Time with the Fam

My parents, Wess' in-laws, were out here this past week. We had such a fantastic time! We did everything in Steamboat Springs with them that we haven't been able to do ourselves just yet... Camping at gorgeous Steamboat Lake, tubing down the Yampa River (something we have done multiple times and wanted to share the experience with them), horseback riding at Dutch Creek Ranch, and so much more. They brought great Southern California weather with them, but left about 20 degrees behind. It was so great to have them.

Wess and I are excited for this coming Sunday and the following because Wess will be teaching the congregation. Pray for him that God would speak through him and give him the wisdom he needs. Pray for me as well. My hours at work are cut to below part time because it is slow season. I was really liking this job, but now I need to look for a more consistent job. I have applied to some other places today, but pray that God would open up the perfect position for me.

Well, we love you all! xoxo.
You're in our prayers,
Wess and Lauren
Teamroot.blogspot.com

SUMMERTIME!

Steamboat has about four months of summer and we have been trying to take it all in because we absolutely love summers out here in Colorado. We have been tubing down the Yampa River and riding our bikes down the core trail every chance we get because you can't exactly do those kind of things during the nine month winters. Some are praying that winter will come soon, but us... we are praying that summer will last just a little bit longer. The temperature only reaches at the highest 90 degrees which makes it very cool and calm during the summer. Just recently we drove through the Rocky Mountain National Forest on our way to Estes Park and then back through to see Grand Lake for a friends birthday. I just have to say that there is so much beauty in Colorado with all the mountains, trees, open spaces, and clean air that while we are living here I just want to enjoy it all and praise God for it.

Along with getting out to enjoy summer, both Wess and I are working as much as we can. I am no longer working in the laundry department at One Steamboat Place Resort, but now working as a Barista at the Truffle Pig Market/Restaurant (www.trufflepigrestaurant.com) that is attached and managed by One Steamboat Place. They have made me "assistant manager" by giving me keys, a little more responsibility, and higher pay. I absolutely love the job and am so glad to be out of doing laundry for a living. I love that I can now see people, talk to them, and make them something delicious. Wess is currently working at Starbucks as a supervisor and still enjoys it. We have started attending a church, Anchor Way Baptist (www.anchorway.com), back in April because our friends, Danny and Jesse, were going. The church was without a head pastor and youth pastor which was a little different for Wess and I coming from Calvary Chapel where we have not been in that position. Though there is no pastor, there is speakers that come every Sunday who really teach the Word of God, but I feel that there is such a need to have a head pastor. In the mean time, Wess was teaching a men's bible study on Thursday mornings (thank you for your prayers, it has been fruitful) where some guys from Anchor Way attend. They asked Wess if he would be interested in teaching the Youth group and possibly being the Youth pasor at some point. We believe that this is what God wanted and so we went for it and Wess has been teaching Youth group since the end of June. We have really enjoyed serving in this capacity and hope to do more with the youth. We are praying that God would free up more time from work so that we can be more available. This last Sunday the church board mentioned that they have found someone from Oregon/Texas who they think is called to be the pastor of the church. Please keep this in your prayers that this guy and his family are truly called to be in Steamboat Springs and serve at Anchor Way. We are so happy to be going to a church, serving, and fellowshipping with a congregation. These people are awesome and we have really enjoyed getting to know some of the families. Wess has an interest in UFC (Ultimate Fighting) and found some other guys who really like it as well which is good because I'm not a huge fan. We are feeling more a part of the community and more like locals. I am attending Colorado Mountain College (www.coloradomountaincollege.com) to finish what I had started in California at Riverside Community College. I would like to receive an Associate in Arts and then move on from there to possibly study something more career oriented such as photography, computer graphics, or something along those lines. It is hard to go back to school, but it feels good to be finishing something that I had started back in 2003.

At the end of June, Wess and I found out that we were pregnant. On July 8th, we found out that I was having a miscarriage. It was hard, but at the same time not too bad considering we were only about 5 weeks along and hadn't had an ultrasound or heard a heartbeat yet. We had only known for a week and it had yet to be a realization that we were actually pregnant. We were expecting and know that if God wills we will be pregnant again. We are so excited to start expanding our family and can't wait to share it with you when that starts happening.

Keep us in your prayers,

Wess and Lauren Root
(teamroot.blogspot.com)

SNOW SEASON!

Weather update: cold.

We just recently got back from California (January 6-12) where it was about 80 degree, sunny SoCal weather with no sign of winter. We were able to visit with so many people including Mickey Mouse! My parents got us tickets to Disneyland for our 1 year anniversary that will be coming up on the 24th of January. It was a great day filled with many rides, laughter, and expensive food/souvenirs. We attended a lunch wedding on Saturday where we were able to visit with many friends from my home church all at once. That night we joined my parents at In-In-Out Burger which is one our favorite fast-food restaurants in California and one that we can not enjoy in Colorado. Clayton, Wess' brother, joined us the next night at Bj's Brewery for some pizza and a night of bowling at Brunswick. I have to add that Clayton is an amazing bowler and Wess and I are not. We just let Clayton do his thing while Wess and I competed with eachother (it was a tie). While we were waiting for our lane to open, Wess won a stuffed animal from one of those claw machines... it was pretty amazing.

On our last day in California, we were reminiscing at Calvary Chapel Bible College where we not only met amazing friends, but eachother. Then we departed California the next and arrived back in Steamboat. It was a good trip and we hope for many others like it.

Our new niece, Madison Ruth Lancaster, was born just before we arrived in California. It was so great that we had the opportunity to see her. She already has personality with all the little noises she makes and facial expressions. My mom just adores her and can't miss a day with0ut seeing little Madison. My dad was practicing, while we there, how to feed and take care of Madison because He will be babysitting for about 2-3 months when Michelle (my sister-in-law) goes back to school and work. Michelle will be finishing up school to be a Physicians Assistant and my brother is a hard working new father. They are such awesome parents ALREADY! I love seeing my brother, Brad, as a dad. Because of the new addition we took a family photo:

We love the snow and the freezing cold weather even though it takes quite some time to adjust. Wess and I received season ski passes for Mt. Werner ski resort through our jobs... so we have been hittin' the slopes quite often. I have been working at a new resort, One Steamboat Place (check it out! www.onesteamboatplace.com) and Wess is still serving up Coffee at Starbucks. The home church is going well. It has been moved from Sunday evenings to Sunday mornings. The time change has been an adjustment, but it is better. We have more time to fellowship with the other families before and after church. We are able to have coffee and pastries. The Sunday before Christmas, Wess had the opportunity to teach the "Christmas Story" (Matthew 1:18 - 2:23) after our potluck breakfast. It was a blessing for me during December to help out with the children's ministry. I will hopefully be helping out regularly with a couple of the other women.

On February 1st, Wess and I will be moving from our tiny loft apartment to a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment that has a heated garage attached. We are super excited to have more room for people to visit and hopefully for us to open it up to the home church.

Thank you for your prayers!

www.teamroot.blogspot.com