October 2007

Well, it has been a while since we've updated. It continues to be a joy to have so much natural beauty surrounding us. We have had great fall colors from the aspens, cottonwoods, and locust trees. The average first day for snow is October 19th and we had our dusting on October 21st. It has been quite busy both with things going on at Bear Valley and other opportunities (work and play).











On September 21-22, we went with one of the families from church (the Raburns) to Gunnison, Crested Butte, Marble, Redstone, Glenwood Springs, and several off-road locations we didn't know existed to see the aspens. It was all breathtakingly beautiful but our favorite picture was taken at the observation point for the Collegiate Peaks. It was sundown and the evening cloud cover was thick when we took this picture.










Jason and Candy Moon (good friends from our Faulkner days) attended the Bear Valley lectures. On the Thursday afterward, I took them on a trip to Estes Park (Candy's first trip and I think Jason's 2nd). We had a great time and it was the first time I drove all the way through the park past the divide and through Grand Lake. That return trip made the whole day worthwhile, though we saw constant beauty.











On October 5-7, I preached a gospel meeting in Joplin, MO (the 26th and Connecticut congregation). They were very friendly and did a lot of prep work for it. On Sunday afternoon, I checked out of my hotel and explored the area. It's farm country, rolling hills, and I went out to a beautiful, apparently little-known park known as "Jiffy Mill Park" in Pierce City. The family of the original owners (1848) were there grinding corn and they gave me two huge bags of corn mill for free. Kathy has been very creative in utilizing it in many different recipes.











What I'd love to have here (and may get a pic later) is a picture of Kathy speaking to all the ladies (25 congregations and nearly 200 ladies represented) at the 1st Annual Rocky Mountain Ladies Renewal hosted by Bear Valley. So many amazing compliments have been paid to her for the job she did I literally cannot tell you them all. Many have said that she was the best ladies speaker they have ever heard and repeatedly I've been told that I'm the second best Pollard speaker in our family--that stock will drop as our boys start speaking! Incidentally, I heard the same superlative comments about her efforts as ladies' speaker on the West Virginia Christian lectureship in Pennsboro, WV, the second week of September. While she was preaching the Word to the ladies, the boys, dog and I tried out a new hiking spot just south of Boulder. It was beautiful and mildly challenging (about 6 miles round trip).










On October 16th-17th, I participated in the Lubbock Lectures in Texas. Because of a major thunderstorm in Houston, it was an adventure to fly in and out of there. The Lord was with us. It was exciting for Bear Valley to have three representatives on this fine program, though none of the three of us were there at the same time. Mark Hanstein arrived on Saturday and left on Monday, I arrived on Tuesday and left on Wednesday, and Denny Petrillo arrived late Wednesday and left on Friday. I have really enjoyed my first quarter as teacher at BVBID. I'm teaching the seniors Thessalonians and Philippians. It has been a challenge to my schedule, but I've loved it!!










Finally, last weekend (10/20), Bear Valley had a workday. 40 folks showed up and much was done. We are enjoying being a part of this great church and slowly finding our place and getting more opportunities to serve and be involved.

Please come see us and let us hear from you!