Off to Ponderosa

On Monday May 23 we left for the Ponderosa Retreat and Conference Center in Monument, CO for the summer.  We were glad that our granddaughter Tiffany (age 11 and daughter of Bobby and Amy) was able to come with us for the first 2 weeks.  After spending the first night in Cortez, CO (about half way) we took 4 days to go the rest of the way.

Tiff with a friendly bear

Looking for the queen bee

We spent the next 2 nights in Bayfield, CO which is just east of Durango.  While there we visited Honeyville.





Nancy is the handyman member in the family.  Here she is in the closet of the motor home replacing a storage rack.  To think that she was able to do that so soon after knee replacement surgery was thrilling.



From Bayfield we went to La Veta, CO for one night.  On the left is a view of Wolf Creek Pass as we left Pagosa Springs and on the right we stopped to have lunch at the summit.  I actually got Tiffany and Nancy to get out the motor home long enough to take a picture.

In La Veta Tiffany and Russ just had to have an ice cream at Charlie's soda fountain.  We also took time that evening to look for wildlife.  The town has a herd that just moves around town.  That night we saw 123 deer and 10 antelope. 

On Friday we made it to the Ponderosa, our home for the summer.  Below Tiffany helps to clean one of the soda machines and folds clothes in the laundry.  But, it wasn't all work.  There was some play.

Jakes descendant walks at 14 days!

Unbelievable, if true.  Well it's's not exactly true but what IS true is that Bella takes after Padaddy (Russ) as she eats often and sleeps a lot.  Here's a few updated pictures.

We will be leaving soon for the summer and fully expect her to be starting school by the time we return in September!

The Big Year

On July 28 we will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.  Since this is a special year, we decided to have the blog cover the whole year instead of just our summer activities.  The idea just came to us so we will be begin by doing some catching up.

San Diego in January

On January 4 we went to San Diego for a few days of relaxation and vacation.  We stayed on the bay at the Chula Vista RV Resort.

At the resort we found this bush trimed as a dolphin.

Indio & Quartzsite

After a relaxing week in San Diego we left for Indio, CA to join 1,500 other motor homes at an FMCA rally.  Coaches for Christ led the daily devotions for rally attendees, provided bottled water each day for the vendors and set up tables and chairs at the various venues.  Nancy and I once again provided the entertainment for the Saturday night dinner.

From Indio we went to Quartzsite, AZ to be a part of a Campers on Mission project to assist the First Southern Baptist Church with their annual revival.  The church has booths at 3 different vending locations to distribute Bibles, tracts, water, perform blood pressure checks, etc.  Unfortunately, Nancy blew out a knee during the week and we had to leave prematurely to meet with her surgeon back in Phoenix.  More information to follow.

Look.........it's a match

On March 8 Nancy went into the hospital and came out with matching knees.  This one went so well that she wishes she had another knee to replace.  She progressed well and has now completed therapy.

Introducing Bella Rae Brannon

What better way to celebrate 50 years than by welcoming our first great grandchild into our family!  On April 18, Annabelle Rae (aka Bella Rae) was born to Kyle and Ashley.  As Russ would say, "she's a keeper". 

Here she is.

Great-grandfather Padaddy

Great-grandmother Baca

Mom, Dad & Bella

G-daddy Bobby

Nanna Amy

 

Auntie Tiff