Idaho Falls

We have made our way south to Idaho Falls...

The Falls on the Snake River, Downtown, Idaho Falls

Today we visited the Tautphaus Park Zoo.



We also enjoyed visiting the Museum of Idaho's Artifact Exhibition of the Titanic! Amazing artifacts from the ship as well as the tragic and enduring story of a ship lost at sea... the kids were fascinated and we all learned a lot... what a great exhibit!

The Bitterroot Wilderness and Paths of History

Today we spent the day driving on Highway 12 across the North Central part of the State of Idaho. We drove along the winding Clearwater and Lochsa Rivers through Lolo Pass into Montana.

Daddy and Thomas enjoying a break at Lolo Summit

On our journey, we followed the historic path of Lewis and Clark as they made their way through the Bitterroot Wilderness and mountain passes. We read of their trials and triumphs as well as their dependency on the local Indians that lead them through a very treacherous part of their journey.

Sarah and Thomas at the Montana Border, Lolo Summit

This same path was also the ancient path of the Nez Perce. Every year, they made their way from their native country along the Snake river in West Central Idaho, Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon to their summer buffalo hunting grounds of the Bitterroot Valley of Montana.

Eagle Mountain Pack Bridge

Explorers at Heart

We also enjoyed the amazing scenery and granite rock of the exposed Idaho Batholith that told the story of long ago creation...

The Lochsa River

Exploring the State of Idaho

This week we have embarked on a family adventure.

My husband is on a working trip around the State of Idaho while we have joined to explore the rich history and scenery all around us!

A Photo at the State Line on Highway 12, Lolo Pass

Earlier this summer, we finished up a study of Idaho. Sarah has studied and worked to put together a time line of history by reading books and studying various articles and video presentations on the subject. Now we are visiting the historical sites specific to the history we have studied!

We have begun our driving adventure making our way to North Central Idaho via highway 55. We enjoyed a lovely drive up the Payette River Scenic Byway through McCall and up US highway 95 up to Grangeville. We made special stops to explore Whitebird pass. There, we read about the Battle of Whitebird, marking the beginning of the Nez Perce War of 1877. We learned that the United States was pressured to break it's treaty to accommodate the many early settlers and miners (who were driven by their lust for gold) interested in living on the ancestral homelands that has been set apart for the Nez Perce.

We finally made our way to our destination for the evening, Lewiston, Idaho.

Thomas on the Snake River, Lewiston, Idaho

Lewiston, along with it's neighboring city, Clarkston, were named after the famous explorers, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, that found a trans continental water route through to the Northwest in 1804-1806. They were commissioned by Thomas Jefferson, who was interested in establishing a major commerce route to the west. Here is where they made their way via the Clearwater River which empties into the Snake River... and where they eventually made there way down to the Columbia and eventually to the Pacific Ocean. The two cities sit across from each other at this point on the Snake River.

View of the Snake River from Hells Gate State Park

We spent the day at the Hells Gate State Park, enjoying the Lewis and Clark Discovery Center, where we got an overview of the trip of Lewis and Clark as well as a comprehensive understanding of the Nez Perce nation and their ancient beliefs.

Sarah and Thomas exploring a hollowed out Canoe...
similar were made and used by Lewis and Clark
and their party to navigate down the river
through the Northwest Passage.

We also visited the Jack O'Connor Hunting Heritage and Education Center. We learned about establishment of animal and nature conservation in the State as well as viewed an amazing wildlife collection from all over the world.

A Camp Stove similar to what might have been used by Lewis and Clark

Later, we headed up to Moscow (to visit with Aunt Ruth for dinner) as well as, taking a short detour to explore the Appaloosa Museum.

Sarah at the Appaloosa Museum in Moscow, Idaho

The Appaloosa is a legitimate breed famous in the State of Idaho. The Nez Perce were influential in creating the breed and building it's population. The museum was filled with lots of rich history and information on the breed and horsemanship throughout the mid 1700's to modern day. This stop was a highlight for Sarah!

