Wow, December!

Well, we've made it through November and we're shockingly in to December. At the moment, I'm 19 1/2 weeks prego and starting to look somewhat pregnant. Let's just say, the jeans don't fit anymore. We have a doctor's appointment on friday along with our first ultra sound. I actually like going to my appointments, as weird as that my sound, but I like hearing the heart beat and now we'll get our first glimpse of what is to come. It also helps that my doctor is really nice and I don't feel stupid asking dumb questions. My friend, Sheila Henson is also pregnant with her first and is about 12 weeks pregnant. We compare notes on how we've been feeling. Sorry to say but she's had it a lot worse than I have. I've started to feel little kicks and punches and it excites me. I've been told I have "The Glow".

We had Thanksgiving last thursday in Billings with Jason's family. It was a small gathering with only 8 people and a 19lb turkey! We ventured out into the Black Friday shopping frenzy and I found a lot of pregnancy clothes that were at some good prices even without the sale. We didn't get the big sale items as my agenda was clothes. So we hit, Ross and found some cute shirts for cheap and at Target I loaded up on clothes. So there went my birthday and easter money, but it was so worth it. I even had a good time clothes shopping with Jason, as I'm usually picky, cheap and just get a bad attitude about it. I do have to say, he saves me a lot of time by telling me if he likes it or not. I'm far to hard on myself. We even found some things for him and decided to end the hectic day by going to see "Australia". Save you're money, it wasn't too bad but it's kind of a renter. Some of the graphics are really fake and didn't impress us. I had to take Jason to Cold Stone Creamery for some ice cream and we headed home with our treasures in tow.

The weekend before, we went out with 6 other couples to a Christian comedian that was hosted by a local church. The night called for a mexican dinner and lots of laughs. Check out Tim Hawkins on Youtube. Somehow, laughing with friends just makes you laugh that much harder. We all had a really good ab workout, only to head to McDonald's before heading home. We'll have to plan another mass couples night out again.

We've been pretty fortunate to have such great friends. Our other "mom and dad" friends, took us out hunting and let the "baby mama", as I'm affectionately called by them and my husband, shoot a whitetail doe on their property. We were also with them when Jason shot a really big mule deer buck. They were bored and called us to go with them and shoot something. They're so much fun. Jason also helped someone pack out an elk and he gave us a half or 2 quarters of it. Then some friends of ours were moving and cleaning out their freezer and dropped off some pork for us. So our freezer is full and I'm waiting for some snow, as crazy as that sounds. But it is that time of year. This Saturday is the annual lighted parade in Powell, along with all kinds of Christmas activities. We'll see what we all take in.

Life Achievements

The ones in Bold are the ones I've done...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band -I'm saying worship teams count!
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain - I've walked in the mountains so that has to count right?
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - scrapbooking is art!
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - maybe
24. Built a snow fort - what else do you do in elementary school in snowy Manitoba?
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - at times
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - a few times
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight - in africa
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing - honeymoon in PEI
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling - love snorkeling!
52. Kissed in the rain - probably at some point
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in - sadly I haven't
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - Integrity Building Services
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt - remember our jean attempt Faith?
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book - a picture book for a friend from Blurb.com
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car/truck
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible - sadly no
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous - probably at some time at the lodge
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby - almost there!
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee - wasps would count
100. Read an entire book in one day - that's a very rare occurance
Now copy and paste it... I can't wait to see what you've done!

Prayer update!

I called my parents on Saturday, which I think surprised them. My dad's surgery went well. He was in a lot of pain and was on a morphinemachine. They did get him walking with a walker for a little bit. My mom was afraid that with the risk of this surgery, he might not walk, but praise God it all went great. They were able to repair the nerve damage to his spine that was causing his right leg and foot to be numb for a long time. He now has feeling back in his leg and foot. Another Praise God! He has a long recovery time ahead of him, so prayers are always needed.

Prayer request

My family needs some prayer today. My dad is going to have major back surgery today in Winnipeg. He has stenosis of the spine and hopefully this surgery will help repair that, but the doctors aren't sure if it will help the pain or repair the nerve damage he has to his right leg. Right now it's been numb for a while. Just pray for a speedy recovery, as the recovery time could be 6 months -2 yrs possibly from what I was told. He can't work for 4-6 months at his job and living on the farm also has its challenges. He's hopefully gotten rid of his cows or has someone looking after them for him. With winter coming too, the snow really can be a pain to clear the driveway. I just really covet your prayers for my mom, dad and sister Janesa as they help him through this tough time.

Boys Will Be Boys

There are just times in my life where I just have to thank God for making me a woman. There are things about guys that are funny but strange at the same time. The things they do just don't sound like a lot of fun to me, but boys will be boys.

For Example...

This last May, my husband Jason and his buddy Jason Miller, decided to drive into the mountains and go black bear hunting. They chose a back road that was covered in snow. Along the way, they came upon some fallen trees that were over the road. This did not dampen their spirits, as they merely got out and pulled, pushed and moved the trees out of the way.

Along their way, they stopped to admire a herd of elk that were grazing. Too bad they weren't in season.
With the apparent thaw of the land, it wasn't long before the boys found themselves in a little predicament. My excitement level would have been on the rise at this point. But being the boys they are, they egged each other on and thought they could make it through the big mud puddle. Obviously, the land won that match. After a few hours of digging in the mud with their hands and feet trying to get unstuck, they had to walk a couple of miles to get to the highway. Who should be passing by but a game and fish officer. He brought them to the nearest restaurant and phoned his superior, who turned out to be a nephew of a friend of ours. He took the guys up to where they were, but even with his truck he couldn't get them out. So they had to leave Miller's truck in the mountains until it dried up enough that they could get it out. The game and fish guy took them down the road only to get stuck himself. Again, it took a while to dig him out but they did it. But along came a little beaver pond that they had to cross. He miss judged where the road was and ended up... sinking half the truck in the pond. They also had to keep the truck running because the exhaust was under water. The started to strap the truck to trees hoping this would help keep the truck up and hopefully pull them out. What they couldn't see was that they were caught on a sunken log and no amount of straps would get them out. So the had to call up a level and call the Feds. They came out with a truck and after much pulling, they pulled the wedged truck out of the water. But now it was dark and very late. The game and fish was even nice enough to drive them into Cody to Miller's house. Jason called me after midnight to come and get him. I'd already been wondering where they were. Well, what a story I had waiting for me.

Now, to me, that just wouldn't have been fun, and at times it wasn't fun for them either. They did come out of it alive and with only some wet clothes and an adventure to tell their friends.

