how far you've come and what direction you're headed next."

 - From Everyday Inspiration from Psalm 23

"Blessed are those whose strength is in You, 

whose hearts are set on pilgrimage."  

                                                                                            Psalm 84:5  NIV

The Continental Divide and back

After a night at Snowmass, we drove into Aspen.

 We stopped at Starbucks for good coffee and a scone.

 A magpie

Jason drove us back to Denver on a different route 

than we came in on so we could see other scenery.

 An avalanche took out some trees here.

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
       let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.
For the Lord is the great God,
            the great King above all gods.
In His hand are the depths of the earth,
   and the mountain peaks belong to Him."
                         Psalm 95:1-4

 We were so glad that Mindy said we needed to take our winter coats!  We saw plenty of other visitors who did not have enough covering for the bitter cold and wind!

 Can you tell Al does NOT like cold?!  The scenery was beautiful though!!

 Could you imagine traveling over the pass in this old vehicle? 

Allen's dad did just that when he was a little boy,

 as he travelled with his parents and grandfather to California.

Great Grandpa Graber on the right, with Grandma B. (Edna Ruth) and Aunt Helen (the little girl on the right) on their trip west.  I don't know where Grandpa B is or Al's dad.  Maybe he was taking a nap. 

How about going over the pass in a stage coach?!

 The Arkansas River (pronounced Ar- Kansas where we live!! not Arkansaw) starts here in eastern Colorado.  It comes close to where we live.  In highschool, Al and I swam in it.

 We stopped along the way in Leadville.

 Back onto highway 70 and then we stopped at this restaurant to eat before going back to Mindy and Jason's.

As we were eating, I noticed that my necklace was missing!  My chain had broken and the pendant  was gone!  I am guessing that I must have lost it somewhere in the mountains!  How sad.  On this pendant is my favorite Bible verse, Psalm 16:11, that a friend made for me.

Well, hopefully someone will find it and will enjoy it!

You fill me with

JOY

in 

Your 

PRESENCE!

Psalm 16:11