Delightful Sunday

Charles catches up with church members during fellowship time



Belinda leads a study group each week.

Parsonage yard projects

Backyard spring projects continue!

Spring continuing to unfold around us here in the Bitterroot Valley this weekend as can be seen in the flowers beginning to bloom at the parsonage!

Two works by Charles

Self-portrait (split-complimentary study)

The T.A.R.D.I.S. (monochromatic study) 

Charles got two of his paintings back from the instructor this week having gotten good marks on both.  With three weeks left in the semester he feels good about his grades, a far-sight better than his previous undergrad experience at Birmingham-Southern College and TCU!

Easter in Montana

Sunrise service at the Gragg ranch

Morning traffic in Stevensville

Easter breakfast!

Charles 'in charge!'

Wesley samples his wheat

It was a very busy morning for us with our church family in Stevensville!  We began with the "sunrise" service (at 7:30) at the ranch of a church member, a delightful place to welcome the new day.  On the way back into town we spotted a bull wandering down the railroad tracks.  One never knows what will be seen in Stevi!

A delicious breakfast at church, an Easter egg hunt, and a engaging worship service, and a restful afternoon rounded out our Easter day!

Our Saturday in Stevensville

Giving the new mower its first outing

Cleaning out the raised beds

What a beautiful day we have had!  With near perfect weather we headed outdoors for a full afternoon of sprucing up the back yard. Charles cleaned out the raised beds, transplanted some bushes, and put a coat of redwood stain on the wood around the raised beds. Belinda in the meanwhile took the new mower out for a test-drive.

Not to be left out on the outdoor fun, Wesley had an outdoor romp and then escaped the back yard while our attention was turned away. A couple of hours later he reappeared in the alley and quickly returned to the inside of the house.  Our boy!  

Good Friday @ SUMC

We were blessed tonight with a special Good Friday service. Tonight's service was based on the theme, "A Service of Nails," which used passages from the gospel with sung responses from "Were You There"

Thursday in the Valley

Maundy Thursday @ Stevi UMC

"Two Faces in the Shadows"

Art sales at the University Center

Signs of spring on campus

Campus blossoms

Symposium on human trafficking

What a wonderful day! 

Charles had a busy day on campus which included a whirl of the University Center's art sale and a session of the symposium being held on campus on human trafficking. 

Belinda had another busy day at work!  She also attended a funeral for the husband of a co-worker in the afternoon.  The folk at the Labs are very supportive of each other which helps to make it a great place to work.

This evening, we celebrated the Lord's Supper with the church here in Stevensville.  In the place of the sermon, two of the members adapted the play, "Two Faces in the Shadows," about a fictional encounter between Judas and Peter.  It was really special!

We call it art!

The finished project

Class critique time

Choosing from the duplicate pile to take home

 Charles' drawing class had an assignment this week to create something that spoke about our self-identity.  Charles drew himself in a clergy robe (complete with red stole) and then used some of his buttons to share some of his story.  He also used buttons to show a color wheel, nice touch!

Charles also added to his collection tonight when the instructor and another student presented Charles with new buttons!  Charles also shared from a box of his duplicate buttons with the other students.  They had fun looking through the stash and choosing some for themselves.

Easter is coming!

Easter is right around the corner! 

Senior Center Birthday Lunch

Anyone want some Rhubarb? 

On-campus day care event 

Wesley helps with Charles' art project

 We are moving through Holy Week, mere days away from Easter! Quite a busy week of course with two extra services this week and work/school to attend to at the same time.

Pleasant couple of days

Giving a talk to the United Methodist Women

Belinda and Wesley hanging out

Church yard work project

Sparrow makes a meal of it

We've enjoyed a lovely couple of days to round out our work week. Yesterday, Charles presented a program to the United Methodist Women using items from our experiences with the Wesleys in England. Today Charles took part in the men's group at the church and then in the all-church work day.  Lots of fun at SUMC this week!

Belinda and Wesley have had a busy couple of days as well with baking and filing (Belinda) and napping (Wesley) the order of the day!!!  

Asking for prayers for Belinda who is now suffering with a nasty bug that is going around.

Springtime at the Refuge

Bald Eagles on the wing
Picture perfect day in the Bitterroot Valley, a wonderful way to end the work-week!  As Charles was about this morning he stopped by the wildlife refuge and enjoyed a few minutes of calm that being in the midst of such beauty allows! 

On campus this week

spring on the campus

woodblock gallery at the MMAC

MFA opening

Student art on display

 What a wonderful we've had here in southwestern Montana!  Charles had a busy week on campus including taking in several gallery exhibits.  One of these exhibits featured woodblock prints from Japan (going back several hundred years). Other exhibits featured artwork being done by experienced art students.  Lots of cool stuff being done at UMT!

Our week

Belinda loves the UMW!

A gold finch visits our backyard

Carol Gragg presented buttons for Charles' collection

What a week we've had!  Everything built up to the weekend with the United Methodist Women holding its District meeting at our church in Stevensville.  It was a lot of fun having such a gathering in our community!!

Spring is here to stay (at least this week) and Wesley has been engaged in his duties of House Cat.  And he is doing an a great job!