Back Home In Indiana...

Greetings!

I'm taking a break from reading for class for a bit, and I decided I should post about my most recent visit home.

My nephew, Cayden, turned three on May 22. I like to check flight prices often just to see if any sweet deals are coming up. In March the tickets to come home for Cayden's birthday were insanely cheap. So after asking Steven if he would mind, I booked a flight home. I had texted Jenny, my oldest sister and Cayden's mom, if she would mind me coming home for his birthday. She immediately called me freaking out. She thought it would be wonderful. Now if you've ever met Jenny then you know that she has big ideas about life. You can tell from her work ethic and the way she does things that she wants things to be perfect. She came up with the brilliant idea to keep my trip home on the down low. The only real loud mouth who knew I was coming home was Cayd. When Jenny would ask who was coming to his birthday (he had a Spongebob themed birthday) he would say, "Aunt Roofie!" She had intended for him to say, "Spongebob." Luckily, the little man didn't let it slip! Curt came to get me at the airport late on Friday night, and I helped at the flower shop Saturday morning. Then I anxiously awaited the arrival of the birthday guests from Cayden's room upstairs. After everyone arrived Curt came to get me. With a Spongebob mask covering my face I stepped onto the back patio. Everyone was back by the garage in the shade. Aunt Diane was the first to notice. Everyone just stared for a second. I don't think my mom could believe her eyes. Finally, Aunt Diane said, "Is that Ruth?!" Mom came running up to the patio with tears in her eyes. She said, "I didn't want to believe it because this family is known for sick jokes!" It was so great to see everyone, and we had a fun filled day celebrating Cayden's birth.

The rest of my time in Indiana was spent visiting with family and friends. I made it back to Vogel's to try out Cayden's new slip n' slide which made me feel old because my body was sore after playing on that with him for three hours.

It was a great trip home, but I was excited to get back to Steven and the kids (we call our dogs "the kids").

We've been busy packing for our move this Friday. Steven has been making the LONG commute to Denver everyday so I know he is excited to move. I'm going to miss the Springs. My mom is coming to help us move. She'll get her Wednesday, and we are excited for her arrival.

Until then I have a paper to write, a quiz to take, four chapters to read, and a final to study for. I better get back to studying! :)

One last thing....I leave for Africa Sunday. Please pray for a safe trip! Also, please pray that Josh and Steven don't get in any trouble while I'm gone!!

Pictures of our hike up Blodgett Peak should be coming soon...

This and That

Well, Steven will be proud. I never blog, but I'm in the mood this evening. :)

A lot has been going on since the last post...

I was offered a second grade teaching position with Fremont Elementary, which is the school I am currently working for as a special ed assistant teacher. I would LOVE to teach at this school because the staff is amazing, and it is a good group of students. The same day this great news happened Steven also got fabulous news...promotion number two! Steven has landed himself his very own property in....DENVER! He is the new Community Director of North Creek apartments on the north side. Of course he accepted the position so I'm back on the job search, again. Prayers for a great teaching position would really be appreciated!

Along with Steven's promotion means another move. The commute would be about an hour and twenty minutes, and it would include going through Palmer Divide everyday, which is a hot spot for terrible weather. After going back and forth between an apartment and renting a house we decided to go with an apartment. Click here to check out the apartment we're considering. We are really interested in floor plan F. Hopefully we'll be settled in before I leave for Africa. Fingers crossed!

More big news that has little to do with Steven and myself...Josh got a dog! It is a 4 month old dachshund named Swarley (Pronounced like Harley, but with "Sw"). He's adorable, and our dogs are getting along great with him. Madison is very motherly toward him, and Oscar is still evaluating the situation. It's been fun getting to play with a puppy.

Some fun news: I went to the dentist and got an A+!! Mom and Dad are saying, "Unbelievable!" I always have cavities despite my obsession with dental hygiene so this is an occasion to rejoice!

