Thanksgiving 2010

This was the first year Brandon and I had been home for a Thanksgiving in 6 years. It was also Tanner's first Thanksgiving. It was a great time spent with family, and good food. It made me remember the Thanksgivings we used to have. My dad's siblings and their families would all meet at my grandparents house and we would all cram in and eat until we were stuffed... then eat some more! Last night was a much smaller version of the old days. Brandon, Tanner, and I enjoyed the company of my two sisters, their spouses, my niece, my aunt/uncle/their granddaughter, and of course my mom and dad.

Tanner got to experience the creaming of the pies in the morning! He was in love!

Winter Weather

Winter has hit Montana in a big way. Here is the NOAA forecast for Superior.

Blizzard Warning

Today: Snow. Temperature rising to near 4 by noon, then falling to around -3 during the remainder of the day. Wind chill values as low as -19. North northeast wind between 6 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of snow. Partly cloudy, with a low around -11. West southwest wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near -2. Wind chill values as low as -21. West wind between 6 and 9 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around -14. South southwest wind around 6 mph.

Thanksgiving Day: A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 13. Southwest wind around 5 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Mom and Dad's yard


Mag-pie


Duck-butt

Winter has hit Interior Alaska as well, here is the NOAA forecast for North Pole.

Winter Storm Warning

Today...Freezing rain. Areas of fog. Highs near 35. East winds 5 to 15 mph.

Tonight...Freezing rain. Areas of fog. Lows 25 to 30. East winds 5 to 15 mph.

Wednesday...Freezing rain diminishing in the afternoon. Highs 25 to 30. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph.

Wednesday Night...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near 20. Southwest winds 10 mph.

Thanksgiving Day...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs around 20 but falling through the day. West winds 10 to 15 mph.


I'm not certain where I'd rather be, as far as weather is concerned. Both locations have road closures/emergency travel only, school shut downs.

Oh, I know where I'd rather be... the beaches of Hawaii!

HAVE A LITTLE FAITH

I just finished a book titled HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, by Mitch Albom. First of all, I have to say, that I haven't read a book by Mitch Albom that I haven't loved. They are all lovely stories that set the mind wandering! There were a few quotes in this book that I felt worthy of sharing and commenting on.

Adam hid in the Garden of Eden. Moses tried to substitute his brother. Jonah jumped a boat and was swallowed by a whale. Man likes to run from God. It's tradition. page 6
This quote really resonated with me. I have a habit of hiding from God when things start to feel too real or intimate. I loved how this book started off with Albom referencing individuals who have also hidden from God as well. It's human nature. What is humorous is that there is no way to hide from the presence of the Lord God, yet we try.

Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. page 214
I loved this! When I googled the scripture and looked for a cross reference the one that made the most sense to me was 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! It says there is hope for the lost. Out with the old, in with the new.


God sings, we hum along, and there are many melodies, but it's all one song- one same, wonderful human song. page 249
"There are many melodies". To me this means we all worship God in our own way, our own time. Uniquely but the same.

Up, Up and Away!!!

Tanner went flying for the first time on 11/15/10, two days before his 11 month birthday. His Great-Grandpa Bob has a Cessna 150 (a two seater) and a Cessna 182 (a 4 seater). We took the 182. It was a cloud covered day, but was a mostly smooth ride. We flew to Missoula, did a touch-and-go (the airplane just touches down and then takes off again) and then flew back to Superior. Tanner slept most of the trip, but he wasn't scared during take off or while we started flying East. He refused to wear a hat or protection on his ears, stubborn little monster! ;) One day he'll think it's cool to wear the ear muffs to look like his daddy!

ROAD TRIP!!!

We took a vacation from our vacation! We traveled in a big ol' circle traveling through Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho. We explored Yellowstone National Park as well as The Grand Teton National Park. We saw Elk, Buffalo, a Coyote, Loons, Geese. The beauty of nature is breathtaking. Jagged mountains reaching for the sky. Tumbling waterfalls laughing at itself. Serene lakes sleeping peacefully.

We saw Brandon's brother Jade, his wife RuthAnne, and their two daughters Karissa and Abigail. We also saw Brandon's dad and step-mom as well as his brother Bobby, his wife JerriAnn and their three kids Brooke, Canyon, and Gracie. It's a shame that we don't get to visit them more than once a year.

M-O-N-T-A-N-A

Montana, Montana,
Glory of the West
Of all the states from coast to coast,
You're easily the best.
Montana, Montana,
Where skies are always blue
M-O-N-T-A-N-A,
Montana, I love you.

So I've been in Montana for over two months now. I have enjoyed every minute of it. I love how I can drive an hour and actually get somewhere. I love that I have so many friends and family here who really KNOW me. I love that when I drive down the road people wave. I love that it's November and there is no snow and there are still lots of hours of daylight and it has not dipped anywhere near zero yet, let alone BELOW zero!

Tanner has been growing and changing in front of everyone's eyes. He has gotten two teeth since being here. He has gone from doing the military crawl to doing the hands and knees crawl. He is on the cusp of walking! My baby is growing so fast!

We still have one month left here. It's going to be a busy month filled with Thanksgiving festivities, traveling to visit Cessna family in other states. Running around MT visiting friends and family. Flying in Grandpa Bob's. I LOVE IT!