Life in Golden

We Are Still Here!

2011-06-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile...
We are well into summer and it feels great.

Emily and Sydney finished their first year in a new school with great enthusiasm...

Sydney was actually a tiny bit sad to be done.
Not true for Em.
She gathered up enough "umph" each day to go to school, but it was a tough year for her.

Entering the scene as a new 6th grader is rough, but we were really in awe by her positive attitude and her strength to get up and do it day after day.

Sydney found friendship on the bars...playground bars, that is.

Below is her good bud Emma and the place where they would meet and play every day at recess.

Below is their last day of school and heading off on their bikes.

With the warmer weather, this of course means creek time.

Jeff and Syd took out the girl's newly purchased raft for a little spin...

Jeff rented one of these gizmos for a half day

He was one shivering monkey after a few hours.

Run off from the mountains is COLD!

Besides creek adventures, we have been hanging out with neighbors,

practicing guitar in the backyard...

playing BAGGO, our new favorite game...

having a tea party for Sydney's teacher...

slip-n-slide...

waterfights...

notice the two balloons coming right at Syd...

reading on the front porch...

just loving being outside!

Jeff turns the BIG 40 this week.

Woo-Hoo!!!

Earlier this week, I threw a dinner party on our front porch with 5 other couples.

It was a very fun evening of fellowship, laughter and trying to remember where we all had our first kiss...

And what's a 40th wiht out a few appropriate gifts...

The girls are at summer camp for the week,

so Jeff and I came to Summit County to play for a few days.

Wonderful.

Time together is such a blast!

We have been running, biking, chilling and just counting our blessings.

We love Colorado, by the way.

Some thoughts from Jeff...

Well, it has been a while since we have posted, but so many things are happening.

We are thankful, humbled, scared, and excited all at the same time. That picture of my 40th birthday dinner is a picture of blessing for me. Each person at that table has been a gift from God this year in their own way. Some neighbors, our pastors, my good friend Matthew, and a new sense of community which we have longed for. Real Estate is finally starting to take off. Gone are the days I could go three to four days on a single charge on my i phone. We are connecting with some great people here in Golden, many with the same passion to serve the community and be a light in the workplace.

We have recently started a small group at our home on Monday nights. It is a combination of neighbors, people we have met at church, and other folks we have met. We are reading Crazy Love together.

I am also networking with several pastors and leaders in Golden in anticipation of a future young adult internship here. Golden has a strong network of pastors, community leaders, chaplains, business leaders who all have a heart to invest and challenge others to live out the Gospel in their community. I look forward to how this will all pan out over the next year.

The girls are doing well...we have a great neighborhood of kids and parents that have made the transition from camp much easier.

Leslie here --- I am enjoying time off work at Love and Logic for the summer.

Thankful to be able to be home and play with the fam.

Hope you are enjoying all that summer has to offer as well!

Pandora, Steve Martin and Corn Bags

2011-01-16T06:44:00.000-08:00

This title reflects our lazy Saturday morning.

It is just the girls and myself and we are still in our pj's at 10:40. Perfect. Watched the classic Cheaper By the Dozen staring good 'ol Steve while eating cereal, and are now cranking out Pandora tunes while Emily works on her famous corn bags. Corn bags, you ask? My daughter's claim to fame. She has been cranking them out since Christmas, buying great fabric, filling them with corn and sewing them on her own. You heat them up in the microwave and have a much cuter version of a heating pad. My sister in law, Molly, was in town in December and hired Em to make 12 of them to have as gifts.

Below - the completed ones.

So if you happen to stop by, be prepared to leave with a bag.

Colorado hospitality at its best.

Christmas was wonderful. Lots of time to play and rest.

We enjoyed a week in Cali with the Fox family, headed back to Golden and spent Christmas Eve with the Bachalis, a long leisurely Christmas morning, had the Dykstra crew for New Years and several Horncreek friends stop through afterwards. Great to have folks in our home - we love it.

As we embark on a new year, the following article might be an ecouragement, primarily written for gals...sorry guys. It certainly caused me to look at my time and how I use it and prioritize it.

http://devotions.proverbs31.org/2011/01/time-and-again.html

And now, a few pics from the last few months.

Thanksgiving with our Horncreek Peeps

Baking with my mom

Christmas tree cutting

Found the one!

All set up and watching ELF

Violen concert!

Coming down from the green hills of Northern Cali at the Foxes

The cousins, minus two

The girls with Aunt Julie's foster baby, Zeke

Playing piano with Nana

The Bachali gang on Christmas Eve

Christmas morning goodness

Game on, thanks to daddy-o

The guitarist

The seamstress

Christmas dinner out. I highly recommend.

The Dysktra cousins

Clear creek in winter. This is what we will be tubing down in 6 months.

My girl.

Syd in her snow fort building glory...

Ice skating on Evergreen Lake.

Tea party with my 9 year old.

Jeff checking in from a Coffee Shop

2010-12-07T09:20:00.001-08:00

Tuesday Dec 7, 2010

It’s a Tuesday morning, and I sit here looking out the window at my favorite Golden coffee shop, The Windy Saddle. It’s a mild December morning, and people are out and about. The coffee shop is busy, but I have found a little space to reflect on the last 4 months here in Golden. There are days I still pinch myself, as if I am going to wake up from some dream and find myself waking to the view of Aspens out my bedroom window back in Westcliffe. Yet, I am here, taking things one day at a time. Some good days, some challenging days, and every day is a step of faith as we trust God for our future. As I sit and write, I just had a man put his hand on my shoulder , introduce himself, bless me as he saw me reading my bible from across the coffee shop. These are the moments when I receive just a little Manna from God to keep going, to keep trusting, and to keep knowing that He is in control. Thank you Lord.

Things in real estate are coming along slow, too slow for my liking. Yet, I know as a new realtor, I can expect nothing less as I seek to make contacts, learn, and prepare for the days I will hopefully get busy. It is hard to wait… Panic can set in as the clock ticks and money is not coming in. It is a roller coaster. But I have also gotten to know folks in my office well. I think I am bringing a breath of fresh air to them all, and I have enjoyed building relationships with people that are very different from me, but at the same time have fears, flaws, hopes and dreams just like me. My goal with them is to be a friend, to celebrate their successes, and grieve their losses and just be as authentic as I can. I am teaching ski lessons up at Loveland Ski Area a couple of days a week which has been fun, and a GREAT way to meet people. Of course I love to ski and be in the mountains, so it has been a renewing thing for me. Leslie now has a job with Love and Logic in Golden. It is a parenting organization that provides resources for parents needing help parenting their kids. Don’t we all? It is an awesome organization and their books are great. It is funny because Leslie had started reading one of their books just a few weeks before this job came up, and it was an amazing surprise when we found out the interviewers were Love and Logic. Of course they loved her!

Things in our neighborhood have been amazing. God placed us in a great place, with lots of activity and friendly families. It seems that every day I walk home from work (yes I can walk to work) kids are running all over the house, or out on the trampoline. Moms are gathering in the kitchen or the backyard chasing their kids or talking with Leslie. Last weekend we went and cut down our Christmas tree with our neighbors Greg and Laura and the weekend before I got my first taste of backcountry skiing in this part of the state with Greg as well. We do feel like our home is a lighthouse for our neighborhood and we have been blessed by all the folks we are meeting and getting to know. Because we are not overly busy with church etc, it has given us a lot of time just to hang in our neighborhood, and that has been a huge blessing to us.

Church involvement has been slow. We have been going to a big church, trying to connect with college students there and trying to get plugged in. It has been harder than we thought, and we are not sure yet if it is the best fit for us. We really want to be plugged into our community, and this church is not a community church, but rather draws folks from all over Denver. So, we are continuing to look around to see what develops. I met with the Young Life area director here named Mark the other day and we really hit it off. He has lots of dreams, and really wants to see his leaders discipled, as he personally does not have the time to do it. So, this could be another avenue for us to serve and connect with young adults. We shall see.

The girls are doing well. School is going ok, but new friends there are coming slow. We know over time this will get better, but the wait for good friends has been a challenge for all of us. Golden is a great place for kids, and they have loved their neighborhood too. Well, I will leave you with a verse I just read this morning here at the coffee shop.

“For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his Glory. “ 2 Cor 1:20

A great reminder to me that my life is not about my happiness or success, but it is at the core, about us bringing Glory to God. Amen

-Jeff

October Musings

2010-10-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

We are well underway in calling this yellow house on this block in this town HOME.

With only a few months under our belt, it is not as though there are a string of memories built yet or tons of history established, but because the 4 of us are under this roof together, it feels like home.

I was reminded of that truth the other day after we had all

lounged around in our Saturday PJ's then begun the mundane...

sweeping the floor, homework at the table, mowing the lawn...

just day to day life.

But we are doing it all together.

