On the Hunt

It is such a blessing, to head out the back door and go look for a Christmas tree. Today was another reminder at what a gift it is to live this lifestyle. We are indeed thankful. It has been an interesting fall, with camp going through some ups and downs. Yet amazingly, it looks as though the financial picture at camp is evening out a bit. The camp was able to refinance, and give us a couple of years to develop a new plan and turn the ship around. Doug Jones, our interim director has done an amazing job with the finances, and with us managers as well. We have been able to speak into a lot of things as we look at our ministry in the future. It will be exciting to see where the Lord takes Horncreek in the future, but I think all of us are re-engaged with renewed passion.

I have been traveling alot this fall for camp as we seek to re-stratigize and recruit some new summer staff and interns. The internship is up and running for next fall, and we have had good success recruiting. I have been to Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Indiana so far, and I head to Texas and back to Missouri this week.

The weather has been pretty mild so far this fall. We just got our first snow this week, just in time to get our Christmas tree. The girls are doing great, and school continues to go well for them. We will all be heading to Maui this Christmas to spend some time with my family. Looking forward to being warm and enjoying the ocean.

We will check in again soon. Bye for now.

-Jeff and the Foxy ladies

Aspen...

Don't know if it can get anymore Colorado-ish than Aspen in the fall...we just went this past weekend for the Golden Leaf Half Marathon. The scenery was picturesque. The crisp air, blue sky and colors everywhere --- what a treat to live is such a beautiful place.

Jeff figured since he is in the best shape of his life, why not keep entering races? Thus the half marathon, which he once again, did great. It was a trail run from Snowmass to Aspen along the ski mountain. More than the running itself, he just loves the adventure of it all. I have to say I was inspired and just may be joining him next fall... Anyone else want to committ??

Emily joined her daddy on the last 20 yards --- her face says it all!

John Denver's music is a favorite in the Fox house hold...so of course we had to visit the JD Memorial Park in Aspen.

A few more shots of our weekend away... hope this finds you well and enjoying your fall.

Epic

I love adventures…I think I was made for them. Actually, I think most of us were made for them, yet so often we get stuck in the business of our lives and in the rhythms of our weekly schedules, that we fall into safe and predictable lives. I definitely have been susceptible to mediocrity myself, but I have to admit this last year has been a breakout of sorts for me. Living here at Horn Creek has given me the opportunity to dream, take risks, and find adventure in ways that I have not done for years. Especially this year, with Horn Creek in an uncertain place, I have done everything I can to seize the moment, while I have it.

I have been training for the Colorado Relay for the past 5 months. The Colorado Relay is a 175 mile 24 hour relay running race from Georgetown to Carbondale. It follows paved roads, dirt roads and trails over three mountain passes. My team entered the 5 man ultra race, which means each runner runs 6 legs adding up to approximately 35 miles a piece. Our team consisted of my brother in law Jeff, my step brother in law Craig, two other friends named Scott and myself. We aptly named our five-some: “Daddy’s Gone Wild”.

At any rate, the race was this past weekend, and it was filled with all the adventure I could ask for. We started the race at 9 a.m. on Friday and immediately climbed over 2000 feet in elevation and were running in snow. The first third of the race was run in a combination of snow, sleet, rain, mud, and wind. We began to pass other teams quickly and soon found ourselves in a race against time, fatigue, leg pain, sickness, injury, weather, and our own minds. We were wet, smelly, cold, uncomfortable and fully alive as we raced through day and night. There were low moments and high moments. The greatest part of it all was that we were not just running for ourselves, but for our team. It was not just about running one leg, but running for something greater. I ran to win, not just for me, but for my team. Every step was counted, and every mile was important. We were living in the moment, yet striving for the finish. “Daddy’s Gone Wild” ultimately would outrun the other 5 man teams to win the 5 man ultra race, and also beat 137 out of 145 10 man teams. It was an awesome adventure, especially for a 37 year old who longs to stay young.

It was great to be part of something much greater than myself, yet at the same time to be an integral part in the overall story. It reminds me a lot of what John Eldredge talks about in Wild at Heart, and in The Epic. He states, “We are now far into this Epic that every great story points to. We have reached the moment where we, too, must find our courage and rise up to recover our hearts and fight for the hearts of others. The hour is late, and much time has been wasted. Aslan is on the move, we must rally to him at the stone table. We must find Geppetto lost at sea. We must ride hard, ride to Minas Tirith and join the last great battle for Middle Earth.” Now granted, John was talking about our spiritual journey, and how we are called to join in the great story of God’s work in our lives and in the lives of others. But John also talks about us coming alive as men and as children of the King. Are we really living the Epic that God has created us for? Are we taking risks, pursuing dreams, living out our God given gifts each day? This race reminded me of what makes me come alive. I love adventure, and I love being a part of a greater story. That is why I love running; it is why I love camping ministry and ultimately why I am so thankful to be a part of God’s unfolding story of redemption.

I don’t really know why I am writing this. I do not know if it is for me just to process, or if anyone else will actually read this. But this I know…I was born for adventure, and I think many of my fellow friends are as well. If this race simply reminds some of them to pursue their dreams and remember their own part in the story - then it was all worth it.

-Jeff

Having fun passing another runner...

Jeff, Craig and myself on top of Georgia Pass

The saught after finish line...

Ramblings...

We literally live in the trees, pine and aspen trees. A forest if you will. There are times I miss cement sidewalks and the jingle of the ice cream truck, but on the whole, living in the woods offers our kids a backyard full of imaginative and creative play.

Yesterday, Em and Syd and their good friend Emma played in a lean to fort for 3 hours. When I sneaked up on them I saw a scene straight from Little House on the Prairie...in their verbage, dress and character. It was one of those moments that I wanted to capture and put in a bottle because I know all too well that in a few years, they will be way beyond dress up and acting like Laura and Mary from Walnut Grove. Here are a few pictures of their time together...

