10,200

Turquoise Lake is just outside of Leadville. We had a blast camping and enjoying the beautiful Colorado summer weather. The mountains along the lake had snow on the peaks still. Just spectacular!

Our friends, The H Family, came along with us. Lots of laughs and stories shared.

Me and my man.

These two had lots of adventures. They brought their American Girl dolls, posed them all over the place and took pictures. So cute.

The campsite was perfect... in the trees, plenty of space to move around and of course, near the pot.tey.

This one rated a 10 in our books and we would most definitely go back. And yes, you can breathe just fine at 10,000 feet.

So Thankful

I'm sitting on my back porch swing, drinking my morning coffee, reflecting on the patience of my Lord. So thankful.

The birds are chirping a bit in the background, my dog is looking for squirrels to chase, and the tall pines are shading me a tad bit from the sun. It's a beautiful clear morning here in Colorado. I can't help but think about a conversation we had the other night with one of our daughter's friends about life changing decisions. Coming to Colorado was a life changing decision we made almost 4 years ago now. It was pondered for years, prayed about, and pondered some more. Yes, most definitely a hard decision. We left a lot behind in California. We had a good home church. We had friends whom we love. We lived in a beautiful, thriving town. Nothing about the move was a reflection of where we left but instead, where we were going.

Funny thing about change. Sometimes you ask yourself,"So we did this why?" We've had many a moment when we asked ourselves just that. Did we really miss the mark God pointed to that much or is this hard place a part of the journey. I've come to realize, it's soo a part of the journey. Growth comes from hard places. Making hard choices hurts, sometimes terrifies, and sometimes causes depression. But it doesn't change the fact that it was a right decision. I'm not sure who said life is a bowl of cherries. If it is, you still have to deal with the pits.

Time. Time allows healing to enter your heart and resonate with your soul. I find this is where I am this morning. The last few years I've had so much change that there hasn't been time to stop and catch my breath. I jumped into finishing college shortly after moving here. I sent kids off to college. I brought kids home from college. I watched my husband move his job home full time. That can be a post all unto itself! I home-schooled my daughter. I coached my kids, encouraged, counseled and prayed for my kids. I shoveled snow. I painted a 3500 square feet home. Okay, my girls helped me a ton. I was physically struggling with pain that couldn't be explained. I watched our friends leave our church. I started working. I mean, come on. How much more can one really do in a short time frame? And I thought the toddler years were busy. But here I am. I made it through.

I thought for sure that when I went back to Cali this summer I would want to move back and do it, like, yesterday! I only came home realizing how much MORE we belong here. This is my home. God's plan for my family is here. Yes, the winters can be long. Yes, my sister and parents are way too far away. No, the state doesn't have everything I want. Want being the optimum word here. But no place is perfect. It just isn't. We make choices that impact our lives. But when God is in it. When God speaks and we actually obey, no matter how difficult or painful the season may be, there is blessing that comes. God proves himself over and over. I just need time to realize it. (So three plus years is a bit long, but hey, I'm here now.) I need to be reminded of His goodness. I need time to reflect and quiet my soul long enough to pay attention. Busyness has been such a distractor in this season. God doesn't squirm, I do. I suspect you do too when it get a bit uncomfortable.

God proves himself over and over. He really does.

Reality Check:

Where are you today? Are you in a hard spot that you want to be done with already? Do you need to make a hard decision and you're dragging your feet? I want to encourage you to find a quiet place and be still. Pray for wisdom, pray for His voice to be clear. Open His word and read His truth. You'll find courage and strength once again. He will prove Himself to you too, just like He did for me.

Thanks for Listening,
Tuna Jones

Summertime

Project number 1 for summer 2011 is complete. Who Hooo! Fresh bark, rock, new grass seed growing from the hard winter, and new plants in a flower bed that was empty. We are ready for project number 2! I am so thankful for our kids who all pitched in to make this happen. Next up.. a new deck.

Thank you Gabe

We desperately needed to work on a front yard project and with Gabe home AND free until tomorrow, he jumped in to help. All these rocks took load after load, trip after trip, handful after handful to unload. It looks great and is gonna save us a lot of effort not to mention water!

You the man!

Thank You Gabriel T!

Girls and Tools.. Now That's Hot

You can't go wrong with a woman who can cook her way to a man's heart AND be in the garage with tools.

Bec is working side by side with her daddy, learning the art of making sliders. (That's a thing to step on to get in the Cruiser and protects the truck off-roading when a rock decides to come our way) T is a great coach and loves to have his kids work with him. He's always been able to take them in and teach them his craft. Passing on the Art of Truck Welding at its best.

Way to go Bec!

I Want to Wear Heels, Please.

I twist my ankle 3 weeks ago, started therapy 1 week ago, got scolded by a PT that sounds like Mel Gibson 1 day ago and so, here I sit. It's so BORING just sitting when the weather is so magnificent. I wait all year for summer time. Tomatoes to tend to, flowers to cultivate, walks to take, warm sun to sit under with my chin to the sky. I love all aspects of our summers. Yet, if I want to enjoy all aspects of THIS summer, I must sit this weekend, let my ankle rest, and heal.


And, and, and, I bought a cute, cute summer dress that requires cute, cute heels. Ugh. My cute, cute foot goes into old flat flip flops. Swell.

Happy

Smiles and Joy, Chit Chatting and Crashing, Pie and Friends.

Gabe's home and there is an excitement back in our home. I've said before, each child brings something different to our home and for Gabe, it's a new level of energy. The girls respond to it, Charley especially responds to it, and it's a blessing beyond words for me to have the table full. So who knows what each day will be like but with all of us together, there's bound to be some adventures this summer. Here's to Summer 2011!

A Table for 6

All is right in the world. Tonight I have the pleasure, joy, GREAT delight in setting my table for 6. All my chickies are home under one roof. Difference now, 4 adults, 2 minors. More adventures await us this summer and I NEVER ever take for granted the time we all share together. I can't wait to see God work out His plan for each of us. I know it is times like this that we dig in more, communicate better, and grow closer... intentionally. Can you give me High Five?

4x4 Cruiser Knuckle Joint Rebuild

My husband is The Man. He is very gifted with his hands and his ability to tear a truck down and put it back together. No missing parts laying around afterwards. :) He is also gifted with patience. He has this very cool 97 FJ and it was time for a knuckle rebuild. I offered my help anyway he needed me. So, out in the garage I went to watch, to listen, to learn, and according to my very patient husband, ask way too many questions. T kept saying,"Ask the engineers." No wonder my science teachers always looked at me with this far off stare. But I just GOTTA know how and why things do what they do. And during some stages of this project it felt like needle point. Umm.. I hate needle point. The details overwhelmed me as T went step by step to get this project done precisely as it needed to be. I decided my future as a mechanic isn't in the cards. I do however make a great helper! And yes, I am still full of questions.

Little Midgey

I promised a post on the buggies that caused us to leave early from our Memorial Day camping adventure. So Little Midgey isn't just a twin or triplet. No, he is a millionet. Okay, I know that's not even a word but that's what we saw. Bug after bug after bug after BUG, flying around, in and on ev.ery.thing. So in the camper we went.

They don't bite. They just get in your face like a bad conversation you can't escape from.

And of course the "pott-tey" is outside. I braved it and ran like a crazy woman.

And then there's Becca... she decided to cover everything and hoped she could see well enough not to fall on her way over! Bahahah. So the adventure was cut short. Off to home we went after only 24 hours of the first camping trip of the season to a place where Midgey doesn't live. Check this place OFF your camping list. Not worth fighting those little buggers.