Catch Up!

So...I keep putting off blogging because I intended on putting up a little something from each major event from our summer and so on. After a period of time that becomes too daunting of a task ... so as I am so quick to do on such things, I put it off for another time. I really think about a lot of things to blog, but pass over them because I have too much to catch up on. You get the idea. So, I have decided to just dive in. Some catching up here, but much more concise than if I had taken a bit of time over the course of the actual events.
In June we had the McGinn clan and then shortly after they left John Kirklin came for a visit. July was full of VBS, a trip to Dallas for Justin's grandparent's wedding anniversary, then home for a few days. Middle of July took Justin to Pasadena California for two weeks of grad school and it took the girls and I up to Coeur d'Alene to hang with Papa and Grandma. Justin's parents joined us on the last night of VBS and Allyson, Lauren and I were with them pretty much the entire month of June. It was fun month full of travels and adventures. The highlight for Allyson was talking to Justin on the computer with Skype ... she brought it up again yesterday! At the tail end of July my parents arrived to spend my dad's 6oth birthday (August 1) with us. We had a really good week with Grand dad and Gran Jan. We traveled all over the place and showed them lots of things. Sometimes when we drive through down town Glenwood Allyson asks me if we are Aspen Vail. She doesn't realize these are two different places we visited on two different days! Also in August we had a visit with some friends from College - Rusty and Laura Campbell and their sweet boys. They were traveling through on part of their fundraising tour. We had a wonderful visit with them learning about their future mission plans in Angola, Africa.
At the end of August Andrew and Aimee Jo Martin and family came to visit us. They are currently on furlough from their mission work in Fort Portal, Uganda. What a blessing it was to visit with them for a few days and hear all about what they are doing and spend time getting to know their sweet kids.
One of my favorite parts of the visits we had throughout the summer was watching our kids play with the children of people who we have known over the years.
August ended and September began somewhat slowly. My cousin, Paige, was married on September 12th in Puyallup so the girls and I were able to travel home for that! It was a beautiful wedding and we had a really good visit. I thought it was rather nice of Paige to plan her wedding during the Puyallup Fair so we could do that while we were there :)
At the end of September I attended Women of Faith with some of the ladies from Church here in Glenwood Springs. I have been in the past, but it has been a while. It was so good to go again. If you have never gone (and are a woman) you need to check it out!
This fall Justin is leading a Financial Peace University class at church and we have been learning a lot from that.
Fall has settled us into a nice routine. Life groups have resumed. We're hitting story time at the library once a week. I am watching our little friend Samantha again on Wednesdays. Teaching wednesday evening bible class, helping out with the nursery and chidren's church, etc ... Life is rolling along. I have applied for a part time early morning shift at the community center here in town and have an interview on Friday morning.
The girls are getting so big. They are little playmates now, each with their own opinion on life and how things should be, but they do love each other so much. Now that we are on the other side of the baby thing, I am so glad to have them so close in age. Girls are fun! Lots of baby dolls and dressing up as princesses around here. Lauren LOVES Dora and Allyson is really into Snow White (this couple of weeks anyway). Justin keeps busy with church and school and hanging with his ladies.
We continue to feel blessed to be a part of the congregation here in Glenwood Springs. Colorado is such an amazing place to live and we are trying to soak it all in.
Blessings on each of you this week! There will be more to come and much sooner, I assure you!