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Christmas reflections

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We're finally getting our white Christmas today, two days after the big day. I'm enjoying a relaxing long holiday weekend, watching the snowflakes fall, and finally finding some time to write.  It's been a busy year, which I already summarized in a fun poem HERE , including photos . That post is the lighthearted version, but I wanted to write a more thoughtful and thorough account of our year, too: Jesse is 22 and has lived on his own here in Laramie for a few years now.  He unfortunately suffered a job loss toward the end of this year, and is working to get back on his feet after that. He'd like to try living in a new town, maybe that will happen for him this year.  He enjoys hiking and walking, has a talent for painting abstract art, and recently started dabbling in film photography.  Winter just turned 20 and has lived in Yosemite National Park for over a year now, working in the food service areas there.  This is our second Christmas without her!  We m...
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2025, A Poem

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What can I say? What can I do? 2025 is already through! What happened this year? Where did time go? What are the highlights we all should know? I don't remember, it all went so fast! Which are the memories we know will last? By the numbers, we know the kids' ages this year, 13, 17, 22, and 20, so dear. The older two out of the house for a while, The younger two working to find their own style. We added more pets than can be counted, it seems, Ducks, rabbit, more chickens, and dogs, it's a dream! Speaking of dreams, Luke started his own, A new venture, we are working on making it known. It all adds up to some challenging things, But we are encouraged by the comfort it brings To know we have family and friends by our side, While we enjoy this 2025 ride!  God bless you this holiday season, and more. We can't wait to see what '26 has in store! 
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"Winter pretends to know things: lessons from one year out of high school"

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We recently marked one year since Winter's high school graduation. It has been amazing to see all she's done with her time since then! She's chosen a less traveled path, but is learning so much. She recently wrote this for a younger friend who graduated this year, and I wanted to share it here. There is some wisdom in it we can all learn from!  Dear friend,      I’m so proud of you for graduating. I know when you boil it down, it's the bare minimum in life to graduate high school, but you did it while running in 3 seasons (with some impressive times~ I’m so sad I missed your senior season), having a job, getting good grades, and being a great friend to everyone around you. That’s something to be proud of. You have amazing potential and are going to do great things. I was debating what to get you for graduation, and thought I’d give you something practical instead of a mini waffle maker that you are going to donate to goodwill after a month. So, here are 12 pieces of ...
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on the road again

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Once upon a time, a young man loved rock climbing, skiing, hiking, and all things mountains and outdoors.  He had a son and gave him a name that was both cowboy/western and Biblical: Jesse.  A few years later he had a daughter and gave her a Biblical and adventurous name: Sarah Winter. But little Winter was a cautious and calm kid, and didn't seem to live up to her outdoorsy name.  Until one day, she did!   She became a runner, hiker, and adventure-seeker, regularly looking for ways to put herself out of her comfort zone and grow.  This path lead her to a series of jobs in mountain locations, including Yosemite National Park in California. So the now less-than-young man took his family and road-tripped west for a glorious spring break week to visit his adventurous daughter!  First stop: Rock Springs WY, which wasn't worth taking a photo of, sorry. Day 2, a stop at the Great Salt Lake in amazing Utah! It was a tad windy, but we're used to that.  We...
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