The Walters' Visit!

Our dear friends Sarah & Patrick Walters and their darling daughter Bridgett came to visit us in Denver in mid-June! What a pleasant surprise...especially now that they live in the Phoenix area! Sarah and I met in 2000 when we both participated in a REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) program at the University of Washington, in conjunction with a NASA Space Research Grant. What a fabulous summer! Since then, Sarah traveled thousands of miles via car to witness our wedding in '02, and we have gotten together on numerous occasions when our time overlapped here in the West for 3 years (us in CO, they in WY). It's been a joy being treasured friends! Thanks for stopping by Walters' family!! Here are some fun photos of our time together!

Sarah & little Bridgett observing the geese at Washington Park!
Patrick helping Bridgett on the slide! Here's Bridgett crawling through the tube on the playground...too cute!!

The New & Improved Fly Bench!

Here's AJ's new fly-bench! It's a simplified version for easy disassembling for our move to the UK! He's added a spool-holding feature...so we'll have to include a picture of the final product someday. AJ's such a great little craftsman.

Our Beloved Friends - The Golackson's

Our friends Josh & Lindsey Golackson and their adorable kiddos Lily and Caedmon (originally from WI) came to beautiful Colorado for in-depth missions training this summer and we had the priviledge of hosting them here in Littleton for a day in early June. It was so nice to see them! The Golackson family have been serving in Eastern Asia. We're thrilled that we'll get to see them in AJ's hometown in mid-August before they head back and we move overseas ourselves!! We're praying for you Golackson's! Here are some pictures of our time together!

Here's Caedmon!

And Lily! Josh & Caedmon heading down the slide!
And AJ & Shadow, too!

Rafting the Arkansas!

We survived our first rafting trip on the Arkansas...and it was AMAZING! In mid-June, AJ and I had a blast with our Seminary friends down in Buena Vista rafting, camping, catching up on each others' lives, playing games, and encouraging each other in our walks with the Lord. We felt so honored that many flew in for the occasion! And our amazing rafting guides Chris & Chad, cousins to Julie, offered their raft and equipment, so rafting was free!...talk about a blessing! It was so fun spending an extended weekend together! Enjoy some of our pictures!

Here's Nick & Emily Ogle (Fayetteville, AR), Amy Gravseth (Portland, OR), AJ & Andrea (Littleton, CO), and Julie & Tony Bolos (on their way to Peru!)

Tony & Nick being men and providing "fire wood"!

AJ grilling burgers over a "one-match fire"!

A beautiful view of the Collegiate Peaks near dusk!

Amy & Emily on their evening "adventure"!Enjoying time by the campfire...

AJ can't wait to go rafting Saturday morning!

AJ's idea of a morning alarm system!
Emily getting fitted for the trip (I love this picture!)
Amy, Julie, and Emily just before take-off!
4 hours & 16 miles later...We did it!

AJ and I just after coming ashore!
The Guys!
The Gals!
Packing up and flattening out!
Thanks for a GREAT trip Chris, Julie, Tony & Chad!
After all the excitement in Buena Vista, we came back to Denver to celebrate Tony's 27th Birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TONY!!
One of our favorite pasttimes with the Seminary crew...playing games!
What's going on here?
BAD AJ, BAD!!
Thanks for a GREAT weekend everyone!!

HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AJ!

In honor of our anniversary, I wanted to post one of my favorite pictures of AJ! Here's AJ in August of 2006, celebrating the summit of Quandary Peak, near Hoosier Pass (Breckenridge, CO) with Mr. Puffy Paws (a.k.a. Shadow).

I LOVE YOU HONEY!
Andie

Where in England?

Many of our beloved family and friends have asked where we're moving to in the UK. Great question!

Living: We plan to live in Cheltenham, which is a "twin-city" to Gloucester (directly west of London).

AJ's School: AJ is affiliated with the University of Bristol/Trinity College (south of Gloucester/Cheltenham) and will attend seminars, lectures, etc. at the actual University on occasion. His schooling will be more of a mentorship rather than actual classroom study...so we're living conveniently near AJ's professor, Dr. Gordon Wenham, and our dear friends Brian & Jaylene (who are three years ahead in school)!

Andrea's Work: I will be working at Hyder Consulting in Birmingham (north of Gloucester/Cheltenham)! I've learned that there is a direct train route from Cheltenham to Birmingham (45 minutes), then a little shuttle from the train station to the office. It'll be so nice to use the commuting time to read and soak in the scenery!