Summer's End

This morning my toes are cold.  The boys are back in school.  I have my own "To do" list waiting for me.  The boys are all signed up for hockey.  Lessons begin soon.  

Summer is waning.  Autumn is approaching.

As I look back at photos of our adventures this summer, I smile.  We had some wonderful times.  Nothing earth shaking (except that Erik traveled to Ethiopia in July!)  But we were together - Jim, Erik, William and I.

We began our summer with a trip to Glacier Park
- our favorite place to roam...

Our last trip of the summer found us in British Colombia.
Stunningly beautiful.

At Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia,
Erik and William loved the swimming and diving.
I finished two books.

Now we spring into a new season.
(Sorry for the cheesy pun...I just couldn't resist!)
And I offer thanks to our God for the beautiful,
special, often routine, together moments
He gave us this summer.

"Thanks makes NOW a sanctuary."
Ann Voskamp

col·or    noun 

     1. the quality of an object or substance with respect to LIGHT reflected by the object.

Today Mom and I went flower shopping.

The nursery was unbelievably stunning.
All I could think of was, "Thank-you God for color...for your delightful creativity
...and for time with my Mom..."

"Giving thanks awakens me to a God giving Himself."
Ann Voskamp

MOTHER'S DAY 2012

In a blog I love to read, A Holy Experience (see my Blog List to the right), we were given the chance to write something about our mothers and post it through the 1,000 Moms Project that will help mothers and children in Haiti.  This is what I wrote:

"My mother...Patricia...the gifts she has given me are endless. She taught me to love beautiful things like flowers, music, books, and most importantly, Jesus Christ. She is a woman of prayer, of faith, of generosity and grace. Her smile lights up her face and brightens anyone's day. On Mother's Day 2012, I thank God for my mom - a gracious, beautiful woman of God."

I am deeply thankful for my mom. 

Happy Mother's Day

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/05/the-one-thousand-moms-project-make-a-mothers-day-difference/

Tyler's Grace Garden - Easter 2012

Create your own scrapbook design

This Spring I spent 2 weeks in Colorado with Beth & Tanner, Lissa & Josh, Monica and our two beautiful grandaughters: Tyler and Molly. For Easter, Tyler and I planted a Grace Garden (an idea I got from the blog "A Holy Experience"). Enjoy.

FEBRUARY 2012!!

 

I saw a robin today. Spring is coming!

Yet February, the shortest month of the year,

has been filled with wonderful gifts...

William celebrated his 10th Birthday with a NERF party.
We learned that NERF stands for
"Non-Expanding Recreational Foam"
How's that for trivial trivia?!



 William played goalie for his In-House Hockey team last week. 
He loved playing that position!


~Valentine's Day ~
Jim and I celebrated at home with King Crab Legs,
fresh strawberries and a wonderful salad. 
The tulips were from my husband.  (Sigh)

Lent begins.  I set out our Easter reminders....
our favorite being Benjamin's Box...
a book and a treasure box containing small objects that tell the Easter Story...
straw from the manger, a thorny branch,
dice for gambling, traitior coins, a nail...

Music still fills our home daily. 
Will practices piano. 
Erik plays the drums.
Right now I am learning a Bach Cantata and a Mahler Symphony.
I am thankful for the gift of music!

Number 9!  I love to see him bust out onto the ice! 
Erik's Varsity season will soon come to a close for the year. 
Montana State Tournament is just days away.  

I am so grateful to live in this beautiful place! 

As February comes to a close, I take a moment

to whisper a prayer of thanks for the

beauty and grace that surrounds me.

What will next month bring???....

a new baby!!! 



WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

This free scrapbook made with Smilebox

Open the SmileBox to see some fun photos of our family. We send you this greeting with lots of Love! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Love, Jim & Suzanne & Family

MELISSA & JOSHUA

In May Melissa said, "Yes!" to this young man.
Last weekend Joshua Mahoney became our son-in-law.

Grandpa Jim and Granny Kitty

 and Grandpa David travelled a great distance to

celebrate with us.

Melissa & Josh asked Jim to perform the ceremony.

Here they are practicing the evening before the

Main Event.

 Our almost-two-year-old grandaughter, Tyler, 

was one of Melissa's flower girls.

 Asher Barnes - the very handsome ringbearer!

 In the kitchen at Deep Creek - Daughter-in-law Amanda

along with Alyssa and Stacy created an amazing meal

for the wedding reception.

 Melissa and Josh were married right beside Deep Creek ~

Saturday, October First, 2011

 William ~ all dressed up ~ enjoying center stage before

the main event

 "Together" ~ an original song Dad wrote and sang

just for Melissa and Josh 

" Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others...
  

 ...Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end."

I Corinthians 13:4-7   The Message 

Melissa ~ our stunning bride ~

Now, joyfully ~ Melissa Mahoney

William's 9th Birthday

Free digital slideshow created with Smilebox

Check out this digital scrap book of Cora Barnes and our granddaughter Tyler:

Free digital scrapbook made with Smilebox

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

"The most vivid memories of Christmases past

are usually not of gifts given or received,

but of the spirit of love,

the special warmth of Christmas worship,

the cherished little habits of the home."

~ Lois Rand

Christmas 2010 is over.  I spent the day yesterday "putting Christmas away".  That meant taking down all the decorations around the house...emptying the remaining candy from the stockings (along with empty candy wrappers!)...and replacing each ceramic figure from our Nativity set in its styrofoam bed for another 11 months.  As I put decorations away, my mind replayed the laughter and joy that filled our house this Christmas.  All our children except Bethany, Tanner and Ty, were able to be home for the holiday.  My Dad drove out from North Dakota to be with us as well. There was much music making, cookie baking, last minute shopping and non stop talking in our home. We also enjoyed a few Christmas movies all together. 

Our New Year was spent at the hockey rink just down the hill from us.  Erik played in a High School tournament which Missoula hosted.  That meant parents had to volunteer for many jobs.  I learned to do the score sheet and run a penalty box!  We are never to old to learn new skills.  The tournament was great fun and Erik's team won the championship!  I will post a few pictures in a day or so.

Now I turn my attention to music...preparing for two Symphony concerts.  Our table is full of stacks of music waiting to be placed into folders: Bizet...Copland....Tschaikovsky...Beethoven...Holst...quite an variety!

...and I hear the weather man has predicted more snow tonight.  Let it snow!!!!