Happy Almost New Year!

Hellooo friends and familia! It has been a spell! Sorry bout that! Excuses of course! Tis the season :) Too busy! Well Happy almost new year. I am sure all of you are relieved that we are still alive with it almost being the end of the world in all! Bwahahaha! Whatever! All that aside, I had an amazing Christmas. God really put our path this season off track. I rejoice that He still finds ways to make me grateful and full of thanks for the things we have. I am riddled with guilt sometimes at the behaviour that comes along with not feeling like everything is going my way and that I am not getting what I want. Sometimes I think I deserve be stripped of all of my luxuries. I also wonder a lot about why God has me right here. What is my purpose? Gahhhh! Deep thoughts I know. That is where I find my mind most of the time. I am really trying to work on some commitment issues I have right now. There is a revised version of the purpose driven life out that bryon and i bought to read together. Neither of us can seem to accomplish this goal. 40 days of really short easy to read chapters. But yet we find ourselves too busy or we feel other things are more important. I am sure God wants me to feel better about my purpose. But until I put in the work I guess I will just feel unsure and cannot complain. So with it being the new year I promise to work on that! Also...bum bum deeee dummmm. Going to start a crochet/knitters group here in Great Falls. Open to the public! Not sure exactly when or how but I will keep you posted! I am super excited about that! I am going to pick up a mannequin head at sally beauty supply so i can use to to model my hats, headbands and other crochet creations. Its going to be epic! Having some youth kids over tonight for dinner and games...really looking forward to spending some much needed time with them! Hope you all are well! Love and miss you all. Sorry for the randomness...I will work on getting back on track!

An Abundance Of Thanks

The best time of the year! Lot's of excuses..or reasons (whichever you prefer) to eat, drink and be merry! Love it! All the while you are....or at least should be immersing yourself in the thoughts and actions of what or who make you so thankful. I remind myself often that this life is short and can be over in the blink of an eye. So to enjoy every minute of everyday is a must. I think about how much more amazing eternity will be too! But every once in awhile I bask in whatever God has given or placed before me to enjoy while I am here and I cannot help but think how anything else could compare or be better that what is right in front of me. Like this steaming cup of Thanksgiving blend coffee from Starbucks! Or looking at my sweet family. God THANK YOU. Thank you most of all for allowing me to travel this path in life that you have laid out before me. But ultimately for satisfying the deepest parts of my soul that only You can do. I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving. Cheers to many many more. Lindsey

Madison My neice :)

My sister Sierra and her son Cody

Brother Matt cutting the turkey!

Bryon and Adisynn!

Abby and Brooklynn

A hat I made for my sweet girl!

Disappointed

Dumb dumb dumb...and dumb. Obama for 4 more years. Whatever. I am going to just learn to pray for the president and for the future of this nation. Bryon and I are moving to another country anyway. Just not sure where yet. My heart sank when I saw that he had Ohio. Not that good ol' Mit is any better but for sure a smidgen better than the other. So no more stewing. It is what it is. When this country is suffering miserably in the next few years I will feel ok knowing that I did not ask for it. Oh...and I wont be here anyway! I voted. So i feel by the way..fully justified in complaining. Just for the record!

 So on a totally different note. Super winter storm headed our way tonight and some really cold temps to look forward to. Time to bust out my Christmas tree and more music! I think because it is November it is officially ok. According to all the stores now anyway! I think this season is going to be really fun with Adisynn. I forget how in awe kids are when they really recognize all this holiday stuff for the first time! We are still elkless..sad. Bryon might go back out this weekend and try his luck again. Seems to be a reoccurring problem every year. We live in Montana...how hard can this really be? Geesh! Well love you all..I really did not have too much to share yet but really needed to write out my election frustration. Hope everyone is well! Lindsey

Oh The Joys

Oh my...the joys of life. As I sit here...hunting widow...while every key I hit on my computer is sticky. Why you ask...I could not tell you. Actually I can. It is called kids. Yes, kids. Not sure what this substance is precisely but I definitely can tell you where it came from. Gross. Anyway...I have had an eventful week! My sweet baby girl is finally in the clear! Healed of that nasty cold :) Back to her normal silly self! Praise Jesus! Back into old routine this next week. I'm not going to lie, I enjoyed the time off and the break of the busyness. Caden and Brooklynn had their parent teacher conferances already and as usual everything is amazing. I have some smart cookies and that does NOT come from me. Thanks babe! It is refreshing to hear their teachers grace my ears with compliments on my children. I complain about going but when I leave I am glad that I went. To add to crazy events of this week Brooklynn decided it would be ok to shove Cadens headphones as far in her ear as she could and ended up getting the rubber end stuck way down deep in her ear canal. Go figure. We could not even see it anymore. So off to the Dr. we went. Traumatizing for a minute but in the end we all got a good laugh. I am not sure why we find so much humor when kids get things stuck in places things shouldnt be! I attended a Womens Holiday Gala for the first time this year on Friday. I had a great time with the ladies I had the privelage of being there with, but the guest singer/speaker was not a hit. It took all of my might to keep my butt in that chair another minute. She is a southern gospel singer popping out some really old school hyms....mariah carey style. NOT a fan. It might take a lot to get me back to one of those events next year! Still keeping busy with my crogaying as my loving husband calls it..whatever! A video of us playing cards with Josh and Ashley! Hope you all are doing well. Much love until next post! Lindsey

