A Surprise For Papa

Papa turned 50 this year, and Mama really wanted to surprise him....so, we did some big planning. Mama was the brains behind it all. We had a 'surprise' party for him on his birthday, and the boys and I decorated the dining room all gorgeous (in colors of life and vibrancy), in preparation for the 'real' shebang.

David, Samuel and I had lots of fun putting this all up!! :)
The centerpiece was leftovers from past centerpieces, ribbons, paper creche flowers I made out of streamers, and the old wrapping off of store-bought flowers, stuck into an old floral block. :)

We gave him his presents and all too, and had a lot of fun reminiscing back over the years (unfortunately, I didn't get pictures of that, as I was videoing it)... It was really precious! :)

Mama is an excellent cook, and we just love her!!!
Rebekah and Esther had fun decorating Papa's chair and making his poster.

Surprise! :)

The boys decided to play a practical joke on Papa--he absolutely LOVES his mom's rolls, and it's been a family joke for a LONG time... Anyway, they put one into a balloon and had Papa pop it. :) Boy, was he a happy camper! :)

 One thing I love about my dad is that he is a listener. He's very wise, and I love talking to him... He also isn't pushy, though when he has made a decision, though he is open to appeals, it stands. He's always making everything fun, and is a diligent, innovative worker. I love working for him as a boss, and enjoy the times we drive into town together.
Papa is extremely competitive, creative, humble (and as his daughter, I can say that ;p), determined, resourceful, and generous. I am so blessed to grow up in the home that I have, and to have the father that I have.

Papa, I'll always be your little girl!!! <3

Some random pictures we took...I don't get many of me at family events since I'm mostly behind the camera, so it was fun to find these two. Had to post this one of Rachel--isn't she beautiful?! :D

So....on to the big event.
Papa was home all day Saturday, and we had it scheduled for Saturday evening. We were a little worried that we'd be able to pull it off without him suspecting something (since there were going to be 75 people there that we were feeding...) However, he was so busy in the office working on stuff that we even set the tables right under his nose!!!

The plan was that his cousin's family was going to be coming into town and would be eating dinner with us. The hope was that Rick would be able to get him downstairs and playing games before the guests started coming.

That's where we started having issues. You see, Rick was just a bit late, and the guests started arriving. We were able to lock the dogs up before they barked too much, and the girls went out to the lions halfway down our driveway to direct people to park up at the barn and wait until they were signaled. It was an almost catastrophe.

Finally, Rick and his family arrived, and made a big hullabaloo in the entryway, while we tried to motion to him to hurry and get Papa downstairs. He made up some story about how he'd been telling his wife "all day" about how much he was looking forward to playing pool with Papa, and so he was able to get them settled down there JUST IN TIME, for they weren't even out the doorway when a guest tried to walk in the front door. We were able to motion "NO!" and get the door shut just in time that Papa didn't see (since his back was turned), leaving a bunch of people freezing on the doorstep.

 What memories!!! Finally, everyone assembled, including Papa's brother from WA who drove all the way out here with my cousin to surprise him, and he led the charge downstairs to shock Papa. It was perfect. Everyone followed, and we started singing Happy Birthday. Papa was so surprised to see Uncle Jim that he didn't even see the flock of followers for probably 20 seconds!! Then it was a roar again.. ;)

Papa and Uncle Jim

The look on Papa's face was priceless "Who are all these people??" ;)

After welcoming everyone personally, we went upstairs and ate, followed by blessings or memories folks shared with him, and more visiting. It was so special!!! I made a slideshow of his growing up that we showed at the very end after dessert, and that was a lot of fun for people to reminisce over!!

I am so VERY blessed---we are so very blessed to have Papa as our father. Thank you Papa for following God with your whole heart and teaching us what that meant by word and deed!

I love you!!!

