Sunday afternoon in Stevensville

Wesley sampling the morning fare

After the fellowship time, we joined several members at the Mission Bistro, a delightful restaurant here in town.  Wonderful food and being able to sit under the shade of a tree, enjoying the breeze and the view of the mountains made for a special gathering. 

We then walked the few blocks back to the parsonage, stopping at the Valley Drug Store on Main Street.  This general store has just about everything you could ask for, including a soda fountain with some of the best ice cream around!

Warm welcome in Stevensville

Prayer table

Fellowship time

We have had a wonderful first Sunday in Stevensville, despite the unseasonable hot spell that this region is experiencing.  Attending the worship service at the UMC here in Stevensville was a treat, so many welcoming people!

DOD casualty report from June 21-28

Massachusetts National Cemetery - Bourne, MA

The Department of Defense announced this week the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
 
+SGT Corey E. Garver, 26, of Topsham, Maine, died June 23rd, in Zormat, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
 
+Spc. Javier Sanchez Jr., 28, of Greenfield, California, died June 23, in Sar Rowzah, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device while on mounted patrol.  He was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.

+Sgt. Justin R. Rogers, 25, of Barton, New York, died June 28, in Bagram, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related incident currently under investigation.  He was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

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Also, the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that a soldier, missing from the Vietnam War, has been accounted for and will be buried with full military honors along with two of his crew members.

Army Spc. 5 John L. Burgess, of Sutton Bay, Michigan, was the crew chief of a UH-1H Iroquois helicopter that crashed in Binh Phuoc Province, South Vietnam.  Also, killed in the crash were 1LT Leslie F. Douglas Jr., of Verona, Mississippi; lLT Richard Dyer, of Central Falls, Rhode Island and SFC Juan Colon-Diaz, of Comerio, Puerto Rico. Another crew member, PFC John Goosman, survived the crash and was rescued.  Remains representing Dyer, Colon-Diaz, and Burgess, will be buried as a group in a single casket, on July 2, at Arlington National Cemetery.

On June 30, 1970, while on a command and control mission, the helicopter was struck by enemy fire, causing it to crash. Shortly thereafter, friendly forces recovered remains of Douglas, Colon-Diaz, and Dyer.  The three men were individually identified and buried with full military honors.  At that time, no remains were attributed to Burgess.

From 1992 to 2012, more than a dozen joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) teams investigated the case, in Binh Phuoc Province, recovering human remains, personal effects, military equipment, and aircraft wreckage associated with this loss.  

Busy Saturday, inside & outside!

And the cat sleeps on!

We had a delightful day here in Stevensville tending to chores inside and outside of the parsonage.  Belinda did a wonderful job mowing the lawn, thanks to the church for the use of a mower!

 

We are making good progress in unpacking and setting up the parsonage and Charles' office.  We even had visitors to the parsonage this afternoon, Sue & George Cunningham, members of the church, stopped by to extend their greetings.  Still lots left to be done of course, but it is starting to look like home!

First Friday in Stevensville

 

We are continuing to unpack and get things settled in the parsonage.  We are making great strides, each day brings more boxes unpacked and that much closer to the home we will enjoy for years to come! 

Cleaning and unpacking

Wesley takes a break from unpacking

After a busy morning

Stuff from the basement

Belinda with Dr. Marcia Prather and friends

We woke this morning in Stevensville, Montana, in our own bed!  The day was given over to clearing out the basement and then taking the hundreds of pounds of debris to the dump.  It was a dirty chore but will make the lower level of the house useable to us for years to come.  We were happy to take  the U-Haul back, it feels wonderful to have that behind us!

This evening we went to pick up Charles' car and the art work that we had stored at the home of the Prather's, church members at Stevi UMC. 

Tomorrow we'll continue the unpacking and getting our house up and running!

Home at Last!!!

A friendly reception!

The button panels find a home

That wasn't so hard, was it?

Today's unpacking took less than three hours! 
Thanks to the following for their help:

 

Kathy Clark

Dean & joey Diers

Carole Koval

Paul Ludington

Carolyn Mickens

John Soper

The ladies of the United Methodist Women (pantry shower)
Sue Cunnigham who made a Shepherd's Pie for supper

 

(if we missed anyone, we're sorry, let us know)

On the road to Montana, part 5

Just outside of Butte

local color in Drummond, MT

Getting closer!

rain clouds over the Bitterroot Mountains

We had a "proper lay-in" this morning in Butte and really enjoyed last morning before the unpacking begins tomorrow!  It was a nice  drive from Butte to Missoula and then down US-93 to Stevensville.  It was even a treat to drive through some light rain!

