Picture Perfect

Some photos for you this week of what we were up to the last few weekends in July.

We attended the dedication to Walt and Kim's newly built indoor-outdoor riding arena in Elbert, Colorado--a 20 minute drive from here. These are people Bryan works with, people we are becoming friends with.


They let the kids feed Levi some "cookies." Josh would have preferred a real cookie that he could eat. But feeding the horse was a satisfying second.




Walt and Kim are followers of Jesus, and their point in building this massive arena is to invite mothers and daughters to riding lessons as a ministry to them, and to have Bible studies with the Moms and the daughters are getting their lessons.

They've named the place "Glory Falls." Isn't that lovely?

So listen to this: The "official" part of the day had just begun with two riders giving a demonstration in the outdoor circle when the weather turned.

It was a sunny day. That part didn't change. . . But an amazing rain started to fall. "Amazing" because it was like a barrage of silver bullet rain drops was streaking down. The fell gently. But spectacularly. I could see each drop, they were that sparse. But I could see each drop! They were that big and shiny!

The guests all walked back inside.
Gemma, transfixed, walked outside.

Glory falls.








Last week, we went to Grand Lake with Miss Betsy and her family. They have been going to Grand Lake for many, many weekends throughout many, many years. If they aren't in town, they are most likely at Grand Lake.

Betsy and Amy (her daughter, who is now 18 and who graduated from high-school as a 100% homeschooler--congratulations, Amy!) told me that they have been looking forward to a trip to Grand Lake with us since a few months after we first met 4 years ago.

At last, our weekend arrived.

Grand Lake, Grand Lake, Grand Lake! So what is it?

It's a lake. It's gorgeous, like every other lake I've seen in Colorado. The drive out I-70 and then North is gorgeous, like every other Westward drive in Colorado we've made.

(What scenery?)

There is a little tourist town right along the lake, complete with wooden board walk and shop owners who've been in business long enough to watch Amy and TJ grow up. And there are cabins and lodges all around for the tourists to rent.


We stayed in a place that was right along a river. The kids would have been happy climbing on the river rocks for the whole 2 days we were there.

This is Amy, who says she used to skip from one side of the river to the other. But now she realizes she should have a modicum of caution.

A little bit older and a lot less bolder than you used to be, eh, Amy?




This is TJ, now 16. I notice Josh relating to him
more and more as a boy. This is the age when kids start to realize there is a difference between men and women. I'm glad Josh has a big brother like this.








RATS! I had a photo right here of Bryan and Terry (Miss Betsy's husband), but I hit "delete" one too many times and whamo! It's gone. Blogspot does not have great software for fiddling with photos, so I'm not going to try to re-load it.

My incompetence is your loss.

After the river rock scrambling, we walked around town for a bit. Had an ice cream cone. Then walked half a block down to the lake. The town was having some kind of festival. I still don't know what for. It included a bandshell and I was treated to a rythm and blues band concert.

Man. I could have listened to them the whole weekend.

Bryan swam with the kids in the lake. He insisted it was crazy-frigid-cold. But the kids kept playing in it. Something about youth doesn't register extremes.

As for me, doctor's orders: because of my port removal wound, swimming was verboten for a week.


There was a sandy beach to dig in, too. Aside from all this, the Burches had also brought their canoe with them. Gemma and Josh got a lot of rides that afternoon.

On Sunday morning, we rented a pontoon and toodled around the lake.

There were only a few other vessels to share it with, and many, many lake mansions to ogle, including a house Lucille Ball had built.

I liked imagining what the lake looked like before anyone had built anything. . .

Then Daddy asked Gemma if she wanted to drive.

It wasn't just a turn holding the steering wheel.

He gave her a full-blown nautical navigation lesson.

"When you're crossing another boat's path, maintain speed and direction."

"When you're approaching another boat head-on, always veer right."

"When you're passing a non-motorized vessel, reduce your wake."

It was. . . cute.

You-know-who was not to be out-done.

He waited so patiently for his turn. He watched Gemma intently. He was quiet the whole time Daddy was talking.

And then, when he sat down at the wheel, the very first thing he did was jam the geer into full speed.

He done drived that sucker!





Later in the afternoon, the town had a parade.

Our kids had never been to a parade! If we lived in a smaller town, this would not be. But the expected crowds at Colorado Springs affairs are, like, 70,000+ people.

I've yet to talk myself into dealing with that.

Parades are mentioned often enough in children's books, so they knew that the whole point was to stand on the side of the street while a bunch of stuff drives or walks or marches by.

Here's what they did not know about parades: These people who are driving and walking and marching by often throw candy.

Gemma and Joshua couldn't believe it! Candy! Being thrown! Into the street! At their feet! It's CANDY!

They're so simple, these kids.

I love it.

Gemma asked for a very special item to be her souveneir. It cost a bit more than what I think a souveneir should cost, but it fit her so well, I couldn't resist. And she had gotten the idea from our time at the rodeo, so I felt glad to oblige. (Oh, I haven't told you about the rodeo? Next week, then, friends. Next week.)

I bought it for her. She wore it all weekend. Something about it seems perfect. Maybe you'll agree.

We left Grand Lake on Sunday afternoon, about 4:00, for a 3 hour drive home. We've learned that the biggest component of a great weekend getaway in the Mountains if your trip includes I-70 is to beat Denver traffic.

We timed it pretty well and slipped home right behind the bulk of the congestion. The 3 hour trip ended up being 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Not bad at all.

Being pleased about a un-snarled drive home after a weekend of such pleasure?

Yep. We're pretty simple, too.