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve;....but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

~ Joshua 24:15 ~

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is His reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

~ Psalms 127:3-5 ~

January | Week 1-2

Well, I'm  going to try to do things a little differently this year.... (Yes, I know I'm starting this in February, but that's okay) =) My sweet friend Tasha (Alex's sister) has been doing a Photo-A-Day post for the last year or two, and I've decided to try to do that in variations as possible this year too, plus a a few other additions as well.

ONE: The second conference (with Chris Hogan) for Couples

TWO: Alex and I during the conference.

THREE: The leftovers of my cousins' snowman they built at Christmas.

FOUR: Skiing with the Hogans

FIVE: Ice Skating (sorry the picture is blurry! :/) Christopher, Kellie, Alex & I

SIX: Taking our skates off

SEVEN: Our chickens taking a stroll, having flown captivity :)

We had a lovely time with the Hogans, but unfortunately, my photos of all of us are unable to download right now. The conferences were amazing and blessed a lot of people, and encouraged us all. We had a little celebration for both Uncle Chris' and Papa's birthdays, as they both turned the "big 5.0.". It was a lot of fun and quite special for all of us kids...our visit wasn't long enough though.

I haven't ice skated in a few years, and it was so much fun, though my balance still isn't good yet..

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good work, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." 

~ Matthew 5:16 ~

2014 in Review

Abraham Lincoln said, "In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." Well, I for one can say that 2014 has been one of those 'full life' years....

One of those years that you always have dreamed of but sneaks up on you unexpectedly, and even while it's happening, you're quite sure you must be dreaming.... It's been one of those years... To put it simply, it just hasn't been that simple. :D But then, at the same time, it has.

January found me serving the Belizean people for 2 weeks with a mission team from our church--how incredible that was!!! Only to come home to a spin of activity when I helped my childhood best friend of 15 years marry my cousin!! (What an awesome way to keep her for keepers!!) :)

February was the craziest month... Kinda funny when you find yourself talking to a guy (okay, not just any guy ;p) about how many kids you want (on Valentines), with no idea that he's been talking to your dad for weeks about you...and then to be told while skiing together the next week that he's interested in you, and searching that out together for a few days before saying goodbye for a month while you travel Europe with your family. With an unspoken 'Let's not communicate' rule between you for most of the trip.

Tasha took the balloon pictures on Valentines of us, and that black and white photo (thanks to Kellie?), is unfortunately the only photo I have of Alex and I on February 21st. :)

March was memorable--flying half-way around the world (not even sure if you're going to make your flights), and visiting 9 countries, seeing 10: a layover in Holland; visiting the Pinkerton valley in Scotland; walking the Putney Commons in England (my maternal grandmother's name); 12 hours in Paris, where you try to fit all the sight seeing in you possibly can, and then minutes from the time your train leaves, you snap a group picture in front of the Eiffel Tower, only to have the 2 taxis get separated, and no form of communication (or payment) with the other taxi to figure out where everyone is, and then on top of that, having to grab your baggage and run to a different train station--all with minutes left before you're stranded;
experiencing a sleeping car on the way to Germany, where you walk the ghastly remains of Dachau, and visit the quaint, gorgeous countryside of old-time Bavaria; driving through the edge of Austria; and seeing the palace lights of Liechtenstein; arriving in Switzerland and beholding the incredible mountain beauty and breathing the fresh air, and skiing the alps of Zermatt (what an opportunity of a lifetime!), receiving a 2nd degree burn to remember it by, not to mention calling your sweetheart long-distance and his enjoying trying to make out what you're saying because the connection is bad (all because he asked you too--weeks before);
traveling through the Italian countryside and exploring Venice, Italy and all the amazing canals, architecture, and gelato (mmm!!!); traveling to Monaco and hiking the 7+ miles of it's borders in 5 hours, all the time wishing that your sweetie was there with you...your Man-Monaco; day trips back to French villages where you explored and zip lined; all the while trying to remember the many different courtesies you learned for each country you visited, and using them correctly with the correct people; missing Alex so much that his sister gives it away and he emails you the sweetest poem ever, and you start communicating again.
And...serving on your first Jury Duty (a domestic battery case) all the way to the end!!
That was March. And it was beautiful.

