To Our Wonderful Friends, Families, and Neighbors...

We hope that 2012 brings you peace and comfort and the love of friends and family...

The Turners

Christmas Day, 2011 - Part Deux...

I mentioned it was a quiet day for Christmas.  About 1:00, Ival decided to go up to the property to "work."  Not long after he left, he called to tell me he had found something hanging on the gate.  It was a beautiful red stocking filled with homemade jam, homemade candy, and a tin full of nuts.

Tucked inside was a wonderful Christmas card with the following:
Dear Guardian of the Foothills.

Merry Christmas!  During this route daily to and from work it was quite intriguing to see your tent go up.

We've spent many a family discussion speculating on your choice of locations.  First,  we thought sheepherders, then moved on to some type of science study, etc.  Whatever your reason, we hope you are having a peaceful Christmas.  Know that we bless you each time we drive by.

By the way, the blue Christmas lights are a nice touch. 

Just as you have provided our imaginations with a lot of material, we hope you will have equal fun guessing about us!

Warmest Holiday wishes to you,

Santa's Elves,
Your Mystery Friends

So we left the following:



I'm sure they think someone lives there full time.  But to me, it was just such a cute thing to find on Christmas day.  I will save the card and frame it for our house when we build it.  It will always remind us of how people have had such a fun time keeping an eye on the tent and what we've done.  I imagine we will wonder for quite some time, possibly forever, who our mystery friends are - unless they stop by sometime and let us know.  Until then, thanks for making for a wonderful memory for our new home...

Christmas Day, 2011

Today started out like any other.  Everyone sleeping late on the weekend - except me.  Mom came over and we opened presents and had a humble breakfast (I cooked).  It was a very nice morning and I'm so glad mom lives so nearby.

Then something happened that made for a day I'll never forget.  As a mother, we're weird that way.

Adam was always such an adorable boy.  He had those round glasses and cute little face.  But, he always had a mind of his own.   He's certainly not perfect, but today, I think I was more proud of him than I've ever been. 

He came downstairs a while ago and said he was going for a walk.

"Are you ok?"
"I'll talk to you later.  See ya."

I could tell he'd been crying.  Oh crap, did his girlfriend break up with him on Christmas?  Was one of his friends in trouble?  I watched peeked out the window as he walked up the hill from the house.  My heart was breaking thinking of what could be wrong.  After all, it was Christmas, no one should hurt on Christmas.

Adam came home and sat in the chair.  He started telling me how he had gotten text messages from 5 of his friends.  Each one told him how much he meant to them.  He went on to tell me that his friend Ben had called him from his vacation in California to tell him that he "loved him."  He said they both broke down and cried while they were talking. 

Ben and Adam went to daycare together and have know each other since they were crawling.  They've been such good friends for so many years.  Ben has signed up with the Marines to become Special Forces and will be leaving in June for boot camp.

Jake and Adam have been friends for over 10 years.  They went to grade school together and Jake lives up here.  Jake is such a quiet boy and has had some hard times over the years. 

The twins went to grade school with Adam as well.  They've since moved to Emmett but they have stayed in contact and come over often.  As 18-year-old boys, they've discovered that it's hard to get along with their dad.  They've been living in their car off and on for the last several months and evidently, Adam has been trying to help them however he can.

Luke is a fairly new friend, but spends most weekends here.

So, this morning, all these boys either called or texted Adam telling him what a great friend he's been and how much he's helped them get through some tough times.  Ben is probably beginning, as they all are, to realize that their lives are about to change.  It's hard to know that the friends you've become so close to will all be going their separate ways and things won't be the same.

I told Adam how proud I am of him - to know that he's kept his friends for so long and that he means so much to them that they would all take this day to remind him. 

I know this post won't mean much to my few readers, but it's something that I want to remember.  Things like this are exactly why I write a blog.  As a mom, I'm weird like that.

And then, Ival called me with a surprise he found hanging on the gate of the property (and no, it wasn't something dead).  I can't tell you about that until I get a new camera (tomorrow) so that the picture can accompany the post.   It made what had just happened with Adam, even better.  You know, I have a good feeling that we're going to sell the house this spring...

Ahhhhh, Christmas

I just realized it's been a while since I've written anything here.  I guess I haven't really had much to say. 

It's just a few days until Christmas but it's going to be a busy few days.  Tonight, all the kids and grandkids are coming over.  We've gotten to where we just buy for the grandkids, at least for now.  Things are probably tighter this year than they're ever been for Christmas but I tried to get things for the grandkids that either really meant something, or something that I knew they would really like and might enjoy for more than just the next few days.  Just having them all over means so much to us - we are so grateful for our family.

Tomorrow we celebrate with Ival's side of the family.  It's grown so big (we also have our kids and my mom because the Turners are just awesome) that we have it at the clubhouse here in Hidden Springs.  We usually end up with close to 50 of us but it's a lot of fun to get everyone together.

Sunday will be quiet.  Just us and mom.  It will probably be nice to have some quiet time!

I'm so incredibly grateful for my friends, my family, and another year of having my wonderful sister-in-law Pam in our lives.  I have to mention her here because she's such a blessing to everyone who knows her.  She is truly the strength and class that I wish I could be.  Thank you Pam, for reminding us every day how precious life is, and how truly minor our problems are.  While I don't see you as often as I'd like, I think of you every single day.

I hope you all have a wonderful whatever-it-is you celebrate.  Thanks for being my friends and family!

What the Fractal?????

Ok, the fractal cross stitch didn't work out - for now.  I put the pattern together and it was almost 4x5 ft.  I don't have room for that right now.  So, this is what I'm working on.  It's been years and I'm really enjoying doing it again.

I love the old pin-up girls.  Don't you think this will be cute in our new kitchen - when we have one?  All I have done is the fire and the pot.  But that was the hard part. 

I love her.