Now I'm not gonna lie:

there are times we sometimes wish we could head back to our life in the woods.

At times, we miss it desperately.

Just scroll down a few posts to look at some of the reasons we miss it.

So we stay in the moments of remembering and being thankful for our season there, but then,

we have to turn

our focus

our energy

our gaze

back to where He has us now.

There are plenty of good, good things here.
Absolutely.

Rock'n neighbors.

A tranquil creek 100 steps outside our door.

A college campus a few blocks away.

PF Changs with in a 10 minute drive.

A house that heats with the push of a button - who knew?

But we are still very much
(at least myself and Jeff - and maybe the girls too!)

caught in this in tweener stage of embracing and enjoying where we are,

yet very much remembering and reflecting upon where we were.

Not a bad thing, just our reality right now.

We all express it and feel it in different ways at different times.

It always makes my heart feel a bit of a pang when one of the girls talks about what they miss...

my natural tendency is to want to stop them
and make them look at all the good that is here.

Because I know it kind of hurts to remember.

But I stop myself and let them feel, reflect, miss.

It is good for them to do that.

And you know, they naturally, eventually become
engaged in their here and now

and recognize the good that is here
with out me even having to remind them.

Imagine that.

Below are some pics from our trek over to Aspen
via Independence Pass for the

Golden Leaf Half Marathon.

We've had a birthday this month...

our funny, spunky, leave-sweet-notes-under-our-pillow, caring, red headed wonder turned 9.

We celebrated with a fall bash with our buddies, the Bachalis.

What's a party with out dancing?

Greatest find over the weekend:

a perfect trampoline for 40 bucks off craigslist.

The girls raided their cash supply and below is the result.

So fun!

The entire neighborhood was over last night...no broken bones yet.

Fall blessings to you all -

The Foxes

Life in Golden

2010-09-19T20:50:00.000-07:00

Remember that time we wrote a post about moving to a town called Golden? Here we are, 6 weeks in, and all is well.

The move went super smooth, thanks to the helpful hands (and muscles) pictured below.

Here is our final pic from Horncreek the morning we left.

And yes, those are tired - and maybe some teary - eyes.

The Hess family awoke very early for a good-bye and the rest of the crew (some not pictured) drove up to Golden with us to join in the fun of unloading.

Everything in that truck...

...was unloaded and unpacked by mid-night.

Seriously!

These HornCreek folks amazed us on move in day.

Such a reminder to us the beauty of loving not merely with words,

but with actions.

Thank you. You filled our cups full.

So life since then has been good.

And I really mean that.

We had our parents visit and help with settling in, plus a plethera of visitors...

James, Katie, Christian and his family, Hannah, Emily, Karen, Kelsey, Brendon, The Hoskins Family, Dom and Chelsea, the new crew of interns...
just to name a few.

The house we are renting is across the street from Clear Creek.

We have enjoyed it immensly! Jeff will go in after a run, we'll take the girls and float down on inner-tubes or we'll jump into different rapid sections. Super fun.

Some like going head first...

...others prefer feet first.

If you plan on visiting, plan on getting in.

Hannah, Karen and Emily.

So besides enjoying our location and the proximity to the Creek,

we have been really encouraged by our neighbors.

If you're gonna live what feels like inches next to someone

(I am still adjusting to this part of the transition...)

at least you want to sort of like them.

Well, we do.

The folks on the right introduced themselves on move in day.

They have one little girl that Em and Syd have not stopped playing with and caring for. It is a very sweet relationship.

Our front porch has been our little retreat of sorts.

It faces the Creek and has an open view.

You know how we Foxes like space...

Along those lines, we did drive about 20 minutes last weekend to Golden State Park and boom, there we were in the aspens and pines.

You can bet we'll be there a lot.

The girls have begun school and it has gone well.

Even though Em is in the 6th grade, she is at a school that is K-6.

She and Syd are right down the hall from one another.

There have been a few tears as they think about and miss their old life, but even on those days, we have found things to be thankful for here.

First day...

Below are pics from our new world, right outside our front door.

Farmer's Market every Saturday across the bridge...

Historic homes and community garden...

Scootering home from the creek with Grampy Tom...

Schhol of Mines is around the corner and

every year the freshman hike to the M on the mountain

A very large zuchini from our neighbor...

A great climbing tree in our backyard...

Will close for now.

Will fill you in later about job stuff, Sunday night dinners with college folks and other such ramblings.

Thankful for much...

Warmly,

The Foxes

These are a few of my favorite things...

2010-08-06T21:16:00.000-07:00

We are winding down to our final few days so naturally, it has caused us all to stop, reflect and remember all the things we love about living here.

There have been tears already (on my part anyway) and a sense of sadness amongst the rest as we look around at all we have to leave.

The peace and quiet.

The freedom our girls have to roam.

People stopping by to talk, or just live life with us.

Evening walks in the meadow.

The peace and quiet.

The meals up at Ranch.

Meeting with the interns every Sunday evening.

The beauty of the sun coming up over the Wet Mountains.

Jeff walking to and from work.

Did I mention the peace and quiet?

It is a bit conflicting, really, because on one hand we are very present and very much appreciating our final days here - and at the same time, there is an excitiment and anticipation at what is ahead.

So many unkowns about our life in Golden, and yet,

there is a quiet confidnece that we are moving in the right direction.

But back to the title of this post...

a few of my favorite things.

Below our pictures that capture things I love about our life here.

Things that we will never be able to duplicate but that have made our 5 year stop here memorable.

This was the backdrop to our commute to town.

No billboards, just cows.

The mighty metropolis of Westcliffe, our town.

You could run all your errands in 7 minutes.

Custer County k-12 school.

Picking my girls up from the bus stop at the end of Little Horn Road.

Our community church. Dave, our pastor and friend and his spunky wife Joann.

They have taught us much about loyalty, simplicity and loving people well.

Our backyard....

...our front yard

...and the view in between.

Pancake breakfasts with our neighbors in the woods, just because.

Slowing down for Amish buggies.

Seriously.

Riding our ATV on the Rainbow Trail...

...or through the creeks.

Playing baseball in our driveway...

...heading out our back door to climb the Peak

...camp waterslides

...watching my girls hike together

...the cows

...driving up Horn Road in the fall

...sledding in the meadow

...pushing the girls in this swing

...the summer wildflowers

...the winter hot tub family chats.

...climbing mountains together.

The list could go on and on.

But I will stop here.

The point is, it has been a really awesome 5 years.

Living simply as a family,

loving those who have come in and out of our home

and learning more about what it means to live in community ---

all great things for which we are thankful.

Please pray for us as we venture into a bit of the unknown.

We have a loose idea of what life in Golden will look like,

but there is a lot that is fuzzy.

Mostly, we want to be available to people,

to keep our home and hearts open,

and to see what God does with that.

Thanks for journeying with us...

Warmly,

Leslie and the gang

Glory Days

2010-06-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

Summer. Is. Here.

These days are what we long for the other 9 months of the year.

Our summer staff have arrived, the weather is PERFECT, the creek is running, wildflowers are popping out, we can cruise around on the ATV, families campers are milling around, small group at our house with college kids --- these are glorious days.

And as we all know, they will be our last here at 'ol HC so it makes them all the more endearing.

Each one of us is trying to really soak in each moment of every day.

The girls are very aware of the finality of our time here,
yet jump into each day with total enthusiasm and adventure.
No time to be sad, Mom.

Below are snapshots from the last few weeks, of life here in the woods, on the side of a mountain.

Time with our neighbor boys

Emily pogo sticking on her way over to the neighbors - hillarious

Our campsite for a night.

We are trying to take advantage of what's outside our back door

Switching gears...

Two of our small group guys trying to prove their manhood - who could handle the most clothes pin pain.

Of course, western night...

Hanging out with Pip and Tink...

... our last two chickens.

We have given the others away. Ttrading in country liv'n for civilization.

Don't think the town of Golden allows these critters.

Jeff led a week of youth camp for this crew from Phoenix.

Underpriviledged kids from the city.

Their stories were inspiring, humbling, and saddening as they shared about their

lives surrounded by violence, poverty and discrimination.

It was a true joy to get to know them, and give them a taste of God's wonderous creation.

The girls enjoyed their time getting to know these Phoenix girls,

despite their many differences,

they found much they had in common.

We are very much thinking about our next chapter but are also very present where we are.

It is an interesting spot to be in, but one we are trying to embrace.

The details of moving will kick in soon enough, but for now - carpe diem!

