Transfer of Keys

Our loan was such that we closed on it over a year ago with the beginning of construction. So instead of another closing, we simply had to get the keys.

We arrived in Monument around 11 am. We had hoped to be an hour earlier getting there but there was just so much to do. We stopped at the new house before heading over to the Alliance model/office to pick up keys and enjoy a small brunch. 

It was cool to see that someone had added red geraniums to our flower boxes. We had joked with our architect when he added red flowers to our plan that they were part of the house. So thoughtful to see that they had actually taken the time to dress up the outside. 

These are some of the pictures Linsey (General Manager) had taken a few days prior.

The View

Living Room

Kitchen

Basement Bathroom

Stairs and future piano nook

Girl/Guest Bathroom

Upstairs Bathroom

We enjoyed fruit and bagels for brunch at Alliance. They gave us a binder with all of the details of our house—house selections, trades who had worked on the house with their phone numbers, the warranty, etc—as well as all of the manuals for appliances, the fireplaces, furnace, etc.

And... we got the keys. Welcome home. 

Moving Part 1

Moving is not fun. Not fun at all.

We always say that we are never moving again, yet here we are. 

We planned to move on Friday, June 13 and we had to be in Monument mid-morning to have our official hand over of the keys. I spent all week packing up the house. We had to finish up the storage room, I packed up the kitchen, pantry, bathrooms, our bedroom, our closet, and all the closets and crannies. It was non-stop with little time for rest. 

Chris took Thursday and Friday off. We went to pick up the moving truck from Ft. Lupton on Thursday around 4 pm and friends came to help load up the truck and trailers around 5 pm. 

On Friday, Chris and I were both awake around 3:30 am and decided to get up and finish loading things on the trailer. We had hoped to leave around 8:30 but didn’t actually leave until 9:30. 

Good thing we got the early start that we did. 

Chris drove the 26’ U-Haul with a trailer attached and I drove the Honda with a trailer attached. My first time driving with a trailer. Turns out leaving a little later helped us to miss the worst of morning traffic. We picked the right lane and drove about 65 mph without too much incident.

Last Night Sleeping in Firestone

We kept two foam mattresses, pillows and blankets at the house for our final night in Pelican Shores. 

Not the comfiest sleep ever, but since we were up at 3:30 am, we didn’t spend much time in bed.

Thank God for Unanswered Prayers

Unanswered Prayers 

Garth Brooks

Listen to the music here: Unanswered Prayers

Just the other night at a hometown football game

My wife and I ran into my old high school flame

And as I introduced them, the past came back to me

And I couldn't help but think of the way things used to be

She was the one that I'd wanted for all times 

And each night I'd spend prayin' that God would make her mine

And if he'd only grant me this wish I wished back then

I'd never ask for anything again

Sometimes I thank God 

For unanswered prayers

Remember when you're talkin' 

To the man upstairs

That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care

'Cause some of God's greatest gifts

Are unanswered prayers 

She wasn't quite the angel 

That I remembered in my dreams 

And I could tell that time had changed me

In her eyes too it seemed

We tried to talk about the old days

There wasn't much we could recall

I guess the Lord knows what he's doin' after all

And as she walked away

Well I looked at my wife

And then and there I thanked the Good Lord 

For the gifts in my life 

Sometimes I thank God 

For unanswered prayers 

Remember when you're talkin' 

To the man upstairs 

That just because he may not answer doesn't mean he don't care

'Cause some of God's greatest gifts

Are unanswered 

Some of God's greatest gifts

Are all too often unanswered

Some of God's greatest gifts

Are unanswered prayers 

I recently read this Facebook post from a man I dated many years ago.

Hello Friends!

An overdue update, since I very rarely post on any social media. Life’s been super intense! 

• I went through a devastating divorce 

• I left the LDS Church 

• I saw two business ventures flop 

I’m healing, growing, and starting over. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗜’𝗺 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴—𝗝𝗗 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗧. 

𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡: Sometimes life crowns you king. Sometimes it body slams you into a brick wall, breaks every bone in your pathetic body, robs you of all your belongings, and then laughs as it leaves you a bloody pulp. I’m sure I’m not the first, and I won’t be the last. My heart goes out to each of you who are similarly going through hard things. 

Here are a few highlights from over the last few years: 

• I was divorced two years ago. My life catastrophically ended in July 2023. I can’t even tell you the devastation this had on my life and soul. I’m currently in the market for a new life (and wife?). if anyone has any good leads. I’m finally reaching a new (relatively) peaceful place in my recovery. Thank you for asking. 

