For Such A Time As This...: Man Stuff 2 - Man Trip (Mancation) to Colorado

So for about 6 months the men in our small group have been planning to get away to the woods and kill stuff and grill out and camp. We had cancelled it 2-3 times before - but late Nov we were on it!

Unfortunately - Chad C had been held up in Haiti on missions trip about a week extra - so he was forced to back out last second - but me, Bro-in-Law Matt, Joey (John Owen), Shane E, Andy, Gaby (one of the Shanes' guitar players) and Shane E loaded up on the ol tour bus and headed for the open air of Colorado! ((And then Chuck (John Owen/Joey's brother) joined us when we got there...))

We stopped off in Lubbock on drive up and did a show in Lubbock. Was a good crowd of over 400 and good worship that night! Was good as we got to eat West Crust pizza and even saw Shane B's momma who lives there in Lubbock. After the show we loaded back up the bus and started rollin, between Joey, E, and B - we made it all the way to Denver by the time most of us rolled out of the bunks!

Colorado here we are!

Once we got to Denver we unloaded some gear at the local ministry HQ - then we headed for Wally Mart to stock up on man stuff before getting to the outback. Someone had the brilliant idea to divide up the list of needs and every man get "what they need." But see.... here's the problem. We are men. And we all think we need alot... and we each came back with two cart loads each of stuff.

This picture does not really do this justice - but let's say that this couch and the other couch and one of the bay's under the tour bus were loaded for bear! It was like we weren't sure we could make it for 2 days in the woods without our wives - so we might as well eat really good!

After we got to camp and got everything rolling - a few of us decided to load up and go find a lake to do some fishing.

The others stayed behind to get the fire rolling for cooking later that night...

This is us hiking out down some trails about a mile to a lake we saw on the map...

We found the lake. It was beautiful - but these dudes were not messin around - they started crawling out there to see how thick the ice was! (Notice perspective of one holding camera as this picture was snapped compared to rest of his friends... and notice that if one of them goes in... Uncle Matt and Joey are closer to the poor suckers than me... Natural selection - that's all I gotta say!)

After awhile -we figured if Chuck was walking way out there in the center - we were safe - So B started hacking with a hatchet at the ice to make a hole... turns out the ice was a solid 8 inches thick in most places...

Once the hole was ready we put in the poles and started waiting. And then... B showed his manhood by...

Poor fish didn't have a chance. We took him back and got him ready for dinner...

Me - B - and Matt enjoying our time in the middle of nowhere in Colorado.

So - by the time we got back to the camp grounds. Andy had taken out a bird with a sling shot. E and Gabby had the fire rollin awesome - and we settled in for grilling and fun time! If I have never said it before on this blog - my man Shane E knows how to cook - and grill - and do it up right!!

We started by grilling up the fish we caught. Little butter - salt - fire - -- it was AMAZING. Then E grilled up some Jalapenos, and Onions, with BACON cooked into them.... I'm tellin you - it was good... Then MANSandwiches...

16 oz fillets - cooked to perfection, on nice thick buttered buns, grilled onions, bacon, spicy mustard, whole jalapenos, lettuce, tomatoes... Man - was good.... that we had two doctors on this trip for those that went into cardiac arrest after throwin that bad boy down... Not healthy - but was a good time!

Again - picture failes to compare - but it was a spread. And yes - that is EZ Cheese in the background...

Then the rest of the night - we just sat around a stared at this -- in the middle of the mountains - 20 something degrees. Tellin stories. Being thankful for favor and good friends. The next day we got up and did more of the same. Of course we added fishing for squirrels, laying Snares for the birds - and shooting anything that moved with the sling shot we got at Wally Mart...

No animals were harmed or endangered in the making of this blog. (At least not that I'm gonna say on my blog...)

Truly was a good time with the boys and much needed by me... Love these guys and the role they are playing in my life. Excited to see what the Lord will do with all of us over the next few years!

But in memory of things I found on my iPhone - here's a picture of vacation that is even better than a man trip with da boys in the woods...