Apples, Plums, Elderberries and Bears

The last two weeks have been so very exciting for me. As I have said many times before I have tried so MANY new things since I have been here in Montana. It really helps to have a neighbor like Sharon Palmer that I learn so VERY much from. NEVER would I ever have thought that I would become the domestic goddess that I have become. In the last two weeks I have learned how to make lots of homemade jellies, jams and butters. I also learned how to rebatch soap! So I can add homemade soap maker to that list as well.

I really feel like I am in my element even when I am sooooo very far out of it. Sometimes to find your true potential you have to step out of your comfort zone and embrace where God leads you!

My husband has been doing the very same thing, in his job. He is doing things at the school that 2-3 years ago I would have NEVER imagined him doing. He has grow so very much, and even though he was a great man before he is even more amazing now. He works so hard so that I can be home with the kids. He will never know how much I appreciate how much he does for our family because there really are no words to say that could communicate that. He is such a beautiful man, amazing husband and magnificent father! I really won the lottery when I found him...or when he found me...or when God brought our two wandering hearts together. I always prayed for him growing up. With as much instability that I had in my life before I met him God has certainly made up for it since. So, PRAISE you God for pairing me with Jason Newcomb... the most wonderful man on Earth... my soul mate.

God has blessed us tremendously in the last few weeks even. Not only have I learned to do all the things I have...we got good news from Jack's ER trip and it didn't cost nearly as much as I thought it would. If we were to have gone to the same ER trip in Mississippi it would have cost us THOUSANDS.

I am also getting involved in the community much more. Making friends seems to be coming a little bit easier. I suppose when you recluse yourself in a cabin in the mountains that you really aren't gonna meet anyone. So, I am putting myself out there a little more. And guess what!!!??? I am meeting people...wow. LOl!!! I am still trying to get the photography biz off the ground as well...slowly but surely!!!!!!!!

The only problem we are having now is with Willow barking at night. We are having major evidence of Bears... mainly huge piles of bear scat (POOP). They are after all the fruit trees. So not much sleep the last few nights. Willow loves to let the entire mountain know of their presence.

Also, my nephew is still not well so please keep him in your prayers. Other than that, God has blessed us. We are an example of his amazing power!

And she's in the door...

So I have finally (and this is Dez btw) broken through the barrier and have made my way into the "Wedding Photography" industry... business... world. Whatever you may call it I am officially part of it. I am a proud, card toting member too.

Imagine my anxiety as I pulled up to this huge house on the river to shoot my first wedding. Luckily Everyone in this family was totally laid back. There was NO Bridezilla here, in fact she was awesome and so was her groom. I spend time from 2 till 11 that night sharing a moment with folks I never have met and coming away feeling like they were old friends.

So hopefully all of my weddings will be that successful. Though I can't imagine anything being as smooth as that one.

So here is a toast (raises tea glass) to Angie and Josh.... May you have many happy years and may your love for each other grow continuously!

Things I thought I'd never do but have done recently

See real "live" dinos hah! T-rex skull for the win!

Go to Yellowstone

See Moose, Buffalo, and Bear in the wild

Eat Turtle

Eat Kangaroo

Eat Wild boar

Eat bear

Eat antelope

Pick huckleberries

Own 2 American vehicles

Trip to Bozeman, Hospital, Museum of the Rockies and "Jellystone"

Wow... or I might say "Whew" after this trip. We left Sunday morning for a 2 day on night trip to Bozeman to take in the Museum of the Rockies and Yellowstone National park. Our trip turned into a 3 day two night trip after about 5 hours.

We were making GREAT time and I planned on taking in the Museum and possibly going to see Brutus the Bear the first day. We got up pretty early and were just outside of Butte when Jack started fussing a bit.

Now yes, Jack is a two year old. Yet, Jack is not your typical two year old. He is a very well behaved, never fusses or cries... he is that 1% of children that parents dream of having. The only time Jack ever cries is when he is really hurt. So, continuing my story...

At Deer Lodge Jack starts crying and holding his belly and his "tee-tee" and we thought "well maybe there is something in his diaper rubbing him wrong". So I pull over and change him and realize that he hasn't gone pee-pee since about 9 that morning and I believe it was now around 5:30. For those of you that don't understand... babies (even 2 year olds) pee A LOT... and he wasn't.

Soon his cries turn into screaming cries that come in waves. As soon as we hit Butte we find an ER. Saint James hospital was the one we found and luckily we got there right in time because the waiting room flooded right after we got there.

So to make the next 3.5 hours later a lot less to read... Jack had 430ml drained off his bladder (which is a ton for a 2 year old). He did EXCELLENT and the only time he really cried was when they put the IV in. Even then he only cried for a few minutes.

I really don't think they know why his bladder wasn't draining. The doctor speculated that he held it so long that it filled up too much that it couldn't. I still think that's crap, why would a 2 year old wearing a diaper "hold it". ANYWAY!!!!!

So we made it to the hotel that night, had a VERY restless night sleep because he didn't pee through the night and I was so scared that there was something horribly wrong with my little guy. After we got up and moving the next morning he did pee and we were relieved. So needless to say were were telling little man to pee like every 30 seconds and Nani even bribed him with dimes all day.

We managed to make it to the Museum of the Rockies that morning. It was really neat. Afterward we went ahead and drove down to West Yellowstone and made it in as far as "Old Faithful" (plus saw a whole bunch of other geysers and wildlife) before we decided we didn't have time to see anymore.

On the way back we decided to go out a different way, which we kinda got turned around and it seemed to take forever to get to I-90 and Butte. In fact we made it to Butte around 9:30PM. Jason wanted to go ahead and drive on to Missoula, which is another 120 miles. We made it, exhausted and stayed there last night.

Now were home...pretty much still exhausted. Though now I can say I have see one of the most amazing parks in the U.S. (Glacier is still better). I never thought I would ever see Yellowstone, but I have now. We plan on going back when we actually have more time to see the whole park. Even though I just saw 1/4 of it I feel like my life is just a touch more complete :)...

Cleaning, Cooking and Photography

Yeah, that's the three things I am good at. Well, that and being a wife and Mommy. So, not surprising, I have been doing those things since I have been home.

Jason did an exceptional job at having the house clean once I arrived home. I laughed at him during one of our last calls while I was away. "Dez, you have got to get home soon, I am running out of sweet tea". I think I made him around 4 gallons before I left. Not only was I rushing home to be with him after 2 weeks apart, but I was solving a crisis of sweet tea.

I have been very busy trying to promote my photography business. I am absolutely LOVING this door that God has opened for me. It's funny how hidden talents can come out when you need them the most. I have always had a love for taking pictures and I have always been fairly good at it, or so I have been told. I am just feeling blessed at the amount of faith that folks are putting in me. Would you believe I have talked to 3 people about photographing their weddings??? If that isn't God's hand I don't know what is. Also, I am getting tons of help and tips from old friends. I have to especially thank Matt Andrews for his patience and encouragement.

Mostly through all of this I have to thank my Loving family for caring about the things I care about and supporting my ventures. My husband is completely AMAZING. THANK YOU JASON!!!!!!!!!!!!