Welcome to my little cabin in the mountains! Join us for a hike in the woods, a day trip to watch geysers in Yellowstone, a backpacking trip, a good book, a hearty breakfast, or whatever you can imagine life in Montana to be! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:10:00 -0600 Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:10:00 -0600 New Blog is here:Still Just a Simple Girl I grew living here, more than any other time in my life.  I learned to trust God unconditionally.  That believing and not understanding is all God asks.  Last week Chris got the job offer of a lifetime-full time work in Yellowstone Naitonal Park.  Our dream job....if I wasn't the mother of two teenagers.  It was then that I understood that this change in our lives wasn't about me or Chris.  It was about our children.  I knew God was giving me a gift...the gift of 'why'.  I didn't just have to believe Him this time, He was letting me understand.  There are things my children need that we cannot provide for them here.  End of story.  I am so thankful. This blog has always been about my life here in Montana.  My dream.  My adventures.  I want it to remain pure.  That would be impossible if I spent my last few weeks here telling about packing, moving, etc.  I am in transition mode. The 18 months I have spent here have seemed like a lifetime.  A blessed gift.  A once in a lifetime chance.  I would do it over a thousand times, even if I knew it would all end.  My time here has defined me.  I will never again be the same. In 5 weeks we will leave this place and head to Virginia.  Many new adventures await us.  I can't wait.  In time I will start a new blog and post the link here. I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it.  I will leave you with the lyrics to Green Day's Riddance.  This song seems to creep its way into different endings in my life and this time is no different. "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)" Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go So make the best of this test, and don't ask why It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right. I hope you had the time of your life. So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial For what it's worth it was worth all the while It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right. I hope you had the time of your life. It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right. I hope you had the time of your life. It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right. I hope you had the time of your life. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/660878/ Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:10:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/660878/ Everyday our situation here feels less and less like something to worry about.  A peace has fallen over our household and we are enjoying our days, patiently waiting for 'whatever'. Our trip to Bozeman was fun.  The kids swam and the interviews went well.  It really is now just a waiting game.  While we were in Bozeman we went to look at a rental house.  In the ad it sounded so promising, it turned out to be a dive.  So we decided that house hunting will be put on hold until we know for sure where we will be.  No sense in doing things that will frustrate us. The sun continues to shine.  Perhaps a lovely good-bye gift.  Either way the winter continues to be carefree and lacking in snow drama.  Thank goodness! On Monday the kids are skiing.  Chris and I celebrate 15 years of marriage next week and we are trying to plan something special.  So there you have it....just plodding along.  Doing great!  Happy Weekend! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/655629/ Sat, 7 Feb 2009 12:47:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/655629/ It's just Thursday, but I feel like I have lived two weeks in four days.  Yesterday I listened helplessly as a friend weeped on the phone, lamenting the loss of a good friend.  I wanted to be in Central Oregon so we could cry together.  Comfort one another.  Have tea.  A homeschooling mother of four went home to be with the Lord after three years of courageous fighting.  She was precious and taught all of us some pretty invaluable lessons.  She will be missed.  On Monday I was reminded of the dark days our family lived through 8 years ago when Chris' dad died unexpectedly.  My sweet friend's father-in-law died on Monday, her grandmother had died just a few days earlier.   Such loss, such grief.  Again I wanted to be there.  To help.  To comfort.  I could do little more than pray and offer words of encouragement. Watching my friends grieve and hurt so much has really put my little situation into perspective.  I have experienced loss and losing a job just doesn't compare.  Being unemployed is easy....especially when you remember what it was like when you were walking through the process of grief, through darker days. So like I said it is only Thursday, but it feels like mid February.  I have been throughly enjoying having Chris home everyday.  