Life

 Amidst a season of loss, the exuberance of our kids reminds me that God's mercies are new every morning.  These photos capture some moments of joyful play with Grandma and Grandpa Stata during our second visit to Colorado Springs.

 

Running through the sprinkler with Grandma....

 

 

 

Slaying the "Blue Goose" Dragon Grandpa

 

Remembering Grandpa Gardner

Grandpa Gardner was an Oklahoma farm boy, one of nine children in his family.  As a young man he flew P-40s over North Africa and Italy in World War II.  Later he retired from the Air Force and ran multiple cattle ranches and a sod farm until he retired at age 80.  I have wonderful memories from my childhood of riding horses with him, driving out to his ranches to "help" followed by hamburgers at the rural diner, and having family dinners at Furr's Cafeteria.  He was a  gentle man, full of love for his family and delight in his great-grandchildren.

 

 

VBS 2013

We came home from our trip in time to have fun at the last three days of VBS.  This year's western theme meant that Naomi, Johnathan, and Ezra had a rollicking time of riding, roping, laughing at the skits (their favorite part!), petting animals, and learning about Jesus.

My favorite moment of the week was watching Ezra go into the pen of the petting zoo.  He was pretty worried that the duck appeared to be chasing him, so he backed away, voicing his concern.  When he bumped into something while backing away, he whirled around to find himself face-to-face with a goat.  Terrifying!  He may live in the country, but he will need some livestock-tolerance  therapy if he want to be a true country boy!

Happy Birthday, Ezra!

 Ezra turned 3 on our final day in Colorado Springs, so he got not one but two parties!

Lunch, ice cream, and general silliness at Grandma and Grandpa Boaz's house.

And after a nap to recharge, Ezra partied with Grandma and Grandpa Stata.

Ezra first and current favorite movie is Peter Pan, so his siblings gave him some play figures from the movie.  He does a great Wendy impression!

His "cake" was a pile of cream puffs.  You've got to "think outside the slice" when you have five birthdays in a row!

 

Happy birthday, little buddy!  You bring us so much delight with your quirky comments, unbridled enthusiam, and general cuteness! 

The Big Event

The main event of our trip was our niece Rachel's wedding.  Three days before the big day, though, a wildfire started in Black Forest, very close to their wedding venue.  The fire soon grew to devastating proportions, and it was clear there would be no wedding at that location.  But God provided a last-minute, new location at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort, and the wedding was beautiful!

Johnathan, Naomi, and Kayla... and the bronze bear!

The little and middle Boaz cousins

Kevin, Randy, Dad, Mom, Karen, and Lori

 Congratulations, Rachel and Aaron!  We can't wait to see how God will work in and through your marriage!