Top Row: Little Pinkerton & Pinkerton Barony, Scotland; Windsor Castle, and Lincoln Statue
2nd Row: Girls in Paris; (2) Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany; Austria
3rd Row: Zermatt, Switzerland; Venecian Gelato and 2nd Degree Sunburns; Monacoan Inlet
4th Row: Overlooking Monaco, Monaco ;); Biking & Ziplining in France

Oh...one more photo.. (It's SO weird thinking I can post all of these photos now!!!) :D

This was Alex and my first ever official photo...priceless moments. :)

April was full of readjusted to home life, babysitting my siblings while my parents visited China, babysitting a few times overnight for friends, getting back into the work routine, figuring out how a relationship works and still trying to keep it quiet,  while slowing down your decisive heads so that your father can finish his heart-searching of your young man.

It was getting alpacas ready to market, and correcting and sewing up a friends's ewe's prolapsed uterus with the best helper in the world - Alex ;), and volunteering as a victim with the Coeur d'Alene Disaster Drill with your bestie as a young, hysterical 32-wk. pregnant woman with multiple injuries.
It was taking a road trip down to Texas with your family and friends for a homeschool conference (by way Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, and Zion National Park), where you led 6 girls, ages 12-15 in crafts and heart-searching on what it means to be a daughter of the King, where you don't have to believe the lies and fears Satan tries to feed you. It was wonderful catching up with dear friends there too!

Park time, Selah & I  as victims, Open Arms Fundraiser, my Southern girl pose in TX, Zion Natn'l Park, Carlsbad Caverns, Grand Canyon, & my COMMIT girls

May was greeted by alpacas being born, shearing day, birthdays to celebrate, relatives visiting, watching another friend get married, and starting to sell more alpacas from our herd of 50+, and of course lots of working at the Firm too. We broke ground for our very own PRS office (We've rented all these years), and are looking forward to moving in sometime in mid-2015. A bunch of us 'older people' went and watched The Lego Movie (hilarious, but not for kids), and what fun memories that made! Alex also painted his car, and so my brothers and I went over to help...and of course, when asked to dress like a minion, who can resist?? ;)

Gru and Minion (aka painting Alex's car), 33 days worth of shredding at work, Lego Movie with friends, our first cria for the year-Ballad, Esther's hair, Shearing, Breaking ground for PRS' New Office, & Wedding memories (with Tasha and Hank!)

June was full of company....really a blur: my grandma, aunt, and cousin stayed for a couple weeks at our home (and more cousins after that), leaving just before we incorporated 5 missionary kids for a jolly month's stay while their parents traveled. We had lots of fun outings, and Alex and I tried to 'unfriend eachother' at church for a {terrible} month, while he wrapped up what he needed to finish before becoming 'official'. Rachel and I traveled to western Washington for a friends' graduation, visiting the amazing Thorp's Fruit Stand and Antique Mall on the way.

Park Visits, First Hair cut given, visiting his parents and relatives, detailing his car (unknown to me, that was the day he asked my dad to court me officially =D), more park visits and Father's Day, our visit to the Pattersons in WA, Alex likes doing my hair, Murillo and cousins' visit, and adorable Hank and Tasha. :D

July was a turning point in my life for many reasons: I turned 21 on the 1st, and was thoroughly surprised by a huge surprise princess birthday party (thanks to Alex's distractions ;P). On July 11th, my dad and Alex planned an outing where Alex officially asked to court me at the Melting Pot, which officially began/continued a wild, amazing ride that we're still on. :D

We had a wonderful family reunion in late July (where almost everyone pitched in to work on securing my quilt, which I embroidered in my teens, so I can quilt it). It was so wonderful seeing family members again that I haven't seen in ages! :) Also, Alex, David, and I went to help video a wedding up north - it was gorgeous and made more wonderful memories. I love how easily Alex and I work together as a team.

