Redcabincouple’s Weblog

Greetings from the Kested’s and happy 2008 from beautiful, colorful Colorado!

Yes, we are still living in the rustic little cabin about an hour from Vail. Just before Christmas we completed the buyout from Russ’ brother and family to take full ownership of this little 1¼ acre of land. It ended up taking a lot longer, becoming a much more complicated and more costly ordeal than we had anticipated. But, we feel a great sense of relief and accomplishment as we take full possession of the land and secure it as an inheritance for our children. It holds so many memories from Russ’ youth and for our children, too. Now we look forward to making lots of new memories in the future. We have lots of plans to update, remodel, and for building that should keep us busy and trusting God for miracles of provision for a very long time.

We continually marvel that we get to live in these majestic mountains, enjoying each season with the changing colors and animals all around us. We get to watch the hummingbird wars around the feeders outside our window and the profusion of wildflowers all summer long, the blazing yellow aspens in the autumn; the deer, the elk, and the sparkling brilliance of freshly fallen snow during the (very long) winter, and we will be looking forward to the return of the blue birds and waterfalls of spring. We are also occasionally thrilled by the majesty of circling eagles overhead or as they go  swooping by as we drive along the river. At different times we have also seen mountain goats, antelope, a bobcat, geese nesting nearby, and beavers. We missed the 2 moose that came to visit our neighbors last summer. But, I did not miss seeing the mountain lion that some other neighbors had to track down or the bears that broke into several near by ranch buildings last fall. And, we love grilling fresh trout for dinner whenever Russ finds time to go fishing.

Russ is in a second year of teaching middle school Math and Science at The Vail Academy. He enjoyed having the summer off, although with all the work to do around here I think he was ready for school to start last fall. He likes teaching the students and is also heading a couple of the committees for the new accreditation for the school. He also enjoys the school ski days every Friday for the months of January and February. He is still hoping to pick up skiing, but for now, has begun snow shoeing around the cabin area. Last fall he got his mountain bike and is looking forward to a lot more biking this year. A special opportunity for Russ is frequently being asked to minister at our small McCoy Community Church when the pastor is unavailable.

I, JoBeth, love being one of the “Bible Study Babes” (as our leader calls us) and am still attending the weekly women’s Bible Study in Eagle. We read through and discussed the Old Testament last year and are starting on the New Testament this year. It has been one of the most rewarding and enjoyable things I’ve ever done.

In May, I was hired as a Postmaster Replacement for the one person US Post Office in Burns, just six miles from where we live. I am very blessed since the postal jobs are the only local employment out here and it is great getting to know the families and ranchers that live around us. Regular work is not guaranteed, but I am also able to decline work for personal reasons when I want to go see family or when we have visitors. The hours are only 8:30 – 1 PM and I have been fortunate to work 2 – 3 days a week. A busy day is if I see more than 2 or 3 people. My only worry is not hitting any escaped cattle on my way to work, though I am not that thrilled about driving to work when it is -12 below zero, either.

Also, the pictures I have been taking on all of our driving excursions are turning into a business opportunity for me. I was asked to display some of my framed pictures in a small coffee shop/art studio in Yampa, about 30 miles away for the month of December and will be the featured artist in October this year. I made calendars for the family for Christmas and was asked to order more to sell. I am still getting calls for them and they will be for sale in the Yampa studio. A local rancher that runs an outfitting business with over 100 hunters that come from all over the states during the fall hunting season has invited me to display my framed photos for sale in their lodges. I am getting requests for my photo note cards, too. I have registered the business name of Colorful Colorado Images with the state of Colorado and hope to establish a website as soon as possible.

This has also been an exciting year to celebrate the joys and accomplishments of our children. Last spring Joy got her Insurance License with the state of Colorado. The state had changed the test and made it much more difficult the year before. She is now working out of the office of the other co-owner of the company and has gotten a couple of raises. Her strong customer service skills are serving her well and she has high aspirations for building her insurance business career.

On July 28th in San Antonio, Josh wed his lovely bride, Ruthie, who is now the newest Mrs. Kested in family. She has transformed Josh’s Arlington bachelor condo into a home and place of beauty. Ruthie continues to make herself an indispensable P.A. (Physicians Assistant) in the OB clinic and teaching with UNT, the University of North Texas Medical School in Fort Worth. Josh is still with the University of Dallas teaching international students English. He will complete his Masters Degree in Linguistics with the University of Texas at Arlington in May.

Jeremiah received his MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio a couple of weeks before Christmas. He has completed five years with The Hartford Insurance as an underwriter in their high tech division. His wife Abby, is still a highly esteemed adult Special Education teacher in San Antonio. She is also assisting an adult special needs class with their church and working hard on her Masters Degree, as well. Jeremiah and Abby get the most cudos from us as the exemplary parents of the cutest and most entertaining grandbaby in the world. Isabella, mostly referred to as Bea, celebrated her first birthday November 13. We hated missing it, but Abby is so great at sending lots of email pictures. Bea has personality “plus” and the most beautiful red hair.

Truly, the only thing we miss about living in Colorado is the distance between us and family. We made the trek to Texas so we could all be together for Christmas this year, but are realizing that the difficulty of winter travel in and out of the Colorado mountains that time of year is something we may have to reconsider in years to come.

Well, we hope that you and your loved ones are as blessed as we are. We love getting the emails, cards, letters and phone calls that keep us connected to family and special friendships. Please stay in touch and we would love to see you if your path leads you near our humble little Rocky Mountain home.  Phone number 970-653-0533. Emails: rkested@hotmail.com or jobethie@yahoo.com.

Much Love and Blessings,
Russ and JoBeth

During Josh and Ruthie’s visit to the Kested Cabin in August we had the opportunity to go for an evening horseback ride with a friend at nearby Yarmony Ranch. Josh rode the favorite horse of Governor Ritter, the Governor of Colorado. It was the first time I have probably been on a horse since before we were married. Ruthie took video of me getting on, but it was NOT pretty, so it will not be posted here. I am hoping all copies were deleted! We had a great time and will hope to do it again.

Here is the first picture posting of the four of us ready to depart on a horseback ride with a friend at nearby Yarmony Ranch.

This summer I entered two of my favorite photos into the Eagle County Fair’s Open Exhibition. This left photo was taken last fall of the Aspen on Derby Mesa Loop and won a Champion Class Purple Ribbon. The right photo was taken near Deep Lake in August 2007 and won a Blue Open Class Ribbon.