It's Ashley & Kacey's 24th Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

ASHLEY AND KACEY, YOU ARE LOVED SO VERY MUCH.

THE ABOVE PHOTO IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PICTURES OF YOU BOTH.

ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!

IT IS BEAUTIFUL WATCHING YOU BOTH IN YOUR DIFFERENT STAGES OF LIFE.

ASHLEY, YOU ARE USING YOUR TIME AS A SINGLE YOUNG LADY TO SERVE OUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.   INSPIRING!

KACEY, YOU ARE A WONDERFUL WIFE AND MOTHER!  BLESSED FROM ABOVE YOU ARE!  DELIGHTFUL!

HAPPY DAY TO MY TWIN DAUGHTERS!

March 17

Here we are - March 17. The second time in a row this date has landed on a Sunday.

Montana is in the throes of early spring; confusion and weather chaos. Friday, I was compelled to dust my bike off after 7 months of disuse because the sun was warm and irresistible. This morning, I wake to find a frosty surprise. 

In the early morning, before church, the skies were ominous and the ground white.

The far mountains were dusted with powdered sugar; their peaks shrouded in whipped cream. (or maybe I was seeing everything through the lens of a poor breakfast)

Either way, the air was crisp and cold, driving us to the dark, albeit warm, basement.  When we stuck our noses out a few hours later, to our further surprise, the sun was back out and spring had returned to claim the day. 

The grass is beginning to get green spots.  Our front planter is beginning to sprout. The sun is staying out later into the evening. Shadows lengthen and time shortens as the long, dreary days of winter fade out.  

But one must not anticipate too much.  The salt and broom still reside on the porch in place of the cushions. The rabbits still have their thick coats. But Kalispell knows that sunshine is to be valued; hence my third surprise of the day.  The Saint Patrick's Day Parade.

 No, I did not wear any green today.  No, I did not get pinched by any mean people today. But since I almost got stuck in the parade driving around to get my pictures, I turned the event into an occasion, stayed to watch, and got my picture anyway. Oh, plus two Smarties and a Snickers -- we have good parade candy up here. 

And when I was uploading my pictures after dark, and pulled six files over, I realized I forgot a picture.  My fourth surprise of the day: a wind storm shaking the trees and whipping the Tyvek covering the house. It seemed too treacherous to venture outdoors for the last picture.  And it would have been a lame picture at night illumined by flash.  

My apologies.

And now my wishes for you all to have a beautiful spring full of surprises but not too much confusion, like our dear weather up here.  What to do? What to do?

Goodness Gracious it is March!

Happy March, friends.

This promises to be a beautiful month of celebrations.

The celebrations have already started, in fact.

I will let Kacey do the post regarding it -- Hudson's first birthday party last Saturday.

I'm not sure if this look is the result of Ellie's imagination or of two aunts having too much fun!

Since Steve got back in town, we have been spending time over at Jay and Kacey's place working on the upstairs!  This is a great excuse to see the grandchildren really!!!!

Steve (notice his dirty work knees!) is teaching Ellie the workings of a tape measure!  We bought her and Hudson one that they can use to create their own projects.

Lots of reading to Hudson.  He sure does love his books!

One evening we did some sparklers too!

You see, Rachel received some sparklers for her birthday one and a half years ago.

They haven't been used yet.

Ah, it was a Hudson pre-birthday celebration.

Ellie wasn't too sure about the whole thing!


Steve is back in San Diego now working, but  he will be back for more celebrating:

spring will officially begin

our 26th wedding anniversary

the twins 24th birthday

the Resurrection 

of our Lord and Savior 

on Easter morning

Very excited for this month.

Jodi