Thoughts on Leaving Horn Creek this August

2010-05-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

A Move in the Forecast

As some of you already know, we will be leaving Horn Creek this August. Due to the financial challenges that Horn Creek is facing and the coming restructuring this fall, Leslie and I have both felt led to head in a new direction with our lives. This is not without great discomfort and sadness, as we have loved this season of our lives. Our ministry opportunities, our home, the amazing Colorado wilderness in our backyard, our friendships and relationships, and our church family are all hard to walk away from. We have absolutely loved this chapter in our lives! In fact, on many days it has felt like someone keeps ripping ductape off my hairy chest. I admit this is not a great analogy because for one, I don’t have a harry chest, and two; I think the visual itself is kind of demented. Anyway, on with the future…

So, with prayer, pleading, and trembling, I do believe God is leading us Foxes in an entirely new direction. Now, I suspect both our Christian, and non Christian friends are reading this post. Some of you have praised our involvement in vocational ministry both in the church and at camp. Others of you may have scratched your heads and thought, “Ok, whatever works for you.” We have been working in the church for close to 15 years now in some capacity; in youth ministry, college ministry, and camp ministry. It has been a joy, a challenge, and a tremendous blessing. We also believe strongly that the church is a light, and a vehicle that God uses to bring people to Christ, to challenge those who waver, and to encourage the faithful. But, we have also realized that our commitment to such ministry has kept us from engaging the world like we'd hoped. Yes, we have reached out, and loved meeting all types of people. But, in the end, we still spend most of our time with people who have the same values, beliefs, and lingo as we do. We have spent many years challenging many of you to be a light, have integrity, and share your faith in the workplace. We have tremendous respect for so many of you who live out your faith every day, often in very difficult work environments. In many ways, we feel like God is telling us to start living the message in similar ways ourselves.
As we have prayed about what is next, it has been crucial for us to sense that God is leading, and pushing us to take new risks for Him. The safest thing for us to do (I am talking about the Foxes) is to stay in full time vocational ministry. Yet, I do not think we serve a safe God, and sometimes I believe He calls us to live lives that are far from safe and predictable. As a result, Leslie and I have a growing passion to connect with everyday folks in every day places. We also seek to continue to use our home as a place of refuge, rest, and encouragement, and yes, ministry. In fact, instead of going somewhere else to do ministry, or heading across town to do church, we want our home, our work, our lives to be church. I mean let’s face it, did not Jesus say the two greatest commandments were to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus also challenged his followers in Matthew 5 saying “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.” We sense that God is asking us to take those verses literally. As a result, we intend to place ourselves in a situation where our light shines and our neighbors are loved. Of course we will still attend and serve in the church, but we long for our home itself to be the place of light where we meet with all kinds of folks, not just those like us.

Now, it is going to be a bit tough to pay the bills if our ministry is simply focused on our home and neighborhood and not a vocational ministry job. So, I also believe God is calling me to find employment in the community. A non ministry job so to speak. The plan for this fall - as of now - will be to pursue a full time job in real estate to hopefully pay the bills and support our desire to be involved in the lives of many different types of people. Many of you will probably not be surprised by that, as I have always had a bent towards the real estate world. My father has been a realtor for close to 30 years now; I think it is in my blood, if you know what I mean.

So, how will all this look? We plan to move to Golden, Colorado in the fall. Golden is a small community on the edge of Denver, right next to the Front Range Mountains. It is known for its outdoor culture, and its numerous mountain biking and hiking trails. It is also a road biking, kayaking and climbing mecca, with lots of opportunities to join any outdoor club possible. Golden is also a college town, with the School of Mines in the middle of downtown, with the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado Christian University, Denver University all within 20 minutes of our front porch. And if anyone needs any more incentive to come visit us, Golden is also home of the Coors Brewery. At any rate, we have rented a home in the heart of downtown, across the street from the river, a block from School of Mines, and walking distance to downtown and my new Real Estate office.

Many of you reading this have spent time in our home over the years. You know it is our passion to show hospitality and to live life with those we care for. As a result, it should be no surprise that we are excited to open up our home as we have always done to college students, neighbors, high school kids, and just about anyone else who may stop by. We are not sure how it is all going to look, but we expect over time we will have groups of folks in our home at least a couple nights a week, in addition to serving in the local church as volunteers - what a concept.

Are we excited? Heck yes! Are we scared? Hell Yes! (Did I just say that?) We will move to Golden with no income and houses to sell. We have never, ever done something this stupid. Well, there is a close second, but that is another story…. We are truly scared out of our minds, but also sense that God is asking us to dive in head first and trust him to provide. We ask you to pray and hope with us, and to pray that God will bring us not only income, but people to care for. We are excited to fully dive into our community with hearts to serve, invest, and make a long term impact.

We would love your prayers, your encouragement, and of course your visits. We will be leaving Horn Creek by August 16th at the latest and intend to have a blast with our remaining months up here on the mountain. Thanks all who took the time to read, and who have sincerely cared for the Foxes over the years.

Warmly,

Jeff and Leslie

Climb'n the Peak

2010-05-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

Jeff, three interns and myself awoke at 4:30 yesterday morning so that we could hike up Horn Peak, the 13,000 plus peak in our backyard.

This is a common hike in the summer for our campers.

But it is not so common when there is still snow covering half of it.

Jeff sees it as his right of spring, if you will, to ski down it every May.

I am usually snug in my bed eager to hear about it when he returns.

But this year, I went.

Only, I didn't exactly ski down it.

I slid down on my butt.

Someone had to be willing to be half way down to take a video of the adventure.

I gladly volunteered.

Plus, skiing down a steep, icy face of a mountain just isn't my thing.

Horn Peak is the one in the middle. The tallest one.

So below our the pictures of our morning.

Justin, Kelsey, Jeff and Christian.

Carying packs with boots and skiis is not an easy task.

Now can you see why I volunteered to carry the video camera instead?

The early morning sun coming up over the valley.

Our house and the town of Westcliffe is under there somewhere.

Getting higher....

and higher...

Below is a shot of the top of the peak.

Half way down with two others above him...

Skiing along the creek which you could hear under the snow...

Our walk back down looking at the valley.

Mission accomplished!

Sure love my adventerous hubbie.

And my good friend, the intern Kelsey, who pushes me to do things I wouldn't normally do.

She is the one who also talked my into my half marathon last summer.

Thankful for her.

Here we are at our driveway at the end of our hike.

Below are a few other random pics from the last few weeks...

Crazy hair night for One Year - the weekly kids club that our interns put on for our community.

My new GUMBALL machine for Mother's Day!!! Love it!!

Finally outside for a campfire with our interns.

Thumb war with James...

5th grade band concert!!

That's about it from here...

Summer staff comes in a few weeks.

Wow.

Looking forward to a fabulous one.

Blessings from Westcliffe.

Leslie

Foxes in Fiji

2010-04-17T06:04:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, we spent our spring break in Fiji. We had the opportunity to go with the Mullett family from Westcliffe (pictured below) who has invested a lot of time over there helping put in fish ponds for two ministries.

They are then able to eat the fish (Tilapia) as well as sell some for income. Cool idea. We were unable to help with the projects as much as we hoped to due to the timing being off...the local excavator was a day and half late, etc. Let's just say local Fiji people don't live by the clock quite like Americans do. Here is a pic of the ponds before the liners go in...

We were able to spend a few days at the site of one of the ministries called Homes of Hope. It is a place for unwed, young girls to come, have their babies and then stay to be counseled and cared for. Most come from abusive situations or from a village where incest is very common. I enjoyed talking with many of the girls...some who had arrived just recently and others who were ready to go after having been there for a few years. They were so confident and ready, so thankful for Homes of Hope giving them love, a sense of value and purpose. Giving them tools for being a good mom. Educating them on what is okay and not okay - how to say no in hard situations. The leadership there is doing a fabulous job of really investing in these young girls, helping create a new future for them.

They have also started a school on their site, for the kids of the moms living there as well as for some of the local children. Emily and Sydney LOVED being with all these Fijian kiddos and jumped right in playing with and loving on them. They even got to take part in their school day. Syd said, "Mom, they are learning the same vowels we are learning in Westcliffe!" Imagine that.

Classroom shot...

Notice my two white girlies in the mix??

Helping in the pre-school room...

Recess...

Emily really connected with the kids. I saw a beautiful side of her at Homes of Hope. Willing to hug, love, play despite the differences. The shot below was taken with in 5 minutes of being there.

Jeff of course shared his silly side with the kids, including a rap or two.

Picking a banana right off the tree...

The moms spend time making bead necklaces that they then sell for extra income.

Emily with two girls her age and our final shot of our time there with their "favorite" little boy.

We had time to play, too.

Went sailing and snorkeling which was a highlight.

The water was an amazing clear, bluish, green.

Even saw some dolphins on the way

We arrived at this remote quiet Fiji Island called Musket Cove.

Ate lunch then played on the beach before heading back on the boat.

This is what you get when your 11 year old has the camera...

The Fox Gals just chill'n with some natives.

We spent our last few days at a beautiful place right on the water.

