Vacation to Estes Park, CO (Part 2)

Here is the next installment of the commentary and pictures from the vacation to Colorado.

After doing the 5+ mile hike on the first day, which was pretty ambitious of us, we decided that we would go out on Lake Estes. Our hotel was on the lake by the marina and was very convenient. I had been wanting to try kayaking and lucky for us they had some two person kayaks. It seemed pretty easy and comfortable at first. There is a comfy seat to sit in and you are practically at water level, but the kayak is not easy to tip like the canoe. I was having flashbacks of one of the canoe trips to Oklahoma when Erin Howard and I tipped the canoe over within 15 minutes or so when we went on the float trip in High School.

Anyway, we started out fine, except for the mishap of me being directionally challenged, not remembering which is left and right. We hit the dock of the marina right out of the gate. It was pretty funny, but you probably would have have to have been there. We got coordinated finally and by the end of the journey we were racing by the paddle boat next to us. My first kayaking experience was very fun and I hope to do it again sometime. Here we are...

Eric paddled in back and I was in charge of steering. We really had to work together. Sometimes we were able to go in the right direction.

Later we headed out for a night on the town. We played putt putt golf at Fun City and Eric won, as usual. He is pretty competitive at any sport, but especially when it comes to Putt Putt golf. Then we paid a buck each to go down the slide here:

I beat him as you can see here. The funny thing was that the carpets that you rode down on caused an electric charge against the metal slide and I kept getting shocked. It really hurt and I yelled the whole way down. I guess that is what you get for a buck nowadays.

Vacation to Estes Park, CO (Part 1)

Eric and I went to Estes Park, Colorado for a little vacation and relaxation before a hectic last year of school for him and for me to get away from the busyness of work for a while. We enjoyed seeing the mountains and I especially enjoyed breathing in the Colorado air that smells so fresh and is full of the aspen trees that are brushed along the Colorado Rocky Mountains. We enjoyed some devotion time in the morning and gave back massages in the evenings. During the days we hiked, kayaked, rode horses, and fed cute little chipmunks. When I was little, I used to call them chickmunks, but I am not sure where that came from.

On the first day we hiked up a trail to Ouzel Falls about 5 1/2 miles round trip. Along the path was a rip roaring creek, the St. Vrain Creek, where we crossed several log bridges and passed by Copeland Falls and Calypso Falls. Each waterfall had different characteristics that made it a pleasure to see. I love hearing the sounds of the water as it rushes over rocks scattered throughout the creek and falls. There is nothing like it and it is so relaxing. Here are some pictures of the falls.

Holly at Copeland Falls

Eric at Calypso Falls

Eric at Ouzel Falls

Revival Follow-up

The revival was such a blessing to all that attended. Overall, three churches were represented in Hammond, Kansas, just North of Fort Scott. When you also consider that the Denton church was well represented with 7 members and then Rick and Jill from a BIble church in Topeka and myself from Hillcrest Covenant, there were six churches and 3 denominations represented. I think that God is all about bringing people together that have one thing in common: Him.

I think that in order for life altering revival to take place, there is a need for all Christians to gather and just praise His name. I believe that God is depending on a community of the saints to get past theological differences and gather as One Body: The Church. I have found that it is hard sometimes to get beyond my own views of the way that church is supposed to be and just let God move. I really felt the presence of God and I know that others did too. The worship time even moved some people to tears. It was healing and I know that our prayers were answered.

Thank you for your prayers!