No room for me

Austrians and smoked turkey

I have this song stuck in my head..you're welcome!

I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving!  So to catch you up, my Austrian Junior Class exchange student daughter (15) will turn Sweet 16 while she is here, can you say Sweet 16 Party?! arrives on January 8th to stay until the end of June.  I am a volunteer Area Rep for ISE or International Student Exchange.  https://www.iseusa.org/ and have joined Capital High School's Booster club and all that it entails in doing so.  Yes, dear readers I will be THAT host mom who completely engages in her students academic and school social calendar and activities. 

Shawn and I are on our fourth of six total cycles and if we succeed in getting pregnant this month making my expected due date on my mothers birthday of August 19th, and that would be incredibly meaningful to me.  I am taking this cycle a bit differently than the last three because I've read that if you just relax and focus on something else, that is when it normally happens.  Lately I've been so busy I haven't had time to obsess about my cycle or any ttc issues. 

We had family come down for Thanksgiving and tonight we will all venture downtown to the Parade of Lights that will finish up by the Fire tower for the annual lighting ceremony.  All in all, life is pretty incredibly and I can't remember when I've ever been so happy and content.  Hoping you are well and I hope you are surrounded by as much love and happiness as we are!  God bless!

Cleaning out my closet

I have a ton of pictures and videos I needed to purge out of my saved file to make room for my new life.  Check out my videos and pictures on Facebook to see if your pictures are there!

My final letter to my mom

My dearest Mom, As I sit here with the river behind me I think back to all the times we laughed, and all the memories we have made together. I know you think things were hard, and some times they were, but no life is without it’s challenges. It is my belief that our character is forged from those challenges that are overcome. You have described incidents in your life that were often quite difficult to deal with, but here you are, in all your strength and wisdom. I know in my travels, I have never met a more resilient woman, who on her own steam was able to survive only on strength and resolve. Think to yourself as you sit here reading this letter all of it, childhood, your teenage years, young adulthood, and now here in the twilight you did it, you made it, and it is my belief your reward awaits you.

Not one of us knows what waits beyond, we all have an idea sure, but no one man really knows. All my life growing up with my father all I ever heard was what an amazing woman you are, and how beautiful. My father loved you with his whole heart for his whole life, and in the end there was a peace there between you, an understanding if you will. I know you worry about me, and nothing I say here can relieve any of the fears you may have about what the future may hold for me, but with the tools you and dad bestowed upon me I too will be able to overcome any obstacles that may present themselves. I am your daughter and I am very much like you, and I will take your lead, and learn from the mistakes you made, so that I do not have to go through the same thing only to learn the same lessons. Something that is very important to me that you believe to be true in your heart is this, I will forever treasure this time we had together, I needed it, we needed it, I know you think I didn’t have fun, but that wasn’t really why I was here, I was here to love you mom, and I hope you felt that. I was happy just to have this time, and I will never ever forget it!

My solemn vows to you are these; to try and slow down and enjoy my surroundings and not try to rush through life as if it is a race. I will try and stay positive in all things and actions. I will try to live up to the ideals of you and dad, taking only the best to heart. I will listen to you in my dreams, when you try to council me through old memories and words. I will remember the passion you displayed in every aspect of your life, and try to mirror it. I will as you so often did, add to the beauty of my environment with my talents, be it gardening or otherwise. I will try to learn to appreciate the fine art and beauty and peace that is cooking. I will attempt to read more, and take the time to try and see others perspectives as well as my own. I will make an honest effort to make fudge for the family on the holidays. I will think of you when I see a kite flying in the beautiful blue sky; and on Valentines Day when you would make such a big deal and we went to Charlie Brown’s for dinner and you bought me books and a plant and chocolate. When we went to Benihana’s just you and I.

