Summer Solstice Anniversary

It was 8 years ago today that Justin and I were married.

We met in Phoenix 10 years ago. We have a long and crazy journey to this point. Here is a short, G-rated version.
On our first date we went to the Grand Canyon.
I discovered early on about Justin's knack for running out of gas. We ran out before we were out of the city and then about 4 more times while we were there.

Blue. He now lives with Justin's Mom.


Shortly after, we left for the Everglades and Phish/New Year's Eve.

We splurged our money on an El Paso "luxury hotel". It is a long drive from South Florida to Phoenix. El Paso is a great place to vacation!

Justin asked me to marry him a few months after we met. I said yes even though i wasn't planning on getting married until at least age 45.

Baby Stella. She is still going strong.

We spent as much time possible, outside of Phoenix a few hours north, at the Verde River hot springs. It is a magical place. After driving for 2 1/2 hours on a winding, desert, mountain, dirt road, you arrive in a valley that is lush and green. Waterfalls abound and a 1 mile hike up river takes you to an abandoned hotel foundation with a natural hot spring. It is on the mountain side and if this place wasn't crawling with unclothed people, i would love to take our kids back there some day.





2 big dogs in a third floor city apartment wasn't enough so we got Luna, a Red/Arctic Wolf Mix. She lives on my parent's farm.

After living in Phoenix for a year, we put our stuff in storage and took off. We did the last part of Phish tour and traveled from Phoenix to Vegas, back again to San Diego and up to Vancouver.






When we got back to Phoenix, we packed up during a monsoon and headed into the mountains into a snowstorm. Here is Stella and Luna when we broke down in Albuquerque.
We have been in STL since.


A few years later we went back to the Verde Hot springs for our honeymoon. These are the only pictures i took. We had a hard time leading up to the wedding, including our bus breaking down. We rode out to AZ in a friend's Mom's minivan. Romantic.


God has been good to us. Without his Grace we would have been imprisoned by now and most certainly divorced. His Blessings are so much more beautiful than i ever imagine.

Circus Flora

I only had a chance to take one picture before the batteries died. I strongly dislike things with batteries.
We are one of 3 cities in USA to have our very own circus. It is a delight to see!

Don't Mess With This

Cops!

Avery likes to carry odd items around.
Today it was Tammy Doll and Revolver.

Iowa Weekend

Apple Tree
...ancient and delicious, i love to see my kids climbing on it now.
Our Old Barn
...each time i come home, more is missing.
Gravel Road
...one of my favorite views at twilight.

Froggy Friend
...this poor guy had to suffer through a lot. I think Tullaia wanted to dress him up.
Oskaloosa Brick Steps
...made by my Dad
Fence Post
...Jasper says "you really like that fence post Mama".
Old Tree
...This tree used to be huge and housed a tree house made by Dad. A new one is in the works.
The kids went fishing and caught several large fish. I was impressed by their patience. Then they were schooled about cleaning them before they ingested them. Unfortunately i only have a picture of the laziest and most troublesome fisherman of all.

Apple Tree Grin
Papa's Boy

Workday For Jasper

After months of excitement, Jasper had a chance to discover for himself what Papa does all day long.

St. Francois

This state park is only an hour from us and is stunningly beautiful. It was used as a hideout in the Civil War. The kids did well on a moderately difficult and strenuous hike called Mooner's Hollow named for the past activity of moonshiners here.
Halfway through the hike is a waterfall. Here they are perched on the edge.


First time in is COLD!

Crouched in a Cave
Can you tell he has to potty? We are almost to the end here and we barely heard any whining.

Papa WorkDay

Tullaia spent the day with Papa at work a few weeks back. She wore her work pants.

My Mother's Day

Sky Coffee

Salamander Discovery

My Constant Companion

Threshold

Hissing Turtle

I went with a dear friend to Mary the Font Solitude in High Ridge this weekend.
http://www.marythefont.org/
It isn't too far away but is fairly secluded on 120 acres of woods.
Some birds seen,
Summer Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Downy Woodpecker, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Swainson's Thrush,Barred Owl.
"But resign yourself calmly to the will of God, to bear whatever comes upon you for the glory of Jesus Christ; for summer follows winter; after the night, day returns; and after the storm, there comes a great calm."

May 9,2009

And what i enjoy the
most today
is the new green
of spring leaves.
The birds and their songs
take the place
of car, bus, ambulance, train,
helicopter, zoo-goers,
peacocks and lawn-mowers.
The rare absence of these
makes the solitude
so
much
sweeter.

Farming and a Friend

An uplifting article about a dear friend.

Twins

My mom sent this picture of me when i was Jasper's age.

Rainy Sunday

Brella Brella Fun!
Boots!
Cheese!
It wasn't so bad waiting around for people who didn't show up to buy Craigslist items. We got to crack pecans and splash in puddles. Avery had a great time with his brella brella.

April 16 a year ago

This is a journal entry from the daily reading i did today from 2008. It is always interesting to look back...

"Walk while you have the Light, before the darkness overtakes you." John 12:35
"We all have moments when we feel better than our best, and we say-I feel fit for anything; if only I could be like this always! We are not meant to be. Those moments are moments of insight which we have to live up to when we do not feel like it. Many of us are no good for this workaday world when there is no high hour. We must bring our commonplace life up to the standard revealed in the high hour." -Oswald Chambers

This affected me greatly.

i feel as though God has blessed me with light these past few months. i know that God is teaching me to "believe in the light", so when the darkness inevitably returns, i can live as i lived in the light.

i feel VERY blessed by God. i want to feel blessed by God even when things aren't going my way.

i hope i can remember the things i've learned lately and apply them in Life's nitty gritty.

Great Horned Owls

After spending a fair amount of time searching for the family that resides in Forest Park, I am surprised at how many times i have seen a Great Horned Owl in other places.
We saw one in a friend's Dogtown backyard a few weeks back. Then last night, one swooped in front of me and landed on the light pole next to our house. Then again today in a pine at Tower Grove Park. It is funny what you find when you aren't even looking!

Almost Done!

We have exactly 4 weeks left for Connections Academy classes. We prefer to take little breaks throughout the year, so we will continue some school in the summer. But it will be great to take a break from MATH!

Redbud Love

I love these trees so much! In every season they have a unique beauty. Right now it is the profusion of purple flowers against the blue sky. Later it will be large, green, heart-shaped leaves. And then a color change to yellow. And finally the stark and delicate shape of the tree alone in the gray winter.

Far Off By Tullaia (original spelling)

Far Off
(A song for Papa)

Far off in dastant lands
magical things happin.
Far off in dastant lands
cool thengs happin.
Things like...
Unicorns are dancing.
Knits are clashing sords.
Far off in distant lands...
Animals are jumping with joy.
Princesis are crying.
And princes save thim...
yes, far off...

April Winter in Front Yard

It was a blustery day and the snowflakes were so big we felt like snow globe people. I cut most of my remaining hyacinths so the smell wouldn't go to waste. If you look closely, you can see the frosty trail of a snowflake.

Karate

Tomorrow, Jasper tests for his next belt.

April Spring in Front Yard

When ferns come up, they unfurl with such delicate beauty. These remind me of a mother and child.
Growing up in Dutch country, i had a great disdain for tulips. But then i realized it wasn't the tulip's fault. Now i think they are lovely. This variety is very poppy-like.
More ferns. This is Japanese painted.