I love being a passenger.

Dust of Two
by Robert Frost

The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.


I took this photo, from the passenger seat, with my cell phone. I love the drive up and down the mountain. It is magical, beautiful, peaceful. I can look at all the snowy shapes for hours. I love the long walks and watching the wildlife. I love the way everyone who lives up here cherishes the wilderness and yet understands that balance is necessary.

My Love

If I get my hair or nails done, Gary loves to sit by me and watch. It is so wonderful to be with someone who thinks that every single thing you do, even the mundane things is interesting. He is such a wonderful man and I am so blessed and grateful to have him for my mate. He is such a good guy. He has had struggles since his heart attacks and I see him work at overcoming the irritations everyday and he is so patient with me. I have so much growing to do and he forgives me over and over again.

When I was divorced, I was extremely disillusioned. I never wanted to be married again. When Gary and I started dating, I thought, "this man is too good to be true", he never changed, in fact it got better and better. 18 months after we met, he was still solid, loving, supportive and pure in heart. I married him! I am so glad that I did.

Walk with me

Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Gary and I went on a walk this evening, and believe me after driving up the mountain with 6 ticked off kids, we needed the quiet, they were definitely cantankerous! The snow was falling gently and when I turned around to take a photo, I noticed our footprints in the snow. Sometimes they were together and then other times they wandered apart but they were always side by side. I love that!

I think the roof needs shovelling!

Yesterday I saw a man, two stories up, using a snow blower on his roof. Insane! Can you believe that one? I don't want Gary or the boys up there so I will head over to Elk Creek Gas station and look on the bulletin board for the name of someone who shovels roofs, has lived up here for a substantial part of his life, so knows what he is doing, and hopefully won't break his neck doing it!

We have received at least a foot of snow in the last twenty four hours and the plow won't be in till tomorrow...

Snow in Island Park

We are so blessed to be able to spend the winter in Island Park. It is a blissful experience. I love the Tree Gnomes, the trees are so loaded with snow that they look like bent over white gnomes. I love the animal tracks passing from tree to tree. I love the way the snow piles up higher and higher next to the roads and the roads get narrower and narrower. In the morning when we drive the children, the hour and 15 minutes to school, the headlights catch the snow and every flake sparkles, as it falls. The drifts sparkle and the road sparkles. It is absolutely magical!

The pile of snow, in the photo, is about 35 or 40 feet high and Jacob, Caleb, Joshua and Gabriel are on top. Gary took the photo and I love it. The sunset illuminates them and they look ethereal.

Today Jacob received his mission call. He will be serving in the Paraguay, Asuncion Mission and will leave April 13. I am so excited!