Brooke and Michael

When we found out we were moving to Denver we had several different emotions, but one of them was gratitude that it was a good stopping point for travelers going across country.  We were extra grateful when we found a house the accommodates travelers - basically they get the whole basement to themselves.

This spring we were thrilled to have my brother, Michael and his wife Brooke and cute little daughter Caroline, stop and visit on their way to Arkansas to sell for the summer.  We will also get them on their way home.  

We just LOVED having baby Caroline and wished they would have left her with us.  Madison was especially in love.

Caroline likes to look at herself in the mirror - so we put her in from of our mirror corner in our bathroom - she about died with happiness when she saw 3 of herself.

It is hard for my kids to take a picture unless it is a "silly" picture.  I guess Caroline didn't get the memo.

They were only here for one day so we took them swimming.  Caroline loved the water and was so cute in her little suit.  

We can't wait to see them in August!

**And if anybody needs a free place to stay while traveling through - we are right off of I-70 and would love to have you!**

Krista's Baptism

Jason and I had trouble finding a house to live in when we were moving to Denver.  Everything was too much money and felt... wrong.  We didn't even know what city we wanted to live in.  An hour before we I went to the airport to go back to Utah we said a prayer in our car in a random church parking lot before walking into a random ward sacrament meeting.  My trip out to Denver to find a house had been discouraging to say the least.  We offered up a prayer - a plea.  We asked for "a fleece"  (from the story of Gideon in the book of Judges).  In humility we asked to live somewhere where we could do His work.  A place where we were needed. At the time I thought it meant we would have to live in a horrible house that I didn't want to do his work - like that would be my sacrifice.  My heart was ready to accept that - as long as we could be instruments in his hand.  We walked into the meeting.  We came out with some dew on our fleece.  A house... maybe.  It was more money than we wanted... but we felt something.  As soon as Jason walked into the house (I was back in Utah by this point) he knew we were supposed to live there.  But unlike I had suspected, it wasn't the "sacrifice" I had expected to make.  It was a mansion (to us) - a house unlike anything we had ever even imagined that we would live in.  I guess our sacrifice was our money - it was more than we wanted - but doable - we just couldn't spend money on anything else for a few years.  Maybe that was what all the lay-offs and poverty was for - to learn and to show the Lord we could budget and live with-in our means.  So that one day we could buy this house and he knew we could over extend ourselves a little bit but not be hurt by doing so... who needs new... anything.... right?  

Two days after moving in I met Krista.  The spirit imminently spoke to me - she was the reason I was here.  Heavenly Father pierced my heart and said to me, "Teach her about me".  We became friends.  But the gospel... came slower.  I was awkward.  Turns out I had never really shared the gospel to anyone.  I made a lot of mistakes.  But God was in charge and just needed me to listen to the spirit, follow my promptings, and try.  He would make up the rest.  And I am so glad He did.  I won't go into her whole conversion - but it was beautiful and reminded me of the joy of the gospel.  And why we do what we do.  It is true.  Plain and simple.  That that is the "good news".

Krista was baptized on April 18.  

Her sister missionaries - their name tags are covered by their hair.
Sister Gogue from Guam and Sister Orro from Australia


Jason had surgery the day before her baptism - so he couldn't baptism her (but we did not want her to put it off) - so she was baptized by another brother in the ward and Jason confirmed her.

Krista with the "kiddos" (as Krista says)

Krista's family - with her mom.  Brian (husband), Krista, Deb, and David (son)

This is at church the next day after her confirmation