What a Surprise!

Friday evening: Dan and I were at a couple's house (from church) enjoying dessert and coffee. Dan gets a phone call and afterwords motions to me that we need to go. When we get to the car, he tells me that a man in church (who often needs a ride from the airport after business trips) was in need of a ride. So off we go to the airport...yeah, at 9 at night. We get there and after some confusion as to where to pick him up, we finally get the right spot. And there, instead of the man, was two of my very dear friends from Francesville! AH!!!!! I was so surprised! Melissa Edwards and Dani Wuethrich were standing there smiling at the look on my shocked face. After multiple hugs and "what are you doing here?!!??!" we headed home. My husband did a fabulous job keeping this from me. He even had the air mattress borrowed from his parents! :)So thus started a wonderful long weekend. Since pictures are worth a thousand words, I'll opt to share a photo story of sorts to describe our weekend.

Friday:

We stayed up late talking the first night! So much to catch up on! The poor girls were definitely feeling the two hour time change!

Saturday:

We woke up to clouds and rain Saturday morning. But we still decided to head to the mountains! Sure glad we did! It was sunny and warm up there! It was Dani and Mel's first time to CO so we had fun showing them the mountains! Spent most of the day up there!

:)
We went off-roading in Dan's little Cavalier! So much muscle so little car...haha. We were able to see some amazing views!
Dan, thanks for spending the day with us! For driving us around, for taking all those pictures, for buying lunch! ;)
The snow is melting! Spring is beginning to slowly touch the mountains!
Two beautiful friends
After romping around the mountain tops, we went to a quaint little mining town, Idaho Springs, for lunch! Turns out, its kind of a historical town.
Aboard an old train.

This day was packed! After a late lunch, we headed downtown where we killed time looking at shops and old bookstores until meeting Dan's brother Jake and a friend, Tucker, for dinner. We were so full that we just got dessert.

After dinner we all went to our apartment and played games. Two girls from church also came over.
Since I served lunch the next day we got busy making scotcheroos and chicken salad! I really appreciated the girls' and Dan's help!

Sunday:

A chilly game of volleyball after church

Dinner at Jake's (Sunday pm) Hamburgers and grilled veggies!
Tyler (a friend of ours who recently started repenting)

Monday:

Monday mostly consisted of SHOPPING! It was fun to go shopping with some good buds! We had our share of fun! ;)
When we got home we went on a walk. During it, Dan called and asked if we wanted to go bowling...sure! So Fred joined us for a few games.
Fred demonstrating his "bone saw". I think he just got a strike!
I think the girls liked the socks Dan grabbed from home for them!

I'm sure you're getting the feeling that we had a packed yet very fun weekend! It was such a good surprise. A good pick me up. They had read my previous blog about missing farm equipment and brought me a little toy tractor, disc, and trailer! We had good talks and many laughs. You know, its amazing how you can go for months without seeing people you love and then, when you're together, its like you were never separated. Thanks so much girls for coming!!! I had a wonderful time with you...and many good memories! Let's keep making them!!!

Thunderstorms

We've had several thunderstorm/rains lately. It sure has reminded me a lot of the Midwest! The smell of rain often takes me back to summers in Francesville! So, I've been missing my family some lately. Here's a picture in case you too have forgotten what they look like! I sure can't wait to see them again!

L to R: Dan, Mark, Me, Derek, Dad, Brett, Mom, Joel, and Alisha.

I've also been reminded of all the fun times with family and friends on the lake in past summers.

Oh yeah...remember that 4th of July...try number two! Silly rain.

Hmmm...so maybe I've been a bit nostalgic lately. I could stand to see some farm equipment and hear talk of planting. Goodness, I'd even offer to pick up some rocks! :) Ok, maybe not. But nonetheless, I am really excited to see what a Colorado summer is like! Dan and I are hoping to head up to the mountains this Saturday! (A love of mine!)

Speaking of loves...
Dan made me supper last night! We had bacon, mushroom and tomato melts. They were really good!

Enjoying the product along with some fresh mint tea

Last week, Dan put up the finch feeder I got for my birthday. A week later, the little birdies finally found it! :) I have had both male and female red and yellow finches visit. For a job update. Last Monday I had another nanny interview. It is a single dad with three children: Boy: 8, girl: almost 6, and boy: almost 4. They are high energy but really sweet kids. They were there during the interview and I noticed that they did obey well and were just good natured kids. And they are smart! The oldest (going to be third grade) asked...ok, pretty much begged his dad for a division or multiplication problem. "Just one that will keep me thinking," he said! The job doesn't start til July but it would be 3 days a week...occasionally up to 5 days. So, we'll see what happens! Dan continues to get pretty good hours and just recently bought books for the summer semester which starts June 6.

