It's Finally Here

The month I long for each winter has arrived. May. It means summer is-a-comin and the brown all around begins to have a hint of green. Notice I say a "hint". I really don't want to hear about anyone's tulips or daffodils blooming. Keet it to yourself, please. Our 9,000+ altitude kills me sometimes.

It has been a full month. Jeff has been gearing up for summer plus finishing interviews for our interns that will come this fall. He recently completed a 2 weekend long EMR (Emergency Medical Responder)class which was intense but he can now oficially change a band-aid and do other fancy stuff. Camp needed him to get certified; I think he actually enjoyed it. He is planning on running the Leadville Marathon in July...getting started again after the snow has kicked his tail, but he's getting there. I am thinking about dong the Aspen Golden Leaf Half Marathon this September - we'll see if my thinking actually turns into crossing the finish line. Any peeps out there want to join me?

Emily and Sydney have played soccer this spring - it has been a total blast. There really is something about watching your own kid play a sport and i hate to say it, but Jeff has needed some tape over his mouth a few times. He's passionate about soccer and his kid, what can I say. He loved playing as a boy so I think he is vicariously playing through his children. He is a total encouragement and teacher to them, though...I just provide the orange slices. The other night before bed, in the bedroom, as I was trying to quiet things down...you get the picture...Jeff was teaching Em how to do a slide kick. Whatever. They have both really enjoyed playing and will hopefully continue again in the fall. I have been a bit lame with getting any pics - it has been incredibly cold every game (!) so my hands are usually in my pocket. I am hoping on some temps above 60 next Saturday - come on! But here are a few of practicing with Jeff and some from the first game.

We continue to meet with our small group Monday evenings in our home - a highlight of our week. Currently, we are finishing the book Irresistable Revolution by Shane Claborne. If you've read the book, you'll understand that our discussions have been, um, intense. If you haven't read it, then I encourage you not to unless you are ready to be offended, uncomfortable and challenged. Jeff has started his own blog with his own thoughts on this book among other things...check it out.

http://www.choppythoughts.blogspot.com/

Some sad news for me personally...my sweet Grampy of 87 years passed away on Easter Sunday. I loved this man dearly. He was just about the kindest and most gentle man I have ever known. I grew up living within just a few minutes of he and my Grammy's house, so we had a special relationship. Not to mention i was his only grand-daughter. My brother and I thankfully had a chance to spend some time with him a week before he died - what a tremendous gift.

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Jeff and I had a two night get-away in April to Keystone. We spent half of one day cross-country skiing in some serious back country. At one point, we took off our skies (is that plural for ski?) and hiked to the top of a very high mountain. Fun!



We continue to live each day thankful and grateful for where we are and what we are doing. Camp's finances are still somewhat like a yo-yo, so we just keep on relishing the day and savoring the here and now. Having the summer staff come is always such a boost and there is plenty of opportunities to live some great day to day life with them. Jeff is still working some hours for our church as well which has proven to be quite a learning experience, in a good way. Stretching. Giving more of himself, but always finding it rewarding in the end.

Until next time...

Leslie