Yaak Adventures

Working Mom Blues and The Evil Real Estate Alien Octopus in the Sky

2012-01-18T20:44:00.000-08:00

It is as if some alien force has taken over the real estate market and its long tentacles hold every house in its creepy spiralled tentacles taunting them in front of me........ just take last week for example.......

I got an "alert" that a house on "Flicker of Hope" Road was coming up. The alert came from none other than Fannie Mae herself. As the usual drill is, I call the "call such and such a person for information". "Such and such a person" does not respond to her voice mail EVER. She says to check with her office assistants on a pre-recorded message. I call her office assistants who divulge very little information. I decide to take matters into my own hands and go check out this "Flicker of Hope Road" house. I had to make an extended trip to town anyway, and had another house to look at anyway, so we embarked on our adventure.

First we had to make it down the wall of ice in our driveway. Fortunately, Sock Fashion Expert and the boys had hauled our bags down already. I just had Miss Moonbeam and was wearing spiked shoes for the occasion. Half way down the treacherous decent, my ice spikes failed me. Not willing to let go of Miss Moonbeam, my elbow cracked the ice hard and I began sliding down on my behind. Pain shot through my arm and my fingers felt tingly, but I was too afraid to notice. I still had to make it down the rest of the way and she was crying now. Inch by inch I lowered myself closer and closer to the waiting truck. It was a nerve racking way to begin the journey............

When at last, we had braved the hour out of the Montana wilds and had made it to the highway, I breathed a sigh of relief. Still my elbow ached, but at least we were off the ice. I found "Flicker of Hope Road" with great enthusiasm. "This has to be it" I reasoned to myself. Maybe this was my big break. Maybe this was my "Flicker of Hope" indeed. When I saw the big propane truck sitting there on the road, it should have been my first indication that something was amiss. Two other vehicles were sitting there too. I had happened to run into the "realtor's photographer" and some other pertinent lady. There was a big hoopla going on because the propane truck lady said it was too icy to deliver the propane to the property in question. Needless to say there was no way the real estate people were letting me go look. They decided it was too icy and deferred me once again to the lady who doesn't answer her phone. Now let me tell you, after what I'd just been through, this little jaunt would have been a walk in the park, but there was no convincing them.

Once again, the evil real estate alien octopus waved a "Flicker of Hope" and pulled it away again. I sat there in my truck, feeling rather defeated. Nothing I said could convince these bozos that it was plausible to just walk around the outside of the house and look at it. For Pete's sake, how long would they stay there taking pictures anyway? After all, Fannie Mae sent me a notice about it, right? Why would they send me a notice if they didn't want me looking? Scenarios flashed through my brain of black spy suits, flashlights and high tech spy ware I would need to go investigate out this property. Dramatic spy music seemed to take over the truck and I looked over wondering if I should implicate The Sock Fashion Expert in my sudden and supposed "crime spree" of looking at a property before it was "officially on the market".

Some where between the scenarios of me lurking around wearing spy ware and the crazy spy music, reason once again took hold of me and I knew that indeed, alien octopus had won this battle. Why should I act so crazy over a listing that may end up to have a price tag much greater than I could afford?

Half an hour later, I was picking up my husband to look at a quaint house in town. This was one our friends had looked at, made an offer on and were now backing out of. It was in a nice neighborhood, cheap and had a tiny yard but was big enough inside for all of us to fit. Did I mention it was CHEAP? I think we had already decided that we were going to make an offer long before we got there. Something about the almost impassable wall of ice we fight daily made the decision ahead for us. We walked through the house with wonder. Could we actually all live in here? No hoodlums nearby? No train tracks in the front yard? No squatters living in the basement? Perfect!! Lets get it!! Happy as can be, we secure the offer that day!! Oh joy!!

Every day after that, I imagined myself living in town. I was walking to the grocery store. I was riding my bike around pulling the baby in a bike trailer. The boys were walking to the river to fish. The dog even had this Prozac happy look in these fantasies as she had to be walked several times a day by always compliant children. In these wild fantasies, I go to "Zumba" with other nurses and do other "normal" activities that townspeople take for granted. My kids have real friends and do activities such as youth group and sports. On and on these fantasies went until the alien octopus struck once again!!!!!!!! Our friends changed their minds. They decided to go head and take the house.............Selah. Really, and truly, I love them and are very very happy for them. It will be a great investment and I know they won't go wrong with it.

And so with a pouty lower lip, I loaded up my bags and braved the driveway again. My arm still isn't right from last week and loaded under the weight of food, clothing and sleep gear it throbbed. Gingerly, I edged down the steep, snowy drive. It was no wonder that Miss Belly Fat won out tonight and conned me into buying some chocolate from the vending machine. And so, from fighting nameless Fannie Mae robots to making offers on houses that are otherwise taken, the giant alien real estate octopus laughs at my demise as I realize I have been once again, royally whipped. Alien octopus laughs and waves houses at me tauntingly. I wonder what new strategy, if any, that I can plausibly come up with.

"Is this the girl who left Minnesota with nothing?" He laughs. "Is this the girl who travelled India with all her small children in tow?" Ha ha ha. "Is she the one who fought red tape like the plague with her fire fighting business?" Giggle giggle laugh!! "Is this the girl who clawed through seeing her childrens injuries dissolve? "Is this the girl who refused to see defeat so many times before?" "Yes, she's the one" I whine. "I've fought better than you many many times before and I'm sure I will again". She winces. She knows I am a super alien fighter from many light years away. Still, she has the upper hands. I wish I could remember how Evil Real Estate Alien Octopuses are defeated. I will have to look to my super heroine manual and check back with you later.......... Oh..... thats right....... we do it the same way all the other bad guys are defeated. Remember God's goodness and deliverance in times past.....Trust Him and commit our ways.... and worship with passion like crazy....... silly me. Stay tuned for my next exciting adventure :-)

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. - Rev 12:11

Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass - Ps 37:5

All the ends of the world Shall remember and turn to the LORD, And all the families of the nations Shall worship before You - Ps 22:27

Bless Our "Hom" and Other Stories From My Life

2012-01-12T07:01:00.000-08:00

Last night, I had an "enlightening" experience. It was pitch black out and I had just gotten done with multiple chores in town including getting The Archer into the passport people, The Sock Fashion Expert to her guitar lesson, various chores for my husband including picking up a bunch of long metal bars from a machinery shop and of course, and as always, groceries. After driving the icy, single lane, hour and a half trip back and braving the unguarded ravines, we arrived at the "top of our road" where it is necessary to switch vehicles to the "chained truck". It was pitch black out and BITTER COLD. We were trying to get all the groceries loaded into the back of the other truck. Us girls climbed into the back of the first truck and handed down all the supplies for the boys to load into the other. Just when I thought we'd pulled off the mission flawlessly and I was headed to the drivers side of "chained truck",

"WHAM"!!

Light came in the form of stars. When I could see again, I discovered I'd run into the bars of metal sticking out from the back of the truck.
Still seeing a few stars floating around accompanied by sudden pain, I tried driving home. The boys were in the back of the truck while Miss Moonbeam, Sock Fashion Expert and "Deb" the guitar rode shotgun. I had a bad feeling about trying to make it up my hill, particularly because I still couldn't see straight and the thought of my boys in the back sickened me. I told the Archer he had the final honor of our steep driveway. Ice coated the climb, but I knew Archer was the superior 4WDer. I got out and started walking. I watched him make it up half way and then loose control. Though the pain in my head hurt, nothing wrenched my guts like watching him fall backward down that ice chute with my 8 year old in the back of the truck. I yelled through the bitter icy darkness for Catman to get out, though he didn't need my coaxing. The icy semi-controlled ride down backwards was enough to make him want to walk up. I remembered just a winter or two ago, right down here, a lion had buried a deer and returned to eat it many many times. Since then, none of us have relished climbing our hill in the dark.
The sound of the truck barrelling up the driveway jogged my memory from the lion, and I scaled the icy bank to avoid Archer on his mission. This is why I wanted so desperately to find a house near town. Pitch black nights like these on icy hills with my babies in danger. These hardships haunt me. Backward Archer slid again, flying with groceries and children down into the depths of darkness. I yelled below to Super Catman "he's coming stay out of the way!!" "I am I am" he assured me back. Thankfully Archer had the sense to park this time which prompted me back down. As I tried pulling the most perishable out of the back, fruit and vegetables fell out of a bag. I couldn't see anything, not even my hands in front of my face and had no idea what had fallen where. I felt around on the ground hating to waste what I'd just bought. Finally with arms full of groceries, I carefully inched up my way in the dark. Art Dog was coming down with a flashlight to help carry stuff up. Walking up ice in the dark is no easy matter either.
Finally in my dining room, I found myself way too wound up and looking for some way to relax from the horrors I'd just suffered. They were all too common in my life. My head throbbed and other circular reasoning began to creep all too familiarly in along with the pain. After the kids had made another trip up and down most of the perishable stuff was in. The bananas had turned brown in the cold and all but one tomato was crushed in the bag. It no longer mattered. Everybody was safe. My daugter started laughing. Up on the counter a wooden sign now read "Bless our Hom". Nobody knows what happened to the "e".
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Miss Belly Fat AND The Brown Offenders
On Monday, we had our "girls accountability group" at Mists house. Since the majority of our girls crew has signed up to run "Bloomsday", I had the brilliant idea to meet early and go running. Four of us brave souls met in order that we could "train" together. Being the leader and only "veteran" of the run, I proudly answered any questions our troops had. On and on we ran effortlessly. Well, seemingly effortlessly. You see, I felt like crap. I don't know if it was the 4 miles Sock Fashion Expert dragged me on a day or two before or if it was just that I am not a morning person. Perhaps it was the girls stellar pace. For some reason I felt like I was dragging and we had only gone 1/2 mile. "This might not be pretty" I thought to myself. Obediently, my dog Libby, jogged beside me. Suddenly, she jolted to the left then right. She could see other dogs behind a fence and wanted off her leash. I fought to keep her in "heel" mode. "What a good dog you have" Sweet RoseMary" commented. She was our new recruit having only moved here this past year. I smiled, not having the energy to comment back. Soon we had reached our goal and I stopped "what now?" I asked, secretly feeling like vomiting. "We keep going" Mist informed nonchalantly running by me. I got back into the line up arguing with myself that I was indeed, capable. Then I remembered that all these girls are MUCH YOUNGER. "C'mon", Miss Belly Fat" moaned, "if we were 10-15 years younger like these girls, we could keep up - just give up and let them go". Miss Belly Fat always sounds plausible, but I can never listen to her no matter how good she sounds. On I plodded looking like an injured heifer amongst gazelles. Sweet RoseMary started laughing "your dog just shot poop at me" she informed me matter of factly. "I've never seen anything like that before". Sure enough, Miss Libby, knowing she was supposed to stay in step with me had shot out her load mid run. Perhaps she sensed my desperation in trying to keep up and was doing her best to slow my friend down. Sweet RoseMary dodged the doggie doo doo. Seconds later, a second deadly brown shot out at her again. Sweet RoseMary dodged again. Before long we were at the homecoming stretch and had reached a huge hill. "Is this as big as Doomsday Hill?" they wanted to know. "No", I proudly informed them. "Doomsday Hill is 10x that size". They all groaned. Soon we were running up it and I couldn't breathe. Libby started barking at the dogs behind the fence and I used the excuse to slow down. Now all the "Young Girls" were ahead of me and thinking I was having "dog problems". "Good Excuse" Miss Belly Fat reasoned. "Shut Up!!" I yelled back to my inner slob personality. "Now I have to catch up with them" I groaned back. "Why?" she said "You're older and rightfully slower". "Who needs enemies when I have her" I wondered. Libby and I plunged ahead not far behind.
After our Bible Study everybody wanted to hear more about "Bloomsday". The girls could hardly contain their excitement. Ominously Miss Belly Fat reminded me that this was only the beginning of the next several months. This fire started among my girlfriends would not easily be quenched. They were determined to run it with everything they had to offer and more, all of them wanting to impress their men. "Just think of what we will look like for swim suit season" I coaxed them. "Just think of how happy our men will be with our rock hard buns". "Stop it" Miss Belly Fat screamed!! "I wonder if they can hear her" I reasoned to myself. This pep talk was all the girls needed. Soon Elasta Woman was leading our entire Bible Study group in 200 combination Crunches and Fiery had escaped outside not wanting to witness this craziness. Rosemary's little boy crawled up between his mom and I saying "Poopie". A RANCID SMELL reached my nostrils. "I'm sorry" she panted between crunches. His bottom, the diapered offender was aimed in my direction. Now it wasn't just the crunches making me short of breath, it was the Dirty Diaper Offender. "Poopie" he said again trying to get his mom to stop her exercising. "Well I guess I won't feel so guilty about my dog shooting poop at her" I reasoned as I kept following Elasta Woman's moves. Miss Belly Fat was somehow drowned out in the terrible odor and I kept up...... well almost.

Imaginary and REAL Estate

2011-12-16T17:17:00.000-08:00

Art Dog thinks his "funny" pose is his favorite.

As you may have noticed, I've been avoiding blog world lately. The longer the time goes by, the more I avoid it. It will take me FOREVER to catch up with every bodies blogs and my life has become a GIANT MONOPOLY GAME!! With every turn, a roll of the dice seems to bring fateful events, though, I keep singing that song "Deliver Me" from "Prince of Egypt", believing God will somehow deliver me out of this real estate NIGHTMARE!!
First of all, I didn't get my "dream house". My husband didn't have similar views of what was "perfect", and it went to another but not before I had marched around the property multiple times claiming it for God, anointing every room with oil and recruiting multiple intercessors to pray over the property. In short, I poured my heart and soul into it only to have to mentally "sow" it to somebody else. After all three offers we made, the dreaded phone call came that somebody else bid higher.........
I cried for days and pouted refusing to look at property altogether as if I was a 3 year old in a 38 year olds body - uh never mind. Anyway, once again, I pulled myself back together and began looking again. Everybody is rooting for me to find something and there is pressure on every side to just get in. This puts a lot of stress on me which is probably why I keep seeing giant monopoly pieces in my head.
Last Friday, The Archer graduated from his CNA training. On Monday, my son, The Archer started his orientation. Not wanting him to be driving the long hour and a half drive on winter roads, I took matters into my own hands and furiously rode to work (the hour and a half drive)with my husband with my jaw clenched. I was GOING TO FIND SOMETHING!! Eventually my husband asked me to refrain from such frightening poses, just kidding. Anyhow, I drove to every listing I could think of. Then I drove to EVERY REAL ESTATE PLACE in that town!! Most of the Realtors were polite, despite my low priced pre-approval bank letter. It was a little awkward saying stuff like "is there anybody in foreclosure?" "is there anybody who just wants "out"?" I put up embarrassing "fast cash now" signs on bulletin boards. Then I called every title company and even the courthouse looking for upcoming auctions. I exhausted every avenue i could imagine. The closest thing affordable was a metal pole building that had been converted to a house close to other houses. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't "it". There's also a nice house with a swing set 10 feet from a train track. The wind from the train could literally move the swing. I'm not kidding. I just can't stomach that for my kids.
Yesterday, we were in a far away city and my realtor called. He said there was house in town for a rock bottom cheap price. We drove for 4 hours to go see it. It was right in the middle of town, surrounded by houses and trailers. Two seedy looking men smoking cigarettes outside a near by trailer watched as we opened the door. I waved, feeling creeped out. How could I let my kids go outside? Rottweilers paced behind a fence directly behind. Would they get out? Would my dog bark at them all day? Walking through I kept telling myself "its not that bad". Really, it wasn't. It would have been okay in a different location. I could deal with all of its problems. I convinced myself we should take it. After all, I could walk to work. We argued about which "dirt cheap house" was the best deal. We drove to the river, since I need to be by water. It wasn't that far away. I told him we should "just do it". Finally we agreed. That night when I went to bed, I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned. Then I woke up while it was still dark and went off to pray. I didn't have any peace. "I just can't do it" I told my husband. He was very quiet. I felt bad for dragging him there.
I won't even tell you about my tangled web of Realtors because I might overload your brain. I never meant to have more than one, but the more I asked around, the more they started calling and emailing. I appreciate all their info and encouraged them. The more help, the better, right? Of course, the original one is amazing and we both like him a lot. The others all have their own uniqueness and ability. I'm trying to follow up on all their leads. Uh, how do I keep them straight? Some of them are giving me the same information on the same places. I feel guilty because I hate to have somebody investing time in me who doesn't get paid. I told them that others are emailing me info - I want to be honest. It is fast becoming a tangled web and I have to fight daily to straighten it all out.
Still, the steadfast Word of God says to "Trust" and daily, I do, again. Even though I feel like the Israelites with the sea in front of me and the armies behind me, the song "Deliver Me" keeps resounding in my head and brings me comfort that God parted the waters for them and in His time, He will do the same for me.

predicaments

2011-11-16T16:31:00.001-08:00

Art Dog Hunted Hard For This One :-)
Miss Moonbeam got "her own" guitar. Here she is attempting to practice with sis ;-)

We dog sat "Sherlock" for a couple of weeks - Libby loved it!! Here's one of our many walks.....

Our Good Friend "Fiery" with His Miracle Baby

oh goodness where do i begin?!?! Lets start with this morning. I was laying in bed, snuggling next to my nice warm husband when Miss Libby starts whining. I dragged myself out of bed and headed her to the door. The lock was frozen. Dread overtook me. I saw her squat. "oh no" i thought. I picked her up and rushed her to the other door. Too late! Not only did she pee by the living room door, she peed a trail on the way to the basement. Instead of getting back into bed with my warm husband, I was cleaning up pee which had not only splattered all over my floors, but my robe and feet as well :-( As I type she is laying here passing foul gas at my feet. Will somebody please explain to me why I am a dog person?!?!
Well enough of that mess and on to the next one.... So my husband and I viewed that house I wrote about. Mysterious and alluring on the outside, NIGHTMARE of work to be done of the inside. Still, the thing calls to me. Its like its haunting me already and I haven't even bought it yet. Anyhow, we viewed the monstrous structure. It was a maze of room upon room in terrible disarray. The children had a blast climbing up ladders, popping in and out of trap doors, and winding through room upon endless room. There seemed no end to its monstrosity in both forms, for the thing was monstrous in size and a monstrous amount of work awaits its victim. Still, it calls to me....... I have refrained from telling my realitor this small, non essential bit of information. Nice of a guy though he is, I am betting most of his clients do not hear houses talking to them ;-) That next morning, my husband nonchalantly agreed to make an offer.......

