There is Springtime in my Soul Today...

... for when the Lord is near,

the dove of peace sings in my heart,

the flow'rs of grace appear!

As Spring is springing in the Inland Northwest, I find myself compelled to try and capture each ray of sunshine.

I know that there are months of rain ahead, but when the clouds break and the temperatures stretch toward 60, my little feet just can't stay inside any longer. As I revel in the warmth my thoughts continually turn to my blessings. "Heavenly Father loves us so much!" "Thank you, Father, for letting us be here!"

No wonder I love springtime so much --- and Sandpoint is just glorious in the spring!

While browsing the internet looking for fun day trips in the area I came across information on the  Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes - a 72 mile paved bike trail that used to be railroad tracks running from the Montana border following the river and lakes through the mountains down past Lake CDA to Plummer.

I'd been watching the forecast all last week and when Saturday rolled around, we had blue skies and 60's. We packed up our bikes, our lunch, and our kids and drove an hour and a half to Heyburn State Park at the southern end of Lake Coeur d'Alene. What a beautiful place! Upon entering the park we were greeted by beautiful migrating trumpeter swans {they're HUGE!} and found our way to the bike trail and a picnic area.

pic via

There is a bridge that spans the south end of the lake, which is where we were starting on the trail. We pulled out our lunch and unloaded the bikes only to realize that we'd forgotten a vital piece of equipment! The little metal arm that attaches the bike trailer to the bike.

{Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo!!!}

I was seriously SO bummed. I'd planned the trip, we'd borrowed a bike, and we'd spent the whole day getting ready and driving down, only to find that we couldn't all go. Nels and I would have to take turns playing at the playground with Violet and Clara while the others rode around.

Big huge sigh and near-tears while I sat in the back of the van getting a handle on my disappointment.

{enter my knight in shining armor}

I finally pulled myself together and started making lunch for the girls while Nels began looking around the parking lot (?). A few minutes later I noticed him over at the bikes with a long stick and a look of determination. When he started trying it out on the slot where the metal arm is supposed to fit, I just smiled, shook my head, and refrained from telling him it was pointless - that it would never work - and just kept making sandwiches. He found some random tools in the van and started whittling away. {more head shaking}

After a few minutes, Nels had bored a hole through one end with a tiny pocket knife and a screwdriver and amazingly was able to attach that silly stick to the trailer.

At that point, I started to see the possibilities and together (using whatever we could find in the van) we were able to jimmy rig the whole thing to my bike. My hopes began to rise, but I was still feeling pretty skeptical as to whether our creation would support not only the trailer, but two wiggly kids being pulled up and down the bridge, around corners . . . or what would we do if we were 3 miles away and then it all fell apart?! AHHH!

Oh well!!!

I admired our handiwork, strapped in our kids, and told my brain to SHUT IT! while Nels readied his GoPro.

With good reason, Clara looks a little concerned.

Not Vi! She's all smiles!

Off we go!

Much to my surprise, not only did our contraption make it out of the parking lot, it conquered the bridge with ease! so we just kept on pedaling...

Occasionally I'd have to stop and tighten things up, but there were plenty of opportunities . . . 

. . . while Nels played with his toy.   :)

He hooked that little camera up to everyone and every moving thing that he could. His head, his chest, his bike, Lilie, Hazel, my bike, Elsie's bike . . .

Elsie had it the longest and she was a hoot! The camera would take a picture every couple seconds. We got some good ones!

wide-angle lenses make people look extra funny!

That girl, the same one who boobed and whined on every bike ride we went on last Fall, decided that she wanted to be out in front the entire 6 miles we rode that day. We had just crossed the bridge when I heard her tell me, "Mom, I just LOVE to push myself!!!"

Ha ha ha hahaaaaa! Who is this child of mine? She kept us laughing the whole way.

{singing}

{racing Dad!!!} my favorite!

Don't ask me how on earth she didn't end up in the lake while she was doing this . . .

. . . clearly she's a much more talented rider than I give her credit for!

I've always thought that Lake Coeur d'Alene is pretty, but this area of the lake is absolutely breathtaking! As we were riding, Lilie told me, "Mom, you know how I was complaining about being in the car for so long? Well, I decided it was TOTALLY worth it!"

I couldn't agree more.

The whole afternoon was just perfect. Hazel had a grand time picking buttercups and Lilie sang "All Things Bright and Beautiful" most of the way. It was so wonderful to spend the afternoon all together enjoying this magnificent world that the Good Lord has given us. We will definitely be returning in the coming months as things green up.

