Ten months

Hard to believe this little missie 

is ten months old already!!!

Where, oh where, oh where 

has the time gone?

this is Ellie's favorite activity

She just discovered where I have been keeping all of her books

and now going through them all and looking at the pictures

is an activity that she repeats often throughout the day...

{read mommy keeps neatly re-stocking them for her enjoyment}

As a little girl, I loved books as well...

I still do, and it warms my heart to see my little one 

following in those footsteps!

As you have probably already noticed,

the above pictures are a bit

on the blurry side.

Ellie has become such a busy little girlie

this Mama can barely get a half-focused picture of her 

these days!  {grin}

as evidenced by the picture above,

Ellie's love for all things soft and fluffy 

has only grown...

it is so sweet how she loves her animals

She makes me laugh so often!!

She has been busily growing in two upper front teeth...

enjoying the fun of trying Mommy and Daddy's food...

and learning what "no" means {grin}

Grandpa and Grandma Franks brought over a swing for Ellie

that we set up together on Sunday

Oh the fun!!!  

Ellie is turning into such a little helper for

Mommy...well...we are working on it at least...

got to get her prepped for that Big Sister thing! {smile}

Montana Happenings

Why is is that I always write when I'm down and out?  I went looking for my last post, and realized it was when I was sick before Easter.   Yow, that was long ago.  This time I am forced to the computer as a result of a shoulder/neck injury from my time on this job . . .

Looking good, right?  This is going to be the three-car garage behind our house.  (to save us from shoveling snow off the cars in the winter :)

My lesson learned is that it is not advisable to use one's head to carry heavy pieces of lumber or to push up against resistance.  Lesson learned . . . now can the pain please go away?

"All in good time" as the saying goes.  Or you could remove and "o", add a "s", and get "all in God's time"  which would be just as applicable.

Mom wanted me to share these berry bushes with you all.

These are located right outside our kitchen windows, where you watch them as you do the dishes.  Which in our household happens on a frequent occurrence, though perhaps not as frequently as Mom might desire.

See their bright red juiciness? Our nickname for them is Manna, just like the Israelites who had no idea what they were eating.  What do they taste like?  You can ask Dad, who's lying in the backyard, foaming at the mouth.  Just kidding, he's not.  He had one yesterday, said they were tart, but is still alive today.

And here is my San Diego truck turned into a Montana work truck.

I don't really have a lot to say about this subject.  Just thought you might like to see it . . . 

Well, remember that comment about dishes?  Mom needs a drier, so I had better go.  Thank you for your time :)

found: in my backyard

I have tried to type this post at least three times this past week...trouble is, I have been feeling quite sick with a terrible cough for over a week now...add that to the early prego sickness and,well,

hopefully you will all understand my lack of energy and enthusiasm.

All that to say,

here it is!  (finally)

Jay and I first saw these beautiful creatures up close last week.  I immediately ran to get my camera, as these fellows don't usually come down this far from the mountains.

and lo and behold, a few days later,

they came a little closer!

this one was taken from my bedroom window (notice their soft, velvety antlers)

this one was taken from the mud room doorway

and, finally, I stepped out onto the porch


Rachel and Dad had pulled into the driveway, and the bucks just stayed there looking at us all, and then slowly loped away.  Ellie wasn't too impressed...guess she is just used to big animals already...the cows.  {grin}


We have been having a full and fun summer.  Lots of playing and smiling and playing some more...(at least that is Ellie's schedule {smile})

The late birthday post

This post is late. 

BUT . . . not forgotten.

How could anyone forget my youngest?

She was born with black hair.

Finally a little one that looked like her mommy.

Rachel Faith Franks was born at 6:55 a.m. on July 19th, 1990.

Rachel arrived weighing 9lbs 6oz. as she needed to protect herself from 3 older siblings.

What, you ask, was their first response to Rachel?

The classic.

Poking her eyes! Hmmmm.

They don't do that anymore!

 Rachel as a young one had the cutest cheeks and the biggest blue eyes.

 Rachel smiled often and was a delightful addition to our family.

She is an ornery one as well!

 But oh so mature at times.

 Her mommy loved her very much.  She still does!

 Rachel was not afraid to try anything.  She accomplished riding her bike with no training wheels when she had just turned four.

 She meditated on God's word. 

This photo wasn't posed. 

I truly found her this way and thought, I had better document this.

 Rachel also has a sense of humor and creativity. 

Again, no suggestions were made for this photo. 

This is all Rachel!!!!!

Rachel is very contemplative!

AND, Rachel is very dear to my heart. 

She loves the Lord,

uses her talent to honor Him,

has great initiative,

is very motivated,

works hard. and

loves her mommy. 

For those things I thank Jesus. 

 Rachel, I am so glad you are here in Montana and that we celebrated your turning 21 together. 

Mom/Jodi