As of lately, we have had some minor changes.

I am no longer going to be working where I live. I start Monday at a new location. It is much bigger than where I am now and it is beginning a renovation. My supervisors tell me that I will be a good fit because my strengths will help with some of their weaknesses. It will be a big change of pace. I'm glad to have the opportunity where I can prove myself.

Also, last week Ruth and I sponsored a child in Costa Rica. His name is Magdiel and he is 2-years old. His family has a seasonal income of $52 dollars a month. The organization we are working with is through our church and all our money goes directly to his needs (food, shelter, education, healthcare, etc.) We will be sponsoring him until he is 16 and has an education or skilled labor training. Until he is old enough to write himself, his mother will be writing us back and forth. We are really excited to have Magdiel in our lives.

Otherwise, not much else is happening. Ruth is finishing her schoolwork for the semester of grad school. She is interested in some book suggestions for her to read this summer. I have been re-reading The Lord of the Rings and another book called Comfortable with Uncertainty written by a Buddhist nun named Pema Chodron. We took the dogs to the vet today and they are both in excellent health. All the vets and techs said that Madge was the sweetest dog they have ever seen. I will probably spend most of the rest of the day at the dog park. The weather here is gray, damp, and cold. It reminds me of an Indiana winter.

Josh is going to come down tonight when he gets off work. The property where he works is also going under renovation and he is bringing me 2 large potted plants. I'm really excited.

Also, so far our guest-schedule consists of Fred, Kathy, and Papa (Kathy's dad) coming down at the end of April. Des (friend from Tuesday night club, Folk Tales [see previous post]) coming the first or second week of May. Katie and Matt (and more?) are coming early July. Kimbles are coming the end of July/August. Ruth will be gone the 2nd half of June to go back to Malawi so if you want to come visit you better plan in advance.*

*all dates subject to change. :)

Spring in coming in CSC

The days are getting warmer and longer. We are spending more and more time outside. Although we have had a couple snow storms in the past few weeks, the snow will be missed. This was the last weekend for skiing. While Fred was here we went skiing with him and Josh. We had a really good time. It was Fred and Josh's first time but they got the hang of it. Ruth and I also started getting more and more brave on the slopes. As perfect the weather could be, the sun was a bit warm and towards the end of the day the slopes were less like fresh powder and more ice. It proved to be hard to turn and very fast. Here is a picture of the four of us on the top of the continental divide.

The sun was so warm that we had hats off and jackets open most of the time. The only problem was that the UV rays were so strong both mine and Ruth's lips got burnt and we both had sunburn all the way around our goggles. It proved to be pretty funny for a week or so. We also took Freddy to the zoo and Pike's Peak and the other main attractions.

Since Freddy left, Ruth and I have been working and planning for our next visitors. I still love my job, especially living where I work. I am extremely happy working for this company. Ruth has been enjoying her job working with the special needs kids too. She has made some friends at work who invited us to an Easter Potluck. There were about 12-14 other couples there. Most had similar stories to us; they had moved to CSC for work and their families were out of state. We had a good time. Ruth has been invited to participate in an after-school yoga class a couple times a week taught by one of the teachers. We also went to karaoke one night with some people I work with.

Some sad news.. Ruth killed our 'Love Fern.' We've had it for about 6 years and it was a bit droopy so she drowned it. I haven't lost faith, but it looks real bad. Also, Oscar fell in love with a pillow the Cassidy and Annalee made us for Christmas. He would lay on it all the time and carry it around the house with him.. then one day we found it like this.

It's still around but we have to occasionally re-stuff it.

I've collected a few tumbleweeds to fulfill a promise I made to Ruth's sister, Jennifer. Unfortunately, I thought them to be sub-par so I set them free. We had a ceremony where I threw them off our balcony to tumble their way across Colorado, or get stuck in a bush or smashed.

Ruth and I have also reinstated our love for avocados. I've been having one a day for lunch, along with a bean burrito or last-night's leftovers. I'm also saving the pits to grow little avocado trees. I'll keep you all posted on the successes our my labors.

Also, we've shaved Oscar. A bit too close; I'm afraid he may get sunburnt. And Madge is being Madge..