Can't seem to keep our girl out of the saddle!

A Week at the Western Idaho State Fair

This week has been a very full and fun week. I am exhausted... but, am now resting in the fullness of having experienced, along with my daughter, the "Western Idaho Fair" !

Sarah and her dear friend, Sarah Jane... Having Fun at the Fair

Sarah has spent this year committed to her 4-H horse project. It has been a lot of work, but the kind of work that is joy filled. She has a heart for animals and particularly horses. Every day we have driven out to the pasture to feed and water her horse, Wyatt... to groom and care for him...and to spend time gaining trust and bonding with him. Weekly throughout the Spring and Summer months she has practiced riding and working with him on Showmanship. Her trainer, and fellow 4-H member, and owner of the horse, has worked to instill knowledge and skill in the art of horsemanship.

As for our time at the Fair???

Wyatt's Stall Door
The Stalls are decorated with a story board for on-lookers
to get to know the horse and rider's 4H experience for the year...

Sarah all ready for her Record Book Interview

The Interview

It's not all glamorous... caring for a horse is hard work!
Sarah mucking out Wyatt's stall.

Now, if I could only get her to clean out the kitty litter box with such enthusiasm!

Sarah and Lianna, her 4H leader, getting ready for her Trail Class

Sarah riding in her Western Equitation Class

Sarah is having a great time... her big highlights are completed now. She finished her Record Book and Horse Interviews as well as her Trail, Showmanship, and Novice Western Equitation Classes. It was a great experience to get out into the arena and show her skills and compete with other children of the same age level and experience. She earned a Blue Ribbon for her Trail, and Showmanship classes. She also earned a Red Ribbon in her Western Equitation Class. We were thrilled to see her excel among her peers and to place so highly in a group of 20 or more children. This shows she is becoming competent in the work she has invested in for the past year...

Sarah showing off her ribbons after her Showmanship Class

We are so proud of her... and her heart of excellence in all she puts her mind to!

It's The Little Things

...that bring us joy.

My children enjoy shucking corn...it is a pure pleasure for them!


Little acts of service bring joy... to those that serve and to those that receive...

Saturday Adventure

Over the past few weeks, we have yearned to take just a little more time...to be in the midst of nature... to stop... and be still.


It is so good for the soul... to go into God's natural world and enjoy His amazing handiwork.

After some research, we decided to take a picnic lunch and head for the mountains.

Within an hour we were driving away from the dessert landscape and up over the foothills ...through a beautiful valley... lush with green fields... we decided to take the road less traveled and headed off the beaten track a few miles along the rustic side of the Payette River.

The South Fork of the Payette River

We found a turn off with a fairly steep, but passable, trail down to a white sand bar ... secluded and quiet... Having a moment of insanity, I chose to throw caution to the wind and encouraged my daughter to just scoot down on her bum! Thomas, my fearless son, eagerly held my husband's hand and climbed down the hill like a mountain goat!

Our Mountain Goat!

We made it... chairs, food and toys for the beach... all in one piece!

Mommy and her babies!

The afternoon was spent hunting for rock treasures, enjoying the cool river water... our dog, Lucky, had a great time fetching sticks.

Our Lucky Boy

We enjoyed the occasional kayakers paddling by... but for the most part, we had the place all afternoon to ourselves... it was perfect!

The water was very refreshing ... and cool

Thomas, looking at his toes in the clear water...

Sarah, our resident rock hound

The climb back up the hill was a bit more difficult for the children and the dog... (our 13 year old puppy is not as spry as he used to be)...lots of drama... but we lived to tell all about it...

And, what an adventure it was!

Summer is for Swimming!

Action photo taken by a fellow parent, Vin Crosby! Thank you...

