July 4th, 2010

As most of you were enduring high temperatures on Sunday July 4th, 2010, we had an unusually nice and cool day in Northern Colorado. The high temp was 84'F, and the low was 51'F.

We decided to find a spot in the mountains to eat our lunch, which was probably at ~9,000-ft.


It was almost jacket weather, but really just perfect in the middle of the summer.

Temperature trend in Ward, CO just a few miles from our picnic.


We were unable to find an unused site with a picnic table, but we were brave enough to 'rough-it' for our lunch. We spread our tablecloth on the forest floor, and used rocks and coolers to sit on.

It was delightful. The South St. Vrain River was still quite high from spring snow melt run-off, creating a most pleasant ambiance in which to enjoy our lunch, just a few feet from the roaring water's edge.

With our lunch completed, we took time for some restful, worshipful, and contemplative time along the river. The kids took many pictures to document this time.

As we do every Sunday evening, we needed to go to Federal Heights (north Denver) for neighborhood kids' Sunday School, which begins at 5:00 PM. We chose to traverse the mountains via Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway to get to the Denver metro area, instead of returning to the interstate highway, which we see so often.

On our trip to Federal Heights we passed
Barker Meadow Reservoir, with Nederland, CO in the background.

It was a marvelous day, though we only had three sweet, attentive children in Sunday School; the others were involved in holiday revelries of various kinds.

As we made our way home from Federal Heights, we watched a tremendous thunderstorm building before our very eyes. Soon after we arrived home, the hard rain began, which yielded 1.3" in our gauge, but thank the Lord - NO hail. Though the area public fireworks displays had to be canceled or postponed, it was a splendid ending to a perfect day.

As always, it was a delightful Sabbath Day, a restful, and refreshing time in the mountains, and an enjoyable time with family; we did greatly miss Beth, who is in Joplin helping with VBS this week.

Psalm 34:8 "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." Surely we have found that rich blessing in His presence this holiday weekend.

Walker Hymn Sing June 19, 2010

We like to go to the Walker Hymn Sing every year that we can. It is held on the grounds of the Walker (Mower) Manufacturing Plant, an outdoors event, rain or shine. We had perfect weather this time, with no sprinkles and a nice breeze. There were over 1000 participants this year, the first time to exceed 1000! It is impossible to capture it all in a picture.

This view shows the stage where the musicians and song leaders are.

Our row of folks: Jason, Jeffrey, Janet, Beth, Kelly. Emily is over at the children's play area with LeighAnna and Rowen is taking the picture.

Rowen and Janet

We enjoyed nearly two hours of singing hymns! The books are provided each year and we sing our way through 24 songs.

New quilt top completed

I think it was in March when I started cutting strips for this quilt. Yesterday, I completed the piecing with the borders. I am going to send it to the quilters in MO today. It is the biggest quilt I have ever made, (100x109.5) and goes nearly to the floor when on a queen sized bed. It has been lovingly made in hopes of giving it as a wedding gift to one of our "adopted" sons, Seth Stevenson and his intended, Alesia Pruitt. The name of the pattern is simply, "Five Stripes" from the book Quilts, Quilts, and More Quilts. I have lots of extra squares that I can add to in the future to make another quilt for Rowen and me.


Because the squares are alternated with the vertical and horizontal stripes, it looks like a basket weaving.

One corner, showing the border colors.
You can always click on the pictures to enlarge. I tried to make the squares really random so that ones that are exactly alike are not close to each other in the quilt.

An Albertson get together

Herb and Jenny Albertson (our oldest nephew) and family came for a little visit June 11-13. It rained the whole time they were here, so the kids played a lot of indoor games. We also had Esther and Dan Mendez (Rowen's sister) and family here for a meal and visit on June 11 evening. This included their oldest daughter, Christy, (husband Manoj, and daughter, Anjali), and Maria, Hadassah, Sarah, and Kwani. Only Stepheni was missing from the Mendez family.
On Sunday, the Kaus family were also here for church and Sunday dinner. We had a great weekend of family and fellowship!
Outside supper table Friday night. It was raining off and on, but the pavilion kept them dry.
Abi, Hadassah, Sarah, and Kwani

Daniel, Rowen, Emily, and Celeste

Indoor Supper table Friday night: Manoj, Rowen, Janet, Esther, Dan, Christy

Maria, Jenny, and Herb

Ben, Jason, Manoj, and Jeffrey all tickled about something!

A frequent sight, Abi putting Zachary to sleep

Celeste, Emily, Jason, Daniel, Ben, and Abi

The church crowd on Sunday-Our family, Herb's family, Kaus family

Beth, Abi, Ben, and Jason

Zeke and Daniel

Jenny and Zeke

Abi and Beth

Celeste and Emily

Christy and Herb introducing Anjali and Zachary (second cousins)

Emily holding Zachary

Operation Lifesaver Train Ride 6-11-10

A picture from the past!

Fifteen years ago, we went on the Operation Lifesaver train ride with our older children and Grandma and Grandpa Albertson. I was expecting Jason, and Beth was just 1 1/2. Jeffrey can barely remember it. In the picture below, Jeffrey, Grandma Albertson, Grandpa Albertson, Beth and I enjoy the train ride. Beth actually had a good nap...

Randy told me he told Quil a story about the train ride just last week! In the picture below, Randy and Tim are on the right second seat of the train.
After all these years, we found out the train ride was available again just in time for Beth's driver's training about the subject of train safety! From the left: Janet, Emily, Beth, Jeffrey, and Jason

Here the train guys are teaching us about train safety.


Here I am with our four large, younger children. BTW, according to this picture, I am still taller than Emily!

A Funny Picture, or Make That Two!

Kassie pulling Titus in the wagon, as he holds the STUDENT DRIVER sign!

Zaccheus up in the sycamore tree!

Sunday Picnic in the mountains (6/6/10)

Our group, except for Rowen who was taking the picture.

On Sunday after church, we packed up our Sunday dinner and went to
Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park on State Highway 34 for a picnic with the Kaus family.
This is one of our family's favorite picnicking spots and the first mountain spot Rowen
ever took me during my first visit to Colorado in 1983. The Kauses had never been to this
spot, as it is hidden off the road if you don't know where to look. It was a beautiful day,
and we had yummy food, even though we did not take pictures of the actual picnic!
This is what the sky looked like; it always seems a deeper blue up there!

Randy and LeighAnna take a walk while Kelly, Janet, and Rowen discuss the Big Thompson flood.

LeighAnna loved the play equipment.

Jeffrey visiting with Harry Kaus.

Both Quinten and Harry love being with Jeffrey and Jason!

Quinten and Harry Kaus excavating with play equipment.

Jeffrey in a fun pose!

Rowen and I in front of the remains of the original power plant, which was destroyed in the 1976 Big Thompson Flood.

Kelly reading the informational signs about the 1976 Big Thompson Flood.

Some brave souls took a short hike!


It was an absolutely perfect day to be in the mountains!