All the dance classes you took me to and horse camp you always supported my dreams no matter what they were. I admire so much of who you are, and what you have done and accomplished in life, and it never matters what in the end you owned, or what kind of car you drove, or how much was in your bank account, all that matters is that you lived, you loved and you laughed, and that you were loved. It seems so simple, but it is I believe, so true. I hope throughout your journey in life, you will never forget how much I love you, and respect you, and my thoughts and prayers are always with you.

I pray our God in heaven will keep you and bless you always. Heaven awaits this much I know,

I know who I will see when I get there, (my dream dinner as I call it) my favorite foods, and all my favorite people; Mariah, the little girl we lost to SIDS, Grand Pa Tony, Aunt Ruth, Aunt Emma, Grandma Best, and Dad, and when our time comes, you and I. You have given me so many precious gifts I will carry with me always. I hope this letter will express to you all my love, my whole heart for my whole life.

 

Love, Samara (Munchkin) Sam Sant  

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Home

Fall art walk

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjbI3ki2OQObQtLhMUvbVag

Pictures

My first trip to Yellowstone

Check out my YouTube channel for 25 videos from our day trip yesterday to Yellowstone, we enter through the West Entrance and left via the Roosevelt North Entrance

Comment section reopened

Dear Reader,

If I start getting spammed again with offers to enlarge a piece of anatomy I don't possess, I will be forced to close the comment section again.

Room remodel complete!

Moments away from completion!

Second guest room

Cleared for takeoff

So my doctor just called back with the results and she said everything looks OK she likes what she sees she said we stand more than a chance of getting pregnant and she'd just like to retest in a couple months see if there's any changes if we're not already pregnant!

Total Eclipse of the heart

Hockey season is upon us and that means life will be getting busier than even the holiday season will be.  The second guest room WILL be completed by the end of October and I'll post before and after photos.  This will be my project, as in I am decorating and Shawn is doing all the labor.  We bought and planted an Autumn Blaze Maple in the front yard and I vowed I'd plant a placenta when our baby is born, Shawn is just happy I don't plan on eating it like some women opt to do, he couldn't deal he said.  We are doing the last of our fertility testing Monday the 5th on his side so we know we have the best odds possible of having our dream come true baby.

Shawn found something called a balance bike and given our child's likely propensity for all things athletic like their father, we can introduce the Wishbone 3-in-1 which converts from tricycle to full-size balance bike.  Shawn is excited about the probability that we like our friends can get our child excited about triathlons because here in Montana, kids start out competing at an extremely young age.  So running, swimming and biking will help aid in a very well rounded child with finely honed motor skills.  I think I will be the creative parent, let's pretend play, let's bake or build with Lincoln Logs and I will create multiple reading nooks throughout our large home to foster that reader's passion to curl up and while away the hours in another world beyond our own.

I adore my job at the hospital and my boss and coworkers are a delight to work with, I feel I've really hit my stride.  I'm leaving the past in my rearview mirror, I'll remember where I've been, but will forever be grateful for where I am headed as the view outside my window has significantly improved!  Everything happened as it should've; I see that now.

Sparest of spare rooms

To catch you up, things are quieting down since Nana's passing and I'm wrapping up the business end of that; what a challenge.  I haven't had time to grieve and like the losses of the past I might never get around to it.  Instead when I get upset I'll cry a tear or two for the loss of a relationship that meant something to me.

We are on our second cycle in trying to conceive and I am hoping that since peace once again reins supreme that we will welcome our little one June 22, 2016.  We have a guest room on our main floor already but hopefully that will become Finnian-Elijah or Abbey-Marin's room so we would still need a guest room, so we are converting the finished basement office next to the newly remodeled bathroom into a second guest bedroom which will sleep two.  After the baby is born and old enough to no longer be in our room in the co-sleeper next to the bed he/she will be moved into their forever room next to ours and the basement full living space will be solely for guests, with private living, sleeping and bath.  One of the bonuses is that it will increase the value of our home should we ever decide to sell.