I see its clouding up again and I just heard thunder. The ironing and laundry's done...maybe I'll go find my book!

Quoting my dad...
"Until next time....over and out!"
Ps...and as an added adventure...there is now a tornado watch and warning! Just listen to those sirens.

Nature walks and Garage Sales

Yesterday...
Dan worked until 9pm last night so after a decently busy day and a supper of leftover spaghetti, I went for a walk! Close to our apartment complex there is a old farm (of sorts) with lots of open space, trails, and creek. Trees too...which I LOVE. After walking for a bit I found a spot by the creek that Dan I visited when we were engaged. I sat down and was just thinking and praying when a male Mallard duck swam upstream past me. All of a sudden he stopped then snapped up some bugs. A little later, two animals also came swimming upstream. There was a little waterfall that they got out to climb over. At first I though they looked like rats...but then I realized they weren't. Muskrat? Mink? Weasel? Hmmm.
I was just heading back when an older friendly gentleman passed walking his dog. He seemed nature savvy so I told him about the mystery animals. I spotted them again and pointed them out. He thought they were river otters! He told me of a spot downstream where there was evidence of beavers! I went there and sure enough...there was a couple big trees knawed on! Big shavings were at the base of the tree....we'll have to keep an eye on their progress.
As I walked home I saw a large bird...though unfortunately I don't know what it was. A big aunt hill, and last but not least, a HUGE raccoon! He was totally oblivious of me. He just waddled by the creek. :)
I got home after the sun disappeared behind the mountains. I looked up river otters...and I'm thinking the ones I saw were too little...maybe it was a mink or a muskrat after all...anyways, they were cool! And, I had a lovely walk!

Mink

Muskrat

River Otter

Today...

This morning, Dan, his mom, and I went garage sale-ing! We came home with a few good buys! ;) To name a few: Dan got a brand new in-the-box metal tool box...of which he he quite pleased!

Dan getting to work filling his new tool box One of my favorites!!! All but one of these I got today...so cheap! :) I'm excited to start reading them!

My other fav. (for only a few bucks) Dan had the brilliant idea to put it in the corner by our kitchen table...its perfect for my herbs and the tulip Mom L. gave us for Easter!

Well, maybe not...

This morning I got up early and headed out at about 6:30am for my first day at my new nanny job. I arrived a couple minutes early and rang the doorbell. The Dad came to the door with a puzzled look on his face...but still invited me in. I was thinking, "Ok, so they forgot I was coming today." "My wife didn't call you?" he asked. Nope. She didn't. Short story shorter, the Brazilian nanny that they had before must have renewed her work visa and thus didn't have to leave. They just forgot to call me. I got back home just as Dan was leaving for work. I think I scared the poor boy! He wasn't expecting me home! I did receive a very apologetic email from the Mom then. They both felt so bad! So...there's no hard feelings but I am not too excited about trying to find another job. But, God's got to have something up His sleeve! I know He'll provide.

But on to more exciting things...

It has been so nice here! We have been taking advantage of it! Last Sunday a group of us from church (and Doug and Kary Mangers who were visiting) headed over to a school near us for outside games. Dan and I are excited to find this place as it has a nice sand volleyball court! After working up a sweat we went to Mom and Dad Lemans for homemade pizza! Yummm!
Monday, I played my first game of real golf. Fred and Dan finally persuaded me into going. And, I actually liked it! My score was pretty lousy but I did get par on one hole! Of course Dan and Fred did great...though I'm sure they'd try and convince you otherwise. :)

It's hard to believe that Easter is already upon us! The sun is shining and the other day I saw some robins! Just as green grass and early flowers are springing up around us it reminds me of the joy and fresh beginning of a soul coming to the Lord. Dan and I have a friend who recently started repenting. How exciting to have someone come to know the One who died for us!!! I love this song and I think it is so fitting for the Easter time:

 O sacred Head, now wounded,
 with grief and shame weighed down,
 now scornfully surrounded
 with thorns, thine only crown:
 how pale thou art with anguish,
 with sore abuse and scorn!
 How does that visage languish
 which once was bright as morn!

 What thou, my Lord, has suffered
 was all for sinners' gain;
 mine, mine was the transgression,
 but thine the deadly pain.
 Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
 'Tis I deserve thy place;
 look on me with thy favor,
 vouchsafe to me thy grace.

 What language shall I borrow
 to thank thee, dearest friend,
 for this thy dying sorrow,
 thy pity without end?
 O make me thine forever;
 and should I fainting be,
 Lord, let me never, never
 outlive my love for thee.

Happy Easter!