Summer has arrived in Montana

This morning at church

Wesley looks to beat the heat behind the sofa

Maybe feet are cooler

It's been getting hotter each day this past week and made it over 100 yesterday and today.  We're doing our best to think cool thoughts!

Annual Conference, wrap-up

Neighborhood watch

With Charles still confined to bed, Belinda concluded our business with the YAC at St. Paul's UMC with a meeting of the Missoula Circuit laity and clergy. Sadly, we missed the closing worship but with Charles needing extra time to maneuver through the room check-out process we thought it best to head home early.

A stop in Missoula on the way home was a must with Cracker Barrel being the place to have a bit a bit of a break before heading home to Wesley!

Annual Conference report, pt. 2

The 47th Yellowstone Annual Conference has already been something of a mixed bag for us and that was just on the first day!

In the clergy session Thursday morning, Charles' conference membership was officially changed from the Great Plains Conference (he was ordained in Nebraska in 1996) to the Yellowstone Conference.  It is hard to describe how it feels to finally be 'at home' in a conference after five years of being a member of one conference while serving in another (first SWTX and then Yellowstone).

Belinda, who is here representing the Stevensville UMC as the lay member of annual conference, has been busy with circuit meetings, UMW functions (including the wonderful conference UMW luncheon), and with being selected to the Conference nominations committee for next year!

Charles has sadly been struck by an acute flare-up of gout which hobbled him all day Thursday.  By that evening he was in the ER due to the swelling and pain.  As a result he's been in bed in the hotel all day Friday, not the way he wanted to spend his annual conference session!

Annual Conference 2015

We're excited to be attending our second gathering of the Yellowstone Annual Conference in Helena!  AC is a combination of family/school reunion, business meeting, and worship services!  

Of course, Charles is happy because at the registration table he got his first button!  Stay tuned for regular updates from Montana's capitol city.

Belinda's Office Picnic Last Week - Part 3

Leona and Kristie - Decorating Hats

Team watching others decorate hats

Colleen Helping Team Decorate Hats

Hat Decorating Team - Sporting Their New Hats

Belinda's Office Picnic Last Week - Part 2

Horseshoes

Picnic Time

Colleen feeding "Lady the Donkey"

Ethan - Playing "Pin the Tail on the (Real) Donkey"

Team Watching Trick Roping Lesson

Belinda's Office Picnic Last Week - Part 1

Jason -- the Viking Grill Master

Irene - Our DJ

Tammy with her daughter Danny

Colleague's Youth - Playing Horseshoes

Last week, Belinda's office experienced a team-building afternoon at the Dunrovin Ranch in Lolo, Montana (just south of Missoula).  Their website is http://www.daysatdunrovin.com/visit/ .

Joining them were Kevin and Kristie from Bethesda, Maryland. 

It was a lovely afternoon together!