Boys, gotta love 'em but thank God I'm a girl!

For my Peeps in MB!

Thought my friends and family back home in Manitoba would appreciate some images that have been removed from their familiar landscape.

This was always a familiar site for me, having lived on the "beet loader road" as we affectionatley called our turn-off from the highway. This was a true sign of fall when we could see the lights that lit up the whole sugar beet dump area. Plum Coulee was known as the sugar beet capital of Manitoba. Since moving to Powell, I know of 4 or 5 dumps within a couple of miles along the highway. I think the title may have moved south. Definitely a staple crop here.

As far a pregnancy update, not much to update. The news has definitely made it around the planet and we're getting a very good response. No real noticable bump yet, even though I've passed the 13 week mark. So I'm almost to the end of the first trimester, hard to believe. I've been busy this weekend though. I cleaned out the garden, cleaned the house pretty thoroughly, washed my windows and made a batch of salsa. I'm impressed with myself. My body was aching yesterday but it has recovered.

The Latest News

I'm snug and warm in my little house while my husband and two other guys are traipsing in the mountains trying to fill their deer and elk tags. The weather is not exactly ideal to be outside in. There has been a snow storm settling in over Wyoming for the weekend. It was kind of unexpected and the weather channel says we're supposed to accumulate up to 12"! But it will melt next week as the temps rise into the 50's again. I haven't cleaned out my garden but I did pick all the produce I wanted and cleaned it out that way. Just the plants are left.
Here's the latest addition to our herd. Saber is a big boy and hides my little fat mare, Emma. He's boss of the pen and lets Emma know it.

I've been busy making salsa, canning peaches, shredding zucchini, and making spaghetti sauce. I'm quite tired of tomatoes but I have a big bag left over of tomatoes that aren't quite ripe yet. So I'll have to get some more jars and make one last batch of salsa. Last weekend we went up into the mountains with some friends and brought some along. They just loved the homemade stuff.


Some views of the changing leaves that we saw in the mountains. Jason had planned on staying in a tent. Thankfully we didn't have to and could stay in Tracy and Quin's trailer. It turned out to be a really cold and wet weekend. I would have been miserable.

And Finally....

Yes, I'm pregnant!!! It's hard to believe and a bit surreal that it's happening. I've had 2 appointments already and was able to hear the heartbeat for the first time on Tuesday. It just made it so real that there is a baby inside of me and it's not just an "idea" that I'm pregnant. So they've pegged my due date at April 26th. I've got a really nice female doctor and her assistant was really great as well, which makes me feel more comfortable. Some of our friends were joking if they had to draw us a picture. I guess not. So to answer the many burning questions people have about others pregnancies. I haven't been sick which has been a big blessing at work. I have been tired though most days when I get home. Jason has been a really big help around the house. He sees something that needs to be done and he does it. I've also been more hungry at school and at home, so I've been taking more snacks to school to compensate. Not too much to report. Right now, it hasn't been all that bad. Hopefully it continues.

Good and Bad

A lot has happened since my last installment. September 6th, we celebrated our 5th anniversary by going out for dinner in town. Nothing too fancy but a nice steak was great! Hard to believe that 5 yrs has come and gone so fast!

The following Friday, we drove to Worland, WY. We had gotten a promotional flier in the mail about a car sale and we had won a prize, so we went down to claim it, hoping it was the grand prize of $30,000. It wasn't but we did get a $300 gas voucher. Oh, and we bought a new car! Something we both didn't really plan on doing, but we knew that our sunfire was going to need some much needed, expensive repairs and eventual replacement. So we took one for a test drive and went in to check prices. We walked out twice and every time they came back with a better offer. (of course they would) So we walked out of there with a great deal on a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica with 50,000 miles! Yes, it looks like a small mini van but they call it a "sports wagon". We've gotten some jabs about the new "family car" but you know what? It's roomy, comfortable and in much better shape than the previous. What's really funny is that on paper, they "gave" us $8500 for our car that had 183,000 miles and was only worth $900! So good bye little sunfire!

On a sad note, Jason had to put down his horse on Monday. I went to check on them and he was sweaty, rolling and kicking really bad. A sign of colic that can be deadly. We don't know how long it had been going on but it was a not a pretty sight. I got him out to walk him around and he would keep rolling every so often. Jason got there and I told him he needed to do something because he was suffering. He said it was the hardest thing he's had to do. It's always worse when it's your own instead of someone else's.

If you'll refer to 3 stories down, Jason was given another horse in case Cole didn't make it. So Saber has joined our little remuda with Emma. Saber is twice the size of my little mare and just a big goober. He's kind of the goofy kid in class and just a giant! We took him on a ride with our friend's Quin and Tracy and their son Gavin. Gavin was riding infront of Jason and pulled on a branch and most of the dead tree fell down in front of Saber and he just stopped and stood there! It didn't spook him at all. He's only had a couple of rides but he acts like he's dead broke. Jason just needs to fine the gas pedal on him, he's not too fond of running yet.

And thanks for all those that have been praying for us. Jason has had an abundance of work lately which has been an answer to a lot of prayers. The biggest job so far is to trim out 3 houses for a subdivision for a company from Casper. The division is 2 blocks from our house. They are behind on their schedule and still have 30 more homes to build. Hopefully everything will go well and they'll keep him for the rest.

This weekend I head to Billings with some women from church and friends from Meeteetse. We're going to see Beth Moore, she writes a lot of bible studies and we're doing one right now on Daniel. It should be a good time.

