Colorado and M2M

July - August 2023

A month long trip to visit the retired Avant missionary folks plus Thrive Summit and keeping Libby, Annie and Amanda for 10 days Read more

31footprints
1countries
35days
286photos
0videos
11.4kkilometers

Follow Calendar Share Bucket list

Traveler Colorado and M2M
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Jul 1, 2023, 11:20am
- ☁️ 88 °F
- Altitude: 172 m
- United States Texas Dallas County Rawlins Randall Park 32.802643, -96.75408232°48’10” N 96°45’15” W
Day 1
Dallas and on our way to OKC
July 1, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F
And a surprise visit by Kyle who was driving through and stopped to see mom.

We left Tyler by 7:15. And drove to JF. We enjoyed a good visit with Dad then walked over to see mom . And Ronnie was there.Read more
3 likes
Traveler Colorado and M2M
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Jul 2, 2023, 2:01pm
- ☀️ 90 °F
- Altitude: 342 m
- United States Oklahoma Oklahoma County Dry Creek 35.621247, -97.59580335°37’16” N 97°35’45” W
Day 2
One Hope Church and Knieps in Wichita
July 2, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F
We stayed with Doug and Julie Brown. We stayed up til 11pm. The conversation was going so well, but it was time to go to bed. On Sunday, we attended One Hope Community Church. Glenn and I both shared our ministry.

We did come back to their house to have a quick lunch before we headed on up to Wichita, Kansas. After checking into our hotel, we drove over to the Kniep’s house. What a lovely visit. We talked and made connection after connection.

Randy and Linda use to work at the Avant Headquarters in Kansas City before retiring in Wichita. Randy did a little bit of everything from airport runs, overseeing the construction site, and helping out in the kitchen. They both like to camp and ride bikes - so we enjoyed our evening together.

We treated them to Longhorn Steak Restaurant and I gave them a gift bag full of goodies such as greeting cards, lotion, and candles.Read more
3 likes
Traveler Colorado and M2M
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Jul 3, 2023, 9:24am
- ☁️ 75 °F
- Altitude: 451 m
- United States Kansas Emma Township Hesston 38.131139, -97.43504538°7’52” N 97°26’6” W
Day 3
Lunch with 2 widow Retiree and more
July 3, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F
Check this day off as successful!

We had lunch with 90 year old widow Elaine Goosen who served 40+ years in Brazil. She has 4 sons, 12 grandkids and 22 great grandkids. She has a slew of kids and grandkids serving on the mission field. One son and daughter-in-law were on the last plane that left Ukraine before the war broke out 1.5 years ago. Elaine’s mind is sharp and she has a tender heart. She said, “I don’t know why I am still here, but I want thy e Lord to show me how to pray better”. Wow I thought.

This past weekend her family and the whole gang honored her for her 90th birthday. Cake, a crown and even a shash.

Elaine walked slow and steady holding onto me and the railings. She was a delight to get to know.

We picked up Don Graber who lives with his adult daughter in Hutchinson. He too walked with care and will be celebrating his 90th birthday soon. He served in Bolivia several years and then down at Rio Grande Bible Institute in Edinburg, Texas.

Don’s first wife died in 2002 and several months later he married a single nurse. And Roberta died just a few years ago.

Abe and Judy Schmidt joined us at Applebee’. They served in Panama for only 1 four year term. It was great to hear their story and learn of their adventure.

Although NOT Avant retiree missionaries, I invited Virginia Swartzendruber and her sister Evie. They both know many many Avant missionaries and even Evie worked one summer at Echo Ranch in Alaska.

Before our 9:30 Zoom for “First Monday zoom”, we stopped by Virginia’s for a 30minute. W FaceTime granddaddy.Read more
3 likes
Traveler Colorado and M2M
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Jul 4, 2023, 9:57am
- ☀️ 79 °F
- Altitude: 1,971 m
- United States Colorado El Paso County Pikeview Hunters Hill 38.951248, -104.80332238°57’4” N 104°48’12” W
Day 4
Avant Retiree
July 4, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
We met up with Doug and Shelia at Cracker Barrel. It was great to listen to their story and hear about their journey.

Also, they both like to bicycle ride so we each shared stories.
3 likes
Traveler Colorado and M2M
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Jul 4, 2023, 11:45am
- ⛅ 82 °F
- Altitude: 1,976 m
- United States Colorado El Paso County Glen Eyrie Highline Reservoir 38.880222, -104.86529538°52’49” N 104°51’55” W
Day 4
Connecting with NCL Spirit friends
July 4, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
We first met Al and Kathy on our recent NCL Cruise from Tahiti to Sydney last December. I told them that we would call them up the next time we’re in Colorado Springs, that we would look them up.

She had called 2 weeks ago, but I never returned the call, so while visiting the Wilson’s and they signed my “mobile guest book”, I immediately remembered that Kathy and Al live right here in COS.

So, as soon as I got in touch with Kathy, she quickly asked”do you want to stay with us?” Shoot. If I had only remembered yesterday and we wouldn’t had to stay in the hotel. Oh well.