We've decided on the Vintage Oak Wood Planks from Lowe's and the Super White paint from Benjamin Moore to cover all the wood paneling like I found on Pinterest to really brighten the room and it's two fair size windows into the backyard.  We're installing a large ceiling fan, twin beds, nightstand between, a rug, 32 inch tv on a full motion wall mount across on the far wall, a few select pieces of art, and voila, guest room!  Our goal is to have it complete by the end of October.  Shawn is wrapping up building the new kitchen cabinets and will install a dish washer and a company is coming in to put in new countertops and that will finish our projects for this year. 

2016 will be all about getting ready for the baby and creating a space where I can work from home with the baby since we truly believe that I should be home for at least the first three vital years for bonding and it flows with our attachment parenting style we've agreed on.

With Shawn traveling so much for his triathlons and hockey tournaments, have been toying with the idea of buying a R-Pod camper so we save on hotel rooms and dining out and the baby and I can accompany him on the trip but still be in an environment the baby feel secure and familiar with which is vital to us.  Shawn really thinks he will be buying a new vehicle and I'll be taking over his Exterra because he REALLY doesn't want me driving my dream mini-van, which I don't understand; it's not as if he has to drive it.  lol  We will know October 13th if this cycle worked so please send prayers!

My cousin Francis is coming to visit in December and hopefully Shawn's parents as well and we are supposed to head back to Vegas (flying this time) to meet up with my Bestie Angie so the schedule is filling up fast!

I had this dream about my ex last night, it was more like a visitation than a dream, it was nice; hanging out with a friend and catching up like old times minus the alcohol.  It was good to see you, and I miss talking to you.

Videos

 

From my YouTube channel

Helena

Back to work

I'm back to work today and much happier for it.  I have one request for everyone out there, write an advanced directive for medical care for your family's peace of mind and to ensure your wishes are clear and adhered to, otherwise you will have others making this ultimate life choice for you and it might not line up with your heart's desire.  Go to your local hospital and ask for a packet for an Advanced Directive and they'll happily give you one for free.  Cost associated is the notary and that is it.  We've officially cut all ties to Inola, and the only business left is to pick up a few items from the trailer that are mementos of our life there.

I feel human today, as I haven't since 9/4 when I found out on our way to Las Vegas.  I feel so bad for my boyfriend and what he has had to deal with because I have been dealing with all this business.

So my Vegas trip, I'd like to write about that before the memories fade from all the hospital drama I dealt with over the phone on the way there and while we were there.

Shawn and I drove from our home in Helena, Montana to Las Vegas which was I-15 South for twelve hours. Five states. We left immediately after work Friday 9/4 and would return home as planned 9/7 at 10 pm on the dot as planned.  Stunning, the views were breathtaking.  It was a lovely drive, from what I can remember.  We had planned to stop just past Salt Lake in Orem, Utah where we stayed at the lovely Hampton Inn & Suites; however I had only just been made aware of the situation so I don't remember much except that the room was large and clean and Shawn was able to enjoy a hot breakfast buffet the next morning.  We drove on to Las Vegas and thanks to Shawn's status at Ceasar's we were able to check in early into our suite 2611 on the 26th floor overlooking the Strip.  The suite was incredible and massive and had an ac that I was able to turn down to 55, and considering that's the temperature in Helena when I left, I thought it was appropriate. 

The room had a floor to ceiling wall overlooking the Strip and city and desert, it was pretty impressive.  The bathroom was size of my last apartment when I first moved here.  All marble and his/her sinks and huge glass shower and a jacuzzi tub that would easily fit five people, no exaggeration. As you walked in there was a marble table mounted to the wall so you could leave your keys or whatever as you walked in, never seen that in a hotel before, as well as a totally separate women's make-up vanity.  The mini bar offered the standard "and not so standard" items that would only cost you your first born.  Shawn is a Vegas veteran so we stopped just outside of Vegas and bought Shawn's single malt scotch for half of what we pay here in Helena!  If we didn't want to venture out we didn't have to because Caesar's has it's own mall, so it's like a city inside of a hotel.  The pool area was the size of a small city and was as resort luxury as you can get, and if you wanted to hang out in the pool and STILL gamble, well you can do that at the in pool tables!  Guess they really don't want you leaving the property huh?  The food in the hotel food court was insanely expensive but you pay for convenience and not much else. 

