Tag Archives: Colorado Springs

Quiet Sentinel

January 23, 2014 Tom Vander Well 4 Comments

English: View of Pikes Peak from the Universit... — View of Pikes Peak from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.
Psalm 125:2 (NIV)

I find it fascinating that both of our daughters have lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Taylor lived on the YWAM base there for a few months in preparation for a missionary stint in Morocco. Madison moved there to attend a one year program in worship and decided to stay when the year was over. And so, we find ourselves making the 11 hour trek to visit “the Springs” which sits nestled a the feet of the Rocky Mountains.

I once asked Madison what she liked about living in Colorado Springs. “I sit in class and look out the window at Pike’s Peak,” she replied. Enough said. If it’s mountain views you wish to see every day, then Iowa is definitely not going to do it for you.

I thought of Maddy Kate this morning as I read the above lyric from today’s psalm. Having spent a little bit of time in Colorado visiting, I do understand the sense of wonder instilled in a person when your visual landscape is surrounded by the majesty of the mountains. What a word picture for the spiritual reality of being surrounded by God’s majestic strength and security.

Today, I’m thinking about security that has nothing to do with alarms, firearms, dead bolts, or financial reserves. There is a spiritual security that stands as quiet a sentinel as the mountains. Sometimes, it’s good to be surrounded.

Tom's Photos

Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel

October 13, 2013 Tom Vander Well 1 Comment

Here’s my postcard shot. It was pretty close to a cloudless sky so it was nice to catch the chapel against the “wild blue yonder.” It felt appropriate.

Tom's Photos

Sunlight and Stained Glass

October 13, 2013 Tom Vander Well Leave a comment

I visited the Air Force Academy last week to see the Cadet Chapel that I’d seen a million times on postcards and from the interstate. The sun was going down and I loved the way I caught it through the window as it illuminated the strip of stained glass above. It’s such a surreal and beautiful work of architecture. I was only bummed that we couldn’t go inside. It was closed because of the government shut down. Apparently the military is considered “essential” to keep funding during the shutdown, but not the military’s chapel.

Wayfarer's Journal

A Day with Madison

October 7, 2013 Tom Vander Well Leave a comment

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I flew to Denver yesterday morning and then drove down to Colorado Springs to spend the day with Madison. It was so good to see her, to spend time with her, to chat, and to get some long overdue hugs. We met at Colorado Mountain Brewery for lunch and I got to see Madison’s red hair for the first time. Over the years I’ve seen Madison with about every conceivable color of hair. Her natural hair always had a bit of a red tint to it, but she really want all out with this color. It’s cute. I told her she looked like a Scottish lass.

After lunch Madison took me to UCCS for a quick visit of the campus. She wanted to show me the place in the library she studies with a breathtaking view of the mountains and Pike’s Peak out the window. From there we headed to her apartment and I got to hang out and chat for a while.

Madison’s friend Mike showed up a while later. Mike is a graduate of the Air Force Academy and agreed to take us for a personal tour of the base. It was a gorgeous day for it. Mike gave us the low down on what life is like at the academy as we hung out by the iconic cadet’s chapel. Unfortunately, we found the doors locked due to the government shut down. We tried to sneak in through a side door when we saw a cadet entering. Mike did his best to convince an officer to let us sneak up to take a few pictures, but the request was denied. Bummer.

We headed downtown to a restaurant called the Rabbit Hole. You enter through what looks like a subway entrance. The restaurant is below ground and has a rather cavern-like feel. The menu features a lot of unique dishes using wild game. I was tempted by the rabbit meatloaf, but opted for the pork cordon bleu. We enjoyed a leisurely meal and conversation before heading back to pick up my car. I headed to Denver where I crashed by the airport for my early morning flight to Texas.

I have to admit that I felt a little sad this morning. I enjoyed my time with Madison immensely, but am reminded at how infrequent these personal visits have become since she moved to Colorado. I miss her and her “Maddy hugs.” Fortunately, we’re gathering in Colorado for Thanksgiving with her so it’s only going to be a few weeks until I get another fix.