I barely had made lunch when some friends came over to get mechanical help from my husband. Another neighbor came to borrow a tool. Suddenly The Archer came busting in yelling that he'd found an elk herd. Mad chaos erupted and all the eldest children and my husband shuffled out the door in a hurricane like manner. Oh the dramas in my home ;-)
Our good friends middle son lost part of his trigger finger in a tragic accident a few weeks back. Imagine how proud we were to hear that despite the lean hunting going on, he managed to shoot a nice buck. Still in bandages, the kid, by himself, nailed the thing using his middle finger. He tells me "I prayed". We are proud of him!! That alone, should inspire us all.
At times sleep eludes me, at other times I turn on my marvelous heated blanket and snore like an old man ;-) But, alas, it is a restless one. One night I dreamed about the whole entire house dripping in blood. Another time I woke up and saw a heated battle of angels and principalities around its property borders. Still, I have these crazy day dreams about getting swept down that river in my kayak, attempting to swim in the nearby slough and entertaining hand to hand combat along with exchanges of gunfire with angry neighbors who do not want us there. Yes, my mind is a tumultuous sea of imaginations about what might transpire in the future. Bank managers, resembling the one in "Despicable Me" argue over whether to let us have the place or turn it into a high society apartment complex all the while, still conspiring about stealing the moon. It just never ends and could probably entertain you better than a good movie ;-)

Above The Clouds....

2011-11-11T02:34:00.000-08:00

My Daughter Took This While Flying With Her Dad "Above The Clouds".....

Its funny how things seem to stay the same forever and then in an instant... they change!! Take for example my day. Last night I posted something similar to this as my status update on face book:

"a series of unfortunate events has befallen me A.) A dog puked up elk brains on my carpet. B.) My glasses frames were found mangled on the floor, some kind passerby placed the lenses on my dresser C.) My husband is looking at a non house looking structure today. D.) I started my diet. Sympathy is in order......"

Within minutes all kinds of people were commenting.... some offered sympathy (which embarrassed me) Why did I ask for sympathy anyway?!? I was just trying to vent and be funny at the same time. Somebody else was blaming the devil and praying for me. Another person questioned my intelligence that I would feed elk brains to a dog - lol!! I did not feed any dog elk brains. They just got into my sons mess as he was making a European mount of his trophy elk head. He said "mom it wasn't brains", but that didn't help matters. Dog puke is dog puke. Anyhoo, as I was saying, I was so embarrassed of my ridiculous status update that I went in and deleted it within the hour, mortified.

That night I dreamed that I was living in the non house looking structure. I walked through it. I looked into the wood chute and there was only a tiny space that was level. The rest was slanted for wood. I laughed wondering what The Archer would think of having that be his new room, though I knew he wouldn't complain. Next I walked through the falling apart kitchen and smiled. It felt peaceful. Onto my girls, asleep together in a big bed, in a dilapidated room that seemed to be rotting everywhere. Still it was peaceful to see them sleep. The boys room was worse yet, but they were peaceful. All our nice stuff was stuffed around this place that was rotting everywhere, but Gods presence was there. I woke up peaceful and almost laughed out loud. What a bizarre dream..... I remembered again that God promised to take care of me and that He wants to give me something nice and perfect for us. Again and again He whispers "LET ME DO THIS FOR YOU" softly as I wonder.

On to today. So I hurried through the day getting ready to leave for work so I could view another "super cheap" home. I stopped to take time to go for a walk with the kids. We headed over to the lake. We are dog sitting a friends Border Collie mix, so he and Miss Libby happily ran along with us. It was pure bliss to be out enjoying the day. I took time to read "Good and Evil" with Super Catman and help him with his school work. It was so fulfilling. Everything important got done.....

Then there I was trying to follow map quest directions to this house. I parked in the drive and jumped out. It had a big yard with lots of trees around it for privacy. Thick deer were in the field across it. I snapped a picture. As I walked through the yard a group of wild turkeys wandered off. Another picture. The house was old looking, but captured me with its uniqueness. A big monstrous structure, mysterious, alluring..... The more I walked the property the more I started to fall in love with it. This is dangerous, considering what my husband and I think about buying properties can be a vast difference in opinion. My heart sank.... I saw the river through the trees. I can't live without water. It somehow brings me home to peace. There it was. I looked back at the house. Oh this is bad, I shouldn't be falling so hard. Okay, I love this property. Its perfect, but what I want and what God wants are not always the same. I decide to sit and pray a while. Then my husband calls "come fly with me before dark".

Its a mad rush to the airport and in minutes we are circling this small city where it seems God is calling us for the time being. I am loudly praying because this is not my cup of tea. My husband and The Archer tell me that I am making them nervous - whoops! My husband decides to circle the property that I found. The plane jolts sideways and I feel like I'm gonna hurl. They are discussing what they are seeing. They circle again - barf-o-rama. I wish i could take a picture but I have all I can do to hold myself together from loudly praying ;-)

My husband notes my displeasure and circles back to the airport. The sunset is ahead of me - brilliant. The moon is just starting to rise from behind the far mountains. Suddenly the world is an amazing place and I don't want to land. I want to go back to see the property again..... but its too late. We're going to land and I can see the lighted runway. The nausea seems to be subsiding and I wonder why I was so distraught.

In days, weeks, hours I go from the idea of living in a "non house looking structure" to an amazing, mysterious, captivating estate that is just a "possibility" in a sea of many. Oh the ups and downs of house hunting. Better to remain fixed in Gods Presence than to yoyo with the possibilities of what "might be". What will happen to Yaak Adventures and the life I've known these 11 years? Best not to wonder, best to just buckle up and enjoy the ride "above the clouds"......

Things I Am Thankful For

2011-11-08T17:00:00.000-08:00

Here I am again.....waiting on miracles to happen. There is nothing worse than trying to make things "happen" and getting ahead of God, so in memory of all that I have taken the liberty to post some praise reports of things God is doing and has done for our family. We are ON THE EDGE of finding a house to buy near the city because...

- I work there

- Our oldest is taking his CNA training there and has to work 6 months in exchange for the training.

- My husband is working there at the airport. We're super excited because he is trading a good portion of his labor for air time/training. He can finally get his commercial pilots license after all these years. That would be such a good thing for him :-)

- The commute in the winter is an hour and a half one way.

And so in light of that, my husband has assigned me the duty of finding a house and organizing financing, etc. It is a lot of work. I remember last winter I was focused on "Operation Hawaii" which never happened. I hated wasting all that time and energy on something that didn't happen. Part of me wants to push ahead and "make things happen". The other part of me doesn't want to do anything at all because of the times things didn't work out when I invested a lot of time and energy. Still that Still Small Voice reminds me to plod on purposefully, not taking any of that into account. So here are my reminders, maybe for myself, of things God has already done.................

1. The Archer got his bull elk this past weekend!! That man hunted hard with incredible skill and cunning. If you heard his story of how he bagged this big boy, you'd feel awed at his amazing hunting ability. Speaking of The Archer, he has faced many a wild predator of the forest and still came home.....

2. Art Dog got lost in the woods this past week. He finally found a creek to follow out, but wouldn't have made it out till after dark. As he was praying, The Still Small Voice told him to go up a hill. He didn't want to because the creek was all he knew for sure. Still, he obeyed and it caused him to find his way out before dark. He also faced a Grizzley bear this past fall and came home unharmed.

3. I once made a 300,000 real estate error by "pushing" and God delivered us out of it supernaturally by putting a $50 black and white no picture ad in a major paper once. This was after 3 Realtor listings of it!!

4. I've been married for 20 years and God has not only some how kept us together, but He continues to work miracles in us.

5. We once bought a repossession and sold it for a good profit by my putting up an ad on a bulletin at a grocery store.

6. Our heavy equipment business came from nothing, served a purpose, and maintains no debt.

7. God spared The Sock Fashion Expert's finger when we were in India, as she had a terrible crushing injury causing an open fracture to it.

8. God healed Art Dog's head after he had a traumatic fall many years ago. Thats another amazing story altogether....

9. I prayed for friends one day and God gave me all kinds of good ones who are life long wonderful women of depth who inspire and encourage me in amazing ways. They enrich my life on a regular basis...

10. I some how made it through nursing school all those year ago and I get to have a job I love working in an Emergency Room.

11. I got to have a super awesome summer - including my cousins wedding, scads of camping adventures, a 20th wedding honeymoon with a boat, athletic endeavors, tanning, water and all manner of fun.

12. My husband has a job he loves to do.

13. My kids all love God. They all hear Him. They all serve Him.

14. When we moved to Montana, we didn't have the money to even get here and God supernaturally provided in so many amazing and miraculous ways.

15. After a tragic miscarriage, God gave me Miss Moonbeam. He said "before these blossoms come again you will have a baby" and I did.

16. He said there was "destiny" in things that took time to happen, but they did.

17. I got to see India for 2 months and meet the family I spent my whole life wondering about.

18. I got my puppy Miss Libby Liberty after waiting soooo long :-)

19. My husband has spent a lot of time lately trying to make me happy. We even got to go out on a date last week :-)

20. As messed up as a kid as I was, I somehow have stumbled into a wonderful life with a good family and a lot of love. Most thankfully, God has been faithful to keep me close :-)

21. I somehow lost and kept off almost 50lbs. So many things I never thought I could do, I have done.....

Okay, well thats a good start to a lot of things I am thankful for. There are many many more. Surely finding a cheap, but livable place for our family is something God is very capable of providing :-) I bet it won't be long before I have to edit "Yaak Adventures" to a new chapter of living......

Great Grandmother Extravaganza!!

2011-10-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

kite flying on top a mtn

great grandmother l loves our libby!

super cat man wanted to impress great grandma g who is afraid of birds
all of us ontop a mtn

my husband takes his grandmothers flying!

my mother in law

great grandmothers about to be airborne!

they take off!

my father in law

miss moona waiting...

legos with uncle chett

watching "Second Hand Lions"

Miss Moonbeam with her name sake great grandmothers

all the grandmas

A lot has gone on since I last posted and I don't even know where to begin...... We were super thankful to get to visit my husbands mom, dad and two grandmothers for an entire week! It was a privilege. The kids were so thrilled to spend time with them all and make a lot of fun memories with them. There was a lot of laughing, eating and fun going on!!

It wasn't without conflict, though. I can't say a lot about it, but some scary goings ons happened while they were here and my life is turned upside down for a while having to change our routines and try to out guess what could be going through the mind of a mad man....

My husband started working at the airport again. I am happy for him and his opportunities. He has always loved flying, and anything to do with airplanes. Last night he went "night flying" with a friend and stayed in town. I was hysterically sad not to have him home.

The Archer started CNA (certified nurses assistant) classes. It won't be long before he is in scrubs :-) If he likes it, he may think about getting his RN. Of course I don't want to get my hopes up, but I am glad he is getting this learning experience. No matter what he decides to do, he'll be good at it..... Its fun to listen to him reading and studying and telling his brothers and sisters about it.

Its hard getting back to "normal" life, especially with so many unknowns. I just keep working on doing that verse from Matthew 11 -
"28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

- and keep trusting God will take care of our family through each change and transition ahead......

Healthful Harvesting

2011-10-14T14:58:00.000-07:00

Please see my fitness blog for this post....

The Domestic Altercation At Our Home

2011-10-07T14:11:00.000-07:00

I was enjoying a leisurely visit on the phone when all of the chaos erupted. I could hear madness going on about my living quarters, however I chose to lend a deaf ear. It wasn't every day I got to visit with my sister and hear about her new baby and my adorable little nieces. It wasn't until my mother barged into the the bedroom loudly crying "something just ate your puppy!" that I paid any attention at all to the brew-ha. "What?!?!" I gasped, and rushed out to see doors flying, flashlights and men with guns. A sick feeling grabbed the very bottom of my stomach. "Could something really have eaten my puppy?" I stared out into the blackness of the open living room door. It dawned on me that whatever it was was still out there and I ushered the door shut. My puppy was not in her usual place right outside the door on the deck waiting to be let in. I gulped slowly. Fighting panic, I rushed to the next window to look out. Relief flooded me when I saw the troop of armed men and boys with flashlights and the puppy following close behind. How did all this come about anyway? What dangers lurked out there in the black night air?
Here's what happened to the Archer :
The Archer was sitting on the computer looking at hunting gear. He heard a yelping. As he was getting up, he saw something big run by the window. He shouted "somethings got the puppy" while running for his gun. He rushed outside into the darkness.
Here's what happened to my mother, dad and the kids:
They heard The Archer. They rushed around for guns and flashlights. My mom headed for my bedroom and looked out the windows.
Here's what happened to my Husband:
He was outside looking for dry kindling to start a fire. He heard the puppy yelping. He ran around the side of the house to see what was going on. Not having a flashlight with him, he ran around the side of the house under the window that The Archer happened to catch a glimpse out of in the dark. He was anything but pleased at the prospect of having been mistaken for a wild beast of the night.
Here's what happened to the puppy:
Details are sketchy, but we piece together a domestic dispute occurred between she and Puma Kitty. Unfortunately it was followed by a domestic altercation and Puma Kitty resorted to violence. No law enforcement was involved in this dispute, though we have suggested Puma Kitty seek anger management counselling. He is considering the matter, though noncommittal. Libby, our puppy, spent the rest of the evening being coddled by her distraught and relieved foster mother ;-) We all had a good laugh!!

THE RESCUE!!

2011-10-01T20:11:00.000-07:00

When the phone rang, I dutifully picked it up. It was a lazy Saturday afternoon, and I'd just accomplished my biggest aspiration of the day, namely a 2 hour nap on my outdoor swing. We'd been suddenly awakened by the phone at 6:30 am that morning and I'd had to surrender my warm husband to giving some of our good friends a ride. Really, neither of us minded. They are good friends. But I was in a sleep hungover daze now, and not particularly in the mood for a chat.
Minda our neighbor lady was on the other line with a worrisome voice. Miss Minnie down the road had gone MISSING!! Time stopped and I knew that this meant our peaceful afternoon and evening would be anything but. My husband and Art Dog were out bear hunting. My eldest was sleeping sprawled across the floor. He was getting his well deserved nap after a week of construction work. I hated to wake him. Moonbeam was napping and my eldest daughter, "The Sock Fashion Expert" now named "Saphara" after God's all consuming fire, was taking a well deserved break on the computer.
My mom and dad have been up visiting for the past week. Dad was napping on the couch and mom was reading. It was fine time to go off gallivanting across the country side in search of a missing person, but neighbors are neighbors and ours was in trouble. This is not the first time Miss Minnie has gone missing. Last year, she slept out in the woods with her dogs one night. This was no way for a lady in her 70's to spend the night and we weren't about to allow that to happen again. It was nearing 5pm and I knew I needed to usher the troops off at top speed. Time was of the utmost importance.
Knowing the older kids could cover more ground, I dispatched them on their motorcycles as quickly as I could. Moonbeam turned out to be soaked in urine deep in her slumber. It was a precarious event getting us all out the door, but I knew it must be done. Super Catman was contending with me over his need for weaponry on such an occasion and my mother was rounding up a whistle to blow. Saphara was frustrated at first, but when she went into the basement, God started dealing with her heart. She closed her eyes. God said "Change your attitude. You're going to find her."
When at last we drove away, uncertainty lurked. Partly it was my husband gone. Partly it was the rushing around. Partly it was that The Archer spotted some individuals darting around the woods trying to elude him as he drove by. He'd recently heard there had been theft and vandalism around here.
Dread lurked as I knocked on Miss Minnie's door. Nobody answered. Her husband, "The Woodsman" was no where around. Most likely he was out looking himself. I scrawled a note on the door and we formed a plan of action. Saphara and The Archer parked their motorcycles and headed up one of her trails. The property is a vast acreage. "The Woodsman" was born here. His father homesteaded this property. He'd lived here all his years with the exception of time spent serving our country in war. When he was young, his father was killed. When he was 17 his mother left to remarry. Stubbornly, he remained on his land. Today, with many a year added, he still resides, firm, strong, undaunting. He's not a man of many words, but when he called for help looking, it was without doubt, necessary.
Saphara and The Archer, on motorcycles began driving all over the vast premises. My Mother, Super Catman and I manned the road with Miss Moonbeamer and the stroller in tow. My mother began blowing the shrill whistle. We all took turns yelling and listening as we walked for a couple of miles along the road side of the property. As time passed more people began showing up to join the search party. We were a motley crew. My mother blowing that whistle and yelling at Super Catman to stay in sight. Super Catman wishing "we could be lost so it would be more exciting" and Miss Moonbeam sitting there proud and prissy, getting away with drinking the rest of my Pepsi. Though it didn't seem like much, and my ears were ringing from the constant whistling, I knew we were doing the right thing. Miss Minnie had her dogs with her and every so often I kept thinking I could hear them bark. It was so far away, it was almost impossible to tell where it was coming from.
Saphara had gone a long ways. "I can't imagine her going this far". The still small voice led her on. Finally, in frustration, she knelt down on her knees and began praying. Suddenly the winds of the Spirit blew and Saphara had a vision. She saw tall tall weeds. She saw a big stick. She saw Miss Minnie.........
Saphara walked on. Soon she saw the big field of tall tall weeds. It was the same one she'd seen in her vision. A big fluffy dog emerged. It looked at her and paced back and forth. She followed it into the tall tall weeds. There was Miss Minnie!!! She was waving a big stick in the weeds. She was confused. Saphara gently led her by the hand out of the tall tall field of weeds. She sat her down. She fired 3 shots with her Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt. She waited. Nothing. She was too far away. She was going to have to go for help herself! Saphara gently explained for Miss Minnie to sit there with her dogs. Then she ran for help. She found a couple of men from the search party with a radio. One went for a vehicle. The other came with her.. Saphara led one of the men to her. Miss Minnie was safe at last....
Suddenly an entourage of cars went rushing past from where we'd just been. I heard somebody down the road saying she'd been found. Relief. Imagine how proud I was to hear that it was my daughter who had found her. I knew my kids had a way in the woods and that if anybody could find her it would be them, but I was even more pleased to hear about the vision from God. I've always taught my kids to be sensitive to God's voice. Seeing it in action, helping others, well there's nothing so rewarding. What more could a mom ask for but to know her kids love God and know Him?
Miss Minnie was surrounded by a big group of friends, neighbors and family when we got back to her place. Saphara was smiling, but quiet. It was The Archer who told me about the vision and rescue. I looked over Miss Minnie and gave her a hug. I figured there was enough hoopla going on and it was time for us to head home. Saphara, the heroine, got on her Honda XR 100. She was wearing a simple pair of brown slacks and black sweatshirt, but her Ruger glistened at her side and her metallic, brilliant red hair sparkled in the evening sun. Quiet and modest, nobody could help but to watch her drive away with a bit of awe and respect. It was like the hero riding away modestly after saving the day, come to think of it, thats exactly what it was........ selah.