We had a great Easter together.

Jeff did a sunset devo...the backdrop was stunning.

Emily and Syd with one of the local ladies selling her hand made items.

The girls spent endless hours swimming in the pool our last few days...

So glad we were able to go and see and do all that we did.

It was a meaningful time for all of us to see another culture and to remind the girls there is life beyond Westcliffe.

Jeff returned home and spent a few days with the interns as they enter into their final 5 months here at HC. I will let him write next to fill you in on all the happenings here at camp.

Blessings to you each of you....

Leslie

March from Little Horn Road

2010-03-10T09:49:00.000-08:00

A quick hello from the mountain. Ready to rock and roll with spring, but I know enough to know that is wishful thinking at 8,500 feet elevation.

Jeff had the opportunity to speak at a reatreat for high school students a few weeks ago. It was good for him. He has a way with that age group. Coming back and doing the sermon at our church of middle-aged folks was a stretch. I am glad he has these opportunities to study and teach; he's better at it than he thinks.

Saturday, the four of us had a chance to run and bike together down on the dry, paved roads. A treat to be out in the warm sunshine. The girls wanted to ride as far as they could into town. They were proud of their distance - nevermind that it is a slight down hill the whole way.

We have had some great Sunday night meetings with our interns each week - they are just over 1/2 way their year here. They are a fabulous bunch and are really doing a lot of self-evaluating as they prepare for their next step post Horncreek. Our time with them is a highlight.

I have been sub-ing quite a bit which has been enjoyable. Love being at the girls school, in their world. It is a wonderful community K-12 school, with class sizes no larger than 15. We still have art, PE, music, a full time nurse --- all the things that so many other districts have had to do away with. It is a wonderful place.

Some shots from the last few weeks...

Valentine parties at school

Celebrating my best buddies 40th at PF Changs.

Jeff practically kicked me out of bed the next night

due to the apparantly large amounts of garlic

ooozing from my pores.

Geeesh.

Before...

After!

Taking my good friend and long time Mennonite to my hair cut guy.

First time to cut off the locks!

So fun.

That's it from here...until next time....

Leslie

We Have an 11 year old...

2010-02-02T10:10:00.000-08:00

Emily turned 11 (!!!) on Sunday.

The morning began with cinnamon rolls, gifts...

... including a pogo stick. She hasn't stopped bouncing since.

Headed to church, then off to the HornCreek Tubing hill with friends

Walking up is always the hardest part.

This picture does not detail the STEEPNESS or LENGTH of the ~~hill~~ small mountain very well.

My friend Gretchen and I are getting old. We were afraid of that ~~hill~~ steep mountain.

Fast...it was very fast. As shown by the next photo....

There is a reason for the hay bails at the bottom.

Last week, Emily had a great time with Jeff and 3 other interns in Southern Cali visiting Christian colleges to do recruiting for summer staff.

He had so much fun taking her to all our favorite spots while in Santa Barbara.

She is sitting on the Biltmore wall.

A lot of kissing went on here --- back in the dating days at Westmont.

But I am digressing.

Here is Em in Hollywood.

Not quite the same feel as our Main Street here in Westcliffe.

It was a very memorable and bonding trip for this father/daughter duo.

Emily is a wonderful kiddo. Not just saying that, either.

She has a tender heart. Lots of compassion.

She wants to do the right thing.

Trying to balance this new season of not being a little kid, but not a teenager either.

Fun times ahead...We just hope and pray we lead her in the right way, laughing a lot as we go, wondering if she too will one day end up on the Biltmore wall with her future hubbie.

And by the way, no kissing allowed, young lady.

-- Leslie

December Updates

2009-12-27T19:02:00.001-08:00

Well, here we are, almost to the end of the year. Time seems to always play tricks… One moment it is flying by, and we wonder where all the time went. Other times it is agonizingly slow, almost like those crazy dreams we have where we can only run in slow motion. Well, this year flew, and indeed I can’t believe I am staring at 2010 already. This has been a good year for the Foxes. A year ago, we were very uncertain about the future of Horn Creek, and our personal future. Our ministry at Horn Creek was in transition, and we were not sure what the future was looking like. Yet, here we are, more fulfilled than ever with my role at Horn Creek. I am now directing the Horn Creek internship full time, as well as recruiting summer staff, running the summer staff program, and overseeing all recreation at Horn Creek. The internship is going well, with 12 young adults serving with us for a year from all parts of the country. It has given us life, and it has been nice to intentionally love on these young people and open up our home to them. We love hospitality, and really see our home as an extension of ourselves. As we give ourselves away, we give our home away. We love having people over, and allowing them to interact with our family, and our way of life. I hope and pray that Jesus is at the center of our home, and that his light is a strong force in the lives of the young people we are doing life with this year. (you can check on the internship’s progress at horncreekinterns.blogspot.com, and read about the internship at Horncreek.org) I was cross country skiing this afternoon up in the mountains behind our home, just reveling in a perfect, blue, snow covered Colorado day. Our dog Sequoia was with me, and I was reminded of Gods incredible goodness in allowing us Foxes to partake in this unique life. I so love the outdoors, and I do believe my family shares my same passion. Just a few days ago I pulled my girls all over the place behind our ATV as they sat in a sled and hung on for dear life. I even got Leslie’s mom and step dad to do it. It is such a blessing to be able to be a part of ministry in a wilderness context like this, and I truly revel in every moment. I am so alive in this context, and I pray the Lord gives us an opportunity to stay here for many years to come. Furthermore, we continue to enjoy living in Westcliffe, the thriving metropolis of a couple thousand. I teach occasionally at the local church in town, and we have loved continuing to build relationships in the community. These relationships are at a much slower pace than our relationships at Horn Creek. We enjoy the change. Leslie and the girls are well connected in town as well. Life is slower in this context, but it is amazing how the business of school, camp, social activities etc. can get us bogged down.
Other news… We just added a bathroom to our home off our master bedroom. It was a fun project, and an all consuming project as well. We added a bathtub that we found in the valley that was being used as a cow watering trough. We were able to find the farmer who owned it, and in exchange for a real feeding trough, we took the bathtub, and restored it. It is now sitting next to three big windows overlooking the woods in our new bathroom. Moving on, we just recently got to go to Atlanta, GA to marry off some dear friends of ours. Joe and Stephanie Edlhuber. It was a fun wedding to perform.. I think that makes 4 weddings that I have now done. Wow, I am getting old. We hope to get some skiing in this week, before the girls get back to school. Well, enough rambling. Attached are some pictures from our life the past few months.
-Jeff

The girls enjoying their Christmas presents. A new piano for Em, and a magic set for Sydney.

Up in the meadow behind our home. Horn Peak is in the background, all 13, 400 feet of it.

Our house the day before Christmas

Sequoia, now about 6 months old. Beautiful dog, but not easy on the Foxes

Practicing for the big wedding...

Chillin with Sequoia the day before Christmas

The girls with Erin, Andrea and Will at the wedding.

Our attempt at family portraits for a Christmas card. Not easy with 4 add participants.

In Breckenridge with interns Karen, Kelsey, and Emily

Oh yea, thats my mother in law on that sled with her brave husband

Sydney, age 8, hang on our deck with her neon red hair!

The Foxes at Joe and Stephanie's wedding in Atlanta

Leslie and Emily on a recent ski trip to Breckenridge

What a Difference a Month Makes

2009-11-01T05:40:00.001-08:00

SNOW!

The beginning of October was fantastic. We held Sydney's 8th birthday at the bottom of our meadow in a castle of Aspen trees. She and her friends rode down on horses for a picnic.

Some hiking, zipline time, sledding, hiding in the trees, and Sekoya (the dog) joining in.

And of course, Halloween. Our masquerade lady and the genie...

I will let Jeff fill you in on things happening at camp sometime soon, but just wanted to fill you in with recent pictures. On the homefront, we have enjoyed visits from various folks this month, joined Girl Scouts, finished another soccer season, started a bathroom addition and have begun the long process of chopping, stacking and carrying in firewood.

Fall blessings to you each of you.

Leslie

Our September in Pictures

2009-09-23T11:53:00.001-07:00

Fall is here and despite the snow that is falling outside my window right now (!), we are hoping for some more great color and a few more warmer temps before it's all said and done.

Our favorite kind of tree.

Our favorite two foxes.

Harvest time!

The girls loved picking and gathering.

Gonna do lots more of these next year.

It's like easter...hunting for peas instead of eggs.

Speaking of ... these ladies are finally laying. (Not Sydney, just the hens...!) Em had a hard time eating her first few knowing exactly where they came from. I told her she can spend her allowance on store bought eggs if it bothers her that much.

We do make it to civilization every once in awhile.

Rockies game with the Horncreek interns...

...these are two of the 5 guys we have with us this year,

Justin and James.

