Random September 2024

During this month, Nate made the most delicious chocolate chip cookies ever. 

We have learned that placing chocolate chips on the top after they come out of the oven makes them even yummier!

Jess and I hiked in to the Blackiston Falls lookout. I love these moments with Jess. 

Speaking of great moments with Jess - eating Loaded Nachos Supreme, while swinging in hammocks was definitely another great idea. 

Jessica's car experienced its kajillienth break down. Poor thing would have moments when it just would not start. We replaced the battery and starter (twice) and did every other repair we could think of. Even after this picture was taken, there would be a few more broken down days before we finally figured out the problem. 

Autumn walks....

Sunday evening at the farm....

Joy riding with the friends...

and Visiting neighbors together...

All contributed to the awesomeness that was September. 

Glacier Hike with John (Sept 2024)

John and I discovered, a few years back, that September is the best time to enjoy Glacier National Park. We no longer ahve to deal with the vehicle registration program, the tourists (not us) have gone home, and the weather is still nice. 

This year, we hiked in to Josephine Lake, which is a spot we used to bring Grandpa to. The hike holds a lot of dear memories for us. The elephant stump was a spot our kids always insisted on stopping at. It feels a little strange to enjoy these moments without our kids, but we certainly look back on those days fondly. 

 

1st week of school - Sept 2024

Look at Jess on her first day of her senior year!

I feel like this picture perfectly depicts what her Grade 12 year was like. She juggled sports, and schoolwork like a champ and that little blue Stanley followed her along like a loyal friend. 

This picture also depicts Nathan's personality as a Grade 9 student really, really well. His refusal to cooperate for a photo shows his feirce independance. (That's what I'm going to call it, at least;)  He also  blew a chunk of his summer earnings on DQ and Subway. Horray for an open campus! 

Jessica and her friends figured out, early in the school year, that if they came to our house, they could enjoy free food. Occasionally I'd pop in at lunch and there were usually 3-10 friends of Jessica's already there. They actually became regular members of our family and there was always someone there to take care of Radar. 

                                          

Jess and nate both got to have John as a teacher, which was cool. 

Our two missionaries made us so proud. By this point, Abby only had one transfer left, while Sam was just a nearing his halfway mark. What a joy it was to have two missionaries out at the same time!

Home Sweet Home? (Aug 2024)

As we made our way through August 2024, I became increasingly aware of time, specifically how quickly it was slipping away! For the first time in my life, I had a classroom to prepare. 

I was so unbelievably nervous. 

Slowly but surely, the space began to take shape. 

 I had no idea what lied ahead for me, which is probably good. Had I known the level of overwhelm I woudl feel, just a few weeks later, I may have turned around and run for the hills. 

I am so glad I didn't. 

A lot of learning and growing happened in this space. 

A lot. 

Random August (2024)

Summer of 2024 was beautiful! 

I was graduated and did not have to focus on finishing classes or earning any more credits. Absolutely sublime!

We hiked and John fished. 

We tried to have the missionaries over for dinner more often. (Others around the world were taking care of Sam and Abby, it felt like the least we could do.)

Jess spent a lot of time waterskiing with Grayson and the rest of us (or atleast John and I) spent our free time paddleboarding. 

This Payne Lake scene has been experienced (on repeat) for more than a decade. Ever since our kids were young, we have been coming here. I will always be thankful for a Payne Lake sunset. 

Martin's Cove

Early in August (2024), the West Stake leaders took the youth (14+) to Martin's Cove. As the Bishop's wife, I got to accompany John which was so nice because Jessica was one of the youth in attendance. I was asked to be one of the photographers, which was a huge privilige. 

The weather was hot, everything was covered in dust (EVERYTHING), and once a day, a fierce Wyoming wind storm would blow through. Those wind storms were unlike anything I had ever experienced. 

But the moments with the youth were sublime. 

I loved watching them all work so hard and I loved getting to be with some of "my" Young Women again.

It was a real gift to get to be there with Jessica too. She sand a musical number at the end of one of our days there and I was so in awe of her. She has had some great opportunities to share her testimony through song.  Listening to her sing is my favorite. 

On the final night, we had a testimony meeting and it was so nice to hear from our youth. There were some great streis and great moments that came out of that weekend. 

How grateful we have been for inspired leaders who are willing to invest in these experiences for our youth!

Glacier Day

A beautiful day in Glacier National Park - just John and I. 

Nate and Jess were both at work, so we drove to Many Glacier and hiked into Lake Josephine. 

It's the hike we always did when the kids were younger. 

We had to stop at the "Elephant Stump" our kids used to sit on. 

My heart ached a little for days gone by. 

John fished and I meditated - which basically means that I sat on a rock and thanked God for this good life. The mountains make me do things like that. 

 

It was a lovely evening.

 

Random July

July was a god month. My scchooling and subbing was over, and it was early enough in the summer that I could still procrastinate September prep. I was still naive;)

During this month...

Jess went branding with the Leishman family. It was so nice them them to let her join. Apparently, she was fiesty and wiling participant. That girl likes to get dirty on the farm.

We hosted a family dinner with my family. We did burgers and can cooker, which was fun. I don't think we hoste very often, but it is aways fun when we do. 

Jessica LOVED working in Waqterton this summer. She was surrounded by friends and they played more than they worked, which made for a good, good summer job. 

Our garden was good to us. 

John and I had a summer where we had no choice but to do things together, just the two of us. With both Nate and Jess working crazy full time hours, we were really on our own. Fishing and hiking when our schedules allowed was how we passed those summer days. 

Times are changing for us, but I am thankful for every day.