Park Play

This afternoon we adventured...to the laundry mat...yes laundry had to be done and we parted with our washing machine and have yet to purchase another one. But luckily the laundry mat is only a few short blocks away...dropping daddy off to start on the load the kids and I ventured to the park in town for the first time. Everything was fun...the leaves on the ground, the worms in the dirt, the pine cones, the new to us play equipment, swinging while viewing the mountains before us filled with tree's and green...imaging what everything will look like when the snow comes. Excitement, anticipation, fun.

Never to old to enjoy the playground even momma enjoyed the swings!

{this moment}

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{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Linking to Soule Mama 

 Blessed exploring our new surroundings after our move.

Exploring our Backyard (Woods)

Even with the drizzle, rain and fog that has come this week it has still been unbelievable gorgeous. Sun is in the forecast for Friday, through the weekend and next week though. But even with a little wetness it didn't stop us from exploring and taking a small hike into our backyard aka the woods. With sun this weekend I'm sure that's where you'll find us! Our kids so ecstatic and our son already naming off all of types of field guides and identification books for plants, animals, mushrooms and more he'll need.

Already a science lesson....gathering samples in the woods of bark and tree leaves for identification.

The Move

The move was very eventful...but we were well equipped to deal with everything thrown our way and stronger for it in the end. With lots of prayers and faith we made it to our destination. Starting our move out late- we had great expectations to leave by 6am- we left at 2pm. We are so incredibly blessed and grateful for good friends...ones that came and helped, ones that brought goodies and food for us, ones that came to send us off and say goodbye- we have made great relationships and that showed in our time of need when our friends were there. Finally off on the road our trailer got a flat tire come 10:30pm and we were stuck not quite at our destination where our hotel room had been booked. Roadside assistance took 4 hours....I'm thankful the kids slept and were not affected. Phoning every hotel in town we finally found one that would allow us 3 dogs in the room- thank you Lord! The tow truck came, the trailer was loaded and we were on our way to a bed for sleep.

Exhausted, sleep felt so good...our alarms went off 4 hours later. Hubbie met the trailer at the shop and two new tires were put on. The kids and I fed and watered the animals...dogs, chickens, pigeons, rabbits, guinea pigs- everyone seemed to be doing well having spent the night in the car (well, not the dogs). Hubbie returned and hooked up the trailer. We were all ready to go - - but before we did- our family had a prayer together for safety, well being, to guide us and be with us through our travels. On the road...through Utah and finally into Idaho (our final destination) - excitement seeing that 'Welcome to Idaho' sign before us! We kept driving into Montana then back into Idaho. Montana gave us heavy rain and some snow.  Our new landlords were gracious enough to tell us to drive straight through and no matter what the time they would meet us so we could sleep the night in our new home. 3am we arrived at our new house! Signed our papers, unloaded a few sleeping bags and everyone laid on the floor...the kids not even changing in PJ's and went to bed.

What a long adventure but we made it...safe and sound. In the morning we all stepped outside to view our surroundings and home and yard for the first time...Wow, an amazing feeling for all the senses...smelling the pine tree's and fresh air...hearing the birds...seeing the beautiful tall tree's...we're at the end of a dirt road on 25 mostly wooded acres with an old barn and a few out buildings, a 3 bedroom home with a good sized grass yard and then there's just the forest. God is great - it is beautiful here. We are excited to continue exploring, adventuring, learning and being together as a family.

 We parted with most of our belongings...a great lesson for the kids and for us as well that less is more and family and being together is whats most important...we left with our van, my car, and a trailer.

 Utah gave us wind and sunshine...Idaho brought rain.

 Then Montana brought us heavier rain and some snow!

 But we made it 'home'..and this is what our first morning looked like...unpacking...

 Second day - day trip to Spokane, rainy day, called for a fire once we were home.

 Life is an adventure....take chances and have faith.

Life & Faith

In the midst of packing, cleaning, moving very soon...there have been sweet, peaceful, loving, learning, fun moments...not too many pictures have been taken, but these moments have been soaked up and taken in. Our daughter, 14, perfecting her art skills, working with different mediums...our daughter looking so grown up in a nice pair of slacks and silk top- I just have to stare at her in awe sometimes at what a wonderful young lady she is becoming. Our son this week being such the big helper whether it be helping momma to lift heavy items or helping daddy work on the cars. He's been getting a lesson in electronics, mechanics, math even though we have yet to officially start school with our move fast approaching...fast approaching- today being Wednesday and Friday being our leave day!! Going from excited and anxious in anticipation - - a bit of sadness has crept in as we all realize what wonderful relationships and bonds we have made in our community- the simplicity of small town living and knowing everyone everywhere you go. Blessed we are to be moving to another small town to make new bonds and relationships. We will miss this stop in our lives, the four years we've spent in this town. How it has changed our lives for the better. God certainly knew what he was doing when he led us here and we are in his hands again as we rely on faith to guide us to our next destination on this adventure called life.

Blessings to you wherever your journey takes you.

Just a little catch up...oh and some news!

Its been busy is an understatement around here. Life gets away from you sometimes and that certainly seems to be where we are at. October 17th today. It's nearly the end of the month.

Our big news now exposed to our family, friends and 'community' on faceboook...is that we are Moving! And not just a little move across town, but a big move to another state. And our leave date? October 31st. The end of the month...the one that's in 2 weeks from today- let me let out a little scream now! Excitement - YES its all around- the kids are thrilled, we are thrilled and then I look around the house, garage, yard and I get a little frightened! We have A LOT OF STUFF. Downsizing is awesome, trashing stuff is such a relief but we have a ways to go still. We'll be traveling and moving with just our mini van, a car and a little trailer. We'll be getting  storage for some of the keepsakes and kids toys. Yeah you try telling your kids they get 2 backpacks to pack with anything they can't live with for 6 months and that's it! Now I'm just kind of hoping they don't miss the stuff stored and we can downsize even more? Perhaps. But for now they are doing well with little belongings and learning a great lesson that material items aren't important. Family is, and as long as our needs are met we are good...we will have a home, clothes, food and each other.

A few pictures of 'real' life for you- yeah this is real, this is messy, its a bit crazy but the end result of our move, our adventure, together as a family will be amazing and we can't wait!

 Messy yard....I should really take an after picture because me and my boy got this ALL cleared up!

 I have to say I have the best helpers!

 Garage getting stacked and organized...animals wondering what on earth is happening!

 Kids and pups having break time.

 Hard for the kids to see the walls blank...they both said the house looked naked. I had to laugh!

It definitely doesn't look like 'home' any more. Getting emptied, getting boxed up, on our way to leave on our new adventure one box at a time....

{this moment}

. . . . . . . . .

{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . . . .

Linking to Soule Mama 

Puppy snuggles are the best!