You Pierced What?!?!

2011-09-27T20:37:00.000-07:00

story on my fitness blog

My GUT WRENCHING woes and ohs....

2011-09-15T19:31:00.000-07:00

Mr. Grizzly Bear Hung Out Underneath The Archers Tree Stand Last Week - UGH!

Today He Got This Big Ol' She Bear!

Here is the Pack Out Crew!

Normally, I would not put up a blog post so soon after the last one, but its been a week of extraordinary events and lately I've found myself feeling like I'm going to hurl over one thing or another so in the sheer attempt to debrief, I will tell you my many tales of woe and oh!!
Last week, Kevin III was up in his tree stand archery hunting. One day, he missed an elk. Another day, he was stalked by a large bear who he never got a good shot at. The day after that, A GRIZZLY BEAR hung out underneath his tree stand!! If that isn't enough for a mama to pray about, read on......
On Monday, I called the consignment place where we left our Suburban at. It had been on the lot for one day and off the lot for a week and a half. They claimed a week ago it was "being checked out by a mechanic". A week and a half later, it was still missing. I told them I was coming to get it.
Tuesday, I was leery about facing the creepy car salesman. "Be nice" my daughter chastened me. Nervously, we parked at a neighboring lot and walked over. When we got there, nobody was there and the place was locked down. Finally, after making several phone calls, the creepy car salesman showed up. Thankfully, he handed me the title and keys without trouble. Still, my imagination had gone wild, and I was a nervous wreck. After that, i had a several hour computer class at the hospital.
When I got home, the house was a horrible disaster. The boys and Miss Moonbeam had survived the day safely, but the house had not. I escaped outside to focus. Puppy and Miss Moonbeam in tow, I breathed deeply. No sooner had I walked in the house than Super Catman announced "something was wrong with his braces". He had been eating the breakfast cereal I bought for dinner. Quizzically, I gazed in his mouth to discover that HIS BRACES WERE BROKEN AND HE HAD INADVERTENTLY EATEN PART OF THEM!! Well.. just a small piece, but wire none the less!! " OH GOD"I thought. My stomach lurched and I thought I might pass out right there. "Whats next?" With prayers and petitions, I phoned the Orthodontist and Emergency Department. "Uh.. my son accidentally ate part of his braces along with his breakfast cereal" just sounds so so preposterous......
Both MDs assured me that it would likely pass, as did my brother in law "This too shall pass" - lol!! Should he have any cramping or fever it would mean xrays and possible surgery. I am PRAYING it will, indeed, pass. Today, when the boy informed me of his desire to defecate, I sentenced him to Miss Moonbeams potty frog. After that, we took the doodoo outdoors to smear upon a rock together and search for the culprit to our woes. No luck. I guess I will be dissecting poop again tomorrow......
PMS should be enough, but its not. Today, I waited on pins and needles wondering why the Orthodontist hadn't called me back. My husband discovered that the whole spacer was hanging there by one wire. Apparently there was more damage than just the eaten, broken wire. Finally, I called and talked to somebody who gave us instructions on manual dismemberment of a spacer. Again, my guts wretched as my husband laid our boy on the table to do the job. I just don't know if I'm cut out for all of this!! I am literally "all thumbs". Last week, I some how sliced both thumbs (at different times).
This afternoon, my eldest shot a big ol' she bear. As you may guess, my house will soon be overcome with the powerful odor of rendering bear fat. He took the kids along to help him pack it out. I stayed home and gave Miss Moonbeam and puppy undue instruction as I constructed some enchiladas and pear crisp. After that, I talked to the nice body piercing lady about Miss Virtuous and scheduled her dreaded appointment for a NOSE PIERCING. Do pray for me this week..........

Attack of The Mutant Crazy Horror Movie Infestations

2011-09-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

Miss Virtuous doing her thang.....

Our Friend and her baby (I still have to give her a blog name)....

Their Family

Goat Girl's Foster Son with the clay cow he made

Goat Girl and her foster boyz

Me and Miss Moona

Playing by the campfire....

Goat girl and Hubby

The boyz having crazy fun - not a flame thrower ;-) Its a sappy stick...

Miss Moonbeam succumbed.....

Art dog with Goat girls #2 Foster son

The Archer finds a pair of $230 Italian Sunglasses snorkeling - the boys are impressed!

Taking Miss Moonbeam on a walk

The Moonbeamer!

Friend with son...

Giving Rides...

Archer with his designer snorkeling find! Isn't he handsome ?!

Me and the girlz

Three Too Cool Here For this Picture!!

Sherlock is giving our pup some lessons in "fetch"

The Archer loves our pooch :-)

My girls in the boat...

Me and my pup!

It was a day I had looked forward to with MUCH anticipation. Having worked most of the week, and working a 12 hour night shift, getting off the morning of the big day, I was EXHAUSTED and ready for sand, sun and water. We had arranged to meet with a bunch of our friends and play in the sand and water together. It was the kind of thing dreams are made of.... except a growing frustration began to overtake me. I was jam packed in the Tundra, with puppy on my lap. Miss Moonbeam was stuffed in her seat next to me. "Stuff" was jammed around us and I could barely breathe it was so warm and stuffy. The beautiful waters were out there awaiting me, but my husband kept looking for the "right place" to camp along them. He loves 4wding and exploring. I was tired, nauseated and I had to go pee.....

We had left the boys with the boat at the boat access in order that my dear husband could "scout". Just when I thought I may get teary, he drove onto the perfect oasis of a place. A giant secluded sandbar in a remote bay. It was perfect. Our friends would gasp at its beauty and vastness. My husband was proud of it. Then we got out. I was supposed to make some quick sandwiches so he could get the boat. I noticed a few yellow jacket type bee things. Then a few more. Gingerly, I opened the bread on the coolers and set up an assembly line of sandwiches along with lovely deli turkey and bread. The rest of the family unloaded THE ENTIRE back of the truck of gear. Suddenly, it happened! Scary music please. REALLY SCARY MUSIC!

Bees flew out of no where. They surrounded me. They started landing on the meat, the cheese, the bread. They crawled on the sandwiches. They were everywhere. As fast as I swatted them off, they jumped back on. Stuff was falling off the coolers, the beautiful expensive pound of meat was getting ruined! One stung me! It burned bad! I rushed into the lake to cool it off. When I got back they had TAKEN OVER the sandwiches. Hurriedly, I tried to stuff them together to hide in the car. Another one stung me! I was just sure that some of the horrid creatures were in between the bread slices and somebody would eat one! As I carried them to the truck they swarmed around me angrily!! I lost it..... My husband was getting ready to drive away and leave us all here! I got hysterical. He got mad. The bees kept circling. The kids were afraid. It was awful. Me, the fearless emergency department nurse and mother of 5 had a melt down right there. No sleep for 34 hours, caffeine with drawl, I don't know. All I know is that I wasn't going to be left here to be stung again. I couldn't even protect the kids. How could anybody possibly cook anything here let alone eat? This beautiful, picturesque place had quickly evolved into TERROR and CHAOS! It was hard to imagine that just a few weeks before these settings were pure heaven for me.....

My husband loaded everything back in, quite annoyed. He took us to another place. He had to drive a crazy 4wd route to get there. I read my Bible trying to pull myself to some semblance of sanity. The Sock Fashion Expert was melting fast. The boys were waiting.... Nothing seemed good. When at last he dropped us off, we hauled EVERYTHING again, out of the back of the truck. We saw a few bees. They milled around. One stung Moonbeam! I could feel myself losing it again. My husband left quickly. The Sock Fashion Expert wilted. She sat out in the water trying to avoid bees with a forlorn look on her face, head between her knees. Would there be any hope for a good weekend with this dire crisis? Read on and see.....

I can't say everything got better instantly. I was tired.... very tired. I couldn't keep functioning without some kind of rest. Bees still flew around, but they were not as bad. We were afraid to eat, but did it quickly. A few came around, but they didn't swarm us. I tried to keep it together. After a swim and rest in the sand, and a beverage, my mood improved significantly. Still, it took the better part of the nice day just to find the spot. That night, my husband wouldn't let puppy in our tent. I wanted to cry again. He left the door open and she ended up sneaking in and sleeping on our feet anyway.

The next morning, early, we zipped puppy out. She proceed to make her own entry by ripping a hole by our heads. Her head popped in. We yelled. She ran away. Five minutes her little head popped in through the hole. Cute as it was, she got her nose smacked. Away she ran again. Things improved. My husband didn't say much about the incident as I feared he would.

That morning was beautiful. My husband decided to move us down the beach 1/4 mile to where there was vehicle access for our friends who were coming. I ran along the beach barefoot with puppy following. It was idyllic. My husband drove the boat along with all our stuff piled in.

Sure enough, there was yellow jacket sign all along the beach. Sock Fashion Expert was concerned. This time,I felt peace. I had read a chapter out of the Bible that morning, and I felt ready to trust God again. My husband said "this is so frustrating - these beautiful places and they just ruin it". Finally, I didn't think he was mad at me about it all. It was the bees, not each other. After unloading stuff, I rested. My husband and the boys went on a killing rampage full of carnage and death. In the wake, scads of yellow jackets lay dead for probably 1/8 of a mile. When I made lunch a few came, but I remained calm. When my husband left to get the truck and meet our friends, my boys went all out making Yellow Jacket traps out of plastic bottles. I had placed a 1 cent bounty on each body. I slept and lounged in the sand and played in the water all day and the Yellow Jackets became few and far between. The power of God and THE FULL FORCE of my family had overcome them. Everything would be okay.

That day turned into the greatest day ever. As friends started showing up, they all were awed by the beauty of the remote sandy cove. Nobody minded that it took some crazy 4wding to get there. Children played. Kids who had never camped before got to camp for the first time ever in this beautiful paradise of powdery sand, sun and water. My friend, Goat Girl, put on some swim stuff I gave her and she looked so beautiful in it. She came alive and played in the water and clay a good long time. It was like God was smiling on us all over again. The horror of the bees had past and everything was happy again. That night we spent a long time around the campfire. Sock Fashion Expert and another friend played guitar and sang worship songs. It was idyllic. The boys ran around with flaming sticks as if they were "Lord of the Flies" or something, uh..not. They built a campfire of their own and I can't say I have ever seen some of those kids have so much fun. I felt so happy to be able to give them this beautiful place to play. The day was beautiful. The sun, the sand and water was simply intoxicating. My husband even conceded and let puppy sleep in our tent ;-)
It kind of makes me think of how many people start out doing something and quit because there is a lot of adversity. Had we never perservered, we'd have never enjoyed the fruit of such a beautiful place. It wasn't just for my family. Our friends benefitted too. Especially the little boys who'd never gone camping or for a boat ride. It was extra special for them, a memory they can always cherish. Don't let fear or adversity ever dictate your path. Plow through it and send those Mutant Crazy Horror Movie Infestations back to kingdom come ;-)

My New Foster Daughter

2011-09-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

Isn't she sweet?!

Art Dog teaching her "fetch"

Puma Kitty is rather unhappy about this new turn of events....

We took her to the lake, and she got a little tired walking.....and wanted to be carried.

She was much more presentable after her bath.....

Miss Moonbeam tried walking her and things got a little tangled up.....

In the pink striped dress.....precious

Doesn't she look smart?!?

In the flower dress....sweet!

The Sock Fashion Expert was not all that thrilled, but seems to be warming up to her ;-)

Congratulations are in order! Yes, I am the proud new foster mama (of a dog) lol!! Its quite an exciting tale ( for me anyway)!! I've been waiting a L-O-N-G time :-)

Zinc Arkansas Miracle was the best dog EVER!! Zinc for short. We had him for many many years. He was a once in a lifetime kind of dog, rated right up there with Lassie and Rin Tin Tin. His story was the kind legends are made of...... Back when I was pregnant with Art Dog, I barely got off from work so we could make a trip into the Ozark Mountains of Zinc, Arkansas. It was a cold Spring in Minnesota and we were excited to be going some place warm for the week. Nobody at work wanted to give me the days off and it was nothing short of a miracle. Thrilled, we packed our kiddies up and made the trek over with my in laws. Flowers were blooming there and everybody was anxious to be out hiking. For quite some time, I had deeply desired a dog, a German Shepherd, but my husband had said "no dogs" and "especially no German Shepherds". With that in mind, I didn't even pray for one because I didn't want to go against my husband. Crazy as it would seem, wild dogs were running around down there and somebody had shot one leaving it up on a bluff. The one it ran with would run and snarl and dodge bullets, but once its companion was shot, it loyally remained near the body. Night and day it stayed there. One man held a gun up to it, but something made him stop. This time the dog no longer seemed to care, and just looked at him. "Its up there" he said.

I had been gone shopping and when I got back, my son, The Archer, was petting this wild dog that had come down off the mountains. Scrawny and wild, this dog had survived in the wilderness for some time, though there was something of kindness and intelligence to him. "He's probably full of ticks and worms, but you can take him home if you want to". I couldn't believe my ears. My own real German Shepherd mix dog! It was such an exciting day! That dog was the most wonderful dog ever. His exploits and honorable behavior is too long to mention here, but he learned fast and protected the children many many times. His death was 5 years ago this past spring. He was sadly missed, though he lived a very very full life.

For 5 long years, I waited for my husband to agree to another dog. About 6-9 months ago he said "okay" but had rather strict specifications. Month after month I emailed him pound pups and newspaper ads, but none of them impressed him at all. Many times I'd ask to stop at the pound and many times he'd always say "not today". Still, I never gave up looking. The other night at work, there I was on pet finder again. We happened to be going through another city on the way home and he asked me where all I wanted to stop. "Hmmm....thrift stores and the pound" was my usual answer. After all our stops, there we were driving home and I didn't mention a second thought about the you know what. Would you believe he drove up to the pound?! "Do you want to come in?" I asked gingerly. "No" he said " don't go picking out any run of the mill dogs. It has to be special. If its a special dog, I will come and look." I could hardly believe it! Dogs barked everywhere jumping up and down. It was a little overwhelming. Then I saw this sweet little puppy from across the yard. I just couldn't see any other dog after seeing her. She was so little and lost and my heart just melted. Instead of jumping up and down and barking, she just wanted to be cuddled. I couldn't bear to put her down so I asked the lady if I could show her to my husband. Turns out she couldn't be adopted until she was fixed, but she could be "fostered". I had had an application on file there for months and was already approved. "No puppies" my husband reminded me as I brought her out. "No big dogs" was another specification and she was a Lab puppy. Come to think of it, Labs were also not on his list of favorites ;-) When I explained the "Foster Mama" idea he seemed to think. I didn't have to pay for her yet. We could just take her home and "Foster her". If she didn't work out, she could go back. Amazingly, he said "YES!"

The rest was all a happy blur. There I was all muddy cuddling this little puppy and the nice pound ladies were loading me up with a dog dish, toys and a gigantic bag of puppy food! Since we've gotten her home, she's been such a good girl! Everybody in the family has different plans for her. The Archer has already taken her for walks, a motorcycle ride, swimming a few times and has been teaching her about how to find sheds. He has high hopes she will be quite the hunting dog and shed finder. Super Catman and Art Dog are working on "Fetch". Miss Moonbeam mainly doesn't want to be jumped on. Me, well house training and coming to being called are my biggies. She's making great progress in only a few days.

Today before work, I was lying on the swing trying to get a nap in before my night shift. Miss Moonbeam came to snuggle and poke and do what 3 year olds do. Puppy came home from her "swimming lesson" with Archer and wanted to snuggle too. There I was lying on the swing with a 3 year old and a wet, shivery pup. It was a crowded spot, but a happy one ;-)

We considered a lot of names... Penelope, Patience, Ebony, Dingo, Tabitha, Samantha, Luna, Cinder, the name ideas just kept coming. Finally we settled on Libby Liberty. Libby being her first name and Liberty the middle one. I'm sure we will be having a lot of adventures ahead with little Libby.......

My "SparkOmatic" EXTRAordinary 20th Wedding Anniversary EXTRAVAGANZA!!

2011-08-29T18:44:00.000-07:00

The Most Wonderful, Most Romantic and Memorable Get Away EVER!!

Relaxing on remote beaches to sleep in the sand under the starry skies in the eveings....

He read me Patrick McManus and I read him Bill Johnson.

Refreshing Mornings.......

"Where do you want to go?" "I don't know - where do you want to go?"

Me diving off the rocks...

Hiking and exploring above a remote beach....

***********************************************************************************

On Sunday, we met up with the kids. As you can see, they were ready for fun!!

