Our wedding anniversary actually came in June, but it was a busy time and a special enough milestone that we decided to wait to celebrate it until we took some time off in the fall. No big party, but the chance to be together for 2 weeks in a special place, in this case a beautiful townhouse loaned to us (more on that later) just outside the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

We even enjoyed the 2-day drive in Pearl Blue from Rochester. It was a chance for quiet, looking at the changing landscape (from gently rolling farmland to open ranch land to mountains), listening to music, and talking.

We’ve gone on several hikes, each memorable. One took us through woods, through two lovely meadows, to a cold stream so clear we could see trout, if we looked hard enough, hovering motionless just off the bottom. The air was full of grasshoppers, so we caught several and tossed them in the water. They would float in the current, then move, and in a flash a trout would rise to the surface and the grasshopper disappeared in a splash.

As we began walking along the trail a little butterfly appeared like a whisper of grace. It fluttered ahead of us and landed on the trail. As we approached it took off, fluttered further down the trail and alighted again. Over and over it flew ahead of us, as if a guide had been arranged for us. For a moment I felt like we had been brought into the enchanted world of Pan’s Labyrinth. Finally we approached slowly and I took the butterfly’s picture. As if content with that, it fluttered off into the trees.

We celebrated our anniversary meal at Devil’s Thumb Restaurant, situated in a gorgeous valley surrounded by mountains.

The chef is extraordinary; the restaurant is the sort of place where in between courses a server appears with something we didn’t order, “complements of the chef.” I suspect Margie will be blogging about the meal too, so I’ll just mention 3 (!) of the courses I had. For a starter I had Warm Heirloom Tomato & Goat Cheese Tart (with peppery greens and caramel vinaigrette). It was presented so beautifully I forgot to take a picture. To die for. My entree was Pan Seared Millbrook Farm Venison (with sweet corn flan & ragout of summer vegetables). To die for.

And for dessert I had Rhubarb Custard Tart & Freshly Churned Cinnamon Ice Cream (on a bed of lightly caramelized walnuts) with a cup of espresso. Also to die for.

We’ve spent lots of time talking. Talking about our lives and ministry and the shape they need to take in the next stage of our lives. We’ve reviewed sections of the 40 years we’ve been together, laughing over many memories and naming highlights and regrets. We’ve thought about how we can be better friends to our 3 children and their spouses, and the sort of grandparents that leave such sweet memories with their grandchildren that as time passes they want to spend time with us. We’ve given thanks—for amazing landscapes, ospreys that fish in a pond as we eat breakfast, for the glory of good food, and time to rest and be refreshed. We’ve asked the Spirit to keep us ever growing, so that our lives would perhaps be a quiet demonstration of the power of grace.

The last 6 months have been difficult financially, and for a time we did not know if we could make this trip. Income to Ransom has been very low, though opportunities to write and speak have been expanding. We are here, and were able to celebrate so royally at Devil’s Thumb due the generosity of dear friends. You are a grace to us, Henry and Peggy, and we are more grateful than we can possibly express. Thank you.