Christmas Day 2009

Wow, where has all of the time gone? It is a good month since I last posted! I did make a very few Christmas cards. I can't seem to be too creative! Maybe that should be my New Years resolution - to get back into creating!


We have had a very nice Christmas season. Christmas eve we spent with our dear friends, Larry and Amy along with each of their parents. Amy worked all day and then prepared dinner for all of us and it was so good!

Arnold and Leola, along with Dave setting at our table set for Christmas dinner.

I was ask if I really did so much cooking in our tiny little oven in our 5th wheel. Here is the answer! Yes, I did do holiday baking!

Thanksgiving 2009

It takes some real muscles to stir all of the fruit and nuts together! Way to go Bryce!

Since Dave's mother passed away in 1997, he has carried on the tradition of making fruit cake. He always sends a loaf or two to Mavis and her family, so this year he shared the recipe and the secrets with Bryce so that he can make them for his family. I hope he continues to make them each year!

After the funeral service for Merle, we went to spend some time with my sister, Mavis and her family in Great Falls. Thanksgiving day we had a feast fit for a King at Sherri's and I ate way more than I should have! Thank you for a great dinner and a fun time!

November 20, 2009

These flowers depicted Merle so well. Irrigating boots, a shovel and his hat.

Tonight, I want to pay tribute to my wonderful brother, Merle. Merle passed away on the 20th of November. He was such a dear, dear man and if I could only live up to half of the testimony that he left behind, I would feel that I had done well. This picture was taken 1 1/2 years ago and he is surrounded by his daughters, some grandchildren and a worker from Africa.

After we received word of Merle's death we got ourselves packed up and went to his funeral service. It was such a special service and a great reminder that we, too, need to prepare for the harvest of our soul. Wonderful to look upon a faithful person that finished the race faithfully.

November 1, 2009

Here is a picture of our truck and our new home on wheels. I wonder if we will ever be able to do the traveling that it is for?? I sure hope so!


Wow, where has the time gone? It has been a long while since I posted to this blog! We left Minnesota on the 25th of September, headed to Montana and to Wyoming to pick up our new home on wheels. ( I thought that I had a picture of it, but I don't!) Anyway, Roger and Janet wanted to have it gone before they headed to Arizona so we picked it up on the 30th of September, but we continued to stay in Billings until the 20th of October, with a quick run to Great Falls for a short visit. Unfortunately, I was sick when we left MN and continued to be until just today I am finally feeling better. I am not sure just what all was wrong with me, but it was just one thing after the other. Since I am a little better perhaps I can get caught up here!

While we were in Billings, one of our dear friends was killed in an airplane accident. We are saddened by his loss. Dave's was able to attend his funeral which left everyone encouraged to live their life in God's control.

My brother Merle was moved to Billings to a beautiful nursing home and so I also got to spend some time with him. He is failing, but I love his gentle spirit that still shines through.

Flowers that said "Welcome Back to Oregon!"

We had this cute sign posted on our refrigerator welcoming us to our new home! Thanks, kids!

Lillian and Merle

Myself and Merle

We are getting settled into life in Oregon. We got a royal Oregon welcome by the rain some of our first days! The part that I do not like about Oregon! But we got a far more royal welcome by our friends. We had kept it a surprise that we were coming back, so it was fun to see the looks of surprise on their faces. We have had several meals in their homes already and it just feels right to be here. Of course, I could enjoy the sunshine of Arizona during the winter months, but I doubt that I will get to go there this winter.

For now, I am content trying to get our little house in order and hope to get to some crafting one of these soon coming days. It has been some time since I did any card making.

Thanks for stopping by and we will chat again one of these days.

More common days

We have had many common days, but they are filled with adventure and love! We got to go with Wyatt and his best friend to the skateboard park, see him all dressed up for school pictures, and so many cherished moments. They grow up way too fast! Check here for more pictures.

September we went to Wabasha, MN to the National Eagle Center

We started the day with going to Sunday morning meeting then we drove to Lake City, MN and had lunch at a fun little place called Chickadee Cottage. From there we drove South to Wabasha, MN and went to the National Eagle Center. Very much a learning lesson for us and very interesting. Be sure to check out the pictures HERE.

Common Days # 2

Life is busy, but every moment is one to cherish! I am including pictures here of the kids at the park and all of the fun that they have there. Daddy loves to take them to the park! This picture is the entrance to the park! It is oh, so pretty of a park right on the Mighty Mississippi River. They have the most wonderful toys for the kids to play on and pretty flowers for the grownups to feast their eyes on.

Saturday was a day spent in Wisconsin. We went to a little village called Stockholm that has some fun little shops; just a very relaxing day, before we headed to Cottage Grove, MN to check out some Craigslist items. Check out the WI pictures HERE.

September 9 & 11th

Wyatt's first true day of school! Lunch as well as all of his supplies and he is ready to go. The bus just can't arrive fast enough. He gets on it and away he goes for the great adventure of learning!
Our little man gettin off the bus!

Walking home from the bus with the little neighbor kids.

September 8th

Wyatt's first day was just a brief visit with the teacher and Mommy, but that did not make it any less exciting! We hope that his enthusiasm lasts all through his years of schooling!!

