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!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
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!
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!
Monday, April 7, 2008
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!
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!!
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!!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, March 24, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
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.
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