Cozy Shoebox Exchange

I was one of the participants of this year's shoebox exchange through The Homespun Heart and With All That I've Been Given. The theme was "cozy" :o)
My box arrived today with:
Gingerbread Spice tea
Mints
A candle in a tin
A plaid table runner
The Christmas Carol -book on tape
Some magnetic fall frames and stickers
gift lables and gift card pouches
A set of Mini Clear lights
and some ornaments!

Thank you, Ruth! I have so enjoyed communicating these past few weeks and I hope that we will continue. New friends are a God-given gift.

49 and lovin' it!

Say, "happy birthday!" to the absolute cutest 7 year old (that's 49 in dog years) around!

Beginning Tradition in Montana

We finally made time to wander out into our back yard and take our Traditional Shot for the year. I love this. It's so different than the ones we would take in WA. Do you like in better in color or in B&W??

Getting Ready!

The downside to baking, originally uploaded by efiw.

We are Baking, cooking, sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, scouring...
No! Not because Thanksgiving is coming - because the Figs are!

Our dear friends, the Figueroas, from WA. are headed over with their 6 kiddos to visit us for a few days! WE LOVE COMPANY! What's even more - We love this family! Can't wait to hug their necks!

Photos will be forthcoming, oh yes, they will!

Eulaliiiiiaaaaaaaa!

Across the seas comes Vizka Longtooth with a crew of Searaiders, and a captive badger. Bound for plunder and conquest. The aged Badger Lord of Salamandastron sends forth a haremaid, questing for his successor. A young thief exiled from Redwall. A Brownrat chieftain, with his savage horde, is ravaging Mossflower country. The fates of many creatures, both good and evil, are caught up in this saga of war and destiny. Over the cold Northern Isles, across the heaving seas, sweeping through forest and plain, from the badger mountain to the ancient stones of Redwall Abbey, the warcry thunders out... Eulaliiiiaaaaaaa!

Brian Jacques has been eliciting cheers from Redwall fans for twenty years. Brian initially wrote Redwall more than 20 years ago to entertain the children at Liverpool’s Royal Wavertree School for the Blind. Little did he realize the global success that awaited the series. Redwall was first published in the UK in 1986 and in the USA in 1987.

To celebrate these 20 wonderful Redwall years Philomel will release a special 20th Anniversary Edition of Redwall coinciding with the publication of the latest Redwall adventure Eulalia!

Where Have You Been?

Hello, my name is Deea, it's been 3 weeks since my last post. *Hi, Deea!*

I honestly feel like joining a blog slackers support group sometimes. I have a better excuse this time than most, but it doesn't make it easier to climb back in the saddle when I've been on two feet for so long. My excuse?

My computer crashed. Wouldn't even turn on, and then when we got it to do that it was so infested with adware that we had to slowly weed out the bugs. After that:

My washer an dryer both quit around the same time, & my mom popped in for a surprise visit. Then there is the normal , everyday life things - school, housework, trying to support and love well, grocery shopping, paying bills, running children hither and thither, etc...

I missed blogging most. I enjoy sharing my life in pictures with my far away friends and family. I missed checkng up on all your lives as well. I'm more thankful than ever for the tool of the internet that allows all that to be possible. I'll be round to catch up and visit soon!

Blogger, per usual, is not co-operating with me t load photos, so I'll be loading them later, hopefully. (They're below! I had to do them as individual posts. Enjoy!)

Geared up!

Geared up!, originally uploaded by efiw.

Mom gave Tofer his 13th birthday trip of significance while she was here. Yes, it is 3 years late, but he doesn't care!! He gets to shred the slopes all winter WITH HIS DAD!! They went yesterday to the local ski swap and got geared up for the first powder!

She Knows How to Charm Us!

She Knows How to Charm Us!, originally uploaded by efiw.

Maizy is our landlords' Golden Retriever who lives at our house! (at least 8/10ths of the day!)We adore her. She is gentle, loves to play, and is our loyal companion on hikes. This is her, "Can I have a cookie?", face!

Portrait of October

Portrait of October, originally uploaded by efiw.