We arrived in Stevensville late this afternoon and thanks to some wonderful helpers, managed to get the truck unloaded in a fraction of the time it took Charles to load it!  We were even treated to a "pantry shower" by the ladies of the United Methodist Women. 

We are pretty tired, but ever so excited to be at home at long last!  Wesley did very well during this trip and is no doubt looking forward to the house getting 'back to normal' and the sooner the better!

Day five: 149 miles
Trip total: 1,853 miles

On the road to Montana, part 4

Hairy Bear and friends in Sheridan, WY

Chief Plenty Coups, last chief of the Crow Nations

YAC office in Billings

Three Forks, MT

On the road in Montana

Continental Divide in Montana

Leaving Sheridan, Wyoming this morning, we crossed into Montana and our new life in the Treasure State!

Shortly after driving into Montana we passed through the Crow Nation and stopped at the entrance to the Little Bighorn National Historic site.  We decided to come back when we had more time to explore the area.  Next up was a stop at the Yellowstone Annual Conference HQ in Billings.  We had a nice chat with the office staff before heading back out on the road west.

Our next stop was in Three Forks where we visited the Wheat Montana Bakery & Deli.  We just had to pick up a loaf of their delicious bread.  This will be a regular stop on our travels through central Montana!

Continuing west, we stopped at the First UMC in Bozeman where we had hoped to visit with the pastor, Rev. Dave McConnell (he was out of town).  He had been one of the people who helped make our move to Montana possible.

Stopping for the night in Butte, we are going to rest up before the final drive to Stevensville tomorrow.  It has been quite a journey and we are ready for our life in the Bitterroot Valley!

Day four: 354 miles
Trip Total: 1,704 miles

On the road to Montana, part 3B

We stopped for the evening in the historic town of Sheridan, Wyoming deciding that the two additional hours to Billings, Montana was too much for today.

So, after settling Wesley into the hotel we went into downtown Sheridan for supper.  We really enjoyed the food and the art placed all around the historic district.

On the road to Montana, part 3A

On the road in Wyoming

Overlooking the Power River Valley

We got off to a late start this morning ,due to some necessary car repairs that needed to be addressed.  Fortunately, the Fort Collins Toyota dealer was close-by, and the car was still under warranty.  After the installation of one new serpentine belt and a water pump, we were on our way north.

Much of today was spent driving up from Colorado into Wyoming. We were surprised by the amount of road construction taking place on I-25, which slowed us down quite a bit.  Coupled with the rather hilly terrain, our tally was lower in terms of distance and time spent driving.

Day three: 376 miles
Trip total: 1,350 miles

On the road to Montana, part 2

First UMC - Dumas (TX)

Dumas, TX

Dumas, TX

Tending to the truck in Colorado

Storm coming over the Rockies

Today was the second day on the road for us and we made it all the way from Dumas, Texas to Windsor, Colorado (just north of Denver).

We began the morning by attending worship at the First UMC of Dumas (TX).  Very friendly folk and a beautiful sanctuary!  Before leaving Dumas, Charles walked around the outdoor display at the Window on the Plains Museum located next to our hotel.  Pretty interesting stuff on display!

We then set off on the journey north, passing through the Oklahoma panhandle into southeastern Colorado.  As we approached Denver on I-70 we skittered a big thunderstorm coming over the Rockies.  It was nice to feel cooler temps and to know that our day's trip was nearing an end.

Day two: 423 miles
Trip total: 974 miles

On the Road to Montana - part 1

Ready for adventure!

south of Sweetwater

The only way to travel

"Are we there yet?"

Charles following in the U-Haulk

We had a sleep-in this morning following yesterday's marathon packing/cleaning event!  Belinda finished up some tasks at the house and then it was time to "hit the road." 

We made it to Mason in time for lunch at the wonderful Willow Creek Café - awesome food!  We proceeded north, making our way to Sweetwater and then northwest to Lubbock, Amarillo, and ending up in the Texas panhandle city of Dumas, TX.

Wesley was a real trooper today, even making his way onto Belinda's lap for several naps.  He is glad to be out of the car!

Day one: 551 miles
Trip total: 551 miles