- Super Catman -

Catman and ArtDog

Miss Moonbeamer "yikes the beach"

The Girls

Miss Moonbeam waiting while the older kids are cliff jumping and diving....

My husband, Sock Fashion Expert and Archer doing a big jump together....

We missed the kids, but had a super fun time ALONE together!! I was glad to see my babies though....

ALL the kids love the boat!! SFE's perpetual smile....

Miss Moonbeam wasn't all that sure about going out in the water, but she loves her Daddy....

The Boys pretty much FROLICKED, wrestled and played all day!!

Smiling ArtDog

Miss Moonbeam "yikes the boat and yikes to drive"

Hard at play with The Fam

Me Diving off the rocky cliffs....

Archer Diving......

My husband encourages me as I "do it afraid"......

My amazing Son "swims his camera" over to the cliffs for these crazy jumping and diving pics!!

Miss Moonbeam played all afternoon with the cooking dishes we found along with her "sand purse"

Remote, Sandy Beaches, Big Clumps o' Clay for playing, Pristine Waters, Ninety Degree Sunshine, What More Could A Person Ask For?

Back around tax return time, I reminded my dear husband rather bluntly that it was our 20th wedding anniversary this year. He responded with "let me worry about that" and proceeded to pay off our debts and spend the money, "harrumph" rather wisely. Me, well I would have spent it going some exotic place......

Month by month, day by day, I worried the anniversary like a dog on a bone. "Uh, by the way, what do you think we should do for that big anniversary?" I'd hint subtly with the nonchalance of a neurotic baboon. The more I badgered him about it the less he was willing to discuss it and the more I began dreading the big day's arrival. I had this gnawing fear that I would be home doing nothing other than drowning in a mosquito infested swamp of self pity.

Finally, about 2 days before our anniversary, my husband said out of the blue. "What would you think about buying a boat?" "What?!?!" I asked, rather shocked. He'd been looking at houseboats, like we'd done for our 15th and he decided that it would make more sense just to buy a boat than throw a lot of money away renting one for a few days. He's just one of those practical minded people who can't stand to waste money. After thinking about it, I knew it was a great idea. Whats not to like about buying a boat? I'd been asking for us to buy one for as long as we've been married. It seemed like something he could peacefully spend money on and something that would satisfy a deep craving for romance that I'd been longing for.

Then he showed me an awesome one on Craigs list in a far away city. It was perfect. The next day, we embarked on the adventure. Turns out, it was a super nice family man who owned it and took care of it like a child. He was such a great guy that he threw in anchors, safety stuff, a pile of life jackets and even some oil and other assorted doo dads. My husband was real pleased and I could hardly contain my excitement.

It was well past lunch, but I couldn't possibly imagine eating once that boat was in our possession. I didn't want to do anything but try it out!! He was rather pleased that I had lost interest in the idea of eating in the big city. In the end, we took it out on Ponderay and had so much fun!! Then we docked her and ate at a restaurant not far from the lake. The novelty of docking a boat to go eat was just too much fun ;-)

That week, the official "anniversary get away" plans were full in motion. My husband worked like crazy getting stuff ready. By Friday morning, he was exhausted. Luckily, as he was leaving he happened to find he'd almost walked out the door without the keys to the boat!! Yikes!! With Archer and Sock Fashion Expert in charge, we left confident that they could handle anything that might arise. We also had a cell phone along just in case. I could hardly contain the excitement!!

After an hours drive, we were out on Lake Koocanusa in no time and embarking on our adventure!! "What do you want to do?" "I don't know what do you want to do?" "Where do you want to go?" "I don't know, where do you want to go?" We sounded just like newbie daters ;-) It ws so exciting!! First we anchored at a remote cove so my husband could take a well deserved nap. I didn't last long with those beatiful, remote sandy beaches and beckoning green waters calling my name. I had to dive out and swim for shore so I could go exploring along the beach. Drift wood everywhere, powdery fine sand, big globs of clay. Could this not be an exotic paradise after all?! It was as close to heaven on earth that I could possibly imagine. Suddenly, flashbacks came from dreams I'd had as a little girl and I knew I'd walked this beach before. This was my destiny, realized, and this was the man, all along that God had intended just for me......

After swimming back to the boat, with a little persuasion, my husband woke up and swam the cove with me to explore paradise. It was probably 90 degrees and the waters were just perfect. We ran and played along the beach together like it was some kind of honeymoon paradise. It was like living out the most romantic movie ever..... After a good long while, we swam back to the boat. Some people had pulled ashore, but they were off in the distance and we never talked to them.

Next, we found a private cove to camp in. It was a beautiful place, and I couldn't imagine wanting to sleep in tent. He built a fire, and I warmed up some food on our camp stove. While sitting around the fire, he read me Patrick McManus stories and I read him Bill Johnson. It was idyllic. Then we snuggled up in our zipped together bags under the stars. Its the stuff dreams are made of :-)

In the morning we didn't have to go anywhere in a hurry and planned our our next days adventure. It was incredible fun just playing in the sand and water!! He found some cliffs and tied the boat up a ways off. After sunning a while, I couldn't imagine not playing on the rocks, so I swam over and dove off a few while he took pictures. He even gave me a foot massage. I felt so pamered!!! Everything about the whole weekend made me feel so blessed and pampered. It was like God just smiled down on us and gave us the perfect weather, and the most ideal everything. Later on he swam over to the cliffs with me and encouraged me up them higher. For a while, I sat paralyzed with fear on one, but he coaxed me off. After a while, I realized that the fear was never going to leave. I just had to "jump afraid". Then I felt like once I'd conquored fear, there were no limits anymore and anything was possible. Shaking and afraid, I did it again, but higher :-)

That afternoon, he took it out to choppy waters in another part of the lake and let the boat rock like crazy just for fun. I turned the radio on an old rock channel and as if on cue, the "Bad Company" song he dedicated to me and recorded for me when I was 16 came on. Again, it was like God just smiled on us and made everything passionate, romantic and euphorically wonderful.

Camping and exploring that evening was much the same, except that it was more like a dream than a reality. The stars were bright above us and the world was a wonderful place. We even saw some crazy ufos, though he makes fun of what I see when I don't have my glasses on ;-) In the morning, the kids woke us up at 7am sharp to tell us they were leaving. We laughed at how prompt they were. The kids were to meet us at the docks Sunday morning so they could spend the last day of the trip with us.

All of it would have been pulled off wonderfully except for the small inconvenience that the key somehow got bumped to the "on" positon and the battery was stone dead. Fortunately, the boat came with an extra little motor, and we trolled our way back. My smart man switched batteries with the car the kids drove so he could take them out for the day.

As you can see from the pics, the kids had a wonderful time too. We took them all over, showed them the cliffs and the remote beaches and let them play in the beautiful pristine waters all day long. It was another scorcher of a day and perfect for water play of all types. As if on cue, a little pink bag was left on one remote beach with toy cooking dishes perfect for Miss Moonbeam. She entitled it her "sand purse" and played all day with the dishes in the sand. Another beach had a crazy looking face on a ball one of the boys claimed. All day long the kids never stopped smiling. The Sock Fashion Expert had spend THE ENTIRE DAY before making all kinds of things from scratch for the day. She made 3 kinds of home made crackers, bean dip from dried beans, casadias and home made grahm crackers for s'mores. She'd thought of everything. Whan an amazing girl!! All in all, I can't possibly tell how wonderful the weekend was. All I can say is that it was the BEST ANNIVERSARY GET AWAY EVER!! And some of the best days of my life :-)

My Cousins Wedding

2011-08-22T19:20:00.001-07:00

"You may kiss the bride"

Sisters...

The Romantic Wedding Dance...

The Bride and Groom with her parents

My Uncle was a real party animal!

"Biana" dances with her Dad

My Uncle with "The Sock Fashion Expert"

Super Catman drove a hard bargain - I had to agree to doing TWO of his dishes turns in exchange for ONE dance with him ;-) It was worth it, though, when the dancers grabbed him and started flipping him around - lol!

Moonbeam was also a well sought out dance partner ;-)

My Cousin, "Biana" escorted by her parents during the wedding march.

Super Catman shows my cousin a snake he has found (they are pointing for him to take it away!!)

The most incredible wedding dinner I have EVER eaten!!

Us girls with my cousin, the bride!!

It was so romantic!!

And he did dance with me!! To "I can't help falling in love with you". Oh it was time stopping!!

Life is crazy busy as usual, but that's no surprise. As I sit here at the computer, relaxing after a crazy weekend, my 20 year old's instructional video on how to use his new tree stand is blaring in the background as my son and boys watch with rapt attention. I can just see where this is going (on another adventure). Life is just crazy, funny and crazy some more. Amazingly we got to go to my cousin, Biana's wedding in Bellingham, WA, which is the post I'm currently working on. All except the two eldest boys, that is, they managed the homefront in our absence :-)

It was only a week or two before the big day when my husband cleared us for the drive. In that time frame, all the campgrounds were booked solid within a hundred mile radius with the exception of spending almost $100 at a koa. That seemed pretty ridiculous, so we began looking into hotels. When we saw what lousy deals those were, I started to panic, but slowly felt this assurance that God was going to give us the best. With that, I eventually checked out somebodies suggestion to look on Craigslist. There were great places on there, all of which were as you may have guessed... booked. I got excited about the ones over looking Bellingham Bay, but my husband said "no" to anything we'd have to share with strangers. In my frustration, I stumbled over an odd sounding ad. It caught my attention, though, because it was nearby. Turns out upon further investigation it was none other than....( scary music please) .....

Giggles The Clown Family Fun Park. Yes, you read right. If you will remember, clowns freak me out. Ever since that horrible clown and shoe picture on the hall wall across from my childhood bedroom I've never liked them. One night my aunt brought the picture to my attention "see that clown with the shoe, dear?" she asked sweetly. "Well that shoe is all that is left of a little child who was eaten by that very clown!!" Then she laughed fiendishly and said "sweet dreams, good night dear". My grandmother eventually burned the picture because it was so disturbing for me to go to sleep having that be the last thing I saw.

Anyhow, Giggles The Clown seemed to be our best bet. The drive was very taxing and hot with no air conditioning. At one point I had a meltdown and my husband stopped at a creek so we could jump in. At long last, after 12 hours, we arrived in Bellingham. My husband, who is extremely gifted with navigation, found the place right away. Well, kind of.....

Not being all there after the hot, sweltering ride, I inadvertently stumbled upon a deck which was supposed to have a key hidden. I knocked on all the doors. I looked in all the windows. The place was horribly filthy and nasty. I eventually got a door open and walked around, appalled, inside. Whoever the last people to stay were, it hadn't been cleaned from. Then I heard my husband calling me. It was then that I discovered, I was in the wrong house!

Turns out Giggles, The Clown's Place was immaculate and everything fun imaginable for kids. The second my little ones got there, they never wanted to leave. Wonderful boxes of toys were in the big, roomy kitchen. Fun pictures were everywhere. A lush grassy park with tons of toys, driving cars, play house, horses, everything imaginable was there. My kids were so so happy!! There was a bedroom for me and one for the kids that was part of a cool, comfortable basement apartment. It was perfect. I couldn't have possibly asked for better. God knew what the kids needed and this was the place. Despite my checkered past with clowns, Giggles was all right. Really, she was really really sweet. She even provided us later with a donut breakfast and suckers for each child as big as their heads.

Hurridly, we got ready for the pre-wedding dinner that my cousin was serving. The Google map said it was only 2.7 miles so we decided to walk. Though we enjoyed the walk after 12 hours in the car, it made us a little late, not to mention hot, sweaty, dusty, and with a few wild blackberry stains not to mention Moonbeam taking a plunge out of her stroller. The blackberries grow wild all over the place and they were such a novelty for us!! Anyhow, we arrived by foot, looking like The Beverly Hillbillies. There was my cousin at this incredible garden party with distinguished looking guests sipping wine I had no idea how to pronounce. For a few short minutes I wasn't sure doing this was such a good idea. Then everybody smiled and nobody seemed to care about our crazy entrance. They were all friendly and genuinely glad to see us. Everybody loved the kids. My cousin's home was an exquisite 5 acres with pond, horses, gardens, and lush everything. The house almost made me gasp it was so beautiful. She served incredible food and for dessert there were luscious chocolate and vanilla cheese cakes. They were all too afraid of letting us walk back because of the traffic and insisted on driving us divided up into two cars.

The next day we bummed around the Bay area, picked wild black berries and did a little shopping. The kids, however, wanted to stay at Giggles place. Every chance they got, all they wanted to was play with her toys and enjoy her big park area. As I browsed around Giggles Park, I happened to walk by the neighbors place, and a grumpy looking woman smoking a cigarette frowned back at me. I smiled, waved and said "hi". In turn, she said in a rather hostile manner, "**** you!!" Gingerly, I crept away, giggling that it was a good thing this horrid woman wasn't home when I was walking around inside her house the day before ;-)

When it was time to go, everybody dressed in beautiful attire and took the car to the wedding.... uh not exactly. Actually my husband had lint on his shirt and in a panic, I found myself at Wal mart buying tape to try pulling it off with. I forgot to shave my arm pits. My jewelry didn't seem to be right. I got my period. I could go on an on to make you laugh, but the best thing was, I just decided that hairy pits or not, I was bound and determined to enjoy this wedding and that is just what I did.

The pictures are probably enough and worth thousands of words. I hope you enjoy them :-)

Cliff Jumping at Koocanusa

2011-08-17T23:58:00.000-07:00

I think I can fly
(The Archer)

Dinner at "Cafe Jax" afterward......

ArtDog preferred fishing...

LOWER CLIFFS

"Sweet Tooth Sweetie and Kind Eyes"

Kind Eye's Sister

Super Catman

Onlooking...

Super Catman

The Upper Cliffs

My Amazing Husband...

Elasta Woman...

Kind Eye's Bro-in-law

My Amazing Husband again....

Kind Eye's Amazing Highest Cliff Jump

Archer....

Me...

Archer...

Kind Eyes...

My Amazing Husband with The Archer - pre jump

Lunch at the beach before kayaking/boating to the cliffs....
Aren't they the cutest kids ever?!?!

Super fun day yesterday with Kind Eyes and Elasta Woman's family, along with his sisters family :-) It was a beautiful day at Koocanusa - the skies were clear blue without a cloud in the sky under the 80 degree heat. Warm winds beckoned us over to the cliffs up Big Creek as we piled into a boat, canoe and kayak.

After a crazy ride over there, the guys showed us how it was done!! A lot of us had never done anything like that before, but we decided to try it with lots of encouragement from the men ;-) Too bad Miss SFE, who did jump, only has a shot of her falling behind to show for it - lol!! The guys amazed us with their jumping abilities. Besides SFE's first time, it was also mine and Elasta Womans. It was crazy fun, but a bit extreme. Not saying I would never do it again, but its not the kind of thing I could thrive on either ;-) Its a lot of guts, adrenaline and shutting down of your natural reasoning long enough to take that long jump outward into eternity.....

After all the fun of jumping, swimming, fishing and sunning, we headed over to the most amazing burger place which "Kind Eyes" bought for all...... It was a crazy fun day!!

2011 1.76 Mile Long Bridge Swim

2011-08-13T00:10:00.000-07:00

This Link is on my fitness blog :-)

*Please please vote on my side bar poll :-)*

Squatters, Mutant Turkeys and MisAdventures!!

2011-08-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

Art Dog was smiling when we stopped at this creek, but when he went to change into his dry clothes, he wasn't smiling for long!! He got chased by a big hive of bees!
Miss Moona in the Morning...

Our camp site on the Moyie

Super Catman contemplates his morning business...

A friend from North Idaho

SFE

I didn't mind being stranded HERE

The boys also found ways to occupy themselves ;-)

The Wild Turkey... gone mad!!

Camping at the creek bed...

The Archer with our North Idaho friends baby....

Kayaking Koocanusa Cliff Diving Expedition

There was this one particular road my co-workers said to "never go on". Of course my husband had to drive that road first - lol!! Here is the only scary hillbilly man we found out there.

Miss Moona and I.... waiting while the men are out exploring

Mist and her little guy at the House warming with a friend...

Our Surprise Housewarming Party....

It was another one of those weekends that never stop. Last Thursday I hostessed a "Surprise House Warming" for one of my girlfriends who just moved up here. It was a ton of fun. The Sock Fashion Expert made a decadent, dense multi layer huckleberry chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. It was AMAZING! A bunch of us ladies sat around her new lawn in the sunshine....

After that, I raced to the lake to meet up with some more girl friends. Sitting there in the sunshine, we basked together. Mist wasn't there, but she had seen the day before and what she saw.... happened. Angels raced across the sky for a chance encounter that would change things maybe...forever.......

On Friday, we spent the day at Koocanusa with a bunch of our friends and their friends. It was crazy fun. Some of the group took off in kayaks to a hidden water fall and did some cliff jumping. Me, well ,I just layed around the lake with the girls and kids and swam the near by bay. Afterward it was out for ice cream at an Amish Community and then they ALL came for a GIGANTIC dinner of spaghetti. Super Fun!!

The weekend elapsed like Mist. While sitting in a friends yard in North Idaho watching him grill burgers, and his wife and kids pick gigantic berries, it occurred to him maybe he wanted to live in this fertile valley. "Honey" he said, "lets camp in North Idaho"! With that we were all packing up again for another BIG ADVENTURE.

On the first night of the trip, we camped along a sandy creek bed. The meadows were rolling and huckleberries were all over. The Sock Fashion Expert took off on an exploring walk. A drunk lady stumbled out of her country cottage and asked her if she was lost. She said "no", the lady said "well good, because she came out to tell her that she couldn't have a ride." We all laughed about the story.

