A Few Days.....A Few Picts

We spent the last few days camping at Kalispell. Our first stop was Snappy's Sports Senter. If you haven't been there before you really need to go. It is one of the best kept secrets in Kalispell.

Along with their AMAZING sporting goods store, they have this incredible stocked fish pond in the back. It has a waterfall, a path winding around it, and even a viewing gallery where you can see the fish swimming under water. There are some monstrous fish in there. I'm talking 2-3 feet long!

On normal days you can go back there and put your quarter in a feed machine and feed the fish. They jump great distances out of the water in large groups to eat your treats. The kids are very impressed and absolutely love it. What is even better, is that on Saturdays in the summer, they let kids fish in the pond for free! No fees, no licenses to buy, no bait needed. You don't even have to have a pole, they have them right there for you to use.

Of course, being the serious fisherman we are (ha, ha) Reggie wanted his own pole. It was so fun to watch and be a part of. I saw this four year old kid pull in a fish that was probably 20 pounds or so. Wh We didn't luck out with one of the big guys but it was fun all the same.

Another cool place is that fun center just outside of Hungry Horse. I think I was a race car driver in my previous life. I LOVE go carting. Could do it all day. In addition to go carting, there was a maze, bumper boats, and mini golf. A nice get away from the every day!

 

Pondering

I am a very big C.S. Lewis fan.  I didn't really discover how amazing he was until about two years and and 9 months ago. Browsing through some of his quotes today a couple stuck out. Here they are:

"We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be."


"Everyone has noticed how hard it is to turn our thoughts to God when everything is going well with us. We  'have all we want' is a terrible saying when 'all' does not include God. We find God an interruption. As St. Augustine says somewhere, 'God wants to give us something, but cannot, because our hands are full---there's nowhere for Him to put it.' Or as a friend of mine said, 'We regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it's there for emergencies but he hopes he'll never have to use it.' Now God, who has made us. knows what we are and that our happiness lies in Him. Yet we will not seek it in Him as long as He leaves us any other resort where it can even plausibly be looked for. While what we call 'our own life' remains agreeable we will not surrender it to Him. What then can God do in our interest but make 'our own life' less agreeable to us, and take away the plausible source of false happiness?"

~~from The Problem With Pain

I'm not sure exactly why, but these quotes really hit home today. Yes, "my own life" is less agreeable than it was, and yes I am using the parachute and have been desperately for a few years now. I wonder when I will land on safe ground?

How Old Would You Be If You Didn't Know How Old You Were?

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The passage of time is often marked by birthdays. When I was young they were highly anticipated events. Now that I'm 30 something........not so much.

That being said, it still was a great day thanks to so many kind and important people in my life. It started with breakfast in bed. I really wish I would have taken a picture of the menu choices before it disappeared because it was about a mile long. Cooper took on the role of waiter, while Marin and Reg made the magic in the kitchen. After breakfast they informed me that I was not to come out of my room until I was told. They were going to clean the upstairs for me. Wow. Who are these people!?! Cooper stood guard at the door with a plastic shield and light saber to make sure I kept my promise. When I tried to sneak out he said, "Mom just get back in your room and eat some chocolate or something. All righty then.

At lunch my dear friend Patty came and we went out to eat at Dave's Drive In. MMmmmm onions rings. Then we took the kids to the park. Didn't get any pictures of this. Crap.

Then I mowed my lawn, did some painting, and went down to my parents for supper. He are some of the cool things that were presented to me. I'm so spoiled, I know.

This is my birthday present to myself. Since redoing my living room over a year ago I have been searching for THE PERFECT MIRROR. There has been this big gaping hole over my love seat that has been driving me crazy, but I knew my PERFECT MIRROR would be found some day. And wouldn't you know it, I waltzed into Pier One the day before my birthday and there it was. Love it. We were meant to be together.

Look at this cute pendant from the Vintage Pearl that my friend got me. So cute!

Every serious single mom needs power tools and my dad recognizes that. Thanks Dad!

Hand made gifts are always a hit. Featured here is the lovingly made pearler bead art compliments of Marin. Reggie did not fail to impress and apparently he knows me all to well.

Add in some visits and more thoughtful gifts from friends and family and it all adds up to a really sweet day!

The Ol' Neighborhood That Felt Like Family

I was blessed with one of the most amazing childhoods. I didn't realize that everyone didn't have that until I got older. My family didn't have a lot, financially speaking, but what we did have was one AMAZING neighborhood.

If my memory serves, we had about 25 kids living in a two block radius. We were all friends, aside from a few minor squabbles. It honestly was something like you see off the movies. Kick the can, cat and mouse biking games, Monopoly marathons, tramp football, bonfires, ping pong tournaments, garden raids, softball in the vacant lot, mud pies, water fights, lemonade stands, and tree climbing. Yep, we had it all.

Sometimes I go for a walk through my old neighborhood and grieve a little bit for those times and those people who were so much a part of my every day life. I love them, and I love the memories I have from those years. The other thing I grieve is that my kids don't and probably won't ever have a neighborhood like I had. They don't exist any more.