Jeff did it again.

The 175 mile relay run from Georgetown to Carbondale.

My brother joined him and 4 other guys forming the team,

"Daddies Gone Wild"

We followed them along the way in the beginning...

...the base of Loveland Ski area.

Mom and Steve volunteering at an exchange point outside of Breckenridge.

Run, Jeff, run.

Finally, 23 hours later, the finish line.

And I actually completed my first half marathon with my running buddy Kelsey in Buena Vista.

We met up with the Bachalis at our cabin. Sweet time.

Had a visit with Grampy Tom...

...and later with Nana and Papa.

We are off to a great fall.

Our wonderful 12 interns have started their own blog

if you want to follow along in their journey this year:

http://horncreekinterns.blogspot.com/

It is of course a total blast having them around.

I'll leave you with some shots from our beautiful valley.

2nd and 5th Grade, Here We Come

2009-08-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

Summer is officially over for us.

The alarm went off at 6:15 and we were up and at 'em.

I did manage to take a quick walk to the bottom of the meadow and capture the sun coming up over the Wet Mountains....

Then back to the house to get the morning rolling.

I chose a theme verse for the year for each kiddo.

Sydney's is: "Love one another just as I have loved you"

Emily's is: "My peace I give to you."

They put these cards in their school box

as a reminder that I am home praying for them.

Emily with Mrs. Bohatch

Sydney with Mrs. Stover (l) and Mrs. Handy (r)

Her "real teacher" is Mrs. Stover, but she had a baby in June

and is taking the next 6 weeks off for maternity leave.

Here's to a great year!

That Time of Year...Again

2009-08-10T05:55:00.000-07:00

Summer Staff 2009

Fox Living Room

Who do they think they are, just swooping in, bringing boundless energy, serious laughter, an amazing heart servant's heart, setting an awesome examples to our girls --- and then, THEY LEAVE. They actually go back to their real lives of school, work, home and leave us with some great memories as we endure another long winter waiting for their return next May. Our college summer staffers are just about to depart after a truly amazing 3 months. The group we had this year was absolutely phenominal. Their character, integrity, humor and faith made for a really steller summer.

Below are some shots of some of these fine folks ...

One of the greatest aspects of raising our girls in this setting is the exposure they have to older, Godly role models. These college students have such a meaningful impact on Emily and Sydney and for that, we are so grateful. We would allow the girls to stay up late on some Sunday nights when we hosted our weekly small group and they would be able to listen to some of the life stories or testimonies from these students. They hung on every word. We hope and pray that what they heard and saw during these summers at HornCreek will help shape and mold their own relationship with Christ in the coming years.

Other summer happenings include....

*Celebrating Nana's 65th Birthday in California

*Spending time in Breckenridge

* Having Sydney's tonsils taken out.

* Going to the camp pool and waterslides...almost daily

* Growing my (1st!) garden

* Playing with our best of friends, the Bachalis, before their move to Denver in July

* Watching Jeff run his tail off at the Leadville Heavy Half Marathon. Stud.

* Visiting my brother and fam in MN over the 4th

* Cruising around on the atv's

* Just hanging around

* One on One conversations

* Flowers...in our backyard meadow

* Weddings...

* Baptisms - a the creek

...and at the pool

...Awesome!!!!

* Visit to Grand Junction

* Slip-N-Slide with our favorite neighbors, the Hess boys

* And last but not least, a Spa for Sydney's beloved chickens...a bubble bath and nail painting.

Needless to say, she really, really loves her two legged lady friends.

The rest of us just want them to start making some eggs.

As the summer staffers get ready to leave, we are looking VERY FORWARD to beginning a new season with 12 interns for the year. They arrived this week and their presence is such a reminder of how amazing it is to have Horn Creek still up and running. Wow.

Jeff is ready to jump in and lead these folks through out this year. I will let him at the keyboard next time so he can share his ideas and vision for this upcoming season.

The girls will begin 2nd and 5th great in a week and a half ... I will be substitute teaching as well. Always hard to have summer end...

Until next time...

Chickens!

2009-05-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

Poor Jeff.

More girls have been added to the fam.

14, to be exact.

I wanted only 6 or so...

He came home from Murdochs with a whopping 14.

This is Sydney greeting them after school...

and then holding and cuddling them. Some kids snuggle with dogs and cats. My kid - chickens.

May Musings

2009-05-16T06:53:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day was such a treat --- the real enjoyment came from seeing the excitement in my girls as they just about burst with joy watching me open their beloved gifts. They are both SUCH givers and find such pleasure in seeing people receive their works of art. I was treated to the best pancake joint in Westcliffe where we then went to church to hear my "preacher" husband give the sermon on marriage. Good stuff.

Soccer continues - this is our last weekend.

Syd is in the green going for the attack.

Emily after practice.

This spring we are attempting to start a garden. I have the guidance of one of the valley's best gardeners which is a good thing since I barely know how to plant a seed. This is the beginning of our plot. Still need to work in the manure - won't be able to start planting until the last week of May. We also aquired chickens this spring. What? I know, I don't know what we were thinking except that I will be thankful come fall when I have free access to all the eggs I could ever want. Pictures of the coop will come on the next post... here is a shot of them when they were chicks. They are now 5 times the size and have quite the appetite. Scraps, anyone?

One of the major signs it's spring around here is when our creek begins to run. Last Sunday, we heard the wonderful sound of water running. Yeah!

It wouldn't be the end of school with out field trips. Here are a few shots of Syd at the zoo with her friends and some wily beasts.

The highlight of my week during the school year is on Tuesday mornings when 5 other moms meet to pray for our kids and our school. It is officially called Moms in Touch and it is such a rich time. We pray scripture over our kids and for each teacher by name through out the year. It is also fun to be able to bless the staff in different ways, mainly through providing meals during staff meetings. If you are mom out there with kids in public school, see if there is a local chapter at your school - it is well worth your time.

And finally, I will leave you with some photography by my 10 year old. She went out behind our house a few weeks ago and I must say, I was impressed!

It's Finally Here

2009-05-03T06:14:00.000-07:00

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.

\
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

What's not to Love?

2009-03-30T12:48:00.000-07:00

Our recent visit back to St. Louis for a wedding reminded me of just why this little slice of the mid-west will always have a place in my heart.

Kirkwood.

... the parks

...walking to parks (Charlotte pulling her son and Sydney)

...The Magic House

...watching for the train

...gazeebos

...scooter rides

...and of course, the beloved neighborhood swing.

The timing of our visit was perfect.

Good to be in some warm, springy weather and to see something green besides a pine tree.

Other things we enjoyed...

Walking barefoot on the sidewalks, reading in the grass, visiting with dear friends, hearing an ice cream truck (and just missing it by meer seconds!) being 5 minutes from a St. Louis Bread Co., taking evening walks around the block, Greentree Community Church, getting to stay with our amazing neighbors on Van Buren, being in a place where there are memories...a history, hearing the train come through Kirkwood, the church clock striking every hour, hearing the morning birds and admiring all the cool front porches.

All these things are unique to Kirkwood and to the mid-west. As I was telling a friend, it is good to be able to go and appreciate those things and then come back here and marvel at what is here. One isn't better than the other, though my mind would like to sometimes make it that black and white. Our 10 years there was rich and good and full of life and stories.

But now we are in a new chapter and are creating new history, new stories.

Isn't life fun that way?

As much as I had hoped for settling somewhere for 30 years (boring, I know) that isn't the book God wanted to write for the Foxes.

And maybe that is a good thing.

Look what we would've missed out on...

Sledding in our backyard meadow 2 days after our return.

The difference in the girls facial expression represents their personalities!

-Leslie

Rocky Mountain Oysters

2009-03-08T07:48:00.000-07:00

Tonight was an educational experience, to say the least. Our friends Lance and Gretchen Villers invited us to go to the FFA (Future Farmers of America) Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry at Custer County High School. Leslie and I saw this as a great opportunity to hang with Lance and Gretchen, and also further acquaint ourselves with our Westcliffe culture. Westcliffe, a town of 900, and a county of a few thousand is a unique mix of ranchers, tradesmen, school teachers, mountain folk, retirees and several other types. Now that we are beginning to work at our local church in town, along with working at Horn Creek, we have been making an effort to engage more in the community. This was another step.

Now, before a couple of years ago, I had no idea what a Rocky Mountain Oyster was. I would have guessed it was some sort of clam-like critter that came out of the local mountain streams, that people would fry up and eat. Though such food would not interest me at all, I didn’t think much of it when I heard people talk about these oysters. I never really picked up on the half smile people had when they talked about eating them. Come to find out, I was way off base. As many of you may know, a Rocky Mountain Oyster is actually a cow testicle, that people slice up and deep fry – somewhat of a delicacy around these parts. So every year, here in the small little mountain town of Westcliffe, there is a Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry to raise money for FFA. I’ll be honest, I was looking forward to going – but also a bit terrified. I am used to sticking to the OTHER parts of a cow if you know what I mean.

