Denver in the Summer

Summer is coming to a close for the Benwares...exciting or sad? We have loved more down time, but we are looking forward to the students returning in the next few weeks. Brenton is excited to see the soccer team continue to grow and have a fun season, while Kelly looks forward to time with the girls. We are both thankful for another year with these wonderful leaders we have gotten to know. We expect to be stretched and learn, while also making the most of the new school year.

However, before the new year starts, we wanted to share a few pictures from out last summer adventure in Denver. Though Brenton was often in sessions for his conference on International Students; we also managed to have some good times.

The first is of Brenton's new favorite soccer field with the city view.


Rockie's vs. Dodger Game


Our Seats We're Not Sitting in...The Couple to the Left with Caps on Stole Our Seats!

Life, Love & Laughter

Last week was one of the breaks we needed for the summer. It was a chance to get away, see family and chill on the beach. Along with that came a good deal of bittersweet emotions for me (Kelly). As much as it seems I have gotten use to living further away from my family, every time I see them I realize what I have been missing out on. I realize how much time is going to pass until I see them again and how much our lives will continue to change. While it's exciting to see how the Lord is working in each of our lives, it is always hard to let go. I suppose that is how it will always be. Changes are tough. When they initially impact, I tend to forget how they will only draw me closer to the Lord, knowing I can only rely on Him. If only we could always live with an eternal perspective, always focusing on things that will last. That has become my goal this year, though I'm still learning what it looks like. I think it comes through life, love and laughter while, all the while, remember that true contentment can only be found in the Lord.

Bartlesville Floods

Little did we know that we'd make national headlines and get a day off work!!! As many of you have probably heard, we've had the strangest weather this year. This past winter, we had a blizzard and ice storm. This doesn't sound all that crazy, but I have never seen so much ice. We were delayed in Texas at Brenton's parents' place due to ice all the way between TX and OK. On our way back, it literally looked like a land of ice. Past this winter, we have had abnormal amounts of rain.

Everyone began more than grateful since our summers are generally dry. However, as the rains continued, the city had to open the flood gates so the dam did not break as it did in the 80s. We were all waiting to see what would happen when the river crested. From stories we were hearing, we imagined the water would rise past that of the pictures below. Not so, the pictures you are seeing are the worst. Roads were and are blocked, many homes are dealing with water damage and this years' weather continues to be exciting. Thankfully we are safe, though you can keep those dealing with flood damage in your prayers.




OWU Baseball and Soccer Fields



OWU Soccer Field (The bleachers are completely under water, and the water almost goes up to the door knob on the shed.)



OWU Practice Fields



Price Road (On the sides of the road, fences are completely under water at parts.)

Mud Baths

Brenton joined a soccer tournament with a number of his soccer guys this last weekend, and boy was it fun times! One of his former OWU players and another student currently on the soccer team headed up this tournament team. The guys did a great job leading and playing. After two long days of running in the mud and rain,




they came out of the tournament undefeated. Their win was pretty impressive considering some of the skilled teams they played. A few of the guys in the tournament had previous professional contracts, others were talented international players and a number of them played at NCAA D1 universities. Along with the competition, you can tell what a good time the guys had playing soccer in all this mud!

Don't forget to read up on "Story Time" below.

Story Time

So I left you all wondering for too long, huh?! Take a seat and get comfortable for this little narrative...

One pleasant summery evening, we were out in the Benware's back yard playing with the neices and nephews. We engaged ourselves in a little game of tag (we'll at least I think we did...) and watched the kids slide down the slide. Brenton was being the BESTEST uncle ever and gave Baylor a ride on his shoulders. It was a "Leave It to Beaver" type of night, until Baylor chose that exact moment to take a little potty break. Brenton says he started to feel something warm and mushy. I snapped the picture just in time to catch his futile attempt to get Baylor off his shoulders before he had too much of a mess. The bud had to run in and clean the "chocolate" off of his neck and out of his hair. All to say, the "BESTEST uncle" in the world was a good sport.

Hope you all enjoyed story time!