A Wet Labor Day Weekend

This last weekend was pretty uneventful for us, but it was nice to just hunker down at home and say warm. It was a cool and rainy weekend for the holiday. Saturday, we went down to Western Frontiers (CWAM) to take some of the new students in the DTS (discipleship training school) up to a deserted town in the mountains, called Kerwin. It's an hour drive on some rough roads and we had maybe 10 people in our pickup. Yes, we piled them in the back of the truck.
To drive to Kerwin, you must pass through Meeteetse. Labor day is the big party weekend for Meeteetse and with that, there is always a crowd of people driving/4-wheeling up to Kerwin. There were quite a few vehicles in the parking area when we arrived. We got out and walked around and showed the students some of the abandoned buildings and the mine. Had some lunch and decided to find some water falls that friend's of Jason, found on his DTS 7 years ago! Where has the time gone. We head off along the river, and I followed the 2 track road, but then was coaxed to follow the group along the river. Having to cross the river and soak your shoes is not the best feeling but we made it. We kind of had to find or make our own path up in the brush, not even knowing if we were headed in the right direction. We did find the falls after a couple of minutes. Some of the kids, (when I say kids I mean late teens, which I'm not anymore) climbed down the steep sides of the mountain and crossed to the other. Jason and I tried another route and came to a shallower crossing. Trying to not get too wet, Jason jumped and got soaked to his knees. He told me to jump and held his hand to catch me. The river was wider than my leg span and I knew I was going to get wet. I jumped and slipped on a slimy rock, twisted in the air and landed on my back in the middle of the river. I was soaked up to my chest and in not a very good mood. Wet jeans are not the most comfortable to walk in. Every garment I was wearing was wet. I was not impressed. I headed for the truck to wait out the group. They caught up and we found some wild raspberries and currants to snack on. My mood was slowly changing as the breeze started to dry my clothes. At least Saturday was a nice weather day.
We headed back to the base and Heidi Lancaster made us some spaghetti and we hung out with them for the rest of the evening. There was a rumor going around that there was a street dance that night, so the students wanted to go to that, only it was Sunday night and not Saturday. So we went out with Kurt and Heidi to a local hangout.
Sunday, was a the first time in a long time that we skipped church. We got home late the night before and slept past 9. Jason didn't want to go to church so we opted to stay home. Our friend's Jon and Sheila called us and said they were cooking prime rib, so we had them over for supper. It was really good. Monday was a cool, rainy day. One of those days you don't want to get out of bed or out from under the covers. I was in a chili and soup mood, so that's what I made and we curled up on the couch for a very long movie.

Whether it was raining out or I was falling in the river, it made for a "refreshing" weekend.

Update on Cole

Jason talked to the vet yesterday to see what the results of the blood test were for his horse. He said they were thinking it was the result of a chemical or from the bite of a brown recluse spider. He could have been bit as he ate the new hay and got bit in the mouth and face. The brown recluse spider has a poison that will kill the tissue around the area of the bite, causing holes in the tissue. So that could have caused the huge hole in his bottom lip. I did have a dream that the hole did close and heal itself, so we'll just keep believing it will. As far as his attitude, he is no longer lethargic, which the poison in his body would have caused. He nickers at us when we feed him and he's got more energy to walk around and I don't know how much he's laying down anymore. So hopefully he's on the mend. It will take a long time for him to get back to his prior physique, but we've got all winter.

Blessings amidst the Storm

Did you ever just have one of those months that everything seems to pile on at once? August has been like that for us. One of our biggest struggles, has been dealing with Jason's horse. He has had a hard month health wise. Let me back up and tell you the tale.

The end of July we went for a ride with friends. A few days later we noticed his withers were really swollen. So we took him to the vet and got a treatment going. We gave him bute and packed hot water rags on the area for a week. A couple days later of being done, he got really lethargic was laying down. We were thinking colic but he didn't have the symptoms. He wasn't eatting a whole lot so again we went to the vet. Cole (horse) had a cut on his tongue and it was kind of brown. The vet thought maybe he ate something that cut it and he had an internal infection. More antibiotics and an ulcer guard in case there were some ulcers. His weight went down and down until he was skin and bones. He would perk up and then get down again attitude wise. Then he had swelling under his jaw which we thought was now strangles. It's just been one thing after another. We took him in again and then vet did some blood and thought it was cancer! He took a biopsy and set it away and it came back today as negative to cancer but he still has an infection. So now, we're thinking, maybe he's got a chemical burn going on in his mouth from maybe some pesticides from some grass he ate. Not to get too graphic, but he's got a big hole in his lip and he's just not looking very good. Lost a lot of muscle and weight and the taste buds on the end of his tongue. We just have to wait until it goes through his system and get him on some penicillin for a month. We were already of the mind set that if it was cancer, he'd have to be put down today. Now, I guess we'll wait and see and nurse him along. Hopefully he'll get back to looking like this.

In between of just feeling attacked by the enemy in a lot of areas, there have been some huge blessings.

Last friday, it was my first day back to work, getting ready for the kids on monday. I went out to my car, early in the morning and found a card on my front seat addressed to me. I opened it up and found a card about being a faithful person. Folded in the card was a $10, $20 and 2 $100 bills! $230! The card was signed, "Your friend and sister in Christ." I cried and prayed a blessing for the friend, all the way to Cody. Money has been tight this month and this was just a sign for me that God was still there and was going to take care of us. What's funny is, the night before I was praying in the truck, "God, $10,000 would really help us with a lot of things." The next day I found this card! So I didn't get the total I would have liked but I'm not ungrateful. This is the second time this has happened to us in our almost 5 yrs of marriage.

Then Saturday came around and I checked the horse and he was worse off. I broke down in front of our friends. The weight of it all was really bothering me. We had all planned to go riding the next day after church and Jason would have to borrow a horse. Our friend's Quin and Tracy, asked me to keep a secret. They had both been feeling like they needed to give one of their horses to Jason in case his doesn't make it. Well, that afternoon, Jason got there and they said he could ride this horse Sabre (the one they were giving him) on Sunday. We were outside and Quin couldn't take it anymore. He told Jason that Sabre was his if Cole didn't make it and he could use him during hunting season until his was on the mend if he did make it. He was floored! So we've been blessed amidst the struggle. God is still in control and we live one day at a time.

Where did the summer go?

Summer holidays are almost over for me. I go back to work on the 18th but have a meeting on the 15th of AUGUST! We really haven't done a whole lot of anything this summer. We've both been busy working which we finished the painting job on the 24th of July. We had my auntie Dorothy and Uncle Dave come down for the weekend and we showed them alot of country that they probably wouldn't have seen on their own. They just loved the mountains.

This last weekend we played host to quite a few people. Jason had set up a workshop/seminar on worship at our church. So we had his friend Travis and Jenna Vaad and their daughter and son. Scott Macleod and his wife Sarah and son and daughter were staying at a friend's ranch which we so appreciated because it was a last minute change from where they were going to stay. Sarah just couldn't stop raving about the mountains. They were also going to Glacier National Park in Montana which is supposed to be out of this world beautiful. Scott and Sarah have been doing inner city ministry for the last 15 yrs in Nashville. They also run a worship school called Thunder School. check out HarvestSound.com for more on their ministry.

We just had a great time getting to know them, showing them alot of firsts for their family. Jason took their kids on their first horse ride. There's not many horses in the inner city. They were really down to earth people and we've really made a connection with them all. They've invited us down to visit them and their school.

