Nothing Much to Say . . . But I'll Say it Anyway

It's been a cold spring in the Rockies. We get occasional days of sunshine, but most of those were accompanied by wind. But the flowers are perking along and making life more enjoyable. I know I take pictures every year, but I just can't resist. The daffodils are especially great this year - many new varieties DC planted last fall.











































It's supposed to be very warm this next week - like our usual turning from winter into summer overnight - we'll see!


The new header picture was taken by DC with his new panoramic capability - we took advantage of one of the sunny days. I had some fun with my camera, too, but I don't take as good shots as my photographer husband. Based on the amount of snow on all the peaks, we'll be having good reservoir amounts this summer.




















Many folks have come out here on vacation, driven by this spot on the lake on their way up to the mountains, and decided to move here lock stock and barrel.

On a totally different note, Miss Katie loves playing hide and seek with Grandma.

My sister and I have fun finding good books and sharing them with each other. She found this one - has anyone read Room by Emma Donoghue? It's the story of a young woman who was kidnapped at age 19 and hidden away in a 12x12 room for 7 years, giving birth to two children by her captor, one of whom survives and is a 5 year old boy. She did a fabulous job of teaching him and keeping him healthy under horrendous conditions. I don't know if she had Jaycee Dugard in mind when she wrote it, but that's the first thing I thought of. I don't want to give anything away, in case you'd like to read it, but I just loved this observation after they were "outside" for a week or so.

In the world I notice persons are nearly always stressed and have no time. Even Grandma often says that, but she and Steppa don't have jobs, so I don't know how persons with jobs do the jobs and all the living as well. In Room, me and Ma had time for everything. I guess the time gets spread very thin like butter over all the world, the roads and houses and playgrounds and stores, so there's only a little smear of time on each place, then everyone has to hurry on to the next bit.

Kevin will be home two weeks from tomorrow for a couple of weeks - preparing with Angie for her move to Maine. A friend will fly in Memorial Day week-end to help them drive their things on the long journey. This is a huge step of faith for them - faith that she will find a job once she is there. She has had such good interviews by phone, but it isn't the same as being there. Please pray for them - this is a mammoth move!

Heaven is Richer Today

Many years ago, before we were even married, Dwight and I were the sponsors of the youth group in our church. One day we learned that a young preacher from New York was going to be in a small town in Eastern Colorado for a rally. His name was David Wilkerson and he had written a book called The Cross and the Switchblade, about a man named Nicky Cruz.

David had left a very nice pastoral position in a rural area of Pennsylvania, because he felt God calling him to New York City to work with troubled youth - it was in the 50s and the drug culture was just beginning. Nicky was a gang leader, and threatened David's life. Nicky was won to the Lord through the love shown to him by David. He has subsequently written many books and has a ministry as well. David Wilkerson, besides many other facets of ministry, began Teen Challenge. Nicky Cruz eventually became the director of that drug recovery program.

Little did we know that, years later, Teen Challenge would become a huge part of our lives. We never dreamed, before our marriage, that our lives would become so enmeshed with the horrific consequences of drugs. Teen Challenge is a hard program. But with God's intervention, and through Teen Challenge, Kevin's life was saved. We are so thankful.

I was so sad to learn last night of the death of David Wilkerson in a head on car crash in Texas. I was sad. But then I realized he is now where he's been preparing himself and so many others to spend eternity. When I read the article, I clicked on his blog, which he had written for yesterday, the day he died. Please take time to read it, too. He knew where he was going, and now he's there.

Grandpa and His Girls

I have shared about my town and its love affair with bronze sculptures. We have a lovely park within walking distance of my house, where many sculptures live - some are beautiful, some are ugly (in the eye of this beholder), some are very realistic, and some are extremely abstract. Every August, the park turns into an outdoor exhibition hall, where people come from all over the world, some to show their works, others to buy, and many more to just look and enjoy.

The girls, all 4 of them, love to go to this park and visit the sculptures, and to play on them. There is a special children's section full of really great ones.

One day last week, there was an article in our paper about an elk that had come way down here into the west end of town - there are many elk running around Estes Park, coming down from the mountains into that tourist town - but it is 30 miles up the canyon from us. This one ended up in this park, and he seemed to like the children's section, too.

A couple of years ago I did a post about this wonderful piece, and its creator. The elk liked it, too.

So, back to the subject at hand - the other day the big girls were at a birthday party, so Grandpa gave the each of the littles one of his caps, got out the trusty double stroller, and took them to the sculpture park. Grandpa is totally great at coming up with adventures for all the girls. They were gone for a very long time, and I was so glad I had sent my camera with him when they finally got back. They had an absolutely wonderful time, which he did a great job of chronicling for me.

First they checked out their favorite art pieces --

Time for a bit of a rest --





Strolling down the path to their next adventure, large rocks in hand ---

Making lunch for Grandpa - mac and cheese and hot dogs --








Off to another path - this time with walking sticks - they LOVE sticks --






They headed into the "jungle" - Grandpa is too tall to go with them and Emma
takes his hand and says, "Come on Grandpa, you can do it!"

























At their final destination, after a peaceful stroll --




If a lot of dirt indicates a great time was had, then this was a terrific afternoon!

I absolutely love watching their little imaginations at work - they make toys out of anything, and create fun out of everything. And they have the greatest grandpa who helps them create their adventures.