Artist's Point

So, here's where we went last night. This is a view of Shukshan. Unbelievable. We used to pay 100's of dollars, have to pack for days, and take time off to see this kind of beauty on vacation. All we took was a few bottles of water! The boys got to play in some of the snow that hasn't melted. They can only open this particular two miles a couple of month's a year because it is usually COVERED with snow. It is a great place to go snowshoeing apparently. Mount Baker (the small picture below) is continually covered with snow and after Mount Ranier has the second most glaciers of any of the Cascades. It set the record for most snowfall ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD in 1998. Lots of good skiing up here! Feel free to use our house for your very own bed and breakfast, as Mt. Baker is a little less than one hour to get to!!!! This is the view we get from our house, but we were VERY close to it last night!

Howdy from Sumas

Did I mention we LOVE living here?! It's so beautiful and there is SO much to do. We went to a company party on Saturday. It was hosted by one of the doctors from Northwest Radiologists, where Jim works. He lives with his family on Lake Whatcom. Even though it was rainy and cloudy and cold, we rode his boat and the boys got to ride on the intertube boat thingy he had on the back. It was a blast. Since it rains so much here, it just doesn't phase people; they told us no one even owns an umbrella. Someone finally had the wherewithal to cover the hamburgers, but other than that, we just played outside in the rain.

Jim brought his magic stuff and did a magic show, and Jonathan sang a couple of Johnny Cash songs. We also did a duet, and Joseph sang an Elvis number. The McNeely variety show. I think we were a hit.

We went to the Nooksack Falls on Friday night. So beautiful and yet, so deadly if you go beyone the fence, which unfortunately, some people have done. (11 since the 1940's). I saw an article in the Mount Baker Experience about one young fellow who is the only known survivor. Harrowing. This gives you a good idea about how beautiful it is:


The boys start school on Wednesday. They are very excited. Our church, Northwest Christ the King Community Church is wonderful. I've already signed up for the women't retreat which will be he second weekend of September in Canada. Life groups will start up in September too.

The boys have eaten so many apples from our trees that they are starting to look like apples. I made these wonderful blueberry muffins with the blueberries we have, and we served brownies with ice cream and blueberries yesterday when some friends who moved up here years ago came for dinner. We knew them in Denton when we all went to UNT. Grace and I became roommates when I was teaching, and she played at our wedding. (She received her PHD in piano perfermance) Rob teaches piano in Bothell, WA and they have 5 sons. Our boys had a wonderful time playing with other kids for the first time since we moved here!

Well, hopefully I'll get some photos downloaded and update sooner next time.

The day we've been longing for...

Today is the day! We get to pick up Jim from the airport at 10:40, go see my dad, then we are going to finish up at the house. Jim's mom is coming this afternoon to say goodbye also. Tonight is the Going Away Party; Let's see if all 75 RSVP's show up. I hope so. I really want to see everyone before we go. I hope I'm not an emotional basket case :) We'll be leaving Texas Friday morning, and hopefully arriving Sunday afternoon.

Is anyone out there?!

Hello Friends,
It is a sad and lonely world without my dear hubby.
(although I realize in this picture I don't look too sad, but I was taking it for him)
I went to a Mary Kay party (with our fabulous rep, Rachel Humphreys myprivatethoughts@msn.com to order or get more info :) and this is what she did for me. I'm not too fond of the hair-back-out-of-the-face look, but I do like the colors and ordered all of them.
I would appreciate any and all comments. Please let me know you are out there reading my blog!!!!!
Thanks in advance.
Oh, Jim will be flying in on Thursday morning. You are all invited to our going away party at the Teeter's that evening at 6 p.m. Let me know if you need more info. We will be leaving in the Budget Moving Van on Friday morning at 5 a.m. sharp!