Road Trip

We are getting ready to drive to Idaho! We are really excited to get out of town and routine for a little while! The kids are so excited to see everyone especially Uncle Chris and the fireworks! They have been talking non stop about blowing stuff up for weeks. 

Gary sent me this picture while I was working today. He and the kids went to jeep to get the oil changed before we go and Gary found a new car. I told him go ahead get it just write a check! :) 

My Very OLD Puppies

My bad dogs watching the kids water fight. They got to play in the sprinklers too! 

Poor puppies are so old, I just adore them and will be so sad when they go see Jesus. 

Yup Summertime!

Summertime is for nightly water fights with all the neighborhood kids! 

Date With My Babies!

I love the summer. Gives us the chance to just have fun! 

Monday the kids and I had a date. We started at our favorite pizza place and then went to see Monsters University! I love this season of my life and want it to go in slow motion! 

Ice Cream

Sitting on Grammies porch licking ice cream! Yup it's summer!  

Clear Day!

Today was a clear beautiful summer day! We had some great news today that the fire is around 30% contained and all the evacuations have been lifted for all of Colorado Springs. We have several family friends that have lost homes. I will say that every person who I've talked to has shown great appreciation for the entire community. I have had the chance to speak with many members at work who are just so thankful to have the love of their families! I have heard countless testimonies to how great God is! 

Indeed He is great! 

Our great city will continue to love and worship the only One who can truly bring peace among the ashes. 

Love this picture I took this morning of our crystal clear blue sky and wonderful chinook helicopters! 

The back of our house and behind our house. The smoke was bad today.

Ugg!

Lilly and Owen make me laugh and cry all in one. I told the kids to stay out of the pool because its full of ash. I made sure the they knew we had to clean it out. 

So Lilly tells me they took it upon them selves to clean it. 

Putting dish soap in the pool and making bubbles is not cleaning it out! 

Black Forest Fire

My heart is just so broken today as we are watching the most destructive wild fire in the history of our city. And folks this is our backyard literally. We live only about 12 miles from where this fire started. The amount of homes that have been lost is around 360. These are homes of our friends and homes of our friend’s families and many co-workers.

I have been blessed with countless memories of playing in Black Forest! Teddy and I were so blessed to attend Falcon High School back in the day! We have many memories of swinging in the trees, staring at stars on the rooftops of barns that no longer exist and the black squirrels that are famous to this area. We played countless games of hide’ n seek, tag and those famous moments of chicken in the rafters of the Bryant’s barn. I can remember Matt Kram’s swing that swung in his front yard and the creepiness of Janna Grey’s house next to the cemetery. Escaping the prairie and heading to the trees as we called Black Forest, for shade was a staple in every Falcon kid’s life. Riding horses and learning to two step and water fights in the trees are just some of my memories I have and hold close to my heart today. I remember singing at countless Dean Drake rodeos in the forest and the time when Bridget and I got lost for hours searching for Matt Roberts house. I love Black Forest so much that Gary and I got married at the La Foret.

As of this morning we know of 34 of our family friends and co-workers that are now homeless and many more family friends and co-workers that are evacuated or on the pre evacuation list. The pre evacuation zone now includes our beloved Pastors.

Our God is so good and throughout this devastating fire one thing will remain and that is the faithfulness of our God. The things that are lost are just things. Our treasures are not stored in a place where moth, rust and fire can destroy. Our hope is placed in the unfailing love of our God.

Our family continues to pray together for our firefighters, military and county officials who are desperately trying to get a handle on this tragedy. We ask that all our family and friends please take a moment and pray.

In Prayer

Jenny

 

Oh my gosh!

I can't believe this is happening again! One year later the whole city is on fire. Looking out my upstairs window we can barely see across the street. The kids and I had a horrible time sleeping because of the smoke smell. My whole house smells like a camp fire! 

I have not had a chance to turn the news on this morning but I received a flash alert from our school district  Falcon 49 saying all activities in our district are closed and Sand Creek High School is on stand by as a shelter. 

