Isn't it amazing what little ones bring out in us; 

the qualities we thought we had 

learned or eliminated or kept in control?

Patience, calm, tone of voice, expectations, 

are all tested and stretched and often too far.

                                         

   Oh, that I could be more like Christ,  

always patient and calm, 

never reacting,

 always accepting

 and understanding.

These three little ones are our delight.

They offer lots of love and tenderness,

Laughter,

Fun,

Exploration,

Discovery

May they be my teacher.

OUR ADVENTURES CONTINUE

Is it possible to be so Blessed?

We Wonder.

THE COLLINS' 

ADVENTURES 

continue.

Rick stays on the 

learning curve at 

THIRD PLACE

Feeding, capturing, 

drought, flooding

new babies, new antlers,

and more.

Another trip to

Argentina 

to 'hunt' dove.

More like.... shoot and 

shoot as fast as you can.

As for me, I get to be part of two great opportunities to

work with children whose parents attend CRM Conferences.

One in Estes Park, Co working with preschool children, 

another in Athens, Greece working with grade school children.

 Travis and Christin

enjoying the first year of 

married life.

Christin balancing job and ministry 

Travis intentional about getting 

the community going and growing

with travel from Vancouver to Denver

with new challenges of heading all 

 of NewMinster .

Brad and Kristina

 Nathan and Andrew and Kayla

make a house full of activity, 

growing and changes

and days filled with laughter.

Brad and Kristina 

lead a team to Argentina the first two weeks of June.

Nana and Papa get to play with

Nathan and Andrew and Kayla

Swimming will be a daily event

And there will be lots of fort building, 

car racing, bubbles, balloons 

baking and more.  

SPRING HAPPENS RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES

Four seasons are not always visible or distinct.
In the desert  the changes are subtle, except for spring if there has been sufficient rain. Then dull green prickly cactus and trees display flowers and color, especially yellow with lots of pops of deep pink and soft purple.


At Third Place, it seemed that Spring just happened
right in front of our eyes. Leaving in December the ground was barren and brown. In March there was a
lush green grass everywhere. Not three days later the green was covered with a blanket of yellow.
                             

Robins, by the flocks flew in. They were everywhere pulling worm? from the ground.

One day, just at dusk, spotted through out the yellow and green, was a larger poppy like flower.  It was a one time showing, gone the next day.

A day drive up north to explore more little towns, the famous Blue Bells were just emerging. Their array not yet at its full potential but beautiful. 

Orange took over along the highway. Who spilled the paint bucket? 

The trees were so dry they left questions of  whether they were alive or dead. Then one day every branch looked fuzzy, covered with tiny little leaves.

Looking out over their tops across the meadow the brown was now light green. Within just a few days they were all filled out and thick.

CELEBRATING

Weddings are amazing Celebrations.

Travis and Christin's was one of the most beautiful in our family' story.

Beautiful in design, color, fashion and flowers.

But especially beautiful in the way it expressed them.

Surrounded by family and friends

Celebrating Relationships

Celebrating Them.

Celebrating Love and Life and New Beginnings.

Celebrating the Magic and the Joy.

Little Girls are just special.

Kayla, although follows her older brothers and tries to do

what they do, loves her dolls and her bows and her shoes

She is all girl. She pushes Baby Ema or Baby Alli

around the house in a stroller. Tucks them in their bed

and tenderly cares for them.

God placed a mother's heart inside little girls.

THANKSGIVING at THIRD PLACE

Two weeks over all making memories, playing games wars (boys against girls), making discoveries, Star gazing, taking long walks, having long talks, laughing,

praying, watching movies and Football, Cyber Monday shopping, cooking, eating, crafting and more. Mom Collins spent some time with us. Travis came but Christin had to work. Jonnie flew with Kayla. Brad, Kristina and the boys drove two days there and one going home.

We have so much to be thankful for. Family tops our list. We are all very thankful for each other and love being together. Of all the adventures Rick and I take our most favorite is anything we do with Family.

Brad was the first to discover a baby Kudu, about three weeks old.

Daily Kudu hunts took place allowing all of us to find the little one

bedded down while Dad and Mom - Zulu and Venda - grazed.

'Anthony's Zoo' lets us get up close

Andrew getting licked by otter; Nathan by a tiny Muntjac

Bottle feeding a tiny baby Muntjac and baby whitetail deer

Kayla joining the fun on the Ranger. She likes the Bumpy part of the ride.

Riding on the Ranger - Nathan at the wheel.

Throwing corn to the deer

Helping Papa cover the hay.

Playing on the Ranger

Putting Hay in the Feeder

Game Challenges - racing to pull tissue from the box.

Hanging with Uncle Travis in the swing

Until the hook broke in the tree branch

Swinging on the Disk swing.

While Mommy and Daddy go to Argentina with High School Ministry, we get to hang out at Nana's house and play with Papa. Everyday as filled with fun but we have our Favorites.

Favorite playground when it is 105 outside. Balls, cars, trikes, tools, tent, beans, and best of all, Papa's Motorcycle.

Favorite daily fun - swimming with Papa. We learned to swim like 'doggies' doing the dog paddle.

Favorite book: Nathan - Mittens by Jan Brett; Favorite puzzle - Fish and Cars; Favorite game -

The Match Game.

Favorite special place to go - Aquarium- a maze of fun views of fish, sea horses, jelly fish and baby Nemo. The water tunnel was fun - walking on water with fish swimming under and over us.

Favorite ride at Chuckie Cheeses.

Favorite rest time movie - Mission to Mars - Backyardagains. "De Mars" We watched it every day and laughed through the whole thing. We especially like the part we can dance to.

Favorite position - upside down. Nathan is on his head most of the time, Andrew is getting the hang of it and Kayla is trying to be like big brothers.

Favorite cookie to bake - Chocolate chip because we can eat the chocolate chips while we measure and mix.

Favorite Snack at Nana's House - little boxes of raisins.