Polar Express....

Hi Everyone! Friday night, we went to ride the Polar Express in Durango, the Durango-Silverton train that is a huge tourist attraction. Before train time, we walked up and down the streets of Durango which is similar to Gatlingburg. We shared a goumet apple from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory....... and I had to take a picture of the chocolate Santa that they are giving away. The boys registered to win it so we'll see....

The Polar Express was very magical and the kids loved it! If you are not familiar with the story, the train takes kids to the North Pole to see Santa. Each box car had their own chef that served cookies and hot chocolate and was the guide for the evening. They played the story of "Polar Express" while our guide, Chris, walked the isles with the book turning the pages. As the story came to an end, we approached the magical "North Pole" which was full of bright Christmas lights and Santa and his elves. Santa got on the train and handed every child there a silver bell (as in the story). It was very exciting as Haven really thought we were at the North Pole! We then proceeded back to Durango backwards singing Christmas Carols all the way back. The kids thought it was the greatest....Mom wasn't sure it worth the price!(you know me!!)

Saturday was packed full as we started the day in Ignacio, watching Landon play basketball. His team won again (yea!) and he scored two points again. We then went to the Blue Spruce Kids Christmas Party here in Vallecito. It was free, given by one of the RV park owners for the children in the Valley. They had games, sleigh rides and many prizes. Santa came and gave everyone a stocking full of candy and little toys. It was very nice and it gave us a chance to invite kids to our "Mom's Night Out" we are having on the 22nd to give mothers a shopping day without their kids. We ended the day at Dan and Shelia Newman's for supper. They are the ones that own the Great Divide Outfitters business. Dan said that from May 1st on, hunting season is over and they could take us (and our family or friends here visiting) up the mountains on horseback to their camp to spend the night however many nights we want. Get ready Robby and Patti....I thought about ya'll coming in May....wouldn't that be awesome!! Think we can get mom on a horse?

Below is a picture of a tree made out of cupcakes....I thought it was awesome! These are pictures from the Blue Spruce Christmas party....

What have you done that was fun this Christmas? Leave me a comment and let us know!

Lori

More BIrthday's

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RENEE!! Today is Renee's birthday, our sister-in-law in Fayette, Al. Renee is married to my brother Kerry and is mother to my nieces Hannah, Haidee, and Hallie. We hope you have an awesome day!!

(I won't mention your age!!)

ALSO, Happy Birthday to Edith Parker, a wonderful social worker that I had the priviledge of working with for almost 4 years.....I wish I was there to wrap your office in tin foil today Edith!! (yea, they got me good this year!)

Life In Colorado

Hey everyone I just want to give you a quick update on things here in Colorado. I am still very bruised and sore with my ribs and other places I didn't know about at the time, but I am doing good. It should heal by spring.

Yesterday Lori had a group of 6 young mothers and about 11 kids at the church for a new outreach ministry she has started. The church here hasn't had that many kids there in years. Good job Lori. Please pray God would bless that ministry and that many of those families, none of whom go to our church and many of them are unchurched, would find Jesus. We are doing a Christmas Eve service that the church folks say brings in people from all over the valley. I am excited about getting those people into church. What is sad is that the church usually just sings some songs and reads the Christmas story and then they have communion and go home. Of course those of you who know me will guess that this year they are going to hear a sermon about Jesus. I will try to keep it short but you know...I can't imagine getting all those unchurched people to church and not preaching Jesus. The sad thing is that many of them have no idea what Christmas is all about. I spoke to a lady today who works next door to the church, who said she was reading a book about Christmas to her daughter over the weekend and her daughter said, "So Christmas is Jesus' birthday, I didn't know that." Her daughter is 7 years old. They are lost and unchurched and don't have a clue about Jesus and His love for them. Multiply that by hundreds of people and you understand the work that has to be done here, the work that God wants done here. I am saddened to know that there are people who literally live and work in the shadow of this church and they don't even know the basic truths about Jesus. I am beginning to understand better why God sent us here. Not that we are the answer, but we know the answer. Pray for us that God will grant us opportunities and boldness to share the truth of Jesus to this world. Pray that God would bless the ministry of this church. Pray for our family. The devil wants us to be depressed and discouraged. Your prayers are the key. We need them. I love you all and hope to see you in a few weeks "back home."