I also found my dream house while riding. Can you imagine living on the lake all year-round? Nels needs to figure out how to work from home --- that's what I think.

Once back at the bridge, we stopped at the top to take some pictures and wouldn't ya know it? As if things could get any more perfect, I looked out over the water and there was a bald eagle fishing for dinner.

C'mon, Clara! Come back to Mommy!

Aren't they awesome?!

As we were riding back, I knew that our little stick was on it's last leg. It had started bowing more and more and to balance the weight better I had to tell Violet to sit back often, but I didn't realize just how close it was. As we pulled back into the lot where our car was parked, it gave out. It couldn't make it any further.

I can't help but think that Heavenly Father blessed us to have such a beautiful afternoon together. I felt completely surrounded by His love and a sweet assurance that He is aware of me and my family.

As we loaded the girls and the bikes back into the van, the frogs were chirping, the sun was setting, and I couldn't imagine a better spring day.

There is gladness in my soul today,

and hope and praise and love,

for blessings which he gives me now,

for joys "laid up" above!

Oh there's sunshine, blessed sunshine

when the peaceful, happy moments roll!

When Jesus shows his smiling face,

there is sunshine in {my} soul.

my {IDAHO} Love - displayed

I know I've said about it over and over and over . . . and over . . . in the past {gasp} thirteen! years, but upon first arriving in Idaho, I wasn't impressed.

I didn't like the high desert flatlands, I didn't like the wimpy mountains, I didn't (and still don't) like the wind and the icy cold, I didn't like the endless brown, I didn't like that Idahoans don't seem to understand public swimming pools. I didn't like that it was far away from my family.

But as the years have passed, I've learned to love Idaho.

I love the people. I love the small towns. I love the rolling wheat fields. I love the big center pivots watering massive alfalfa and potato fields. I love the geology. I even {secretly} love that these silly people pronounce the town Dubois "Du-Boys" - when everywhere else in the known world it would be pronounced "Du-Bwah".

I love late summer in Southeast Idaho when the wheat fields turn gold, the leaves and grass are a subdued green, the sky is the most perfect turquoise, and when the sun is setting my most favorite color palette comes to life right before my eyes.

Since moving to Sandpoint, my love of Idaho has taken on a whole new meaning . . . a year and a half into it and I've still not gotten accustomed to it's beauty. I still feel blessed everyday to live here and find myself smiling as I drive to and fro.

This last weekend I decided to really proclaim my Idahoan LOVE. I've said it in word, but now I've made it into art to be displayed in my house . . . What is this world coming to?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last year when I was introduced to Pinterest, one of the first projects that caught my eye was this little number. I vowed that I would make one myself one day. Yesterday I woke up in the mood to create something beautiful, got on Pinterest, made a decision, spent 4 hours in front of the computer in my bathrobe overthinking the project, then got 'er done.

(wanna see more states? i think they are so cool! see HERE.)



What do you think? It was one of those nit-picky-type projects, but my brain really likes meticulousness. I had so much fun that now I kinda wish it wasn't over . . .

There's still a big chunk of my heart in Idaho Falls, but no matter where we go, Sandpoint will always be one of my favorite places on earth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And in case you're interested in making one of your own, some info:

-- my piece of wood is about 11x15
-- I made my state shape in Photoshop (could use any photo editing software or regular ol' map)
-- I painted with watered-down acrylic craft paint and then sprayed a coat of polycrylic over the top
-- I taped my map onto the board to use as a pattern - LIKE SO
-- Home Depot sells "specialty" nails/brads perfect for this that are 5/8" long in the fasteners aisle.
-- I used needle-nose pliers to hold the nails in place while I tapped them in with my little hammer
-- the string I used is just metallic sewing thread from Ben Franklin craft
-- this gal gave an excellent little picture tute on the best way to tie the string to your nails. genius. she not only saved Nels's delicate ears, but saved me much heartache.
-- once I got through with all the prep work (where I always spend at least 67x more time than is actually needed) and started with the actual nailing, it took me approximately two episodes of Downton Abbey and one and a half episodes of the Ultimate Fighter. :) For those of you unfamiliar with British soap operas and (Nels's obsession) Mixed Martial Arts, that translates into about 3-ish hours. Then I spent another hour or so wrapping string this afternoon. And if that seems like too much, just be aware that I spend far more time just staring and thinking than most people . . . For example, this picture and post. I told Nels when I sat down, "Now. I am NOT going to spend all night doing this." 2 1/2 hours later . . .

