On Friday we were so blessed to have my sister, Kate, come over and graciously watch the kids for us while we took a short little "get away" together. Friday was my birthday and we honestly just wanted a quiet night with no pretension...so, we went to dinner at Applebee's. We got the "2 dishes and an appetizer for $20" deal and some drinks and we were pleasantly stuffed afterwards.
Since we were so close to the mall, we thought we would take a walk before we thought to settle down for the night...it was nice to just walk around and stop when we wanted and look at what we wanted to look at. We met some friends from Indy's office in Borders and stopped to talk about things for a bit. Indy's friend is getting ready to retire from the AF in January and he and his wife are figuring out what they want to do with their lives...the husband is actively interested in missions work, his wife...not so much....we wanted to talk more; but, the friends they were out on a double date with needed to go...so I felt later like an opportunity to minister to them was lost...I feel at times like we ramble...that we need to get to the point more quickly in order to capture people's attention and give them that vision of themselves in a ministry role. Then, I remember, it isn't me...that situation was what God wanted it to be, there may be another time, we might just have been planting a seed, they may never decide to fill that role....it isn't my responsibility, a big thing for me to just let go!!!
We then took the drive over to Glen Eyrie, one of the many amazing castles here in Colorado...this one is run by the Navigators. We were staying for two nights because so many people have recommended that we attend their famous Christmas Madrigal before we leave the area! We stayed in the "Pink House", one of the many buildings all over the valley that General Palmer owned...a beautiful house built in the first part of the 20th Century....but he never lived in it....it was built after his death.
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| Our room in the Pink House |
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| A view of the Pink House from across the street by the actual Glen Eyrie Castle |
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| Walking up the steps to the Pink House |
We loved our quiet room and were able to catch up on some reading that we had been needing to do together. In the morning on Saturday, we SLEPT IN ;), and almost missed breakfast (it's only served until 9...we walked in at 5 'til). After breakfast we went back to our room and read some more and then we went over to the Cave of the Winds for the infamous Lantern Tour! It was different from the classic Discovery Tour and honestly, having done both now, stick with the Discovery Tour. You get to see more and it isn't so dark and they won't spend all their time regaling you with all the old ghost tales, though some of them were pretty interesting, I'll be honest.
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| Some of the very awesome ceiling stalactites |
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| Door to a tunnel that isn't open anymore |
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| Indy by a "time capsule" built in 1981, to be opened in 2081...it says "God's Underground Gift to Colorado" |
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| George Snider (original owner), used to write peoples' names on the rocks, and add them to a pile to see who was the more popular Civil War hero....Grant, Lincoln or Lee... The tale goes that the Lee monument always falls down, even when they pick all the rocks back up and put them back in a pile ;) Guess who Snider didn't like???? |
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| Called Snider's "Treehouse"...where he would escape when there were too many crowds on his tours. |
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| Old tools and things left behind from excavations |
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The beginning of the tour sign!
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We left Cave of the Winds and went and had wings and cheese sticks for lunch...yummy!!!! One of our favorite together lunches! Then we went fabric shopping...no really, Indy is such an awesome husband, he knows I don't like to plan projects and try to pick out fabrics with the kids around... I find it so distracting. So, I got a whole 90 minutes to pick out a few patterns and buy Batik fabrics to make 3 skirts for me, 2 pairs of capris, 2 dresses for Sissi and a cute little top and skort set for her, for when we move to Tanzania...I was thrilled!
Then, we returned to our room and quite honestly, took a nap!!!! Then it was time to get ready for the Madrigal. It was a 4+ hour event with a 5 course meal, dancing, music, theatrics, pomp and circumstance...everything you could want in a Christmas presentation. In short, amazing. If you haven't been, GO!
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| One of the "couples" from the Madrigal Singers |
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| Our third course "The Flying Fish" |
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| Beautiful music |
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| Outside of the castle, as we dropped off the car with the valet |
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The Lord and Lady of the Manor
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We literally didn't get home and in bed until almost midnight...what a night! Next morning was breakfast, some more reading and talking time and then a trip to the mall to get some lunch and a Christmas tree so we could surprise the kids when we got home...they were thrilled!
I am still processing so many of the things that we read through and talked about this weekend. I'm working on being patient, on not taking on more than I can bear, on not planning out every single little detail until I'm stressed beyond all belief....etc, etc. I have been agonizing over how to write and what to put in our Christmas letter. I wanted it to be worded just right; but, I've been reminded in some of our readings that communication with our friends and family and supporters is important; but, don't so over-analyze everything that I forget about the relationship. I LOVE people, always have and I need to remember to keep them first...do we want people to pray for us, absolutely, that is essential. Will we need some people to support us financially, yes, we'll need to buy a car there, relocate and set up a new house, we'll need plane tickets there and back, etc. etc...should I worry about this, no...I need to work on my honest feelings towards people, putting them and their needs above my own and trust in the relationship that we all have with our Lord that people will want to be a part of World Missions, with and through us! Not everyone feels called to go into missions and yet they are interested, they want to feel a part of a project and know that they are making a difference in the world and in people's lives. Please pray that we don't take on the burden of picking and choosing our supporters. I pray that God touches those people that are to be a part of our long term support team, whether is be through prayer alone, or prayer and finances.
"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service" 1 Tim 1:12
and, a note from my Secret Sister arrived today with the following...
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him (our family) who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion (Africa), 'Your God reigns.'" Isaiah 52:7
