Colorado Trip/Family Thanksgiving-November Update;)

Back in November of last year (how time sure flies) the Lord opened the door for me, (Ashley) to fly out to visit a good friend of mine, Jayme Myers and her family! The Lord really blessed the two weeks, with lots of fun adventures, good fellowship and great memories were made!

 Flying into Denver.....I got into Colorado in the morning around 11am.

 One of my favorite things we did was Impact Kids! This is a after-school ministry that Jayme and her brothers work in weekly. We played games with them, helped with homework and listened to a Bible lesson by some of the guys, and worked on crafts. It reminded me a lot of the opportunity I had to work in one of the villages out in the bush in Alaska back during my first summer! It was also neat to see what a heart the Myers had for the ministry and to see how much the kids enjoyed being with them!

 Another thing we did was go thrift shopping! I normally do not enjoy shopping but, this was a lot of fun and as you can see, the Lord really blessed that trip, though we did not buy everything in the cart.;)

 Mr. Myers took us ladies to dinner at a restaurant they have in CO called Country Buffet, a lot like Hometown Buffet!:)

 The Sunday before Thanksgiving, we had a meal at the Myers church and had a great time!:)

That day was also Ryan's birthday, so the guys suggested prank calling him!:P Ryan, being the smart guy he is, thought it a bit suspicious that a number from CO was calling him about "cabinets on craigslist...;)" The guys admitted guilt and we all enjoyed talking to him briefly and wishing him a happy birthday!;)

 Another day, Eli, Jayme and I enjoyed playing Horse-opoly inside while the wild blew furiously outside......

....and inside we stayed warm and comfy with pizza, healthy soda and later...not so healthy cocoa!;)

Another night Justice, took Eli, Jayme and I out for frozen yogurt and a movie.........

  

One of our Saturdays, Jordan, Justice, Jayme, Eli and I went to the CO zoo!:) That was a really fun experience during which we got to see several exciting sights, like bears, lions and tigers-oh my!;)

 One of those great moments where Jordan and I are trying to figure out the camera and Jayme is goofing off in the background! I love this picture! We had so much fun.:)

 Visiting the Dinosaur Center! Dad and Daniel would especially have loved it there...;)

 Jayme had insisted on a photo shoot for we both share a love for photography and love to be behind our cameras, but this time WE were going to be in the pictures .:P  Photo credit goes to Jordan, who patiently waited for us to be pleased with the lighting and such during the whole process..:P

 After that they took me to see the amazing balancing rock! It was incredible!

 Jayme and I share a love for Alaska and the people and have both been able to go to the same camp but at different times, so we had to get a picture together in our matching hoodies!:)

 Another time, Jayme treated me to some special tundra tea she brought back from Kako! It was really good and we spent the whole time reminiscing!:)

 All too soon it would be time to go home, so I started packing in preparation for my trip...

One of our last nights together watching a movie with the dogs.....:)

 A trip to the Donut mill!:) These donuts really are as big as they look.....it was quite the experience!!:)

My last morning, Mrs. Myers cooked up a lovely breakfast and set the table with some of her nicest dishes, complete with our own waiter, Eli!;)  It was all very special!:)

Saying goodbye...

 

I was very grateful for the opportunity to visit with this dear friend. One of the great things about being with Jayme was her love for the Lord, desire to do what is right, like-mindedness in many convictions, and of course, her love for Alaska! I really appreciated her family opening their home with such love and hospitality! Before I flew out the whole family came together to pray for me and thank the Lord for the time we had. The Myers family really blessed me and challenged me in my walk with the Lord. The Lord truly is the one who makes fellowship so sweet.

 

Thanksgiving was something I also missed which I spent with them Myer family, but the family spent it this year with Dad's biological grandparents! They really enjoyed getting spend time with "GGP and GG" (great-grandpa and great-grandma)!

 The guys did the cooking this year to help mom out!

 Cutting away for stuffing!

 Isaiah on gravy duty!

 Howard-Natey's split personality character made his appearance too!

 Everything ready and hot.....

 Grandma also joined the family for the day! They all got to sit together at the huge table Mom and the boys had created for the meal! The had their own version of the "Knights of the square table!";)

 Enjoying the long awaited meal!

Ryan and GGP..:)

 

It's amazing how the Lord really does overflow our lives with blessings even when we may not always see them in the busyness of life! The more we stop and consider the more we realize just how much we have to be thankful for! Most of all, how thankful we are to have a Savior who loved us enough to die on the cross for our sins, providing us with a salvation we could never have earned or deserved, and that by accepting Him as Lord of our lives, and asking Him to wash away our sins with His blood, someday we will get to be with Him in heaven for all eternity!

 

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,  while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.   For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,  while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 

                                                                                                       2 Corinthians 9:10-15