Pongo

I finally got my wish and got a puppy in October. Pongo, my Toy Manchester Terrier, is the sweetest thing! Not completely potty trained yet, but oh so close! He loves to snuggle. As I write he is on my lap. So sweet! He is kennel trained, which makes life easier, but its hard for me to remember that he is a dog, and it's ok to leave him to do other things. But still, so sweet! Here are some pics of him and Books. :)

Dear Grandma

The other day, Brenna turned 16. And so I made her a cake. Making and decorating cakes for my siblings has become my present to them. This cake was a chocolate and coffee cake. The very first time I ever made a cake mostly by myself was with my Grandma. She pulled out one of her old recipes and we made the cake, also known as Brenna's cake (since it had so much chocolate) together. Ah the memories. Let me tell you I almost made many many many mistakes, but Grandma had a close eye on me and she helped my make it right. When all was said and done, it was a delicious cake. So Brenna's birthday cake recipe was a lot like my Grandma's. It was kind of hard to make it. I kept thinking of Grandma and just wanted to cry. When it was finished, I wanted to call my Grandma and tell her all about it. Tell her all the mistakes I almost made, tell her the mistakes I did make, but mostly tell her how it all turned out deliciously and I loved her. But I couldn't. That was hard. Below is a picture of Brenna and the cake, in memory of my Grandma. Simply, yet beautiful. Just like my Grandma always use to say when she finished her cake.

School

School started this week and I am reminded of how much I miss summer! Still all things but come to an end.
This year I am taking many classes with the teacher down the street so I am glad I get more of a social activity now. But still lots of changes. This year I am a 8th grader which means only one more year until I am in high school!!!! Actually, I am not sure whether to be excited or not. But I know it will all work out.

Do I miss summer? yes. But I am looking forward to a great school year.

This is a picture of my family and I last summer in Seattle. I made a lot of memories this summer. Some good, some bittersweet and some just sweet.

Just another day in paradise

7:30 a.m. Wake up, and check on the animals, feed the ducks, get the eggs all done in my pajamas.

8:00 am   Have some coffee and figure out with my mom the schedule for the day then getting dressed

8:30 am   Walk the sheep and feed the sheep 

9:00 am   Clean, eat breakfast etc etc etc etc

 But it's not that simple. You see, feeding the ducks and getting the eggs involve sneaking out the back door so Kebrom doesn't know where you are going because otherwise you have some pretty upset ducks when a 3 year old kid comes charging at them. So I sneak out, get the food and go find the ducks. This can also be a challenge because the ducks hardly every sleep in the same place twice. Then you find the nest. Finding the nest is also a challenge because she moves the nest at least twice a week. So last week I didn't find the nest. Then on Sunday when we were working outside we realized we hadn't seen the female duck. So dad and I start looking around. We walk around the entire perimeter of the pond and finally find her nestled down in some long grass... on top of 8 eggs. This was surprising because we were told these ducks did not brood. What a surprise! Then this morning I go out there and she moved the entire nest 6" closer to the pond. Crazy ducks! 

And all that is just in the morning. So who could possibly call that crazy life fun? Well to me, it's just another day in paradise. 

Tears

Appear to be plentiful in our family. Having Grandma pass away is not easy. But everything happens for a reason, and I know God will bring healing. But it's still hard.

One of my favorite memories of my Grandma and me is a Sunday a couple years ago when she and Grandpa were in MT to visit. On this particular Sunday in November I think, my Grandma and I were having a baking day. We spent half the day in the kitchen and she taught me all the secrets. We made Irene's cookies, snickerdoodles, and several others. It was a blast. Everytime I bake I will think of my Grandma.

Another fun memory is 2 years ago when Grandma was here for the fair. And one day when we got home, we were all very tired, but even though we were tired my Grandma sat down with me and we worked on a hard puzzle together. Which was also fun.

I love my Grandma. She played a big role in my life and I will always love her and I look foward to the day when I get to see her in heaven.

Camp

is in a week and I am super excited! I went to camp utmost last year, and i loved it. so of course I am super excited for this year.

 We do lots of fun things like archery, rafting, crafts, volley ball, human fuss ball and loads more. Did I mention I am excited?

Our cabin door from last year. It was fun. :)

Cake design

The cake's I have made (do not know why the snowman cake pic is so small)

DUCKS!!!

Our ducks, Rapunzel and Flynn. Sorry some of them are crooked, but I love these ducks!!!!!

Family love

I am so very blessed. I live in a family that just loves each other! There is no hate or jealousy for more than a minute. How I know my family loves me? It's the little things.  staying home with us when our parents are gone so they can have time alone, buying you toe socks because they know you are looking for a certain color and they find them! making cakes for birthdays, cooking dinner every night, the list goes on and on and on and on etc etc etc etc.

You read that and I am sure you can agree that my family loves me. I am  also sure that you can think of similar things that just show, how blessed you are.

Sheep

Whats the first word that comes to your mind when you think of sheep? For most people its dumb. I should know whether they are or not since I raise them and actually they are amazingly smart...for sheep. They know who feeds them, where the food comes from, they know our voices and they know their names. Pretty smart eh? But still dumb. They forget about the food unless they have their faces buried in it.

In the Bible God calls us his sheep. I see sheep and I think how cute! Boy are they dumb. Think God thinks the same thing? Although He probably doesn't call us dumb because He is God but still. Get the picture?
 "We all like sheep have gone astray" Its true. Sheep don't take instructions very well. Herding sheep can be like herding cats. You get them where you want them, they stay for about 2 seconds, then they are off again. That's us. We disobey God, but He "herds" us back to where we need to be, but then we are off again. Coincidence you say that God made sheep that way? I think not!

Home

Is a blessing. Its wonderful to have a place to call home. To have friends. I read a saying

  "FRIENDS are there when you need them
  SISTERS are there whether you need them or not
  BROTHERS are there to cheer you
 PARENTS are the ones who understand
HOME is where they all are."

Home, is it a building with a bed? Or the family within? There is no place where I could be happier then at home. Lolo MT is my home. With my family. All 30 something of them. :)

                                       My home. The people, the animals, the outdoors. All part of my home.

Thank you Jesus for blessing me with a home to call my own.

Below are lyrics to a song called "This is Home" By Switchfoot. One of my favorite songs.

I've got my memories
Always
Inside of me
But I can't go back
Back to how it was
I believe you now
I've come too far
No I can't go back
Back to how it was
Created for a place
I've never known

Chorus:
This is home
Now I'm finally
Where I belong
Where I belong
Yeah, this is home
I've been searching
For a place of my own
Now I've found it
Maybe this is home
Yeah, this is home

Belief over misery
I've seen the enemy
And I won't go back

Back to how it was
And I got my heart
Set on
What happens next
I got my eyes wide
It's not over yet
We are miracles
And we're not alone

(Chorus)

And now after all
My searching
After all my questions
I'm gonna call it home
I got a brand new mindset
I can finally see
The sunset
I'm gonna call it home

(Chorus)

Now I know
Yeah, this is home

I've come too far
And I won't go back
Yeah, this is home