Colorado 2012 - Part 2

In which we visit the San Juan mountains, have a great time with good friends, explore haunted mining camps, and drive precariously close to many a drop off.

The San Juan Mountains in south west Colorado

The town of Ouray

Cascade falls was a short (if steep) hike from Brooke's house

From a Gondola over Mountain Village

Mountain stream near Telluride

The future Maclennan household

View from the back porch

Stream down below the house

Hunter turns nine

Brighton and Brooke playing with Hunter's presents

Aspens along Last Dollar Road

On the lookout along Hwy 550 (Million Dollar Hwy)

Red Mountain Pass

Headed towards the ghost town of Animas Forks

Kaitlyn makes friends

At Animas Forks - an old mining town that has been abandoned

Maybe there are still ghosts there after all

Part 1 here.

Our last visit to Ouray here.

Down the Middle Drop One More Grain of Sand

A year ago today we lost Greg to cancer.  This anniversary has made me a bit more reflective today – almost how I imagine the new year affects many.  I am looking back over the year and I see

our travels and adventures.  From looking out a plane window onto Alaska to exploring a beautiful steel structure that is only roof now in East Dallas with Laura to having a debate with good friends at a rest stop on the high plains between Vegas and the Grand Canyon.

our struggles and accomplishments. From Structures to buying our house to see St. Thomas bud and flourish.

the joy of new life.  From Eli to Claire to my nephew Hudson.  May they stir our resolve and strength to fight for the good in this world.

the passing and mourning of life in both my Great Uncle Pat and Greg Hewlett.  You both are being missed and you both are loved.  Your legacies are continuing - your great generosity and love that you sowed into this world is bearing fruit.

God has been gracious to me.

Greg Hewlett

Greg Hewlett, an elder at our church, died yesterday morning from cancer. I only knew him about six months but in those months he made an enormous impact on my life (as he seemed to do for everyone who had the privilage of knowing him).




Greg’s death makes my heart ache for Christ’s restoration of this world from sin. It is sin that caused the disharmonious cancer cells to consume my friend. It is sin that brought death into the world in the first place. What’s worse is that my sin – things in my responsibility – has contributed to the continual schism between what was meant to be and what is. I in my own small way am responsible for Greg’s decay and death.



My comfort is in Christ’s forgiveness and restoration – two things that are irrevocably linked. Greg brought wisdom, beauty, comfort, strength, and peace into this world (all of that in just the short time I knew him) – and if I am partly responsible for his death then I will be sure and be responsible for his life and legacy.



Moments like these highlight my conviction that language – while useful – ultimately fails to accurately express and communicate reality. In other words it is really hard to write a fitting benidiction.  Rest in peace brother. May we meet again.

Philadelphia Matrimony

We had a great trip up to Philadelphia and NYC over the past five days.  I post on NY in a couple of days but for now I’ll share some of our trip to Philly. 

We went up to Philly for the wedding of our friend Hans.  I probably wouldn’t have thought to visit Philadelphia except for the wedding and I think that these low expectations really helped me enjoy the city.  It helped that we were experiencing it with some good friends and had a beautiful place to stay. 

Philly is a very lively city with a very distinct sense of history – expressed through its neighborhoods, green spaces, food, and architecture.  We actually didn’t get to see the “historical” section of town with the liberty bell and independence hall but Hans actually lives in a row home south philly and we spent a lot of time exploring the area between his house and downtown. 

On another occasion we got lost in a ghetto in West Philly (which I found ironic that a year ago I was driving through Bel-Air).  In general we had a great time and though it was a short trip we crammed a lot in. 

On with the pictures:

City Hall (notice the window units)

30th Street Train Station

The house that we stayed at.

Han's street, they were really packed in there

Interior of his house

Melynda's Great Dane - Han's new roomate

She loved to chase you around the pool but was afraid to get in.

The newly married couple

The awesome reception place.

It was right across from a small river and park.

We took a side excursion to the Brandywine river museum to check out paintings by the Wyeth family.  The museum was in a old converted mill.

27

Another year older, another year wiser (I hope).

Mom has a birthday post for me over at her blog. You can either click on “Karen” over to the side or go here: http://www.reflections-karen.blogspot.com/

Thanks for all the gifts from everyone. I didn’t expect much and got a ton, mostly books and transformers (which I am very pleased with).

Pennington

This weekend we traveled to Pennington TX to spend a weekend with friends. Had a lot of fun fishing and catching up. I doubt I can be grateful enough to have such awesome people in my life.

The four couples and the two little ones.

We found a small “Lawn Motorcycle” in the garage and had some fun.

The girls wishing they were riding the motorcycle…I mean having fun painting.

Me shooting my rocket launcher. This was the test run. Later I actually fired four at one time but due to the terrorized photographers we didn’t get a picture. We did get a funny, if chaotic, video out of it.

Fishing

Rachel with her prize catch.

Laura and Shonda having a wizard’s duel.