Tired=Random Pics

I'm soaking up these last few free weekdays before the new job starts. Oh wait, did I mention I have a job? Yup, I'm the Educational Grant Assistant at Hendrick Hospital and I start Monday. Anyway, selfishly I'm too tired to really write so here's some pics from the last month: Our trip to Trail West to do program over Labor Day weekend, Knox (of course), and Abilene Young Life's Muck Fest 2007. Enjoy!

Dreaming still of our Colorado vacay

"Um, you were growling in your sleep this morning."

"Yeah, I was chasing away the bears up at Trail West."

"Bears? Well then the growling make sense. It was fierce."

"Yeah, I woke myself up, I was so loud."

Well, while there weren't any actual bears at Trail West, there were lots of friends, beautiful views, lazy nights, naps, snow(!), delicious dinners and sweet rest. Special thanks to the Tingles and Lundgrens for their hospitality and warm welcome.

The view from the living room of our chalet!


On Skeet & Angie Tingle's back porch (Can you find the hummingbird?)


Matt, Rachel, & Ava Sanchez on assignment at Frontier Ranch


Poolside chat with Gleen & Elise Austell


Kassidy is one of our leaders in Abilene (and a future student staffer.) It was such a treat to see her doing Summer Staff up at TW.


Love me some chalker sisters!

Missing Him Already

After work, we're headed up to good ol' Buena Vista, CO- home to one of our favorite places, Trail West. If you recall, this is where Jason and I were on assignment last summer. Our friends up there have graciously invited us back, only this time it's for VAY-CAY!!!! So, as of 12:52 a.m., my suitcase is finally packed, Knox's treats and toys are in his bag, and Jason is asleep on the floor of his study.




Precious. I love him.

Also, here are some of the latest pics of Knox guarding the house, being terribly immodest and showing off his nail & ear trim (and bandana!) from PetSmart. These are mostly so I have something to look at when I miss him this week. I'm pathetic, I know, I know.

Life at Trail West

Here's a few pics to to give you a sense of what I've been up to for the last couple of weeks...


Andrea (in the middle) is my roomie and the Kids Klub Director. She's a fellow morning person and a wonderful encourager. It's been an amazing blessing to live and work with her. Katie (to the right) is the Assistant Kids Klub Director. I've been so thankful to have her as a fellow girly-girl and friend.








Jason and I in costume to welcome guests at the stagecoach. Yes, I'm having flashbacks to my days at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. But how adorable is my fiance? Cowboy take me away....












The whole Summer Staff gang at "Rocky Mountain Hi!"








Jason's program cohort, Matt Sanchez, his wife Rachel and their baby girl Ava. I'm trying to get her to say Lulu by the end of the month. I think I'm going to be waiting a while.










Just a couple of the many faces of Jason Petree: Tony Amore, a swinging 60's DJ and Cletis Clampitt, brother to Clyde and the evil Ivan Pod (I Pod, get it?)





Getting krunked for "Krunk Fest", a dance party for the Summer Staff and Work Crew kids.





More pics to come from our adventures in whitewater rafting...

End of An Era

I'm in my last hours of being a fourth grade teacher at Trinity School. I'm holding it together pretty well, given my propensity for bawling like a baby at anything remotely sentimental. I cried enough yesterday to make Jason start to think that I might just be dehydrated by the time I get out to Colorado. Speaking of, I'll be spending the next month out there in Buena Vista working at Trail West, a Young Life camp for families. I fly out today and in less than 24 hours I'll get to hug the neck of my love...

Here's the view I'll enjoy for the next twenty-nine days...




I'm going to try and keep up this blog and I'm sure Jason and I will take turns writing on our blog over here. I'm always a fan of snail mail so feel free to write:

Leslie Unger
Assigned Staff Session 1
Young Life Trail West
18800 Trail West Drive
Buena Vista, CO 81211

Happy summer!

P.S. And Happy Birthday to my delightfully honest, beautiful, creative, knitting, singing, old movie loving, violin playing friend. Have the happiest of days dear Emilie!

Don't say I didn't warn you

I'm feeling a bit grumpy. No, a LOT grumpy. And stressed. And tired. There, I've said it. And as well meaning as you might be, and as much as I set myself up for it with my last post, please don't remind me that I have a lot to do and very little time to do it in and do I really think I'll be able to get it all done? Because I can't be held responsible for what will come next if you do say or ask those things. To answer my own question- yes. I am crazy.

Ok, so as Mom would say, "Tell me three good things that have happened."

1.) Lufkin/Nacogdoches folks threw Jason and I an AMAZING shower this past weekend and I have never felt so loved or welcomed by a complete group of strangers.












2.) My school threw me a surprise shower at the end of our faculty meeting and my mom was even there.
And she brought my wedding dress! And it's GORGEOUS.















3.) Jesus loves me no matter how grumpy I am. Thank goodness, because I'm not sure that even I love me right now.

As for this particular afternoon, there is a walk with a friend to look forward to; cleaning out and packing to do which will make me feel productive and industrious; taped episodes of "Alias" and "Lost" to watch; and there is the knowledge that as Miss Stacey said in Anne of Green Gables, "Remember, we can always start everything fresh tomorrow."