• A year and a half ago, I left the LDS Church after discovering that many things I once dismissed as “anti-Mormon rhetoric” were, in fact, true. This may come as a great shock to many of you who likely thought of me as being as “true blue” as Mormons come. I promise you, my own shock was far greater. I was crushed and decimated. 

• I tried to start two different businesses over the last few years. Marketing, it turns out, is NOT my strength. LOL. It doesn’t matter how good your product is if no one knows it exists. Now that I’ve used up my savings in a blaze of optimistic entrepreneurship, 𝗜’𝗺 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀. 

For many months, I have felt broken. Some of you have been aware of my struggles and have been gracious enough to reach out and offer your support. You will never know how grateful I am. You truly discover who your friends are when your life falls apart. Of course, most of you didn’t even know—because I’m an introvert who can’t share emotional trauma. In many ways, I’m literally starting my life over from scratch. As if I were playing a video game and I failed at Level 50. 

God is good, and I still have faith for better things to come. Thanks to each one of you for your continued friendship and support. A brief reminder to always be kind—as you seldom know the struggles that each person may face. 

Love to you all.

I was in love with him. He seemed just right for me. I wanted to be married, to have a companion, to not be single anymore, and for God to give me a “Yes, this is the one.” God gently said no again and again until I finally listened. And my heart was broken. I did move on and suddenly one day Christopher walked into my life. And I am SO grateful for an unanswered prayer. 

It is not often that I receive an answer to my pleadings of, "But, why not God?" but as I read my friend's post 30 years after dating him, I am so grateful for the circumstances of my life now.  

Don’t hold on so tightly when you somehow think things have gone awry in your life or that God isn’t listening. He is. He does. He is aware of every detail of EVERY detail in your life.

Alexa and Cali Cleaning

I knew I wasn’t going to be able to get all of the cleaning done along with the packing before we left the house on Friday morning for Monument. I asked our neighbor’s daughter if she wanted to come clean and she was happy to. After about an hour, I suggested that she call another girl on our street and see if she was available and willing to come help. 

Alexa and Cali worked diligently all afternoon cleaning the kitchen, wiping out cabinets, cleaning the fridge, and cleaning counters, toilets and cabinets in the bathrooms. They were definitely worth the money to have help.

Misha Getting Caught in the Rain

Colorado got lots of rain and some crazy hail in some areas of the state on Tuesday afternoon. 

Misha was at work and had gone on a supplies run. She and her coworker were happy to find an underpass to hang out under until the storm passed.

Misha Baseball Game

Misha and friends went to a Rockies game. The bargain for the night was buy one get one hot dogs. 

The Rockies aren’t so great this year…they almost won but lost it in the final inning.

An HOV Ticket

We received a ticket in the mail for jumping the double line on the HOV lanes near Monument. 

Normally we wouldn’t do that, but there was an accident in the HOV lane with emergency vehicles on site. 

Chris commented, “Quick. Take a picture.” So, when we got the ticket, Chris simply sent them the picture and they forgave the ticket

Last Day in Highland Lake Ward

When our friend, Rafer Burnham, came to chat with us before church and found out it was our last day in the Highland Lake Ward before moving, he mentioned it at the beginning of his High Council talk. 

Chris and I were no doubt feeling overwhelmed with moving, packing, and still not selling our house.

The choir director invited everyone to join an impromptu choir song of "I Know That My Redeemer Lives". By the third verse, I was overcome with emotion and quietly cried on Chris' shoulder. As the congregation was invited to join in on the fourth verse, I felt as though the music gathered me into a hug. It was an amazing moment.

24 years in the Longmont Stake. This starting over stuff is heart-wrenching.

Kristen's Mission Emails - Week 50

Hello! Another quick update!! 

• Mission tour with Elder Meurs, the area president!! So good, so spiritual, so fun to see all my friends! 
• Got a flat on exchanges!! Sometimes I'm glad I don't have a car! But lots of fun going back to my old area w/ Sis Ballard 
• It rained all week!! Sometimes I'm sad I don't have a car! 
• Did heaps of service (not as much as planned tho, thanks rain) 
• Said bye to all my friends leaving this week :( I hate goodbyes)

1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Ether 12:11 Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled. 

I love how the Book of Mormon unfolds and expands upon the Bible. This is a great example!! Jesus Christ is the best gift, and living His gospel is the MOST excellent way. 

