Advent is underway!

The clouds roll across the Flatirons

Charles' tree in his office

 

Simple Nativity scene

Craft snow people

Charles' Advent painting

We are ready for Advent and today's celebration at the church was such fun!

25 years of memories

25 years ago we began a journey together that has amazed us every step along the way. Here are some of the many highlights from our life together:

Year	Event	Location	Anniversary
1997	Wedding	Rockville, Maryland
1998	First vacation together to see the Passion Play	Spearfish, South Dakota	Osmond, NE
1999	Begin Navy Service – Rhode Island & Japan	Newport, Rhode Island & Iwakuni, Japan	Iwakuni, Japan
2000	Move to North Carolina	Jacksonville, North Carolina	Iwakuni, Japan
2001	9/11	Jacksonville, North Carolina	Jacksonville, NC
2002	Story-telling Festival	Jonesboro, Tennessee	Williamsburg, VA
2003	Autumn in Colonial Williamsburg	Williamsburg, Virginia	Jacksonville, NC
2004	Move to Cornwall	Newquay, Cornwall	Newquay, Cornwall
2005	Trips to Paris, Edinburgh, Venice, & Belinda’s 50th birthday in Germany	France, Scotland, Italy, Belgium, Liechetenstein,    Switzerland, & Germany	Newquay, Cornwall
2006	Trips to Dublin, Finland, drive back from Italy	Ireland, Finland, Italy, Switzerland, & France	Vienna, Austria
2007	Four month-long drive around America ending up in Nebraska	Sidney, Nebraska	Sidney, NE
2008	Vacation in San Francisco	San Francisco, California	Sidney, NE
2009	Leave Nebraska & four months in Minnesota	Aitkin, Minnesota	Aitkin, MN
2010	Start interim appointment in west Texas	McCamey & Iraan, Texas	McCamey, TX
2011	Callaway Gardens Christmas Pageant	Pine Mountain, GA	Columbus, GA
2012	Leave McCamey/Iraan and begin CPE in San Antonio	San Antonio, Texas	San Antonio, TX
2013	Move to Montana	Stevensville, Montana	Stevensville, MT
2014	Back to school for Charles @ Univ. of Montana / Belinda’s family visits	Missoula, Montana	Missoula, MT
2015	Belinda’s mother moves in with us	Stevensville, Montana	Stevensville, MT
2016	UMC General Conference	Portland, Oregon	Stevensville, MT
2017	20th anniversary trip	Bigfork, Montana /        Coeur d'Alene, Idaho / Walla Walla, Washington	Hamilton, MT
2018	Nova Scotia vacation	Pugwash, Nova Scotia	Corvallis, MT
2019	Move to Colorado	Boulder, Colorado	Louisville, CO
2020	Start of the pandemic	Boulder, Colorado	Boulder, CO
2021	More pandemic time	Boulder, Colorado	Boulder, CO
2022	Our 25th anniversary	Boulder, Colorado	Boulder, CO

Happy anniversary to us!

We were at the church tonight helping to decorate for the holidays and were presented with a lovely bouquet to mark our 25th anniversary!

Thanksgiving a day early

 

Our holidays got off to a fine start this morning with a meal at the Eat Well Cafe` in Boulder. 

The journey began twenty-five years ago...

Twenty-five years ago today, Charles boarded a TWA flight in Sioux City, Iowa bound for National Airport in Washington, DC where we would be married the next morning.

The week of November 23rd looked like this:

Sunday: Fly to DC

Monday: Married in the courthouse in Rockville, Maryland and then in a religious service at the chapel on Walter Reed Army Hospital. The Army chaplain (a UM) wore a robe/stole over his BDUs. We could see combat boots under the robe.

Tuesday: Start driving the diesel U-Haul to Nebraska (had to get there before winter set in).

Wednesday: More driving - Cracker Barrell stops in Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa).

Thursday: Thanksgiving Day - arrived in Osmond, Nebraska with lunch at the Lutheran-owned grocery store in town (the family matriarch was a member of the Osmond UMC and insisted that the newlyweds enjoy a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal).

A full day

Wesley's job of overseeing the day-to-day workings of the parsonage takes a lot of focus and committment to the task.

It's time to gather

Coming into range

Begining the turn for landing

Final approach

The flock gathers for afternoon tea

With a steady snow falling all day, the resident flock of Canada Geese have been gathering in the athletic field across the street from our home. It is quite a sight (and sound) of the groups circling the field and then coming in for a landing.

Checking in

Sammy stopped by the office this morning for a cuddle and a snack. Nice to see him ahead of this week's winter preview.

A November Bazaar

We made our annual trek to Mountain View UMC today for the P.E.O. Holiday Bazaar. As always we were thrilled with our finds and the fun energy we enountered!

A morning in western Montana

Belinda had been asked to offer the program for today's annual meeting of the Western Mountains United Women in Faith district. Charles lent his gift with the sharing of communion.

An afternoon visitor

Wesley is a one-cat at a time kitty. There is a neighborhood cat that appears from time to time at the back patio which Wesley is most interested in, but not in a good way!

Charles was downtown today and noticed some blossoms on an delightful autumnal day.

 

Wesley's week

The look of a serious cat

Mid-evening nap time

Bird watching after the snow

Saturday morning football

Wesley has been doing excellent work this week at his job of being the parsonage kitty. Between naps, bird watching, and playtime, he does his part to make life on Gillaspie Drive so enjoyable.

First snow since May

Welcome to a snowy autumnal day

A "winter" wonderland

Golden leaves and snow

Our first measurable snow since last May fell overnight, leaving about 6.5" of heavy, wet snow before all was said and done. It won't stick around long, but it's pretty while it lasts.

Catching up with Sammy

Sammy made a couple of appearances in Charles' office this week, taking time out of his busy schedule to get a snack and some scritches before continuing on his way. 

Getting ahead of the snow

Charles took advantage of some nice weather to clear out the gutters ahead of Thursday's expected snow!