A view from the car window.



The paparazzi at it again!


July 09, 2005
After coming down from Loveland Pass and the Continental Divide, we were concerned about the brakes because they were steaming when we stopped at a rest area. So this morning was dedicated to finding wireless access and having the brakes checked. Fortunately Karen’s brother Kyle is a mechanic and we were able to bring it to he shop where he works to get them checked out. Gratefully they were okay, so Kyle changed the oil and filled all fluids. Just after lunch we headed to Colorado Springs to visit Pike’s Peak. At $35 a car load it wasn’t cheap, but we didn’t complain too much. They tell you to budget an hour for the 19 mile drive up the mountain and assert that you’ll need a half a tank of gas—or something equivalent to 83 miles of fuel to make the trip. The drive was indeed slow, but the views were breathtaking. (When we got to the top we were told that we were breathing ½ the oxygen than is found in the air at sea level.) But the views were awe inspiring. Several times we marveled at the greatness of God as we viewed His creation. When we left Denver the temperature was a sweltering 98 degrees, but on the top of Pike’s peak the temperature was around 40 degrees. While we were there a storm made its way in and it began to snow!!! We stopped on the way down to pick up some rocks, enjoy scenic overlooks, grab a pinecone or two, and write our names in the remaining snow found along the road.
Jocelyn, a bit nervous about the steep drop off (there are no guardrails), asked us to pray that God would bring us up/down safely. Of course we obliged. In fact, when we were about to head back down Jocelyn asked me to pray—and remembering something Bob said—I replied, “you stopped praying?” I was grateful for her encouragement and more grateful for the opportunity to commend her desire to pray. Grateful too for the opportunity to remind her that we pray to a God who hears and who is able to save. I exhorted her to trust God. What a glorious trip.














Afterwards we spent a short time at “Garden of the Gods” where there are some tremendous rock formations. The kids and I played a brief game of hide and go seek before we traveled by car to see the other rock formations.

After a long day we ended it by enjoying a meal at Outback. Our first ever visit to an Outback Steakhouse west of the Mississippi.
Tomorrow we look forward to attending the South Denver church in Littleton where we will once again sing praise to God for what He has done and continues to do. That we experience the unmerited favor of God through Jesus Christ His Son is simply amazing. We continue to pray that the memories we build all contribute to our appreciation for the power and majesty of God in His creation. Thank you friends and family for praying for us; His grace has been evident and we are thankful.













garden of the gods




















Tracy on the phone with Steve at the garden of the gods.