Archive for the ‘Colorado’ Category

Focus on the Family

Saturday, April 14th, 2012

Focus On The Family Visitors CenterFor the third year in a row, we are serving a christian organization that we have financially supported over the years. This time we are in Colorado Springs at Focus on the Family, an organization started by Dr. James Dobson in 1977 and now led by Jim Daly. I raised my kids by the Dobson books: Dare to Disciple, Hide and Seek, and The Strong-Willed Child (and I think they turned out pretty great). Focus remains an awesome resource for parents and is founded on 6 principles:

1. The ultimate purpose of life is to know God through Jesus Christ and beginning with our families, to reach out to the world with love.

2. The institution of marriage is sacred and designed by God.

3. Children are a blessing and are our heritage from God.

4. Human life is sacred.

5. Christians are called on to support the institutions of family, church, and government for the benefit of mankind.

6. God created humans in His image intentionally male and female with unique and complimentary qualities.

Colorado Snowy RockiesSo that is where we stand and we are giving them our time in affirmation of that.  We have met so many delightful people, guests, staff, and fellow volunteers. Easter week we greeted over 6000 guests to the visitors’ center. We have worked banquets, Steve is working on data entry for a department, and I am doing decor and fresh flower arrangements for the annual Volunteer Banquet (for which we got an invite).  Pam and Wally Hasbrouck have given us the run of their house (only 5 minutes away) and that enables us to be here for a full month.

John Stalls

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

This is for all my Lake San Marcos friends.

John has moved to Denver to be near his grandson, Jonathan. The Village at Lowry is in a beautiful part of town and the staff there seems exceptionally nice.

Please write him at150 Quebec St #133m Denver,Co 80230, he would love to hear from you.

These photos are to show you how well he looks, his new apartment (bigger),and how his smile is charming new friends.

On The Road Yet Again

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

Really enjoyed being shown Colorado Springs with Pam and Wally Hasbrouck and hanging in Denver with Pam. We went to church at Woodland Valley where they sync two locations.(you had to be there) with two worship teams and one pastor.

Pam also took us down to Littleton, Co. to see the memorial for the 12 kids and one teacher who lost their lives at Columbine.  It is such an average looking school and nice community. It was very moving, and changed the way we thought about our children going to school in safety.

Denver June 2011

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

Our suitcases were calling out, so after one month up on the shelf, they are packed again and on an excellent adventure.

Steve is working a convention in Denver (that is the convention center with a big blue bear sculpture looking in) for Pfizer and that is always an open door to see more of the world.  

We are headed to Yellowstone National Park, and Couer d A’lene, Idaho with lots of stops on the way. We fly home from Seattle.

This is new territory for me!

Colorado Springs

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Down to Colorado Springs to spend the day at Focus on the Family, to spend the night at Glen Eyrie, home of the Navigators, and celebrate our 39th anniversary over  a Fondue dinner!

The Focus organization has grown to to an amazing world-wide outreach that Steve and I can say we have supported since practically since  the very beginning with our tithes.  I hang my hat on Dr. Dobson’s books for raising our kids.

The Navigators group arose from sailors sharing their faith. They have an awesome complex next door to the Garden of the Gods and we were so fortunate to find they had room for us in the castle.

From the Springs we drove up to  see Dave and Sandi Sunde in Louisville, Co. before heading to the airport!

Mud Season

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

We were graciously hosted by  Darlene and Chuck Kroll at their condo in the mountains near  Silverthorn . With snow covered peaks surrounding us, we took in the beauty  of the region and did a little driving, a little hiking, and a little sitting  by the fire with a book!

Breckingridge and Vail were not too far away and we  explored them also, but because it wasn’t winter for skiing, or summer for biking  and hiking, most everything was closed for Mud Season; the time when the  ground is just soggy with the snowmelt and spring rains.

I mean to tell you that shops, restaurants, and some roads were closed up tight!  So I had to spend time at the Outlets, darn.

Tea Time

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Elaine and I were thrilled to join my old college buddy, Pam Hasbrouck, on a tour of the Celestial Seasonings Tea Tour at their factory outside of Boulder. Pam has great roots in this state even though she spent most of her growing up days in Southern  California.  We were glad to have her as our guide.  Celestial Seasonings is a business that grew out of the hippie era, when the founders picked herbs at the foot of the rockies and stitched them up in fabric tea bags.  Today it is a huge operation!

When we first got there we signed up for the tour and were given a tea bag as our ticket. We were encouraged to sample any of their current 80 flavors.  We downed a few, had lunch in their colorful cafeteria, and then reported back for our tour. This place goes 25/7 and brings in ingredients from all over the world.  The gift shop was tea-riffic , and I bought several flavors I had not seen before (“Orange Zinger” makes a great ice tea). We went back to try even MORE flavors after the tour.

We took in the pedestrian walk in Boulder…also a hippie throwback, but the day was all about the tea and being together!

Rocky Mountain High

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Steve and I got to travel around Colorado (May 12-19) mostly on Pfizer’s dime. Cliff and Elaine Faille traveled out from North Carolina to join us for the convention in Denver, then we stayed on and reconnected with friends and toured an amazing state.

Colorado had not decided what season it was yet because we had hail, rain, snow, sunshine, thunder and lightning all in the same hour!