This is the last Saturday that the three of us ‘at home’ will all be here before Kristina leaves for California next week. We decided that was reason enough for an adventure so off we went to Einstein’s Bagel shop for breakfast to get a good start on the day. It was a somewhat cool morning so we skipped eating out on the terrace. We chatted over breakfast about Daniel, the military, school, and of course, California. It was great to hear Kristina share some of what is taking place in Daniel’s life, how God is working and how that affects her future.
Taking Abby a little snack from our breakfast, we headed off to Glen Eyrie, a part of Colorado history, owned by the Navigators. It is an awesome facility down in Queen’s Canyon, named after Col. Palmer’s wife, Queen. He built a castle for her in the Canyon before Colorado Springs was founded. It is now utilized as a seminar facility for Christian seminars of all types. A truly beautiful place, the grounds are often frequented by part of the Big Horn sheep herd that makes its home in the canyon and on the adjoining Greg Francis Big Horn Sheep Refuge. The canyon is no longer open to the public on the weekends but one of Kristina’s perks as an employee of the Navigators is to have access whenever she wants it. Flash her employee ID badge at the gate and we are on our way.
The canyon was arrayed with reds, golds, and still a fair amount of green foliage as we drove through to the far end parking lot. We are hoping to see some of the Big Horn sheep in the canyon so we were constantly looking up the canyon walls for any signs. The cloud cover provided great lighting for my two photographers. Josh recently gave Kristina his old 35mm and so she is shooting today as well as her Dad. We have written previously about the trail and posted pictures so I will not go into too much detail as you can read the old post for a more in depth description of the trail. The trail doesn’t go very far in to the canyon before it crosses over into the National Forest and begins a continual, gradual increase to a tall waterfall. The trail was a magic place today – the leaves were falling and the stream that supplies water to Glen Eyrie was babbling as we followed along. Continue reading
We arrived that evening to celebrate Matt’s birthday with Mom and Dad Grimes. Great Key Lime pie, Mom! This family doesn’t ‘do’ cake so Matt’s birthdays always have pie! We spent Thanksgiving Day with Mom and Dad Grimes watching old 8mm family movies of Matt as a young child and family life in England. Trips to castles and foreign countries, days spent with Gram and Grandad. Thanks to Mom for the idea and Dad for working so hard to fix the projector. Parts are not readily available or at reasonable prices for those 8mm antiques! I shed a few tears as we watched Gram and Grandad, wishing they were still with us and thinking of all they have sown into our lives. 
Armed with our saw, warm gear, cord to secure our “prize”, we headed off to Woodland Park and the Pikes Peak Ranger Mobile Office to buy our permit. As we wind our way through the Ute Valley Pass, we are met with tree-trimmed vehicle after vehicle coming down the Pass. Ah, no wonder attendance was so low in church today; everyone was up on the mountain! This constant, and I do mean constant, flow of trees down the mountain, builds the excitement and gives a passing thought, will our perfect tree still be there or is it already on the way down the mountain to some else’s home! Silly, Girl! I chide myself. There are so many trees in the forest there has to be a beauty still on the mountain for us! This is not like going to the corner Boy Scout tree lot. 