Not far from that spot, as we were driving away, suddenly we heard a loud falling sound at the bottom of the Tundra. I ushered the kids into the near by meadow in search of huckleberries while my husband assessed the damage. Turns out we got a lot more than bargained for. As we picked big handfuls of beautiful purple berries, a wild eyed turkey jumped up in the middle of us and started gobbling up a storm!! It ran around us madly as if it was all sketched out on some illegal substance. We tried backing away, thinking there was a nest, but it didn't seem to care where we were. It was too close. My husband discovered a broken strut on the truck (ugh)! He decided the safest thing was to dump us off some where take the truck home. That seemed eerie and creepy. I didn't want to stay with the mutant foul fowl.

In the end, I was EXTREMELY RELIEVED to be left at a camp site surrounded by unusual characters. Just kidding, the characters somewhat creeped me out, but the part I was relieved about was that we were left at john doe lake. After cooking lunch over a fire, the men left us to lounge around the lake all day. I was all about that ;-)

My husband discovered our Suburban also had a big problem too. In the end he picked us up in his dads old truck. It makes sounds like a loud sub woofer so people around us (including me) think somebodies listening to loud car music but really its just the truck. The Archer drove the kids in the Corolla. What an adventure!! That night we camped up high on a mountain over looking a game preserve. Big Black Raspberries could be found as well as large game crossing up to the mountain. In the morning Archer found himself just feet from a moose!!

The next day we ended up camping along the Moyie River. It was so beautiful. The first spot that I really really wanted to go needed a 4wd so we couldn't go there, but I am determined to go there sometime soon. Its amazing!! After that we found a nice river spot except for the ominous suv stuffed full of dogs near by. We assumed it was squatters and that made us all Leary. Darkness was falling and so we didn't want to move on. After enjoying the river and setting up camp the SQUATTERS came to visit!! I stopped cooking the burgers and gawked at the scary couple who emerged from the forest......... Just kidding. They were really nice squatter people. They seemed a big rough with some scars and tattoos and such, but were otherwise decent acting. They have 4 dogs and hadn't been able to find a place to rent because of that so they decided to just live in the woods until something "comes up". They were so nice, in fact, that I kept thinking of this horror movie I'd recently seen about a "nice couple" gone mad. I wanted to bring them some of our left over burgers, but the burgers were consumed. In the morning we moved on, though we saw the squatters at the grocery store. No I didn't take any pictures of them :-) All in all, the trip was incredible fun and a lot of driving around looking at property. Who knows what the future will hold?

Working Mom Blues Adjusts Her Vision.....

2011-07-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

VBS program (can you pick out my boys?!?!)
Spur of the moment Backpacking Trip!! Notice my husband smiles in back pack photos?!?!

Half an hour after I got home from our "Girls River Float Trip", we headed out to meet our friends back packing 4 miles into the wilderness!!

We girls floated to the local tavern for delicious burgers and volleyball!! Before we knew it, as some girls left, others came and joined in the game - patrons, goat girl driving by.....

Me and "Carrot Lady" at the secret island....

This gal just moved up here and is yet to be "blog named"

We pulled this crew in the double kayak when the current was slow ;-)

Embarking on the Adventure!!

Its been a C-R-A-Z-Y week that seems to blur together around the edges!! Summer tends to do that any way ;-) Yesterday, I became an Aunt to my first Nephew!! Surreal. I wish I could have been there.....

Monday was a romantic date at the end of a long 4 day camping trip.... Got home at 11pm. Felt exhausted, the house was a mess, I was ready to collapse....

Tuesday after updating my blog and running 7 miles, I got called in to work a 12 hour night shift......... Did i mention it was VBS week?

Wednesday i cant remember anything.......... (and vbs)

Thursday Was our girls accountability day. We had a nice get together. (and vbs)

Friday I dyed my hair (that is an incredibly stressful event - lol). I ran another 7 miles. VBS and VBS parents night program....

Saturday I swam about a mile and ate too much of my daughters Mexican Cherry Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. The rest is a blur.....

Sunday - Church

- hosted a "Girls River Float Party", pulling everybody down river in the kayak. We pulled out at the local tavern, played volleyball and had killer burgers.

- got home, threw a bunch of stuff in a back pack and had a crazy trek out 4 miles into the wilderness to meet up with a group of friends in a race to beat the darkness.

Monday Got home at 11am, Felt Exhausted, The house was a mess, I was ready to collapse...... Are you noticing a common theme here?!?!?

Tuesday More swim training and another 12 hour night shift......

How do I even get creative and tell you stories with such a blurry life? I don't know. I need some prescription glasses for my brain so I can tell you all the silly things that happened to me all week. Hmm.... here are just a couple of tidbits :

At the VBS program, my son, Super Catman stood up to answer a question. Then he got a bit of "stage fright" and wouldn't answer it. In fact, he wouldn't answer any of the questions. He just kept saying "I don't know" and "Ask my mom". I was standing, sheepishly with a camera taking pictures of the stinker up there as he dawdled on and on and on.......

Miss Moonbeam has done multiple "poops" on the potty frog. She does these in the stealthiest manner. After that she tries to dump out her own excrement, wipe herself and wipe out her potty frog. Imagine a 3 year old doing this??!! As you may have guessed, at any given moment, I may be surprised with smears and clumps of fecal materials at any given location ;-) She also changes her clothes about a hundred times each day........

I have received an unusual number of insults this week but have managed to laugh them off hysterically without offense. I have met a lot of unusual people and have made allot of new friends. I am consumed with passion, anticipation, and great expectation of the future. Of one thing I am confident I will not look behind me, only ahead..... It would behoove you to do the same.... Selah...................

Koocanusa Paradise

2011-07-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

FYI none of the older kids wanted many pics taken, so that's why you see me and the little ones a lot ;-) Here's our campsite.....

embarking on a kayak adventure!

Every time we head out on a grand adventure, I find myself back at home with a mess of dishes, laundry and the like. Now to be fair, my kids DO do a lot of that work, however, there is still much to be done. Chronicling our adventures seems to be at the back of my mind. Then I want to see all the good pictures and I can't help but devote an overcast or otherwise rainy afternoon to telling our stories of high adventure........
Hence our fun began with talk of camping at Lake Koocanusa. That morning last Thursday, my husband said "you'd better make some ice". I wondered for the next hour what the plan was and busied myself with food preparation "just in case". By early afternoon we had formulated a plan for a 4 day trip!! I don't remember ever camping that long and I wasn't sure how to pack coolers for that many days. Soon I was hurriedly trying to come up with easy and fun camp meals. The Sock Fashion expert jumped right in and made a "campfire twiscuit" dough enough to share and also some of her FAMOUS home made Gram crackers. You haven't had real s'mores until you've tried some of them between some marshmallow, peanut butter and milk chocolate - oh baby!
It took the whole day to get ready, and when we left I felt near exhaustion and glad I'd be getting the full 4 days to rest! Thursday we hiked to and camped near a waterfall as our favorite spot was taken by a vicious gang of bikers!! Actually they were just maniac looking cyclists ;-) The creek was peaceful, though, and it was a fun start to our trip. The next day all the bikers hadn't yet left, so my husband scoped out another spot on the opposite side of the lake. It was off a dirt road leading to a remote bay that we had solely almost the entire rest of the time. We set up camp and the fun began!
Across our site and down was a beautiful little sandy cove full of drift wood. It was perfect for sunning and swimming. Beyond that was a vast open meadow along the lakeside that nobody could access except by water. Perfect! I loved laying in the sun and exploring our new place with the children. The kids said I made the "best camp food ever" even though it was allot of warmed up thrown together left overs ;-) That next morning we all headed out on an excruciating bike ride up a mountain in search of another, yet more remote, waterfall. After lunch, swimming and sun some of our friends showed up to join us! Just then the boys pulled the canoe in with whole big mess of fish big enough to feed the entire camp of us breakfast!
Saturday was tropical in weather and the girls and I started out in the sun by 11 or so. I ran in to get ice with Mist and encountered a grouchy store lady!! I will refrain myself from that story ;-) The day was incredibly heavenly! I could have stayed on that remote beach forever. After reading a few Voice of Victory articles to the girls, we had a delicious lunch of sauteed chicken and veggie tortillas. There we were all laid out in bikinis with the men off fishing and kids playing in the water. Matthew came back just as a helicopter flew over us. Then it flew over us again. Then it flew over AGAIN. We all started wondering what was up. Then it CIRCLED us!! "What do they want to look at us for?" Catman demanded to know. "They weren't looking at us, Buddy" Matthew told him." "Why would they want to look at girls in bikinis?" he asked skeptically. We all laughed....... Guess nothing is all that secluded ;-) We girls swam out to the edge of the bay several times and hit the cold and waves of the great lake beyond. It was like time stopped and we were caught in a supernatural plain of some kind of heavenly sphere. The warm winds, the sand and shore, the cold waters and the waves, the mammoth mountains and the great boulders reminded us that we were but tiny creations living in this Eden that God Himself created for his children to enjoy...... That evening a great storm came up from out of no place and all us women and kids huddled in our trailer telling silly stories as the rain and hails passed us by. In an hour or two it was calm again and the men emerged soaked and fishless for the most part.
After a lot of sun and laughing and good meals and fun, our friends headed out for home Sunday afternoon. I took the Kayak out once again. The first time I crossed the lake, I was fearful of the great winds and waves that met me. It was a calm day and I couldn't imagine what the great lakes full fury could do..... This time I crossed in another spot that I had found to be gentler, also travelling at a slant rather than straight across. That seemed to ride the waves in a better fashion. Something compelled me to keep going until I had gone several miles from our home site. Finally, as I rounded another big protrusion, I found our old favorite place. The beautiful bar and pools were flooded over but the secret cove remained. I walked through sands and dove in its warm depths. I walked up to the picnic area just to remember, as it was not a familiar favorite place. I wonder if I liked it so much because I liked the people so much that we'd enjoyed it with ;-) After fully experiencing that special spot once again, I returned in my Kayak to the lakes call once again. I emerged at our home site with a powerful appetite because not only had I been kayaking, but I had swam the perimeter of the bay before my trek..... The Archer returned back from fishing with wild tales of a naked couple in a speed boat destroying his wake zone laughing fiendishly as they played crazy music and intentionally scared away his fish hot rodding around him. Bizarre.
On the last morning, we sat around the campfire and enjoyed a morning of devotions. I went off to do dishes and bathe while the rest of the family packed up camp. It was bitter sweet. My husband sent The Archer Home with the children and our "Redneck Gypsy" bed - Matthew (Now renamed Kind Eyes due to a private joke) teased us about sleeping in the back of it - see pics below. My husband had other plans for us. We spent the day touring Eureka - dining, stores, looking at lands and lakes. My favorite, though, was the special evening spent on a blanket looking at Outlaw Lake before driving home......

Me and Miss Moona at the Waterfall...

the secluded lake meadow

Baby Blue Eyes (Mist and Fiery's Baby)

The kids were happy to see each other!

Grocery Sacks full of popcorn are GOLD STANDARD on every camping trip ;-) Sock Fashion Expert usually does a bag or two's worth of kettle corn. Mist and Elasta Woman some times sprinkle theirs with salt and brewers yeast. Its cheap and healthier than a lot of other stuff!

"Rabbit" hanging out ;-)

the only family pic!! waahh!! pout...groan ;-)

Hubby and I slept in the "Gypsy Redneck Bed"

But the kids napped in there on lazy afternoon ;-)

Art Dog

Super Cat Man!

The Romantic Date....

The Watery Grave

2011-07-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

More pics from "The Week Long Weekend"

The Archer was out doing something he loves to do - snorkeling for lures. The young man has an incredible nack for finding them. He knows every downed tree in the local waters and where to go after the weekend fishermen have been out. He smiled to himself as he walked down the trail to one of his favorite lakes. The warm August air kissed his shoulders and the sunshine made him feel hot and ready to dive into the crystal waters. As he rounded the last bend, he knew a presence with him. It was that all familiar friend who took care of him on his journeys........
That day, in particular would be etched in Archers mind FOREVER. It would be a fight between life and death and a bare flash of Gods saving grace in the midst of a watery grave. At first he wasn't finding much. Half an hour had elapsed and the more he swam around, the more frustrated he became. Finally, he some how awkwardly stumbled upon a deep deep snag. It was a "fiesta" of lures! Oh the excitement! Down down he dove grabbing up as many lures as he could. He was ecstatic! Up for a breath, and down again. On the last deep breath, he dove extra far down. He saw a Mepps far on the bottom. Soon he was grabbing up lures here and there back and forth. Finally, when he had run out of breath, he had to head back up to the surface. As he quickly swam up, something stopped him..... It was an invisible line! Back and forth he'd swam over and over entangling himself in all kinds of fishing line! He was tangled beyond hope. Fear struck the very core of his being when he realized that he couldn't break free. He was OUT OF AIR! Scenes flashed in his mind of his dead corpse down there with no one to ever know where he was. Why hadn't he brought a pocket knife?! With one final desperate air deprived push, He once again tried to break free of the lines tying his arms and legs and claim the surface air he so desperately needed! He swam as hard as he could upward. On the last of many attempts.... seconds from a watery death..... he broke the lines that held him and emerged a very thankful but bloodied living man.
The story, retold last night, made me think about sin. That invisible fishing line is allot like the stronghold it can put on a person. Distracted, just like a fish, by the shiny treasures, my son swam all over entangling himself beyond hope. Little did he know how close he had brushed eternity. One little shiny lure, beyond grasp, another - soon you are entangled and out of air. Surely no one would purposely die for a mere lure... or would they? Thank God that He is faithful to deliver those bound by the forces of evil. If you find yourself looking up from your own watery grave, led blindly into death's clutches by some shiny lure, perhaps it is time to find the inner strength of the Life and Breath Giver..........

The Week Long Week End aka Fun with "The Bodds"

2011-07-08T11:48:00.000-07:00

What an amazing week we had with the Bodds! Formerly "From MN", whom I am hoping to rename by the end of this post came with most of her clan. The two eldest kids had jobs back at home but we got the pleasure of she, her husband and the 5 youngers...... How about "The Jubilant Gardeness"? I think I like that.....

They arrived while I was off working nights at the hospital. I could hardly wait to get home and see them!! The Sock Fashion Expert had prepared a lovely dinner of elk steaks the night before and Cinnamon rolls with breakfast bake that morning. It was all delicious and I was glad not to have had to start cooking quite yet.....

"The Jubilant Gardeness" was ready to see and do everything!! We hiked down forest trails with lupine full in bloom. We watched the children play in the laughing waters of Heavenly Lake. We took in EVERYTHING we possibly could in a weeks time. Meanwhile the kids played hard, fished hard, hiked hard, swam long and did everything they could to make the MOST of the week! The Sock Fashion Expert, in ecstasy having her "BFF" with her floated around the place as if we were on a space ship near Mars....
That first night, after swimming, fishing and hiking, I had a brilliant light bulb of an idea. "Why not take her down to see Goat Girl's Garden?!" The Goat Girl has one of the most beautiful gardens in all the valley. She knows how to do what few can. She is such an amazing Gardener! The plan was an amazing success. My Jubilant Gardeness came alive chattering the foreign language of greenery while I watched giggling at my ignorance. The Goat Girl seemed to be enjoying the visit too as they exchanged gardening knowledge and growing prowess. Moonbeam ate spinach leaves and clung closely to me while the boys fed grass to her baby goats. I felt happy to make my friends happy :-)
The next day we drove to a far away lake so that her husband could make some good use and variety of his 2 day fishing license. For me, well it was an awe inspiring place. Crystal waters danced in front of rocky shores and sandy beaches. It had probably reached 80 degrees or more as we pulled into a secluded bay with a wooded picnic area. It was just perfect. We ate home made tortillas with chicken in the shade and then headed to the beautiful sand to play. The men headed out in boats. I could have stayed forever. My Jubilant Gardeness wasn't quite her ecstatic self. She's not a sun and water chic like I am, though she sat nearby covered in white towels smiling pleasantly. The children ran around wildly laughing and playing for hours. The "Fish Princess", who would later out fish the boys on several occasions, swam across the bay with me. The children feasted on water melons. "Sock Fashion Expert" an her "BFF" tanned near the peninsula. Idyllic.
That night my friends exhausted husband stayed home to sleep and study (as he was speaking the next morning at our local church) and the rest of the gang headed over to the local fire works display. They did them early here, so that people can go over to the next city on the 4th. What a nonstop marathon pace we were keeping!
The next morning, bright and early, we were cooking up a storm to get off to church in time. I knew we were going to have to get an afternoon of rest. Everybody needed it. The church was packed out and the message riveting. Goat Girls husband took it upon himself to decide we would be having a worship night at our place that night.... "What?!" We were all exhausted. "Worship night?!?" The house was a disaster. We'd been running and playing and the kids hadn't even been around to assign chores. Could we possibly pull off a music night with our company?!
I felt tired, but I knew that if people wanted to come over to worship who was I to stop them? Jubilant Gardeness is an incredible worship leader and her gift was being requested. I cleaned the house in a hurricane manner and my friend helped. The kids were off fishing and hiking and rightfully so. They deserved some fun time. The couch was brought into our monstrous dining room and table pushed back to facilitate a crowd. By the time Goat Girls husband showed up with his drum set I was layed across the couch in a rest deprived state of extreme exhaustion.... I couldn't hardly move I was so tired. Goat girl floated by to cut up a water melon. Friends started showing up. Yet I laid there, like a slimy slug stuck to a tomato leaf - lol.
Soon my dining room was packed out and I was beginning to question my own sanity. What was I thinking? My company is probably ready to keel over with exhaustion..... Then it happened. The worship began and with it came an outpouring of the Spirit. Jubilant Gardner played, her husband began sharing things that were on his heart about each person, and I found myself on the floor barely able to contain myself. It felt like rushing rivers pouring down on me that never stopped. People were singing, a child crying - overcome with Gods presence, miracles happening.......This gathering was God ordained. It just was. I don't think anybody was expecting it, and certainly nobody will forget it. A couple of small children especially - they inherited a language of love......................

