More O.A.R.!

Since the concert last weekend was so much fun, here are a few more pictures from the weekend. One of the men, one of the women, and a few from our seats. 

The other two pictures are pretty special. While we were hiking from the parking lot up to Red Rocks, we encountered a middle aged couple sitting next to the tour buses. They were with a guy our age who turned out to be the trumpet player for OAR! Then someone mentioned that it was my first OAR show and that I'm a cancer survivor. The lady, who was his mom, jumped up and came over and said she was too! Then she hugged me several times and kept saying God Bless you and hugging me and encouraging me. The photo of her and I is us showing our ports! Survivors unite! 

O.A.R.

We are here at beautiful Red Rocks tonight to see OAR. Met friends in the parking lot before the show to tailgate and socialize. Been looking forward to this for many months now! We are in the 10 row, and ready to rock. 

Surprise!!

It was quite a surprise last Friday to walk into our backyard after having a few beers with my friend Nick True, and see 60-70 people waiting to celebrate the end of my cancer journey. Jennifer did an amazing job of pulling off the party without me finding out. Dad even made shirts for the celebration! 

It was so incredible to see everyone, including Wes, Kim and Kaleb and Jim and Janet. I felt like Jimmy Stewart at the end of the movie It's A Wonderful Life. Everyone that loved me, supported me, prayed for me, and gave their time, treasure and talents over the last year for our family were there. I just wish I could have spent more time talking to and thanking everyone that was there. No Mo Chemo!! 

Oregon

Both the boys arrived back home on Sunday night from 5 Rock Ranch. Noah was very talkative and shared a lot of stories and experiences from the trip. He enjoy the hard labor, and worked in the kitchen washing dishes the last two days. Andrew on the other hand hasn't said hardly anything at all about the trip. We did discover he helped move a wood pile. But that was it. What did he do all week??? Looking at these pictures, I would say he had a pretty good time. Don't have any idea what the thumbs up is all about though. 

Team Dinner

One of the really neat things that the head cross country coach is doing this summer is encouraging a team dinner one a week. The dinners will rotate through different families homes, with our turn coming at the end of June. Looks like a pretty good team! Note Noah's shoes in the second picture. He loves his Dr. Who! 

40

A hearty and happy congratulations to mom and dad today as they celebrate 40 years of marriage! What an amazing accomplishment. Here is the ad that ran in the Laramie Daily Boomerang yesterday. 40 years of marriage is an incredible milestone. I am so blessed to have the parents that I do. I love you both. Congratulations! 

Book Club

Back in October, I was invited to participate and become a member of the very exclusive, very prestigious Second Saturday Book Club. The ten person club meets the second Saturday of every month. Each member gets to choose a book in turn, then we gather to discuss. The meal we share together is based on the book, which can be kinda tricky sometimes. Last night we gathered and discussed Henry V. In May we read my selection, An Omnivores Dilemma. The discussions are always lively, the company is fabulous and the books chosen have stretched me as a reader and introduced me to books I wouldn't normally read. Can't wait to start July's selection, Infidel. 

Weekends!

Our family has really enjoyed having dad home on the weekends! I know, I know, I had weekends and weekdays off for like the last 7 months, but that was different. With the big boys heading home from Oregon this weekend, we were able to spend some fun time with the littles. We enjoyed the Taste of Ft. Collins together yesterday. The weather was perfect for strolling from one booth to another, sampling all the different foods and beverages that were offered. 

Friday night, Jennifer and I made another trip to the Greeley downtown to have dinner and listen to some great music. It was the kick off for the Greeley Blues Fest, and there were different artists performing in each restaurant. The Go-Cup district is also pretty cool. It allows people to wander the 9th Street plaza with an open container of beer. So if you don't finish your drink at dinner, you can take it with you as you stroll the plaza. Pretty swell idea! 

Oregon Update!

Noah finally called home yesterday! We haven't heard from him or Andrew since Saturday night in eastern Oregon. The trip is going great! They arrived at 5 Rock Ranch on Sunday night. Monday and Tuesday were filled with some pretty hard and intense labor. They pulled weeds, cleaned out from under trees, did some landscaping and some various other projects around the ranch. Tuesdays big adventure was trying to find the hole in a water pipe. They ended up finally finding the hole, but got plenty wet, muddy and dirty in the process. Wednesday was their "vacation" day in Seaside. Noah did laundry, had a nice lunch and got to see the Pacific Ocean! More chores today and Friday, then a long two days in the car heading east. So thankful for this experience the boys are having!