It is warm and sunny today and yet we are thinking ahead to the cold snowy days that will come in a few short months. Jeff has been working hard to get us stocked with firewood since it is our main source of heat in the winter. He heads out to the woods in his Ford F-150 with his chainsaw and country music and gets busy!

By far one of the girls favorite things to do during the summer at camp is the waterslide. As guests have dwindled here in the last few weeks, they have had all kinds of fun breaking all the rules when it is just our family and other staff kids... walking UP the slide, doing trains, damning up the water...

The other day, Emily and Emma were given $5 and the chance to roam the metropolis (ha!) of Westcliffe for an hour. They bought an iced coffee (a girl after her mama's heart) to share and then split their money to buy their siblings and mom and gift. Below is a pic of our goodies... PS Emma's mom Jill is my "live life with" friend. What a gift.

Finally, as I close this VERY random post...can I just say we love living in a place where ranching and haying is a major way of life. We clearly don't know a thing about how to do it ourselves, but we have grown to really appreciate and admire those that do. Emily's horse riding teacher is part of a 3rd generation ranching family here in the valley, so we have gotten to see up close the amount of devotion and work involved in that kind of lifestyle --- and for harldy any money, I might add. They do it because they love it - what a thought. Below, cattle grazing and a tractor at work with Westcliffe behind.

Final Days of Summer

Some photos from our summer activites...

As far as playing, recreational activities, being outside, staying in PJ's til 10am - it has been a fabulous summer. The girls have had wonderful weeks to simply be kids and enjoy this amazing place called home. Jeff has had plenty of work stress, but we have, as a couple and as a family, decided to truly embrace and enjoy each day.

The summer staff will be out-o-here next week which always makes this place feel like a ghost town. But we have relished our old relationships and have enjoyed the new ones. It is always such a treat to see our girls look up to and learn from these college kids. Sad to see them go. Our interns as well will be leaving and unfortunately, Horncreek will not be continuing the program this fall. That is a big loss to us personally, especially Jeff but to the whole camp as well.

Last month we were able to go to Ute Trail near Lake City, CO while Jeff spoke for a family camp. It was great to be on the "other side" of camp life and we had a ball playing and relaxing together. It was a highlight to our summer. We also had a fun visit from my brother and his family for a week - they were a sight for sore eyes since living in Africa for the last 2 years. The cousin time was priceless.

Other summer tid bits...the girls were flower girls for a former intern's wedding. Jeff officiated, putting his MDiv to work. Ziplines, western nights, fishing, waterslides, tea parties,

Life at the camp pool: Emily has learned to do a flip off the diving board while Syd has mastered her freestyle stroke. Both still love to sprawl out on the hot cement to warm up - didn't we all do that as kids? Wouldn't it be weird if we did that as adults?

Jeff is still a maniac - his last "outing" was a 16 hour hike across the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, climbing 11 peaks. He could barely speak, much less walk when it was all said and done. He is training for a 180 mile relay with 4 other crazies (team name: Daddies Gone Wild) in September... He is loving all of it.

And me...gonna savor each and every last day of summer. Love to lounge and read with the girls in the morning sun on our deck, have no agenda, let each hour come and go... Will be gearing up for another year of sub-ing at the best school ever this fall. Life is sweet right now.

Blessings to those reading.

Twilight

I write at twilight, listening to a new Coldplay album, looking out my window at fading colors as light slowly slips behind the mountains. Aspen leaves flutter, birds sing their final songs, the air cools and begins to bite, and silence begins to reign. The stillness is so sweet. The Fox gals are just coming in after a fun hour playing with hula-hoops, sidewalk chalk, and sprinklers. Summer is so sweet here, especially at twilight, when all the happenings of the day come to one grand conclusion, in a finale of light, stillness, and song. I am in awe of beauty tonight, of beauty in so many forms….

So much happening here at Horn Creek these days. Still in month 1, but yet every day has felt like a week. We are having a summer of great joy, but also of great anticipation and question as we await the fate of Horn Creek and its financial challenges. It looked like for all we knew, Horn Creek was on the verge of closure, if not something close with the financial woes that were upon the whole camp. Many were fearful of not getting paid, some actually didn’t get paid, as we waited for answers. Yet amazingly, a donor stepped forward and gave Horn Creek some life, at least for the summer. What an amazing surprise and gift, as time has been bought for the camp to figure out if it has a future, and what that future might look like. There are many obstacles, and many questions yet to be dealt with. But tonight at twilight, we can rest and revel in what we have here today. It is good and we are thankful.

I am struck at how difficult it is to take Jesus words to heart when He challenges his followers in Matthew not to worry about tomorrow. Really, do we take Jesus at his word? Do we trust that in the same way He feeds the birds of the air, and the lilies of the field, He will give us our daily bread? Do we really walk in His day to day provision, trusting that the manna that he lays at our feet today is enough, just enough to meet our need? I do not know if I have been forced to live in the immediate like we have in the past month. It is a wonderful, and miserable place. By miserable, I mean, that I can’t rest in the future, and that is so hard for a dreamer like me. Just enough for today, just enough. Jesus is speaking to me in those words “Do not worry about tomorrow.” Truly tomorrow is out of my control, I can only revel in today. Speaking of…. I got to lead a group of 15 fathers and sons up to a high mountain lake and watch them marvel in God’s power and majesty, and in the gift of their relationships…today…. What an awesome blessing, what a privilege. His beauty, his gifts, his people, his creation, his provision….. Today it is real, and it is here, and I praise him for Twilight.

-Jeff

Early Summer Pics