Oh My, Oh My, Oh My!!!

Wow! It's been over 6 months since I last posted on my blog. As many of you know, I've experienced major life/death milestones since I last visited this site. Jack and I flew down to AZ early December to visit my parents (I stayed at the trailer while Jack flew to meetings in Lubbock the week of my birthday.) This enabled me to spend my last birthday with my dear Dad. It wasn't too many days after that day, that Dad started to decline rapidly. I'm not going to go into detail about how my time was spent with Dad; it's too painful, but, I will say, I made treasured memories with him as he sat in a chair outside with Daisy in his lap as I worked in the front cactus garden, read a few articles to him, helped him with his meals and other tasks, and watched him sleep peacefully with his hands wrapped gently around Daisy as she sat in his lap. 

(Dad was never much of a dog lover, but he was kind of sweet on Daisy) Dad passed over to the other side December 13, 2012, as Jack and I were flying home to Spokane. In my mind's eye, I'm certain I saw him floating upward through the clouds out the window of the plane, and his peaceful, smile radiating across his face, warmed my heart. We are all so thankful that Dad didn't suffer. He left this Earthly life exactly the way he wanted to; swiftly and peacefully. 

Love you forever, Dad. 

After spending Christmas in Spokane at home with Kyle and Kelli and the Nagles, we packed up and drove back down to AZ to spend a couple months. *GG spent a couple months-Jack spent about 2 weeks all totaled! Unfortunately, one of us has to bring home the bacon. Fortunately for ME, that breadwinner is Jack. I enjoyed my time there with: Mother, brother- Harlan and Sherry, brother- Owen's wife, Susan, and doing what I love….playing in the desert and rocks! I've been intrigued by labyrinths, since walking my first one at Westminster Woods during a women's retreat several years ago. Now, I have my very own labyrinth-not amongst the beautiful redwoods, but nestled amongst the majestic saguaro's and other beautiful desert trees and cacti. This labyrinth is extra special-in memory of my Dad. 

Superstition Mountain-view from labyrinth entrance

Blooming ocotillo out in front

Evening view from center cross of labyrinth

I began my Christ-Centered Yoga Ministry Leadership training in September, and after my second training retreat/camp in AZ in January, I completed the program in February and became certified in March. I have taught a few classes as "practice" for me, and started my very first "official" class last month at Redeemer Lutheran Church here in Spokane Valley! 

Yoga Logo - Picture taken at Flathead Lake in MT

If you are in the area, or passing through; please stop in and check it out…..if you are like so many others, once you've experienced Christ-Centered Yoga, you will be forever changed. 

Where my yoga journey began-retreat near Tucson, AZ

I made a couple iron-on t-shirts for fun, and posted them on Facebook. Due to so many requests, I ordered a dozen.

We've had several exciting adventures during the past 6 months:

(not in any order of importance)

1. Celebrated Matthew's 12th, Georgia's, and Daughter-in-law, Jen's birthdays in     December!
2. Christmas in Spokane!

3. Celebrated Jack's 63rd Birthday! 

4. Celebrated Granddaughter, Hannah's "sweet 16th" birthday-via email/us mail/phone!
5. Celebrated Easter with 2/3 of the kids and families and Kelli's parents. 

6. Celebrated Curtis' birthday in April! 
7. Drove to Butte, MT to watch grandson, Matthew in Alice in Wonderland Jr. as Catepillar-Awesome dancing/singing solo!!

6. My Mom flew here on her way home to Adrian, ND, for 9 days-then I drove her there via a fun overnight stop in Butte, MT with Curtis, Jen, and the kids. 

L.O.V.E. this family!!

Curtis and Jen took us on an interesting historical tour of Old Butte-and visiting Mom's cousin, Vicky (Sjodhal) Hanni; another great stop-over in Glendive, MT, with Host/Hostess with the mostess: Terry and Cathy Lobdell. After spending a couple days resting up in Adrian, we drove to Worthington, MN, to visit my Aunty Mona (Ramona Bunge-Dad's youngest/only living- sibling). Aunty Mona was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. :( 

She'll be on my Prayer Warriors' list below)

7. Celebrated our youngest family member; Jaxon Hans Nagle's FIRST BIRTHDAY! If you 'mustache' me if the party was a success; the answer is below! :)

 8. Did a 4 yr. old "Secret Place" photo shoot of granddaughter, Tatum Georgia Nagle.

9. Enjoyed/ing watching Tatum play T-Ball. She loves the game, and is starting to smack it!

Uncle Mooley (Kyle) is helping coach

Loves to run-that girl….hmmm... wonder where she gets that??? ;)

That pretty much sums up the past 6 months….time "sure flies when yer' haven' fun!" 

You may or may not know of my turtle "addiction". When I was teaching in Glendive, MT, I had 5 in my classroom/library at one time. (YES, they were alive!) I have always loved turtles…started way back (probably won't divulge how many years) when I was about 6 or so, the little red-eared sliders and painted turtles popped everywhere after a fresh, Summer rain. I loved catching them and studying them-loved toads, too! I built a stockyard in the sandbox and caught over 50 of those chubby little buggers, and had them all penned up when Mom called me in for supper and bed. You can about imagine my disappointment when I came out in the morning and found that "someone" had let them all out of the 'corrals'!!! These last few sentences, my friends, is an excellent example of my ADDWOM! Remember that??? (for those of you who are new to my blog: ADDWOM=A.D.D. Without Meds. My sweet hubby tagged me with that title many years ago…and, I'm not ashamed to admit that he is right - on THAT, anyway! ;)

So….getting back to my love of turtles. They adorn our home in just about every possible way you can imagine. Back when the phrase: FROG (Fully Rely On God) came out, I decided I needed one for TURTLE…thus: Total Unending Reverence To Lord Emmanuel. Ok…call me completely crazy…that doesn't bother me. My kids do it all the time! BUT….check THIS out!!!

I have no idea if this is for real or photoshopped…but pretty cool either way!!

Another bit of fun-even though "throw-back Thursday" is past for this week-check this out:

Georgia Lea-----------Jill Amy------------Tatum Georgia

In the words of my daughter, Jill, "That's CRAZY!" 

Well, Dear Blog Buddies…it's that time again…I must get off this chair before I CAN'T…(not OLD bones, just well used and stiff!!) I'm thinking that maybe 90 is looking old, now.

PRAYER WARRIORS: Please pray for my dear Aunty Mona as she fights the good fight, for my Aunty Doris, who fell a week ago-no breaks, thank you GOD! Please pray for my cousin, Loren, who is coming down the homestretch with his chemo treatments for his cancer that began in his TONSIL! and….for all who are struggling, hurting, hungry, lonely, fighting the good fight. 

People will hurt you, 
God will heal you.
People will humiliate 
you, God will magnify 
you. People will judge
you, God will justify 
you.Have faith.