Study Space

I finally finished cleaning my room. The original plan was to make the cabin into a "tiny living space" but apparently everyone changed their mind and didn't tell me. My brother attempted to empty out my old bedroom but there was stuff everywhere. Poor boy. Anyway...I dragged my heels, came up with every excuse in the book, took a nap whenever I was supposed to be cleaning, and finally, today, I actually got down to work and now have a room I can be comfortable in. There's a reading corner near the window and I set my desk up so I can look out the sliding glass doors at the changing color of the trees while I'm working on my school stuff. I'm also including some pictures of my Dad's latest catches. He thinks he's so smart.

Late Season Trout Fishing

Trout season is coming to an end. Tonight is the last night we can go until it starts up again in April. These are the days I missed when I lived in Seattle...crisp, fall evenings...waiting patiently in the streams for your line to go tight, feeling the slight tug that alerts you to the presence of your prey. I love being outside. I love being with my dad. Being outside with my dad, catching trout???? Doesn't get much better. We're going again in a couple of hours. Hopefully we both get our limit so we can have a big fry.

 If you look closely, you can see the photographer!!

My favorite spot to fish for trout

 Dad having a quick snack before hitting the stream

 Beautiful sunset

Our catch of brook trout. The biggest one is mine. It was the last one I caught for the day.

Just Be Held

I've kind of been in the midst of a breakdown for about six months. Major life changes have hit so quickly they pile up before I have time to deal with one and move on to the next. I find myself alternating between laughing and crying and sometimes both at the same time. I've questioned God and doubted His wisdom and plans for my life. I've argued with Him, shut Him out, cried (some more), and closed my heart. I've convinced myself anyone could do a better job at the helm than He's been doing. Each step away from my Abba Father has been a crack in my life. There were so many cracks, I couldn't hold it together anymore. On my way home from my brother's the other day, I was praying and thanking God for a change in my circumstances. I was asking Him to forgive my bull-headed, sinful behavior. A song came on by Casting Crowns that I am quite certain was written just for me. My favorite part says this:

If your eyes are on the storm
You'll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You'll know I always have and I always will

What a wake up call. No wonder everything appeared so bleak. For six months I have been focusing on the storm. For six months my attention was not where it should have been. I was so easily distracted from the truth of the cross. Only love would do for me what Christ did. Only the desire for my best would make such a sacrifice. Thank you, God, for the reminder. Thank you for holding my heart in the midst of the storm with arms that will never let go.

Summer Fun with MomMA

MomMA successfully moved me from Seattle to Curtis. Here are some pictures of our adventure.

Glacier National Park

Four-wheeling

Grand Marais (can you say wind-blown?)

 Mackinac Island

 Owl Lake

Fishing with Theo

Today was Tee's turn to spend with Baby Boy. He wanted to fishing for the first time, too. It was so fun to do some "firsts" with the kiddos. I actually got to see him crawl for the first time -- he happened to do it while I was babysitting and I was lucky enough to catch it on video so his mom and dad could see. Anyway...Baby Girl, momMA and I went to a trout pond in Renton. Today, there was one much closer in Woodinville. I liked being able to experience both. The Renton experience was more rustic and redneck (not complaining...I'm a Yooper...can't get much more redneck than that) while the Woodinville location was catering more to Yuppies, I think, who wanted their kids to have a fun experience in a more "refined" environment.

Theo was quite excited to get started. He grabbed his pole with enthusiasm and didn't seem quite as uneasy about the flopping fish as Little Girl was. We worked well as a team. I taught him how to throw in his line and I held the net. When he'd get a bite, I'd say, "Okay, Bubba, walk backwards." He'd walk backwards until I could reach the fish with the net and we did this twice, very quickly. He caught two rainbow trout about 13" each! I'd gone with the intention of catching three...enough for his family and me to have a little sample. After catching his second one, he decided he was done. One of the trout in the bucket jumped too loud for him. He baited the hook instead and watched Tee bring in the third one. It was so much fun to be with him and watch him experience bringing in his first fish!

We drove back to his house in time for lunch and when Megan asked him what he wanted, he said, "Fish, please." I taught Megan how to fry them (also a first) and we snacked on the fish while waiting for Tim and Baby Girl to get home.

When I got back to D&MA's I started to cry. I know I'll get to spend time with my babies again but it won't be as frequent and I love being their Tee. I'll miss the more frequent contact with my adopted kiddos and doing special things with each of them. I am blessed to have been a part of their toddler years and early development. Thanks Tim and Megan! I love you guys.

Tee's handsome little man

Holding the pole like a pro

His catch...a 14", 13" and 12"

Mom frying up her boy's first trout he caught all by himself

Getting ready to try his first bite ever

"Mmm...Mama, I like this fish!" (Music to Tee's ears)

Trout Fishing with MJ and momMA

So, apparently, Baby Girl told her mom she wanted to go fishing. Everyone knows that's Tee's territory. I wanted to make sure to take her somewhere she would definitely catch a fish, since it was her first time. I looked  online and found a place that stocked their ponds with rainbow trout. There were three ponds with trout dispersed according to size. Small, 8 to 10", medium = 11 to 13", and large = anything 14" and above.

Baby Girl caught an 8 incher her very first cast. She was excited and scared at the same  time. She didn't like how the fish flopped around while we were bringing it in and she didn't want to get too close to the bucket in case one jumped out and bit her. After a few more casts (and dropping the pole whenever she got a bite) she decided she preferred holding the bait and pinching  pieces off for momMA and me. The bait was a combination of fish food, flour and water. The trout farm supplied it.

You paid by the size and they cleaned the trout for you. It wasn't exactly a true fishing experience but, for her first outing, it was just right. When she is older, she'll have to come with me to the  U.P. and I'll introduce her to the Fox river and how to catch Brook trout in the streams.

MomMA,  WA dad and I enjoyed a delicious trout dinner. I fried  them up just like Mom taught me and we had fried potatoes, green beans and sliced cucumbers to go with them. I saved one for MJ to try. Maybe she'll share it with Bubba.

More Sunsets and a Baseball Game with the WA Parents