Serenity

So I've not posted lately, but a quick update on life...it's been busy and crazy, but we are doing super well and God has continued to bless us and show us new things each day.

    We named our house Serenity, and so far, it has totally held up to it's name. :) We love our house and have enjoyed getting to make it our own and feel "at home" when we are here. We have been getting ready for Fall and invested in three mums that took up residence at the front door.  

         

Our Harvest Gnomes; Robert and I saw these and instantly fell in love with them. We are pretty quirky people and so these totally fit with Serenity. haha...our neighbors tell us frequently, "So your gnomes...they're creepy!"

      After living by our door for about a month, we decided they needed to be planted and also decided to do some landscaping out in our front yard. This is the result, and I LOVE it!!

    So since I last posted, we have finished up an awesome summer with DM, gone to Colorado with Discovery Ministries on a scouting trip, gone to Iowa on a support raising trip and to visit family, I started working part-time doing in-home care for a neighbor and part-time with DM as a staff trainee, Robert has been working full-time at the ministry and we have reached around 81% in regular support, and celebrated 6 months of marriage! So much in a short time! We have loved it, and while it's been challenging support raising, God has continued to prove Himself faithful and a true provider. 

One of my gardenias decided to bloom. The house smells beautiful!

I am drinking Chai. :D

    God has been very good to us in our first six months of marriage and we really do enjoy being married and getting to spend time together. We have enjoyed watching some TV shows such as Person of Interest, Psych, Firefly, M*A*S*H, and the occasional Jane Austen (yep, he enjoys them!), playing a video game together, reading the LOTR: Two Towers, playing catch with our baseball caps on, weeding/working in our flower beds, playing games (our lastest obsessions are Munchkin and Rummikub) and cooking together as well as spending time with our friends. God has continued to bless us with working at DM; we love it so much! Even when it is frustrating, we are growing and seeing God moving in this side of the kingdom. 

      I am learning InDesign for our newsletter as that is the primary focus for me this fall as well as programming when available and working on little projects in the office. I have been reading the book and watching some videos on youtube about InDesign and am getting slightly obsessed with it's awesomeness. :) 

  

    Until next time, may God grant you grace and peace this day!

Adventures in Colorado!

       So we went with Discovery Ministries to Colorado on a scouting trip for leading wilderness trips out there with another ministry. It was an awesome trip and we got to do some incredible things!

We went rock climbing one day and that was a blast! Plus I got to see Pike's Peak from a distance!

Hello Pike's Peak!

Here are some shots of us climbing! Beautiful rock!    

     As we were driving around looking at Rock climbing areas, we also checked out 11 Mile Canyon, but didn't have time to climb. I also enjoyed taking pictures of the interesting flora and fauna! :) The first picture is Indian Paintbrush.We spent a whole day rock climbing and being shown some of the beautiful country. Colorado is gorgeous! we backpacked two days in Lost Creek Wilderness and that was a breath taking adventure! We hiked 17-18 miles in two days with 4 kids 10 years old and under! It was so much fun though!

So this is us right before heading out for a two day backpacking trip covering about 18 miles!

This is one of my absolute favorite shots! Panoramic!

     Robert and I at a beautiful overlook. You could see for miles up the canyon. So Robert's backpack was his dad's that he got when he lived in Alaska. Robert has used it and really likes it. So fun fact: those shorts I am wearing I've had since I was like a sophomore in highschool; they ripped on the trip. Thankfully I had a pair of jeans!

Me and my best friend!

   On the last day in Colorado, we were there a week, we went to Cottonwood Pass. We were going to go picnic at Cottonwood Lake, but due to the cold weather, rain, and the long hike, the kiddos weren't up for it. So we drove up to the pass. The picture of Rob and I was taken about an hour before the next. Storms roll in quick!

So this was at Cottonwood Pass at 12,126 ft! Incredible!
It reminded me of Scotland!

      These are some other pictures from our trip. Good friend Leah and I, some pictures from Bueno Vista, CO, the bike race that we watched in the pouring rain, Jake getting his arm patched, and a fairytale mushroom. This trip was super awesome and I am excited to see what God has in store for the ministry next! It was super good to get back home though after a week of high altitudes and adventure!

This was the highest Robert and I had been on land!