After that, everything just seemed to flow together peacefully but fast. There was a lot of hiking on forest roads, some spades and unfortunately I was bitterly defeated losing my “Scrabble Queen status to The Jubilant Gardeness. Oh the agony. The kids had so much fun doing a day long river float. The boys hiked out to far away lakes to bring home aquatic gold aka fish.
One day the 3 older girls went on a hike up a mountain! BFF dropped down dramatically upon return and was carried into the living room where she was fanned, given water and had her toe nails painted. After that, dropping down dramatically became a favorite pass time of all though none received such royal treatment – lol!
The littlest Bodd boy liked bugging Miss Moonbeam and there was a good share of mischief between the two ;-) Super Catman also had his rival friend whom the kids blog named “Lightening Princess”. Oh she was such a cutie and what a good helper!
On the day they were supposed to leave, they postponed till the next…. Everybody was having such a good time! I took The Jubilant Gardner up to one of my huckleberry mountains and the evening was serene. They got a “great idea” of going to see the Cedar grove on the way out. As it ended up we spent half the day at the cedar park taking HUNDREDS of pictures! Its my friends favorite place. After that we headed over to the local pizza joint. It was sad to see them go, but I can honestly say that seldom have I ever seen any one ever lived up a week so richly ;-) It was most definitely a WEEK LONG WEEKEND.........

a GRRReat Weekend!

2011-06-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

Elasta Woman and her girls played all day in the clay. Me? I'm just posing next to her lake pottery ;-)

Here she is baking it next to the fire.......

Looking for a good camping spot, Matthew guns it through a creek bed road.....

My husband did "pictograph" art with the little ones, using rocks to draw on rocks while the rest of us swam to and played on a nearby island......

As you can see, they LOVED it!

Moonbeam and her Daddy

Then the Daddies nap........

Us girls :-)

Can you see that pup is stalking Moonbeams string cheese?!

My kids - NONE of them wanted to leave!

What a wonderful weekend we had. I NEVER wanted it to end! Neither did the kids.....

After YEARS and YEARS of BEGGING to go to a Family Bible Camp near Glacier, it finally happened (well kind of). Our girls group had been praying for a while that God would move on our husbands in a special way fresh and new. Amazingly, some of our husbands agreed to make the trek over. Some of my kids weren't sure about it. As the day approached I kept earnestly praying it would be a good experience for everybody. So did Elasta Woman. Nobody made any plans till the last minute. I kept wondering if it would even happen.......

On that Saturday Morning we headed out. Goat Girl and her husband left the night before. Could we really be doing it?!? Yes we were! I was so excited. We got there at a decent time, but it took HOURS to find a camping place. The whole first side of the reservoir was completely blocked off except for camp grounds. None of us like to camp at camp grounds. It doesn't really seem like camping. To us, camping isn't sleeping 20 feet from a strangers tent. We just have to have more space. The family camp, itself, was out because there was no cooking on the premises and we didn't want to have to buy our meals. No swimming there either. After all kinds of detours searching, I was beginning to lose it. Only 2 hours to go before we'd have to leave again to make it to the evening meeting on time. I pulled out my Bible trying not to lament. Amazingly at just the right moment, my husband pulled into a boat landing on the back side of the lake and found an amazing private spot in the woods along the lake. It was beautiful and heavenly. There the lake was right in front of us along with nearby islands to swim to. It was private and nobody was close by. PERFECT.

We put up our tents in a hurry and warmed up some food. Elasta Woman told me we should plan a lot of fast and easy meals so we had spent hours preparing them the day before. After dunking in the cool waters, we felt like new people and the weariness of the day had past.

When we got to the meetings, we found our friends and The Sock Fashion Expert was thrilled to be with her BFF. The worship was great. I love taking the little ones up front to dance. I love good worship. The meeting was a bit different, so I hoped it would go over okay. One never knows how these kinds of meetings will go. Being in a rather free group has a lot of benefits - for one allowing God to move and freedom in the Spirit. I am and will always be a pentecostal girl. The draw back to them can be that the same freedom we have to worship God gives the freedom for people to do and say an assortment of allot of strange things that do not necessarily glorify God. I've spent most of my life loving The Liberty of the Spirit, but with the reservations to always sort out things that are said or done. I felt responsible for our friends and I wanted to make sure that they had a good experience. What would the outcome be?

That night our friends sent us home with a pile of food, so it was nice everybody could eat on the way back. Little tummies filled, fresh air played out, the little ones were all asleep in a hurry. We all slept like rocks. The Sock Fashion Expert was thrilled to stay with her BFF and planned to take in the day meetings......

The next morning was beautiful. I couldn't imagine any place I'd rather be waking up. I love camping like this. Elasta Woman wanted to play ALL DAY in the lake clay with extreme contentment. She formed all kinds of beautiful pieces and baked them on a rock near the fire. With much coaxing, she got me to make a piece. Rabbit, her daughter, even harvested me my very own clump. First I formed a very large piece of excrement, which I entitled "dung". Elasta Woman laughed. Next I crafted a smiling snake. When I brought it to cook on the rock, my husband mistook it for the first sampling which I had constructed. That was the extent of my potters hand...... Archer, Matthew and most of the other kids swam to the nearby island. Soon after my husband played with the little ones so us girls could too........

It was icy cold but we managed. The islanders immediately began chanting and yelling. At first I thought they were greeting us and cheering us on. Then I discovered they were trying to chase off their island - lol!! They had built a giant sand castle and were doing flips over it. Super Catman said "This is the best camping trip of my life!" Bravely, after minimal island explorations, Elasta Woman and I plunged back into the icy cold waters.........

Back at the meetings that night, I earnestly hoped that God would touch us all. We had come a long way and this would be our last one. The worship was wonderful...again. I loved the freedom of being up there with the little ones. The whole place seemed charged with Gods presence. Then the speaker, came up and started sharing. It was one of the best messages any of us had ever heard. He'd been brutally abused as a child and God was asking him to forgive. Scene by scene he took us through an amazing story of Gods love and restoring power. He held us speechless and there was not likely a dry eye in the building. Some how God had moved all of us in an amazing way. Driving back that night, I felt so so grateful. The little girls had been up front with hands lifted in the air worshipping God with me, and we weren't the only ones. All of us were deep in worship. The Sock Fashion Expert spent a lot of that worship time on her face. The men talked of depth all the way back while the rest of us either slept or were just speechless. Some how God had showed up there and touched us all in a unique way.....

The next morning nobody wanted to leave. The lake was so beautiful and serene. I wished somehow we could have made it to more of the meetings. Every reservation about coming was gone and replaced with a hunger for more. I'm so glad we got to share the weekend and the experience.......

Working Mom Blues and The Medicine Woman

2011-06-22T21:27:00.000-07:00

The other day, after my husband bought me my bike, he brought it upstairs in the living room to work on. I didn't mind. I'm getting used to having him work on bikes in the living room. It seems to keep him happy while he's watching re-runs of The Beverley Hillbillies, The A Team, or whatever semi-wholesome tape or dvd we can get a hold of. This memory is a particularly fond one because after he put a new tire on it, he put the baby seat on for me. Then Miss Moona wanted to sit in it. Then he decided to give her a ride. Through the dining room, down the hall and back into the living room he peddled her while I watched half amused. A couple of years ago, maybe even a couple of months ago I would have protested loudly. Now I couldn't have cared less. Its funny how our perspectives change. Miss Moona was happy. My husband was happy. I was happy. Can't think of anybody who wasn't happy at the time, so who cares if my husband is riding the baby through the house on my new (used) bicycle?! :-) Its stuff like that that just sticks with me.......
So anyway, I don't usually write about ailments, but i'm undergoing another one of those ironies, so I had to tell about it. Almost a month ago, my daughter went running in the rain. She runs 5-10 miles at a pop. The girl is just incredible. Anyhow, she came home with muddy feet from the holes in her shoes (which I have since thrown away and replaced). When she got home she had a rash across her toes. For the first few days we sprayed her toes with anti fungal spray. Within a week, it had turned into a full blown cellulitis with swollen reddened toes and feet and ankles and pain going up her calves. Scared the crap out of me. I took her into prompt care and she got on keflex. Within days the cellulitis left her feet and legs but her toes remained red and giant bloody blisters formed on the top of each toe. I showed pictures to the Doctors at work who thought it was maybe a staff or strep bacterial infection. They recommended to continue on antibiotics and do foot soaks which I did. On the 7th and last day of antibiotics I took her back again because it was still there. It had been weeks since she could wear shoes, go for a walk or even be out in the sun without an outbreak. Thats when we got a referral to a dermatologist. We drove her to a big city where they put her on stronger antibiotics and steroids. Would you believe new, smaller blisters formed the other day?! Prayers of many, scripture confessions, foot soaks, elevation, antibiotics, steroids..... what else do I do?
So anyhow, I have prayed daily for God to heal this awful malady on my beautiful girl. Today, a possible answer came from an unexpected source. I talked to a very wise co-worker who has spent years studying medicine on many levels. With more confidence than ANYBODY I've talked to, she says continual poultices of ecchnicia and plantain will heal her along with elevation. Now the last time I heard about poultices was from Granny Clampet, but I had to consider that modern medicine with all its remedies has not been successful. Our Mist, also suggested poltices which I poopooed (sorry Mist). Thinking back, thyme healed me last year from an ailment I'd had off and on for years. I felt humbled and dumbfounded. Would simple weeds really help heal those toes? I don't know. Generous Georgia, after detailed instructions, went outside and brought me back in some plantain leaves from the hospital grounds. Then she instructed me to go out and pick the rest that were growing there. Sheepishly I ambled out into the fresh, warm air. I looked all over where she told me to go but I couldn't see any. I even retraced her direction steps no less than five times. I began to panic so I prayed. "Look down" gently came to me and I realized I had tromped through the stuff five times - lol!! I felt really really silly. It occurred to me how ironic it was that I, the nurse, was outside the hospital harvesting free weeds to treat my daughter with when even the best specialists hadn't helped her. A whole hospital of things were available inside but none of them seemed right. Would the weeds growing outside be the key? Generous Georgia seemed pretty convinced they would. So as the cars drove by, I ignored my brain telling me that I was crazy to be doing this, and harvested a big bag of plantain............ Now to keep trusting in God and try this ancient remedy.

Going to the Sun....

2011-06-15T19:33:00.000-07:00

Contrary to your thinking, this indeed, is no middle aged crime boss, but it is our very own "Art Dog" during intermission from the "buzz" Archer was giving him ;-)

Here, he has been ruefully assigned a kitchen cleaning job.....

The Girls Camping

Miss Moonbeam doing who knows what?!? and with a lot of attitude ;-)

My Motocross Men

And our beloved Artdog again.....

My boyz out riding today.....

There is this place in Glacier National Park called "Going to the Sun" road. It is fitly named because it feels like you might be driving there. Its a beautiful place. Some of our friends are coming out from MN to go to a camp near there. After that they are coming to visit us! If I can butter up my husband enough, we just might get to take in a few days of that family camp ;-) Anyhow, as I was saying, "Going to the Sun" road got me thinking.........

Over the past several months, I've been through more than my share of challenges. Lots of feelings flood my being to the point where I don't know what to believe. Emotions are just emotions and they aren't reliable to what the truth always is, but they always feel real. That's when "Going to the Sun" road comes in. Theres this path, old and well travelled where I can go to find the truth and rest I need. Its the road where my battles cease and the destination is away by but moments......

Today, as I walked through the forest paths, the lupine were just coming into bloom. The purple splendor against the forest green carpet was just breath taking. I walked along that all familiar path until I reached an intersection. To go left or right would just take me down the dusty road, but following it ever so slightly to where the path can be found again, I headed down to my all familiar favorite place, maybe in all the world. Its a path along which the lupine bloom amongst other wild flowers. As you begin to descend you can see the crystal clear waters of my favorite mountain lake. Its the best kept secret where few venture, but many return. There I sat and found myself "Going to the Son". Something amazing happens every time. I just have to remember that path. When I close my eyes in meditation, any place on earth, and purpose to enter into His presence, He is there. Suddenly the sonlight splashes through my soul and the heart that seems so broken finds rest and restoration once again.

As the once empty, once devastated, once broken woman found peace near the waters, I was reminded that the reason we share our faith is so that others, too, might find that peace and wholeness. It was then that I wanted to post about finding that road called "Going to the Son"......................................

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

Loony Camping Adventures

2011-06-06T20:50:00.000-07:00

As you can see by the look on the first picture - Moonbeam had her share of sugar euphoria ;-)

Rabbit and I on a swamp safari

Sacked Out!

Can you see whats wrong with this pic?! The marshmallow high has now crashed ;-)

My Amazing Son "The Archer"

Us Girls!

Me and my Love

Sock Fashion Expert and Company

The Sock Fashion Expert had determined she would not be cold on this trip!

Camping this weekend was a lot of fun. Our family, Mist's and Elasta Woman's all spent hours upon hours preparing for the big event. Elasta Woman told me she'd spent 7 hours in the kitchen cooking for it. We all piled into our respective vehicles and headed out. Nobody had finalized any plans of where we were actually going. This was a minor oversight. They figured we could decide when we got to the next town. This seemed a bit more carefree than I was used to, but I am trying to learn how to be more spontaneous. All us girls had prayed hard that it would be a good trip and we felt confident it would be. My husband suggested a lake we usually camp at in the spring, but the rest were rather hesitant about it. It may have had to do with my casual passing comment that I'd once swam over a water logged tampon there ;-)
Anyhow, after spending the afternoon in pursuit of Northern Pike at a reservoir, reluctantly they agreed to try out our spot. When they got there, they were all pleased and loved the place as much as we do. We spent hours and hours laying out on the dock reading and chatting while the guys fished and the children chased after turtles. The weather was perfect! Elasta Woman read us chapters of the latest Bill Johnson book and we basked in the Sun and got refreshed by both kinds of watery depths......

The kids were so thrilled that Matthew had cooked them one of the turtles they'd caught over our campfire. They were pleased to eat the roasted meat, though I politely declined a share in those spoils ;-)

On the last day I woke up early and snuck off with my Bible, camera and kayak. It was such a beautiful morning that I wanted to get the most out of it. After I paddled to the end of the lake, I read for a while and prayed in the stillness of the morning. What a wonderful way to start out that last day. On the way back, I thought it strange that a loon was calling and swimming right toward me making all its amazing sounds! I was in no hurry so I watched it and captured a lot of video and camera footage. Soon I saw another one behind it. Next I spotted 2 baby loons. After the babies swam under, the mother and father swam around calling loudly. Then the father jumped out of the water spinning and almost walking on the water in a crazy manner. It was the most amazing thing! I wish I could upload it all, but I think it would never all load.

Anyhow, it was an amazing weekend and we all had a good lot of fun!

Moonbeams Mission

2011-06-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

The Boys on a Hike

I have been doing a lot of decontaminating in my life lately....... well not with this suit ;-) I wanted the kids to see me in this get up though!!

On a bike ride with my honey......

Super Catman came too.....

Miss Moonbeam with her pretty polka-dot dress from Geaba

So the other day I went to a special class at the hospital. The boys agreed to watch Moonbeam so The Sock Fashion Expert could have some well earned time shopping in town. Apparently, while the boys were playing video games, She some how climbed up on her Daddy's dresser and helped herself to his supply of beef jerky and Jolly Ranchers. The Archer found her chewing on jerky and took her back into the living room. After making sure he was distracted, she went into the dining room and proceeded to push a chair into the bedroom so that she could climb back up on his dresser and help herself again. "Didn't you feed her?" I quizzed my sons. "Yes" they said she asked for spaghetti and "cheese in a purple bowl". She was naked when I got home and cruddy. "She has gone through half a dozen diapers" they informed me. "Oh?" Yes, she doesn't keep them on as fast as they apply them. I smiled a knowing smile thinking maybe they would razz me less next time they saw her streaking through the house. Once she figured out how to remove her clothes and start using the potty chair, clothes became an inconvenience which she didn't want to bother with. I can dress her and fix her hair up and in minutes she is buck naked with wild hair and crud all over again ;-) "Did she poop?" I asked. Super Catman rolled his eyes "Well Archer pretended to be busy and he made me do it!" The rest of the evening, Miss Moonbeam stuck very closes to us girls, though she did say the boys were nice to her.

Another week has gone awol and I haven't the foggiest where it went to. We're getting ready for a big camping trip this weekend and have successfully packed up half the house ;-) I'm sure i will have a lot to tell.....

Floodwaters Rising!

2011-05-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

The buzz word around here has been "river" for sure, with all the cresting going on here. It all started a couple of weeks back when we had a streak of warm sunshine for a day or two. It melted up in mountains and soon torrents of water had overtaken the riverbanks........

After that, a lot of rain has been keeping it high. Back when we lived on the other side of the river, when I was pregnant with Super Catman, the flood waters overtook our road. The only way to get in and out was by boat. My mother called 911 to tell them I was expecting. It wasn't for 4 more months, but she wanted to be sure that they knew about me :-) Anyhow, this year, we're living wayyyy up on top of a tall hill and I don't have anymore dreams about floating away in my bed while I'm asleep.

After the first rising, the kids, giddy to explore took off with the neighbors kayak and a trolling motor. The Sock Fashion Expert delivered cream pie to one of the neighbors who could only boat in and out. After that every few days somebody wanted to go out and see what was new with the flooding. I even got crazy enough to try taking my little kayak down river. My sense of adventure overtook me and I just had to see our old place. Once I hit Mr. Narley's bridge wires I knew I'd made a mistake. The river was fast and I had to curl down in the bed of the tippy thing just to let it pass by without getting close lined by the thick cable. For a few short seconds time stopped and I felt gravity calling me under. I knew once I tipped the kayak would be gone for sure and I'd have to pull myself down the wires to his house with horrible embarrassment if the river didn't carry me away. Oh I'd have eventually drug myself out, but it would be minus my kayak. Anyhow, with gritted teeth, I barely made it through the harrowing experience and questioned my sanity once I was free floating on the other side. On the way back, not having a motor, I had to work hard against the current. I figured I could always pull her out at a neighbors if it was too hard, but I liked the challenge. There was no going back through the fast moving current with the guide wires, so I kayaked through his yard hoping it wasn't too rude.

