August 2011

(Some of you may have seen this already.  I'm trying to put it in a format that will reach the people who want to see it and also be less cumbersome for me... hope you are patient as I learn how to do this.   Pictures forthcoming!)

Hello from Colorado!                                                                                         August 2011

It doesn't seem possible that we've been gone a month already. In many ways, it has felt like a vacation. I don't remember doing so much laundry on vacation, though!  The location is beautiful and incredibly peaceful. The weather is perfect (low humidity). We live at about 9,000 feet up on a 13,428 foot mountain. The only thing that could make it better would be to have all of you here!

As you probably know, our first day of the move to Colorado ended a little earlier than we'd anticipated with our cargo van in the shop. While we waited for a new fuel pump to be installed, we stayed in a hotel with a pool. It turned out that if that fuel pump had acted up just 20 minutes later, we would have been in the middle of no-man's land. Free advice: if you decide to get off the interstate at Brush, Colorado toward Limon, make sure you have plenty of gas and good cell phone coverage!

When we started over the final mountains, headed for Westcliffe, Jayme and Breana couldn't stop taking pictures of the scenery. It is stunning! Upon arrival, we were met by several people. I was told to stand inside and tell them where to put the boxes. Within 15 minutes, both vans were completely unloaded, dinner was provided, and a fellow seminary wife had picked up some milk and other staples for us.

We got about 50% unpacked that first day, finishing up within 3 days. Tim had two weeks before the next class started, so he was kept busy helping us all get settled, fixing various things, and making it more “homey.” All the boxes are unpacked and I'm happy to report we didn't bring too much. Yeah! (However, we did leave a LOT in Grand Island. I am shocked at how much we've accumulated in the last 10 years! I have my work cut out for me upon our return for Tim's “winter break” from classes.) Within a week we found a used, upright freezer for $35. This was a huge blessing for two reasons. One, major shopping is an hour away and therefore monthly stocking up trips are necessary. Secondly, we couldn't fit our freezer in the vans and had prayed for an inexpensive replacement. We'll probably give it to another seminary family when we are done here.

Our first morning thoughts were... “what is that sound?” (Thought it would be profound, didn't you!) Our cabin is “next” to a barn with chickens, pigs (pork chops now), goats, rabbits, and turkeys! Those gobblers had gotten out of their enclosure and sat under our window for an hour. I finally got up and scared them off, but they returned several mornings in a row.  The chickens have at least one rooster and 2-3 rooster-wanna-bee’s. Their cock-a-doodle-doodling is pretty pathetic, but they practice hard! Now that it has been a month, we almost don't hear the chickens, and the turkey enclosure is secure. The poultry is under control. The goats ball at us quite a bit, but its not annoying. Now we get awoken by fighting hummingbirds. There are several in the area and all want to dominate our feeder. They are surprisingly noisy, but because of their beauty, we leave the feeder up.

Tim has finished his second class and is on to his third. So far he has had Doctrine of the Church, Church Music, and Christian Ethics. After next week, we have a one week's break before the fall semester. He starts the fall with New Testament Greek – pray for him!

The children have all met others at least near their age. Breana had a tea party birthday celebration with six others that were within 2 years her age. She has been enjoying going for walks in the woods, making forts with David and riding the neighbor's go-cart down the hill!  Jayme has met guys mostly younger than him, but he is now working weekends with two young seminary students (one is single) and enjoys his time with them. He works at the Hermit Basin Conference Center as a waiter, gift shop cashier, and whatever else they ask him to do. Business is slowing down out here since this is mostly a summer get-a-way location. He's also finished his remote control plane and has given it a couple of successful flights. David is outside most of the day playing with others. He had a pretty rough first couple of weeks. Seems that running around and over rocks is hard and I've had to made a band-aid run down to Westcliffe at least once. All in all, this environment suits him very well. I wonder how he'll do when it's cold outside?

The last month has been filled with sewing up curtains, swimming/water slides at Horn Creek Camp, and gearing up for home schooling. We started schooling on the 22nd. We've also spent a little time at the auto repair shop since our Grand Caravan desperately needed all new brakes. We were not very excited about that, but since we go up and over mountains often it was a necessity. At least there is an honest auto repair shop here in town, highly recommended by fellow seminarians.

Hopefully, you now have a little taste of how we are doing. We miss you all! We look forward to my parents' visit the first weekend of September. We'd love to see some of the rest of you too!

Blessings from our family to yours!
Aletha, Tim, Jayme, Breana and David