Friday's Fabulous Five . . . or more

Yay for Friday!!!

1.  I'm not dead and, in fact, we're living well. :) We've been having a boat load of fun --- literally. On the Santa Chickita. We're going camping this weekend with our chickies and our raft. I've got three hours to be all packed up and I haven't really started. :) I'm so excited to go camping! (It's not dry, hot, or on fire here in the Inland Northwest. You should all come visit!)

2. There's nothing but blue skies in the forecast! Even a couple of 90* days. First this year. From what I hear, from here on out ---- probably through the end of September ---- everything about living in Sandpoint is perfect. Everyone says that they live for this time of year and I'm starting to understand why.

3. We've enjoyed sisters and cousins coming to visit and next Tuesday, my parents are coming! I'm beyond excited. We have hiking, rafting, kayaking, eating, beaching, eating, playing, and talking planned. I can't wait to see my mom and dad!

4. I'm starting to get a glimpse of my waistline again!!! Nels and I have been exercising together. It's been excellent. So far I've lost 7 pounds. Hooray!

5. Elsie finally let me cut her hair! It's still long, but we cut about 6 inches off. It was almost down to her bummy.

6. The 4th of July was wonderful! We enjoyed the small town parade (with NO candy! what?!) and later enjoyed our evening at the beach watching the fireworks over the lake. It was fun. We almost lost Violet (scary mom moment) and Clara hated the booming (with whimpering and hiding), but I actually followed through on a promise I'd made to the girls to make them some fun patriotic skirts out of my scrap fabric (more on that later), and the weather and evening were beautiful.

7. The most beautiful things grow here. I've mentioned the lupine that was in bloom everywhere you look, but now the wild roses, wild daisies, foxglove, phlox, tiger lilies, buttercups, syringa are in bloom. I love it!

Clara is growing up too fast. She reminds me so much of baby Elsie and a little of baby Lilie.
And she still has no teeth. :)

Sand Monster

Foxglove. Another of my favorite flowers that just grows spontaneously here. :)

At Farragut State Park with Kendall and her girls. Hazel takes her salutations :) very seriously. :)

She gets freckles across her nose in the sun, just like I did as a kid. 

Day 12: Sunset

Dusk in Sandpoint is . . . calm, peaceful. The perfect end to the day.

Maybe it's all in my head or maybe it's the tilt of the earth and how far north we are, but evening seems to come on more slowly here. It feels like it lasts longer. And even after the sun finally sets, it stays light and glowy for a while.

I love it.

It was warm today - above 85 - and so the house was hot come bedtime. Thankfully as the sun sets, it cools quickly and I threw open the windows.

The older girls were in bed and as I sat down on the couch to feed Clara her bottle in the dark, quiet house a wave of cool evening air seemed to wash straight down off the still-snow-capped mountains behind our house and across the two of us.

I was completely overcome with how amazing it smelled. Like springtime and pine. Earthy and perfect.

Each night at dusk Venus shows up, blazing in all her glory, setting just above the mountains -- although it's getting lower and lower each week and I'm sure will soon no longer be visible.

The frogs also come out each night. Calling to one another, all across the valley. The deer, owls, and bats also come out as the light fades.

I am absolutely in love with Sunset in Sandpoint. It's my favorite time of the day.

Not a fabulous photo, but I keep forgetting - and this way you catch a little glimpse of Venus before she sets.

Picture Heavy and Swollen Ankles

This month has been incredibly busy for Nels at work. It's been fine, for the most part, because it's been expected. The weeks preceding Melaleuca's big, yearly Convention are always VERY packed for Nels.

However, this last weekend, we decided to take an impromptu vacation of sorts. Nels's sweet mother and sister offered to take the three oldest girls to Mountain Home for a few days and we couldn't help but take a little escape ourselves among all the stress that the last few weeks have been.