Little Zoe was totally lost when her big brother went off to school without her!

September 7, 2009

There is always a helper!

Grandma has to have her diet coke so Zoe has her jug of milk! I was out watching her play and she drug her little chair over to be right beside me!

Today Kathy and I thought that we would do something fun on Wyatt's last day before he would go to school, so we decided to take a hike, but Wyatt didn't want to go. He wanted to stay and play with his good friend. Thus, Kathy, Zoe and I went. I could not believe for an hours hike, how much of it Zoe did walk. Even up a long long flight of stairs. Check out my pictures of the day HERE. Tonight, Wyatt has the pre-school jitters. He is so excited to go. He will go for an orientation tomorrow and then will go to school on Weds. but not on Thursday. They will break them in easily!

Minnesota State Fair

Saturday we drove to St. Paul and went to the Minnesota State Fair or maybe I really should say to the Zoo! There were so many, many people there, but it was fun, none the less. Best of all they had a grilled chocolate and raspberry jelly sandwich that was to die for! Oh, it was so good and of course, they had waved their magic wand and taken all of the calories out so I could enjoy two of them! HERE. Then on Thursday we had a pre-school party for the little kids that will be going to kindergarten and oh, that was so much fun! Here are some pictures from that party. Oh to be a kid again, and right now I am having my chance at that and enjoying it a lot!

Well, I have been told that I needed to update my blog and someone even tells me that it has been about a month! With 2 little ones and constant changes in schedules I never have the time to set down and do anything with a blog! Anyway, I thought that you might enjoy seeing some of our common days with the grandkids. They really aren't just common, they are really very special! Above are some pictures at the park. It is a beautiful park with great toys to play on.

August 19, 2009

First thing that I want to say is Happy 80th Birthday to Mavis! Hope that you have a wonderful day and an even greater year ahead!

We have had rain today like I have never seen before. The kids have a hill behind them and the water was running like a river down the side of the street. Quite a sight!

The men have accomplished quite a little and I have had lots of grandchildren time that makes life worth while!

August 6, 2009

Correction on link for North Dakota! Sorry that I didn't re-check it!
Arriving in Red Wing we had the greatest little guy waiting for us to arrive! You can see more Grandkids pictures HERE!

Well we got up early on Thursday morning and started the last leg of our trip to MN saying goodbye to relatives and heading East! I had never travelled to North Dakota so it was interesting to see. I do understand why they have state boundaries where they do as there is definite differences from state to state. Have a look at the pictures that we took in North Dakota HERE. We really enjoyed the round little hills and the pretty colors! We drove to Bismarck and stayed there the first night and then it was time to get up and head on to Red Wing! We stopped in Albany and enjoyed looking around and we never could find 3250 Harvard Avenue, so guess that we just found the wrong Albany! Check it out here!

Pixie is starting to wonder if we will ever get there and is telling us that she is bored!

August 5, 2009

We left Cody quite early in the morning and after a visit with Merle, we headed to Billings. We got to have a wonderful dinner with my nephew, Merton and his wife Susan. They live very close to our old neighborhood and it was fun to see all of the changes to the area and then set down to a wonderful dinner!

This picture is for Kent, but we didn't get to eat there. We knew that they had them back here in MN so left that for something to do here!

August 4, 2009

We got to visit my brother Merle and while we were there his two daughters, Deanna and Merlene stopped by, so we were lucky to get to see them too. Merle is failing so much and it is pretty hard to see that happen. He has always been a very special man!
Roger, Janet and their daughter Susie, that was visiting from Boise so was extra special to get to see her and her family.
My niece Loveta and her husband, Bob

If you would like to see more pictures of our time in Cody I will try to give you a link to go to HERE!

Monday, August 3, 2009

My brother Larry and his wife, Sue

We got to have dinner with them the evening that we arrived in Cody.

We stopped in Laurel and had a wonderful lunch with my sister-in-law, Luree.
Out to play miniature golf.

On Monday we headed to Wyoming for a wonderful time spent with family. Time was precious with each one.

August 2, 2009

We have had wonderful, busy days here in Billings. Friday night there was a church picnic and so got to see many of our Billings friends and family that otherwise we would probably not have had the time to visit. Also there were around 10-12 workers there. Stephanie T is getting ready to go to Russia and she leaves tomorrow. Also Tammy C was there along with her sister Heidi and family. Yesterday we got to go to a very special gospel meeting in which those 2 girls spoke along with Glenn S and Donovan O. A very special day! Lunch with my brother and his wife; and to dinner at Applebees with Marlyce and Lee. Today we head to Cody to visit more family. Marylce & Lee
Ray and Judy

A few more pictures of Billings

Lillian in front of her home here in Billings.
My sister-in-law, Annie. It was at her retirement home that we went to the concert.

A Week spent in Billings

We went to a concert in the park after dinner with Annie at her retirement village and had a wonderful evening!

Lillian














Ernie & LeeAnn (my nephew and his wife)

Looking over the crowd to see if I could find a familier face! Nope, not a soul that I knew!

This sign says all that I need to know! This was a very favorite place that we always enjoyed and their crunch coat is still just as good as when we lived here!