No shock, but I didn't gamble, drama not withstanding I just couldn't understand the point, and haven't ever been able to.  I hung out in my mini apartment and enjoyed the ac and food delivery and handled the business with Nana from states away.  On Sunday we went to Mandalay Bay Shark exhibit, and that was a lot of fun, I have a serious affinity for all things aquarium!  Shawn made me two flattened pennies as keepsakes, can only find one so far, hoping Shawn knows where the other one is!  We left early Monday morning and before heading home we went to the Hoover Dam,  you MUST see it in person, and I am glad Shawn pushed me about going, because at that point I just wanted to get home, and I will grateful for the rest of my life for him having done so, it is not to be missed.  I would've stayed for days if we could've, just like our trip to Glacier.

I was able to enjoy the trip home because I hadn't really "seen" it on the way there.  Time past quickly.  I had the most amazing time with Shawn when I wasn't handling business, and we are flying down in December to meet up with my Bestie Angie.

Shawn says I am spoiled on Vegas now because we stayed in such a nice hotel and room that anything less will be a let down.  I have nothing to compare it to but mostly it was good.  Most of the women looked like hoochies (not all though, some were beautiful beyond words) and a lot of guys looked like pimps (one group of guys though sporting Sooner gear stopped and high fived me because of my OU sports bag I was carrying) at some of the seedier hotels we walked by, and I didn't care for the people sleeping around the city or the vagrancy but it's to be expected.  Sad though.

So after everything last week I've decided to pretty much become a vegetarian and really take care of my heart health, and well health in general.  My life is as close to perfect as I can pray for, I have the job, the home, the man of my dreams; I'd like to spend as much time living this life as possible.

Nana's favorite poem

Footprints in the Sand

Footprints in the Sand, a beautiful poem!

One night I dreamed a dream.

As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,

One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,

especially at the very lowest and saddest times,

there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. 

"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,

You'd walk with me all the way.

But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,

there was only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me." 

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you

Never, ever, during your trials and testings.

When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you."

Nana is gone.

Nana died yesterday peacefully.

When we grieve a loss that’s close to us, we are part of a small circle of bereavement. Within the circle, life is interrupted, irrevocably altered; outside, the world continues to turn, seemingly un-, or  minimally, affected. At those people, we want to shout, “What is wrong with you? Don’t you understand that everything’s different now?” But we don’t, because we know that though emotionally true, acting out isn’t socially helpful: Railing against personal tragedy helps nothing. As we learn to absorb the grief, to dull its most dangerously sharp edges and begin to coexist with it, we find ways to remember that seem more constructive than painful. But it’s still personal. And it’s still with us, even as we return to what seems — to others — like normal.

Letting go

Moments ago my sister and I decided after much prayer and advisement by the ICU doctors to take our Nana off life support with comfort measures so that she could go be with her God and our father. We said a prayer over the phone and said our goodbyes over speaker.  They say it could be moments to hours.  We ask that you send prayers heavenward as she moves on. I'll be flying in Sunday.

Not good

Update on Nana: she's been in the hospital since last Tuesday and still hasn't woken up since then.  Her lab work looked better but then she had a seizure so they did a MRI and a 24 hour EEG, to which we'll be getting the results on both this afternoon to see if there is any brain activity or not.  The charge nurse told my sister and I that her situation is grave and she's never seen anyone come back from all of this in her entire career.  The nurse said Barbara Sant and I would have a serious decision to make because she can't stay on a ventilator for very much longer and she failed the cpap test when they tried to take her off so she is not able to breathe on her own.  So after we get the results today I will most likely fly down this weekend.  So all in all this is going to be rough on top of really hard so please keep up the prayers. 

