Aspen

Maroon Bells: Aspen, ColoradoSince I didn't have any fancy plans for the holidays, and I have the time today, I thought I would share some fun pictures from my business trip to Aspen this summer! My friend and co-worker, Kathy, and I went to Aspen for a conference on Pediatric Liver Diseases for a week in July. You may be wondering where the "business" comes in but we had meetings every morning with the afternoons and evenings free to explore and have fun! We did a lot of relaxing and napping as it was the week before my move into my new home but here are a few pictures of some of our adventures that did not involve napping!!

This is a view of Maroon Bells

at the beginning of our hike.

Maroon Bells are also called

the "Deadly Bells".

This is a view looking back where we began our hike as we continue to make our way to the bells!

Crater Lake at Maroon Bells

Kathy and me at Crater Lake

I forgot how much I love to hike! Does anyone know
when we'll starting growing some mountains in Kansas??!

Kathy...

...and me!

Kathy and I had so much fun hiking that week. It's been so many years since I've been to Colorado for some good hiking! It was so great to be out there, observing beauty established and designed by the Hand of our Creator. It was so much fun and I hope it was the first of many more hiking trips to come!

Water Heater Woes

It all started Wednesday morning when I was awakened at 5 am to the clanging of metal on metal...it sounded like it was coming from the roof....I had no idea what could be making such a clamor and it was too early for a visit from Santa! So I put on my shoes and a raincoat and stepped outside to see what was the matter..to no avail...back inside I finally realized the noise was from the basement...and, it was the pipes that were violently shaking my entire house and making me seasick in my landlocked bed! A water main had broken right in front of my house and was causing changes in water pressure (I'm surprised I didn't notice the river in the street but in my defense it was way too early to be coherent!) Sooo... I just turned off my water and headed to work. And, thankfully when I came home and turned my water back on everything was just like normal....or so I thought!

When I got home after prayer meeting I ran to the basement and promptly stepped in a puddle...wet socks...ick! My water heater was leaking! So, I lived the rest of the week with minimal water...enough to brush the teeth and wash the face...oh yea, and a few toilet flushes...and I was just thankful that all 40 gallons of water was not gushing out into my basement!

I spent today "helping" my dad put in a new water heater! I don't think I was really much help! When we tried to drain the old tank, the spigot broke off and 40 gallons of water came rushing out! Dad and I were frantically running around trying to direct the water to the drain...ultimately we used trashcans...dad filling one up while I dumped the other down the drain and quickly returned to switch it out! It was a huge mess but really quite funny as we hollered throughout the house trying to keep a mess becoming disastrous! Even with all the water out of the tank, I definitely wasn't strong enough to help him carry the old one out or the new one in! We must have been quite a site trying to get that box into the house and down the stairs without lifting it and without scratching the wood floors! I'm thankful and proud to announce that after 6 hours, 4 trips to the hardware store, and many laughs I now have hot water stored in a leak-less tank, ready to be used at the switch of the faucet!!

I'm constantly learning that home ownership is full of adventure, and generally when you least expect it. There are times that I really love it and there are times it's a little more challenging. But with each project I am learning something new and expanding my knowledge of how to care for my home. (I can now check off "Water Heater Installation 101"!!)

Christmas Program

Today we had the chapel Christmas program. The weeks prior to the program have been spent in a bit of a frantic state. We started practice late this year and each class was responsible for their own set of verses and a song that went with those verses. What a challenge to try to learn all that and then try to put the parts together. I always wonder how it will turn out but in the end all the pieces fall together and the program was wonderful!

My Sunday School class (3rd and 4th graders) did great! I am so proud of them! They got up there and said their verses (all of them memorized their verses!) and they sang their little hearts out! It was such a blessing to watch them sing to the Lord.

Some of the kids' parents came to the program and heard of the birth of the Savior and how He came to save us from our sin. Pray that their hearts might be moved by the truth of the gospel that they heard today and that they may not find rest until they make things right with their Creator.

"And she will bring forth a Son

and you shall call His name Jesus,

for He will save His people from their sins."

Matthew 1:21

The will of God for you:

"Rejoice always,

pray without ceasing,

in everything give thanks;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

I Thessalonians 5:16-18