Mountain Man

Last weekend, Erik trucked off into the wilderness with three buddies and returned with an antelope. The two of us butchered it on the kitchen counter and added pork fat to the grainy pieces to grind into antelope burger. (Can you believe I helped do that???)

This weekend, he set off by himself - deeper into the wilderness - in search of a bull elk. He found one yesterday afternoon as he summited Mount Randolph (several hours away from his car.) He bugled the elk closer, and shot him at a distance of just 30 yards. Then it started to storm. Thunder, lightening, drenching rain.... and he was at the top of a mountain. He waited out a series of frightening storms, then quartered the 5X5 bull and carried out what he was able to shoulder on his own. By the time he reached the car it was 2:00 in the morning. He was freezing cold, and hoarse from singing at the top of his lungs as he tried to ward off any grizzly bears. Meanwhile, his wife is lying awake, wondering if he has been eaten by the aforementioned grizzly bears! He came home at 3:00, and shivered his way to a short sleep. This morning, he gathered up a few of his hunting friends and they headed back to retrieve Erik's elk. The womenfolk stayed home to care for the babies and enjoy a walk together... during which we speculated about whether some of the other men might spy elk of their own! We also speculated about the possibility of all four of them being mauled by a grizzly, and leaving seven children and two on the way to be raised by four widowed mamas. Well... I don't know about the grizzlies... but one of the girls received a call from her hubby two hours ago that Ryan (Block) and Dan (Tolson) had followed some bugling bulls off the trail. It is now 10:00. Hmmmm.....

Tomorrow is my 28th birthday, and I can only hope that it does not include a dead elk being butchered on my granite counter top. :)

Thirty-Five Years

Tomorrow would have been my parents' 35th wedding anniversary. Isn't this picture beautiful? I know it is crackly and a bit rough (it has been twice scanned) but I love their smiles. For nearly 35 years, my amazing mom and dad portrayed the grace and love of Christ in their commitment to their marriage and the sacrifices they made for each other. We are so blessed to be their children... to have witnessed the beauty and tenderness of a marriage that grew stronger with each passing year, the laughter of shared jokes and experiences, the partnership of raising children together, the unity of heart as they placed each other's needs above their own.

Daddy, we miss you. And I know that today, Mom misses you even more than usual. I know that my parents would have loved each other for another 35 years had they been given the chance. Thank you for teaching us what a loving marriage should look like!

New York, New York, and Other Happenings

I promised my husband's aunt Deb that I would post something about our trip to New York within a week of our return. So here I am, two days ahead of schedule! :) However, I did not take a single picture and am hoping to collect some from the many family members who made the East Coast trek with us.

After only six days at home, we boarded another Delta connection and flew to New York to be a part of Adam and Kristen's beautiful nuptial ceremony and celebration. We were so blessed to be able to stay in a charming cottage owned by Kristen's friends, providing us with a little extra space for the girls to sleep and play. It was perfect. Jennie and Jeremy are newlyweds who generously gave up their home for the weekend -- hospitality at its most extravagant, I thought. The wedding was perfect. Erik, Elisa and I were all a part of the ceremony. Elisa was a brave little flower girl -- and an adorable one. Erik was Adam's best man, and enjoyed a few special brother bonding moments in the days leading up to the Big Day. They even ran together the morning of the wedding. The rehearsal dinner took place at a Bath Club on the Long Island sound. Lasagna in the sand. The wedding itself was in an old white church in the town of Huntington, and followed by a beautiful outdoor reception at the Coyne's home. A live band, delicious food, amazing floral arrangements... the reception should have been featured in a magazine. (Or maybe it was??) I smile to think of my Eddie Bauer flannel-wearing brother-in-law now irrevocably tied to the flashy society of Long Island.:) Truly, the evening was memorable and beautiful in every way. I had a great view of Adam's beaming face as he watched his beautiful bride walk up the aisle. They are a wonderful couple and I am thrilled to have a sister-in-law.

On Sunday, we met up with my aunt, uncle and cousins from Maryland for an afternoon of sightseeing in the city. It was fun to see Central Park and Times Square... but an afternoon was definitely all Erik and I needed. We are county folk, and the Big Apple was a bit overwhelming for all of us. Home is a quiet town with wide open spaces. :)

The girls were champions.... we kept them up late and let them sleep til 9 or later... effectively keeping them on Mountain Standard time. It worked well, especially given our recent transition from Maui! I received so many comments on how cute they are, especially smiling little Sadie. :) We are a bit sad our much anticipated month is over, and yet relieved to be back to normal.

Erik's parents stayed with us for the week, and it was great to see them. The girls love their grandparents, and I am thankful we had some time apart from the busyness of the wedding weekend. Now we look forward to fall... starting our home preschool program again, settling back to routine, soups, applesauce, bread-making, Erik hunting, watching the colors change, and pulling out our sweaters and jackets for the winter. Summer is gone, autumn is here!