The Good And Bad

       Honestly a really long trying week. But with that being said, also a very uplifting and rewarding week. Adisynn has been ridiculously sick. The worse cold ever. Now to top it off fever blisters in her mouth. Suck. She has been so MISERABLE and so have I. It really stinks to feel so helpless. I wish I could put her in a bubble sometimes! Now this sicko sickness is spreading to the rest of my family along with the rest of Great Falls. So lots of prayer for quick healing! You really appreciate the healthy times in these situations!
         I did not make it to the gym this whole last week and my chances of getting there this next week are not looking so hot. Either way I have already seen some great results. I am continuing to lose some pounds and slimming down my inches! It is awesome. I feel so great :) No plasma donating for me for awhile due to either too much protein or dehydration. I am starting to think that God is purposely trying to slow things down a bit for me. So instead of being stinky and mad I will just accept it and have a time of rest. I am still crocheting like a crazy lady. My latest accomplishment....mittens. They are epic and quite amazing. Every time I finish something I just want to keep it all to myself! I am sure my family will greatly enjoy it as much as I do!
        Other family news would include the baptism of my husband, son and daughter today! See there was good to my week! Really really good stuff. I am so happy for them and very proud of the choice they have made to follow Jesus and to publicly proclaim to everyone that they are going to live their life for His purpose. So happy! We are also really looking forward to our trip next month to see Matt and Sierra for Thanksgiving! I have not spent a holiday with her in a very very long time. Then I get to look forward to them visiting for Christmas. I'm not going to lie...I have listened to Christmas music a few times. I cant help it. It makes me so happy...and when the snow is falling and I have some baking going on...my brain just says...CHRISTMAS MUSIC! YEAH! So whatever to all you holiday music haters! I love it :D Caden made sure to point out that it has not even been Halloween yet...puh...whatevvvva! Well I am off to enjoy some sleepy time. Love you all and hope you are well. Whoever reads!

Kendra and Adisynn (One of our youth kids)

          

Blogging Takes A Backseat!

Hello family and friends! I have not posted in awhile due to crochet fever! I am making awesome projects for my family and some friends so I have kept super busy trying to meet the Christmas deadline! Things here have been super busy but great! Just when I don't think I have a busy lifestyle I stop for a few minutes (like right now) and realize how much of a busy body I have become! I am choosing YES to more opportunities which in turn has made me see stars! :) Hunting season is here and fall so far even though it is not technically not here yet has been great. Bryon wrapped up his youth hunt today with filling all of the tags the kids had------> awesome! Tomorrow it is his turn to fill his own tags. He is pretty dang excited. So good luck honey! I know you will be successful this year! Me on the other hand...what isn't new! I got a gym membership last week and have been sweating it up! I am really enjoying it :) Crazy I know! But I feel proud of my accomplishments.....and my sweat! Also I have had the privelage of getting to spend time with and get to know some of our youth kids. What an amazing blessing. I am so honored that they want to spend time with me and hopefully learn some tips and tricks about life. They are lovely girls. I love you all and hope things are well for you. Till next time! Ta ta!

Bryon's first goose!

Another beanie!

In the saying "NO" zone

This is my new motto. I have realized that I say no too much. So I am going to work on saying yes more...in moderation! Have to be safe still! I think saying yes more can really open up so many more possibilities and doors to happiness. More responsibility can be a great thing. I feel like such a grown up! Not much new going on in the home front. We are finally getting our first cold snap and what looks like some moisture. I am still skeptical. We will see what tomorrow brings. I was going to have a cup of hot chocolate but decided on a bowl of cinnamon toast crunch instead. I got some much much much needed shopping done today..relief :) Caden was running on one...yes one pair of pants...with a hole in the knee. There has not been a need for pants because of summer so with the cold front I had to scramble to get him some today. Mission accomplished..5 pairs of pants and new shoes to boot!
Other items to discuss would be my new phone. Ladies and gentlemen I have a smart phone. Boooo..I know. I finally crossed over to the dark side. Owell. It is nice...I can't lie. Will I use its millions of functions...no. But either way it was free! So there you have it. I cannot be different everywhere :) I am off for the night. Working on some new crocheting projects. I will post pictures soon.

