This summer we tried to make an effort to take pictures with everyone we saw, and we did a pretty good job! We are going to do a photo update, and hopefully you make the "Blogpost of Fame!" If not, and you read this, you can draw us a picture of your family and email it to us. I promise we will post it! :)
Robbie and I started our American Summer with a road trip to Colorado. Robbie's new position at Doulos this coming school year as Expedition Coordinator will require him to lead groups of students and adults into remote areas of the Dominican Republic. He attended a 10 day, 80 hour training through NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) in Colorado Springs, and is now a certified Wilderness First Responder!
Our wonderful friends and hosts in Colorado!
Ted and Amy, pup Lucy, (and Baby A. on the way)!
Thanks guys!
I got to spend some time with my college girlfriends in Colorado. Time with these ladies is precious, and good for my soul!
While Robbie was learning all about rescuing people in the wilderness, I went to Virginia for an ESL (English as a Second Language) Academy with 2 other Doulos Staff members. Sara (in the pic) teaches ESL to grades 3-5 and is from Virginia. We are on an ESL committee at Doulos and will be sharing about different ways we can instruct English Language Learners better!
 |
| My awesome new T-shirt. All I'm missing is Robbie! |
Hiking in Colorado!
Back in Minnesota we got reunited with our high school friends!
We went camping with Robbie's family!
 |
| We made calzones with our pie irons! |
 |
| Cooking breakfast! |
 |
| Thing 1 and Thing 2. |
We shot guns on a hot day!
 |
| S.W.E.A.T.Y. |
We visited with our grandparents!
We celebrated Robbie's 27th Birthday. Twice!
 |
| Ellis men. |
 |
| Monkey. |
We watched and cheered for Sean during a golf match (silent cheers of course)!
 |
| My favorite professional golfer! |
 |
| Lightening the mood. |
 |
| WoW! (Sean's in the background with his caddy). |
We went camping with dear friends during the hottest weekend of the summer.
Welcome to the D.R. folks, we get this weather daily!
We played some games and ate some lunch with Joel and Crista before they moved to Colorado.
Who would leave friends like us?!
Robbie went for a motorcycle ride with his Dad!
We grilled out at a Drive-In with Steve and Amy!
 |
| Couples. |
 |
| Buds. |
We went to our first Twins game at the new stadium!
 |
| Free hat give-away day! Yes! |
 |
| Golden glove picture. Worth the wait in line! |
We had a delicious Italian dinner downtown Stillwater with both of our families!
We have been blessed greatly to spend so much time with our family and friends. As I post this I realize how many people we got to spend quality time with that we forgot to take pictures with.
Some non-photographed highlights:
*Wonderful homemade dinner with Mark, Melissa, Jackson, Benaiah and Kathy G.*
*Robbie played softball with the "Business Time" team!*
*We made homemade pizza with Sean*
*We got schooled in Skip-Bo by Grandma Barrett*
*We played Settlers of Catan with Ben and Laura R.*
*Robbie shot sporting clays with "the men"*
*We watched fireworks at Mahtomedi Beach*
*I had brunch with my Godmother, Sharon*
*Had a family dinner and good cup of coffee with the O's*
*I got to see Amanda, Mary, and Christine--some of my awesome YoungLifer's!*
*Coffee Cottage "catch-up" with Jeanne!*
*Family Birthday Party for Judy and Grandpa Ellis in Farmington*
*Visited Alex and her miniature horse in Kansas*
We have been poured into during our time back in the states and feel rejuvenated and loved. Thank you so much for hosting us, caring for us, praying for us, and asking about our ministry in the Dominican Republic. God continues to amaze us as he teaches us about how big He is and how He is active all around us. What an amazing God we serve!
Some non-photographed highlights:
*Wonderful homemade dinner with Mark, Melissa, Jackson, Benaiah and Kathy G.*
*Robbie played softball with the "Business Time" team!*
*We made homemade pizza with Sean*
*We got schooled in Skip-Bo by Grandma Barrett*
*We played Settlers of Catan with Ben and Laura R.*
*Robbie shot sporting clays with "the men"*
*We watched fireworks at Mahtomedi Beach*
*I had brunch with my Godmother, Sharon*
*Had a family dinner and good cup of coffee with the O's*
*I got to see Amanda, Mary, and Christine--some of my awesome YoungLifer's!*
*Coffee Cottage "catch-up" with Jeanne!*
*Family Birthday Party for Judy and Grandpa Ellis in Farmington*
*Visited Alex and her miniature horse in Kansas*
We have been poured into during our time back in the states and feel rejuvenated and loved. Thank you so much for hosting us, caring for us, praying for us, and asking about our ministry in the Dominican Republic. God continues to amaze us as he teaches us about how big He is and how He is active all around us. What an amazing God we serve!