Cassia bought a pumpkin, I wrapped the porch railing in Boston Ivy berries! First time in nearly 19 years of marriage that I can remember setting a pumpkin out on our porch!

Sir Nimble-O (the cold)

Sir Nimble-O (the cold), originally uploaded by efiw.

Our daily visitor. He chatters at us if we don't have his seeds/nuts out there when he arrives. Tofer snapped this one very chilly Montana morning.

Ham X 3

Ham X 3, originally uploaded by efiw.

Another moment from our yearly photo shoot. Stress relief.

Tof and His Mama

Tof and His Mama, originally uploaded by efiw.

5 foot 2 & 6 foot 2. We went out to take our yearly photos and Cassia stopped us on the way home to snap this.

Tetons

Tetons, originally uploaded by efiw.

Aren't they amazing? The day I took this was the clearest I have ever seen them. Normally they are shrouded in clouds. It's grainy because I blew it up and they are really far away from us.

Deficiency of Substitues

They will never be a perfect fit or as effective as the real thing.
Bronze is cheaper, expedient, & close, but it isn't gold. It can only ever be an alloy.

Shiny, and brilliant, yes, but tainted by mixture. Easier to hang onto, because it has no real value, no one will ever try to take it from you. It is safe.

Though, one morning, we will wake like Samson ~ trying to do what we have always been able to do, but now unable. The power is no longer there because we substituted the blessing; gave it away. Let it be removed while we slumbered in the lap of our 'bronze' idol. We settled for the mixture. Coating something in gold only gives the appearance power. The difference should be conspicuous. Having the purity of gold is costly and risky. Am I willing to take the risk?

Small Kindnesses

Minda not only thought the Aspens leaves looked beautiful in their Autumn butter, she went out and cut branches then put them as a sweet surprise in her big sister's room. Does a mama's heart good when her children honor & love one another so deeply.

Snow Dog, Part 1!

Look who is enjoying it!

Overnight changes!

Same view... with just a slight adjustment!!!

If You Would Pray...UPDATE!

It's over! She feels she did her best, and we won't have a score for 3 weeks or more. Thanks for all your prayers. The power went out and they almost had to reschedule the testing, but God must have heard everyone crying out for Cassia! It came on again after 15 minutes and they resumed!

Cassia is taking her SAT this morning (7AM - 12 PM MST). She has spent several months preparing, and still doesn't feel confident in herself ~ But she knows God is bigger and is leaving this in His hands. I know she would appreciate your prayers.

Doug has posted again...

For those of you that are interested, Doug has posted for the first time in 6 months.... :O)

Big Picture Friday

Its cold and crisp here now. The sunsets have begun to change also. They are intense and brilliant and magical. We are constantly left awed and breathless by God's displays.

Big Picture Friday

3 Generations

I didn't take this photo, but I love it. Mom was adopted as a baby, so this documents the longest known link of her genetic chain.

It's a beautiful chain, isn't it?

God is so good.

Look Who Moved Into the Neighborhood

We arrived home from church today and were unloading when Malinda suddenly yelled out, "Bear!" It's the 4th time we've seen him this summer, but the 1st time we have had the camera handy to capture him. As he ambled up the driveway we realized Cassia was still in the van! I stepped out on the porch and called to Cassia to stay put while he made his way to our yard. I continued to snap his photo while he ate a few mouthfuls of grass and then he wandered off into the woods... He was totally uninhibited by my presence. Cute as he is, I think he is going to be seeing the Montana Fish and Game department and maybe Yellowstone Park in the near future. Cassia made it inside a few moments later.

Big Picture Friday

What does September look like in your world?

An Acceptable Time

"There's a theory which I take seriously... that we live until we do whatever we're meant to do."
~Madeleine L'Engle

I am late in posting this. It seems that one of the favorite authors of my younger self died the same day as my friend, Larry Brice. Madeleine L'Engle. She was 88. If you haven't read
A Wrinkle in Time
A Wind in the Door or
A Swiftly Tilting Planet
it is the perfect time of year to begin. You'll love them, I promise.