Family Photos, Officially courting, My surprise birthday party, July 4th, stabilizing my quilt, wedding video team, our Family Reunion

August was started pretty quick with our annual Client Appreciation Banquet, where Samuel and Rebekah sang a patriotic song, and I played piano for a majority of the time as background music. I also made a record on how many alpacas I've ever sold, and by September, had downscaled our herd of 50+, down to 26. It was a slower month for me, with at one point me being the only one home with mom, as everyone else was either traveling, or as was Daniel's case- in college (as he moved to WSU to finish his last 2 years of pre-med).

Client Appreciation Banquet, the boys' Alert Cadet fishing trip in Hells' Canyon,  helping Daniel settle into WSU, and a photo David took of Eagle River, Alaska where he and Rachel were born.

September, I threw a bridal shower for Tasha (Alex's sister), with the help of some awesome people! It was a wonderful, rich time of fellowship and fun, followed a few weeks later by a girls' party her sisters-in-law-to-be threw. I also got to hang out with Tasha and prepare the BBQ with Alex later in the month while all the guys threw a surprise party for Hank and did some shooting... :) So much fun.
I kept really busy with work, helping out at the Henkoski's, and sewing Alex's and my matching outfits for Tasha's wedding too...plus, I took Esther to babysit some friend's kids over the weekend too (and was able to bring my sewing machine to get some work done too! :D)

October was wonderful, glorious, crazy, but amazing. Not only did I get to watch Tasha and Hank's marriage, but I got to assist Alex with his directing, MC'ing, and filming it too. It was so much fun spending time & getting to know most of their relatives too, and even got a couple of them to our place! I was also glad to be home to be a support during all of life's transitions too.
Alex and I also got to film the last 2 shows of Rockin B' Ranch's 20th Anniversary Dinner Shows. What an honor that was!! (And we got to spend our courtship anniversary together, for the first time up to date). Alex also got a new winter vehicle, and we got to celebrate much venison put into our freezer, thanks to my siblings! :)
I also started working 4 days a week at the end of the month, which actually was a crazy idea, but I survived (praise God!). :) Actually, work is to blame for my falling behind on all of life and blogging...sorry guys!

November, God reminded me again (though it took a while), that His grace is sufficient..actually, that was the theme of my Autumn and Winter. In some ways, it was a little more relaxed than the previous couple months, yet, in other ways, it was just as crazy--especially work-wise. Thanksgiving week was amazing, with Alex spending a few days and relatives coming here for the holidays. It was nice to have Daniel home for a bit too.
My parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, and Alex and I - our 4th official courtship anniversary. Also, we had a father/daughter / mother/son weekend after Thanksgiving-awesome memories!

December didn't have enough snow, but even so, we got some good sledding in, and even had a skiff for Christmas. I took an extended time off from work over the holidays to recoup and get my brain on straight again (it's a pretty mentally taxing job, though incredible atmosphere!!!), and enjoyed spending more time with family and friends than I had in a good while. We enjoyed lots of festivities and company too. The Hogans came at the end of December, and of course, with a household of 23, there's bound to be fun!

Looking back over the year, it was a year of transition (even with my blog). At times it was really rough--mentally, emotionally, even physically (especially with my arm injury in the Spring)...however, God proved to be faithful, and above all else, was and is everything I need. I'm so not perfect, and I've made a lot of mistakes and had to make a lot of attitude adjustments, but through  all that, I learned so much--about me, about God, about what a blessing it is to have parents like mine, and how blessed I am to have Alex (though I've known how special he is for years--even before I really knew him).

I'm looking forward to 2015, and all that it will hold for me. I'm looking forward to posting hopefully a little more regularly, and getting back into some of the old habits I used to have with posting, and maybe adding some new ones too...

Above all, I have learned more this last year what Psalms 4, 5, & 7a mean:

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for....him." ;)

Surprise Breakfast

My dad decided to make breakfast for us Sunday morning--mmm, was it delicious!! Talk about a surprise for the kids!! :)

Okay, yes, they do look a little different, don't they? :) Well, they were a gift--chocolate eggs and chocolate covered bacon!! (Note to self--heating them a tad makes it kinda messy to serve...) But boy, did they love it!!

