Wesley's morning work-out!

Wesley has a pink beanie baby bear that he loves to wrestle with and this morning both he and the bear got in a good work-out!

Rain in the Valley

A robin enjoys the spring weather 

A wet weekend is underway in the Bitterroot Valley and a welcomed "down" day is our treat after a busy week!  

This morning we enjoyed watching participants in a charity fun-run go past the parsonage.  Wesley can be seen on top of the couch, exhausted by the activity taking place before hum.

Another week whooshing past!

Wesley has been hard at work, tending to the home front while we've been engaged in school, work, and church activities.  

Keeping an eye on College Street

Helping Charles study

Practicing his diving tuck position?

It is hard to imagine, but we're nearing the end of another week and of another month! This week has seen much nicer weather with temps reaching into the mid-50s although this morning saw snow showers!  Spring, eh?

First Sunday of spring!

A delightful weekend for us here in the Valley, spring has arrived and with it some wonderful weather.  Belinda was on the deck, watching Wesley frolic in the sunshine.  As soon as he was brought inside, he collapsed in exhaustion with a look of pure bliss!

After worship this morning we joined some folk from the church at a local restaurant for a birthday celebration.  It is wonderful to have a church family that enjoys being together outside of church!

Signs of spring!

The mascot of the Media Arts department

March birthday lunch at the senior center

It's a green day in Stevensville

Wesley explores the early signs of spring

Being a professional house cat is exhausting!

7 years ago - Today!

Happy first day of spring, y'all!  Belinda and Charles thank God for blessing their journey together ... that led them to "the good life" in western Montana last summer!

If you want to see where they were on this day .... in 2007... click here:  http://www.seaservicefaith.blogspot.com/2007/03/grand-canyon-is-so-grand.html .

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Listen to "St. Patrick's Breastplate" at this link.

 As I arise today,
may the strength of God pilot me,
the power of God uphold me,
the wisdom of God guide me.
May the eye of God look before me,
the ear of God hear me,
the word of God speak for me.
May the hand of God protect me,
the way of God lie before me,
the shield of God defend me,
the host of God save me.
May Christ shield me today.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit,
Christ when I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in 

Happy St.Urho's Day!

(in honor of Charles' Finnish roots):

Sally Karttunen of Kingsford, Michigan, has written some songs about St. Urho.

BALLAD OF ST. URHO

Finnglish words by Sally Karttunen
to the tune of Kuka Sen Saunan Lämmitää

St. Urho was a Finnish lad,
A blue eyed, blond hair poika,
St. Urho, bashful suomalainen
Ate grapes and kala mojakkaa.

He chased those big green bugs away,
"Heinäsirkka, mene pois!"
He said it loudly, just one time ---
Tose 'hoppers had no choice!

And so the Finns are here right now,
To celebrate Dear Urho,
And sing and dance in temperatures…..
It's always way 'plo zero!

Then in snowbanks deep and rivers iced,
To our saunas we will go, oh!
Cuz' Urho is our hero, now,
As all good Finns must know!

Happy Pi Day

Today is March 14th, 3.14, otherwise known as Pi Day!

Student art @ UMT

On top of the mountain

Today was an amazingly beautiful day in western Montana and the spring-like weather was beckoning many people on the campus to climb "up to the M."

Charles decided to tackle the climb too, though it took him a lot longer than most! 

Update

a piece Charles is working on

The kids love Charles' chair sneakers!

Chocolate for Lent at SUMC

Our book group

 It seems as though February was a white-out with snow and cold a near daily happening.  After a pleasant weekend it was back to work and school for us both.

It was nice on Sunday not having to worry about snow or ice, seems as though we'd never see spring!  We may well have more snow at some point before Easter and we're ready if it comes!

Belinda has been quite busy every day with her work in Hamilton. She loves the people she is working with and the drive to and from work gives a nice show of the mountains on both sides of our Valley.

Charles is enjoying school, taking art classes is really out of his 'comfort zone' and he is learning a lot.  Even some of his drawing and painting projects have been respectable!

Sunny skies!

Today was the first time since January that we've had a Friday without snow!  Enough of what snow we have had has melted that Wesley was treated to an outing in the backyard.  He was thrilled to be able to race around and soak up the sun!!

Ash Wednesday (pt. 1)

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust of power, and idle talk; But grant rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to thy servant.

Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Prayer of Saint Ephrem the Syrian

St. Piran's Day 2014

It's been ten years since we first heard of the saint most commonly known as the patron saint of Cornwall. What an amazing journey since RAF St. Mawgan.

Saturday after the blizzard

While we did get quite a bit of snow here in Stevensville it was nowhere near as bad as we had expected it might be.  Still, following a restful morning Charles was outside, clearing the snow from our walk and driveway (with our new snowblower!).  

Belinda was quite the busy bee as well today with baking taking up a good share of the afternoon.  Wesley in the meantime kept watch from his perch on the couch of the goings on taking place around him!