Essence of Time

     Earlier today I received an electronic missive from a former colleague who commented she'd "read your blog . . . are you still in Idaho?"  AARGH!!  I checked this little online journal and realized its been nearly seven months since my last post!  Brevity be at my (typing) hand as I update . . . .

      To begin, yes, we are still in Idaho.  At this juncture, Meg remains employed by Monsanto in Soda Springs and Josh has yet to find the right fit for himself professionally.  In the interim:

 

     July . . . found us greeting longtime friends Dan and Peggy Kushuba near the 4th.  We followed their visit with a camping trip in Island Park (location of the famous Henry's Fork of the Snake River) and from our campsite there day trips into Yellowstone.  We were joined by the Jurgens for a night.  Later in the month, a long trip to Hell's Canyon NRA on the western border of this Gem State.  Shortly after our return, Glenn's mom Rita flew out for a visit en route to AZ and the commencement exercises of our niece, Jeanne, who is now a Physician Assistant in a practice which specializes in pediatric surgery.

 

     August . . . and our doors opened to more friends, Tom and Linda Carstensen.  After a few nights here in Inkom, we delighted in showing them the highlights of Yellowstone as well as a few of our favorite 'out of the way' spots.  Additionally, at the end of the month Miles started pre-school;  he attends the local public school two mornings weekly.  From what we can glean, he's a stand out (His teacher commented to Josh:  Today Miles used the word 'epoxy' correctly in a sentence!)

 

 

(August, 2012)  Above, Meghan and Miles get ready for his big adventure, starting pre-school.  Meg took the morning off work so she and Josh could both accompany him on the first day.  Below, Miles' first school pictures.  What a guy!

 



    September . . .we punctuated with three short trips starting with a bang and a sputter -- Glenn and I spent Labor Day weekend in Texas enjoying the sights, sounds and flavors of the Lone Star State.  Unfortunately, we were unable to enjoy the outcome of the "Cowboy Classic" where our MI Wolverines got blown away by the Crimson Tide of Alabama (but, I might note, not quite as badly as Notre Dame was!) 
     We also spent one weekend NNE of Montpelier in a rented former forest ranger station; kids joined us for three of the four nights we were there.  And, we sneaked off to Yellowstone for a late season fishing trip as well.

    October . . . arrived bittersweet.  For Glenn, it meant a stroke of luck in that he was drawn for a deer permit in a zone noted for a high percentage of hunter success and big bucks.  He took his first mule deer on October 20.  Next on the agenda -- celebrating Meg's 33rd (gulp!) birthday before Glenn took off for Michigan and his annual whitetail hunting trip on our property in Iosco County; yep, we still have it!  It would be 3.5 weeks before he and I were together again!

 



(09/01/2012) Cowboy Stadium.  In the top photo, Glenn still has hope for MI vs Alabama; of course, the game had not yet started!

12/08/2012)  The Jurgen Family.  Bottom:  Meghan (33), Mae Elizabeth (19 months), Miles Lee (4 yrs., 4 months), Joshua (32). 

     November . . . arrived more quickly than I'd imagined it would and on November 15 I jumped on a southbound shuttle headed to the SLC airport and a waiting flight to Detroit.  Arriving in MI, I was picked up by longtime (since kindergarten!) friend Mary Jo.  We spent two great days together just catching up, shopping, seeing the movie Lincoln and the highlight -- a perfectly glorious autumn Saturday spent in the BIG HOUSE watching our Wolverines beat Iowa!  Getting handed off like the imaginary spud in a game of "hot potato" I visited good friend and former colleague Jenni Snider,  Reese and cousin Rose, Saginaw and my Valeck family cousins and had breakfast with Glenn's mom Rita and sister Vicki.  The rest of my whirlwind visit flew by, including the five-night stay at Chez Hilleslands' in Plainfield, IL which coincided with the Thanksgiving holiday.  It had been one whole year since I'd seen sister Brenda and her family.

(01/10/2013)  Mini-Michigan.  Mae and Miles aren't old enough to realize Grandma Linda is indocrinating them to become Wolverines!   Here, they're watching "The Little Engine that Could" video in our living room.

December   . . . Oh, my gosh.  What happened to December?  We returned to Idaho on Monday, December 3 and remained here but 11 days.  I'd booked a short trip for the two of us to Sedona, AZ Dec. 15-22 . . . we opted to leaved for the long drive a day early.  The weather wasn't as warm as we'd hoped it would be, but nonetheless better than snow and cold.  Lots of hikes, sightseeing, and most importantly, visiting with family filled our time there.  By a stroke of good fortune and serendiptious timing, we saw ALL of Glenn's "Arizona Davises" side of the family including sister Gayle and her companion Alvin; nephews Adam and Matt and their families (including our two GREAT-nephews) and niece Jeanne . . . who became engaged to longtime beau Davawn during our stay!  Landing back in Idaho on December 16, en route we scooped up Josh's folks at the SLC airport as they were arriving, again serendiptiously, just as we were driving past.  They'd come to spend the winter holidays with the grandbabies.  What is Christmas without kiddies?!

(12/21/2012) Fay Canyon Trail.  Glenn and I along the Fay Canyon Trail on the outskirts of Sedona, AZ.  We took a little break for ourselves the week of 12/15 to 12/22.  Fortunately, the timing allowed us to see all of the "Arizona Davises" (Glenn's family) while there.  In fact, we were joined by his sister Gayle and her friend Alvin on this hike!

 

January 2013  . . . and now, a new year began with a Jurgen family 'sleepover' on New Year's Eve, which is almost a family tradition since we've done it two years running.  But like all of the others, this month is now slipping through our fingers and lives.  Extremely cold winter weather has kept us indoors much of these first 28 days; in fact we have yet to use our new fishing licenses on the ice of Chesterfield Reservoir!  The highlight of the month occurred this past weekend when longtime friends (35+ years) Ray and Lana Schultz of Millington, MI looped out of their way on an extended winter trip west to spend a weekend with us.  Always so good to reconnect with folks with whom we have a shared history and many memories!



 

As with the conclusion of 2011 and throughout several months of 2012, we now wait with some excitement, some trepidation -- emotions running the gamut of possibilities. The first weekend of February will bring an extended sleepover for our wee ones, Miles and Mae.  Their folks will be visiting Cheyenne, WY where both have been invited for tours and onsite interviews with DynoNobel, Inc. located there.  In addition, Meghan has completed the interview process with the Simplot food division in Boise, ID.   So, we wait for word from our daughter and her family . . . about these new job prospects which both would involve moving.  Many mixed emotions as noted -- if either of these come to fruition it will mean an eventual move for us as well.  And, while I know the greater metropolitan area of Boise would offer so much more for all concerned, a relo to Cheyenne would put us one day closer to the Midwest and only one (long and hard) day's drive to sister Brenda and family.  Both would mean giving up this home which we've grown to love -- not to mention in which we've invested money!

 

So perhaps by this time next month some questions will be answered, some plans will be laid and some known changes in the offing.  Or perhaps not.  Life is a roller coaster and an adventure.  But as we grow older, we experience the essence of time ... and our time here with daughter and son-in-law and the grandbabies have been the best times of our lives. . . . and they will continue to be so . . . but maybe from a different zip code!!

 

Thanks for reading and I promise to update again more regularly!!