And let’s be honest: I am not much of an FFA guy. I know nothing about Future Farmers of America, having spent most of my living years in suburbia. I figured there would be lots of cowboy and cowgirl types, so I pulled out the only Wrangler shirt I could find. I did purchase a pair of cowboy boots a couple of years ago, but I figured I might as well write POSER in permanent marker on my forehead if I was going to wear those in public! So, with the wife in tow, and my shirt on, we headed into the high school cafeteria. There we met our friends Lance and Gretchen and jumped into line. I quickly got back to my fear of the impending encounter. I could clearly smell something being deep fried. I certainly could not tell it was testicles, but let’s face it, my imagination was running wild. As we pulled up to the counter, where several FFA students were serving up food, it was suddenly my turn. What was I going to do?? Were there going to be options, or would I have to just smile and take em?

Well, as I gazed down at the food, a young man picked up something with some tongs and held it towards me. Whatever it was, it was huge, a little squishy, and definitely very fried! I thought to myself, “This is the largest testicle I have ever seen in my whole life!!” It seemed to taunt me, and I thought of my own (if you know what I mean) and felt instant nausea. I quickly got chills down my body and said to the young man, “Not a chance!” He had a puzzled look on his face and said, “you don’t want any deep fried biscuits?” What? As I got over my gag reflex, I soon realized what I was staring at was not a huge bulging cow testicle at all, but rather a simple deep fried biscuit. The relief was immediate, and so was the continued awkwardness. So, I decided to take one of those after all, still not totally convinced it wasn’t the dreaded testicle. Later I got some chicken (thank the Lord), and passed on the local delicacy. I have to say, the testicles actually looked like chicken strips to me, but I passed on them anyway.

So, the night went on, and I actually did take a bite of a Rocky Mountain Oyster at some point just to say I did. We stayed and watched the FFA auction, won a raffle prize, and almost walked out with a bottle of Elk Urine that someone else won as a raffle prize. (Yes it is true, you actually buy the stuff and spray it on trees and bushes to attract Elk while hunting.) It was a great night and another in a line of unique experiences in Westcliffe. We really love this town, and continue to be thankful God has placed us here: in an amazing little town in the middle of nowhere.

Wood, Wood...and more Wood

2009-01-24T12:29:00.000-08:00

For most of you reading this, you won't understand the title of this blog. But for those who live in the Wet Mountain Valley (Gretchen!), you understand all too well. Starting in August...June for the super ambitious...the pressure is on for the man of the house. It's time to start the quest for collecting firewood for the winter. Now this isn't just for the occassional, cozy, romantic fire. This is to HEAT our home. Yes, we do have electricity for you sarcastic ones who think we really live in the boonies, but it is expensive and inefficient. Thankfully, Jeff takes this task seriously...to provide warmth for his ladies! What a man. He says often that his Stihl (sp?) chainsaw is the best present I ever got him. Who knew.

The girls and I do pitch in, but Jeff is definately the one who spends hours and hours...and hours getting us set for the long winter.

And so it goes....

...cutting...

...hauling...

...unloading...

...moral support...

...splitting - with our beloved log splitter in the back ground...

...self talk... "Why can't we live in the suburbs?"...

...transporting...

...stacking...

...the final result...

...bringing warmth to the casa...

And yes, those are Carhartt overalls I am wearing. Darn proud of it, too.

...what a guy...

Here's to a cozy winter.

Leslie

On the Hunt

2008-11-29T19:08:00.000-08:00

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...

2008-09-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-16T14:46:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-08-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-24T08:16:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-24T07:56:00.000-07:00

Dreams

2008-03-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

On particular days, I would go take a hike, sit on some overlook somewhere in the woods near Saint Louis, and dream about the future. Often I would be struck with this deep yearning to live in the mountains with my family and to offer refuge to friends and strangers alike. I yearned to combine my love for the outdoors with my love of hospitality, discipleship, and community. The dream only got stronger over the years, and eventually led us Foxes to take the huge risk to move to Colorado in 2005 to work at Horn Creek.

It is funny, because like so many dreams we have, the reality often takes us down a different road than we thought. Indeed, having been here at Horn Creek for over 2 ½ years now, I am experiencing first hand God’s reshaping of those frequent dreams of the past. In many ways, our time at Horn Creek has been harder and more raw than we had idealized. I have cleaned more bathrooms, washed more sheets and dishes, and hauled much more trash than I would have liked. I have interacted with far more rude guests, youth pastors, and students than I ever would have imagined. The weather has been harsher than anticipated. I have shoveled far too much snow, chipped far too much ice, and cut and hauled far too much wood for my liking. I have gotten paid far too less and received far too little encouragement and strokes from campers and/or staff. It has not been the glorious experience that I once imagined this life to be. Yet…

I am living my dream. Every week I meet people from all over the country who are being awed by God’s incredible creation. Just three weeks ago I sat with a middle aged parent leader of a youth group who told me with tears in his eyes that he finally accepted Christ for real. He handed me his cigarettes and vowed never to smoke again. Every week we have people in our home, who are being encouraged, healed, convicted, and restored by God’s word. Every week we sit with people who have stories, pains, worries, joys, and hopes.. Every week we get to share our refuge in the woods with them. Our young adult interns from camp come over to rest, to share, to hear, to eat, and to escape. And we love it. Each summer college kids sit in our living room for bible study, come over for dinner, and hang out on our deck. And we love it. 8 couples from town come over each week to share, seek restoration, learn, and fellowship. And we love it. Our friends and our kid’s friends come over to laugh, play and dream. And we love it. I have hiked, ran, skied, and sat with many young adults and friends the past 2 ½ years, and I love it.

A lot.

We take walks and runs in the woods. We explore rushing streams and cool waterfalls. We fish in remote mountain lakes, and picnic in lush meadows. We watch dear walk through our yard. We stare at the stars off our deck. We ski up to quiet meadows in the winter and pick beautiful wild flowers in summer. This is a dream, so different, yet so similar to what God laid on my heart for so many years. This is hard and this is good, and truly God is using our dreams in this place.

-Jeff

Winter Greetings

2008-03-18T11:44:00.000-07:00

While some of you are beginning to see signs of spring, we are still drinking hot chocolate and playing in the snow...

Hello again from the Foxes. It has been awhile since we've written. Our excuse: we forget we have a blog. People like Heather Dillard who post something new everyday must think ill of us, but alas, here is an update.

We are almost through the cold, white winter. There are still a few months left before we will see the ground, but we are hopeful and eager for the summer months. The snowplow on Jeff's ATV has been his best buddy and I can handle a snow shovel with such ease these days...

A few highlights for us right now are:

Jeff's move over to the Rec Center as manager. This will allow him to do more of the things he loves in camping ministry. He will be able to use the outdoors as a way to reach our guests through all kinds of activities. He is already dreaming up all kinds of new and different possiblities to put into place...father son camping trips, family camp races, mountain biking, more kayaking, etc.

The iternship is still somthing that keeps us energized and joy-filled. Our group this year is growing, being challenged and is finding out what the word servant really means. They are a great bunch.

A marriage study that we are hosting at our home each week has been a whole lot of fun as well as a kick in the rear. The folks who come each Monday are truly some of our favorite people in the valley and we are loving the chance to learn and grow with them. The book we are studying is callled Love and Respect ... the title says it all. Jeff and I are enjoying the opportunity to study together, something we have not done in a very long time.

Watching our girls change and grow --- it is just the best. Emily is learning to really love parts of school, which hasn't always been the case. She is understanding how to handle issues with much more maturity and less tears. Sydney is really just along for the ride, so to speak. She simply takes a minute at a time...a lesson for me to learn as I watch her wade through each day.

Jeff took Emily night skiing last week in Keystone then they spent the following day together. With Jeff's days off during the week, sometimes he has to be intentional about yanking them out of school to just go play. It is good for each of them.

Substitute teaching is still keeping me busy as well as moms in touch, a weekly prayer group for our kids and school. I cherish my friendships here and feel like my life is incredibly rich and full. I am savoring it all. I continue to enjoy the quiet and peacefulness of where we live.

Hope this finds each of you well. As always, you are always welcome to visit. We have fond memories of those who already have.

Warmly,

The Fox Family

O Christmas Tree

2007-12-01T20:28:00.000-08:00

Today was the day to go find the "perfect tree". We went to the top of the meadow, parked the truck and hiked through out the woods along the Rainbow Trail. Both of the girls' personalities were seen so clearly in this process. Sydney walked about 12 steps declaring she'd found the right one. It wasn't really a good tree; rather, she was just tired and ready to call it a day. Emily, on the other hand, was not going to be at peace until she found THE tree. The turmoil she felt was quite evident. But alas, after an hour of hiking, we ended up 50 feet from the truck and there it was, the Fox Christmas tree. Syd was delerious and Em was satisfied, so down it came.