We have been spending some good time together as a family.  We stay up late, sleep in a little.  Eat when we want, do school when we want, etc.  We are getting caught up on LOST thanks to Netflix.  Chris and I snowshoe and go on little dates.  I could get used to this.  The weather has also been most excellent.  Winter seems to have taken a hiatus.  We are seeing spring road and weather conditions.  Yesterday it was 50 degrees.  Winters like these make for mean summers full of fire.  So what about the fact that you have no income right now?  Yeah...I haven't forgotten.  Things are really starting to move.  We have a couple of excellent leads in Virginia.  Chris has an interview this morning and one tomorrow morning.  Both of which would keep us in Montana.  Not here in this house, but in Montana.  Closer to Yellowstone.  Dirt poor.  We have some decisions to make.  After Chris' interview this morning we will head off to Bozeman to spend the night.  Chris' interview tomorrow morning is at zero dark hours....if he gets to spend the night, we figured we all might as well go.  Make a mini-vaca out of it. Friends losing loved ones, fighting the unemployment department, sifting through jobs, locations, budgets, and comforting children opposed to another move makes for a very long week.  No biggie:)! So nothing extraoridinary to report.  Just life.  Life that isn't perfect.  Life that isn't all smooth.  Life that is in a curve ball season.  Just life.     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/654802/ Thu, 5 Feb 2009 08:37:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/654802/ Yesterday we woke up to beautiful blue skies and adundant sunshine.  Staying indoors wasn't an option.  And while it looked beautiful outside, appearances were deceiving.  Whipping wind and sub zero temps made outdoor activites nearly impossible.  So we settled on a drive visiting a few of our favorite places.  We first headed to Ennis via Viriginia City.  Viriginia City was a virtual ghost town, a much different look then it gives off in it's hustle and bustle summer days.  The view of the Madison Range was breathtaking as we came out of Virginia City and down into the Madison Valley where Ennis lies.  The photos just didn't capture the immense beauty of the view. Once in Ennis we ate brunch at our favorite breakfast place.  We first discovered Yesterdays 10 years ago when we began vacationing here.  They have the most delicious Indian Fry Bread Scones.  Yum! After filling our bellies we headed into the valley and headed for Big Sky.  We spotted several herds of elk each with over a thousand head.  They were really far off though.  Binos were a must! We never spotted the herds of big horned sheep we were hoping to see, but we did find these guys...red tailed foxes.  Good thing we had our binos...it makes wildlife watching more enjoyable. The drive finally looped back to I-90 and took us on home.  I took in every nook and cranny.  The rivers were frozen and snowed over.  You could see where all sorts of critters, large and small, had used the frozen river for eased transportation.  I looked at the little tiny cabins nestled in various places and dreamed of living there. The day was relaxing.  A return to our normal and a much needed respite in the midst of such uncertainty. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/653557/ Mon, 2 Feb 2009 12:41:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/653557/ Most of you read this blog to read about life in Montana.  So, I apologize that the last several entries have not been about life specifically in Montana...but they have been about my life.  I am surviving day by day and today it was hour by hour.  I am so heartsick.  As I looked out across the blue sky stretching far above the white capped mountains I was keenly aware that no place that I have ever been has a sky quite like Montana.  It is called Big Sky Country for a reason.  Anyway, like I said I am heartsick.  But I am also experiencing the craziest range of emotions.  You know, it is all the goodness of God.  I have these moments where my heart pounds quickly, the tears build, and my mind wanders.  I want to call Chris' old bosses all sorts of names, I want to be angry, I want to sink into a pity party.  But I never do.  I mean the temptation is there...but to completely give in is not an option.  I know that I have a choice and I choose to be joyful.  Joyful in the things that matter the most.  Family, friends, salvation, memories...the things that I can never loose and don't change. I have no idea what the future holds.  We are exploring every opportunity.  Contemplating every option.  I am more of a Robert Frost The Road Less Taken kind of a girl so my contributions to the job search include suggestions of full time caretaker jobs in Alaska, camp ground hosting for various National Parks year round, and hitting the road like the Gornekees in RV.  My level headed husband is searching for 9 to 5s on Main Street, USA.  Every option is in the table.  But seriously living like I have these last 18 months have changed me.  