We had an enjoyable talk around their breakfast table. We talked about future cruises. They’ll be going on an Alaska -Hawaii cruise in August. And a Dubai in December.

Again, we had an enjoyable visit!Read more
3 likes
Traveler Colorado and M2M
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Jul 5, 2023, 2:17pm
- ⛅ 68 °F
- Altitude: 2,735 m
- United States Colorado Summit County Dillon 39.62537, -106.046639°37’31” N 106°2’48” W
Day 5
Picnic and bike ride
July 5, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
We slept wonderful in the Craycraft’s Lazy Bear Lodge.

We drove up to Vail Pass and I bicycled down to Copper Mountain where I met Glenn. And we ride together down to Frisco. Then Glenn took the shuttle bus back to Copper Mountain to get the Rav4.

We made a quick trip to Safeway to get food supplies. We had a picnic out by Dillon lake.Read more
3 likes
Traveler Colorado and M2M
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Jul 6, 2023, 9:35am
- ☀️ 54 °F
- Altitude: 2,541 m
- United States Colorado Eagle County Bighorn Pitkin Creek 39.643313, -106.30690839°38’36” N 106°18’25” W
Day 6
Vail pass to Vail then Vail to Frisco
July 6, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F
I probably rode 25 miles today. Beautiful, Glenn rode 3 miles up to meet me. The bike path was changed and not driving on the shoulder of I70.

After our ride, we went to a local park for a picnic. I helped Sherrie over the phone with air line options for Steve.Read more
3 likes
Traveler Colorado and M2M
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Jul 7, 2023, 11:53am
- ⛅ 64 °F
- Altitude: 2,342 m
- United States Colorado Larimer County Stanley Heights Subdivision Stanley Park 40.360271, -105.50335740°21’37” N 105°30’12” W
Day 7
A day at RMNP
July 7, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
I had a zoom call with Beverly Smith and Virginia S’druber at 7:30, then we left for Estes Park. We had to stop along the 2 lane road for our monthly zoom call with Candace.

We arrived at Judy Hess house to pick up 4 boxes of used stamps and supplies. Praise the Lord.

I let Judy pick out 2 cross stitches. She has given me stamps and supplies over the years.

We rode up Fall River Road, which is a one-way gravel with lots and lots of switch backs.

Once on the other side, we drove by Grand Lake, Winter Park and then on to I 70. We found a letterbox, completing a successful day.

And a game of Rummikube. I won!Read more
3 likes
Traveler Colorado and M2M
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Jul 8, 2023, 8:06am
- ☀️ 46 °F
- Altitude: 3,245 m
- United States Colorado Summit County Vail Pass 39.530445, -106.21709439°31’50” N 106°13’2” W
1 1
Day 8
Bike Ride down Vail 2 times
July 8, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 46 °F
We were up and out early for our morning bike ride.

Glenn dropped me off at Vail Pass, then he drove down to Copper Mountain and parked the RAV4 and he started up the hill to meet me. I had to stop and wait for 3 moose to decide if they wanted to cross the road,

I took my time. Stopped along the way and took pictures. Believe it or not, Glenn met me at the switch back. I couldn’t believe it. He left from the car in such hurry, he forgot his helmet and gloves.

We rode on down to Frisco & because the shuttle bus was going back up in 7 minutes, I asked Glenn to take me for a ride again, but this time at a normal pace.

And I had a great ride down. I kept on going across Copper Mountain. Glenn was pushing me on the straight away - and it was very windy.

When Glenn pushed off, my long black sweater got stuck in Glenn’s handlebars. I didn’t fall but Glenn fell. Scraped up his knee and shoulder. Sure glad he had his helmet on.

After Glenn picked up the RAV4, we went to Walmart to get some gauze and tape, plus some Neosporin and sad one Advil.

We also went to Dillon cemetery and found 3 out of 4 letterboxes. We watched on
Facebook Live, the weekly hymns that our good friend Ken Royers plays for us.
It was A good day.Read more
Great picture. Loved our chat yesterday. [Mary L Royer]
7/9/23Reply
Wow! Beautiful! [Mary L Royer]
7/9/23Reply
Looking good [!Ken and Mary]
7/10/23Reply
3 likes
Traveler Colorado and M2M
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Jul 9, 2023, 6:27pm
- ☀️ 68 °F
- Altitude: 2,775 m
- United States Colorado Summit County Frisco North Tenmile Creek 39.5746, -106.10760539°34’29” N 106°6’27” W
Day 9
Sunday morning Bike, Letterbox & Church
July 9, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
After getting up at 5am and doing some computer work, Glenn drove me up to Vail Pass and I bicycled down to Copper Mountain. Then Glenn and I found a Letter Box there at the Copper Mountain Resort.

We then attended Rocky Mountain Bible Church on Main Street. This is where David and Jan attend.

We came home quickly to put stuff together for a picnic. This time we drove to a picnic table and gazebo by the river down in Silverthorn. We played 2 games of Rummikub. I won both times.

We tried to do a letter box in the area, and struck out twice.

I did a load of wash while Glenn watched the Guatemala team play soccer. They lost.Read more
2 likes