To Build a Cross

2007-10-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

On a windy spring day last May, I got my axe, chainsaw, and draw knife and headed up to camp to build a fire ring and a cross. Most of the day was spend building benches and the fire ring, with help from one of our interns whose name is Dom. It was hard work, but I loved being outside swinging my axe and creating something new. One of the last things I did was to build a cross at the front of the fire ring area. I searched for the perfect sized log, cut it into the appropriate lengths and then spent the next few hours scraping the bark of the logs. While I scraped, I wondered how this cross might be an encouragement to some future camper. I hoped that I would get to see folks gathering around it on occasion as I drove by to do my other camp duties.

Finally, I finished peeling the bark, notched the wood, and put the cross together with huge steel nails. We then dug a hole, filled it with cement, and stood up the cross. The picture of the cross with the mountains in the backdrop was an awesome sight. I hoped and prayed that the Lord would use this place to minister and encourage many hearts. Yet each time I have driven by since, I have yet to see anyone there worshipping at the cross. It is often like that at camp. We do so many things behind the scenes; we rarely get to personally see the life change that is taking place at camp.

Then I got a call a few weeks ago.

My friend Matthew was driving by the cross and noticed a young Latino boy with his arms draped around it. The boy was weeping, and his counselors each had their hands on his shoulders as he cried. He cried tears of repentance and joy as the Lord healed his wounded heart. It was a beautiful seen. This young man, from inner city Denver, was here on a weekend retreat with other teens from the city. It was such a joy to hear. For not only had I longed to see the cross being used as a place of repentance and healing, but I also longed to see our camp reach out to those who could not afford to come on their own. I have prayed that Horn Creek would be a place where inner city kids could come and find Jesus. Amazingly, even in spite of us, they are beginning to come. Next summer we will have even more camps of inner city kids coming to Horn Creek.

Now, as I think back on that windy May day, I now know that the Lord had a purpose for that cross. He also had a purpose for that young man. I praise God I was allowed to be a part of it.

-Jeff

Chapter One Coming to a Close

2007-08-17T17:47:00.000-07:00

Saying good bye to people you care about is hard. We just had to do that with our first ever Horncreek Interns this past week. Ouch. We will be feeling the loss of their daily friendship, endless jokes, fresh perspective on life and just their PRESENCE as we forge ahead with life at camp. They were truly a special bunch and we would not have traded this year with them for anything. We spent the last night with them up at our cabin on Monday and had such a sweet time of fellwoship in the truest sense. We had an extended time of letting each of them verbally encourage one another from things they saw in one another through out this year --- a beautiful example of seeing how words can be used in powerful positve ways. Wow.

One of things we hope they took away from this year - and I think most of them did - is the value of community and how to stick it out and love each other well when it gets hard. They couldn't run from each other so they had to learn to gently speak words of truth when conflict arose and then how to extend grace when it was due time. So cool to see and be a part of. They are all going different directions now --- TX, CO, MT, MA. They are already talking of a "reunion" this December. Their friendships with one another will be those that last for years.

But move on - we must! Our new group of eight arrived a few days later - three of whom were summer staffers, the rest are new to HC. It is wild to think that a year from now, we will be writing similar thoughts about these 8 - yet at this point, they are mere faces to us. We look forward to another year of living life together with these folks and being a part of their journey together.

School will be starting for the girls on Monday, so another chapter of sorts is closing and beginning for them. I always kind of mourn the passing of summer days yet welcome the routine of fall and all that comes with a new school year. It has been a sweet few months with them and I know they have enjoyed the lazy mornings on the deck, countless hours at the pool and of course, time spent with the people here at camp. I think they too are learning the value of people and relationships in their life.

Hope you all are enjoying the season God has you in right now. Appreciate where you are and love those in your life well. I am more and more convinced that Jesus was onto something when he said, Love others. It really is where abundant life is found.

Blessings to you,

Leslie and Family

Summer Snip-Its

2007-06-23T05:29:00.000-07:00

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains --- summer has arrived.

This is some of Jeff's summer staff - a great crew of college folks from all over.

The Graduate on the left --- she has big goals for kindergarten next fall.

Check out the tongue of our big hitter on the right. This is serious stuff.

Jessie, Faith, Leslie and Polly
So much of what we love about our time here has to do with spending time with these folks and the other interns. Leslie has been mentoring Faith this year and will miss her big time as she heads to Nashville this fall.

Kinda makes you want to hum the chariots of fire tune....
This was at the Sand Dunes about 2 hours away. Hills of sand and in early summer, rushing water, too.

This was taken on Lake Dillon while kayaking with the girls and Mike, one of our interns this year. He has been an adventure buddy for Jeff as well as a big encourager to all those he is around. Mike is also a nut. Before he shaved his head, he went to our Menonite church with a huge, spiked mohawk.

Jeff recently turned 36, and celebrated it by running 16 miles across the mountains at 10,000 feet elevation. He also recently swam naked up at a mountain lake, hiked up and skied down Horn Peak (our 13,000 + foot moutain in the first picture), and has been loving hiking, and fishing this summer in the moutains. He has been a wild man.

Camp has been crazy this summer. Jeff is leading one of the family camps this summer, but will speak all week at our youth camp next week. We will have 3 different inner city groups come to Horn Creek this summer. This is very exciting for us, and a huge answer to prayer. We are hoping to have more interns next year, but money troubles may affect how many interns we can bring on. Jeff will play an even greater role in overseeing the internship, and planning the year.

Some Spring Shots

2007-05-06T18:31:00.000-07:00

We have had some beautiful days. The girls are very ready for summer and outside fun.

Sydney giving the rock wall a try. She is becoming more and more adventurous, in her ripe old age of 5. We have had some suprising dumps of the white stuff...

Just when we thought it was all gone for the season...

Jeff tried to climb this peak with skies and boots strapped on his back before sun up, but it wasn't meant to be as he and his buddy lost the trail to the top. Another attempt to ski down may be in the works with our recent snowfall.

Words from the Mrs.

2007-04-20T19:19:00.000-07:00

I thought perhaps it was time for me to contribute to our quite neglected "Horncreek Chronicles". As our good friend from Little Rock (you know who you are...) observed, it has been quite awhile since we last wrote. No good excuses, we're just slackers.

I always wondered how my brother and his family survived winters in Minnesota. Thought they were crazy. I admit now that I secretly said to myself, "I would never live somewhere where the snow stays on the ground past Easter. " Ha. Here we are with still a few snow banks waiting to melt, but I swear, I think spring is on its way. And when you live in a place where snow is around from November on, this time of year takes on new meaning. It is good to be outside just enjoying warmth with out having to wear smart wools and the like.

As some of you know, we purchased a house just off camp property at the beginning of the year. It is just a 5 minute walk to Horncreek, yet gives us some seperation from camp that Jeff will appreciate the longer we are here. It was a house that was stuck in the early 1970's as far as decor, so we spent 2 months (2 long months I should say...) pitching the avacado green toilets and plastic brick kithcen walls and giving it some life. We are thankful to be done, settled and living a much more normal life again.

Jeff is getting ready to gear up for summer and all that it entails. There are some possible changes looming as far as his job description goes, but I will let him expand on that when and if it happens. One observation about this place: things are always changing! And for Jeff and his make up, that is probably a really good thing. His passion with work is the internship and time spent with the interns. That is just life giving to him. And what a diverse group we have with in that group...as the year goes on, the layers peel off and you really begin to get at the heart of these folks. That is when the "fun" begins. But it takes time, a reminder that trust is earned. Hopefully next year as Horncreek expands the internship, Jeff will have even more time to invest and teach the group. That is our prayer anyway.

A few weeks ago, Jeff came home from work totally spent and physically exhausted. But when I asked what he had done, I smiled with thankfulness. He had the opportunity to build a fire ring, benches, and a huge cross for groups to gather around this summer. He hauled and split the wood, gathered rocks, dug the pit, etc. --- and was loving every second.

I continue to enjoy small town living and the community here at camp. Just like any place though, large or small, the question still lingers: who around me can I love or serve to a greater degree? I am amazed at how many opportunites exist all around me, whether it is at our K-12 school, church or the staff here at camp. Outside of moms in touch, a weekly prayer time for our kids in school, I really just take at week at a time. When Syd starts kindergarten next fall, I hope to find some part time work, maybe substitute teaching at the school. We will see.

Emily still loves horses, riding her new mountain bike, hanging out with the intern girls and staff. She is really figuring a lot of things out about what is right, wrong, good, bad...and loves to talk about it all. I am thankful for her desire to communicate what is on her heart. Sydney is coming into her own as she is now tying her own shoes, loosing her first tooth and taking off with out training wheels. Major milestones when you are 5...

