I'M BAAAACK!

Hello, xanga friends!  Colorado was AWESOME!!!  Need I say more?  Well, probably not but I will anyway!

Me, my mom, and my daughter left early on the 27th and followed the church vans as we traveled to a land far away from Texas and the heat.  Or so we thought....  Actually, we had some pretty warm days in Colorado although it did cool down at night, thank goodness!  We stayed with my friends, Ron and Doris, in Castle Rock which is about 15 miles from Denver.  They have a very nice house and a very psycho dog!  We arrived at their house at about 11:00 a.m. on Saturday morning and after settling in we were off to a luau that some of the church members were throwing for the congregation.  They had roasted a whole pig in a pit....hmmmm....and everyone brought food to go along with it.  Lauren took some really good pictures of the different "stages" of the roasting of the pig, along with her taking a BIG bite.  After getting a good look of the pig (head and all) after they unwrapped it, I wasn't too keen on eating it.  I did take a small bite just to prove I was a good sport then I concentrated on eating all the other great food!

The next day we went to church and then went shopping at the outlet stores in Castle Rock.  That was about it for that day!

On Monday, we went to Colorado Springs and toured the Garden of the Gods and the Cave of the Winds.  I bought some silver pine cone jewelry (earrings and a necklace).  Doris took us to a wonderful french bakery for lunch in Colorado City.  Then we went home and chilled out! 

Tuesday, we went to the Denver Museum of Natural History and saw the Titanic exhibit and the IMAX on the Titanic.  It was very interesting and emotional.  While we were there, Lauren somehow lost her wallet!  That night a group from Oklahoma Christian (New Reign) came a sang for the church. 

Wednesday, Doris had to go back to work and my mom was pretty worn out so Lauren and I went back to the museum to see if they had found her wallet.  They had and everything was still in it!  What a relief!  Then we went to the Cherry Creek Mall and hung out for a little while.  We then went to the church that we had attended in Denver when we lived there 14 years ago.  We were able to visit and eat lunch with the preacher and his wife.  Lauren wanted to drive by our old apartment and her old school from when we lived there.  Of course, it has all really changed but it was interesting to see some things that we still recognized!  Then we went to ANOTHER mall...(we love to shop) and then we went back to Castle Rock.  When we got back, I noticed that I had lost one of my little pine cone earrings after only wearing them twice.  I found a site online where I can order another pair and I think I just might do that.   Anyway, that night we went to church and then to bed.

The next morning, we left to go to the mountains where our church group was.  It was really hard to leave Doris.  I miss her so much and wish that we lived  closer!  Anyway, we drove up to the mountains and got to see the group after they had just come down from their TREK on the mountain.  It was great to see my husband and son after 6 days!  Lauren was happy to be around people her own age...(What!  I'm not THAT old)  lol.  The cabin we stayed in was beautiful and had a wonderful view of the mountain range from the front porch.  I really want to go and stay in one of those cabins again for a vacation.

The next day, we headed for Amarillo and ate at the Big Texan where we watched a man trying to eat a 72 oz. steak.  Yeah, only in Texas.....

I have been trying to recuperate over the last few days and get back in the swing of things.  My summer vacation is almost over, I have to go back to school on the 20th.  I've got one more week of freedom! 

Have a great day, xanga friends!

WOW, it's been only a week!

I can't believe I'm posting another entry so soon!  Maybe this will be a new trend...

We had our first night of VBS and it was quite successful.  We had 209 in attendance and usually the first night has the lowest numbers.  I helped out in drama and it was lots of fun.  Jonathan is doing a puppet this year and David is working on Song Team.  I've been getting alot of ideas for decorating when we go to Kerens next Sunday to put on their VBS.  We are doing the same theme for the Kerens VBS as we are doing here so that will make all the planning and practicing a little easier. 

Lauren and JP are coming in town on Thursday and he will stay the weekend then go back home.  She will stay with us through the first of August because she is going with us to Kerens and traveling with me and my mom to Colorado.  I'll need to work on getting the house clean and doing laundry so everything will be ready when they get here and when we leave.  Wow, the summer is just flying by.  We have finally had some hot weather.  We have had an unusually rainy and mild summer so far.  By this time last year the temps were in the 100's with no rain in months.  Not this year!  However, I am NOT complaining...I hate the heat! 

I keep thinking that I'll get Jonathan to go find him a job but he has been so busy lately that there just doesn't seem to be time for him to fill out applications.  Maybe toward the end of the summer he will have a better chance because the college kids will be leaving.  Now that he has had a few dates with a nice young lady, he's a little more motivated to get a job so he'll have money to spend!  We're ready for him to help pay for his insurance!  WOW, what a beating THAT is!

Ya'll have a great week...maybe I'll post again before I leave for Colorado...we'll see!!!!!

It's been a LONG time!

Hi, xanga friends!  I can't believe it's been over 3 months since I posted on my xanga.  There was a time that I wrote an entry daily so it's hard to believe that I have neglected this so much!  I have been checking my subs so I stay caught up with all of you.  I guess that's not really fair since I know what's going on with you but you have no clue what's up with me.  I will try not to let it go so long between posts from now on. 

Wow, lots of things have happened since last time I let you into my life!  School was out the end of May so I've been on my summer break..YAY!  The first part of June I went with the Youth Group to Brownsville, TX on a Mission Trip.  We painted an old historic home, built in 1927, for a young couple in Brownsville.  That took us about 4 days to complete.  One night we put on a VBS for young children in an apartment complex.  For our fun day, we went to Schlitterbahn at South Padre and then had a sunset devo at the beach.  It was great!  The Lord really blessed me with being able to spend time with these kids while serving God and helping out the church in that city!

I really enjoyed being with the teens, especially the girls.  The girls and I stayed with house parents at the children's home there in Brownsville.  We had lots of fun and late night talks.  Spending time with those girls really brought back memories of spending special times with my daughter.  I sure do miss her!  Anyway, we shared lots of laughter on that trip and made some great memories.  For any of you girls that actually still read your xangas....HEB aisle 3!!!!

After Mission Trip, I was lazy for a few weeks then I started redecorating my bathroom.  I removed all the wallpaper (I HATE WALLPAPER), textured the walls and painted.  It took me over a week of working on it every day, all day to finish.  It looks great!  Now I have to put everything back together in there and clean and it will all be done. 

This coming Sunday is our VBS at our church and when that is over I will be going with the Youth Group to Kerens, TX to put on another VBS for that small congregation.  After that, I will be traveling to Colorado with my mom and daughter to visit a friend in Castle Rock, CO.  We will be traveling along with the group of teens and adults (including my husband and son) who will be traveling to TEAM ASCEND in Leadville, CO. to go on their annual Trek up the mountain.  We will part ways in Trinidad as we travel to Castle Rock and they head to the mountains.  After a couple of days visiting we will head to the mountains to meet up with them as they head down from the mountain summit.  Then we will all travel back home to good old Mesquite, TX.   A few weeks after we get back, school will start and I will be back at work.  Wow, and Jonathan will be a senior!!!  Oh my goodness, it's hard to believe! 

It's been a busy summer and will be getting even busier.  I'm so thankful that I have a job where I am off work during this time of year so I can do so many great things!

Sorry this is so incredibly long, but I had to bring you up to date on what's been happening in my world!

Have a great week, xanga friends!