I am weary of a life for my children where abundance and convience are staples.  I don't want to live in a cul-de-sac, and I certainly cringe at the idea of returning to a town with a population of more than 7500 people.  Maybe I can be a missionary in Bealize <sigh>.  But reality reigns supreme and this isn't my choice.  I will go where God calls and I truly want to be His instrument.  I have been amazed to see how God has used us in Montana and even for His glory in this hardship.  I recently heard from a friend that told me that her watching me go through this has turned her heart back to the Lord.  What a blessing in times that feel a bit dark. On top of everything I have total trust in Him that made me.  He made me into this women that loves nature, loves to wander, loves to be anywhere but in the mainstream pop culture, made me to love Montana.  So, I know where ever He puts me it will be for my own good, for His glory.  Even if I pout my lip a bit and drag my feet a tad.  I must need to grow more, be stretched. I am needing our days to take on a more consistent, structured shape.  It is starting to feel like an extended vacation around here.  So, hopefully on Monday we will get tired of movies and lounging around and get back to the reality of chores, a bedtime, and bookwork. Well, I didn't mean to ramble on....but I did.  Writing is a bit of an outlet for me and these last couple of posts have been more for me than anyone else.  I do promise to return the posts of old that brag on Montana...as long as Montana is home.  And after that a new blog will probably be in order.  My Montana blog will need to be just that....about Montana. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/652727/ Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:01:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/652727/   I have been truly blessed with the support I have been receiving.  Comments, cards, emails, notes.  Each and everyone have meant something special to me.  Your prayers are carrying us.  Stories of been there and done that. And we wait.  Wait on God, really.  There is only so much we can do.  And we are doing it.  Our days are taking on a new shape, a new routine.  We are staying up late and sleeping in.  Bookwork is finding a routine where both mom and dad pitch in. More time is being spent online job searching, printing off resumes, sending emails. Nothing at all has materialized in the way of a local job.  Nothing.  The mortgage company, so overloaded with people missing payments gave us a 90-day forbearance.  No payment, no penalties, no dings.  A wait and see.  So that is nice.  Still, the reality is upon us that more likely than not we will be moving again.  It is good that we are going through that process now...especially for the kids. So we live.  We are still in Montana and loving it here.  A moose and her calf have been hanging out in the yard for the last couple of days...I am cherishing that.  The way the sky stretches on forever.  The snow covered mountains.  The feeling of wide open space that for the moment is all mine.  Burning the images in my mind's eye. God and I have settled the score.  I am okay with what He has.  Instead of saying God these are my hopes and my dreams...I am saying God, my hopes and my dreams are whatever you have for me right now.  I am choosing to be okay with it-all of it.  It is a much better place to be than in fear, despair, to worry.  And you know I truly, really am just fine. So, again, thank you.  For every prayer, every email, every note.  Thankfully, relationships are something that I won't have to leave behind.  They go with you. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/650893/ Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:26:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/650893/ I visit  CNN Money everyday.  And for months it has been a source for my prayers.  My heart broke for the millions of people that were losing jobs.  Losing homes.  Losing their dreams.  As of Wednesday our family was one of those families.  One of those statistics.  No notice.  Just a major blow to the side of the head.  A blow that knocks you out, makes standing feel impossible. Montana isn't exactly the easiest place to find a job.  Especially a job that keeps a 20 acre off grid home running with a stay at home mom and two homeschool kids.  The writing is on the wall.  Only Kiersten was brave enough to state the obvious outloud.  We will more than likely lose the house we love.  Lose the place we love most.  Lose our dreams. I am not okay with this, not any of it.  The thought of leaving this home, leaving Montana takes my breath away.  Years of dreaming, planning, hoping, sacraficing.....all taken away, erased in a moment.  The perfect days of hiking to my waterfall, spying on the moose out my window, and listening to the kids play for hours on end in a far off treehouse are more than likely numbered.  The thought of moving to a neighborhood and a larger town feels suffocating. I am grieving.  I have had myself a couple of ugly cries.  But, there is a peace.  