ties and such

bolowithbarry.blogspot.com

check it out.  

live the dream.

get involved.

enjoy the tie.

spread the word.

bring back the fashion.

and for my next trick

Well the natives are restless or so they say.  I want to thank all of you who come here regularly to see what new post might be up.  I'm finally writing again after a short (busy) time away from the keys. 

So I've been thinking about a friend of mine who is living in Argentina.  He has a BS in Math from UT, but he is an artist selling his paintings and drawings on the streets.  He looks the part and his work is very interesting to me.  I'm trying to know if I think it's interesting because I know him or because it's good work.  I think it's good work, but it helps that I know him.  Anyhow, I hope to purchase some of his work to support the cause and to continue my collection of one of a kind works from around the world.  The collection idea came to me this week that perhaps I could have a small collection of pieces of art.  I think it would be cool to be the owner of street art.  Perhaps a museum would one day want to acquire my collection for their gallery?!  

These thoughts made me think of two other things.  

The song, Please Come to Boston-Loggins.  The song has a line saying, 

You can sell you paintings on the sidewalk

By a cafe where I hope to be working soon.

Since rediscovering this song about 3 years ago I've been wanting to sell paintings on a sidewalk for part of my life.  Now if you know me you would know I cannot paint.  I can draw a little (thought I'm rusty) but I cannot paint.  Perhaps I will have a chance someday to attempt to sell works of art.  

The other thought:

I want to complete my personal sketch book of UT this year.  This is something I've wanted to do for about 8 years, but never take the time.  I hope this year I can take time to draw or paint the University for my own keepsake.  I want to capture UT life for my memory and collection.  So I began yesterday with taking my sketchbook to the Domain.  I was there for the Apple store, but since I had time I thought I would draw.  It was fun getting back into drawing a little.  The weather was great, under the big trees by Starbucks, and just off the main path enough to relax and observe.  I hope to move onto UT today.  We'll see what happens.  

Here are the links to two websites.  One my artist friend.  The other my bolo tie blog.  Check both of them out.

www.justingrant.com.ar

www.bolowithbarry.blogspot.com

more love

We visited 6 Flags in Denver a few weekends ago, Winter Park this past weekend, and hiked down from the tundra two days ago.  Winter Park does not look anything like itself in the winter.  They have an alpine slide, mini golf, bungee/trampoline jumping, rides, and a maze.  The slide is the big attraction.  We were able to go with friends minus Ana.  We also had free admission because of the Y.  $50 saving per person!  Here are a few pics from each place.  

Driving back from Winter Park.  2 hours West of us.

Our family and Greg climbing down from the tundra.  The hike started at 11, 500 ft at noonish.  We were rained on lightly for a few hours and were threatened with lighting.  We were scared for a little while thinking the storms might catch us.  We were picking rock outcroppings to hide below if needed.  

The hike took us through all the terrains found in Rocky Mountain.  Here we are about halfway through the hike.  

The entire hike took over 6 hours and we covered 6.5 miles!  Naaman once again walked the entire way with only a few sitting breaks, Kyra walked half way, and Kelsie was carried the entire way.  They did awesome.

Kelsie playing with sun glasses

Kyra and Daddy on a date in town

Brook and Kelsie riding the chair lift up to the alpine slide.

Kyra and me riding the same chair lift

I have short video of Kelsie and Kyra riding with me down the slide.  I'll try posting those some other time.  They are kind of funny.  Kelsie in particular looks disinterested in the ride.  We'll be home soon.  

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.

beautiful... wish you were here!

this was taken at an approx elevation of 13,000 ft.  Bighorn sheep.

Kelsie's bday celebration.

on a mountain hike.

close up of a pine tree.

close up of a flower. 

The kids looking at the lake.

This is what we say almost every day.  What an amazing place.  Thanks to all of you for making our ministry with GCM possible, and thanks to GCM for making it possible for us to be here, and thanks to God for making such a beautiful place.  The first pic is of Kelsie's 1st b-day!  We had a great time with our new friends celebrating her life.  

On more park news... we saw a badger today!  None of us have ever seen a real badger before so it was quite the sighting.  Each week we drive into the National Park, and each week we pray we will see more wildlife.  God had blessed us with seeing almost every animal possible.  We still hope to see a bear, a mountain lion, a ptarmigan, a pika, and a bull moose.  There are only 50 bear in the park, and only 10 mountain lion so we most likely will not see the lion.  More to come later...