When Alain passed away,

I decided I needed to make the room next to the bedroom

into

 my retreat!

It's taken these 21 months to

put together a room that is

starting to be

ME.

(but it is far from finished I must add...dreaded painting!)

I have collected things that make me happy!

Wire baskets, a farm table, twinkly lights and my latest creation...

POM-POM garland!

I know Alain appreciated my creative side,

and this very room lends itself to that.

He was amazed when we got married 

at how much I loved to decorate our home,

especially for the holidays and seasons of the year.

I went away last Christmas...

I couldn't bear to decorate and not have him here.

He was the tree putter upper...

the light maintenance man

(all things electrical),

box getter and box putter away-er...

placer of all tall ormanemts,

and reminder of the 

baby whose birth we were celebrating.

He loved to listen to Christmas music

and sing at the piano.

Alain loved me for who I was,

and I believe he would want me to continue to be that person,

SO...

I am finding room in my heart

and feel the energy coming back more and more

to continue on life's journey,

with a grateful and happy heart!

I think he's proud of me!

The gathering...

 Thanksgiving has past,

But not the grateful feelings

that are like the 

"left-overs"...

...still in our hearts reminding us of

 all we have.

Jamie & Aaron, 

and Aarons parents,

Gary & Lynette,

 joined me for a really grand Thanksgiving meal.

After our Thanksgiving Feast

we gathered in the "Sitting Room"

to listen to Anna

perform her very first piano recital.

Applause was giving 

and autographs signed

following her debut!

 My I-Pad is the first thing my grandchildren want to play with 

when they come to my house.

(Whah...I thought they loved ME?)

Carter (2) can navigate it like nobodies business!

Following, are just a few hundred of the pictures

they took that day!

Hope your day was as smashing as ours!

Well, I don't know what to say....  Here I go anyway!  

This is my sweet Alain a few summers ago.  

Memories are what I have for my reality.  Dreams even fill a big void at times. 

 He was just the most hard working, loyal, true, kind person I have ever met. 

 Because of who he was/is, our short years of marriage here on earth are "golden" to me 

as if we spent a lifetime...

 but I am so "thankful" that I know we will be together again 

and continue on happier and stronger than ever before.

The months are marching by without him.

I find myself more private about my feelings.

 I loved this quote....

& I try to have empathy for the many things 

that "haven't happened to me, but have happened to others.  

This one though.... 

I truly understand!

There are lot's of things I miss about Alain,

 but there are more things that I appreciate about him now.

So thankful for the time that we did have together!

(time does heal....but just a little!)

Mr. Sunflower

Mr. Sunflower

came peeking over my backyard fence.

He said,

"Summer's almost over, but don't be sad...

I will cheer you up until then!"

I am a child of God!

I was able to fly to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to see my newest little granddaughter. 

 Her name is

 Joslin Emmeline!  

Michelle, my daughter, and I were a bit overwhelmed.  

Joslin came into the world with a great pair of lungs and she was here to say 

"who was in charge."  

This Nana wasn't sure if we were all going to make it.

I was able to stay 2 1/2 weeks and it was really a joy to welcome her into this world!

She is precious and a keeper!

Lucky 13!

My little lucky 13th grandchild...

How blessed am I?

Mom and baby doing just fine.

Michelle was a rock star!

Introducing...

Joslin Emmeline!

Flying to Oklahoma...

here I come sweet baby girl!

Huckleberries & Secrets

Brandon and Amanda arrived for their summer visit to Idaho...

with their five little ducklings and the new family dog, Gwen!

 Aaron and Jamie called and said they were going to go
 HUCKLEBERRY-ing!

(Not sure of the proper name for that...)...

and would we like to go along?

That would be a YES we said!

Our first stop was not very "fruitful"  (tee hee)

We drove further up the canyon and scored!

Ice cream buckets, cottage cheese and yogart containers

we being carried by seven little ones,

and the big people!

I was on "spider duty" most of the time, yelling,

"Aughhhh...don't walk through here...giant spider and web."

Then of course they all came running.

There is a unspoken rule here in Huckleberry Land...

You don't tell people where "your" spot is for Huckleberring...

don't bother asking...

they won't tell.

There are general area's that everybody can get to,

but a true blue, dyed in wool Huckleberrer will not tell you.

Grandpa's go to their graves... just don't ask!

We took our berries home and Aaron went and bought all the ingredients

we would need to make home made huckleberry ice cream.

(Below are our hero's!)

No kidding...

the best ice cream I've had in a long, long, time!

These cousins had just as much fun together as the first "batch of cousins."

I was so grateful to my handsome son and grandsons

for rolling up their sleeves 

and coming out in the back to help me "weed."

It was so fun to here them talk and realized

this was a reconnaissance mission..

"capture and destroy!"

Brandon made it fun for them and I was impressed with his

ingenuity and teaching methods.

We worked three solid hours

and came out

 victorious!

We visited the Idaho History Museum one day.

King Tut!

Time flew by and their visit came to and end.

I took a picture of Jason holding the very "Teddy Bear" that I gave to Brandon

over 34 years ago.

Can't be possible....that's crazy talk!

Yes....

time does fly!

Family...Summer...Fun Times...Food....Laughter....Love!
Grateful for the visit!