A New Era Begins

We have been homeschooling now for 16 years! (Wow! Do I ever feel old saying that!) It never fails that with the onset of each new school year we change something that irritated me about the previous year. You would think that after all this time we would just fall into place and never miss a beat... HA! I wish!
This year we have a nice, sturdy table. Odd thing to bring up? It wouldn't seem odd if you had been in our school room all the previous years and heard the kids griping about the others not saying when they were going to erase, or when they were going to get up because they table wiggled and messed them up. It had gotten to the point where I would have one do their work at the coffee table and the other at the table. The problem with that was that I had to be in 2 places at once and/or running back and forth between them, or they weren't getting their work done because I wasn't there to crack the whip. With the coming of the gloriously solid worksurface, we all do school together in one place, at one time, with no interruptions!! Yay, God!
We've only done 2 days so far, but it is going well and our Jr year of highschool is going smoother than it would have at the squeaky, rickety, wiggly table of the past!
For those interested, this years subjects include:
*Forensic Science
*Social Studies -
~Role of Family in Culture
~Current Events
~God & Government Book #1
*Language Arts -
~Proofreading & Grammar
~Journalism
~Essay Writing
~Advertising (which also falls into some SS)
~Novels and Poetry -
>Cantebury Tales, Chaucer
>Paradise Lost, Milton
>Pilgrims Progress, Bunyan
>The Abbott, SW Scott
>The Black Arrow, Stevenson
>Crippled Splendor, Ivan John
>The Man Who Was Thursday, Chesterton
>Many More
~Vocabulary
*Math -
~Advanced Algebra
~Geometry when AA is finished
*Geography
*US History Cont...
*Music (instrumental, vocal, and therory)
*Art
*PE
(Not all of these are everyday. We finish one and begin another or they are once or twice a week..)

With a Heart Bowed Low

Our dear, dear friend,Larry, passed away this morning.
I know he was ready to go be with Jesus, I know he is sitting with him now.

But I was not ready to let him go.

He was 52.

12 years ago, he and his wife struggled through a life threatening

pregnancy to bring a daughter into the world.

They survived and so did the baby. They won that battle.

Last November, Larry was diagnosed with inoperable liver and colon cancer, stage 4. This was a battle they wouldn't win.
My heart is heavy, the tears won't stop.

I wish I could communicate with passion just how much this man meant to me; to us.

Tears and pain are clouding everything.

At James ' 25th birthday
1992

Doug, Kent, Larry, James

Please, please, please pray for Shirley (his wife) and Madison (his daughter), for Grace Harvest Church, and for us as we all walk through this valley of shadow that has come at the loss of this husband, father, pastor, and friend.

This is a video I made for Pastor Larry for his 50th birthday as a surprise. It isn't the "Final" version that I presented, but it is the only one I have, so I'm presenting it here as a memorial.

Thanks Mom & Dad!

I'm so thankful for James' parents. They bless us in so many ways with their love and care. This past week we had vacation ~ at their house! They are down visiting their newest grandchild, and Anna and Shaun of course. They allowed us to infiltrate their home while they were away so we could get away too. We missed them being there with us, but their generosity gave us a week to relax, unwind, and be at peace. We played pickleball, and bocce. We went out in the boat, and watched the sun go down on the lake. We watched a couple movies and popped popcorn. Friends came over to BBq with us, and we went to see friends and eat with them. Having to say goodbye again was the only thing that made the time bittersweet.
Mom and Dad, we can't wait for you to visit so we can have our time of blessing you in our own small way. We love you.
Thanks also to everyone who prayed for us. The van did great, we didn't overspend, our hearts are full and blessed.
Photos below !!

vacation 07

The Master Suite!

1st night's sunset on the lake!

Paul boys are famous for their breakfasts!

Studying. Even on vacation.
Keep goin' down!

Vaca 07 continued

Tuna melts for lunch.

Friends gathering for fun and laughter.

Pickleball!

Sun sinking low ~ @ Connely Park.
few more below

Vaca 07 continued

Grammy hurt her back so we set up a salon in her home to do her nails for her!

Our neighbor of 13 years, Lorraine.

Bocce @ Connely Park

Boat ride off into the sunset. Goin' Home.
The End