June 14-23

June 14, 2003

Time is flying, and before we know it, we'll be pulling out...headed West for our Big Adventure.  It's a little difficult to just pick up and leave ya'll behind for four or five weeks, so we thought it would be fun to take you along with us.  I'm not sure how often we will be able to actually update this page...we'll just have to see how things pan out once we hit the road.  Hopefully, it will be frequent enough to give you a good idea of what it's like to leave your cares behind and travel in two separate vehicles, one of which will be pulling a travel trailer, with all of our instruments, sound system, marionettes, camping gear, fishing poles,  etc. Did I mention there are ten of us?  Do you know how much space is needed just for the shoes ten people will "need" in one month ~ especially when half of them are girls!!!!  But seriously...we are so excited and looking forward to this trip.  Meanwhile, the countdown is on...just three days till departure, and it seems not an hour goes by that someone doesn't say, "Oh, we need to be sure to do this and that and this before we leave!"  There are TO DO lists all over the place...if I could only find mine!  Yes, things are just a bit hectic, but the panic stage is yet to come!  At times like these it is so good to remember that our Father is faithful to "...finish the work that He has begun".  We just need to focus on Him, and be sure that our motivation continues to be to glorify Him in all we do.  He is so merciful to us! 
Well, more later...Sage

June 21, 2003

We did it!!! We actually "got gone"!!!  After days ~no weeks~ of practicing, preparing, practicing, packing, and practicing we can hardly believe that we are finally here in Colorado.  The nine hour drive went fairly quickly with the five of us licensed "kids" taking turns driving the van, and the others enjoying Dad's truck.  Traveling through Kansas was actually quite enjoyable...it is an interesting time of year with the freshly cut green hayfields providing a beautiful contrast to the golden ripe wheat.  In eastern Colorado we saw several antelope and Tera was lucky enough to catch a quick glimpse of a fox! 

We arrived at the Kiowa fairgrounds right about 5 o'clock Wednesday evening.  Jim and Doris Garling (Jeremy, John and Caleb's fiddle and guitar teacher) just barely beat us there, and we had such a pleasant evening sharing coffee and cookies, jamming and even doing a little old time dancing!  The next evening we played at a Cowboy Camp Meeting just outside of Kiowa.  They were a warm and welcoming crowd, and we had a very nice time.  Even the thunderstorm and downpour ~ we call it a "toad strangler" or "gulley washer" back home! ~ only added to the coziness of the evening, since we had finished unloading right before it started!  Colorado is fantastically green and lush compared to last year's dry brown grass and limited water.  Everything looks gorgeous!!!

June 23, 2003

We are now in Georgetown, at Grandma's house, and finally have internet access, so I will get all this published tonight.  The Gospel Grass festival went very well.  From the stage that we played on there was an amazing view of Pike's Peak, and we Oklahomans never tire of enjoying the majesty of it.  In some ways Gospel Grass is like a reunion for us...we have been part of it from the first festival four years ago, and so have several of the other bands.  This year there were 18 bands featured,  and we loved visiting with our "old" friends and making some new ones, too!  That is a special group of people, for sure!!!  Our Pilgrim's Progress marionettes made their debut on Saturday without any major mishap, and seemed to be well received.