In other news, The Archer is working a lot for the building crew. He loves learning all he can. I got to go to a women's conference last weekend with my good friend "The Ruthster" She's awesome and so much fun! The Sock Fashion Expert spent the weekend with her friends in the city. She had a great time. Moonbeam some how survived that weekend, but seems even more partial to us girls ;-) The boys have been building forts and playing video games along with motorcycles and building boomerangs...... My dear husband has gotten a lot of mechanical projects from locals lately which has kept him busy. He also decided to find me a good bike. After 4-6 hours on the Internet, I suggested he look at some pawn shops hoping he'd find a better deal. The other day, he was happy to find one at a used sporting equipment store that fit the criteria he had in mind for me. I was excited, but I tried to stay cool "why don't you think about it and we'll come back?" I asked nonchalantly. Then we checked out a sporting goods store and saw it was a $500 bike for only $100. Thrilled, we went off and bought a bike rack to haul it home. When we got back to the shop, it was gone....... Oh the agony. We've both been regretting not buying it right away ever since! My dear husband was back at the ol' puter looken again for another hour that night...... The dear man - at least he is dedicated to finding me one.

Oh, and i almost forgot some really exciting buzz.... a big ol' grizzley bear barged into some peoples chicken coops a couple of weeks ago as well. It got ALL of The Archers Bosses chickens, it got half another persons chickens AND it left a deer back of somebodies garden. The wildlife people tried trapping it unsuccessfully so it is still roaming around as far as anybody hears. Hopefully he has moved on.

My Son's Grizzly Bear Encounter

2011-05-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

Art Dog's Fort

Silly Miss Moona

Sock Fashion Expert checking out the progress, while she sips tea in her favorite cup...

On Monday (a week ago), it was a beautiful day. The mild weather accompanied by sunshine beckoned our children outdoors. A soft wind played through the trees and everything seemed alive and good. As we awaken from our winter slumber and find new life outdoors in Gods country, markedly, so do the other creatures. Namely, the bears awaken from their slumber, and they wander off in search of food sporting voracious appetites...........

On Monday, in another state, far from here, my mother saw something bad..... She felt a burden to pray...... She prayed for a certain child in the wilds of Montana, her own grandchild whom she dearly loved..........

On Monday, mom and dad felt it necessary to make a trip to the city. I put on a pretty dress and fixed my hair to have an outing with my dear husband. While we were frolicking without kids, shopping and even dining out at a restaurant I had long awaited eating at, our kids were finishing up their schoolwork at home. We had told them it would be okay to go outdoors as long as they said where they were going and when they would return. We have worked with them in establishing safety rules and they do always obey them.

On Monday, a certain boy screen named "Art Dog", after finishing his school work and chores excitedly headed out to one of his favorite shed finding places. The sunshine kissed his face and he felt glad for the freedom. He marched along the beautiful day in all his youthful glory..... Here is his account :

"I was walking along an old logging road, heading to a place where I was going to look for sheds. Suddenly I heard a "jump crash"! I put my hand on my pistol and I slowly walked up a couple of steps to see over the brush. I saw a gigantic brown head looking at me, with a shoulder hump behind it. It was only 20 yards away! First I thought it might be a cinnamon black bear, and then I thought "darn I didn't bring my bear tag or gun or orange". Then I saw how big it was and that it didn't look much like a black bear. So I slowly walked backwards loading my .22. Once I couldn't see it because it was behind the brush I heard it running. I hoped it wasn't running towards me. Then I heard it getting quieter so I knew it was running away. Then I realized I was shaking and I walked back home looking behind me every once in a while. The grizzly bear delayed my shed hunt. On the way back i thanked God I got to see a grizzly bear that close without getting eaten. "

On Monday, when I got the call, I thanked God for His marvelous protection. He is so good, and it isn't all He did this past week. He worked other miracles too. Yesterday, I talked to my mom on the phone and she and specifically asked "okay what happened to one of the kids this week?" Then she explained and so did i.........

2011 Bloomsday Run!!

2011-05-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

http://liteonthemtn-fitness.blogspot.com/2011/05/bloomsday-2011-run.html

Heres my fun update on participating in my first 7 1/2 mile run :-)

As if i don't have enough to worry about.....AND WOWSERS! WONDERFUL WOOD!

2011-04-30T00:17:00.000-07:00

Wolves in broad day light.....

Collared Grizzlies by night....

and day.......

See those claws?!?! ugh......

And would you believe we have foxes?! Nobody even knew for sure if they still existed up here until this pic was taken......

Some time over the winter somebodies horse had to be put down and they hauled it off into the woods a little ways from our road. Another neighbor put up a trail camera to see what would feed on it. Well now we know and it doesn't make me any more relaxed when I'm out there doing my long distance runs not far from where the body lays........

*special thanks to our neighbor with the trail camera for his generosity in sharing pics

Amidst a stack of self help books, I arise......looking rather bedraggled. There is still an invisible hole where my guts once resided, but other than that, I am no worse for the wear. My most recent mission? To survive yet another long night at work. Reminisce with me that we may escape our woes together for but a few moments of eternity........

I was feeling rather pouty when my good buddie, The Dolphin Goddess, told me her own tale of woe - she has a knee injury and would be unable to run with me this weekend at Bloomsday..... A hushed awe fell over the phone line, followed by a gasp, then I threw down the receiver and began kicking and banging the floor with my fists bawling loudly....er... just kidding. I wished her well and gave some parting encouragements. We had planned a big ol running extravaganza along with a fancy motel, shopping at a real mall and dining at some extravagant place like maybe "The Olive Garden". I wasn't sure what to do next. Bravely, I put on a stiff upper lip and decided to trust God. After a few phone calls and a good attitude, much to my relief, I found that one of my co-workers would love for me to go along with her. Another one even called me back telling me that she would be my back up back up plan ;-) It all worked out fine and it will be more the economy version where I get up at 3am and drive to meet her versus the motel/shopping. This is more our budget anyway and thats a good thing - right?

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:" - Phil 4:11

Today as the kids were wrapping up with school, my husband told me he was heading out to cut wood. Instantly my cheeks puffed out and my bottom lip began to protrude. "Wanna go for a walk when you get back?" I asked hopefully. After considering it, he asked if I wanted to come and do wood with him. That was very exciting because I can hardly ever get him to let me go along on his "man outings" and I was hurriedly scurrying around to get ready. Super Catman had instructions on finishing his workbook pages and The Sock Fashion Expert agreed to keep an eye out for Miss Moonbeam who was going down for a nap anyway. I donned 3 layers of long sleeves (one can never be too prepared for the cold) and stumbled out the door with a fizzy water and 2 tangelos.

The dirty old black truck seemed to crawl along at an ever slow turtalic crawl. My husband stopped at each prospective log laying alongside the road. He surveyed them keenly and then moved on. It was like driving through a car lot trying to find the perfect car. He eyed each log with careful skepticism. This went on for about an hour and I began to get fidgety. Every once in a while, he stopped to pick up left over fire wood cuts from the side of the road. Sometimes people who have already been out cutting leave a few logs behind that don't fit or are misshapen. My husband loves gleaning that stuff. Before long, we had the truck 1/4 of the way full, but I was still fidgety. I eyed my watch warily "we have to be back for me to get a nap before work" I pessimistically warned. On and on we turtalically crawled......

I reminded him of the time 15 minutes after the last time I reminded him. Some where inside, I was asking myself why I was so uptight. Perhaps it is because I am always rushing from one thing to the next, haphazardly. My husband, on the other hand, always does things slowly, but thoroughly. We make a great team (when we want to). Anyhow, at long last he said "oh I guess" and soon he was picking up more left overs. After that, he stepped maybe 20 feet off the road and started the splitting maul on a giant log. As he lifted up the splitting maul and brought it down with determined force, I suddenly remembered why it is that I like going to get wood with him. Even in a plain long sleeved cotton shirt, His muscles rippled through the material. Big pectoral muscles bulged along with my eyes. His brute arms wielded the tool as if it was some easy rhythm, but I knew better. I sat awed for a few moments of time...... Then I remembered that I was supposed to be helping him. I walked over and picked up one of the giant logs. It was so heavy I could barely lift it. I tried to act nonchalant. I carried it up the muddy embankment and barely got it over the side of the truck. He smiled a knowing smile. "I'll just throw these up to the road since the embankment is hard to maneuver". I gaped at his arms and shoulders again and dumbly nodded. As I began painstakingly hauling piece by piece, I noticed him throwing the wood this great distance to the road, effortlessly. Some of them I could barely pick up, but I couldn't let him know that. I tried my best to look impressive as I stacked it in the back of the truck, secretly hoping to somehow gain his favor.

Reality hit again and I looked at my watch. It was time to leave. "Lets just get those logs out there" he said. "Okay" I dumbly nodded and I found myself in some clearing picking up pieces of wood. I don't know how I got there, only that I followed him and did i mention that he has these huge pectoral muscles that bulge through his shirt? Soon I was sweating (from hauling wood through the clearing) or was it that? He said "lets just get these last few pieces. Besides that, I like the view". The thought took a moment to register "View? What is scenery when all these big chest and arm muscles are bulging through your shirt?! How could I possibly notice a view?" I wondered to myself. Then he gave me his mischievous smile, and flashed those beautiful blue eyes and I giggled. He was talking about me. And I was walking taller and trying to impress him with my amazing wood carrying ability........

On the way home, I wondered why he was in such a hurry to get there. After all, who cares if I get a nap anyway? I want to go back out wood hauling........................

My Patient Husband and Other Events.....

2011-04-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

My husband with Moonbeam and cousins......

Sock Fashion Expert LOVES Grandpa......

The Anniversary Cake....

Easter Weekend the men headed out into the furthest parts of wilderness by snowmobile....

On our way home from MN, my husbands generous middle brother gives their littlest brother this cool car!!

Elasta Woman and I at Easter Service with little ones in tow.....

My boys checking out the Ford Easter Afternoon....

My husband and I out on our Easter Afternoon 4 wheeler adventure....

Papa giving baby a "sit"

Me and my neice.....

Cousins Roaring Laughter and Running!!

Sweet MN moments...

Moonbeam's great grandma who she is named for (no the grandmas name isn't moonbeam :-) )

There are a lot of things to tell......and i haven't any idea where to start. How about if I just give you a few bullets to start :
- My men found wounded lion tracks crossing our property. Nobody knows how or why, but a seriously wounded lion is prowling about, (hopefully dead).
- A trail camera picked up the amazing find of a FOX (feasting on a dead animal)!! Until this positive proof emailed to us today, we did not know they existed in this part of the country. Maybe if i get the gumption i'll put some of those pics up soon.....
- Easter was a super fun weekend. The men took off to the furthest remote places by snowmobile while Elasta Woman and i hid Easter Baskets for the kids, did egg coloring and tested our "fitness" on 9 grueling stages out of my "Fitness" magazine. Would you believe i just barely achieved "Super Star" status (LOL!!). After ward we had an amazing BBQ with the exhausted men.
- The Sunday Service and Brunch was also memorable. That afternoon we relaxed and played. While the kids went out fishing and running, My wonderful husband took me on an exciting 4-wheeler ride among the melting forest slopes.
- Moonbeam did her first real TINKLE on the potty frog!! She has now been promoted to celebrity status and wears her "pick ups" (pull ups) proudly. Her brother gave her a box of Nerds for her heroism. She sat back on the rinsed out potty chair eating them. Then to my horror she dropped one in, picked the wet candy out and stuffed it in her mouth - eeeww!! I told her "no no!!" When she was done sitting, her brother thought she had done something special again. That is until he discovered the items in the potty frog were none other than waterlogged Nerds ;-)
- THIS SUNDAY is my 7.3 mile Bloomsday Run. My good Buddie "The Dolphin goddess" hurt her knee, so rather than the luxury motel, mall shopping and fun trip, it has changed to my riding down with a friend from work mega early in the AM. Should be an adventure as i've never done anything with her before :-)
________________________________________________________________
The other morning we were getting ready to take Super Catman to the Orthodontist. I donned a pair of Capri's I found for $1 at a second hand store a month or two ago. I asked him what he thought, he said "fine dear". As the day progressed, I noticed that the Capri's looked terrible.

They were baggy in the butt and looked really funny like maybe i pooped my pants or something. There was enough room in the rear to fit a second or maybe third butt. Come to think of it, they looked like they were made for a lady with a big bubbly rear. The more I looked at them on me in the reflections of store mirrors, the more upset I became.

Finally, after he started laughing about somebody wearing something bizarre at Walmart, I blew up "you notice everything about everybody else, but you never even noticed how terrible these pants look on me!" Time stops. There is a look of frustration and male puzzlement on his face. He has NO CLUE why I am upset. Suddenly I am sure that people are thinking to themselves "why would she wear those terrible pants to town? She looks a like a real hill billy." I rush to find the hair dye, noticing that my roots are growing out. Minute by minute things start looking worse. I try on some exercise shirts for the run this weekend. They are ALL too tight. "I must be gaining weight too!!" I start obsessing. My husband meets up with me and starts joking about my pants because he still does not know why I am so distraught.

On and on these emotional outbursts seem to occur, but my darling husband continues to hold his tongue and try and act in a comforting manner. He has the patience of a saint :-) He doesn't ask for much, my dear husband. Every morning he wants to eat eggs with runny yoke and potatoes. If I am busy, emotional, or working that night he makes them himself, otherwise I make them. Even if I'm making some other time consuming breakfast (waffles, pancakes, etc), he always wants the same thing - eggs and potatoes make him happy. He likes to drink a cup of tea at night and in the morning. He asks to be left alone when he's working on a mechanical project. He rarely spends much money on himself. He rarely goes out with friends. He never complains about anything. He gets up every morning and corrects the children's math and then teaches each one a new lesson. He participates in family devotions each morning and prays with the children. He prefers to play "Risk" or watch a family movie with the kids at night while I'm snuggled up by his side rather than go "out" or pursue his own hobbies. "Out" for him is a hike in the woods or a ride on his 4-wheeler. He likes to sneak a candy treat to Moonbeam and tell her she looks "pretty". She cocks her head back and forth and then runs to the mirror to see. He stops what he's doing if he thinks I need him. Every day he seems to sacrifice something of his own time to give to me.
Recently I started reading "Managing Your Emotions" along with "The Virtuous Wife". It seems to be a good compliment to it ;-) Hopefully I will get better at not getting mad at him for "not telling me my pants look terrible" and other assorted silly reasons ;-) I'm also working on not bugging him while he works on replacing an engine he's been hired to do - lol!! How's your wife -o- meter running?

The Versatile Blogger Award

2011-04-17T23:53:00.000-07:00

Hello All :-) Sorry again for all my delinquent blogging. Partly it just hasn't been in my heart. I have been through a lot of personal challenges over the past few months. It is taking me a while to get caught up with everything. Baili graciously awarded me this award. I have to list 7 things about myself in accepting it. Here they are :

1. I am running Bloomsday (7.2 mile) run in Spokane in 2 weeks!! That is exciting for me because i didn't even think i could run that far. One day I just had this feeling like it was what God was leading me to do. Amazingly my daughter started running long distances and pushing me to do it with her. I was just amazed that we could consistently run 6 and 7 miles together. I guess God has a good plan in it :-)

2. I started another sugar fast yesterday. Again, one of the bizarre things I felt I should embark on. I'm going to try and go 2 weeks without white sugar and concentrated sweets in my diet :-)

3. I fall apart daily but God gives me supernatural grace. I look like a virtuous, got it together wife and mother. The truth is most days I'm a wreck. The only thing that keeps me sane is worship music, prayer and a patient husband and kids ;-)

4. I am alive when I am basking in the summer sun next to a lake wearing as little as I can modestly get away with. I'm also alive when I'm running, swimming and hiking through the forest. The forest sets me free and I feel Gods presence around me.

5. I have become obsessive about praying "The Power of a Praying Wife Prayers" over my husband daily. I recently obtained a copy of "The Power of a Praying Parent" - bwahahaha!

6. Fear is my worst enemy.

7. I love dogs, especially German Shepherds. I gawk at them when I see them around and secretly believe someday I'm going to have one again :-)

Okay, here are the people I would like to award "The Versatile Blogger Award" to. They are all very versatile, though they are true to a flavor and diversity all their own :

The Mama Has Spoken - because she always gives me a good laugh!

Mama Bugs Blog - because she inspires me with her Godly attitude and backwoods adventures!

Amber - because she always has something nice to say to everybody and she is faithful.

Julia Christie - Because she is an OUTSTANDING artist whose pictures come alive. Even though I'm not into art, she makes me want to keep coming back for more of hers :-)

The Modest is Hottest Girls - because they are everything that i am not

Mama Bear - because she loves God and her family and never stops trying to inspire us to do the same.

Blessed Mom - because every blog post awes me and takes my breath away

Kimberly - because she lets us grow with her and makes her home her domain

They all have blogs worth reading and are truly worthy of the above award!!

Remember me in my meat plight. When we returned from Minnesota we discover our largest freezer was kaput! Oh oh oh!! I should be thankful that a lot of it was still partly frozen and the rest was cold!! I cooked up pounds upon pounds of hamburger along with 5 roasts. The little freezers are stuffed full - every nook and cranny! We threw away 2 trash bags of what was the most replaceable. Stubbornly, I have made smoothies every day because I can't bear to toss all my hard work in fruit! Now the big challenge is how to use up what is in the refrigerator before it wastes! Pray I will become a MEATY MEAL MAKEN MAMA in a hurry ;-)

A Ton of Pics!!

2011-04-12T14:41:00.000-07:00

My niece and talented violin player "super human duckie girl"

My other niece and violin player "super human monkey girl"!!

My husband teaching my sister how to clean a gun :-)

Sock Fashion Expert becomes the feared "attic boss"

The whole kit n' caboodle (All my family)

Visiting Grandpa at the Nursing Home

Sock Fashion Expert serenaded him with her guitar

And the girls played violin for him too..... See him smiling? In the back the kids are all coloring pictures to put up in his room.

