A week ago Thursday, Christ Central Church from Alabama gathered around the house they had built for Rogelio, Dayaneeda and their two kids. Rogelio had been working all week and the team had not met him, and this was again the case on dedication day. Dayaneeda and her friends from the colonia were all there and had prepared a meal for the team. We sang songs , prayed over the family, and even had a communion service, inviting everyone to partake in the sacrament. The house was decorated beautifully and the joy on their faces when they entered the house was evident. They had just received a miracle from God. It was a shame that Rogelio couldn't be there to carry his bride across the threshold as is our custom, but providing for the needs of his family was a higher priority. After we dedicated the house, the neighbors passed out food to all that wanted to eat, and enjoyed the end of a hard week of work and heat. Thanks to all that came to "spend" themselves on behalf of the poor. No greater gift can be given than to lay down your life for a friend and now the team has new friends in the colonia, and they laid down their lives for them.
After the dedication, the team went to visit other people in the colonia they had come to know on previous trips, while Paula and I headed back across the border to pack up the van for the 1300 mile road trip to Colorado to attend my cousin Toris wedding to David on Sunday. We drove all night, well most of it anyhow, I did take a nap somewhere in Texas, to arrive in Denver and have an early supper with our daughter Kelly, and see where she worked every day selling real estate. We headed up the mountains to Winter Park/ Fraser area where we would be staying the next 5 nights with the rest of our family. Kristin Larry and the four kids were aboard the Amtrack train from Chicago and we picked them up about noon Saturday. Paula and I attended the wedding rehearsal dinner Sat. night and Sunday we all attended the wedding. Kelly did the makeup for the Tori and her attendants. The wedding was at a ranch outside with the mountains in the background and a huge tent for the reception. A beautiful wedding and reception. Some storms moved through the area quickly and made for awesome pictures of rainbows. 5 to be exact, all in a row.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were reserved for the family vacation. We went alpine sliding, rock wall climbing, bungee jumping at Winter Park Monday in between the rain and Tuesday Kelly had set us up with a photographer to take some family photos up in the mountains outside of Breckenridge, CO. It was a beautiful setting and he got some great shots. Kristin, Larry, Kelly and the kids went to Breck. to the water park and alpine slides while Paula and I enjoyed a round of golf. Wednesday we took a ride to Grandby Lake where thousands of bicyclists where taking over the town on a bike marathon. A mini Sturgis S.D. only no motor cycles. We had to get Larry, Kristin, Erika, Gianni, Gabby and Lea back to Fraser to catch the train to Chicago by 4 oclock. We bid them fare well as the train chugged out of site and then Paula, Kelly and I golfed until dark at Pole Creek Golf Club just up the road. What a great Family Vacation howbeit short. It was the first time Paula and I were with Lea together and we enjoyed every moment with her and the 3 other grand-kids, as well as Our daughters and Larry, who by the way, asked for Kristins hand in Marriage while we were together. So another wedding is in the offing, hopefully when we are in the area in August.
We made it home in about 24 hours, the van ran great the whole way, the time with the kids and grand-kids was great, life is just great when you allow Jesus to direct your path. He gives good gifts to those who love him, and children and grandchildren are a gift from God. Enjoy them when you can!!!
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