We love it when our dad cooks! Thank you Papa!!!

PS...we had cereal too ;P

"The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him."

~ Proverbs 20:7 ~

Anniversary - High Tea

My parents celebrated 24 {wonderful} years of marriage this last Monday, November 11th. Instead of going away to celebrate, they decided to stay home this year, however, we kind of "make pretended" that we were a hotel, making fun {favorite} meals for them.. I don't have pictures, but we had a lot of fun..omelets, shrimp, orange chicken, and today, we made a High Tea for them.

1989

Mama has been collecting Royal Albert's Old Country Roses for years now, and in the past, Papa would get her new pieces at Christmastime because Costco always had a sale. Well, I found some great deals on Ebay, one of which was a 5-tier hors d'oeuvres tray! He asked that we make a surprise High Tea highlighting that and the other pieces he got her....so, this is what we came up with:

The place settings

Mama (and Papa's) First Look

My little brother photographed last minute for us, but unfortunately the photos didn't turn out like we wanted..anyway, they show a glimpse, though the roses blurred up top.
We are relaxed health nuts, and so I tried to make the tray semi-healthy. (As you can see, we are not huge chocolate fans here...) It was such a big hit--especially the cucumber-radish appetizer, that I thought I'd copy recipes down below.
Top Tier: Chocolate-dipped Strawberries, with Rose garnish
2nd Tier: Costco Cheesecake Squares (Cranberry and Blueberry), with wildflowers.
3rd Tier: Deviled Eggs and Radishes with Chive Butter (recipes below), with Parsley garnish
4th Tier: Bruschetta and Quiches, thanks to Costco
5th Tier: Cucumber Tea Sandwiches, Herbed Cream Cheese Cucumber-Radish Appetizer, Tea Crackers (recipes below)

I thought it incredible how many flowers are still in bloom here even after the first snow!!

Deviled Eggs
I kind of just throw my deviled eggs together..have since I can remember.. Add cayenne pepper for a bite. =D

Eggs (preferably at least a few days old, to insure easy peeling)
Salt, a couple dashes (to help water boil faster)
Apple Cider Vinegar, A couple dashes (helps the peels come off easier)
Mayo, a Tablespoon or more, depending
Mustard, lots ;)
Relish, lots ;)
Pickle Juice, a Tablespoon or more (I like to use the pickle juice more than mayo, because it adds more flavor)
Salt (Himalayan =D), to taste
Pepper, nothing but fresh ground will do, to taste
Paprika, to garnish
Parsley, to garnish

Boil eggs with salt and vinegar. Once at a rolling boil, boil for around 10 minutes, turn off stove and let sit. After a while (5-10 min?), empty off water, and run cold water on for a few minutes, and let sit.
Peel eggs by taking a chopping knife, and using the back side (hopefully 1/8" thick), crack the shell around in a circle. I find this way a lot faster and more effective than the "drop and roll" egg peeling.
Cut each egg in half - long ways, removing the yolk, and placing in a bowl.
Add Mayo, Mustard, Relish, Pickle Juice, Salt, and Pepper.
Stir until smooth.
Using a sandwich bag with a small hole cut in corner, squeeze egg yolk mix back into the egg white.
Garnish with more fresh ground pepper (can't live without it!), a dash paprika, and parsley, if you like.

Radishes with Chive Butter
8 T. salted butter, softened
2 T. fresh chives, finely chopped plus some for garnish
Dash of Garlic Powder
Pepper, Fresh Ground
2 bunches radishes, 1 lb, washed, trimmed, and halved lengthwise
Coarse Himalayan Salt

Combine all and use a leaf icing tip inside of a sandwich bag corner to apply on radish. Garnish with more chopped chives, pepper ;), and himalayan salt (tiny bit)

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
10 sandwiches
Bread, sliced
1 large cucumber, (peeled, if desired) and thinly sliced
8 oz. whipped cream cheese (OR Herbed Cream Cheese recipe below)
Cut crusts off of each slice.
Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on 2 slices of bread.
Place 2 or 3 cucumbers on 1 piece of bread.
Make into a sandwich, repeat, making 10 sandwiches.
Cut into halves.

