Camping

Miles and I just got back from a weekend camping trip. I think this trip has officially clinched the top spot as my favorite camping trip ever. We had originally planned to camp Thursday-Sunday, and then spend a night at our favorite Bed & Breakfast on Sunday night. We drove 2 hours to our chosen camping spot at Priest Lake, and soon learned that the information we had received about not being able to reserve campsites was wrong information. The only way to get a spot in these campgrounds was to reserve sites. It's a beautiful lake, and we hope to camp there one day, but it wasn't to be for this weekend. So with dusk coming, and not having any idea where we wanted to set up camp for the weekend, we headed for the bed and breakfast. Thankfully she had a room available that night. We spent the night there and then headed north the next morning.




We drove about 5 miles into Montana, up in the northernmost corner of the state, just south of Canada. We found a BEAUTIFUL spot by the Yaak River and I think we landed the most beautiful site in the entire campground. We camped there Friday thru Monday, and it was wonderful.



We spend a lot of time relaxing and just enjoying each other's company. I feel so lucky that I have a husband who also happens to be the person I'd most like to spend time with. We always have a lot of fun together. We spent one day exploring the area nearby, and hiked to Kootenai Falls and also crossed a "swinging bridge" that hung precariously over the raging river. Needless to say, that walk across the bridge wasn't my favorite thing in the world! But I did it because, after all, I believe you should do one thing every day that scares you!!

Miles went fishing a few times and caught some good fish. I don't really like anything having to do with fish, but I agreed to try it after he prepared his first catch. I actually liked it. We also brought 2 fish home to eat this week. While Miles was fishing in the afternoons, I spent time in the hammock (thanks Deb & Darin!) reading my book, journaling and listening to worship music. Overall, it was a great weekend with lots of time with my husband and lots of time with God. I needed both of those desperately.

Our new pet

Yesterday a deer came into our backyard and starting snacking on our foliage. He came over under our bedroom window and was munching on the plants there. Then he just laid down in the shade and napped for about 1/2 hour. He was so cute. We've declared him our new pet and are waiting for him to return!

Another goodbye

Baby Grace is leaving this evening. And Miles and I are going to use this opportunity to take a sabbatical as foster parents and renew and refresh ourselves. It will be good to spend time as a couple again and to do the things we enjoy that we haven't been able to do much of over the last 2 years because we've had babies in the house -- hiking, kayaking, camping, biking, going on dates, etc.

4th of July

Grace and her "cousins" from Minnesota -- Logan, Tyson and Avery











Grace with her Aunt Debbie
















Fun with sparklers!!!

Beautiful Grace

Here are more pictures of Grace. She is growing like a weed. She has weekly visits with mom and they're going okay. Mom really doesn't know how to hold her or interact with her because of her own mental impairment. Mom is 23 years old and wears "Hannah Montana" jewelry and collects Hannah Montana stuff. That is just a clue to where her emotional age is. Grace saw her "dad" once, but there will be a paternity test to determine if he really is the dad. He cannot have any more visits until those results are back. I'm hoping that he isn't the dad, because his sister has said that she wants Grace.

We are still taking care of our friend's foster daughter, Kilee. I think it's wearing on all of us. I've had to totally readjust my schedule to accommodate Kilee's appointments and visits with her foster parents. She will definitely be gone before next Thursday, because Debbie and her kids are coming to visit for 9 days and our house isn't big enough to fit everyone!

I have to catch up on some work, so I'll post pictures and write more of an update later.

Welcome to North Idaho

It is June 10. It snowed last night around here and it's supposed to be a high of 52 today. I don't think summer is every going to get here. AAGGHHHHH!!!!

God Will Provide

This is going to be a short post. This is a sign that Debbie bought for us that says "God Will Provide" in Latin. Miles & I have wanted to put this phrase up in our house somehow, and thanks to a company called UpperCase Living, we can do it! Thanks, Debbie. It looks great and is a great reminder of God's abundant and timely provision for us.