My mom teaches the boys to play poker......

And lets the little girls play with her special dolls..........

There was a lot of fooling around at bedtime..... Auntie brought the girls silly things like egg cartons to cuddle with ;-)

The Men played Risk

My Aunt and Uncle hosted a luncheon in Duluth....

I got to see baby Maxton for the first time!!

Sarah and Quent

Cousins.....

Moonbeam and Maxton

Maxton and his Grandma

Me and my 3 aunts..... What a pleasure to see them all!!

Meeting baby Terrance for the first time :-)

A PILE of friends :-)

Shopping with the girls!!

Sock Fashion Expert brought the little girls crowns :-)

Moonbeam has been talking about "Shopping with Bhama" for months!! She finally got to do it!!

Its been a good trip, and its coming to an end. After the first 3 days at my in laws, we headed to a remote location to spend a day with a big family of old friends. The kids loved it and stayed up the entire night feasting on candy and fooling around with their pals. The next day we headed to Duluth to see a bunch of my extended family. It had been a couple of years and I had new second cousins to snuggle up to for the first time :-) My aunt put on a lovely luncheon and made it a special day for all.

After that we were on to my sisters where I had fun with my nieces who are supernaturally endowed with super human monkey and duck like reflexes. Then we spent a week at my mom and dads place. It was a peaceful visit there too. The weather was beautiful and the warm winds beckoned the sock fashion expert and I outdoors to our running destiny. My amazing daughter coached and prodded me to do a record 7 miles straight with her. That was pretty cool. She also prodded my mom to clean out her attic where they hauled record loads of junk out to the end of the drive way. There was so much stuff there that we feared the garbage man wouldn't take it, so when he came, we all helped him load the mess to take away and supplied him with a generous slice of ice cream cake!

My sister spent a lot of time out there with us and we made a lot of fun memories. A basketball tummy held my first nephew and I was anxious to speak to that little boy and feel him kick every chance I got. Silly Auntie that i am, I brought the monkey nieces funny things to cuddle with at night such as egg cartons and cookie sheets. The men played some Risk games that lasted for untold hours. My mom also taught the kids to play Poker and we burned a day on that too :-) Back at my in laws there was a special surprise! All the 3 brothers and their families got together once again along with a surprise trip from Nebraska Great Grandmother, aunt and cousins. The big celebration was graced by a 3 tiered, 6 layer, 3 flavor 40 year anniversary cake made by none other than the Sock Fashion Expert. After a lot of eating, playing, visiting and laughing, everybody headed to the swimming pool at the motel so the kids could play some more. My dear husband got right in the pool and played ball with the kids. It was especially a lot of fun when he tried to keep the ball from me because he used all kinds of unorthodox tactics ;-)

What an awesome time we've been having!! I have loads more pictures and loads more to tell, but i will save it for next time!!

In Memory of my Cousin Monty.....

2011-04-03T17:48:00.002-07:00

We were all sad to hear that our cousin, Monty, passed away on Tuesday. He was only 31. He was the oldest of 5 children, and the pride and joy of his parents. His parents pioneered the way for future generations when they began home schooling him and his siblings from a young age. As a result, he was one of the nicest, kindest and most obedient children I knew. I have many fond memories of our days together as kids. In later years, he was a veteran who served our country and returned home with lasting injuries. He was a husband and a father, who I am sure loved his family very much. We will all miss him..........

A lot to be Thankful for.....

2011-03-29T19:05:00.000-07:00

This is my husband's entire clan. We have never ALL been together for an entire day, since before there's been several children. It was a day God especially touched........

The oldest and youngest grand daughter......

The three brothers - having a good time!

Parents and kids.....

My In laws with all their grand kids!

Sock Fashion Expert played while a cousin dances..........

She and Her Papa have a special relationship.....

The Cousins ADORED each other..........

We were invited for her 3rd Birthday Party.........

My husbands brother, wife and baby.....

Grandpa loves playing with his grand kids!

Grandma never stopped smiling - THE WHOLE DAY!

The Boys Hiked in the frozen swamp bogs at my in-laws. Here's an owl who answered their calls......

Driving out of our mountains.......... To the Land of 10,000 LakesAfter the 20 some hour drive and 12 hour birthday party, everybody was exhausted........

After days of packing and organizing, we ALL loaded into our big ol' Suburban and headed to town to pick up my husband's bachelor brother "Chet". I wasn't sure how spending 20 some hours would go with all of us cooped up together, but it went just fine. We pulled into my husband's middle brother's home. It was an amazing and extra special day, especially for my husband's parents who got to have all their kids and grand kids together for the WHOLE DAY.

After that, we drove another 3 hours to my in laws place. Its been a really nice visit here too. Every day The Sock Fashion Expert and I have broken records running on the long, flat highway in front of their house. Today, for the FIRST TIME EVER, we ran 6 miles together. Its a good thing too, because we have been eating from an incredible and never ending feast.

Chet hadn't been back in 10 years or more. It was really extra special just to have him hanging around with us. I marveled in the little things, like the basket ball games the whole family played together, and the times he did simple things like taking out the trash. Every day seems to be a constant reminder that God is faithful to His Word.

I am also doing an Internet class daily, and am reading a lot of good books. One that has been particularly stretching is called "The Excellent Wife". Though the words can be hard to take, and I don't agree with all of it, it is a big eye opener to me. Where I once truly believed that I was an exceptional woman, I find myself sadly lacking in many many areas. Not to be down on myself or anything, I am just seeing a lot of error in my ways, and that is a good thing. We must all remain teachable if we truly want to experience all God has for us :-)

Today us girls went shopping in town. Moonbeam has been reciting "I want to go shopping with Bhama!" for the last 6 months. Today she finally got to. Generously, my mother in law shared us with my sister and her kids too. Once we met them at the mall, we didn't shop much after that..... I had to whisk those cute little cherubs away for ice cream the first second my sister turned her back ;-) We spoiled all the girls rotten with toys, crowns, balloons, pin wheels and whatever else. I wildly skipped and sang down the aisles of the stores crazily pushing the girls in the cart as they laughed hysterically. Then we went to the spectacular Green Mill Restaurant over looking lake Bemidiji and dined in front of panoramic lake view windows. The food was incredible.

Tomorrow we're heading out to see friends, then family, then more family, and then more family before we head back here. Its a little bitter sweet packing up, but I know Chet and his parents will have some good times together while we're gone AND they'll enjoy us again when we're back for a few more days. As I sit here and type, the Sock Fashion Expert strums her beautiful melodies, my Mother in law puts away the rest of her strawberry shortcake, (which, by the way, she's been making me for 22 years), and the rest of the family mills around quietly. There is no question in my mind that God is faithful. His promises are true and He makes them available to anybody who chooses to receive. I've been "coming home" to my in laws place since I was 16 years old. It feels just a little bit like coming back to God despite all the many roads I've travelled and lives I've lived. It just feels right.............

Working Mom Blues and The Time Jam

2011-03-24T02:03:00.000-07:00

Figured I'd add a few more party pics up here................

Being the part'e chick that I am, I had decided to do a double header. On Saturday, was The Sock Fashion Experts surprise party. On Sunday was my husbands. We will be travelling out of state on their real birthdays and I was to start my stretch of 3 - 12 hour night shifts right after the weekend ended, so Sunday was the only day available! It actually helped a little doing it that way because each of them knew the other one was getting a surprise party. That gave them no suspicion for my secretive phone calls and plan coordinating.
Sunday Morning, bright and early, we headed out for church. After church, some of our close friends headed over to hang out with us. I made home made egg rolls and stir fry. The Sock Fashion Expert made an incredible Angel Food Cake with Home made ice cream, whipped cream and strawberries - Amazing! My friends helped me cooking in the kitchen too. After we gals got out for a quick hike, the men went out shooting. Then we all watched a movie together and some more people came up and crashed the party.

I tried to treat my husband like a king by dishing up his dinner and giving him the biggest plate of dessert and being attentive to his needs in front of his friends. Then I sat on the floor while he watched the movie and massaged his feet. After that I snuggled with him. He seemed to look satisfied and happy most of the day. I like that look.......

Monday was our accountability group and I had suggested we write 40 attributes about our husbands to share. We read from "Sparkling Gems", "The Power of a Praying Wife", and the Bible. It was a good group and we bonded in prayer. Then I rushed out to get ready for work. After my 3 shifts are over, I will have one day to pack before we head off out of state on another colorful adventure along with my husbands brother, Chet! Crazy Upside down busy!

The house has become a place of disarray, but there is not a thing I can do about it. Thankfully the new washer and dryer can do ginormous loads and my dear husband did some while I've been gone. Miss Moona looked rather sticky and cruddy yesterday when I took her outside for a short bout with fresh air but I didn't have time to give her a bath. Then when I was getting my work stuff together I found her eating a jelly sandwich which I never gave her - ugh! School fell behind as well. I ended up having to take it all to work with me so I could get it corrected and assigned. Amazingly the kids have kept up and then some. They are knocking off subjects like flies. When we get back 2 of the 3 will be down to half time days. Amazing!

Stay tuned for a lot of excitement and adventure in the next few weeks as we make our way through the Land of 10,000 lakes.................................

"Those darn crackers, they will be the downfall of civilization" - That co-worker

The Surprise Party Concert Extravaganza!

2011-03-22T02:23:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, and what would later be referred to as "The Best Day of Sock Fashion Experts Life", our family and some friends drove the Suburban down to the nearby city. The Sock Fashion Expert was thrilled to be going to see Holly Starr in concert (as pictured above). She didn't know it, but a bunch of her friends were waiting for her at the local pizza joint. The entire place was decorated with helium balloons, colored popcorn, and presents galore. A beautiful cake sat displayed in a prominent place at the head of ALL the tables which had been pushed together. I had arranged the whole thing with her friends via Face book under the radar of her knowledge. As we neared the pizza joint, we playfully argued about where to eat at. After lengthy, playful bickering, I placed a fake order over the phone for a few pizzas. It was really a secret signal to a private cell phone that we were 5 minutes away.........

She noticed some friends of ours in the parking lot. "Look who's here" she said. "Everybody likes pizza" I murmured nonchalantly as we got out. Secretly, I was programming my camera for video behind her. I got it on just as she walked through the door. Her friends were all standing there to greet her. She wondered what everybody was doing there - and whose birthday it was - lol!! When she finally realized it was her special day, the smile never left her face. Crazy girls giggled and chatted incessantly. Delicious bread sticks and pizza were gobbled down amongst laughter and smiles. The festivities never seemed to end and neither did the glow on her face. When it was all over, the girls hung out together and my boys even tagged along while we ran off to do some errands.

That evening we met back together for the concert. It was an awesome show! Holly Star is a great singer with depth, conviction and incredible talent. The presence of God came down into the building, and the whole thing just seemed serene. Of course The Sock Fashion Expert, Archer and the gang were all up front jumping around and having a good old time, but for once I didn't feel the need to be up there with them. I was content sitting in back with my man. His arm was around me and he was whispering something in my ear. Moonbeam fiddled under the seats. Mist and Fiery were in the same set of seats with us cradling their beautiful little baby boy. Elasta Woman and Matthew were across the aisle with littlest one in tow. The Sock Fashion Expert had taken their other girls up to the front with her. After all the fun rock music ended and worship echoed all over the auditorium, I put my hand up in the air, not caring that I was probably the only one. I was thankful to God and I intended to worship openly. He delivered me and protected my family through horrible terrible trials. What was there to be ashamed of? For a small moment of time, things just seemed right.............................

I didn't stay in the cabin as long this time. It was hard, but I am learning Gods Grace as I forgive and I am seeing His Power at work. That second time, I don't think it left anything internal. It was like a gut hook ripped out what was left from inside me, yet I lived..... With forgiveness permeating the darkness, there was no foothold for it to stay. Repentance came and the friend began to transform, as did i. No longer would the contracts stand, God stepped in to intervene. Where sin abounds Gods Grace abounds more, and that was all that remained. The angel came back and helped me burn the evil. Though the fear still sometimes presents itself, light remains, ever pushing the darkness back and bringing with it yet more light.

Supernatural things began occurring and hearts changed as the contract with darkness was destroyed. I saw my own errors in not truly showing love where it should have been rightly given and I amended my ways. What the devil meant for ultimate destruction, God redeemed, and hope began to birth new life. Though it will be and has been a hard hard road, I am glad God worked in it all. Had it never happened, I would never have known God's delivering power in those days of darkness and neither would my friend. Everyday God slowly replaces my heart with one that has new depths and abilities to love unconditionally..... May we now stay in the light and never go back to those days behind us. May we live again and may the children of future generations never know those haunting present evils....

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

darkness falls again....

2011-03-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

more dressing room fun

mtn goat on the way home from the big city

"After two days He will revive us (quicken us, give us life); on the third day He will raise us up that we may live before Him." Hosea 6:2
"The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like the bursting out of great waters, so he called the name of the place Baal-perazim (The Lord of breaking through)." - 2 Sam 5:20b

In other news, I am planning to construct a cheese cake today. I am also making "mahi mahi". Very exciting. My dear husband and I enjoyed a nice walk yesterday. Spring is in the air. The eldest three kids went off to youth group last night. It was the first time EVER!! I'm so happy for them getting to have some fun with others. Its about time. It also left me and my love with the youngest two only for the evening..... Super Catman played video games. Miss Moona goofed around and I got my husband all to myself ;-)

peas in a pod and darkness

2011-03-09T03:35:00.000-08:00

The girls asked to go to "baby jail" together. Not sure why.....

They were born just a couple of months apart. Its been fun watching them grow up together. A lota "love hate relationship" has gone on ;-)

Moonbeam is always excited to see her, but then quickly becomes perturbed - lol!!

"Mom get me outa here NOW before she kisses me - ewww!!!"

Too late.........

One day I found myself in a dark, walled cabin. There was no way out...... It was a living hell! I was paralyzed with fear and it clouded my judgment. The more I thrashed around, the bloodier my arms and legs became. The walls closed in on me and I thought I might suffocate. The darkness got darker and darker until I couldn't see my hands in front of my face. Years before that, darkness always came and went. I didn't know what it was. I just knew it was there. I didn't understand it, though I asked God to reveal it many many times. Then one day He did............ Soon after that it consumed me. I was in utter blackout. There was no way out. I began to think only death would separate me from it, but then I saw a glimpse of light. Here and there little cracks of light came through. The shadow lands held me tight, though. They consumed me, threatened me and overwhelmed me. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't eat. I couldn't focus. Without kinds words and loving prayers, it may have taken me for good, but God was faithful. Even though it still paralyzed me often, He lead me to the cracks of light. He showed me where to breathe to get the most oxygen. He quieted me so I wouldn't thrash and bleed. Then one day, He showed me the door. It was bolted, but in my mind, I could escape. The more I focused on the light, the more transparent the walls became until I saw that they could no longer hold me. Those walls still exist. They still seek to contain me daily. Many days I shake uncontrollably as the darkness falls. Many days I can feel the paralyzing, suffocating fear. Many days, the shadow lands pursue me, but I know the light. Had the darkness not fully enveloped me, I could never truly have broken free. I wouldn't have ever fully understood those long years of shadows behind me. God heard me in the shadows. He heard me in my prison too. He let me walk there for a time, so I would understand true freedom.............

Am I free? Its a matter of my choice. I chose to be. The shadow lands are only a step behind me most of the time. A wise woman told me "The only way to combat a lie is with the truth." She told me some other things that helped me. She said that "Learning to replace lies with the truth found in God's Word is the only way to rebuild a house that is sturdy enough to withstand the extreme pressures of life." She told me that "Hearing the truth is not, of course, always painless, but it brings us freedom." The wise woman showed me a way out, but it was one with a lot of pain, for every time I leave that dark place, I see a part of my heart laying there on the floor, dead. The cabin ripped my guts out. It really did. Some how, i can walk around in the light without them all. An invisible cautery stopped the bleeding. An invisible hand seems to keep my heart beating. It somehow keeps me going. But, sure enough, back there are my guts laying all over the floor. I don't know what the future holds, but I am alive for now. The light seems to pierce back that darkness and requires me to keep going............

"We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of the life shaped by Christ." - 2 Cor 10:5

Now that you have read from my dark side, I suppose we must find something to laugh about :-) I am really enjoying the new car my husband bought. Of course, its not new, but its new to us. Its fun to drive. Its low on gas mileage. Its black and kinda cool looking. Anyhow, I pulled it up to the gas pump that same day I was telling you about the beer/worm/fish story. After carrying my h'um package, to the car, and prepaying for gas, I got ready to put some gas in. I eyed the dash for the gas flipper thingy. Nothing. I looked around. Nothing. I looked back on the dash board. I looked back around everywhere. UGH! I got out and looked for a key spot. Nothing. I had already pre-paid for the gas. ARUGH! I was starting to get flustered. That gas station lady must think I have serious problems - first it takes me 20 minutes to buy beer. Then I can't figure out how to put gas in my car?!? "Breathe" I commanded myself. I looked over the dash again. I looked all around.

Time stopped. Here I am, the hospital supervisor.....the emergency room RN and I can't find the fricken gas flippy thing. I'm supposed to be smart enough to independently solve problems that arise, assist in complex medical procedures, calculate and give medications, and in general, be capable of saving lives and here I am unable to figure out how to get the gas thing open?!?! Pathetic. Just pathetic. I couldn't stand the thought of asking some passerby to help me find the gas thingy. Finally I got my cell phone out and phoned my dear husband. I was already cringing, with the idea I was going to get lovingly teased. While the phone rang I stepped out of the car, guiltily observing my "bag" in the back seat. I surveyed the scene rationally. That's when I finally saw it! On the outer side of the drivers side seat along the floor board was the gas flippy dealy. "What kind of moron designed that?!" I wondered to myself, relieved. My dear husband answered the phone. I considered breathing heavy and hanging up..... just kidding. We have caller id. Then I told him my tale of woe.......... He didn't tease me....too much ;-)