An errie, wonderful, mysterious peace.  God is near.  He has been since the moment Chris came home, 5 hours early.  You know, I knew as soon as I saw the truck coming up the road.  Yeah, I am most certainly grieving...but not as if I had no hope. My hope isn't in a president promising to bring relief, a husband that has always provided, or in friends promising to pray.  It is in a Savior.  One that has never failed.  One that allowed this to happen.  One who loves me and has plans for me.  I tried asking Him why and He reminded me of what I have told friends and family in times of their distress.  The why doesn't matter, besides the answer would never be good enough.  All I need to do is hear his words and believe them.  End of story. So for now I take comfort in scripture.  It has never failed and this time around will be no different.  He will direct our steps, He will open doors, He will provide. The Word most definately is alive.  I am praying for wisdom.  For faith must have feet.  We are exploring every option right now, even the crazy ones that make our last move here look like a walk in the park.  You know if it were just Chris and I we would probably be shouting for joy....this would be our permission to go be hippies and backpack through Alaska and Yellowstone for the rest of our young days. I now know how to better pray for those millions of people who are now so much more to me than just a statistic.  They are individual families.  Embarrassed husbands.  Exhausted wives.  Scared children.  Above anything I am thankful for the relationships that I have.  Friends that have cried with me.   Family that is surrounding us.  Older folks that are telling us their stories and in so reminding us that this too shall pass.  My husband who is ever so strong...carrying me when I need to be carried.  Kids that are resilient and have such a simple faith that I doubt 10 years from now will remember nothing but wonderful things about this time. And life goes on.  Laundry to do.  School to teach.  Meals to cook.  Moments that are funny.  Days that are fun.  Views to still see.  In times before when my faith was still immature and life had taught less I would allow the rough times to over shadow the goodness that tribulation brings.  Thank goodness that history is not repeating itself.  Today I am still in the beautiful Montana Rockies.  There is much to enjoy.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/649684/ Sat, 24 Jan 2009 06:12:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/649684/ Before I touch on the events of today I would be remiss in not entertaining you with the events of last night.  Last night was Kiersten and I's girls night out.  She usually picks our destination and I usually pick our movie.  It is usually a fun night for all.  And while last night was fun, it is also marred with memories that I will remember long after I want to.  On the dance card last night was Mexican food and Bride Wars.  We arrived at the restaurant just in time for me to discover that I had left my wallet at home-no money, no ID, nadda.  This was all quickly solved after realizing that Kiersten was rich....so I promised to pay her back and we had dinner.  Squeezed for time we hurried over to the movie theater.  Now, what is the worst thing that can happen to a driver when they forget their ID?  Yep.  Really.  I knew it as soon as I saw the flashing blue and red lights.  I had forgot to turn my headlights on.  That would have all been fine if I would have had my ID.  So while my poor daughter wondered if her mother would be booked and cuffed...I prayed for a merciful police officer.  Begged is really more accurate.  After listening to my pathetic, inexcusable story to as why I didn't have ID the PO simply handed me a warning for driving without my headlights.  Nothing about not having my license.  Relief. So onto the movie, which was totally fun by the way (minus the creepy man that sat behind us and parked next to us).  On the way home Kiersten commented she wondered what next 'adventure' we would have before getting home.  I told her to bite her tongue.  This made me creep along the lone mountain roads leading up to the house.  With the way the night was going the possibility of me hitting an animal wasn't out of the question.  Finally, we made it into the driveway.  Ahhh, I could feel the warmth of my bed.  We were home free.  Wrong. I had forgotten to put the truck into 4 wheel drive and the truck couldn't make it up my skating rink of a hill driveway.  Brakes were useless.  I slid all the way into a snow bank and a tree.  I am so talented.  Seriously, with the truck on a hill, pointed up.  After a longtime of digging and getting myself stuck even deeper I called it a night.  I had a driveway to crawl up-on all fours.  Crawling into bed I could feel Chris' disapproval.  Poor guy had to now walk a mile on icy roads down to our other car now.  I should have heeded his advice when he said come in...'you are only going to make it worse'.  