Friday afternoon, as Nels was gearing up for his third all-nighter in a row, I met up with my mother-in-law at a good halfway point along I-84 and swapped my little rascals for her peace and quiet. I'm not sure who got the better end of that stick, but regardless, I really enjoyed the ride back home with no more "how much longers". Honestly, I think we all made out pretty good. -- Especially the girls, who were SO excited to get to spend the next 5 days with cousins and grandparents and NO PARENTS! :)

It had been a crazy day, trying to plan for our last minute excursion and then spend four hours driving to Declo and back. After kissing the Chickies goodbye, I ran inside the gas station to refill my water bottle and empty my bladder. I had pleasantly noticed a State Patrolman chatting with the cashier and his car parked right next to mine as I waved off my little ladies. As I exited the building, looking for-ward to some good old singing-to-myself-at-the-top-of-my-lungs time and my keys, the State Trooper was backing out of his parking spot. About the time I realized that (in a moment of pure genius) I'd locked my keys in the car -- along with my cell phone -- the State Trooper (who'd been parked right next to me!) was leaving the parking lot. I contemplated chasing him down, but figured that my pride was worth the hour wait and $40 the locksmith were going to cost me. So I spent the next hour sitting on a bench in front of a gas station. People watching.

I wasn't mad. Just thankful that my kids weren't with me for that hour.

Three hours later I arrived back home. I picked up Violet from Nels's studio, where she'd been reminding his bosses that he isn't actually a robot. We ate dinner, watched an episode of "Hoaders", packed up (did you know that packing for 2 1/2 people, as opposed to 6 is WAY easier???), cleaned up, and went to bed.

Four hours later, at 3:00 in the morning, Nels pulled into the driveway. We loaded the car, packed in a sleepy Vi, tucked Nels into the passenger seat with his pillow and blankie, and hit the road.

We made it to Sandpoint, Idaho before noon and spent the next two days just enjoying the beautiful town, the gorgeous lake and mountains, our sweet little one year old, and each other. Totally worth all the driving!

SO happy to be out of the car! and dipping our tired feet in some nice cool lake water.

 She would have continued this game all night long. Unfortunately swollen ankles and legs can only swing 23 lbs. up and down for about 10 minutes before they risk dropping her in the water. :)

Sandpoint, Idaho is a tourist town of about 7,000 people located about 45 miles north of Coeur d'Alene and about roughly 40 miles from the Canadian border. It's sandwiched right between beautiful Rocky mountains and Lake Pend Orielle (pronounced Lake Pond-uh-ray. gotta love French).

The community has made a BEAUTIFUL beach area and park right in the middle of downtown.

I've learned to get used to being the model for Nels's incessant picture taking. I just pretend he's not there. :) As a result, there are MANY pictures of me looking absolutely ridiculous (most with my yapper half open). Lucky for me, I get to decide which ones make it onto my blog. :)

Sometimes I just wish he'd put the darn camera away and actually join in being an active part of whatever we're doing. Funny enough, most of the time I have to remind him to actually take pictures of people. Often we get home, only for me to discover that most of his pictures and video are of moving water, random fishermen, trains, bugs, you name it. :) He reminds me of my dad in that way. At the same time, he does such a great job and I love some of the sweet moments that he captures of our family.

However, every once in a while, I do steal the camera away. Mainly so that someone else can lug around that luscious little one year old we have, but also so that I can occasionally prove that NELS WAS THERE! :)

Sadly, when I take pictures of his handsome mug, the top of his head sometimes disappears. :) I don't know how to work his camera. And even though he's tried to show me a hundred times how to adjust the ISO and such, I'm just not that interested . . . Much easier to have an excuse when the picture isn't perfect. :)

A few pictures from the Schweitzer Ski Resort - above Sandpoint. SO beautiful!

We headed home Sunday afternoon, driving through Montana. At one point, there were a lot of warning signs along the road.

Apparently these fellas like to frequent the highway.

Of the 15+ hours we spent in the car last weekend, I probably drove about 12 of them. As I'd vaguely mentioned before, Nels had spent all three of the nights before we left working until anywhere between 3:00 and 9:00 in the morning. At which point, he'd come home to sleep for about 4 hours (tops) before heading back into work. Needless to say, anytime we were driving, he was snoozing. He did however drive the last 4 or so hours home on Sunday night while Violet and I slept. I was apparently more tired than I'd acknowledged to myself, because I have an incredibly hard time sleeping in moving vehicles but I barely remember anything between Missoula and Idaho Falls. :)

It was a quick trip up to the Northern reaches of our country with two of my very best friends, but it was such a nice reprieve. Violet, as the fourth child, rarely gets to be an only child for any extended amount of time and I think she enjoyed being with just Mamadaddy (her phrase, not mine) for a couple of days. And as for me and Nels, it was so nice to spend the time together - contemplating the future. :)