another front yard
[Ken 10/02/2018] And this isn't just any front yard. We are back at our Base Camp in Livingston, Texas. As fulfilling as it is to "Encourage, Serve, Love ... and Explore," it always feels great to be back in our own yard and in our own house again. And Gadget thinks so, too!
Our trip this year was nothing short of fantastic. We served at four SOWER projects and visited a fifth -- all in the western United States. Faith (our motorhome) traveled 6211 miles (getting to the Pacific NorthWest is a really, really long drive!). Almost coincidentally, we added 6200 miles to the Jeep's odometer. In total, we drove more than 12,000 miles in 12 states over 146 days, and served countless hours for SOWERs. Understandably, we are pretty tired and think the opportunity for a good rest is timely.
Our trip this year was nothing short of fantastic. We served at four SOWER projects and visited a fifth -- all in the western United States. Faith (our motorhome) traveled 6211 miles (getting to the Pacific NorthWest is a really, really long drive!). Almost coincidentally, we added 6200 miles to the Jeep's odometer. In total, we drove more than 12,000 miles in 12 states over 146 days, and served countless hours for SOWERs. Understandably, we are pretty tired and think the opportunity for a good rest is timely.
We had our share of some pretty cool, Big God moments this year. We are so thankful that He persists in loving us the way He does. SOWER projects are really about people -- the work is sometimes incidental and often becomes nothing more than an open door to "love on" others. God also showed us some of His creative magnificence in the Grand Canyon, and in California's Giant Redwoods. Wow! And of his mighty power in the form of an impressively rugged, surf-carved Pacific coastline, and of the Carr Wildfire while we were evacuated in Redding, California. And in so many ways He blessed us more!
UNFORTUNATELY for Faith, Livingston had received a bunch of rain at the end of September, and the yard at Base Camp was a tad soggy. Overconfident, I aimed 15-ton Faith towards her parking spot like I had so many times before. But this time the back-end sank to-the-frame into that infamous red, Texas' mud. It is somehow ceremonial for me to return home from a trip and unnecessarily challenge Faith, I guess (I hit a tree stump at the end of last year's trip, you may recall). It took some digging, some lumber, some sweat, and some warm sunshine, but we eventually got her freed and made it safely into our yard. After she was unloaded we carefully put Faith in the barn for the winter (she's tired, too). Whew!
Now it REALLY is time to rest.
Now it REALLY is time to rest.
family time in colorado!
| [Ken and Deb 09/28/2018] It is always special for us to be together as a family. Especially when we show up and the gang's all in town at the same time. We got to see all our kids, and Ken's mom, too. But we also got to see our most-very-special granddaughter, Ellie, several times. She is almost a teenager now, you know. Her new favorite friend is "Tiny Gadget," our adventurous YorkiePoo. Ellie and Gadget were often the show to watch, as they wonderfully enjoyed each other's company (and food)! | |
We missed seeing Devin, our son-in-law. We are sorry we missed you this time! We know how difficult balancing college and work can be. We will get hugs the next time we are in town, for sure!
another front yard
We have always liked camping at Chatfield Reservoir State Park. It is just south of Littleton, CO, where Ken's mother and brother both live. The paved sites are spaced as much as a hundred feet apart and are always well-cleaned. As a bonus, the last couple of times we have stayed at Chatfield we scored a site on the outer ring that has only meadow bordering on one side (and a glimpse of the mountains to the west!). And we like being close to the biking/hiking trails that rim the reservoir below, too.
Since our last visit, Colorado started charging a daily vehicle fee for motorhomes, as well as the toad. That brings the daily rate for a site here to almost $50 (you now pay $8 for a daily parks pass for both the toad and the motorhome); that's pretty pricey for us. But this is our last "official" campsite of 2018 and we wanted to be close to family for a few days. We will fully enjoy it before starting our trek back to Texas on Friday. WooHoo!
Since our last visit, Colorado started charging a daily vehicle fee for motorhomes, as well as the toad. That brings the daily rate for a site here to almost $50 (you now pay $8 for a daily parks pass for both the toad and the motorhome); that's pretty pricey for us. But this is our last "official" campsite of 2018 and we wanted to be close to family for a few days. We will fully enjoy it before starting our trek back to Texas on Friday. WooHoo!