Herbed Cream Cheese Cucumber-Radish Appetizer
12 Appetizers                           Total Time: 25 minutes
4 oz Cream Cheese, softened
2 T. fresh mint, thinly sliced
1/4 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1/8 tsp. salt
pinch of cayenne pepper, or to taste
3 tsp. fresh chives, snipped, divided
1 tsp. fresh lemon zest, divided
English cucumber, sliced 1/8" thick
3 sm. radishes, sliced 1/8" thick
Sea Salt for sprinkling (if desired)

In a small bowl, combine cheese, fresh mint, lemon juice, salt and cayenne pepper. Add 2 tsp. chives and /2 tsp lemon zest reserving the remainder for garnish.
Stack a cucumber and radish slice together with a dab of cheese mixture between to hold slices in place, then top each with 1/2 tsp. of the cheese mixture. Garnish with the remaining zest and chives, place on a platter, sprinkle with sea salt, and serve immediately.

Herbed Cream Cheese on Crackers
Simple as that--spread the herbed cream cheese (above) on crackers, and use parsley, chives, and or lemon zest for a garnish.
(Great for gluten-free)

Busy Valentines

Valentine's Day was filled with many different activities...

First of all, I signed my life away to surgery (consent forms) at my surgeon's office, and had a bunch more pre-op pictures and moulds taken. He did a "model surgery", pictures of which, I hope to post soon.

Second of all, as most Coeur d'Aleneans know, we were honored to have Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum campaign here in Coeur d'Alene, before going on to Boise. We were privileged to listen to him deliver a message to a packed house of 600 people (around 400 people had to be turned away due to lack of space).

Yes, thus far, we are casting our vote with Senator Santorum for President. Out of all the candidates, he seems to be the most balanced in his views and looks to be the best choice to fit our Nation's need for revival. Throughout his service in the Senate, he has shown Conservative views and values, but also has a strong faith (although he is Catholic, he professes to be born again), good character, humility, decency, is down-to-earth, and is a family man.

I encourage you to watch his speech (given here in Cd'A) , and since I doubt most of you will want to sit through all 81 minutes of it, I have included below a time summary of where the important issues start (after allowing it to load, simply click on the moving bar, and drag it to the time you want). Some include sound-bite type stuff, but they all include the depth needed to inform.

A friend of ours said: "Taking just a few minutes focusing on these segments will allow you to be better informed on this candidate than by watching months of TV." Enjoy!

Rick Santorum's Coeur d'Alene Speech

19:10 - Health Care

21:00 - The real reason Health Care is expensive. (Excellent comparison of Health Insurance with Auto Insurance)

37:35 - Energy

65:26 - Defense

68:40 - Entitlements

71:55 - Welfare

74:01 - Healthcare specifics

76:43 to 79:40 - Brilliant Treatise on Social Security

My evening was filled up with our church's Valentine's Banquet, which was put on by the College-age kids in our church.  We all had a wonderful time, serving, eating, and cleaning up. What a special time fellowshipping with other young people while being a blessing to others!!

Most of our group

What Is True Love???

1 John 4:7 says: "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."

Digging deeper, we find John 14:15, 21: "If you love Me, keep my commandments. ... He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him."

Note that every time it says love, the Greek word is "Agape" which means 'unconditional love'...the kind that God had when He sacrificed His only Son for our sins, to redeem us.  This is the word that is used over and over and over again in 1 Corinthians 13, where Paul describes in detail what makes Agape so singular.

So often, we read that chapter, but don't really take it to heart in what it really means. I would encourage all of you to read it again, and really meditate on what he is saying here.  In what ways do you need to grow or are you lacking??
I really like vs. 11, where it says: "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

I think so often, as we become adults, we bring some of that childish immaturity with us, and instead of being able to take care of at least us and 1 other person, we are self-centered and me-focused.  I know this is definitely something God has been working on me about, as I am in this transition phase.