Thomas and Sarah have had a great time over the past couple of weeks... each took a second round of swim lessons for the summer. Thomas has been perfecting his flutter kicks (it's been a challenge with weakness in his legs from his surgery early this year...). Sarah has been working on her Elementary Back Stroke. Both can jump into the pool from the deep end and make it to the side without assistance... This is progress!

July Sunset

In the hush of a moment... the sun slips low and creates
a splendid show for me tonight...

A Lesson in Letting Go

Today has been an emotional day...

Our good old Jeep of 12 years has finally "kicked the bucket"... it sat in our driveway this weekend (after being driven home from the auto repair shop)... gushing antifreeze on the driveway... with little hope of repair... We are all a bit saddened by this occasion. It has been with us so long that it has become a part of "us", so to speak.

The kids have never known my husband to drive any other vehicle... it has been the source of many a fun joy ride as a family, and it has traveled the world with us... from the East Coast of the United States... to Europe... to Japan... to the West Coast... and... (we were even thinking of driving it out to the East Coast one last time to actually have it circle the entire globe)!

This Red Jeep has driven us through most of our married life and has been a part of memories that will last a lifetime...


Today we said goodbye...(it will go to the crusher)... the government has supplied an incentive to purchase a car with cheaper gas mileage... being that the problem and repair will cost many more dollars than is worth the effort... the Jeep serves us one last time by bringing the cost of a new vehicle a little less. My husband took it for it's last drive this afternoon... and returned with a practical yet sporty looking blue thing... (I don't think he is as sad as the rest of us are...)



I have shed a few secret tears... my Sarah is bawling like a baby and Thomas is just fascinated at the idea of the Jeep being crushed! (A window into the differences of women and men).

Letting go is hard to do sometimes... often we don't understand why... but, in the end... placing our faith and happiness in things never brings lasting joy.

God is the source of all good things.

Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.
Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:16-17

Mid Summer Garden Update

The past couple of weeks have become quite warm around here... above average temperatures into the 100's. My lettuce is bolting, by potato's greens just wilted away... My tomatoes became out of control... my cucumbers and zucchini are producing enough to enjoy every other day or so... my herbs are flowering and some are dying out because of the heat... the peppers are starting to produce as well!

Our Little Garden is full of life!

This is not up to my neatness standards :)
I am at a loss how to keep tomatoes in their place!

To my joy, the summer flowers are starting to bloom...

My First Sunflower!

I spent the morning digging up my potatoes... I found many more than were planted :)

It is official now... we are Idaho Potato Farmers...

4H Record Book

Every year, 4H youth must return their record book for review and judging at Fair. It is filled with information about the year: Community Service Opportunities...Group Service... 4H Activities and Involvement, Personal Goals , what they did to achieve their Goals, how much they spent (or their parent's spent) toward achieving their Goals, and what they rate their achievements to be.

Sarah's Record Book Cover, created and designed by Sarah...

The Back cover...

Sarah has worked diligently this year... (and so have we) to make her goals a reality.

A couple of Sarah's of Goals for 2009

She has studied and practiced to gain a greater understanding of horse health, she has gained a greater understanding of horsemanship and horse trivia, she has gained knowledge to perfect her showmanship skills; she has perfected putting a halter on her horse (14+ hands high) without assistance from an adult; she has learned more about riding Western style and English style... she has grown more mature and gained a greater understanding of horsemanship and what is required to care for and own a horse...

The first page of Sarah's 4H Story...

All of this, and more, through the 4H program.

Courtney working with Sarah on Showmanship Skills

Courtney and Sarah, Eagle Island Foothills Trail Ride 2009

If it were not for the dedication of her leader, Lianna, and her capable daughter, Courtney, Sarah would most likely not be as far along as she is. If it were not for the generosity of her 4H leader, she would not have the opportunities she has had... what a blessing to have such people in our lives...to dedicate and spend hours of time poured out in pure love ... for a little girl... and the love of a horses...

Lianna preparing Sarah for the Snake River Stampede Parade...

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!