-Jared and His "Monster" ~ May 3, 2010

Jared has been using every spare minute when he gets off work to fix his monster. Poor Jared has been through so much with this truck! Not long after he first bought it, he sold it....then traded a Jeep back for the truck again. He hasn't been able to get the title from the guy that promised he would get it for him. So, in the mean time, Jared drops a different motor in, jacks the lift to the highest possible (about to my waist), and it sits still....not running. He is hoping he might find a way to side step the guy who can't find the title and get his baby on the road. It has been a long haul for Jared.

Family Hikes Hoodoo ~ May 1, 2010

This last Sabbath I woke up and the first words out of my mouth to mom when she came for her morning hug was...."Can we hike Hoodoo today"? "I don't think so" was her reply...."just look at the weather"! After pestering my family with my wild idea of possibly hiking in the rain, they agreed to go. Before we even left the house, there were promising patches of blue sky and sunshine.

I always enjoy getting out in God's nature on Sabbaths. It is about the only day our family can be together and do something fun.The family started to say how happy they were we came hiking and didn't let the weather scare us off when we ran into a few raindrops. Thankfully the dark clouds passed over us, an answer to my prayers.

We moved along the trail, dodge fresh Elk droppings, and was excited to count 12 different kinds of wildflowers in bloom right now. Mom had brought her little sketch book and drew several different flowers while I captured their beauty with a camera.
Jared and Cherie climbed the boulders along the path, and I had to stop and catch them with the camera as well. As we reached the Hoodoo Lookout (our resting stop),a pretty little vocal songbird filled the air and much to mom's delight....more wildflowers met our eyes. Jared and Cherie decided to climb our traditional cliff with mom and I taking our own sweet time reaching the top. The view from above is so worth the short climb. We can see the whole Hoodoo Canyon, several lakes in the valley, a pond, and snow on the mountain tops. Vivid shades of green filled the canyon and rocky cliffs. It is sure a beautiful and colorful time of the year. After stopping to take pictures on top of the cliffs With the canyon and lake in the background, Cherie looking over the cliff's edge said, "Look, there is a mother bear and her two cubs" Sure enough, we looked over just in time to shoot a movie clip with the camera of a mother black bear and her two adorable cubs. What a treat! Where we glad to be above them and not in their path too!

It was a wonderful blessed Sabbath and had a great time out enjoying God's nature. We are planning to go hike the trail again this coming Sabbath with friends.

"That's Italian" Spring Orchestra and Choir Performance ~ May 1 & 2, 2010

Long night rehearsals, indented fingers streaked black from my violin strings,and pulling out the black and white brought about our Woodland Orchestra's spring performance, titled "That's Italian". This has been the best turnout our community orchestra has had for the violin string section! We had a total of 8 violinist counting myself. We played a variety of music including "Triumphal March", "Vivaldi's" Concerto in D Minor and Gloria (with the choir singing). One of my favorite parts about performing....a performer must down her attire of long black dress and throw a few curls. All that time and effort poured in for two short performances. Short indeed was the outcome, but so worth the effort! I had fun as always and had a great time reuniting with old friends.

Well, with the performance over, we will meet yet one more Thursday before the break over summer. We will be site reading music for the Winter performance. Sounds like it will be "Handle' Messiah" again. Whatever, it will be sure to be fun yet again!

What are We all up to then?

Mom- Works in a Christian home as housekeeper,child-sitter,and caregiver to Grandpa in the family. She also has several housekeeping jobs on the side. Once a month she manages an Azure drop off in which the whole family helps with.

Mom's Hobbies: Reading, Gardening, Sewing,and more.

Rachelle (Me)- Works as a supplemental "Certified Nursing Assistant" at Mount Carmel Hospital and as an "Intermediate EMT" for the "Steven's County Sheriff's Ambulance". Recent "Red Card" certified for fighting wildfires.I have signed on as an EMT for wildfire camps this summer also. I'm considering what more I can do educational or training.

Hobbies: Music, Reading, Gardening, Hiking, Outdoor activities, Cooking, Sewing, Crafts, and More.

Jared- Works as a "Lumber Packer" temp job for "Columbia Cedar Mill" for now. He will be returning back to college this Fall with Cherie.

Hobbies: Tinkering with his lifted Toyota truck, mechanical fix-it, salesman on craigslist, mechanical magazines, drawing, and offroading.

Cherie- Is a full-time student pursuing her dream of having a "Dental Hygienist" career at Colville Community college. She is almost complete with her first year of college and a step closer to her goal!

Hobbies: Reading, Music, Friends, Family, Dog (Chase),and Free Time!

This is what we are all up to right now in our lives!

"2010"

Like any new year and years far gone....here it be May already of 2010. Our family has not been able to keep up with "Family Photo Albums" and as we love to turn back the pages of our life and see where God has led, the growth, the love, the family outings,friends, work, and play....I dedicate this blog first to my family with love and then to our friends, who play a part in our lives.