Treasure true friends
Nikki and I set out on a journey westward to see the country and to see people we love and enjoy. Our journey began with an overnight stop in St. Louis to see the arch and stay in a swanky, little downtown hotel.
Day 2 was off to Wichita as we traversed the Great Plains. The sky began to look huge as we progressed westward on our journey. We stayed at The Ambassador Hotel which was really nice. Had a terrific meal and went for a walk around the city where we encountered The Keeper of the Plains.
We arrived in Colorado Springs late morning on day 3. The drive into Colorado Springs was beautiful as the Rocky Mountains emerged in our windshield. I love the mountains of West Virginia, but the Rockies are so much more grand and incredible. Seeing snow capped mountains in the distance as you are walking around in shorts and a t-shirt is amazing!
Our dear friends Andrew and Renee Newland live in Colorado Springs and we spent the rest of the day with them as they showed us their home. We visited the Garden of the Gods and Glen Eyrie Castle, both spectacular. We had a fabulous meal on the porch of a cool downtown hotel and finished the evening chatting on the Newland’s back deck enjoying a glass of wine. A great day with great friends.
The next morning we had breakfast and then headed to Evergreen, Colorado to stay with our friends Dave and Eileen Hartvigsen. Dave (known by Hart by almost everyone) was the CEO of Adventures on the Gorge for several years when we were doing the marketing for AOTG. Dave and I became fast friends with a shared love for golf. Dave is one of the smartest people I have ever known and nobody loves a practical joke like Hart. Dave and Eileen have been so gracious sharing their home and the treasures of Colorado. Better tour guides could no be found.
True friends are hard to come by. Even more difficult to find are couples that are true friends to both of us. These relationships are extra special and unique. What I have learned is that great marriages make for great couple friendships. The Newlands and the Hartvigsens have marriages that are built on trust, respect, and true love. They are happy together and appreciate having one another. This seems to be at the core of the couples that we love and enjoy. These friendships are special and we can share with them and talk about anything together. We value their friendship like we value our marriage and treat it with care and kindness. These friendships are not to be taken for granted.
We are so blessed to have many strong friendships with amazing couples that we love and cherish. Their friendships reinforce our marriage and make us better people and better spouses.