The seminar was really quite powerful. It really made some people stretch their boxes that we so often put God and church into. We need to break out of those confining boxes and let God really work. There was a time of prophetic worship and prophetic words spoken over the few people the came. It was a small group of only 15 or so but God had something to say to everyone present. Jason and I had a lot of words of worship and leading the younger generation into worship and a new sound of music coming forth for this region and maybe even bigger. Sunday service was also very powerful. Our pastor Roger got excited about the change that is coming forth in our church. Our church is not going to be one that people just stay in the four walls but that we are going to be a difference and spread God outside of the building. We don't know what the change will look like but we're tired of the way the "church" of America is. That was kind of the word that Scott felt for our church body. We're excited!

OF course the weekend couldn't go with out a hitch. We were watching our friend's dog Cubby. And wouldn't you know it that the friday night everyone came and we weren't home, that the dog slipped out and ran away. We came home and I was in a panick. We prayed we'd find him, Jason and Travis walked around the street in the dark looking for him and didn't find him. I felt awful and lost a couple hours of sleep and tears. I sure didn't want to lose a friendship over a dog. Thanks be to God, the police picked him up and he was at the pound! So the next day I picked him up and Cubby was sure happy to see me!

My time has ended. Got to go.

I have a New Laundry Room!

Okay, so we already had a laundry room when we bought the house, but we painted it this last weekend and put down new flooring. It feels like a new room and is the most updated room in the house. This may sound a little bold for some people (MOM) but I did a red wall and 3 yellowy cream. Jason had also textured the walls and the cream actually looks like dry mud. It looks really nice. For flooring, I bought some sticky tiles to put over the old 70's brown and beige linoleum. So now it looks like dark brown slate tile linoleum. So to finish off the room, we have to do the base board and trim around the window and kitchen door. But that's on the back burner for a trip to Billings, because around here it's pretty expensive or the selection is really outdated. Pictures to come this fall.

Almost a month!

Sorry readers, it's been almost a full month since my last installment.

Well, I guess recently at the end of June a friend asked us if we wanted to go camping with him and a possible "special friend". We said we would and planned for a weekend at a local FREE cabin up in the mountains close to Meeteetse, WY. It's a quant little cabin with 4 beds, no water or electricity but we all like to rough it a little. We trailered up 4 horses for us and thankfully we did because we couldn't drive the truck to the cabin with all our gear. So we had to pack it on the horses. It was also my birthday that weekend and it was just nice to lay around, read and sit by the fire with friends. We did do some horseback riding and enjoyed seeing the horses grazing on the green grass. We had to learn of course, to keep two horses tied while two grazed. We learned the hard way that a pack of four will move as one and they were moving back towards the pickup even with front hobbles keeping there legs together. So a brisk walk/run down the road helped with exercise. There is nothing like cooking over an open fire and seeing the many stars come out and listening to the running river.

The 4th of July was a fun day. We met friends in Cody for the Parade and the Annual Stampede. The weather was warm and the seats were very crowded but fun was had at least by myself and Faith, who had the task of occupying her 16 month son. The next day Faith, Erin Kreider (yes Wiebe from Manitoba) and I drove to Billings for a day of unloading our "bulging" wallets. A few purchases were made by all and back of the car did have some new treasures. I also went yesterday to help out my friend Sheila. Her friend Trisha was out and needed to get to the airport, but Sheila's car was unreliable and so we took mine. I had gotten all my painting done at the college so I had a free day. More treasures were found for me. I did receive $20 from my mother-in-law for my birthday and I blew it on 2 new piano books which I'm excited to try out.

So our plans for the next couple of weeks is work at home and the job. Keep the lawn green and garden weeded. I do have to say that I will have a bumper garden this year. I have many small tomatoes on my 11 plants, corn, 1 cucumber which tasted just heavenly, peppers, zucchini, broccoli, carrots and I've already reseeded for more radishes. Our one little row is already gone! One lesson I've had to learn is that plants like to have water everyday. Something I didn't really have to worry all that much about in Manitoba, but here they get watered once or even twice a day and it sure is helping.

Short and Sweet

The library is closing in 9 min. so I'll do my best.

Work is going fine. A bit mondane at times but I'm making some money as is Jason. The last couple of weeks have just been busy working and then coming home and working at home. Sunday we went up the north Fork up to the entrance of Yellowstone called Pahaska. We took our horses to church, (yes to church) and then embarked on our horse adventure. We took 2 friends and their horses and headed into the hills for a couple of miles. The weather was superb. There was so much water running down the valley into the river, it was just beautiful to see so many waterfalls in a very dry land. Once we hit our turn around place, we grazed the horses and Jason went looking for Grizzly bears. Yes, he wanted to find one. Everytime he is with me, we never see them. The prayers of a righteous woman are heard! I think that's how that goes. Anyways, I didn't pray too hard that day because not more than 75-100 yards away, there was a big boy! Jason was excited and called us over only I couldn't move because my heart was in my throat! I froze but stayed calm. I could see him when he moved over the fallen logs. It was time to go. Jason was thankful but wanted to see more. On the way out, I spotted one about 600 yrds away across the river. A great distance for me. He was even bigger. Jason was excited but prayed for more on the way home. He wanted to see a sow and cubs. As we loaded the trailer and hit the open road, there were the typical line of tourists hugging the guard rail. There, across the river along the hillside, was a sow and a year or 2 old cub trailing behind here. Yea God! Jason was stoked that God, His Daddy on Father's day, showed him His greatness and fulfilled his wishes. What an awesome Daddy we've got!

Must go, my minutes are up. Until next time...

Life Lately

Well, I'm back to work, not at the school but rather doing my summer job. I've been painting on Friday and today I did a bit in the morning until I ran out of work. I've been working alone as a few of the girls have either left or have been sick. Jason is busy working to case in some new sprinklers in some college housing and I come in behind him to paint said boxes. It's not hard but tim consuming and neck breaking since it's all near the ceiling. Oh well, at least I'll make some extra money which we always seem to need.

Our memorial (long) weekend was not too eventful. We had a week of straight rain, which has been unheard of in the last decade. Everything is green and we're all hoping the drought is over. So due to the rain, our camping trip was cancelled. Instead, Jason's aunt, uncle and cousins from Michegan came down for 2 days. We tried to go fishing and his cousin did catch two but because of the rain and spring melt from the mountains, fishing is not in it's prime. But I think they had a good time. I then had 2 days at home to plant my small garden and clean and then it was back to a full work day.