Finally home

Phenomenal news

Spoke to my grandmas doctor and he was happy to report that within the last 24 hours my Nana's kidney function and lab levels have improved so much that he is going to cancel the order for dialysis! Next he said that he contacted the lung doctor. so they could take her off the ventilator and take out the breathing tube and he said that she is moving her lower extremities on her own! So it sounds like she is on the road to recovery but not out of the woods; please keep up the prayers and good thoughts. When her kidneys start working should be able to get rid of the medical sedation in her system they've had her under she'll be able to void to get rid of the west Nile virus and the viral meningitis because there are no drugs for that it's simply treating the fever and symptoms.  All in all great news!🙏🎉👏🏽❤️

Palatial palace

I'm at a beautiful hotel, in a luxury suite watching a movie on my iPad that Shawn rented for me, and waiting for my PaPa Johns pizza and wishing we were back home so I could stress with my cats in our house that soothes me.  Poor Shawn, I love that he is being so great about my literally checking out of our little mini vacation and just sitting by the phone.  My Nana is like my second mom, she's never just been a grandparent.  I can't imagine a world without her stubborn self in it.

Oklahoma bound

Just got update from doctor on Nana; positive for viral meningitis; positive for west Nile.  Kidney failure, on ventilator dialysis on Monday, possible trach and tube if she wakes up.  Doctor says we are on day five of a possible two week journey all based on her kidneys everything is based on that.  So all in all, not good.  Prayers please.

Best laid plans

Stopped for the night on our way to Vegas in Orem, Utah.  Thanks to a true friend I was alerted a hour ago that my Nana is in ICU in Tulsa for the last four days and is under medical sedation with a breathing tube.  Please send prayers.  Based on what the doctors tell me tomorrow I might be headed to Inola. — with Shawn at Hampton Inn & Suites Orem.

Vegas baby!

We are head to Vegas in a hour and it'll take about 12 1/2 hours to drive down.  Luckily we are travelling in style and comfort in Shawn's Xterra where I can just relax and recline my seat and sleep.  I'm at least five days DPO and on cycle day 20 (I say more but I am going to go by this trying to conceive app), so implantation should or will have occurred by this Sunday and I can test by next Friday or so since Aunt Flo is due 9/13.  I never wanted to got to Vegas, like ever in my life but Shawn really enjoys it there and we are staying at Caesar's Palace in a suite for free with all his points. 

So our plan is to stop in Salt Lake and get some Krispy Kreme because ours in Montana doesn't open until the end of October, and grab a Subway sandwich and then we'll stop and stay in a hotel on the way since we aren't due to check in until tomorrow at 11 a.m. but once we check into Caesar's I'm going to Bath & Body Works in the hotel mall and picking up our Lemoncello olive oil soap and then to Build-A-Bear  to make the (soon to be) baby it's first bear and then I'll be in the hotel room reading on my app free Kindle Fire that Shawn got me and enjoying the a/c since it's 110 there versus 45 here right now; staying germ free.  I agreed to go on one fancy dinner date with Shawn, but I guess I should pass on going dancing like I wanted.  I was thinking about going to their adult arcades, because I just don't GET gambling, but alas no adult beverage for this possible mommy to be. 

I was going to see the Titanic exhibition, and the Shark Reef, which I still might, but shouldn't I try to stay as healthy as possible for Abbey/Finnian?  I downloaded a ton of new parenting books, because I have read at least one a day for the past three weeks.  I am particularly interested in learning about attachment parenting or secure attachment parenting; in essence never putting them down except to shower or put them in their co-sleeper.  I plan on working from home after maternity leave so that we don't have to put our baby in day care, and stay with him/her until pre-school.  Shawn is allowed 15 days paternity leave which I am grateful for but why not six weeks like the mother? 

