Colorado

The Cooks were getting settled in Denver.  Bryan was working out of Denver for the summer.  So, Denver was where we needed to be.  We packed up the Traverse again and headed to Colorado to spend a week in the big city.

After arriving in Denver and spending a couple of days between the hotel and Carrie's small house, we knew we needed something different.   Amaya had a few days off from her treatments and we needed a change.   

We found a beautiful house in the mountains (Granby) that just happened to be vacant and we booked it.   The Cooks and the Dahls loaded back into the car and headed where it was a little cooler and a lot less crowded.

The blessings of those days stayed with us for weeks.   It was a very special time and none of us will forget that amazing weekend.  

The house was beautiful and the kids favorite thing to do was to be outside swinging a few clubs.  The views were unbeatable as we watched the kids....just be kids.

The next morning we woke up early and the boys (and Amaya) headed off to the river for some fly fishing.   The girls (and Eli) headed up the mountain for a beautiful hike.

I will never forget standing on the top of that hill with Amaya, Megan, Addy, and Eli.  We sat up there overlooking the whole world and sang my favorite song.  "I'm on top of the world...Hey, I'm on top of the world ...Hey.   It still brings a smile to my face.

If you ask Owen and Amaya what their favorite part of the trip was...they would say "the golfing".  They loved golfing with their Dads.   And, Amaya especially loved driving the golf cart.

This weekend was just what we needed and while nobody wanted to go back to Denver, we were so lucky to spend time together in a special place called Granby.

A little more fishing

This picture is so awsome.   Look at those Dahl boys and their fish.   To many and not enough hands.  Smiles couldn't get any bigger.    This is what heaven will look like.

As we went back and forth between Sheridan and Denver....we fished.   Gramps took us fishing.  Uncle Brett took us fishing.  And, Bryan came and took us fishing.  We didn't ever miss an evening sitting on the shore with our poles and power bait.

Here are some of those moments.

Yep, fishing and Wyoming....a little heaven on earth.

When in Wyoming....fish

We said goodbye to Megan, Amaya, and Addy as they headed to Denver to start radiation.   We stayed behind and waited.  We would join them soon.

What do you do when you are in Wyoming?   Fish, of course.

This makes the world right.  

Time to spend together and find ourselves.   Where we can just sit and be together at the same time.

Time to catch those big fish!

special spot

There is a special place in Buffalo that I love.   A place that I take the kids every chance we get.  A place just to be a kid.   To walk with your cousins, dig in the dirt, and explore.   You don't need anymore of my words to see the beauty there.   The beauty in each of these kiddos and the love they have for each other.

3 days later, a BBQ

We were still reeling from the news of that damn tumor had grown.   When I look back now, I can't believe the strength of my sister and Ron.   Never once did they complain or become bitter.   I can't imagine their fear and worry, yet as I look at these pictures you would never know.  They just continued on with their days.  The normal everyday stuff with smiles on their faces and love in their hearts.   

This included a summer BBQ at the Steele's.   They put their fear aside and put one foot in front of the other and got through their day.

There was so many people there that love them and were praying for them.  It was a blessing to be with them.  I'm so thankful that they choose to go.

And, we didn't forget Butts.   We have to have Butts no matter where we go.

Besides they had soda pop there.  And that is something we can't have at home.

And, marshmallows.

As we were walking out to the car to go home, I told the girls to pose for me.  The mountains were so gorgeous and everyone was a little lighter in this moment.   It was a beautiful picture that I captured.  This picture says it all.