Photo-a-day

It's that time again!  Tredways are sponsering the December Photo Project '09!  Just for the love of December!  Pop on over and check it out!  I'll be posting and linking here for the next 31 days!  WooHoo!  I love a challenge!

20 Years? How did that happen?

We had our first child 20 years ago?
I don't feel old enough to have a 20 year old but I am sure blessed to be her mama.

James and I celebrated our 21st anniversary on Thanksgiving. Now, 3 days later, we celebrate our firstborn's 20th year of life.

Bridger Bowl opened early so Tofer had to work and couldn't be here for the traditional breakfast time. Instead, he went to Cassia's work last night with a dozen roses and presented them to her in front of her customers and coworkers. Absolutely made her day!
Her request for breakfast was, "something healthier than I've been eating!" We settled on berry smoothies, cantaloupe, and quiche. (sound familiar?)

We sang, had her blow out her candle, and dug in!

She doesn't have work today and she is relishing the idea of relaxing. Her plan is to decorate her room for Christmas, and listen to our favorite Christmas music - mainly she just wants to be with her family.
Such a special girl. I just adore her.
Happy Birthday, Beautiful.
We Love You!

The Day in Snapshots

With a Grateful Heart

Look, Mama! I'm making your fruit salad! It wouldn't quite feel likt Thanksgiving without it! Brings family a little closer when they are so far away.

So many friends coming this year. What a joy to be surrounded with love and laughter.

We celebrate 21 years of marriage today too. 21. Doesn't seem that it should be so long ago, yet I hardly remember days without him by my side.

Hope your hearts and homes are full of thanksgiving and love today. Be blessed, my friends. Be Blessed.

Thanksgiving Eve

Tomorrow is:

friendship. togetherness. laughter.

Piled plates. delighted taste buds. full bellies. toasts.

 giggles. music. grace renewed. thankfulness unleashed. memories gathered.

~ I await it with glorious anticipation! ~

Dred Journey

6 months along. Still not totally tabbed up. The feel like rope - kinda cool. A couple of the beads have been embedded in the dreds. They won't be coming out until we cut them off! Some of them are the funniest little shapes. One has 2 tails, one is super skinny until the very bottom where it blubs out, one has loops in it, another twists and my favorite one is long and slender but has 2 right angles. Looking forward to the day when they don't need to be rubbed (not that we do it that often now). I love that I can look back on this chronicle and see the poofy-fuzzball morph into this!

Covered

The clumps are from the plow clearing the driveway. The furrows are from the deer.

Back yard neighbors. On the right you can see one of our nightly guests.

Reminds me of a Christmas Card. I might have to take a print to them for Christmas!

I love where we live!

Molly Turns 10!

Oh how we adore this little lady (and her fantastic family!). She's grown up so much since we first came to Bozeman. I'm so thankful to get to be a part of their lives in small ways.

Ladies Night Out with Joel Patrick Moore

~ The Invite ~
Joel Patrick requests the honor of your presence at a gala event celebrating his birth.


Mama Naomi has asked that no gifts be given at the occassion, please. Simply bring your favorite bottle of wine to share. Tea, coffee, & wassail will also be served along side a buffet of delectable cheeses & accompaniments.

Joel will be present for cuddles, coos, & remarks. He invites other nursing/newborn babes to join him as well.
~~~~~~~~
Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ray LaMontagne, Miss Ella, & others did their part to set the mood for the evening.

Wine and cheese, crackers & breads, Fruits and nuts, chocolate and women...

The reds. Aged Cheddar, Bordeau infused Gouda, French Goat Brie, Danish Blue, Lacy Baby Swiss...

The White - didn't get much action. But the cheeses did. Asagio cream spread, Deeply veined Gorgonzola, White Cheddar...

Such a perfect evening. Sweet and cozy, and filling in every way.

Hello - Goodbye

Sara, Matt, Bella & Lucy were home for a couple weeks to ronvate the new RV before heading off on a new adventure! Lucy has grown so much. Little, happy, chunky-monkey. Sara and I squeezed in a few moments to relax and chat over tea.

Mostly we made faces at Lucy so we could see that fabulous toothless smile!

Just a day or 2 before they left, we all gathered at the ole homestead to say our goodbyes and to see what magic Matt had worked on the new rig. I love fellowship. So much fun to gather in the warmth of home with good friends and delicious food to laugh and chatter and play.

James really likes the "play" part, and Lucy was seriously infatuated.

I still don't like 'goodbyes', but they are getting easier with Matt and Sara. I know they'll be back with us soon. God uses them in so many ways as they lay their lives out there before Him. It's hard to be selfish with them when I know others need their gifts and love too.

Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat

Minda and several of her friends went trick or treating for the food bank. 600+ pounds of food cam in that night. 2 or 3 pickup truck loads were given to Fred and Wilma Flinstone, a mad scientist, a Victorian Dandy and his lady, and ... to a Myth. (maybe you didn't really see what you think you saw...)