Night Screams

A couple of nights ago Daphne and the girls were inside watching a movie (a chick flick), and I was in the garage tinkering with something.  I thought I heard a strange sound outside, so I walked out into the driveway to listen - and I was shocked to hear a woman screaming.  I jumped in my truck, checked that I had my gun, and raced down the driveway in the direction of the screams.  When I reached the end of our road I stopped the truck to listen so I could determine where the screams were coming from.  Silence.  I drove slowly past several houses in our neighborhood but never heard another sound.  I got back home and sat in the driveway for a few moments reflecting on what had just happened - and then it dawned on me: it wasn't a woman at all... but a mountain lion.  I remembered that I'd heard several dogs barking during the screams, which made sense because they could sense or smell the cougar's presence.  People had told me that a cougar can sound just like a woman screaming, and now I believe it.  Definitely fooled me.


 Yesterday afternoon Courtland and I baptized 15 adults and children from The Journey.  Since we don't have a permanent church facility we used the hot tub behind the house on the Journey Ranch property.  This gives a whole new meaning to the term "hot tub party"!  It was in the low 60's and drizzling rain, so those who came to support their family members had to be really committed.  One of the women I baptized came up out of the water and said to me, "oh, this feels so good in here... can I just sit here while you baptize the others?"  Ummm, I don't think that will work.  By the time we finished all the baptisms the sun had come back out and warmed everything up again - welcome to Colorado.


After church today Daphne and I are driving over to Estes Park for a romantic getaway to celebrate her 50th (sorry, I meant her 49th) birthday.  Last year we went for a 6 mile hike in the Rocky Mountain National Park to celebrate her birthday, and she wants to do the same again this year.  I found a little lodge right on the river next to the park that should be perfect.  I'm taking my camera with me this time because the elk should be in full rut by now and the park is one of the best places to see them by the hundreds.  Should be fun!