July Fun

We started July by celebrating the 4th around home. We got together for a good meal and conversation with friends and then went to see the fireworks. Ginger was busy finishing teaching a night class and studying for teacher certification tests. Mike was busy completing job applications and composing cover letters. Since his position was "discontinued" on May 30, he has been involved in a massive job search. He has been through 2 interviews so far and has 4 more scheduled. It has been a time of uncertainty for our family as we try to discern what our future will hold. We are hoping and praying that an opportunity will materialize in the local area. Ginger has also started a search for full-time teaching jobs so as to pitch in to the family finances. She has applied for a full-time math/science teaching job at a local alternative high school, and is waiting to hear back.

We finished July with our yearly camping trip. Despite some rain, we enjoyed the time and managed to get sufficient beach and bike riding time (the kids two favorite camping activities). The boys went to a activity at the campground that was themed around spiders. They learned a lot about spiders and then made a spider from yarn. We left a day early to allow Ginger to attend a memorial service for her Grandmother (Ginger's dad's mom), who died from lung cancer the week before.

We are holding our breath as the next two weeks should reveal what will happen this year in our household. May we have patience and trust that the way will open before us.

The train going over a bridge (a few people lost their hats). 

Entrance to the Lebanon Tunnel. 

In the mine. 

The engine of the train. 

Waiting for the train ride to begin. 

Everyone was really tired. 

Swimming in the shadow of the mountain. 

The boys swimming in Glenwood Springs 

Beautiful scenery. 

There they are on the same peak. 

Then everyone decided to get in on the fun. 

They made it! (You can see them standing between the trees). 

Mike and his brother triumphantly climbed to this rock (over a ravine from where I was standing). They proceeded to climb to the top of the peak behind them. 

We hiked around this lake. 

Scenery From Hiking 

The kids with their cousins, Nick and Sarah. 

Great Trip to Colorado

We visited family in Colorado and had a really good time there. Our activities included:

• Staying at a cabin in Breckenridge (it was beautiful)
• Riding down a luge-like track on a sled with wheels
• Hiking and picnicking in the mountains
• Enjoying great food cooked by Mike's brother-in-law (he's a chef)
• Water gun fights
• The kids spending time with their cousins
• Swimming and water slides at Glenwood Springs
• Touring a mine and riding on a train in Silver Plume
• Being taken out for dinner without kids (Mike had elk for dinner)
• Seeing the Body Worlds II exhibit
• The Zoo
• Going out for ice cream
• Fresh raspberries
• Beer Can chicken
• Paddle boats on a pond in a nearby park
• Two-seater tricycle rides in the park
• Getting hurt on some of the above activities

Everyone except Ginger came back with some kind of injury, but they are almost all healed up now. We really enjoyed time with family and getting away from the stresses of life back home. It was great seeing the kids have so much fun hanging out with their two cousins.