Tickets Purchased!

The clock is ticking!We have purchased out tickets (one way) for Ethiopia! We leave Sept 1. Pending all of our FM Coursework being done. Hey! I have pulled allnighters before, I can do it agian. Pray for packing, giving away, healthy goodbyes and Timmy to survive shopping with me for socks ("These hurt my toes!")

Garden of the Gods, Rodeo, Hiking and Rock Climbing.

Again folks, this was cramming a summer's worth of vacation into a weekend and a couple of weekday evenings. But we did it well!

Rock Climbing at the Gym for 2 and 1/2 hours!Timmy walks the "tightrope" Juliette attacks her first climb!
Holding up balancing rocks at Garden of the Gods!

Timmy holds on for 8 seconds!The Real Deal! Juliette Gives it a Go!The View from our hike up at Ben Loehman Ridge
Family Photo at the top of the Rigde

Juliette and Timmy pose at the Air Force Academy

We love each other!

The Air Force Academy Chapel.

3 day-old cadets.

And then of course there was class all week long :) Learning a lot, but the pictures of the classroom are just that! So we just included the playtime!

White Water Rafting

I was frightened...I was frightened that the kids would be frightened, and that I would fly out of the boat. I was worried the water would be cold and we would be miserable. IT WAS AWESOME!!!! Seriously one of the best adventures we have had. Even though we are at MTI training, we are using the weekend to cram in a little vacation. Because when we get home, it is time to get packed and get going. I will probably buy tickets on Monday....for Sept 1. WOW!

So we are packing a summers worth of activites into a weekend and taking advantage of all of the amazing activities that Colorado has to offer. We LOVE Colorado!

Colorado Update

I've been locked in a box ( really it was fun!), in a simulated Jet Blue immigration holding room, subjected to food torture (three meals a day, much too much good food, that I don't have to cook) beaten at bowling and scrabble and FORCED to hike for 2 and 1/4 hours (Tim and the kids are taskmasters). So tonight was a much needed respite for some fun and games, bowling and watching the Space Station go over: here are a few pics.

Jervaun pulls a spare; my only one:(

The Nickname Team

Here are the boys! They had a blast!

The "YOUNG and the Beautiful!" And finally God's amazing light show.

Colorado is the land of thunderstorms and rainbows, truly amazing!

Mission Training Internationl

The whole family is in Palmer Lake Colorado, near Colorado Springs for a three week training preparing us for the emotional, spiritual, cultural and familial aspects of living overseas. There are 20 countries and 16 sending agencies represented here. We have met some amazing people. The children have their own program and as I write are on a fieldtrip to the Garden of the Gods (rock formations, not pagan indoctrination). The were not told where they were going in order to help them deal with the unexpected.

The weather here is amazing, sunny and hot, then thunderstorms, wind, sun and lightning...

reminds me of Ethiopia. (Above, catching lightning in the lens!)

The majestic promise of God.

Juliette and Timmy have adapted well,

love going to their classes, playing games, sewing, making smores.

In a lesson about expectations, Tim plays the role of Mr. Feelings. The other students are holding giant rubberbands, which they were
occasionally instructed to let "twang" or snap on Mr. Feelings.