Just an idea of how close this is to our home this picture was taken off of Shoup and Black Forest road. If you take that left on Shoup we got married at the La Forrette  less than a mile west of where this picture was taken, and the old cemetery is on the right by Janna Grey's parents house. 

Heartbreaking and I am in disbelief today. 

Sad News Travels Fast

   The Black Forrest fire has claimed the home of some of my very favorite people.  The Bryant's have been a staple in my life since I was in middle school. They are wonderful people who always seem to be around. Teddy and I have such great memories of the basketball court and barn at Jakes. What a shame this is. We are so prayerful that our friends will move on. But very sad none the less. Please pray for the 2500 families that are under mandatory evacuation.  

I am also asking for prayers that this fire is contained soon, praying for our fire fighters and that this was not set intentionally. 

Blessings All 

Good News and Bad

My dad is out of surgery! Praise God! He will be coming home tonight and we are so thankful. The doctors removed a huge bone spur and cleaned it out real well. Looks like he is looking at having both shoulders replaced. It's a good thing Gary make this stuff dad can take his own parts to surgery! 

Unfortunately my poor dad will be coming home to very sad news. Once again our beautiful city is on fire. And this one is literally in our back yard. As of now  this fire is burning about 400 acres and several homes have been lost. I took a picture from Target by our home and looks like Meridian road is being evaluated now. 

Prayers for our fire fighters!!  

Poor Dad

So my poor dad is having yet another surgery. I feel really bad for him he has been in so much pain. I actually I feel bad for my mom because we all know how...lets put this gently.. How guys do with pain! :) 

Hopefully tomorrow my daddy will be able to get this mess over with and be able to come home and enjoy some summer. Love you Dad and l'llmake you breakfast on Sunday! Just remember who your favorite child is!!! 

Report: Patriots to sign Tim Tebow

Stupid John Elway! 

I think I just felt the wind being sucked out of Colorado. Good thing my dad is all doped up because he has to watch football with his friend Jim, who is a mega NE fan.  How is it possible that I have to get a NE jersey. Dang it stupid Elway! 

Yup I am Mom

Owen: 

Do you got any hot glue

Me:

Yes??? Why do you need hot glue

Owen: 

Because all my underwear's have a hole in the front. 

Me: 

I love you Owen as I am crying from laughing! 

Glow!

Dollar Store Run

What's a summer without squirt guns, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, badminton, and glow in the dark ring toss! Yes!!! 

Have I mentioned that I love summer! 

Just Dance

My kids love just dance! Owen is hilarious, and Lilly is really good! I get so much entertainment from watching them! 

Oh the View!

I just want to remember this glorious moment. It's summer! 

I am in love with summer and my view. The baby blue sky and pine tree with my super cool Walmart umbrella! 

Ahhhhhhhhh..... Soaking it in! 

I'll keep these for a gray ¥!^+£€ day! We don't say the W word in Summer! 

Sunday

I love Sunday. Sometimes I believe this day was made for me only! 

After a rough start to our weekend, we are definitely enjoying today! 

I was blessed to sing in our early service. My very favorite thing! Our service was all about worship. We have a choice, we can glorify God and we can choose not too. This service moved me to tears and joy and hope in Jesus all on one! 

I hope everyone finds blessing in all Jesus has done, because I for one am overwhelmed with gratification to my King! 

My husband and children must be exausted because they are all asleep on three different floors in our home. I am enjoying a good book and our Rocky Mountains in my favorite place! 

Blessings! 

While I Work

Gary was playing at the range and my parents were gracious enough to take the kids to see the Clydesdale's. I am really glad everyone had a good day! 

I on the other hand was so busy I did not pee or stop to have lunch. And now that I am home from work its time to clean my dirty home and do laundry. I still have not changed out of my work cloths. I took a moment to blog before I punch something! So smile at my family's happy day!! 

For good measure I thought I would throw a picture of me in at work. Don't buy the smile it was fake! 

Our Bear

Here is our Allie rocking her favorite Rockies hat!!! She is getting ready to go ride her horse. We can't wait to see you later this summer!