Tour Scrapbook

Sunday, October 6
We all worshipped at Northern Hills Church with the Rob Alexander family as our guests (who had just arrived at 4:00 AM!). Afterwards, we ate at Old Chicago pizzeria and watched the Dallas Cowboys get beat … again. Charles and Laurie met a couple at lunch who had also visited Northern Hills this morning. They were from Texas and were planting a church in the area!

Monday, October 7
Rob, Stacy, and family left for Estes Park this morning. We ran errands and then moved to Calvary Evangelical Free in Broomfield where we dry-docked. Our family went to have lunch at Johnny Carino's and checked out the Ice Centre where we planned to go ice-skating at the end of the week. We all got back to the church and Uncle Charles took the older kids and Avery to a park. Crislynn and I thought we knew where it was, so we started off on her bike. After several blocks of not finding it, we found a short-cut back to the bus and drove to the park. We played a little then sat and watched the prairie dogs. They were funny. There was one really chubby one that wasn't afraid of much.

I went back to the bus to fix supper (BBQ chicken in my new electric skillet!) Pat went to the park and helped bring kids home. We had a fun, family supper around our little table, girls and daddy on the bench, me on the trash can!

Tuesday, October 8
We had to wake up early to be ready for the MOPS group at Calvary Evangelical Free. When we dry-dock at the church, the little girls come to my bus with Davis and we all come in together a little later. I love those times. Avery is an early riser, so she is awake, hair fixed and dressed when she gets to my bus. She gets to help me wake Crislynn. They play in Crissy's bed for a while then we get Davis and Crislynn ready. I look like I'm moving when I walk to the church with a stroller, 2 little girls, 2 diaper bags, and my purse. I love it!

The program that day went really well. They all smiled while we were singing! That makes it so much easier to share! The kids had school. I took the Johnny-Jump-Up into the church and Davis loved it! It won't fit anywhere in the bus. A lady from the MOPS group, Debbie, volunteered to keep the kids for the afternoon. They had so much fun! What a sweet gift she gave us. I finally finished a book I was reading.

We picked up the kids and moved to an RV park in Golden, CO. Robby and Stacy were already there. The kids got to play at the playground together then we all went to Ruby Tuesday to eat and the wait staff sang Happy Birthday to Laurie.

Wednesday, October 9 – Laurie’s Birthday!!!
Today we were at Bethlehem Lutheran. The sound check had to be quick because the school was meeting for chapel in the sanctuary. We got to sit through their chapel in the cry room. It was neat to sing praise songs before we sang in front of people. The group that day was significantly smaller than we had expected, so we had to regroup and realize God brings exactly who He wants to be there. God is so faithful! They were easy to sing to even though there weren't very many of them. Rob and Stacy were there and kept the little girls.

After the group, we went to a Chinese restaurant that charged $1 per scoop! It was great! After naps our family went to check out the Apex, a rec center for Jefferson County. It was amazing. We decided we would wait to ice skate and bring everyone swimming tomorrow.

That night we went to eat with the James family, Andrew, Debbie, Mema, and their two children at their home. It was a fun night. They are from England, so we enjoyed listening to each others’ accents. Debbie had actually heard us in McKinney a while back and is now a part of the Foothills MOPS group. They were so sweet...the cheesecake was wonderful with candles for Laurie’s birthday!

We went back to the RV park and Pat left to go pick up Dinina! They made it back around 11:30. It was fun to catch up with her. She brought mail and other stuff from home. Bedtime was very late! Not much new about that, though!

Thursday, October 10
The girls woke up in the middle of the night to see Dinina. In the morning we found both of them on the pulled-out couch with her. We got everyone ready and went to Cherry Hills Community Church. Alec, Abby, and Avery were so excited to see Dinina!

The group this day was really big. I think God does have a sense of humor. They were so touched. I had great conversations with so many ladies. Pat said about the day that he had more "real" conversations with those ladies than with any group ever. I gained a prayer partner...praying about the same thing. One lady told us over and over that we needed to move there. One of the group leaders told me that the discussion group went so well because of what we had shared. Another lady prayed to be able to say encouraging things about her children when she introduced them (something Laurie had shared.) It was one of those days that made us remember again why we're doing what we're doing.

After a quick lunch at Chick-Fil-A, we grabbed our swimsuits, and headed for the Apex. What a blast! The kids played and played. Britt went down the slide with me the first time. When we got to the bottom, we flipped and she was under my leg. It really scared her, but before we left, she had decided to do it again with Dinina. Then she wanted to do it over and over! We were so proud of her! We had birthday cupcakes and a present from Trey and Kristin (Charades for Kids). What a great day!

We told Robby and Stacy good-bye then went back to the buses. Dinina kept the kids while the four of us went to have a real 2MOMS meeting! It was fun...time we needed just to relax and laugh! There are so many things to be done that we don't get too much time just as couples much less as 2 couples. We're beginning to get into more of a routine, or at least knowing more about how things work.

Dinina spent the night with us again. Fun! Tomorrow she moves to the Hilliard's bus.

Friday, October 11
We were ready to have a rest day. Three groups in a row is tough. We found out early in the day that our water pump wasn't working, but we were already planning to go to Camping World a little later. How neat! We did get another water pump which Charles installed in the parking lot. Meanwhile, the company will send us a replacement for our broken pump which is still under warranty.

We left our bus at Camping World and met AnnNan, Uncle John and Aunt Kathy, Lisa Dillow and her children at Pizzeria Uno. It was again good to see familiar faces, but John and Kathy had to leave too soon. I was sad. It started for me sort of a few days of homesickness. They were so sweet. After lunch, they picked up Brian (Lisa's husband) and came to see our buses.

After they left, we moved to the Wal-Mart on Sheridan, our home away from home! We went shopping with AnnNan at Wal-Mart then Pat and I left the kids with AnnNan and went to Marie Callendar's for dinner. Davis joined us after supper and we stayed in the Hampton Inn. I worked until 2 am but slept late. We met a sweet lady at breakfast who loved Davis. She gave us lots of cereal and milk. I think people think we must need food, because we always get food. It's funny.

Saturday, October 12
We met back at the buses and made our way to Anderson Farms, a pumpkin patch plus corn maze, petting zoo, food pavilion, and much more. Brittlea said it was our substitute Peanut Festival and we all agreed. It smelled like and felt like the Peanut Festival. We got great pictures!

Laurie and I went ahead of everyone else to Timberline Church for a sound check before the Saturday night service. We sang two songs, “You Bring Joy” and “These Days” with a little sharing between. The auditorium which holds 1400 (I think) was packed! I talked to Michael Lipe later (the arts director) who said, "We rarely have outside singers because so many in our church sing. It was a God thing, because the people loved what you shared. It was so us and what we believe at Timberline." What an affirmation. The services on Sunday were going to be almost as full. What an honor. We have a Parent's Date Night there on Friday. Dinner was at the Village Inn. Brittlea wasn't feeling very good. She sat by me the whole meal which was fine with me! I'm loving spending time with the kids. We have neat times together. Our snuggle nights have become very important to us. They ask me every night if it is their snuggle night. When it's not, Crislynn always says, "Is it Daddy's snuggle night?"

-- Sharon