Mexico

Mandy came with me to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I was able to go down on a vacation that my work gave me, which was pretty sweet. Mandy and I had not had that kids of total sister time since 04', just the two of us. It was wonderful! We sat by the pool, rested, read, talked, went on walks and ate too much chips and salsa. The weather was wonderful and we had a blast together! It was a nice break from the blustery snow that rolled in to Colorado while we were in Mexico!

Bryan Stupar's Blog

If you want some good stuff to chew on other that granola... go to Bryan Stupar's Blog the last two posts are incredible! MAKE SURE to view, "Tears of the Saints", that Bryan posted, you will be blessed! DO IT!

Orange Crasin/Cherry Granola Goodness

Orange Crasin/Cherry Granola Goodness

4 Cups of Oats
1 Cup of Coconut, you can add more if you like a richer taste
1 Cup of Almonds
5 Tsp of Sesame Seeds
1 cup of Crasins or Dried Cherries
2 Tsp of Oil
1 Cup of Orange Juice
¾ Cup of Honey
2 tsp of Cinnamon, if you have nutmeg you can add a little of that in addition to cinnamon.

Preheat oven to 400.

Mix Oats, Almonds, Coconut, Sesame Seeds, Dried Fruit, Cinnamon and whatever else you would like to throw in.

Mix, OJ, Honey, Oil in a sauce pan, mix together and heat over the stove. Pour mixture over dry ingredients. Mix well.

Spread on cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, and then mix granola with spatula around and bake for another 15 minutes. If you like it more crispy then you can bake another 5 or until golden brown.

Cool on a chopping board or wax paper until completely cool. Store in a air-tight container.

A lot of granola recipes call for ½ -1 cup of oil, the OJ adds a really nice tart flavor without all the fat/calories. You can also add flax seed, grains, etc. If you add additional items, increase honey to 1 Cup.

Today's Moutain Bike Ride.....

First Signs of fall.







This was crazy... I was riding up Bachelor Gulch and litterly seconds before I started up the hill, I thought " What if I run into a bear" and 5 second later I look up and the bear looked at me and started to run the other direction......pretty wild, the good thing about bears is that they are more scared of us, generally.....

The summer is starting to come to a close here in the mountains, it always goes so so fast. The fall will be here in a few weeks!

We have set at Date! July 25, 2010

We have set at date for next summer! July 25th, 2010 in Yosemite- near our family cabin in Wawona. We will have a weekend celebration. We need the people in our lives to be praying for us and all that we have ahead of us. We are thrilled and our hearts are FULL of JOY!

Canning Palisade Peaches

Mandy and Eli spent a few days here in Colorado on their way back..... They were able to pick up some wonderful Palisade Peaches. I found a farmer that has no pest issue on her farm and completely organic, they only thing they use are praying mantius to attack pests. The peaches are incredible! We grew up having my Grammie can peaches and thought we better get started on carrying on the tradition. Mandy and I had a great time canning together. I won't bore you with details, however if you interested in learing how to can email me @ jenschlenker@hotmail.com. It will be great to have these for the Winter.

Jonathan and I are engaged!

Jonathan and I were engaged at Deluge Lake in Vail, Colorado on June 19,2009. We could not be more happy and are thanking the Lord for the beautiful day he gave us. So here is the story- Jonathan was working as a Youth Pastor overseas this summer and I picked him up at the airport last Saturday. I woke up and did the Beaver Creek Xterra Triathlon, had a great time, threw my bike on top of my car and drove down to Denver to get my man. We drove straight back to the mountains and stopped at Beuj Joe's Pizza in Idaho Springs. We had a great drive back up just talking, laughing and having fun with each other. We were supposed to have dessert with some friends and we all were so tired that we just talked on the porch. Jonathan mentioned wanting to see Carol and Doug, so he called them to come over. I thew together a Berry Cobbler so we could have dessert together. Carol and Doug came over to my house and Jonathan greeted them at their car. He gave Carol a big hug and then was super awkward and close to Carol, kinda throwing himself in the car looking inside their car. Weird- I said, " Jonathan, What are you doing" Oh... you are looking at their car. ( Jonathan and I had a conversation about Toyota Trucks earlier in the day). I thought thought he was being hyper and werid.... and I was trying to get over how wild he was being. Little did I know the exchange of the ring had happened between Carol and Jonathan. Jonathan had shipped my ring to their house while he was overseas this summer. Anyways.. we all hung out, had dessert and Jonathan was excited beyond imagination and was going on 48 hours with zero sleep. I took Jonathan to the Schneider's where he was staying and some much needed sleep happened......

Jonathan knocked on my door at 8 am on Sunday Morning. Our Friend Debi had dropped him off on on her way to Church. Jonathan woke me up and brewed a fresh pot of coffee and started to make breakfast. We started to make plans for the day and decided to hike to Deluge Lake in the Gore Range in Vail. So we got lunches packed, water bottles filled and were off for the day. I was praying we would have good weather as I looked out from my house there were thunder storms just hanging over the valley. Those of you who know Colorado know you can get 85 degree weather and snow in the same day, so who knew what we would get, we just knew that beautiful back country awaited our day.......

Jonathan is a lean 6'3 packed full of sweetness- but let me tell you.... those legs can crank it up a mountain..... so he lead on the trail and I followed. The minute we set foot on the trail...the vivid colors and bounty of wildflowers made my heart swom...... and we enjoyed our 10 mile hike to the top. At one point Jonathan and I were so amazed at the flowers he said, "Wildflowers are like God's Wedding Band to us, he pursues us and impresses us with this creation...." Ok, Mr.Romantic spilling out of your mouth.... this actualy did not give anything away... Jonathan is full of words so this was pretty normal.

We made it to the top and there was still snow melt so the lake looked nasty. We ate lunch under a tree and headed back down the mountain. As we were still near the top there was a meadow full of wildflowers with every color of the rainbow. Jonathan asked if we should walk down and I insisted that it was not a effcient use of time and that we would have to walk back up. We walked a little bit.... and then I asked him, "As we serve God with our lives, what are dreams on your heart..." ( man, I know how to give someone a good lead into a proposal). Jonathan at that time walked off the trail into the meadow (ingoring my commentary about having to come back up). There we sat next ot a stream in a meadow and had a 360 degree view the the Gore Range. It was stunning! Jonathan got his journal out and began reading me a covenant that he wrote about marriage and his commiment to a constant pursual of my heart as we serve Jesus with our lives, the greatest force of any ministry will be our marriage together and in the four walls of our home. As he is reading the long list to me... I started thinking.... "Oh my goodness, is this happening?" I was not sure... he is pretty romantic and him reading that could have been pretty normal.... until he asked me to stand up...... Jonathan got down on his knee and asked me to be his wife... that part was a total blurr.....then is slipped the most stunning elegant ring on my finger, a ring that we went to great lengths to study and find.... We sat in the meadow and I was amazed at all it how happend.... how God has brought a man who fought for my heart and pursed and prayed and pressed in and just hoped that this California girl would soemhow be his friend ....and somehow was able to get thought to some walls that had been build aroud my heart. For now..... Jenny Schlenker is engaged to a man who I could have even dreamed of..... Thank you for all of your love and prayers and just loving me for me. Jesus lead us.........