The Last Week

May 26, 2017 — 1 Comment

Day 44 and the end of my “Leaving Loveland” challenge.

Today was the kids’ last day of school. Yesterday was Nathan’s last day of work, and the day before that was my last day as music director at our church.

So it just seems fitting that even though we’re not pulling out of Loveland for good until June 19th, I’m going to end my little blog series of things I love about Loveland.

There’s plenty more I could add, but I must admit that my heart is really leaning towards Minnesota now and also there are many things to do to prepare for our move. AND we are excited that next week we will embark on a week-long tour of five national parks in the region with Nathan’s parents, who are coming out for a visit. This will include the Grand Canyon, and it will be the first time any of us will have seen it.

So I’m off on my own mini summer break here in Colorado, and will resume blogging after we make our move. Maybe there will be fun new things to post as I discover my new neighborhood there.

Much love from – and to – Loveland, Colorado!

Bill Reed Middle School

May 25, 2017 — Leave a comment

Day 43 in my “Leaving Loveland” challenge.

In 2015 my firstborn started middle school. We’ve loved that both schools our kids have attended while we’ve lived here have been walking distance from home. We also loved that at Bill Reed, Luthien started playing cello and enjoyed attending orchestra as part of her classroom schedule every day.

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She also joined yearbook club and played volleyball this year.

The 7:25 am start time was not a favorite, nor was the predictable middle school social drama; and we felt her sadness both years when she tried out and didn’t get into the spring play – but we still loved going to all the plays because they were so well done. All in all, these have been good sixth and seventh grade years for my girl and I’m thankful she got to attend this school.

Mustard Seed House Churches

May 24, 2017 — Leave a comment

Day 42 in my “Leaving Loveland” challenge.

Tonight was our family’s last service with our church here in Colorado, Mustard Seed House Churches. We joined this community as it was forming in 2013, the year we moved here. It’s an ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) congregation with a unique model. Each time we meet, we gather around a table and share a meal. The larger church is made up of smaller house churches based in different areas around northern Colorado. Each week one house church meets in someone’s house, and once a month all of these churches meet together in Fort Collins at the USC Lutheran Campus Ministries’ chapel for a bigger dinner and worship service together.

Tonight our pastor Andy utilized a selfie stick to get everyone in this group photo, and we said some tearful goodbyes as our community gathered around and prayed a blessing over us.

River’s Edge Natural Area

May 23, 2017 — Leave a comment

Day 41 in my “Leaving Loveland” challenge.

Another of my favorite running routes takes me through River’s Edge Natural Area. In this photo the water isn’t showing, but there are several large ponds ringed by gravel trails through prairie grasses, and I suppose part of why I love coming here is because it reminds me of Minnesota. Except with mountains as a backdrop.

I took the above photo this morning when my dog stopped to sniff/pee on some grass and I noticed the blue flowers in the foreground.

Here are some photos I took when I ran through here in February:

Pinewood Reservoir

May 22, 2017 — Leave a comment

Day 40 in my “Leaving Loveland” challenge.

Today Nathan and I took a motorcycle ride out west of town into the foothills past Carter Lake and up to where the public road ends at Pinewood Reservoir. The hairpin turns up (and back down!) the mountain make for a slightly too-exhilarating ride for my taste, but it’s worth it for this view.

And yes, that’s snow! There isn’t any left in Loveland from last week’s storm, but it’s still hanging around at slightly higher elevations.

Julia Bloom

Rambles and brambles in the garden of my mind

Leaving Loveland