Tonight and for the next 3 days, I will be in Meeteetse at the annual Rodeo Bible Camp that Western Frontiers puts on. Formally Cowboys With A Mission, where Jason and I met. So I'll be in registration tonight, serving food for the next 3 days and floating around. Thursday is a little jackpot rodeo for the kids to enter up and I'll be the official timer for all events. Of course, these jobs are always changable upon arrival. Story of my life. But you just gotta roll with the punches sometimes. Jason already asked what he's going to be eatting for the next couple of days, and it'll be whatever he finds or who ever he calls. If I make stuff ahead of time, he doesn't eat it anyway, so I haven't bothered.

Well, I've been here over an hour reading blogs and emails and I must get home to pack and finish laundry. Another story of my life.

May 22 & it's Snowing!

I drove into school this morning and the mountains were not visible due to the low clouds and then I hit Cody. There was big chunks of wet snow falling and still is. It is going to be a very wet Memorial day Weekend! Our camping trip may be on hold. We've had to change over from A/C back to heat. What a spring!

Summer Time!

Isn't it funny how you write something down and think that's how it's going to go, that the plans can change so quickly?

My summer plans have really taken a turn. No longer am I lounging around the house doing as a I please, but my loving husband decided I needed a summer job. He just started a new job for a guy in Powell. Which is great because we hopefully won't have to spend a bazillion dollars on fuel for a while. He is working to box in some new sprinkler systems in the local college housing. He volunteered my energy and time to possibly supervise and help some college girls paint those same boxes all through the 38 different houses! ( I think it's 38! It's a lot anyways) He knows I don't mind painting and since he "trained" me to paint, I could supervise the 2 or 3 girls the guy has working for him. I now go from Para-professional to summer construction girl. I'm paying for helping him these last few summers. So instead of loafing at home making no money, I could make some extra money this summer. I guess we'll have to find a new way to "hold down the couch" since I won't be there.

As far as the camps go, I thought I would help with the girls camp, but now I'll have to see how it goes.

This could be my last post for a while. My computer is the school's and they want them for the summer to possibly work on them. I want to be bad and not hand them in but at the same time, I was told to do it. Oh, the pressure, I can't take it. If not, the local librarians will become my new best friends! Keep checking in!

Have a Great Hot Summer! My A/C has been on already!

No Guiding Trips

Of course after I wrote yesterday's post, I talked to my Cowboy about him guiding fishing trips and he said that he wasn't going to do it. He'd talked to the store owner and he said he was interested but not overly excited. He had only had a couple of people ask for them. It sounded like Cowboy was thinking it was going to be a busy business, but we would have to go out a couple times a week to make it worth our while and the work. So, I'm kind of relieved that we're not because of all the money we'd have to put out for horses and hay.

8 more days!

Can I get a Hallelujah and an Amen! I have 8 more days of school left and then I'm jobless for the summer. I don't know how we did it in Manitoba by going to the end of June. This getting out in May is nice but I hate having to go back the 18th of August!

Once school gets out next week, (I'm so ready to sleep in!) we'll be going up into the Big Horns with some friends in their 5th wheel camper. I know, we're really roughing it, but we are going to also haul some horses and day ride and fish for the 3 day weekend. I think we'll have a lot of fun.
The first week in June, I said I would help at the annual Rodeo Bible Camp in Meeteetse for 3 days. That's always so much fun, with "church" under a tent and horses and rodeo events every day and seeing all the kids. It's a lot of work, but a lot of fun. Hopefully the weather is better than all the rain we got last year.

I've also found out about a local camp south of Powell, that needs some help with their 5 camps they host during the summer. Some are day camps, horse camps and girls and boys camps. It's run by a Christian couple who opens it up to some of the troubled youth or come from troubled homes. We actually met this couple when Jason and I went to the Walk to Emmaus. They both went through it with us. We were hoping to move our horses to their place, and we got to talking and Ron drove us around and showed us the camp. It's a roughing it kind of camp. Winkler Bible Camp is paradise compared to this camp. The number of kids they take is also not as many as some of the more established camps. They have 3 big shed size buildings with bunks, out houses for bathrooms and a black barrel filled with water for showers. The Kitchen is an open air building with just a roof and the swimming pool is a pond with fish. Ron said the kids have so much fun and they swim so often that they never take showers. They also float the river on inner tubes, and get off right in front of the camp. They also have horses which they take out on trails and ride in the arena. His wife was happy to hear that I might be interested in helping because they need more adults for the girls camp and just more help in general. What's great for me is that it is also close to town so I wouldn't have to drive too far.

We also have a possibility of hooking up with a local fishing shop that takes out fishing trips, to offer horse riding fishing trips for the day. The owner said he was interested in offering such a service and a fishing guide friend of ours was enthusiastic about the idea as well. So the idea right now is for people to book the ride, we would come in and supply lunch and horses. We would take the guide, and the fisherman up a trail for 2 hrs riding and then get off and fish, eat lunch, fish some more and then head back. The could stay out as late as they want. We did something like this when we worked at the guest lodge 4 summers ago. We think it could be fun and some money could be made. What a great way to spend the summer, riding and fishing in the mountains.

I also want to try my hand at having a vegetable garden this summer. I now have the space to do a small one. I bought my first tomato plant over the weekend and it's sitting on my window sill. I must visit the nursery soon so I can get the rest of my small list. I also need to get some flowers and some shrubs, but what to get is a hard decision.

So those are my tentative summer plans.

Lucky 132

No, we're not gambling people but we do enjoy a good horse auction every now and then, and Saturday was just such a day, and it was a beautiful day.

We called up our friends, Ron and Faith, to see if they were going to make the hour or so trek to Worland, Wyoming. They were game along with a few extras. So we met them early enough that we could look through the stock in the yards. Jason had saved some extra money and was looking for a good all round/team roping horse. Faith was looking for a horse as well and we had each found one or two prospects that could work, but Jason and I weren't real impressed with what was there for what he was looking for.

After coming back from lunch, I saw a man riding a nice bay gelding. So I showed Jason and he went and talked to him. Dailon Jones was his name and he was more than willing to answer Jason's questions and let him try out the horse. Not many others were so willing. Jason really got to liking the 4 yr old. While he was riding, someone we know walked up and he told me he had a big 16 hand ranch horse that was used for roping. (Horses are measured in hands, which are about 4 inches to every hand. 16 hands is really tall) So Jason got on that one and didn't mind him either. He had a decision to make.

