Time to Enjoy ...

The past month has been one of great relaxation! No long commutes in traffic. No long "to do" lists. Just a slow-paced routine that includes staying close to home. The views are grand. To take a mini trip, I only have to open the window and peek outside. Rolling hills with evergreen trees. Prairie farms tucked in and about our neighborhood. Fields of hay with rainbows from sprinklers. Sites to "drink" in everywhere I look.

Last week the girls and I entered some photos for an upcoming Northern Idaho calendar. I do believe one of L. Ann's will be published. This will make her photography teacher happy! ... and give us an opportunity to buy a few early Christmas gifts for far away family members.

Tomorrow dh arrives for a weeklong visit. We're very excited to have him return ... and miss him much ... he's counting down the days until he's up here full time.

Could there be a wedding next year for my oldest daughter? Will write more on that later!!

Sleep tight.

Photo by: L. Ann 5/06

Aromatic Air

Yesterday my family was invited to an impromptu outing in the woods. We drove only a short distance and were in one of the most beautiful state campgrounds I've ever been to. To think we could actually just throw a few lawn chairs and snacks in the back of the van ... drive thirty minutes and be in such a pristine enviornment was wonderful. Our friends that invited us were meeting some acquaintences that had set up a campsite. There was a nice playground and basketball hoops for little Nathan ... and everyone helped pitch in to watch the little wonderer. As I've said in previous posts ... scents can evoke memories ... or create new ones that will be fixed in your mind and soul. Last night will probably be one of those "fixes." The scent of the forest was beyond any aromatherapy product in a bottle! A freshly cut pine tree helped create the fragrance, along with the damp earth and the aroma of the campfire. Fresh black coffee and a piece of warmed apple crisp rounded out the evening. No city jungle can compete with God's wilderness creation. He has thought of everything, including fragrance, to give to his world. What an awesome feeling walking through the woods being surrounded by giant trees, yet feeling God's arms wrapping around you!
Photo by "Me" 5/06

I "Ditched" Church

I hate to admit it, but I ditched church on Sunday! My intentions were good ... I even made it to a local church ... (I was alone) ... but after inquiring about what and/or/if they had a place for my special needs child, I was told my best option was to sit in their "cafe" during the service and listen to the message via a speaker. OK ... now I've been here ... done this ... before. At our last church I emailed a letter to the children's minister to see if they would accomodate a young child with Down syndrome ... he eagerly took on the duty and my little guy spent the first two Sunday's following the minister around ... shortly afterwhich other and much better arrangements were provided. This past Sunday I just showed up alone to check things out. I got the usual, "we don't discriminate" anyone here ... and yet, they really don't have much to offer ... nor did they have any alternative suggestions (other than sitting in the cafe with said child). It's sad to say, but churches are really missing out on a whole population of parents in the same boat as myself. We just want to go to church as a family and have a place for our child(ren) to get spiritually fed too! There are a few churches out there that have taken the lead and started special needs ministries ... I know, because I helped establish the one at our last church. My alternative this past Sunday ... was to dash off to my car and cry my eyes out!! I then headed to my beautiful property in the Northern woods of Idaho and attended God's church of the great outdoors.
Photo by: "Me" 5/06

Less Is More

Since I'm now living in a much smaller ... but well designed ... house, and with 2/3's of my STUFF in storage, no lawn to mow yet, floors that can actually be damp mopped instead of hand washed, oatmeal flecked colored carpet instead of white, a one story floorplan with a large laundry/mudroom off the garage ... and a normal ceiling height between 8-12 feet (vs 20 ft), my cost of living has drastically gone down ... my workload has practically ceased to exist, and I actually have time at night to relax. I think I will rethink the interior style of the home we're building ... at least for the finishing touches ... nothing shiny ... nothing white ... and ditch about half the junk in storage that just wastes my time and energy!

Time for a Stroll

Photo snapped while at beautiful Lake Coeur D'Alene on Saturday. Little Nathan didn't seem to mind the chilly 50+ degree water temp. Burrrr!
Photo by: "Me" 5/06

Moose On The Loose

Daughter #1 snapped this photo Thursday of a moose just lumbering out of the water, and then giving us a big moose smile, while we were driving to a nearby lake.

Photo by: K. Elizabeth 5/06

Ready, Set, ... Dive Into Summer

Put on some sunscreen, pour yourself a tall glass of lemonaid, and find a nice relaxing spot to enjoy the view.

Do you remember the summers from your youth? Camping with family and friends? Are you gearing up for another summer in the great outdoors? With the high price of gas, we'll be exploring the local and nearby state parks for some low cost outings. Time to pump up the flat bike tires and dust off the picnic basket 'cuz summer is just around the corner. Go ahead, jump in!
Photo by: L. Ann 5/06

New Homestead & Surrounds

A few pics worth a thousand words! Photos of and around our neighborhood taken 5/06

Stress-LLLLLEEEESSSSSS

Today little Nathan attended his new school ... Yes, it's a little late in the year to begin a new school, so we eased him into the special education program for our area with three 1/2 day sessions a week. He went on a field trip to Krispy Kream donuts today ... this school year ends in about three or four weeks ... I sure enjoy the break :)