Blessed by Friendship

 “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” - C.S. Lewis

This past week, our friends Pat and Heidi Loebs came from Memphis, TN, to stay with us for a week.  We had the best time just hanging out and being together.  We got to do some exploring, some relaxing, and the girls even got to do some maternity shopping.

Here's a recap...

Thursday - Pick up Loebs at Denver airport.  Rendezvous in Golden, CO, for some errands, sight-seeing, and a free tour of the Coors Brewing Co.  Head back to the Springs to meet up with Matthew and check out historic Manitou Springs. (Listen to Heidi's closing remarks in the video...one of the many traits I love about that girl.)

 

This town was named for its gold mines and was home to Adolf Coors, founder of Coors beer.

Apparently, this is the largest brewing facility in the world.  Each of these copper kettle things is at least two stories tall.  That's a lot of beer.  Who knew?

Friday - Sleep in.  Enjoy homemade pancakes and bacon breakfast in PJs.  Head to Ft. Carson for exploring and meeting Matthew for lunch.  Visit Garden of the Gods and take lots of pictures.  Boys go out while girls fix dinner and dessert - chicken veggie pasta and coconut bread pudding (special thx to Steph for the great recipes!).  Spent most of the evening trying to crack open the coconut...

The cute couple (and baby Loebs) at Garden of the Gods

The girls

Whipping up some grub for our boys

The coconut that wouldn't crack

Hungry boys and Heidi.  Those two boys can put away some milk!

Saturday – Matthew, Pat, and Heidi hike Pike’s Peak.  The plan was for me to pick them up halfway and we all drive the rest of the way.  However, the drive was closed!  The poor guys ended up walking all the way back down, got turned way around due to traffic, and finally got home around 9pm.  Pat’s poor stomach didn’t handle the excess hiking and driving in higher altitude and on little food, so he called it a day early.  I wasn’t the only one throwing up anymore.  Matthew, Heidi and myself at beef, mushrooms and rice along with some pumpkin pie and wassail.

Man shot

Lovebirds

Almost there!

Feeling accomplished

 

Sunday – We all went to Matthew’s and my new church out here, Austin Bluffs Evangelical Free (abefc.org).  We absolutely love it and are so thankful to the Lord for providing this so quickly.  After church, we decided to explore some really old cliff dwellings built and previously inhabited by the Anasazi.  Afterwards, we headed back over to Manitou Springs to check out the Arcade and do some more walking around.  We headed over to the Broadmoor (famous hotel in the Springs) for dinner at the Flying Bee, a restaurant based on an old English pub.

And we think our closets are tight... A whole family lived in this one room!

This was how the women ground corn.  Talk about a back ache!

A sign talked about how the men would sing to the women as they ground corn day in and day out.  Heidi and I agreed we'd prefer an extra hand to a jingle, so we had the boys grind corn, too.

Pat and Heidi battling at the Manitou Springs Arcade

Our favorite quote from Parks & Recreation... "Treach-yo-self!"

Monday – Matthew heads back to work.  The Loebs and I go check out the Air Force Academy and its famous chapel.  We got there in time to watch the cadets all in formation for the weekly Wing Parade.  By asking nicely, we even got a free private tour of the chapel. (Never hurts to ask!)  It got strangely windy, wet, and cold on this day.  Pat suggested we go shopping for snow hats (is that what they’re called?).  He also suggested that Heidi and I shop together for maternity clothes, since we’re getting a lil’ chubby!  We had the best time.  The crew headed back home for homemade pizza night while I went to photography class.

Air Force Academy cadets at the Wing Parade

The famous Air Force Academy Chapel

The clouds rolling in, covering the mountains and feeling close enough to touch

Tuesday – Departure day :(.  We check out Old Colorado City for some last minute sight-seeing and souvenir shopping.  Drop off Loebs at Denver airport.  We miss y’all already!  We are so grateful for you both and for the Lord's provision of such close friendships in our lives.