Hot Springs and White Water Rafting

Two things that we've never done since being here were going to the hot springs in Pagosa Springs and White Water Rafting. Because Landon was leaving for Bama soon, we got both of them in last week. Mason invited Brandon Stuever and Landon invited Max McGeyhee to go with us.

They had several different little hot spring pools that were each different temperatures. Then they had a large saltwater swimming pool.....

And it was located beside a little river that people were tubing down. If you got too hot, you could cool off in the cold river

With the exception of the nice boiled egg smell of sulfer, it was a neat place....very relaxing! Then on Thursday, we went White Water Rafting down the Animas River that flows thru Durango.

The water was very low (and less dangerous) so Haven was able to make the whole trip with us

This was relaxing also so I hope to take the boys in June when it is more of a Class 4 or 5 rapid. Believe it or not but it was in the high 90's that day .....and I loved it!

Landon made it to Gordo at 1:40 am Sat night (or Sunday morning) and is having a blast. We miss him though and will hopefully join him by next week. WE LOVE YOU LANDON!

THIS IS FOR YOU PATTI!

Our little drummer Landon is doing awesome at his drum lessons. His Aunt Patti wanted to attend a drum lesson while she was here but couldn't so we told her we would post some of his lesson. Please pray for Landon and Johyne Horton as they travel to Alabama this weekend...for traveling safety. And pray for us as we carry on life with him so far away! He'll have a wonderful time and I am very happy for him but I will miss him like crazy!!!

STATE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!

Another reason I have not been able to update our blog much is that we have been extra busy with baseball!! The Phillies won the Bayfield tournament which meant that we got to go to the state tournament played in Aztec, NM, which is only about 1 1/2 hour away. It started on Wednesday and we beat the Chinle, AZ, Bad Boyz. Mason pitched almost the complete 7 innings (minus 2 outs). Then on Thursday, we played Aztec Black Soxs and got hammered pretty badly. So Friday we went back to play Shiprock and beat them 14-1. Because we were in the loser's bracket, we had to fight our way back up on top.....and we did! On Saturday, we played Ignacio and beat them, and then turned around played the Aztec Black Sox AGAIN and barely beat them....YAY! At this point we were in the top 3 so on Sunday morning, we played the Farmington White Sox and had an easy win which left us to face Aztec Black Sox again at 11:30 for the championship game. We beat them 15-4!!!! I couldn't believe how easy the win was!! Mason pitched 3 innings and stuck out the first 3 batters in his first inning. So in the 2nd inning that he pitched, all batters went to the plate to bunt against him! I thought that was funny and a little flattering too!

Of course, because it was played on a Sunday morning, Mike missed it and was so sad about it. Now we go on to Farmington, NM on the 21st to start the Regional Tournament. Thank you God that it is played there b/c last year it was in Oklahoma. We were able to pick up 5 players from the other Bayfield teams to join us at state and 2 of these boys were key in helping us win. For Regionals, we can pick up 2 more boys from any team we faced in the State tournament. This is super exciting and Mason + his teammates are such talented athletes and play every sport so well together!!! (It's also getting to be super expensive!)

I don't really understand how they divide "state' divisions up but we are part of the Four Corners Division as you can see on the plate of our trophy......

This regional tournament has put a kink in Mason's plans to leave for Alabama on Saturday. He is very disappointed and if given the choice, would skip the tournament. Landon is coming on without him, and riding back with CACB project coordinator Johyne Horton. He'll be there 2 weeks before we get there and is excited that he gets to go somewhere "alone" for a change......good for Landon!

Pictures for Previous Post

I am so happy to have Lee and Thelma Plowman, Dennis and Barbara Pugh, and Gypsy and Henry Helmers here this week to work on our building!! One of their main assets they brought along with them is Gypsey and Henry's grandson Jake, who helped me figure out how to post pictures from this laptop!! YAY for Jake!!!

I am very sad though that Nellie Fields did not get to come along and join me in lifting her up as her mother is not doing well. I sure am enjoying all the wonderful hugs from Thelma and reminders of our precious time together at Arbor Springs Baptist Church.

So here are the pictures that go along with the previous posts.....

The kids kayaking......

Our new jet ski's.....(well....new to us!)

Ok...this picture of the new church space was taken 2 weeks ago so I need to update and I will soon!

Church Buildings, Jet Ski's, and Kayaks!

So our desktop computer has a virus on it and that is the computer that I download my pictures to, to post onto the blog. I am trying to do it on the laptop but the program closes down every time.....I don't understand why! Would you believe that someone gave us a desk top just about 3 weeks ago (the virus just happened on Thursday) that is sitting in Mike's office, just waiting to be used?!! Not sure if a "computer" is a provision from God but I want to give Him glory for everything!
So the progression on the church building is still amazing! They are a little behind because they are waiting on the electrician to get his job done but they are doing as much as they can in the meantime. The roof was completed with tin today (did you know that there are no shingled roofs in the area?). I absolutely love these Alabama builders and their wives!! I love looking out the door and seeing Alabama hats and shirts on! Being around them all makes me feel so much closer to home and OHHHHH...the food they cook! It's fabulous!!! We are blessed to get to eat with them and tonight it was Saurkraut/Smoked Sausage, huge lima beans, sweet potato casserole, cornbread, and strawberry pretzel salad....YUM! I was very sad to see Johnye Horton's (Director of CACB) wife, Bit, leave on Saturday. It was a joy getting to know her and to be around another experienced preacher's wife. These other ladies are soooooo sweet also and it makes me sad to say goodbye to them each week. The people have been from Oak Grove, McCalla, Vance, Wilsonville, Woodstock, Mobile and West Blocton. The Reform crew gets here this Sunday and I am extra excited to see them coming in!
So, we made a crazy decision to buy some jet skiis that are used and MIke drove all the way down to Phoenix, AZ and back in one day to get them. They are going to be fun but every time we get out there on them, it starts lightening so we haven't got to enjoy them yet. We purchased them from a friend of a friend so that is why they came from Arizona.
July4 th was a fun day as fireworks are shot right across the field from our house. We had around 400 people in our yard by the time the fireworks began and we enjoyed our time with our new Alabama friends on our deck around the fireplace. Camp Kivu brought their kids here and had a cookout so our church family got to eat with them.
Today I got to take the kids kayaking in Connie's little pond and they were great at it! The boys will be riding back with Johnye to Alabama on the 18th so we will be trying to squeeze in the fun summer stuff as much as we can between now and then. I am still very busy cleaning cabins and feel very blessed for the extra money God is providing us with this summer.
Mason's team won the Bayfield tournament and now gets to go to state on Thursday which is in Aztec, New Mexico (about 1 hour/30 min) away so we will probably have a busy weekend. Did I tell you that he hit the ball over the fence twice in one week? It was SUPER EXCITING!!
I'll post pictures as soon as I can figure out what the problem is. We're heading that way the first of August and I can't wait to see YOU! Love to all!
~Lori