finally the pics

our family together at 12,000 ft

you know where we are...

Kelsie and I climbing to the top.  it was cold up there!  my ears were hurting because of the wind and cold.

Dave at the top

Naaman riding his first horse.  Dave, Naaman, and I rode together.

Naaman and Kyra at 11,000 ft.

flowers on the tundra

Geneva and Naaman at 12,000 ft.

Karina and Geneva on a 4 mile hike.

Bull Elk

the kids on the 4 mile hike

Dave and I carrying the babies up Eagles Cliff

the pics don't do this place justice, but we at least want to give you a glimpse into our amazing summer home.  we will miss the view, the clean fresh air, the sights, the sounds, the running streams, and animal hunting.  we hope to still see the bear.

family down(or variation to Geeva down)

Well everyone has left.  

The Browns have left, and it seemed like they just got here.  They actually left two days ago, but I've been busy working since I missed 5 days in there last week.  We had a great time each day staying up until 1 am ish hanging out at their condo.  We could do free laundry there, spend time with the family, and just relax.  Our kids went to bed there two nights in a row, and we transferred them when left for our cabin.  The Browns are amazing!  We hiked, drove over the Continental Divide into Grand Lake where we ate breakfast, saw a bull moose, a pika, and many more elk.  We also watched the sunset from 12,500 ft elevation!  Man it was beautiful.  I will post pics when I get the camera cord.  Natalie, Leticia, and friends even babysat for us one night so all 4 of us could go on a date.  We went to McDonald's (the only place open that late at night) and then drove into the park and sat.  We joked about how different 18 years makes you because none of us were trying to make out with our spouses.  At one time, David asked Martha (they were sitting in the back of our CRV) to scoot closer to him which made us think about the old days.  He asked her to move closer because he was cold!  We all got a laugh out of that time, and we also had good heart to heart talks.  They are really good friends and they are family.

The morning the Browns left, Brook's aunt and cousin's family came into town.  We did a short hike to a waterfall (we forgot our camera) and then ate ice cream in town.  It was a short visit, but a fun one.  

We are now back to normal and it is very quiet.  I think we were all so tired from the constant activities and late nights that we all were just chill for about one full day.  We are now back to our daily life here, and that too is coming to a close.  Much has changed in us again this summer, and the thought of being back in Austin is making us feel excited, relieved, rested, and also busy.  There is much to finish here, and tons to go back to at home.  We can't wait to see our house, bed, grill, street, and neighborhood again, but we also have many many things to get going on soon.  

Thanks for reading and keeping up with us.  I will post pics soon.  I think the ones from the sunset should be awesome!

Family visiting

Well I spoke with David Brown this morning, and he said they were on the road on their way to visit us!  We are very excited about getting to show them our home for the summer.  

I can't believe we have been here for so long already, and we only have about 3.5 weeks left!  We will be sad to leave, and yet we will be ready to be home.  Our family is very adaptable!  I like that about us.  The kids are loving being with their friends here, and they are excited to introduce the Brown kids to the Klunke kids.  Brook and I continue to have great talks on a nightly basis.  We love our students here.  We love being in CO and only wish we had come earlier than this year.  On that note... We also see how being in Columbus two years ago was very important to our experience this year.

What an amazing God we serve! We cannot thank him enough for his great provision for our life!

On a non related note- I might be getting a free iPhone! It would be the first gen iPhone, but it's an iPhone. I've read reviews about it, and it just seems like a great phone and tool for my ministry. I am constantly having to make schedule changes on the fly, and I think it will help.

thoughts?!  

This would mean a change from Sprint to ATT, and perhaps a little more money each month. I will need to find the money, but it might be a good 

move.

Oh yeah... one more thing. I am done reading the Shack. I did not like it. I am not going to finish it, but I did promise someone here I would read up until the guy gets to the shack.