I hope Shawn's family comes to visit after the baby is born since I am lacking in that department.  I've never focused so singularly than I have on every little feeling inside to see if I can feel implantation.  Any symptom I feel is scrutinized beyond all reasoning.  I feel like I have the dream job, the dream partner, the dream home, heck I even love our paid off vehicles!  This won't complete our lives, simply enhance it.  So dear reader picture me in a suite with the a/c on 60 degrees and my feet propped up on pillows reading to my heart's content and enjoying brief boyfriend visitation in between his table games.  Mini-vacations with your partner means doing whatever it is you want and visiting in between each other's plans.  I am feeling peaceful and content, and really excited.  Please send prayers and good thoughts my way.  Here's wishing everyone Baby Dust!

Stay off WebMD

So my boyfriend and I are officially trying to start a family so I started this week long journey of blood tests, the obligatory annual, and a mammogram tomorrow.  Here at St. Pete's where I work we have what's called the Patient Portal where you can get test results.  Many of you may know how impatient I am so when I kept checking my results and nothing was there I decided to call medical records and ask if they had anything on me yet, and of course some results had come in and were being sent to my doctor; so you are able to get a copy of those if you sign a medical release; which of course I did.  BAD IDEA.  AWFUL.  I just assumed after working for doctors my whole career I could read the jibberish that is test results.  Wrong.  So I go back to my desk and start trying to decipher the hieroglyphs on WebMD and successfully convince myself I am dying of some horrible disease and that I will never be able to be a mom and have my little family I've dreamt of forever.  Alright, so I call my doctor and they tell me she is in clinic for another couple of hours but that she will call me back. 

The wait was horrendous, and the more I thought about it the more upset I became.  So my doctor calls exactly when they said she would and she's talking to me like she hadn't gotten the message about me already seeing some of the results.  "So Sam I got your results back on some of the tests, and all is well and I see no problem with you conceiving naturally and there was no issue on your lab or ultrasound".  I replied "What, but I read the report and it says..", she responds with "How did you see the results", and I explained I couldn't wait, she said, "Stay the hell off WebMD Sam"!  lol  So yeah, freak out much?  WHEW but hey at least I know I am good to go, and 100% healthy as I assumed until my curiosity got the best of me.

Moral of the story:  Curiosity gave the cat an anxiety attack, but didn't kill it!

So we will know by 9/15 if we are pregnant this cycle, and if we are; it'll be due 5/22/16 and named either Abbey-Marin or Finnian-Elijah.  I already have our Pinterest and Amazon wish lists started!  I told Shawn about my desire to do a pregnancy Vlog from live pregnancy test to the full birth but I will keep up my posts here throughout what I hope will be a healthy pregnancy.

It's been too long

The smoke in Helena is so bad that the air quality hazard is up on the Weather Channel app.  I've never encountered anything like feeling you're in the middle of a fire but not seeing flames.  I opened the window to our bedroom and said to Shawn, "it's like waking up next to a campfire, the smoke is so thick and smells so strong".  Now if you know me, you know that I buy these little bundles of wood and burn them to get that smell, so imagine my shock when I wake up and for miles around my city it's smoke filled and with that same pungent smell.  What saddens me the most is the land that will be scarred for quite some time as it heals.  I hate to think of how the fires are displacing my beloved forest creatures.  Since I've moved to Montana, a full year ago now I've seen three moose, a mountain goat, a massive heard of deer in an open field (and occasionally right in my front yard or meandering down the middle of the street in downtown Helena) and a ton of elk.

I had my first nail biting experience when two weeks ago this Saturday Shawn and I went for a drive in his 2010 Nissan Xterrra that is completely paid off mind you.  We were exploring a random road as we often do, when all of a sudden the road disappears and we are driving in a washed out road with no ability to back out or turn around as we are completely surrounded by dense forest all around us.  This road went from smooth and car safe, to MAYBE meant for a dirt bike or four wheeler.  For miles and miles we were tossed around trying to navigate razor sharp jutting jagged rocks, worrying that any moment one of the downed tree logs that kept getting stuck under the truck, or super sharp rocks were going to pierce the gas tank or some other vital undercarriage car part as we literally kept being slammed down on the rocks for MILES to the point that the side curtain air bags deployed on us on one of the unforgiving and particulary ugly portions, and that is saying something.  Later we would examine the vehicle to find a massive dent on my passenger door side by the underside of the truck, so imagine how hard we had to slam down to dent metal. 

