When B.J. and I came to Colorado just after Christmas 2011, we visited briefly with a couple from the PR church here. The husband is a Colorado native, while the wife moved to Loveland from Michigan when they married. She said three things that I remember well.
-- If you move here, you will still always think of Iowa as home.
I have found this to be true.
-- If you move here, you will never stop missing your family.
I have found this to be true also.
-- If you move here, the time you do spend with your family will be true quality time. You will cherish every moment.
Of the three things, I have found this most gladly to be true.
Below are photos of some cherished moments spent with family last month.
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| Fun in the pool at Paul and Erin's hotel. |
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| Marie and Grandma. |
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| Nathan and Eli were very timid of the water... |
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| but Grandpa and Grandma warmed them up! Eli was laughing so hard that it's a wonder he didn't fall in! |
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| Willem in his element. |
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| Waiting for horse rides in Estes Park. |
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| I am officially the shortest in my family. Here I am with my 12-year old brother (and no, he's not standing on anything, nor am I barefoot! :-) |
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| I did not ride since Sean was only 1 week old. Erin stayed back with me to give me a hand with Eli, who was too young to ride. Thank you, Erin! |
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| Dad took my camera on the trail. |
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| Leah was so excited for this - riding horse is a dream come true for her. |
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| Paul and Ryan and B.J. and Nathan. Paul's horse was ornery - not so much a dream come true for him. ;-) |
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| At the Visitor's Center in Rocky Mountain National Park. |
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| The view from the Visitor's Center. |
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| There was a lot of snow up there! |
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| Grandpa treated us all to ice cream in Estes - yum! |
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| The men couldn't sit still for more than two days. Here are Paul and B.J. and Jerron burying some plumbing pipes in our backyard, and my Dad hoeing my garden. (He decided my hoe wasn't very good, so he bought me a new one at Home Depot to boot! ;-) |
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| Fun on the trampline. |
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| Sean with Grandpa and Grandma. |
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| Hanging out with Uncle Paul and Auntie Anna. |
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| Reading books with Grandma. |
I am so very thankful, Lord, for the blessing of family that is one in the faith.
I am thankful for time spent together, and for the promise of Home, where there are no more good-byes.
