If you normally check the blog on Sunday, then you have missed this past week’s blog and you’ll have to click on the archives below. I am posting a day early because we are leaving town.

Tomorrow, we are on our way west for the majority of the week for the Spring Pastor’s conference. This year, we are traveling to Rock Springs, Wyoming. Since my new laptop was delivered this past week, I have an opportunity to bring it with me and look up all the cool things there are to do in Rock Springs. I’m hoping there are some, honestly. Wyoming is sparcely populated and some of their towns are a perfect example of this.

This past week was fast and furious. Monday Eden went to Daycare and I scurried around, spending most of the day putting things away. I think every room had at least 25 things that belonged some place else. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Eden had an opportunity to go to a preschool, put on by the high school Consumer Science Class (otherwise known as Home Ec). It was held from 12:45 until 1:30 those days, and Eden had a great time. She brought something home every day and named several new friends.

Tuesday afternoon, I had a meeting with a woman from Olan Mills who is helping us with our church directory. They have taken most of the work away from the churches, and put it all on Olan Mills now, which works for me. I just take the photos and set the sign up sheets out and they do the rest of the work!

Wednesday, I went up to church early to hang posters and such. St. Paul’s held an Ascention Eve service that evening, and the voice choir sang for the last time this year. My kids made it through the communion service, but had melt downs as soon as we hit our back door. It was 10:30p before Eden was asleep, and then Lars was up to eat an hour later. Al got a phone call after we got home from church and made plans for a long road trip on Thursday.

Thursday, we were expecting my Aunt Karen, Uncle John and Cousin Andreana from Michigan. They had flown to Denver on Wednesday and were making the rounds to see family and friends. They had a pretty tight schedule, but arrived safe and sound after lunch. I had a pot of potato soup in the crock pot and fresh bread baking in the oven.

After hellos and naps, we made plans to sight see on Friday and from there, send them into Wyoming from Scottsbluff National Monument.

Meanwhile, Al was IN Denver, visiting a young couple from our congregation who had just given birth to twins, nearly two months early. They are very tiny, but he was able to baptism them both and spend time with the couple.

Friday, we woke up to blowing snow, icy roads and a blizzard warning for most of the Panhandle and south east Wyoming. John & Karen hemmed and hawed for a bit, but decided that they’d rather be stranded with the Strawn’s than in a ditch with no heat and no passing vehicles. We altered our day trip plans and drove two miles south to see Courthouse and Jail Rock. We then toured Bridgeport, including the Lakes, then carried on the thirteen miles to Chimney Rock. By the time we got to Chimney Rock, you could barely see the large sandstone rock, the snow was blowing so much. The NOAA weather radio computer voice was running through my head, “Do not travel. If you must, carry a winter survival kit with you and do not leave your vehicle…” Uncle John treated us to the visitor’s center, where we watched a movie and saw the exhibits. Eden had fun packing an open wagon for the trip west. She was hauling coffee, flour, sugar, salt and other provisions to load up! It was cute. Standing at the window of the visitors center, looking up to Chimney Rock, you couldn’t even see the Rock…we were looking at a complete Whiteout. It took a half hour to drive home, where we had some lunch, settled down for a nap and generally enjoyed being inside where it was warm. Al braved the wind for us that evening and grilled steaks out on the grill. I regret that I have no photos of this endeavor. He had to build a wall of tables and scrap wood to block the wind to keep the grill lit. He also wore a wolly hat and winter coat as the snow swirled around him. What a guy!

Andreana and Eden playing cars

Andreana and Lars hanging out

Eden's new roller skates, compliments of Aunt Karen

Saturday, our company got up and on the road by 0830. The weather was a balmy 40 degrees and the snow was melting under the bright shining sun. By noon, it would be 50 degrees and no sign of yesterday’s blizzard would remain. I got a sitter and took off for Scottsbluff to get some errands done before Sunday’s trip. Alexis and Kyra are coming over so Mark and Laura can go to a birthday party. I’m hoping the girls will entertain Eden long enough for me to get the bags packed and things squared around for tomorrow’s 6+ hour road trip.

Have a good week!~