One of the most difficult things was that our road literally disappeared on the map and on our gps phone apps, so we had no clue how far we had to navigate this practically impassible road.  Two hours basically.  Now it's not like we planned to go off roading, no we truly didn't. Shawn and I both have extensive intentional off roading experience and know better than to go off alone without backup on an untraversed road in a vehicle that was almost unable to make it through.  Shawn was in a tee and shorts and Birkenstocks, and I was just in leggings and a tee and flip flops. 

Now Shawn is an experienced back country hiker and camper going on annual ten day Manventures as he and his friends refer to them, parking at a trailhead and packing in their gear for a eight mile a day trek, so he would get out and scout a mile ahead to see how best to drive his truck through this evil road.  Once as he was getting out of the truck to check a nasty part of the road he gashed his forehead open and had blood pouring down his face, and he just blew it off, he's made of tough stuff.  At one point when I was lucky to get signal I posted on Facebook "Lost" in case we didn't manage to get out in the truck and had to hike out in bear infested back woods without bear spray someone would know where to at least start looking.  My friends would later post, "Really, or Seriously"?  I was like "who jokes about that"?!  I don't cry wolf folks! At one point we had to go over this thrown together rotted, termite infested log bridge over a raging river, with a vertical climb right after it, and I just looked at Shawn and said "go as fast a possible"!  Long story longer we finally made it out and we realized we had went in one gigantic circle!  I told Shawn I'd like to hike back in there and put up hazard signs saying "Turn back now, not fit for vehicle" or "last chance to turn around" or "lift kit and back up required"!  So luckily the truck still has full coverage and it's in the shop getting fixed, but we are looking at almost three to four weeks before we get it back.

I was approved to be a Big Sister and may have connected with a Little Sis so I am really excited about that.  Shawn and I went to Malta, Montana this past weekend to see my sister and her two sons and her daughter-in-law and Robbie's new son (he now has two little girls and a boy).  There is NOTHING in Malta except mosquitoes and the Edgewater motel which was actually alright, rustic like the Village Inn at Glacier National Park, except the Edgewater had a flat screen and a/c, but I loved the Village Inn more, for the view and it's lack of electronics and mod cons.  Truly, who knew I'd love that so much.

It looks like we are headed to Las Vegas, as I've never been and Shawn is a pro on the tables apparently, so that should be a lot of fun, perhaps they have bingo, I do love bingo, especially if I am playing for kitchen toys.  I hear they have some great shows in Vegas also so we'll have to check those out as well.

All is quiet and peaceful on the homefront, and I really couldn't be happier.  I hope the same can be said for you and yours.

New iPhone 6 plus

Loving my new phone and all its capabilities!  Sold my old iPhone for a great price on Craigslist, didn't get as much though because the iPhone 7 is coming out soon; oh well.  Point is I'll be able to post far superior pics and vids!  Shawn is headed to Colorado for his second Iron Man triathlon Wednesday morning and our house will be too quiet for the week he'll be gone.  New experience from tornadoes to grass fires here.  Townsend burned so much acreage, and two fires here in Helena in just a couple of days.  Glacier, our beloved Glacier thousands of acres are still burning.  Loving my job and coworkers and that I literally live next door to work.  We discovered a spa called Paws Up in our weekend exploring trip.  We were able to get a new roof put on the house before winter, and the downstairs bathroom remodeled.  I'm excited about all our plans to really make this house as comfortable as the local B & B's we see around town.  Hoping our out of town guests will enjoy the fruits of our labors, God bless Pinterest.

Sookie St. James