Colorado Travels (and a giveaway)

ByDeborah Raney
18 Comments

Ken and I left home a week ago today and after a visit with our families in Kansas, we headed west to Colorado. Ken made this trip last summer while I stayed home to write, but he wanted me to share the places he’d enjoyed so much. Colorado is gorgeous this year and I’ve taken hundreds of photos, but I want to just share some highlights with you today. [And please stay tuned to the end where I’ll share how you can get a free e-book of my novel All the Promises today only.]

As most of our trips are, this is also a working vacation. In our campgrounds each afternoon and evening, I’ve written several thousand words, and Ken is keeping up with his graphic design and illustration jobs. But we’ve had lots of fun too! In Durango, we rode the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train. We did the shorter 5-hour round-trip Cascade Canyon Express excursion and just loved it!

From there, we drove to Silverton, then Ouray, and finally Telluride. These are all charming towns nestled in mountain valleys. The views along the Million Dollar Highway between these towns are just stunning! My favorite treat was riding the free gondolas in Telluride—and all the delicious meals and desserts we’ve eaten!

Today we’re on the road again, and so are all of our kids and grandkids! 23 of us in all, headed for an 8-bedroom, 8-bath cabin for a week. A family reunion and a very special celebration: Ken and I will be marking our 50th wedding anniversary. Our special day isn’t until August, but we wanted to celebrate while we’re all together.

All our kids are on the road, headed to join us in Colorado so you can imagine that “Papa” and “Mimi” have been saying some extra prayers for safety for this precious cargo on the road!

Today also happens to be my sister Vicky’s birthday, so I want to wish her a very happy and blessed day. She has been a blessing to me for…well, a LOT of years! We’re just 13 months apart in age and I think it was my birthday in the photo below, but isn’t Vicky adorable looking on patiently as I open a gift? We’re wearing matching dresses that our mom sewed for us.

And finally, here’s the link for a free e-book of my novel All the Promises. This book is available for download today only, so grab your copy now!

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DEBORAH RANEY's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched Deb’s writing career. Forty books later, she's still creating stories that touch hearts and lives. Her novels have won RWA's RITA Award, the ACFW Carol Award, the National Readers Choice Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She is also a four-time Christy Award finalist. Deb is on faculty for several national writers’ conferences and served on the executive board of the 2,500-member American Christian Fiction Writers organization for 18 years before retiring in 2022. She is a recent transplant to Missouri, having moved with her husband, Ken Raney, from their native Kansas to be closer to kids and grandkids. They love road trips, e-biking, Friday garage sale dates, and breakfast on the screened porch overlooking their wooded backyard.

18 Comments

  1. Happy Anniversary early. Now you can celebrate twice. Telluride, Durango, Silverton and the train ride have long been on my to-do list. So happy you had a wonderful vacation.

  2. An early Happy Anniversary, my friend! And what a FUN trip! Love the pics too and am so grateful you’re all able to be together

  3. Happy early Anniversary! There’s nothing better than celebrating with family. I have wonderful memories of our 50th which we celebrated with our family at a resort in Cabo San Lucas.

    We were fortunate to travel to Colorado three times. About 25 years ago my husband won a trip to a ski resort in Durango when he was manager of a Radio Shack store. Then we visited friends in Colorado in 2009 and 2017 during our cross country trips to visit our daughter in California. We drove that Million Dollar Highway. Wish we had ridden the Silverton Railroad.

    Thanks for the great pictures. Prayers for all of you during your travels. Looking forward to seeing those anniversary pictures!

    1. Thank you for your prayers for our family, Betty, Your celebration at Cabo San Lucas sounds wonderful! And how cool to win a trip to a ski resort! Wonderful!

  4. Happy early anniversary! I know it makes your heart happy to celebrate with everyone. That is a very special thing! Glad you are enjoying Colorado!

  6. So much fun! I think that needs to be on my list! Happy 50th anniversary!!

  7. Glad you could come enjoy some of the beautiful mountain towns and scenery in our gorgeous state! Have some great fun celebrating w/ family — congrats on 50!!

    1. Growing up in Kansas, we vacationed in Colorado many times, but I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen the state look so pretty! So lush and green this year!

  8. Aww thanks, Deb. I love everything about that picture: the tablecloth, the cake, our dresses, our shiny blonde hair and short bangs!
    It’s been a good birthday!
    Hoping your time in Colorado is wonderful! Love you!

  9. An early Happy 50th Anniversary to you and Ken! 💕✝️

    I love that you are spending this time together with the whole family (& more family along the way to CO)! Have so much fun making precious memories together!! ❤️

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