I encourage all of you young people out there, seek God in regards to any areas you may need to grow & mature in. Yes, we should still have fun, and be like little children in our innocence, but not in an immature, selfish way. It should be in a sensitive and responsible way, not hurting others to our own amusement.

Sandpoint Surprise

Okay, so I'm cheating....I'm writing this on 11/5/11, when I'm dating it September...but what do I care?!?It's been too long since I've posted....I know....and yes, I have meant to, but life has been busy. (Jolly good!!)

I had the whole loft (1 queen size and 2 singles to myself....that was pretty fun....Loved the quilt and style...)

Anyhow, these last few months have been amazing and wonderful, and God is doing so much in my life, through me, and in those around me.

First of all, I had a wonderful weekend with my parents at the end of September, at the Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, up in Sandpoint, Idaho.  Funny thing was, I ended up driving them there that night, when I had NO clue where I was going!!!

For not knowing where I was going, Mom and I packed pretty good!

That weekend, we went before God, asking Him what He wanted my focus to be for this next period of time. And, guess what?! He started giving us answers!!

As a preface, my dad has expressed his wishes for all of us (including us girls) to get a college degree, so that in case the world turns, and women have to have a degree to educate their children at home, we might be already prepared for that. Up to that point, I have been planning to get an AA (Associates in Art) in Liberal Arts (which was the most basic and broad-viewed degree), and already had almost 30 credits (out of a total of 60 needed), by the time I graduated from high school, in 2011.

On the other hand, God confirmed this summer, that to serve Him in a greater capacity, I really need to get a broader education in all medical studies, specifically: midwifery, general care, emergency medicine/"dirt medicine" (when there is/isn't any normal supplies on hand), herbology/natural medicine, & veterinary medicine.

For the last few years, I have asked God if EMT Training is something that I should do, but at the time, I didn't see any trainings available in my area (yes, I'm spoiled... I like to be able to multi-task everything at the same time. ;p). Then, just a couple of weeks before our time in Sandpoint, a friend told me about an online EMT Program that has its training right here in Hayden!!

Upon praying about it, and bringing all matters into consideration, my parents and I decided that instead of finishing my AA, I am going to pursue finishing my Midwifery Certificate, and get an EMT Certificate as well.

Since then, God has brought different people into my life who have either gone through the course, or are medically-minded that I may be able to glean support/help from. The way my EMT Course works,  is that I can sign up for the course and start studying anytime for it, but the quizzes don't 'open' until December 1st.  The course ends in the middle of May, upon which, I will spend a week at Camp Mivoden on Hayden Lake receiving practical hands-on skills training for 5 days. Before I go to the training though, I need to complete 10 patient contacts, or basically "shadow" either with a ambulance agency or through the ER. (I would much prefer the ambulance if at all possible...as I've seen the workings of the ER before--though maybe not from THAT angle. lol ;D)

I most of the "domestic skills" down, but there is one area we realized that I could definitely improve on, and that is the homeschooling area... I have been greatly blessed with a little sister who is a gifted teacher, and so I have been able to get out of teaching and have done administerial work instead. Well...I'll be helping with that some this year as well!!

My 2nd and beloved mare...Raphya (means "healer") She was my dream, and was pregnant when she died....but God is gracious, and He is the best HEALER....

As for the weekend, the food was tremendous, and for the second time since my beloved mare-Raphya died in Spring 2010, I got to go riding!! And this time with my parents too!! It was a 'dude ride' (never thought I'd ever ride on one..I guess "pride goes before the fall"!! lol), and so we walked pretty much the whole time, which was NOTHING compared to what I'm used too (galloping--my favorite).

My allergies have gotten worse with horses since we sold all of ours, and so I suffered from asthma since then as well...but it was worth it!!! lol
Anyway, that's all for now folks!!! Praise, glory, laud, and honor be to Christ my Saviour!!!