Just an update

We have been all over the place these past few weeks, and so has the weather! Last week it was sunny and 70°, and we woke up this morning to a slushy-rainy-snowy mess and freezing temperatures. Grrr.

Two weeks ago we traveled to South Fork, CO to spend time with the McElroys. James, Donna, Eric, and Melody came up from Texas for Spring Break. We skied two beautiful days and cherished the wonderful time with the family. James brought his Wii, so we enjoyed playing tennis and boxing in the evenings. Ha! It was my first time to play Wii! And it was awesome! On our way back to GJ, we stopped in Durango to see our lovely friends from Houston's First Baptist Church, Cas and Gina. They are the sweetest and funniest couple, and we miss them so much! It was so wonderful that we happened to drive through Durango the same weekend they were skiing! It was sad to say goodbye to everone, as we miss our family and friends so much. But fortunately Donna and James will be here Easter weekend!

Caleb's good high school friend, Kyle Stallons, was in town last week! He and his wife, Bonnie, moved to Nashville recently to pursue a career in music. He is extremely talented with the piano! Kyle happened to jump on a short tour with the Bobby Cutshaw Band and their first stop was Grand Junction! Kyle spent a few evenings with us and provided a helping hand with some projects around the house. It was such a blessing to have him in our home!

Last weekend, Caleb and I painted the guest bathroom and worked in the yard. We have a mess in the back. And big plans, too. But it's going to take a lot of work! We tore out a few more bushes, trans-planted some small ones, and plan on moving all 12 massive rose bushes this weekend. Yikes! The previous owner created her own "secret garden" with plants, rose bushes, and gravel pathways everywhere...and no grass. So our goal is to clear the mess, move the plants towards the perimeter, add a patio, and plant some grass. Easy enough, right? Let's just say I give our parents much more credit for all the work they have done in their home.

Monday my neighbor invited me to a Junior Service League social at the Bowling Alley. I really enjoyed interacting with the ladies. I think I am going to join because it will help me meet other ladies as well as participate in community service projects, which I love doing! Caleb may join the local Trouts Unlimited Chapter, so hopefully he, too, can meet other men with similar interests. We also plan on serving in our church! And this coming Friday, I am playing Bunco! My mom has always been in Bunco groups, so I have looked at Bunco as a grown-up thing. And here I am going to Bunco night! Ha! Bunco + Junior Service League = Old Married Woman! :)

A few prayer requests:
Papa Jerry (Caleb's grandpa) is going in for open-heart surgery on Monday, March 30; James (Caleb's dad) is traveling to China this week, so please pray for safety; Chris (my wonderful brother) and his job situation; and All the details of the upcoming weddings (Jordan/Caleb, Stacey/Darren, Melody/Eric, Karen/Daniel)!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Arches!

A week ago we were blessed to have my wonderful parents visit us! We had such a fantastic time showing them around Grand Junction and using their expertise in home improvement and decorating projects! Caleb and my dad installed a few fixtures around the house while my mom and I moved furniture and hung a few pictures. I took plenty of notes on all of her ideas! She is so talented!

We also took a wonderful trip to Arches National Park in Moab, UT, which contains the world's largest concentration of natural stone arches. It was less than two hours from our house, and the weather was gorgeous! We did a few small hikes to some awesome view points, and then we drove out to the Devil's Garden trail head. The hike was a relaxing 8-mile loop with breathtaking views, but there were a few technical spots where we were walking on narrow ledges overlooking the valleys or climbing up massive rocks.

We truly enjoyed spending precious time with our family and just being outside in God's creation. He has blessed us immensely!

... Great and marvelous are your works,O Lord God, the Almighty ...Rev. 15:3