Update:

It's been a long streach between posts!

(prepare for lots of pictures)

We said good-bye to Banjo at the first of this year.

We re-homed him.

Long story but he is better off with another loving family!

Tom and I took a trip to the ocean for a reprieve.

Cannon Beach is our  "Go To The Sea To Breath", retreat.

Tillamook Cheese Factory is a must.

 

They have the biggesst ice cones in

the world! (wink)

Another favorite place in McCall Idaho.

If we drive the VW and the sun is out, 

the top goes down.

A Bon Fire is a must when we have overnight guests.

Our Washington State family has been busy with all sorts of fun things.

Trey (10 yrs), was Shrek in his school play. He sang, danced and

said his lines perfectly for the family.

While we were back "home', we visited with my brother.

Our gardens are ripening and growing fast. 

Almost as fast as our grandkids.

I'm trying to keep up with new ideas and recipes with things from the garden.

Here I made Rose Water, out of our roses.

There were moments of refined culture.

We took the family to see 

Riverdance.

EVERYONE loved it.

For Mother's Day I recieved a Chicken Coop and two chicks.

What a surprise!

Introducing Henrirtta and Dixi Chick.

No eggs yet but soon.

We find  "Love Notes" all over our home.

Ila May put on a One Man Show for our family.

We all signed in, recieved a Program and some Red Licorice. 

Then found a perfect seat.

 Her Mom even had a Reserved Seat.

Ila May danced, sang, read poetry, did magic tricks, and entertained us

with her spunk!

Volunteers were asked to join her on stage.

Tom is always the first to raise his hand.

everyone.

Boys will be boys!!!

Tom has the younger boys waving to passing cars!

And yes, some honked back.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT !!!!!

Kimmy is pregnant with  #7 

and it's a 

GIRL!

Due date: early December

Her name has already been revealed...

Pearl Christine!

I couldn't be more honored!

 

February Happenings

I'm trying to get back to Blogging.

The time off was enjoable but

 I missed being creative.

I tied to find my voice by writing.

Not here, but letters and emails to 

Politicians.

It was an outlet to state my concerns and thoughts.

But I wasn't heard!

I remember years ago, I wrote to my local represenitives. 

They either wrote back or even called me!

Times have really changed!!!

So, I have come back, to be creative and 

share my interests and life.

I still participate in causes.

I joined our church for,  March For Life.

Here we are at the end of our walk, 

at the Boise's capitial.

~*~

Kimmy and family wanted to go skiing, one more time.

We headed up to McCall.

I went along to help out with the two littles, who don't ski yet.

Of course, I'd go for any reason!

Tom couldn't make it.

(Read to the end to find out why)

SNOW!

SUNNY!

LAKE FROZEN OVER!

OUR NEIGHBORS!

CLIMBING THE SNOW REMOVEABE MOUNTAINS.

It was a fun weekend!

~*~

Below is a series of pictures that Kimmy took.

We needed an updated picture of Tom and I,

for our church directiory.

Guess which one we used?

~*~

The other day, we had sunshine and short sleeve shirt, weather.

Ahh... so nice!

Two of our grandsons came over to help get our

 gardens ready for Spring planting!

This is Silas cleaning out dead plants from our pots.

 Levi built metal, raised, vegetable gardens.

It is so wonderful to have helpers who can 

really HELP!

It didn't take long!

Then a week later......

SNOW!!

Banjo is happy

~*~

This is the day we have been waiting for!

Tom had his hip replaced!

This guy has gone through so much 

pain for the last year! 

We searched and searched for a Doctor,

plus a hospital that would take us and our philosophy.

Tom has previously, had both knees and one hip replaced.

Now,  he had the other hip replaced.

DONE!

Rejoicing and standing up right 

right after surgery.

It was a Day Surgery 

so we were home by evening.

Even Banjo was smiling!!

 Tom is in recovery today and doing really well.

NO MORE PAIN!

singing .... H A L L E L U J A H !!

~~~~~~******~~~~~~

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidance,"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me." 

Hebrews 13: 5-6

 

The Year 2022 !!

Our family celebrated New Years 

up in McCall.

Snow, snow and more snow.

Cold...very cold!

We played in the snow and walked 

to town.

Getting ready for the celebration is always fun.

We try on our costumes and get

our pictures taken.

The group pictues is taken earlier

in the evening because some

of us, can't stay up that late.

While we waited for the count down,

we play games.

💥

This one, is a roll of the dice to see how many 

turns you get to unroll the 

plastice wrap ball.

The ball is filled with toys, candy, money and coupons.

The goodies are rolled all the way through the ball.

With every turn you get a surprise!

The excitement is contagious.

When it's over, you can trade with someone.

That's when the real excitement starts!!!

It's almost time to start the count down.

So we head outside with pots & pans 

and utencils to bang with.

This has been a tradition that started with

my dad, when he would babysit

Kimmy and Todd on New Years.

Kimmy has continued the "pot banging" ever since,

 

Levi: "What size pan do you want? 

  Huge or medium?"

Ahhh..

Another year over 

and 

another year started!

Until next New Year's Eve!

Now, it's time to clean up.

~~~~~*****~~~~~

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old is gone and the new is here."

2 Corinthians 5:17