As we seek Him and living like Him, we find the most capacity for joy--a more excellent way! I can't accurately write my feelings on this, but this will have to do for now. 

Transfers this week!! We'll see if anything happens. Prezzy said it's a big one!! 

Love y'all! 

Love, Sister Kline

Misha Mowing

Misha was kind enough to come and mow, weed, and water my house plants on May 26 and then again on June 1 while we were gone. (She probably did a little laundry too). We appreciate that she is willing to help us out.

We had so much rain while we were gone that the three of us spent six hours in the yard weeding and mowing on Saturday.

Have You Found a New Church?

I thought it interesting that one of the Alliance team members asked me, "Have you found a new church?" That, at least, is one thing I don't have to go searching for.

I may need to find a new doctor, dentist, optometrist, hair dresser, and a myriad other professionals, but a new ward I already have and that's a comfort.

House Final Walk Through

We were supposed to have our walk through at 1 pm on June 5th, but I knew that we would be feeling the jet lag if we had to drive home from Monument to Firestone in the late afternoon. We were able to reschedule for 10 am on Thursday morning.

With the cameras we have installed on the property, we have been able to watch the progress on the exterior and see all of the efforts Alliance makes to have our house in tip top shape. We haven't had an interior camera working for awhile. Since we haven’t been to Monument for about a month, it will be a fun surprise to see everything completed.

PS We had our walk through early, but Chris had so many things on his to do list, we didn't actually leave the house until 7:30 or so. We were happy finally to get home, get unpacked, and do some laundry!

Europe 2025 Day 15 Flight home from Zurich

Our flight from Zurich to Washington DC didn’t leave until 1 pm on Wednesday afternoon. We didn’t have to rush and even slept in a bit. We packed up our two week’s worth of smelly clothes and socks and got an Uber to the airport. 

Again, our check-in, security, and immigration checks went smoothly. We had about 30 minutes in the lounge before boarding. Kind of funny as we took off. Each of the seats in the business class had a water bottle stuck in a little cubby. As the plane took off and the empty seats had no one to grab the water bottle, you could hear about ten water bottles falling to the floor one after another. While I sat for the next 8 and a half hours. I spent time typing and watching movies. 

The salad they gave me before we landed was pretty disgusting (and the airplane smells of urine). It had lots of tomatoes, salad dressing, and soggy bread chunks soaked in dressing. Yuk.

Awesome sunset on the way home from Washington DC.

Europe 2025 Day 14 Ljubljana to Zurich, Switzerland

Almost time to go home. We checked out of our room but left our luggage at the front desk of the hotel. 

We climbed up to another castle today. Equally hard as the climb to the Lake Bled castle. Whew. 

Three years ago I bought a love lock for our 25th anniversary to leave in Paris. Due to unfortunate circumstances, that love lock didn’t get placed anywhere in Paris. Today was the day we placed our love lock in Ljubljana to celebrate 28 years together. It has been the best ride being married to Christopher. 

Love locks and pacifiers?

After lunch, Chris went for his massage. I went back to the hotel and sat for a while until it was my turn. It was a nice way to work some tired muscles. 

After the massage, we raced back to the Old Town to try and get a boat tour, but we were just a few minutes too late (and the boat was already filled with a tour). So, we picked up our luggage and walked to the bus station a few minutes early where we were lucky enough to find a bus ready to leave just a bit earlier than the one we had originally planned to take. 

We reached the airport and made it through security in short time. The airport wasn’t busy. Chris and I had plenty of time to relax in the lounge and have a little dinner from the small selection there. 

While we sat in the lounge, we talked to Amy who was sick and driving to the doctor. She hoped to get antibiotics for an ear infection and a painfully sore throat. 

The flight to Zurich was about one hour. We stayed at the Hilton Zurich not too far from the airport. I have now been to Zurich three times and have only seen airports and hotels.

Europe 2025 Day 13 Ljubljana, Slovenia

With one full day in Slovenia, we chose to go to Lake Bled, a popular resort town with a beautiful lake. We waited for a bit to take the bus and then made a quick stop once arriving at the grocery store for bread, cheese, meat, and drinks for a picnic lunch. 

The lake was indeed beautiful; we found a bench and enjoyed the view and our lunch. We began a walk around the lake. I didn’t expect to walk up to the castle, but there we were hiking up the side of the hill. It was quite the workout. 

We didn’t go in to tour the castle but walked a little past it and found the best view of the lake and Bled Island below. 

