Tour Scrapbook

Sunday, October 13
This morning we sang at both services at Timberline Church in Fort Collins. Hopefully, our presence ministered to the congretion and will inspire many to return for the Friday "Parent Date Night"!

After fast food lunch with "Dinina" Sharber, the men and older kids returned her to Denver International Airport for her return to Texas. What a neat time we had with "the world's best baby-sitter" and our dear friend!

We then packed up and moved the buses to Johnson's Corner RV Park.

Monday, October 14
Today was just a down-time day filled with home-schooling and lotsa play.

Tuesday, October 15
This AM we loaded up our mini-vans and headed back to Fort Collins for a MOPS group at Timberline Church.

The Hilliards renewed friendship with Gerald and Wanda Beckham, whom they knew from Hyde Park Baptist in Denison. As they caught up on old times at Carino's Italian Grill, who else but the Autrys would choose to have their family night meal at the next table?!

Wednesday, October 16
Laurie and Sharon were up early today because they could hardly sleep! . . . for today they were meeting with the leaders of MOPS International (www.mops.org) in Denver. Near the end of a MOPS leadership meeting the 2MOMS were asked to sing 2 songs and share their vision for ministry. The MOPS leadership listened intently and gave feedback and encouragement to Laurie and Sharon. They were especially touched by the prayer of MOPS founder and president, Elisa Morgan, over them. Then two of the MOPS leaders treated the girls to lunch before they headed out to a mall for "girls only" shopping.

Thursday, October 17
Upon recommendation from one of the MOPS leaders, we all decided to try one of the "world famous" cinnamon rolls from the local Johnson's Corner Truck Stop this morning. Well sure enough, it was world famous! When we arrived, TV, newspaper and radio crews were there as well as the police to direct traffic. It turned out that this very day was Johnson's Corner's 50th anniversary and they were having a big celebration with 1950's prices, poodle skirts, leather jackets, and an Elvis "tribute artist"!

Before it was all said and done, both families loaded up on cheeseburgers, shakes, and homemade pies for just a few dollars. And Abby got her picture made with Elvis and was published in the Friday addition of Denver's Rocky Mountain News!

We returned to the RV park where Bill, a friend of the Beckham's, did some additional electrical wiring to the buses so that both buses could run off of one generator when dry-docking. God provided again through Bill as he blessed us by charging us "peanuts" for the parts and labor. He even later returned the "peanuts" by making a donation to our ministry at the Friday night Parent Date Night at Timberline!

Friday, October 18
We loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly...Hills, that is.....Oh, wrong family!... We loaded up the buses and moved back to Timberline in Fort Collins to prepare for tonight's Parent Date Night. Preparation was interesting since the Hilliard's water pump went out this morning.

The Parent Date Night went well and was especially meaningful as a taped prayer by Laurie and Sharon's dad, Hank Lovejoy, was played after "These Day's". As our families walked off stage, Abby began to cry because she missed her "Papa".

Saturday, October 19
A new twist on John 13 -- Before heading down the road to our next stop in Golden, we were blessed again by the "parking lot ministry" at Timberline. These guys, their wives, and kids came and served us by washing - not our feet - but our buses and vans before we left. They even repaired the front molding on Pat's van and recapped the bearing on Charles' tow dolly, then sent us off with prayers of encouragement!

- Charles