Finally,

I'll be leaving for Malawi on June 13, and I will be returning to Colorado June 30. We will be going to Mtendere Village Orphanage again, and we will be taking donations with us. If you are able to donate, and you are interested here are the details:

We can take checks, which will be cashed to buy supplies for the orphanage. These can be tax deductible. Let me know if you are interested in the tax deduction, and I can get AFC to send you a receipt. You can either make the checks out to me (Ruth Moll) or Ambassadors for Children. Every little bit can help. Even if you can only do $10 you will make a difference in the life of these children. (I wish I could take everyone with me so they could experience what life in a developing country is like!)

Here are some items that the orphanage is always in need of:

• Mosquito Spray (95% or higher DEET to protect from Malaria infected mosquitos; You can find this at most camping stores.)
• Feminine Products
• Pens
• Scales (to weigh mothers at hospitals)
• Batteries
• Lotions
• Soaps
• Shampoo
• Razors
• Flip Flops
• Pencils
• Crayons
• Bubbles, Balloons, Hot Wheel Type Cars (The students go crazy for these things!)

These items can be shipped by June 11 to:

Ruth Moll

850 Vindicator Dr. #305

Colorado Springs, CO 80919

Well, that is it for now. :)

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..

Lunch Break

Well, the perks of living where you work are in full effect. I am currently home for lunch. I don't have to pack a lunch and if I ever need anything I walk upstairs to get it. I'm learning my way around the new office pretty well. There's a lot that's new but I think I'm adjusting pretty well.

Ruth and I finally bought a new mattress so we now have a guest bed. We haven't had any complaints about the couch yet but we're planning on having more family come and visit, and those old people don't like the couch. Ruth's brother Fred is flying in this Wednesday. We have an eventful week planned out including St. Patricks day at Trinity, Skiing Saturday, and even rock-climbing sometime. Of course we'll do the usual trip up Pike's Peak.

The kids need to go out before I go back to work. If you want to come stay, give us a call.

Eventful Weekend

Ruth and I had a great weekend. Thursday evening we drove to Denver to stay at Josh's apartment. We dropped off the kids and Friday morning Josh took us to the airport where we departed for Mobile, AL. It was an early morning but we were picked up by Sean and a fellow groomsman and took a 45-minute ferry across Mobile Bay. Ruth and I joked that we had ridden in a car, airplane, train, and ferry all in one day. It was well worth the trip because later that evening we took a stroll along the beach, dancing with the waves. It was great to see a lot of extended family and especially great to meet Sean's wife, Eleana. We had a great time partying with the wedding party even though we had just met all of them. The wedding was at sunset on the beach behind the house and it was beautiful. It wasn't the warmest of Alabama days, but the sun was plenty hot to give me a pretty harsh sunburn on the back of my neck, arms, and even tops of my feet.

The weekend was ending nicely and we were checking into the Mobile Regional Airport after saying goodbye only to find out that someone had misread our flight time. After we exhausted all efforts, we had to come to terms with the fact that no flights leave Alabama after 6pm and absolutely nothing was headed towards Denver. So we contacted our employers and informed them that we were on the first flight leaving in the morning (which happened to mean we were getting up at 3:30 am). In the end it all worked out really well.

Ruth had her first partial day at her new job. She has an interesting time ahead of her. She has students with a variety of special needs she with whom she will be working. I also found out last week that I will be the new assistant community director at the property where we live. Today on our way in from Denver I found out that I start at my new job today. I have to learn a lot in a short period because the current assistant director is moving to North Carolina at the end of the month. I'm really excited about the new promotion. I will miss The Retreat and the people there, but I won't be complaining about the commute.

To top off an eventful weekend, we were picked up at the airport by Janelle and Stephanie. They just arrived the other day to kick off their Spring Break from their graduate programs in Indiana. They have been staying in Denver with Josh the past few nights, but tomorrow they are coming to the Springs to spend the evening and we are going to my favourite CSC restaurant Trinity Brewing Company. Hopefully Ruth will let me buy a growler of my favourite brew Soul Horkey.

In the next few weeks Ruth's brother Fred is coming out for a ski trip. So far it is Ruth, Fred, Josh, and me but more are welcome to come! We are just hoping we don't see this on the way there.