Another destination for the day was Vintgar Gorge. We happened to catch a shuttle just as we reached the bus station. It got us to the Gorge a little early for our 3:08 pm time slot. We had to wait about 20 minutes before entering the gorge, but that gave us time to have a little snack. 

We had to wear helmets in the gorge, but it was amazing. The color of the water was turquoise blue, the waterfalls around every corner. It was definitely worth the effort to visit Slovenia. Slovenia is known for its green countryside and abundance trees. 

So many waterfalls. Not sure I loved the trek back to the entrance at the gorge. It was an uphill ascent with feet already blistered from miles of walking. 

We were happy to rest while waiting for the shuttle bus to take us back to Lake Bled. Luckily, we climbed off the bus and onto the next bus back to Ljubljana. 

We found a Thai Massage place close to our hotel and determined appointments on Tuesday afternoon before flying home would be appropriate and welcome. 

We arrived at the restaurant TACOS earlier than the night before. Even so, we found out they were already out of chicken, but the food was good. 

Chris and I strolled through Old Town and decided this was an amazing town. And visiting the mountains outside of Ljubljana would be worth a return trip.

Kristen's Crochet Skills

Kristen crocheted ties for the elders in her district. 

I think she could make money off of her talent someday.

Europe 2025 Day 12 To Zagreb, Croatia

We were sad to leave the hospitality of Lucy and Ante and their family, but it was on toward another adventure in Slovenia. 

We drove to Zagreb where we would drop off the car at the airport. We made a quick stop at Slunj (pronounced Sloon). We chose to visit an old mill connected to waterfalls and showing the life in the 1800’s. It took us about a half an hour to walk through and totally not worth the 9 euro entrance fee. Oh well. 

Because of our time difference, Kristen had sent us a zoom link to her Sunday evening musical devotional. We found the link just in time to watch the second half of the fireside and just before her musical number with the other missionaries. It was a nice moment on the Sabbath. 

We sadly had lunch at Burger King along our way to Zagreb. It was…meh. I don’t even remember the last time I ate at Burger King in Colorado! We finally reached the airport, dropped off the car, and found our Uber to Zagreb. Zagreb was underwhelming. We left our luggage at the Left Luggage area at the bus station and then took a bus to what we thought was downtown and walked around trying to find something memorable. 

We weren’t sad to return to the bus station to continue on our way to Slovenia. I bought some apples and cucumbers from a street vendor for 2 euro. We got in line for our bus. After 15 to 20 minutes, we were starting to wonder if we were in the right line for our bus. The bus was late. I asked the girl standing next to me if this was the bus to Ljubljana, just to confirm. The bus finally arrived 30 minutes late. Not a surprise when we were one hour into our two-hour ride and the driver stopped for everyone to have a smoke break. 

We finally arrived in Ljubljana and were happy for our ten-minute walk to our hotel at Eurostars U Hotel. It was late when we finally went out looking for dinner. We found a restaurant called TACOS that was busy. Sadly, when we went to order we were told the kitchen was closed and out of food. We ended up at another place along the canal called Breg. Chris ordered monk fish and I had soup.

Kristen's Mission Emails - Week 49

Hi everyone!! This week... 

• We had a sick day, which meant me crocheting ties for the elders (see Google photos) 
• We had the music devotional with my super awesome solo (see Google photos) 
• Interviews w/ prez (love that guy) 
• Bus finding (scary, hate it) 

I kept hearing about the law of consecration this week and here's some conclusions I came to: 

Consecration is about God helping His people by His people helping each other AND give what you have and you'll get more than you had (in this life or the next). It's an interesting concept, giving our all emotionally, physically, and spiritually to the Lord. But I've realized, especially on the mission, giving our all is sometimes just giving the most we can muster and that's not always the same from day to day. And that's okay! 

Slower week for us but hope you all have an awesome week! 

Love ya!! Sis Kline

Amy's Ear Infection

On Sunday morning, Amy woke up with intense pain in her ear and jaw. She went to urgent care where they gave her antibiotic ear drops. 

The next day, Amy wasn’t feeling any better. Worse in fact, and now had a painfully sore throat. I encouraged her to call her doctor’s office this time to get an appointment. 

She texted Chris and I around 2 am her time because she was in too much pain to sleep. Fortunately she was able to get an appointment with a doctor in her doctor’s office at 10:45 am. 

It is definitely no fun to be sick on your own and to have drive yourself to the doctor or get meds when you feel so awful. They confirmed the ear infection and did a strep test. She is on oral antibiotics and trying to get better. She is off work and hoping to feel good enough to go to work later this week.