We enjoyed a long weekend in Belen at Beth and Steve's new home in late October and celebrated Steve's installation as Pastor of First Presbyterian Church. Beth's parents came out for the weekend, too, as did Steve's good friend, Howard. Dwight and Howard participated in the service. 
We also got to see Genevieve and grandson Kaelan (age 2), who live in Albuquerque, and enjoyed dinner out in Old Town.
After finishing the Race for the Cure event this morning, Sharon headed home to pick up Kirk and get him over to Genesis Presbyterian for the animal blessing service. It was fun - lots of dogs and they all got along pretty well.
Julie Weisz, Judy Richardson and Sharon pose for a picture after completing the race on Sunday. The Denver Komen Race for the Cure (breast cancer) is the largest in the nation - 65,000+ participants.
We took a day trip to Estes Park and into Rocky Mountain National Park today. Kirk rode along and was a big hit while we were sitting outside at Starbucks. It's like having a movie star in the family, the way people stop to meet, greet and pet him! But the fall colors were the real stars today. It was a perfect Colorado fall weekend and the aspen were glowing. What a difference a week makes! Last week the trees were still pretty green and dusted with snow. This week was glorious. Wish you were here!
Dwight, Sharon and Kirk headed for Dillon, Breckenridge and Fairplay, Colorado on Friday & Saturday. We left Denver Friday night around 8:30pm and battled a blinding snowstorm, taking 2 hours to get to Dillon (normally an hour drive), and were relieved to get to our hotel! Saturday morning we headed for the Starbucks in Frasier, then a leisurely drive to Breckenridge, and over Hoosier Pass to Fairplay. Lunchtime found us at the Bucksnort Saloon, south of Shaffer's Crossing - a must-have experience for every Coloradoan! It was a cloudy day and actually a little early for the fall colors, but we enjoyed the time away! Kirk couldn't quite figure out what we were doing, but he travels well and loves going wherever we go. We used our time in the car to listen to a book on CD, "Marley and Me" about a yellow Lab and his family. If you have a chance to read or hear this book, and you're a dog lover, you should take the opportunity. You will laugh and cry! We only got about half way through the book and hope to finish it next Saturday when we head to Estes Park to look for colors once again!
You can now visit Dwight's blog at http://journeywiththerev.blogspot.com/ and find his weekly sermons and lectionary readings. Your comments are welcome!
Sharon and granddaughter Jordan enjoyed a weekend together with members of Genesis Presbyterian Church for it's "Summit" retreat in late August at the YMCA Camp of the Rockies near Estes Park. Outdoor worship, small groups, and lots of play time for the kids made for a great time for all who attended.
Dwight, Sharon and Kirk spent a couple of relaxing days with friends Jon & Danny Yeagley at their cabin near Fairplay early in August. We walked, talked, ate, talked, walked and laughed. Everyone experienced Kirk as a lapdog!
Dwight, Sharon, and granddaughter Kyra enjoyed another wonderful week together at Ghost Ranch in July. Dwight used his study time to write about 20 sermons - enough to get him through the end of year. Sharon took a class on the parables told in Luke 15 - The Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost (Prodigal) Son - a class that challenged her and also brought her some peace. Kyra found a friend and they spent the week having fun and enjoying the beauty that is Ghost Ranch. Sharon climbed Chimney Rock again and Kyra says she wants to join her in the hike next year. Steve and Beth also joined us for a couple of days and we all celebrated Steve's 30th birthday during a dinner at Rancho de Chimayo.
This was our third trip to the Vail Valley for the spectacular July 3rd fireworks display put on by the Town of Avon. The first time we enjoyed this adventure was two years ago, when Steve and Beth were married at Eagle River Presbyterian Church on July 3rd, while Dwight was the Interim Pastor there. Friends Tom and Ruth Powers have hosted our return visits the last two years and we have grown to love this new tradition. Had a wonderful dinner on Sunday at the Powers' home in Edwards, with friends/members of the church, and then viewed the fireworks Monday with Tom and Ruth on a hill above I-70. If you ever have a chance to see this show, don't miss it. Dwight took several great photos of the fireworks, including the one above.
Sharon spent a long weekend in Wisconsin at the end of April, staying with Steve and Beth in Appleton. Sharon, Steve and Beth (and Mello, their chocolate lab) spent a day in Madison with Sharon's 88-year-old dad. Other visits included a wonderful dinner in Milwaukee with brother Richard and wife Ann, and another wonderful dinner in Green Bay with sister Kathy and husband Tom. Grandfather is still pretty sharp, but physically weak He is well cared for at Oakwood Village, and receives frequent visits from his pastor, and from the Gallaghers and the Joynts. Beth and Steve have gone down to see him a couple of times, too. Sure wish it could be easier, but if you're blessed with longevity, growing old can be a real challenge.
Yes, that's right, Sharon decided to try skiing again - 20 years since the last time. Granddaughter Kyra (above with Sharon) is taking 6 weeks of lessons and this was the excuse Sharon needed to get her to try again. So, yesterday was the day - the weather was supposed to be mild (not too cold, not snowing). She hadn't counted on wind, however, and that turned out to be the biggest problem of the day (gusts that shut down chair lifts and took all the warmth the sun would have otherwise provided). It was a difficult day, but Kyra's mom (Angela, along with her sister, Shirin) graciously put up with Sharon's slow but steady progress. Once a pretty good skier, Sharon was plagued by a combination of age, poor muscle tone, and wind that swept most of the snow off the mountain, leaving ice and crusted snow. She was unable to get out of the basic snow plow position and regain her confidence, which meant a lot of physical labor. But ... she did it! And she's quite proud of herself - not bad for an out-of-shape broad of 57 years! After getting home last night, she suffered major leg cramps for a couple of hours, but finally got to sleep. Today, her arms and legs are a little sore, but that's about it. If she does this again, she may try "blades" (really short skis). Angela uses these and says they are a lot easier on the legs.
Sharon traveled to Wisconsin a few days before Christmas, visited her dad briefly in Madison before driving up to Appleton to stay with Beth and Steve. Sharon and Steve drove to Milwaukee Friday afternoon and visited with brother Richard, Ann and their youngest daughter Catherine. On Saturday morning, Steve, Beth and Sharon headed for breakfast at sister Kathy's home in Green Bay. We enjoyed our visit with Kathy, Tom and three of their sons, Michael, Nathan and Timothy. That evening, Christmas Eve, Steve led the early service at his church in Appleton, then Sharon enjoyed dinner and games at the Johnsons (Beth's sister and family). Steve preached the following morning (a creative and dramatic reading from the perspective of one of the shepherds in the Christmas story) and then he and Sharon and Beth drove down to Madison to spend Christmas afternoon and evening with Grandfather Gallagher. Steve and Beth's chocolate lab, Mello, joined us for the visit and also got to meet Grandfather.