Fishing, Wings and Gods Great Country

Yesterday was great. I had the privilege of spending a day out on my favorite creek with a new friend. Without kids! Just her and I. Wow...what a great day. We started out at Big R so I could introduce Heather to a new tradition Bryon and I have now. Granola, summer sausage and some high country beef jerky. We added on chocolate covered raisins and peanut chocolate clusters. A girl thing...got to add chocolate in the mix! Our drive out there was filled with great conversation and beautiful smokey scenery! We start our hike to the creeks edged and come across quite a few BIG piles of bear poo. Yikes....I'm not going to lie..I was a little scared with every noise! Sometimes you come across a special place and you cannot help but think that God spent a little extra breath on a certain spot. That is how I feel about this spot in His amazing creation. I am in awe every time I am in the Sluice Boxes and extra thankful that I live in a place where I can enter this little bit of heaven. No fish were caught until we turned around and headed back. I had promised some great results for our fishing time out there and the fish were not helping me deliver. But finally I spotted them and ran my little gold blue fox right past it's face a few times and then the strike! I got my fish and Heather was so excited! A great experience for her! As we made our way back we basked in the sun and cool fall breeze and just took in the autumn colors and smells. Thank you God for your blessing of life, friends, seasons and good company.

To top the day off  my family and I went to Lindy and Jesses house for some homemade wings with our choice of about a billion sauces! Ashley made 4! I cannot even remember what they were called but may I say WOW. They were amazing! Enjoyed with a Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale, red velvet and pumpkin pie muffins. What more could I ask for in 1 day? God bless!

You Can Have It All

Yes folks...you can have it all! Pick something...yup you can have it! Happiness, security, love, wisdom. You name it and it is within reach. Achievable through Christ. Oh yeah. I have found in my life that even through "not so good times or circumstances" that when you trust God and have an intimate understanding relationship with Him that He makes you realize these truths. It feels so good and is so refreshing. I know that no matter what that something bigger than me and my human limitations is at work in all things. God is everywhere, in everything,and in every single life moment and situation I will have. Praise! It baffles me that no matter how old I ever get on this earth that I will never ever stop learning these truths. It puts me in awe of my Creator. He is so good.

Life has been great in this last week. I officially gave up my facebook account and could not be happier. I have to say it is quite liberating. I am sure it did not consume me as much as some others but I feel like I have so much more time. Maybe less on my mind about a billion other people and what is going on in their lives! Yet here I am still able to get my thoughts out to the world! I have picked up my crocheting again big time. I have even taught myself some new things...without help from anyone...except you tube! Does that count?! I am pretty stoked that I can make my own beanies! Goodbye you big corporate store beanies with your logo that you charge an arm and a leg for! Bwhahahaha!

Kids are better than ever. Caden is digging his sweet trombone. Too cute! Brooklynn is well...brook! She is such a sweetheart! Reminds me so much of me! Adisynn is miss test the waters...typical of this age I guess. What a turd! We are all over that though! Bryon is just truckin along like he does with school and work. We still grow as a couple almost daily..and I am actually thankful for that. How boring it would be if we knew everything about each other! The weather is changing fast...hallelujah! Best time of the year is here. Cheers my friends in family to this new season and looking forward to lots of egg nog and pumpkin spice lattes!



Friends

Man am I thankful for good friends in my life! Every Friday I have the pleasure of spending time with a very special woman. She listens to me with her full attention and utmost respect. We catch up on our week and share with each other what new things God has put in our paths. It is really nice to have that day every week to look forward to. Good coffee and good conversation. Looking forward to new friendships too! Sometimes you have to break out of your comfort zone to realize a perfect gem is just waiting for you to commit your time and attention. Do you ever wish you could just give away and share all your blessings so others could know the pure joy and contentment you have? I do!

My cold in on the mend! Yeah! Nothing like a good ol' fashioned sinus infection to make you appreciative of the times you are healthy eh! Fall is definitely on its way. I am starting to feel that all familiar crisp in the air. The leaves are even starting to change. It is my favorite time of the year. I think that is partly due to my childhood memories. My mom did an amazing job embracing the upcoming holidays and always making our home so warm. The kids and I are hanging out at home tonight enjoying each others company while Bryon is out elk hunting with a friend. Hopefully they will have a harvested animal and some good stories of their adventure. I will be teaching some ladies how to make espresso beverages at the church tomorrow and I am really looking forward to that. It is long overdue! I am off to bed. Goodnight.

Not Much

Not much new news to report today. I have an awesome sinus/head cold going on so adisynn and I laid low today. I think I am recovering from an amazing time with my family. They were here for 4 wonderful days. It was so refreshing to remember why I love them so much. I think blessed does not even cover half of how I feel about my family. I am praying that someday we can be closer! All other aspects of my life remain great! God is good...all the time.

Refreshed

 This is my mom and her brother Gary

 My mom, grandma and uncle Gary

 My grandma and Adisynn

 My sweet sister Naomi

 BEST dad ever!

 Good looking people tend to hang out together!

 A classic for sure!

 Nothing better than my sister by my side!

All us ladies!

Thank you to my mom, dad and sister for coming all this way to spend time with me. You guys mean so much to me in my life and I am so so so lucky to share it with you! Till we are together again!