Yeah, I don't see him letting me out again any time soon-hey at least he didn't have to leave his boys night in to pick me up from the police station. ~ Okay, so today is a new day.  And not just for me...but for this country.  Regardless of how you feel about his politics no one can say that today isn't a day of pride and healing for this nation.  We have elected a black man to be the leader of the free world.  A pretty big statement coming from a people that not too long ago accepted treating black people like caged animals.  And if I hear one more time that he isn't really black I might just slap the perp.  Seriously what more of a beautiful picture than a man that is half black and half white?  He is a bridge...representing the very relationships that were/are needful in getting us to this day. Today is huge.  The United States of American is getting a president that isn't lily white.  Race matters or this wouldn't be such a historical day.  I hope that because of today my great-grand children will live in a time when electing a black, white, red, or yellow person won't even be taken into consideration.  Maybe then we will truly be great. And even though I disagree with much of what President Obama stands for he is still MY president.  I will honor and respect him...not just the office as some like to mockingly say.  I will pray for him, his wife, his children.  I will pray that the Lord gives him wisdom-liberally.  I will pray that because of the hatred that is still rampant in this country he will be protected.  I will pray that the Lord will use him for His glory. I will pray that his opposers will treat him better than they treated GWB.  And my hope for change will remain with the Lord, not a man, where it has always been.  Today we plan on watching the inauguration.  Celebrating our freedom while watching an elected man be sworn into the office of the leader of the freest people in the world.  All of our book work today will focus on this event-from books shared to papers written. After I dig out the truck-hopefully! "If there is one thing that social conservatives have been right about, it is that our modern culture sometimes fails to fully appreciate the extraordinary emotional and financial contributions - the sacrifices and just plain hard work - of the stay-at-home mom." Barak Obama, The Audacity of Hope http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/647679/ Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:40:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/647679/ So, is there anything in the world that could make this girl happier than seeing this for 10 consecutive days on the local forecast? Sunny I don't think so...Happy Weekending! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/646228/ Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:07:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/646228/ Well, I am there.  The day I thought would never come, the day I thought would never be real.  I am at the place where I need to figure out just how I am going to sucessfully prepare Christopher for his next stage in life.  He isn't sure exactly what he wants to do.  He does know that his future will involve some sort of college life.  And while he may decide that college is not for him I want him to have the choice.  So while he wonders if there are scholarships for Civil War Geeks, I am worrying about the next four years. Honestly I am scared.  Petrified may be a better word.  I got on a college website that Christopher is interested in today-just to see what the requirements were.  Aside from the $50,000 a year tuition....the paperwork was daunting.  I live in a state where there is zero requirements and zero oversight.  So how can I possibly provide state documentation of state homeschool program followed.  And that is just one concern.  How do I make transcripts, choose courses, and give grades?-my child has never recieved a grade in his whole life! I have followed Charlotte Mason's principals for 8 years....can I still keep these educational values and still meet high school requirements?  How will I know I am doing everything right?  What if I screw up?  <sigh> I felt this way when I first started homeschooling.  Back then I had an entire army full of generals and captains to lead the way.  Back in those days I relied heavily on my 'sister-chicks'.  Today I have no one.  No great homeschool group like COCH and no great examples of those gone before me that have made this work.  I just want to give Christopher every opportunity while protecting the integrity of the education he's always had. I know there is a way.  I must be up for the task.  Surely God knew this day would come and He has plans for it.  So I will try and take a deep breathe.  I will pray.  I will listen.  I will start at the HSLDA site for high school homeschooling.  Somewhere in the moment of this journey peace will come, the pieces will fall into place.  Until then....I am a bit fearful of the unknown. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/645443/ Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:14:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MontanaMama/645443/