We met up with our friends inside and discussed what Faith was looking at. Here she is with her son Caleb, who was at his first horse auction. Of course the moment had to be captured.The sale was definitely a buyer's market, with horses going for really low, unbelievably low. They were pretty much giving them away for some of them. Faith's prospect came up and she raised her hand and won her 4 yr old mare for $400. Her friend Shauna picked up a little 2 yr old filly for $250 who was a full sister to Faith's. Since we brought our trailer, just in case we needed it, we had room to take them both home. Jason's prospects came up and went through. It was hard for him not to buy the big 10 yr old who only sold for $650, but he waited for the 4 yr old.

Well, lot #132 came through and Jason knew this was the one and he was prepared to play the game. To make a long story short, he won! "It's always better when you win it," even if it's not ebay! So we loaded up the three horses and headed to Meeteetse, to drop off the 2 new girls.
We dropped them off and Jason got on his new horse and tried him around the round pen. He only fell more in love with his new purchase.
His registered quarter horse name is Hey Leo Lena, but he was called Socks. Jason's wanting to change it and is leaning towards Cole, after watching El Dorado with his favorite cowboy, John Wayne.
What's cool is his color and markings are almost identical to his first horse Danny. His birthday was the day we bought him and one day off of my own mare's birth date. He'll hopefully bring many years of joy to my cowboy. Already, we've grown attached to him, and Jason is far more excited about his long awaited horse than he is about his new lawn mower.

Ron and Faith went down for one horse but ended up with 2. Shauna didn't really need another young horse to train, so she sold her baby to Ron. So Ron got the horse bug and has acquired the one with the spots on the blaze.

It's Mower Time

'Tis the season to start mowing, fa la la la la la la la la.

We haven't yet, but the itch came with the recent purchase of our first lawn mower. Jason, I do have to say, was pretty pumped.
Surprising enough, Jason actually likes to work in the yard. His dad was pretty on top of things when they lived in Texas, and consequently, Jason got the bug.
Last weekend he worked in the yard by leveling out low spots and filling in dirt. He hauled quite a few wheel barrows full of dirt. We need to get some seed and put that out and turn on the sprinklers. We're all waiting for some green grass, which is coming up in a lot of yards.

With the purchase of the lawnmower, we only naturally had to get the matching weed eater. It was like Christmas for the big kid.




Beware Grass, this man's on a mission!

Spring time in the Rockies

Life has not been extremely interesting for us lately. The weather has gotten cold again and it snowed last Sunday keeping us inside. Well, okay not inside, Sunday we did have a good time. Our friend's Eduardo and Jessica came to town for a whirlwind trip. It was the last time we would see them for the next 2 years. They have committed to go to the Sudan to Preach the Good News and to learn languages and things they would need on the mission field. Eddy gave the message for the service and then friends gathered around them to pray and bless them on their new journey. I couldn't help getting teary eyed. We hugged them many times that day not knowing when would be the last good-bye. We did go for lunch with them and other friends and then headed up the North Fork with them to meet more friends to look at a ranch that is for sale. Our friend Jim Nicholson was the tour guide around the ranch and we crammed 9 people into a Dodge extended quad cab! I don't remember how many times my head hit the ceiling!
This week, my evenings are planned for me. I've committed to help plan a women's one day retreat at church. It's called the Bloomery. A spring themed day filled with crafts, reflection, food and meeting new people. It should be a good day this saturday. There are about 30 people signed up to come which isn't too bad.
I did hit Billings with some friends which was fun. I was kind of in a personal "funk" that day and maybe didn't have the best attitude at times. Sorry girls!

50th Anniversary

No, it's not ours but it was Jason's grandparents 50th on Sunday. We were asked to help them at a "reception" they were having. So as a weekend celebration, we all went to Olive Garden for supper Saturday night. I love Olive Garden! I pigged out on bread sticks, spinich artichoke dip with bread and my favorite and only dish I've gotten, Chicken Marsala! My recipe just doesn't compare. I'm feeling the extra pounds I put on though, but it was so worth it.
They had the reception at their church which is actually a converted store in downtown Billings. The people that own it made it really trendy and hip. It would be a great coffee hangout. They have a coffee bar, a stage for concerts that they host and cool retro 50's tables with the sparkly chairs. It was so cool.
We helped set up and get the sandwiches out and my job was to serve the cake. They gave each other their original wedding rings, which over time don't fit anymore and they don't wear them. But the re-commited their vows to each other for the next 25 years. Wendall said he's not doing 100 years, so 75 is the next big goal. He's so funny.
I even broke out a skirt and heels for the occasion and the winter white legs saw light for the first time this year. And they were white! Not a pretty site.

Unfortunately we didn't spend much time outside. It was such a beautiful weekend too. We did do some yard work when we got home sunday and filled the sprinkler lines with water and tested out the sprinklers. We had to figure out how they worked since it's both our first time dealing with sprinklers and the first summer in our house. The neighbors were having some rowdy friends over for a barbecue and there's not a fence between our yards, so we went to our front patio and dined by candlelight by the barbecue. It was too nice to sit inside.

All I can say is, Welcome Spring and goodbye cold weather!

Welcome Gracie Anne

Here's a big congratulations to our Manitoba friends Sarah & Myron Wiebe on the birth of their daughter Gracie Anne. She's the first baby for the happy couple.
Here she is. All 6lbs 8oz of her and she has bright orange hair just like mom.

Dad thinks she's pretty great! Thumbs up!

The Rodeo novel

It was a cool, and windy day with a storm blowing in over the mountains, when the hubby and I decided that we needed to ride the ponies. Well, my fat "pony" and his borrowed "pony". We've since moved my fat, pregnant looking mare from Cody to Powell to a friend's house who built an arena. Jason has been "borrowing" the cowboy friend's mare to team rope.

I collected my mare from her pen and brushed her out while trying to stay out of the wind. Saddled up and led her into the arena. This would be the pony's second ride of the year. She had done well the first time and I thought, "what could go wrong?" At the same time I was having thoughts of being thrown and dragged with my foot still in the stirrup and my head hitting every post around the perimeter. But I pushed those thoughts aside and straddled the pony.

Let me back up. The first ride had it's nervous moments as well. Not having been around team roping and the noises, the pony was nervous and wide-eyed with every new sound. Sometimes the sound of thundering hooves sparked a sudden urge in the pony to run away but the "skilled handler" simply pulled her in a circle to watch the outcome of the lone steer being pulled apart by the ropers.

