The Land!

Here are some pictures that mom sent me of their land in Hot Springs, SD. Please enjoy!


Welcome to Hot Springs!














This is the land looking at the house!




This is the driveway and land.


Up the driveway half way!


Welcome!


Winding up the driveway!


Looking West (I think...)




Wrap around porch and all!


There's dad holding girl! (the cat)










The thick beams will be visible when the house is finished. Very cool look.




View from the porch, I think.


:) Very very loving Momma & Pa.


Isn't this great! I could spend a whole day looking out.

Mary did you know

How painful it is to ride that long on a horse's back?

Ok, ok, I know... It was a donkey. But. Seriously! The Bible tells us she was very pregnant AND had a 70 mile trip ahead of her. Not in a train, not in the passenger seat of a plush Buick, and not even in the back of a bumpy carriage...but on the top of a donkey's bony back.

For some reason this struck me last Sunday as my pastor was reading through the birth of Christ. Now you may know, but I grew up with horses my whole life. Love 'em. Great animals. Rode a lot, even climbed mountains with them, but never, never did I even come close to riding 70 miles on Ginger's back. Longest I ever rode was 14 miles, I think. I specifically remember that the dog couldn't even catch up to us on the way back home from that ride.

So what's my point? Well, sorry to bum you out, but I guess I don't really have one. Just thought I'd write down the realization and share it with you. I enjoyed for a moment in church letting my mind wander to what that might have been like. According to my map in the back of my Bible, it looked like their treck might have been through some mountains. As mentioned earlier, I've been on horseback up some pretty steep hills, but can't imagine what that might be like if I was at all pregnant. I wonder how long it took them to get to their destination. What sort of creatures crossed their paths? How many times did Mary yell at Joseph and want to just turn back? How bad did Joseph hurt to see his young lover have to climb up on that donkey every time they started on their way again?

Ah, what a wonderful story. What wonderful truth it is that God had such great plans for you and for I, and orchestrated such crazy details to make all the events gel together so that one day we can join Him for eternity.

Well, here it is.

As I open up my blogger account, my mind is taken back to 5 months ago, when I was blogging somewhere around twice a week. As cliche as it sounds, this summer seems like a distant dream that I once had. A dream that, when I think hard enough, I can remember more and more of. Like the smell of our little tent that we called home, or my towel that smelled more like the chlorine than laundry detergent, or the sweet-smelling air that blew through my hair when on the highest peak of the mama and pa's land. When I find myself daydreaming about these memories, it's always followed with a smile. :)

As wonderful as this summer was, I'm overall still happy here in Lafayette. We've had oodles of opportunities to hang out with friends around town, and that's probably the biggest change in our social life. Sure, we had great friends in Minneapolis as well (and I dearly miss you!), but I guess it's just...different. Lafayette just provides a much slower pace of life, which produces more hang-out time. Awesome.

Something that I didn't really expect is how much I'm missing mama. We lived six hours from them when we were in Minneapolis- and frankly, only made it home once every three months or so, but that was sufficient. Now distance has separated us at a 20+ hour drive, which leaves a lump in my throat every time I think about it. Maybe it's because Lafayette is a more permanent move. Maybe it's because our relationship deepened a lot this summer, and she's now my one of my best friends. Maybe it's because I just really want her to come over and see our place and help me wash the dishes after we make dinner together. I find myself calling her just about every night- not always talking about something important...but even if it's just to say hello and ask her how her day's going, it's helpful in coping. Sometimes it's rough, but I guess it seems like it will probably get better as time goes on, and I'm thankful for my husband who understands my reason for tears.

Ok. Sob story is over. On a happier note, I've realized that I've got 3 months worth of pictures to show you. I've sorted through and thought I'd share, so enjoy:


yes, my husband's wearing that. lol. but this was too good of a moment to not capture.


Lauren, John, and Jordan at Starry Night!


THE John McDavey!


LOVE that I can get to the country in just a few minutes here. One day. ONE day, Lord willing, all call it my home once again.


Awww....


My father-in-law's pretty mums.


We've been making some yummy food! This dish was compliments of Heidi.


A quick trip to a quarry/park. Loved the fall colors.


Leaves.


Wish I could have captured the smell, too.


My husband makes the BEST chocolate chip cookies.


What's Thanksgiving without these?


The latest and greatest hangout at our place. Steffen and I thrive off of stuff like this, I'm tellin ya.


Heidi, John, and my love. Snickerdoodles, anyone?


And just because I want to you to know how beautiful my mountain horses are....