Summer Visitors

This summer, we have had the privilege of seeing several out-of-state visitors! We are so excited to be able to open our home, this home that God has given us. (We still marvel at the home we get to live in!) Before we moved in, we prayed every day that wherever we ended up, God would help us be hospitable and let us use our home for Him. I definitely want to be more proactive about having people over for dinner or a game night, but it's really nice when people just let you know they are stopping through your area and are willing to come see you!

In June, my dear college friend Kaitie stopped by overnight on her way from CA to NH (along with her friend Kathy and kitty Wesley, not pictured). In college she and I would often exchange back rubs to counteract those insidious studying-induced knots, or stop by each other's study carrels in the library for a little chat break, and even though we lived in different dorms, we were able to hang out quite a bit. She has a beautiful singing voice (we were in a big choir together, then later on she made it into Chorale, the more-selective 60-person group that goes on a tour every summer), and enjoyed studying biblical counseling (and even took a couple years of Greek). She ended up staying and working in Santa Clarita after we both graduated from college in 2006, so her apartment was the place I stayed whenever I'd come down for a weekend visit, which was fairly often the first year or so. She's got lots of good books on her bookshelves, and is now starting a new life-chapter back in New Hampshire, where her mom and brother live. It will be cool to see where God takes her!

In July, my mom's Uncle Stan and Aunt Phyllis stopped by during a big RV trip, where they visited Wyoming and Montana and all sorts of places over a period of several weeks. They were in Golden, CO and contacted me about a visit before they headed home to Visalia, CA. I'm so glad they thought of me and were willing to stop by for lunch! Sean was TDY in Utah at the time, but hopefully next time they can hang out with him too.

Quite recently, on August 5th, another dear college friend, Kristi, met me in Castle Rock for lunch! Her parents live in Littleton, CO, and she is currently out here visiting them (she and her husband Brian live in Santa Clarita, CA). She and I met the fall semester of our freshman year; we survived a Tues-Thurs 8 a.m. Old Testament Survey class together (completing the special project as a team, as well-- we designed and created a "choose your own adventure"-style booklet on Jonah), and we were wingmates to boot, living just a few doors down from each other. She's the sweetest person, very careful that her words are only positive or uplifting, and really wants to honor God with her life. She has been an elementary-school teacher for two years and spearheads a junior high girls' Bible study at her church. I was blessed to be in her wedding a few summers ago. :) She's also about 10 weeks behind me in her pregnancy, which is so exciting. I can't believe we are pregnant at the same time!! It's just a strange thought that we are sharing this life-phase too, in addition to those crazy college days. Kristi gives the best back rubs and was always willing to take a moment to talk in the hallway, or lend me midnight snacks or craft supplies. One more thing I can't neglect to mention.... the origins are long-forgotten, but somehow our nicknames are KK and MM. That's even how she is listed in my cell phone: simply "KK." I guess there are enough Katys and Kristis that she gets her own moniker.

It's been a good summer for visits! The Allen Fam B&B is always open for business, so come on down! I love catching up with "old" friends and seeing how we are different/older/wiser, and yet how we are still the same. I absolutely love it when you can pick right back up where you left off, with no awkwardness. God is good, and those conversations are always encouraging.