Uncategorized, Wayfarer's Journal

Mile High Weekend

June 3, 2012 Tom Vander Well 1 Comment

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It wasn’t just the Colorado, Rocky Mountain elevation that gave us a high this past weekend. A harmonic convergence of family celebrations in Colorado fell onto the calendar this past Saturday as Madison graduated from her one year program at New Life School of Worship in Colorado Springs and Wendy’s sister, Becky, was wed to Courtney Oakes in Denver.

Wendy and I were up early on Wednesday and made the long trek across Interstate 80. We hit a huge spring thunderstorm in Kearney, Nebraska. It was only 50 degrees and the cold rain made it feel more like October than late May. Within a few hundred miles the clouds gave way to sunny skies and the thermometer climbed 35 degrees. We arrived in the late afternoon and spent the evening with Becky, Courtney and other members of the wedding party that arrived that evening.

Wend and I worked remotely on Thursday and then joined with the gathering family and wedding party members for a trip to Coors Field to watch the Colorado Rockies beat the Houston Astros. Of course, Wendy and I loved being at the baseball game even if it wasn’t our beloved (and beleaguered) Cubs.

More work for Wendy and I early Friday. Wendy then moved on to help Becky with the mid-day rehearsal and preparations for the wedding as I headed down the interstate to Colorado Springs to attend the family picnic for Madison’s graduating class. It was great to meet Madison’s roommates, classmates and teachers. It was heartening to hear one of her teachers compliment Madison’s attitude, participation and spiritual maturity. I had to head back to Denver for the rehearsal dinner while Madison stayed in Colorado Springs to continue moving into the apartment where she’ll be living this summer.

The rehearsal dinner was on Friday night at the home of Courtney’s parents. They have a gorgeous home with a wonderful back yard perfect for hosting the party. We enjoyed a great meal and got a chance to mingle with Wendy’s family members who’d just arrived along with meeting Courtney’s family.

On Saturday morning I enjoyed early morning coffee and conversation with Wendy’s dad. Her mom then joined the two of us for breakfast. Wendy was busy all day getting Becky ready for the wedding as I headed back down to Colorado Springs for Madison’s commencement service. On the way I got a phone call from Madison letting me know that she’d fallen while packing her car and hurt her foot.

I arrived at New Life Church for her commencement ceremony. Madison was in pain and couldn’t walk on her foot, but it wasn’t too swollen and I was encouraged that it wasn’t serious. Unfortunately, her injury kept her from crossing the stage with her classmates to receive her certificate, but they did ask her to stand to be recognized. After the ceremony she got some help getting up on stage to have pictures taken. After the service we had some cake and punch before grabbing lunch at Champs where she works as a server. I got to meet her co-workers and we enjoyed lunch together before heading to Denver for the wedding.

Despite her injury, Madison played photographer at Becky’s house as Wendy and her sister, Suzanna, got their make-up on and helped Becky into her corset back wedding dress. I got cleaned up and dressed at the hotel and then picked up Madison and headed to the wedding which took place at the Summit Conference and Event Center in Aurora.

The wedding ceremony was nice and the three Hall girls (Eden, Adira, and Sophia) were adorable in their white dresses as they stood up with Wendy (Matron of Honor) and Suzanna (bridesmaid). Mr Ed held it together as he offered a prayer of blessing over the couple. Guests enjoyed drinks and appetizers while the family endured the obligatory pictures after the ceremony. Then came dinner and lots of dancing. Madison was a real trooper. Even though her foot was killing her she hung in there and helped take a lot of pictures of the reception.

Madison climbed in Reggie (Wendy’s Nissan Murano) with Wendy and me and we took off for home this morning about 9:30. It was a long, hard drive back to Pella. Madison slept most of the way and Wendy got some shut-eye as well. We made it back to Vander Well Manor about 7:45 this evening to unpack. Madison shrieked with glee as we drove into Pella. She’s excited to be home and very quickly headed up to George’s to meet a friend.

I figured I’d write this post and get some photos loaded. It was a long, but wonderful weekend. We had a ball with family (old and new!) and are so proud of Madison. Madison has decided to stay in Colorado Springs. She will be living in an apartment with a couple of her classmates and plans to attend the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs this fall.