I straddled the pony and off we went, not terribly fast but a brisk trot around and around the arena. The ropers were harrowing the sand/gravel and we followed the scary tractor. Passed the test with a calm horse. Next came the scary red and white barrels being rolled in. These were almost too much but after a couple of circles of said barrels, the pony relaxed, until a rock hit the side. The was almost too much to handle but she hung in there. We circled and went through them and I'm thinking "I could do the pole bending pattern pretty well." Next we tried to enter the roping box with steers in the shoot. We inched closer and closer with many refusals. We entered half-way in and decided that was probably all I was going to get. The guys got in there respective boxes and I went off to the side to watch the "catch and release". Off they went running past us when I felt myself being lifted off the ground! Up down, up down, and a short scream escaped my lips. Turn in a circle. "She must really want to go," said the cowboy. "There was a sound behind us that scared her." Puppy Moses was behind me jumping up on the fence and that's what set off the pony. One rodeo under my belt and I happily rejoiced that I had stayed on.

Off we trotted as if it had never happened, well almost like it never happened. My insides could tell you differently. Around and around, chasing steers down the alley back to their starting point for the cowboys. We parked along side the same fence again but farther down away from Moses. The wind had picked up and little chunks of snow were catching in the pony's long body hair. We turned tail to the wind and sat there through a number of roping runs without any thoughts of the previous rodeo. We followed after the cowboys at a slow trot when I again felt myself being airborne and falling forward and seeing nothing but neck and mane heading straight for my head. A connection was made but I had to right my self to ride out the bronc. In the process, my jacket had hooked over the saddle horn keeping me on the bronc but those nasty pictures of falling off ran through my mind. 3 jumps and we were done but this time the old noggin' had a ring to it. I got off and said I was done. Quickly the hubby and cowboy came to see if I was okay. My lip felt a little bigger and a head ache was coming on. There was a slight redness to my upper lip as I touched it and wiped off the blood. The hubby, not wanting to see me get scared of the pony told me to lope her around, she had excess energy. "You do it." So he got on and rode her around. I did get back on and rode around for a few more minutes before I called it a day. Mine was not the only pony acting a little broncy. The cowboy's horses were all not very cooperative that blustery day. Just as we finished up, the sun started to shine and wind died down a little bit.

Isn't that just the way it goes? Oh well, we'll give it another try this week with hopefully better results. I do have to say that the hubby was proud I had stayed on and I was proud I hadn't let a tear drop over the incident. The presence of another cowboy may have prohibited that. My first battle scar of the year, along with some bruised inner knees got me sympathy, a smile and a hug from the roping hubby. AAAHHHH!!

Life is Precious

I'm reminded again today of how precious our lives are and how quickly it can be taken from us. At school this morning we had an emergency faculty meeting with the principle and super intendent. They said last night there was a car wreck on the south fork road and there were some students involved but their conditions were not known. Then the really shocking news was that the attendance secretary Gail Smith died this morning outside her home while she swept off her car. Just like that! Her sister Terri is the head secretary here at the high school and had not known where Gail was and went to go look for her. So she didn't know either. She was not at the meeting but I'm sure she's found out by now.

It is always shocking and somber when you see someone the day before and the next day they're gone. Both students and staff are shocked and the school is pretty quiet.
There have been so many traffic accidents and death lately. We also had a student die from meningitis a couple of weeks ago.

Life is so short and unpredictable. That's why we need to be ready, but we also need to do our job in living out a Christian life so others may see and know God.

What a Jam Packed Weekend

Our weekend wasn't planned on being as busy as we were but life unexpectedly took some turns.

I was on spring break last week and I sit here at work as we speak with some heavy eyes. My week flew by and I didn't really accomplish a whole lot. I was asked in February to photograph a friend's wedding Easter Sunday. So of course, I was nervous and trying to learn some new tricks for lighting. I also borrowed a friend's camera and did my best. I had a lot of shaky photos and missed some shots, but we'll see what photo shop can do for me.

The busyness started Thursday night when our friend Peter Goodwin from Alabama came up for the wedding because he was the best man. He spent the night with us. Friday, he, Jason and I bought stuff for the guys planned bachelor party that night. Paint-balling and barbecue were the activities. Planning took all day. The girls were planning a little get together in Meeteetse for the bride but I didn't want to drive 50 min. there and then back for the evening. (Sorry girls) I went to the guys party for a couple of minutes to capture some shots of the paintball war.




The weather got bad and started snowing so they took off to a shed to start a fire. I went home. By 12:30 AM I'm wondering where Jason and his friend Red are. They came home and told me some horrific news.

The bride Theresa, left her party and rolled her pickup avoiding a deer. Her new sister-in-law was with her. They both survived but Theresa had some major injuries. She broke her scapula (Shoulder), compression fractures in her back, a bruised lung, bruises, and cuts. They brought her to a hospital in Billings. We and many others were shocked and didn't know if the wedding would continue. So, we had a late night of talking and phone calls.
Saturday morning, Red, Jason, Peter and I went for breakfast and went over to the auditorium to help set up for the wedding. They were going to try to go through with it. There were many things to do but we did get 95% of it done and had rehearsal without the bride and groom. We picked up Kurt and Heidi Lancaster to stay at our place along with Peter and Red. We were notified by the groom, John, that the doctors were releasing Theresa Sunday morning.
Sunday morning we all skipped church and had a late breakfast. We all went to our respected positions for the wedding and Peter and I went to take guy pictures. The guys were late getting ready but we did get them done.


I ran over to Theresa's apartment where the girls were getting ready. They were also taking longer to get ready because they were being very careful with Teresa. I mostly got shots of her getting ready and giving her girls their gifts. By then it was 10 minutes till show time.

The wedding went off with out a hitch. You could feel the Holy Spirit all over the wedding. The atmosphere was one of thankfulness that Theresa was alive and able to be at her wedding. She is an strong willed woman. She wanted to walk down the aisle and she stood through the vows and prayers and walked out. She did sit some for the worship music, but she made it. God really worked a miracle on her visible injuries. Her eye was red and she had some bruises but makeup covered it and she looked great.

(She only wore the sling for the reception)

All in all, it was a great wedding. Friends coming together trying our best to do what they would have liked and finish the job. They were both really touched by everything that we put together for them. She had some ideas but we kind of had to go with what we had and what some of us knew what they wanted. It turned out really well.
http://www.codyenterprise.com/articles/2008/03/25/news/news1.txt
This is the link to the local paper. They were featured on the front page. Have a look. I was really impressed with what John said and equally impressed that the paper didn't leave God out of it.

It was a fun weekend with some long nights, but it was fun to come around this couple, bless them and get caught up with some friends we haven't seen in a long while.

My Puppy!

