Summer Reading Program

No words are adequate for how pleased I am with the Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD)! During the school year, we spent almost every Thursday afternoon at the Fountain library. Every other week we had a unique science lesson and hands-on experiments and, on in-between weeks, we made some cool crafts with lots of creative freedom. The kiddos looked forward to it each week and hated to miss.

This summer, we signed up for the summer reading program and it certainly hasn't disappointed either! Both kids love reading and being read to, but the logging of reading time and the prize earning have been so motivating! I'm taking some tips from that into our school plans for next year! ;)

Each week this summer, we are able to participate in free events, sponsored by various public libraries all around the city, in conjunction with summer reading. We have seen some great shows for sure! Below are some pics of shows we have seen and participated in over the past few weeks...

Tiger "Lilly" Sanford

We are excited to announce an addition to our family...

Born: February 11, 2013

Adopted into our family: June 13, 2013

Weight at adoption (6/13): 3.2 pounds

Weight at vet check (6/20): 3.7 pounds

She has won the hearts of all 4 of us, and has become great friends with Mollie. What a blessing and an easy transition!

Lilly is a playful kitten, and so gentle! Her favorite activity, though, is being held and cuddled an napping in sunlight!

Welcome to our home, Lilly! We look forward to lots of fun days with you and lots of love and snuggles, too! You are one LOVED kitty!

Team Gary!

Prayer warrior, family friend, and financial supporter of our ministry in Colorado is in need of a strong team of prayer warriors of his own. Gary East of Huntsville, Alabama has been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer in the past couple of weeks. He has begun a super potent chemotherapy regimen that will continue twice a week for 12 weeks. Devastating diagnosis for him and his wife, as well as extended family, including our friends Matt and Emily Eckley of www.eckley.blogspot.com (Emily is Gary's daughter). You can read Gary's story and get updates at www.caringbridge.org/visit/GaryEast and we would love to have you join us and others around the globe as we pray for healing, pain relief, courage, stamina, strength, and rest for Gary. You can join Team Gary through simple acts of daily prayer. Take it a step further and make a simple Team Gary sign and send in a photo to theeckleys@aol.com. Details about "Where in the World is Team Gary?" and all submitted photos can be found at www.teamgary.blogspot.com. These prayers and pictures will be such an encouragement to this family, even if you don't know them personally! Lets be the church universal and pray big, believing, and submit lots of photos.

"I lift my eyes up to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, maker of Heaven and Earth." Psalm 121:1-2

"Higher than the mountains that I face, stronger than the power of the grave, constant in the trials and the change, this one thing remains...Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me. On and on and on and on it goes. And it overwhelms and satisfies my soul. And I never ever have to be afraid, because this one thing remains...Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me!"

Praying as a small part of team Gary, from the "highest of heights"! We love y'all!

Zoo Fun

This week, we were able to attend a members-only night at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Turns out, this is the perfect time to go! Very small crowd, after hours so nice and cool, and lots of extra learning and fun, with no money due!

We took along some friends' children and all four kids enjoyed the evening so much.  We were able to see an elephant demonstration. Elephants are super smart and we were able to learn that elephants purr loudly when happy! Lucky had a really loud purr when getting treats!

We walked around the new Africa exhibit mostly...elephants, lions and meerkats. We took a picnic dinner and ate near the monkeys, almost having to share our dinner with a pushy peacock. Ha

The kids rode the carousel twice and had their faces painted before we left. Alex chose to be a hawk, and Reagan chose a lion. A zoo worker even let them ride a golf cart and help him fill some misters to prepare for the next day.

What a wonderful evening we enjoyed! More members-only events coming this summer. We will be back!

Crazy Great Vacation 2013

What a blessing the kids and I were able to be in the great state of Alabama for 24 days! Once you pack and fly, you may as well stay a while, right?

We flew into Atlanta on Mothers Day afternoon and my Daddy treated us all to a late lunch at TGIFridays! Yummy gluten free choices so I was so happy to find it!

We then spent a couple of days in Tuscaloosa, where Reagan and I got much needed haircuts and we re-packed to head south. We were blessed with a full week at Orange Beach with Slash and Mimi and we had some serious fun in the sun! On the way to the beach, I stopped in Demopolis to attend our house closing in person! 

We are no longer home owners...praise be to God!! The weather at the beach couldn't have been more perfect, all week long! We had so much fun!

We drove from the beach to Demopolis, where I focused a day and a half on letting the kids enjoy time with some friends they've missed. We had an awesome host home with great friends and we ate, played, even trekked to the sportsplex to cheer on some friends!

I was able to attend DHS graduation bc some more of "our kids" have grown up on us. Proud of y'all!! I had dinner with an awesome friend, then drove to Tuscaloosa late that Friday night, to repack and head to Birmingham to pick up Eric from the airport. He was able to join us for 9 days!

We went to Boaz for the night, and were blessed with wonderful hospitality, a chance to update FBC Boaz (one of our supporting churches) on our church planting journey. Much of our extended family on Eric's side was able to join us for church and a BBQ lunch afterward. Such fun!

We spent Memorial Day weekend and a few more fun days in Somerville, hanging with Noni and Mr Jack, playing outside and inside with cousins galore and relaxing at Paradise Farms! We enjoyed dinner with lifelong friends one night, too! Much needed R&R and an awesome time with family!

That Wednesday, we traveled to Anniston and Talledega, meeting a potential Colorado area planter, doing a little early birthday shopping, and hanging with friends. We were privileged to speak at Ridgeview Baptist, a potential future supporting church, where we met some super sweet prayer warriors and were blessed to share our journey again.

We trekked on and had one more day in Tuscaloosa. The kids played lots and Eric and I enjoyed some browsing and window shopping, as well as adult conversation to process all of our adventures.

We then were able to return to Demopolis, where we had another generous host home with friends and a crazy full schedule of trying to see, hug, and chat with as many folks as we could. Our youth and youth parents from Fairhaven hosted a pool party and cookout for us, which was awesome! We also went fishing and had a couple more play dates! We were blessed to be back at Fairhaven (another generous sponsor church) for a Sunday morning, amongst many friends and prayer warriors, sharing for a 3rd time about what God is up to already in Colorado and what He is preparing us to move toward next! We enjoyed seeing so many friends and giving/getting so many hugs!

As if that weren't enough, my parents generously sent Eric and I to Birmingham to spend the night away alone, celebrating our 12th anniversary. The kids had a blast with Slash and Mimi all to themselves, and Eric and I enjoyed a yummy dinner and a fun time before he had to go to the airport to head back to Colorado. I re-packed one last time, enjoyed one last evening in Tuscaloosa, and Slash and Mimi took us to Atlanta the next day to fly home!

Ever heard of needing a vacation from your vacation?!? Ha! After packing that much travel and fun into 3 weeks' time, I finally understand that saying! Wouldn't trade it for the world...priceless memories and countless blessings! See you "soon", Alabama! Big THANK YOU to all of you who helped make our trip possible and served us in many ways while we were there!