Enjoy the new pics...our time in Cali for easter visiting the Foxes, including the Golden Gate, Jeff and the girls after a Six Flags ride, and Em and Syd playing in our new back yard on the ATV...

Thanks for reading...

Leslie

2006-12-09T18:08:00.000-08:00

2006-12-04T18:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends, December4, 2006

Snow has fallen today, and presently it is 9 degrees. I think winter has finally arrived! Wow, time is flying by. It has been too long since we have written. We wanted to take a few moments and give you some highlights from this fall here at Horn Creek. Many fun things are underway here at camp!

First of all, I took several trips this fall as Horncreek explores the idea of starting some camps that are specifically dedicated to underprivileged youth. We continue to be moved in our hearts to open our camp to those who normally could not afford to come. It has been amazing to see how things are coming together. I went to Philadelphia for an inner city conference, and spent time in Branson, MO visiting Kids Across America. The result of these trips will hopefully two weeks of inner city youth camps next summer. We are praying for the kids and the money to come. It is an exciting step for all of us.

The internship this year has been awesome. We have been teaching our interns about community, accountability, honesty, vulnerability, and service. I have loved teaching these 8 folks and look forward to expanding the program next year. They have breathed new life into camp, and it has been so great to watch.

Bill McCoy and Polly Bennett have been such a blast to work with this year as well. We have worked well together, and have had a lot of fun with our guests. I can’t wait till we start getting our youth groups again after Christmas, because that is where we will thrive as a team. This time of year is pretty slow at camp, so we have been doing a lot of outside projects. Currently we are remodeling an old chapel at our camp. We want to turn it into a sacred place for prayer and worship. In the past it has been a meeting and storage space. “Extreme Home Makeover” on a much smaller scale….

Leslie and the girls are doing well. Emily and I got in a few ski days a few weeks ago. Leslie is involved in many things in town, especially Moms in Touch. The solid friendships for her have been a major answer to prayer! The girls are still enjoying school, and are enjoying life at a camp as well as activities in town. We truly love living in the mountains and in our little town of Westcliffe. (To give you an idea of what we mean by little, the local paper had a big article this week on how exciting it was that the bank was starting “telephone banking”.) This time of year is beautiful as well, and the snow is a delight.

Please stay in touch everyone! Check out the camp websight at www.horncreek.org.

-Jeff, Leslie, Emily, Sydney

What about the poor?

2006-09-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

As I look at the beauty and wonder around me here at Horn Creek, I marvel at how God uses it to move people to him. It is awesome to see how lives are refreshed, renewed and transformed by the gospel through the vehicle of Gods majestic beauty here. The only thing that unsettles me, is that we are primarily a camp that serves those who can afford to come. In most cases, that means the white middle class. Yet there are so many who would love an opportunity to come and be refreshed in the moutains who will never have the opportunity. Yes, there are camps who have figured out ways to get the poor to their camps. But, there are still so many who will never come. Lately I just have not been able to let go of this growing desire to use my passion for camping, and Horn Creek to bless the poor. Yet how do we do it? We do not have the money, or the funds to embark on such a venture. We have a small budget, and we have our own financial woes at camp. We can't afford to let people come for free. Yet, maybe there is a way.... God can truly make a way can't he? I have so many dreams and ideas in my head, yet I have no idea how to make these dreams happen. Lord, I want to see the poor here at Horn Creek. I want to bless a poor child or family with the greatest week of their life. Granted, there are more basic things such as food or housing, or medical care that many of these folks need. But, what if we could use our camp to bless the poor spiritually. To bring them gospel truth, joy, beauty, worship, friendship, restoration, healing, and love. Yes, it may only be for a week, but many of us would agree that a week at camp can change a life!
I will keep dreaming, and hoping, and praying that the Lord will make a way. Will you pray with me!
-Jeff Fox

2006-09-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

Hello from Horn Creek. I can't believe fall is almost upon us. Well, up here at 9,000 feet, it definately is! Things here at camp are going very well. We just got back from taking our first intern class to Breckenridge for 3 days for orientation, hiking, and teaching. It was soooo good, and really encouraged me. I got to teach, lead hikes, and love on these young adults. The interns have come from Wisconsin, Kansas, Texas, and Colorado. We will have 9 interns total this year, and it already has been a blessing to Horn Creek.
The girls are now back in school, Emily in second grade and Sydney in pre-school. They seem to love it so far, and it is great for both of them to go back to familiar environments. Leslie and I hope to do some hiking together this fall now that both girls are in school. Camp life has been good to us the past few weeks. Things have finally slowed down a bit. We will primarily have weekend groups through the fall. Polly Bennett and Bill McCoy have been huge additions to my team this fall as well. We finally have a team in place that is ministry focused. We have already had some great laughs as well as some neat interaction with guests. Bill is so good with people, and he has a gift of putting everyone at ease. It has been fun catching up with him. The other day we were stacking wood at our campfire spot near a pond in the woods just laughing at how good it was to be where we were.

This fall I will be looking at some new options for Horn Creek. We are exploring ways to get inner city kids, poor families and anyone else who can't afford to come to camp to actually get to come and experience the Lord in the mountains. I will be going to an inner city conference in Philadelphia, as well as visiting Kanakuk in Branson to brainstorm ideas. One fun idea we are throwing around is having a camp over Christmas for families in Colorado who have been through financial hardship and can't afford presents, or a vacation. We would like to bring them up, give them a fun Christmas in the mountains, and share the gospel with them. I would love your prayers as we seek the Lord's will, and also try and figure out how to pull it off financially.

We miss you all and thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Feel free to write, call or email and let us know how you are doing.

Love, the Foxes

Summer Pictures-06

2006-08-25T20:34:00.000-07:00

Summer Reflections

2006-08-25T14:44:00.000-07:00

It has been one full year since arriving here with our loaded U-Haul. Wow. It has been fun reflecting on all that has happened in these last 12 months while at the same time, wrapping up our last week of summer camp. Things will slow down for a couple of weeks before the weekend groups kick in for the fall.

My summer staff was phenomenal this year. We have a few days left together before they all go home, but I have truly enjoyed getting to know them. Their energy and laughter made this season so fun; the girls know each by name and have loved all the extra attention! This summer was constant with folks in and out each week. With so many groups, it is hard to remember them all. But one of my favorites was a youth group from inner city Denver. I just really connected with the kids and leaders. Ok, my rapping did help a little. In fact, the kids challenged me to a rap battle with one of their rappers, which I subsequently won to the joy and surprise of the whole youth group. By the end of the week, some of the kids were sharing with me their own poems, beat boxes, and raps.

Another highlight was speaking for a week at our youth camp called Snow Ridge, run by the Campus Crusade staff. Each summer, a group of Campus Crusade college students come to do a work project here at Horn Creek. They serve as the counselors for the Snow Ridge campers. On the third night of camp, I got word that one of the Campus Crusade staff had accepted Christ. I guess she had never really connected with the Gospel message in a genuine way, and that week it all finally connected for her. Awesome! Interaction with the CC staff all summer was another blessing. Just being around college kids is a treat for both Leslie and myself.

This week we have a group of kids in from Pueblo who have lost loved ones close to them. They came with a group called “Clouds to Rainbows,” that specialize in counseling kids who have had traumatic losses. Several of the kids have lost parents to suicide. One nine-year-old boy had his grandfather shoot and kill his mother and then commit suicide himself. His father then later committed suicide. Yet, in spite of their pain, it has been humbling to watch these little kids laugh and enjoy life here at camp. We have loved bringing joy and the hope of the gospel to them this week.

This fall our internship will start. Polly Bennett, myself and a couple other staff will run the internship this year. We will start with 8 interns for the year and hope to have 12 next fall. I am also helping start a new ministry here at Horn Creek for inner city youth. Another director and myself will be traveling to Philadelphia for a CCDA conference, and will spend some through out the year building relationships with key inner city ministries. I am so very thankful, for the Lord has continued to give me opportunities to use my gifts and passions in new ways here at Horn Creek.

As a family we are doing well. School will be starting in a few weeks, so we are relishing our final days of summer. The girls have really connected with our summer staff, and there will be many tearful goodbyes in the next week as they all head back to school. It is neat to see Emily and Sydney fitting into their life here at camp, and watching them interact and plug in with guests. This week, I will be the family camp speaker here at the Lodge, so in a sense, the Fox family will get to be campers! We have already really enjoyed getting to talk with and get to know the families, some of whom have been coming for 20 or so years.

Thank you so much for your prayers, concern, encouragement and financial support. It has meant a great deal to us. We miss you all and would love to hear from you!

In Christ,

Jeff, Leslie, Emily and Sydney