Mike

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CALEB OWEN!! Caleb is 5 today and he is the son of Mike's brother Mark and wife Karla. I wish we could have been there Saturday to celebrate it with you Caleb. Mama Kaye has your present from us....we love you!

Mike forgot to mention Landon's little Christmas choir show we had on Friday night. It was cute and he played the xylophone during Rudolph. I couldn't get a close up picture of him because of my sorry camera. Anyway here he is with his little antlers on. That is Mason's teacher Mr. Foster on the right side of the picture. I tried to get a picture of Landon's teacher but it was too dark.

By the way, when you read this, pray for us to have wisdom regarding an offer we have received on our house. Thanks!

Lori

Raccoons, Rocks and Broken Ribs

Saturday night we were invited to a Christmas Party of one of our church members. They have a family of wild Raccoons they have been feeding on their back porch for years. We all took turns feeding them by holding a bowl full of dog food down for them to come eat. We had as many as nine come up and eat.


The kids had their first basketball games this weekend. Landon's team won and Mason's team lost. It was not a fun time for Mason.

Today after church we went sledding up on Middle Moutain. There is still almost a foot of snow up on the mountain. We went to a place called the gravel pit. There was a big hill there and me a Mason and Landon climbed up and came down on our sleds. The first couple of times were good. Then on the third time I was coming down, I slid about half way off of my sled and was hanging off the side. That is when it happened....... I hit a big rock hidden under the snow. The boys thought it was so funny until they realized I couldn't breathe. Of course I tried to make out like I wasn't that hurt. I told them I think I needed a break so I hobbled over to the car while they went back up the hill to sled some more. As I struggled for breath and drug myself over to the Jeep, it hit me..... I can't keep up with my kids anymore. I may have broken a few ribs and my knee is swollen but hopefully after a few days of rest, I will be as good as new..... and I am sure I will try to once again do whatever the boys do. This time, I will check the hill for rocks first! Hope to see you all soon. God bless.

Mike

Happy Birthday Denise!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DENISE OWEN!!

Denise is our sister-in-law, married to Mike's brother Jeff and she and her two sisters are 32 today!! (Yes, they are triplets!) We hope you have an awesome day Nisee!!

5 Things...

Not much going on this week......I'm not feeling that well, Landon is dealing with congestion, and Haven woke up today all stuffed up. The saddest part about the week is that Donny and Kirk have not made it back from New Mexico from the Thanksgiving break. Donny was going to visit his mom and Kirk was going to find work down there (for the week we thought). I am afraid that he found work and they decided to stay :(

I have seen on other blogs where they post lists of things they are doing or of what they like, etc, (mainly because they don't have much to write about which is my case today) but I found it interesting any way.....


5 Things I Like about Colorado.........
1. The scenery is breathtaking, of course.
2. Time.......it's nice to have time to think ahead of the here and now (maybe I'll learn to stop being late everywhere I go) and time with the kids..
3. Outdoor fun... there are a lot of outdoor things to do that is fun for the kids (and I guess for me too)
4. The new church family... they are very kind and accomodating. Although they are small in number right now, they have a great loving relationship with one another.
5. Salary Package.... the way the package is set up, the church pays for all the utilities...we don't even see the bills so it's really nice. All we have to pay for is our cell phone bill and credit cards. Even though the house is not our own, it's so nice to have the church take care of that again. I know it sounds crazy but we are not sure if we ever want to own a house again after having such a hard time with selling the one in Cullman.


5 Things I don't like about Colorado.......
1. The SNOW..... yeah, it's beautiful and all but it's more of the type place I would want to just visit for a week or two...I'm more of a hot weather girl....the next 3 months are going to be very challenging!!
2. The PRICES.... yes, everything is a little higher here...
3. No Dollar Generals!! Enough said....
4. Liberals.... this little Bible Belt girl is a little intimidated by all the liberals in the area. However, I realize this is why we came...they need Jesus so God Help ME!

and last but not least by any means...
5. It is way too far from you guys!! Our Grace family is not here with us and our Gordo family is not 2 hours away. The fact that I can't just jump in the car and go for an overnight visit is so hard to get used to. That's why I want everyone of you to come see me!! Tell your spouse it's therapy for Lori!