Wednesday, July 19th, 2017, COLORADO TRIP DAY 1 -- very early in the morning, my sister took me to the Kentucky/Cincinnati airport. I got to enjoy the sunrise from above the clouds as I flew to Denver, CO.
Coming into Denver
After arriving at the airport, my friends Sunshine and Tatiana picked me up and took me to their home in Johnstown. They generously let me use one of their vehicles for visits to friends. That very morning after getting to CO, I took off to meet my dear friend Natalie in Greeley for brunch. We had such a sweet reunion, scrumptious brunch, and good talk together.
Natalie and I <3
After that we ran some errands for her mom around Greeley, then went to the hanger to see her dad's planes. It was too hot then to fly, but in the evening we came back and got to go flying.
It was so neat to see the planes in person!
Then we went to Natalie's house for the afternoon. They live out in the country.
We talked lots and lots with her mom, sweet Bonnie.
For supper, the Heppners took me to a Chinese restaurant.
Then we went to Natalie's brother Jack's baseball game.
From there we went to the hanger.
It was so amazing to go flying with my friend! Something I've wanted to do for so long.
It was so amazing to watch Natalie fly her plane and listen to her talk to the control towers. She is confident in what she's learned, and takes joy in doing it. God has given her a desire and talent!
I'm so proud of her, and thankful that she was willing to take me flying!
Landing
A picture after we got back from flying. Then we had to say goodbye again. I was so thankful for that whole day we got to spend together. It was a very sweet and special day.
July 20th, Thursday, COLORADO TRIP DAY 2 -- in the morning I drove to Greeley to see my friend, Mrs. Stratman, who I used to spend time with every week, learning sign language from.
It was so good to see her again and catch up. We also signed together and played a game.
The Stratman family and I had a picnic outside for lunch.
Just a scene of Johnstown as I was driving back to the Gearhart's.
The Gearharts let me stay at their home for 3 days. Because of that and how they let me use a vehicle, they made it possible for me to come to Colorado at all!
Sunshine and I matching in purples-
Sunshine has these fish out in her garden.
I enjoyed swinging in Sunshine's backyard.
More Colorado views
This is one of my favorite Colorado scenes, with the mountains in the background, blue sky, and a field in the foreground.
July 21st, Friday, COLORADO TRIP DAY 3 -- My day in Johnstown, with Sunshine and visiting a few people.
Sunshine and I went to the Johnstown lake and walked around.
It was a beautiful day!
We found this big tree that was fun to take pictures of.
A view of the lake and mountains
Skipping rocks at the traditional rock-skipping spot!
Taking the picture below this one...
The Rocky Mountains
We went to see SuAnne Bode for a little bit and visit with her.
Then we went to the library to see our friend Lois (beside Sunshine), and we also saw Pat and Jill.
It was good to see Lois again!
Then I spent the rest of the day with Sunshine. We talked, looked at pictures, and played some Boggle!
That evening I went to our friends, the Brown's house for supper. It was really, really good to see them again. We miss them a lot, cause they are like a second family to us.
After a yummy supper, we played horseshoes in their backyard.
Hope, Matt, Lincoln, Faith, and Cara
After a few games of horseshoes, we went inside to play Chicken-foot with dominoes. Lincoln had fun making a wall out of his dominoes and silly-putty.
July 22nd, Saturday, COLORADO TRIP DAY 4 -- this is the room where I stayed at the Gearharts.
My friends, the Bells, picked me up from Sunshine's at 9:20 in the morning and took me to the mountains with them.
We stopped by Estes Ark, which is a ark/building/gift shop.
My sweet friend Jenny and her baby girl, Georgiana.
Precious Georgi. It was so special to see her again. The last time I saw her was when I made a
trip out to TX to be with the Bells over the time she was born.
We ate lunch at McDonald's before heading further into the mountains.
Starting into the Rocky Mountain National Park
We went all the way up Trail Ridge road, and stopped at the top to walk around and go in the gift shop. The view from there is simply incredible.
A selfie with the Bells at Trail Ridge.
Brad and Jenny, Fletcher and Geogiana <3
There was still some snow up there, on July 22nd.
On the way back down the mountain, we saw some mountain goats.
We followed the mountain trip with supper at the Bells, then Jenny took me to meet my friend, Ivanna. I spent a busy Saturday evening with Ivanna, but don't have any pictures from the evening.
July 23rd, 2017 COLORADO TRIP DAY 5 --
I stayed the last part of my trip with Ivanna and her family, the Strubhars in Wyoming. Sunday morning, Ivanna and I went on an early morning walk before breakfast.
I got to hold one of Ivanna's nieces during church and she went to sleep. :)
After church, everyone ate together. It was good to see our friends the Hinkles (Nicole and Phoebe on the left).
In the afternoon, Ivanna, her friend Laurynn, and I climbed this fun tree and talked.
We had a sweet time together up in the tree, and yes, we did feel silly.
Laurynn got this picture of Ivanna and I that I love!
This one branch was perfect for gently bouncing on!
My precious friend, Ivanna
We joined in a couple games of volleyball as well.
In the evening, all the Strubhars were invited to their friends' home for supper and fellowship. We spent a special evening there. Here is Ivanna and 2 of her sweet sisters, Grace and Faith.
July 24th, Monday COLORADO TRIP DAY 6 -- My friend Whitney and her kids picked me up from WY, and took me to their home to spend part of the day. They took me on a walk around the ranch where they live. Their place is just beautiful!
We sat on the dock for awhile, put our feet in the water and talked.
Judah took this picture of Whitney, Aviana, and I
We kept walking and got to see Whitney's husband, Pete, as he was working, moving the bulls.
This family is so precious, and I'm so thankful I got to see them and spend some time with them!!
Reading with Judah and Aviana before lunch.
We had tea time for lunch. Whitney and the kids made it so special!
After lunch we went outside again to swing and wait for Ivanna to arrive to pick me up.
Precious Emmalynn Grace! I hadn't met her before, but quickly fell in love with her!
Just swinging away
Emmalynn and me
When Ivanna got there she took a picture for us.
Whitney's sweet kids and me <3
That evening, back at the Strubhars, we had icecream with some more of the siblings and their families who stopped by.
Ivanna and I went to the nearby culvert to sing. We try to go there whenever I visit.
It's not that pretty inside the culvert, but it sounds so amazing when you sing!
Then we went to Lyons Park and walked with Ivanna's sister Faith, her husband Jeremiah and their boy Andrew.
Cute little Andrew
Ivanna and I
Ivanna and I on a neat bridge
Ivanna has always told me about this park, and we finally got to go there together!
Jeremiah, Faith, and Andrew on the bridge.
We got to see a pretty sunset!
To end the walk, we waded in the lake.
Andrew especially love standing in the water.
Ivanna and I wading.
Then we sat on the dock and put our feet in the water some more.
The gorgeous sunset!
Cheyenne, Wyoming
July 25th, very early in the morning Ivanna and her brother Joel took me to the Denver airport. This was the sunrise we got to enjoy as we neared the airport. I got back to Kentucky around 1 p.m.
I'm so thankful for the last few days of my trip that I got to spend time with the Strubhars. I'm so very thankful to Ivanna especially for driving me so much and making it possible for me to go on this trip. It was all-together a very wonderful and special trip back to Colorado! I'm so thankful that God worked it out for me to go and blessed my time with everyone, each place that I went!