Kids are too scheduled to enjoy the simplicity of the neighborhood family life style. They are busy running to soccer and basketball, piano lessons and play practice, swimming and tutoring. That was the one thing we had growing up---TIME!

 If I had a genie and three wishes, a day in the old neighborhood would definitely be one of my requests.
So to Mindy, Chris, Rob, Scott, Jamie, Rosslene, Jeff, Jacob, Janelle, Wendy, Sharalee, Arlene, Christal, Holly, Donna, Mark, Jon, Ben, Jenna, Jaelan and many others----thank you for those times!!!!

These are a few of my favorite things!

We all know that true happiness doesn't come from things. There are a few "things" though that bring me a lot of pleasure or satisfaction, if only for the short term.

Lindor Chocolate Bar with Sea Salt (A.K.A.-- Heaven)

If you haven't had one of these puppies you are really missing out. Chocolate is SERIOUS business with me. I've sampled pretty much everything and this is the queen of all chocolate bars. Basically, if you haven't tried one of these you HAVEN'T LIVED! I promise you will not be disappointed. Don't ever let your kids find out about these. Very dangerous indeed. These are best enjoyed alone, in moments when you are ready to lose it.

The Smell of Canadian Tire

This smell is my drug. Just kidding, but I could hang out here all day breathing deeply. Maybe it is because my dad is a mechanic and I've spent a lot of time in a garage over the years. I wish I could find it in a candle or an air freshener. Smell aside, Canadian Tire is a pretty cool store to browse and buy.



Philippine Young Dried Coconut


This is Costo's best addition of this year. This stuff is so yummy and very addicting I might add. You will definitely need at least two bags to get you through 'til the next Costco trip. Be choosy about the bags you pick. Make sure you find the ones that have the big, thick chunks. they are waaaaay better.

The Color Brown

I'm very partial to the color brown. Half my wardrobe is brown. Furniture---brown. Rug---brown. Cupboards----brown. Make up----brown. You get the idea. I guess I'm kind of a monochromatic type.

Cotton Jersey Sheets-

I bought these just this year and they are the best. So soft and comfortable. I will never go back to "other" sheets. Guess what color I have?

Team Sports

I love all team sports. The thing I hate the most about getting old is
that it limits my opportunities to play team sports. This year I was able to play some organized volleyball and basketball. My new favorite
team sport is soccer. I haven't played organized soccer since I was 12, but this year, for the first time, they have started a co-ed adult soccer league in town. It is so fun (and tiring). I imagine myself doing things like this (see pict). But I know full well that I am actually executing moves that are less than amateur. Every week I learn a little more. Love it!

Bike Riding at Dusk

Sunset is my favorite time of day. Lately the kids and I have been taking bike rides at that time of day. We take a full body shower in repellant and then mosey through the streets of Cardston at a leisurely pace. Wish I could do this every night, minus the repellant.

Laser Tag

Laser Tag

Laser Tag is my new obsession. During finals week when the students were gone a co-worker brought some laser tag guns to play with during our lunch breaks. I got hooked and quicker than you could tuck and roll I was ordering some for myself off of Amazon. We have been playing non-stop since they arrived. The neighbors are probably wondering what the heck I am teaching my posterity over here. I figure it is a lot better than sitting around watching TV and playing video games. Quality time I tell you!


Well, these are the favorites for today. There may be an addendum in the future.

First Week

           

We really wanted to go camping the first week of summer, but I was stuck teaching Gospel Doctrine on Sunday, so we camped near by at Kimball. It was so nice to do pretty much nothing. Activities involved playing in the river, endless games of catch, reading a good book, bike riding, and swatting mosquitoes. 

I haven't read a really good book in a while and I was delighted by this one:

If you like historical fiction, you will love this little read. The setting is in the late 1800's in a small Colorado mining camp town. I fell in love with the main character, Hennie. I still think about her even though I finished the book two days ago. You travel with her through her life as she rises above heartache and tragedy. She remains hopeful that good will always appear on the horizon as she  give others a helping hand. A great warm fuzzy experience! My mom picked this up at Costco for $6.50!!! You really need to get this book.




My next book on my list is Heaven Is For Real. I've been wanting to read this one for a long time. Anyone else out there read this and liked it? I'm kind of obsessed with beyond the veil stories and experiences.

 

Reggie is all about fishing. Before we left he went up to K & D (the local outdoor supply store) and spent a good chunk of his money on hooks and lures. He was a kid in a candy shop. I loved watching his face as he carefully made his selections. I have to admit that I started out fishing with him because I have to be dad as well as mom, but I am 'hooked' (sorry, I couldn't resist the pun) as well.  This time Grandpa took him fishing so I could finish the aforementioned book. The next step in his fisherman's training needs to be gutting the fish. This time Grandpa took care of it. We all partook of the mighty hunter's spoils that night for dinner. He couldn't have been more pleased.

Oh, and FIVE days until.................

Better get out my soundtrack and start singing!