He's not so much a puppy anymore, going on 3 yrs in April. We love him just the same. Tucker's the best dog either of us have ever had. He gets so excited just to go for a ride in the truck. He goes to work with Jason everyday and enjoys it so much. He stays on the property where ever Jason is working. Talk about a dog with a routine. He likes his routine. His favorite activity, to him it's his job, is playing "fetch". He's the quickest little dog and he gets some major airtime going after his bouncy racquetball. He just can't get enough.


Oh, the will power to just stare at that treat!


Those loving brown eyes and little wet nose.

When Tucker's happy, he wags the white tip of his black tail and thumps it on the floor. When we're together in the living room, he'll lay at our feet and roll over on his back for a belly rub.

Oh to have the life of a dog.

Finally Pictures!

I know, it's been forever since I've uploading pictures and the blog is kind of boring. Well, today is the day to let you look into a little glimpse of my world.

A while back I gushed about my wonderful, awesome carpenter hubby, who surprised me with a bedroom makeover. Here's my proof.

He spray painted our nesting tables black. This is my table complete with the hubby's wedding pic.

This is his table complete with his bride's pic.


On the wall, facing our bed, he painted our initials.


On the other side of the same wall, he painted the frame of our wedding picture.


This is the whole wall facing the bed, complete with newly painted furniture.


New painted frame and mated picture.


New bedding. (Somehow the bed never looks as puffy as in the pictures.)

New scrapbooking shelf for my supplies.

Okay, so it's not a total HGTV make-over but the thought, love and little changes added a lot. Of course there are still more changes to come.

Spring Break is Almost Here!

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a break from my job. This time of the year, everyone needs a break. My job is not hard or physical but I still need a break from the normal routine. Next week is my week off. What will I be doing you ask? Not a whole lot. The 17th, I need to head to Casper, WY to get my passport stamped so I can stay in the US until I get my next green card.

That is a story in itself. 2 weeks ago I called my lawyer to ask where my new 10 yr card was. His assistant said that the office that processes them for this area, in Lincoln, Nebraska, was only processing papers sent in July of 2006! A year and a half behind. I sent mine in Dec or Jan of 2007. My first 2 yr card expired 2007, my receipt paper extending my "visa" expired this last February. The assistant told me to get on line and make an appointment to see an immigration officer to get my passport stamped so I could come and go into the country. I was so worried that I'd lose my job or I'd be deported or something. That the appointment I made would send me to Nebraska, Denver or Idaho Falls to get it stamped. So I started praying and put it in God's hands to deal with. I was still fretting over it. (worry is not a good thing to have) Jason was working at a friend's house and Tracy came home and I told her about my day and conversation. They have a guy from England who is living with them while he remodels his house which is down the street from us. She called Rob up and asked what he did in his similar situation. He gave me the name and number of the assistant to a Wyoming Senator whose office is in Cody! So I went in to see her and she was the sweetest lady. I was scared I get some crotchety/uppity women who wouldn't care. She cared and got me an appointment in Casper, which is only 3-4 hours away and the closest immigration office. She got it the day I wanted it. So hopefully everything will go smoothly. They can't and won't deport me and I won't lose my job. My paper work is in process so I'm still legal. So God answered my prayer!

Other than our trip to Casper, I've also been asked to take pictures at a friend's wedding on Easter sunday. So I'm borrowing a friend's camera and hopefully Faith's computer (right Faith?) so I can download the pics right away. This is something I've always dreamed of doing. This wednesday I'm also taking an evening course on how to use digital cameras and they'll hopefully give some photography tips. Pictures come to my mind at different times when I think about it and hopefully everything will go smoothly the day of and I'll be happy with the results. This could be the start of something bigger,. Who knows what plans God has for us.
So in a nut shell, that's my spring break.

I know I haven't posted pics in a while. Jason has the camera this weekend at a mens retreat he's attending in South Dakota with some friends. They had to drive 10 hours to get there but there was a big incentive to go. They are holding it at a pheasant ranch and they'll be doing some pheasant hunting and skeet shooting. Guys, guns and hunting, they'll go anywhere.

I'm Back!

I'm back and I'm tired. This morning was really hard to get up and go to work. The thought of calling in sick was really tempting but I would kind of feel convicted if I did and wasn't sick. Plus I already took friday off last week.

My weekend was like nothing I've ever been to. It wasn't a regular type of retreat where you have free time or a couple of speakers. This was a lock-in at a church and every minute was planned for you. I don't know how much I can disclose because they like to keep things under wraps so that people who are going to go sometime don't go with any expectations. But I can elaborate a little. If you do a walk to Emmaus you'll probably forget what I said, or you could google it anyways.

All weekend you are showered with love from people. People are praying over every minute of the whole 72 hours you're there. They are praying and preparing a whole year in advance for this one particular weekend. There are 15 talks dealing with the basics of Christianity. There are many surprises from the leaders and people who are behind the scenes. You have to be sponsored by someone who has gone through it and they are praying for and blessing you in different ways all weekend. It can be an emotional weekend. The men go the weekend before because they are and should be the head of the home and spiritual leader. The men are even blessing their wives during the weekend through some of their own surprises. It is just a weekend where you can reconnect with the amount of love God gives us and the free grace that is ours to accept. He uses many people to show the love of God all weekend. It was pretty cool. Everyone walks away with different feelings of how they were touched during the weekend. This group of women was not a teary group as others have been. I think the men cried more than this group of women. I had my moments, but they were brief and few. I didn't really want to cry all that much and didn't, which when it comes to spiritual things or church, there are usually tears.

But the best surprise of the weekend was when I got home. I have the best husband. He showered me with love this weekend. He prayed for me and thought up ways to bless and impress me. Here's the scene: Jason and I are dropped off at home by our sponsors. We drop my stuff in the living room and I'm told not to move. He blind folds me and says he's been working on a project. I'm laughing now and thinking about all the things he could have done, like paint the laundry room and move the freezer in. Practical things like that. He leads me into our bedroom and drops the blind fold and I was pleasantly surprised. I had been grumbling about our furniture not matching. He painted our mismatched dresser and nesting tables black, which we had talked about. He had found some wedding pictures and put them in black and red frames and hung 2 of them up, which he painted. He even went to Walmart and bought a J & A and painted them red with black sides and hung them up. He was so impressed with my scrapbook supplies when he made his own photo mats using my "cool tools". I had 3 red roses on the dresser. His theme and inspiration was us and our wedding colors. My HGTV watching seems to be rubbing off. All this for $30! He even made a shelf to hold my baskets of scrapbook supplies that really cleans up my area. I was pleasantly surprised and cried at the shock of it all. I truly am loved!