Gingerbread Man in CO

The world has been moving, moving, moving the last weeks. I am happy we seemed to have stopped for a bit. I enjoy this perch.....it's especially nice now that the snow is gone.

YIKES! What is THIS? 

I think Ingen and I could be friends

I enjoy Colorado. 

Note the winners of our annual Gingerbread Village Competition hosts Gingerbread Man for a year. The girls are hosting him this year. 

Krista is Here

We spent today getting odds and ends done.....Michael sealed a hatch that was collecting water as we traveled. Michael, Earl and the boys went for haircuts. 

The highlight of the day is that KRISTA and Kent arrived from Mexico. 

Earl, Kent, Krista and Michael with his back to the camera

Nolan's new cut - we need to do this more often. 😉

All this time I thought they were going back to OR from here...but they are going back to Mexico for another 3 weeks before their time is finished there.  We visited late into the night - these two didn't want to go back to the RV, but couldn't keep their eyes open. 

Alex and Stacia

Beloved Pet

This is a meaningful spot on Earl and Mary's place to our family. On our move from Texas to Japan, we lost a dear pet. I am glad we were in Colorado Springs and were able to bury her here.

Beatrix - 20 years well lived

Yuuki pays her respects

It was fun to walk in the sunshine and to stop and remember happy memories with Beatrix. 

Gideon @ 32 Weeks

Bre is 32 weeks pregnant with Gideon in the above photo; Bella is 12 1/2 months.  She went for an ultrasound and got another view of Gideon!

Is this not amazing???  Gideon is currently 4lb 5oz, has his head down, sucks on everything, sticks out his tongue, moves a lot, and has some hair.

He truly is being fearfully and wonderfully made....Ps 139.

Mini-Misawa Reunion

Colorado Springs is full of both active duty and retired military. Tonight, we got to connect with a dear family we met during our Misawa, Japan assignment. They are not military, but do work with the government in conjunction with the military.  

But FIRST - we had to retrieve Yuuki from the neighbor's home. 

Yep, Marvie IS the shortest one in the crowd. Stacia passe her up. 

It didn't take the kids long to recover their past friendships

Alex (front), Stacia, Ashley and Nolan

Michael and Jim visited and grilled yummy salmon

The whole group 

Jim and Marvie are soon moving to another state. We are blessed to have been able to catch up with them before the move.  It was inspiring to hear all they did to their house to make it a home - makes me think we may be able to make a house a home at some point.  I missed seeing Alex, their son, but we got to catch up with him last year at JaRissa's wedding.

Pacing off 5 Acres

This posts serves a few purposes....it's fun to see how beautiful it is here at Earl and Mary's. We've been looking at property online and I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around how big an acre, 3 acres, 5 acres and 10 acres may be. Earl told us they have 5 acres - and it's squared. We paced it - follow the red dots.

Front - barn and house in the background 

Looking from the back to the front of the property

Looking across - the barn up to the right

Back of the property 

I think this will help us all keep in mind how much area is covered by an acre.  

Catching Up With Friends

Tom and Michael were both in the flight program at their high school in Northern CA. After the earthquake in Japan, the local paper interviewed Michael. We were stationed in Japan. Tom, and his family were in Colorado Springs. He had access to "The Global" and was able to find a work email for Michael. They got in touch and determined if we were back in the Springs, visiting family, we would look them up. Today, we had lunch with Tom, Yelina and his children, Anthony and Michael.  Anthony was cramming for college finals. Michael is an 8th grader and he and the kids had fun playing games, while we adults caught up.

Nolan, Michael, Alex and Stacia

I had a lovely time getting to know Yelina, who is from the Ukraine. Her story was fascinating. The kids had fun with Michael. The meal was yummy and I KNOW Michael and Tom had fun telling old stories back and forth and catching up.  I'm glad Tom looked Michael up and that this meeting happened.

We have two sets of friends from our assignment in 2002-2005. Our Alaskan assignment. It worked for all us to meet at Ken and Lynn's. We got to their house in time to Facetime with their son Matt, who is in Germany. Wow - these kids have grown up in 15 years.

Ken and Michael catching up 

 Katrina and Rachel were friends of the older three/four in Club Beyond during our Elmendorf years. 

Now they have husbands and LUCIA

Alex was 1-3 and Nolan was 3- 5 @ EAFG....Stacia was in my tummy when we left AK. Frances was Nolan's pre-school teacher at chapel. There were no kids their age at this gathering - but they have learned to bring some cards and settle in wherever we are. LOL 

Lynn brought out the photo album we'd compiled for her when she left Alaska. It was very odd how we've all aged, except for Frances. LOL

Lynn, Frances and Me

Oscar, Michael and Ken 

The three again. 

Renewing friendships from years past reminds me again how truly blessed we were to minister in the Air Force. If we weren't going to Alaska, I'd be sorely tempted to retire in Colorado Springs.