May - A Month Gone Too Soon!

The glorious days of May have slipped by us so quickly - so much has happened in May that I haven't had time to post any updates.  The biggest event was a quick trip to Texas. My Dad's birthday was on May 19, and we gathered to remember him on his birthday. We also visited his grave where the tombstone was newly set. My sister and I visited Dad's tombstone with Mom for the first time and then the rest of our family gathered later. 

My Dad and Dan's Mom both passed last year. Her tombstone was also recently set, and we were able to drive out and visit her tombstone. I cleaned up the grave area, as the cemetery she rests in doesn't care for the graves as nicely. We planted flowers, and put solar lights on either side of the grave. No family lives close by to where she was buried. Thankfully - my Dad is buried not far away from my family so they can keep an eye on his grave. 

Dan and I visited Dad's grave for the last time before leaving Texas.  I still can't believe we both lost our parents last year, and the loss still aches in our hearts. I am glad we can visit their graves, although we know they are eternally with the Lord.  We just miss their earthly presence so much! 

When we got home, my crabapple tree was in full bloom!
Oh, how I love the bloom of fruit trees in spring!

One day last week I visited Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
with a friend of mine who is also a photographer.  

We saw many beautiful blooms - this wild orchid blooming happily away. 

It was a beautiful day with blue skies, fluffy clouds, a brisk breeze, and abundant sunshine. 

Danielle and I enjoyed a day together. She is "showing" now, and is feeling great. Baby is healthy, and doing great, with lots of baby kicks, especially at night! 

We stopped by an amazing store called "Inland Mama" in Coeur d'Alene.   The owner took over an hour to show Danielle and I all the different options for momma & baby.  Different kinds of slings, strollers, car seats, and cloth diapers. Yes - Danielle is going to use cloth diapers! I think it's wonderful, and will be great savings for them, and so much better for the baby. 

Lupins are now blooming, and oh how I love them! Such vibrant purple blues that shine. 
Truly, Spring has arrived! The wild roses will be in bloom quite soon... 

Another keto meal I made this week - and wanted to share.  I've experimented with shirataki noodles, and actually find them not bad. Certainly nothing comes close to real pasta, but - these noodles are pretty good - especially when all you've been eating is meat and vegetables!  I used the fettuccine noodles to make Beef Stroganoff.  Here is my simple recipe: 

1 pound stew meat
2 cups bone broth
Salt & Pepper to taste
8 oz cream cheese
Splash heavy cream
1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
1 pkg fettuccine shirataki noodles, rinsed and drained well

I used my Instant Pot - but you can use whatever method you like to slow-cook the stew meat. The crock pot or on the stove works too! I cooked my meat in the Instant Pot on meat setting for 30 minutes, with the stew meat, bone broth and salt & pepper.  When the Instant Pot has cooled down, remove lid, and remove meat.  Stir in cream cheese, heavy cream, nutritional yeast and mix well until cream cheese is well incorporated.  Mix in the shirataki noodles and serve immediately.  I like to serve with a salad. We also enjoyed canned green beans from my last year's garden as a side. 

 My irises are in bloom - I just love the blooms that springtime brings us!

We went for a quad ride over the past weekend with neighbors and enjoyed this beautiful 
view overlooking our hometown. Amazing to see the snow on the distant peaks still! 

Some exciting things are happening! We have decided to purchase a mobile home to replace the home we are living in now.  Our tiny home was meant to be temporary, but we've been in it for almost 9 years!  So, it was time for us to get a home.  We had intended to build a home, but with prices skyrocketing, it made more sense for us to buy a mobile home at this point in our lives.  So, we recently broke ground for its arrival! 

The concrete has been poured, and our home is being built now.  The anticipated date of arrival for the home is still a couple of months out, but it is exciting to see the progress taking place! It will be a small home, just Dan and & and the animals of course, but it will serve us the remainder of our days.  We are excited about it, and I will continue to share updates about the progress as it happens. 

Little Bandit is doing well, he has recovered from the health struggles he had when we got him as a kitten (blood in stool). He is growing, and all our kitties are a big happy family now. He is such a lovable darling, now we can't imagine our lives without him! 

As June settles in - the days keep slipping by faster and faster - do you feel that way? How can it already be June, and the year of 2024 half over? 

It is also hard to believe that a year ago on June 9, my precious Dad passed away.  Our lives were turned upside down on that day, and now it has been a year since it happened.  I'm grateful for the legacy that he left for us, but wish that he could enjoy meeting his first great-grandchild this October too! But, I am thankful for the time that we had with him, short-lived as it was.  This is one of my favorite pictures of Dad overlooking our mountains. He loved to come to Idaho and see the mountains. 

 

He loved Idaho and the mountains so much. This picture makes me smile to think of all the wonderful times we had together when he came to visit. 

This is not a new video, but probably one of my favorites of all the videos I've made. I like to watch this video in the disastrous world we are living in - with so much going on.  I took these pictures back in 2020 when covid was going strong, and there was so much fear in our hearts.  On my evening walk, as I looked at the clouds and prayed about so many things, I saw this Hand in the Sky! It still amazes me to this day when I look at this picture, and realize that the Hand of God appeared to me as a record that He had heard my cries - and He continues to hear our cries today.  

Dear ones, we are cradled in the Hand of the Lord when we put our trust in Him.  No matter how difficult our circumstances may seem, He has the answer, He is the Master of the Wind! He is the Master of every storm we face. Trust Him for the impossible. He will make a way!

Much love to all of you today!