Moonlight & Flowers

The other night the moon was so full and bright I just had to capture it.  The only camera I had with me was on my phone.  It took an okay picture!

Moonlight over Bozeman

Here are some wild flowers that we have seen on some recent hikes. 

Aren't they beautiful? 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!!!

A Fishing Tale & Other Stories

I went fishing the other day....

But all I got was this...

Mosquito bites everywhere!  Ouch!

It was really nice to escape for a little while and just relax.  And that is what fishing is for me... Relaxing!

Also....

On Sunday's after church it is our routine to go on a new hike or geocache.  For two weeks in a row we have enjoyed having some really great friends join us on our hikes.  

  We have seen many beautiful wildflowers like these....

And we have seen some fantastic scenery

These activities are the things that keep me from doing this....

And also what help me to find balance in my life.

How do you find balance in your life?

I really would like to know. I'm curious! 

And I have to write a report on this subject for school. 

So please share with me what works for you. 

Still Around

This past week was a bit chaotic and I hate that I haven't had the time to update my blog much these days.  But I am still around. 

This past week was just a bit crazy.  I go to school full time and that is my priority right now.  I am also working again for another couple weeks with the U.S. Census Bureau.  And then this past Sunday I was asked to speak in church on agency and so I spent all last week preparing for that when I wasn't doing the other.  Oh... and I also had a birthday last week too!  Yup!  I am another year older..... Eeek!  I don't feel older though and that is what counts, right? 

I am still not completely operational with a computer yet as far as I have to wait until I get my new computer and an external hard drive before I can upload any of the recent photos from our camping trip and other adventures.  I just can't add any more programs to this computer that I am currently using.  I am just waiting on some funds to be released from financial aid through school so I can get that computer.  Hoping it will be soon.

I am still just sick over losing all those photographs over the past 8 years.  Everytime I think about it I realize what a stupid uncaring thing I did by not backing up my files onto an external source or printing them.  I remembered yesterday that I have lost all my wedding photos except for the few that are saved on FB and my blog, but that doesn't even come close to what I had.  It's just sickening! 

As far as school goes, I am loving it!  I am learning so much already!  I am getting A's in each of my classes so far.  I may not be saying how much I love it in a few weeks when I begin math classes though.  I am so thankful for my DH who is so supportive of me.  I know without a doubt that this is the path I am supposed to be on at this time in my life.  Everything was leading towards it and everything is working out nicely.  I just have a really good feeling inside.  I hope that through my example, my kids will look up to me and be proud of their mommy! 

Oh and before I forget.  DH and I finally upgraded our cell phones.  We each got a Blackberry.  Now we are somewhat up to speed in the technology world.  I am amazed at all the stuff I can do on this thing.  It's going to take me forever to figure it out.

I hope all of you, my dear blogging friends, are having a wonderful summer and all of your dreams and wishes are coming true. 

Since I have absolutely NO pictures on this computer and I am tired of posting without some kind of picture, I went to the internet and pulled up this nice photo that makes me happy and feel at peace.  It just happens to be taken here in Montana.  We went on a hike yesterday and saw some really beautiful wildflowers just like these.  I hope you enjoy!

The Silence of God

From Christianity to forced atheism, almost overnight!

At the turn of the twentieth century, St. Petersburg offers the best of Imperial Russia. The vast country is filled with grand cathedrals, a faithful populace, and many people who love and revere Tsar Nicholas II and the Romanov family. But as Russia becomes further entrenched in the Great War, a revolution begins brewing within her own borders.

For the wealthy Lindlof family, the only Latter-day Saints living in St. Petersburg at the time, the glitz and glamour of the Silver Age soon dissolves into mass rebellion, dividing their family and testing their faith. Life for Agnes Lindlof will never be the same—changed forever by an ideology that forces equality and demands the silence of God.

Agnes’s lifelong friend, Natasha Ivanovna Gavrilova, is the daughter of a professor and a firm supporter of Bolshevik ideals; she doesn’t believe in God at all. Yet, when the waves of the revolution wash over her family and her friends, Natasha must examine her own heart and decide for herself what to believe and what voice to listen to.

Based on an amazing true story of the only Latter-day Saint family living in St. Petersburg during the Bolshevik Revolution, The Silence of God is a rare glimpse into a fascinating period of history and a powerful, extraordinary novel of devotion and loyalty.

This well researched novel by author Gale Sears offers a rare glimpse into a fascinating period of history, including the rise of socialism and the origins of the LDS Church in Russia. 

From the moment I picked up this book I could not put it down.  The story of this family and what they went through because they refused to deny their religion or their God, really touched my heart and soul deeply.  I am fascinated with historical novels for what I learn when I read them, and this book was no different. I learned a great deal about the history of Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution and now I am eager to learn more about that period in history. This book captivated me so much that I felt it was I who was living during that time.  I can't imagine how any Christian must have felt during that time who believed in God one day, and was forced to deny God the next day.  To read about how the churches were completely destroyed and how those people had to stand and watch, it just really tore at my heart.  I just can't imagine not having the freedom of religion in my life. 

Reading this book  brought back memories of when I was in Berlin, Germany in the early 1980's, a few years before the wall came down. I remember the cold, dark feelings I felt when I entered the Soviet Controlled, East Germany and the stark differences there were from the communist controlled side of Berlin to just over the wall to the free side of Berlin.  I also remember the empty looks in the eyes of the people who lived in the East. Seeing a glimpse of that, helped me to understand maybe just a little how the Lindlof family must have felt.  I was so happy when those walls came down.  And I am so glad the people of Russia are now free to believe in God and in their religion once again. I am also very excited that a Temple is being built in Kiev, Ukraine. What a wonderful blessing that will be for those people.

If you would like to purchase this book you can go to Deseret Book at this link here, or you can purchase it at Amazon at this link below.  I recommend this book to all!

SCHOOL BOUND

Hi Folks! 

I know its been a while.  This last week or so has been pretty crazy.  Since my computer crashed, I have spent the majority of my time trying to put together another computer for me to use until I can get one purchased.  It's been stressful, interesting, and taking up way too much time.  

When I wasn't doing that I was getting myself registered for school.  Yes!  I  said that right.  I am school bound.  I have spent the last month or so trying to decide if going back to school was right for me, and realizing everything that has been going on in my life lately has been leading me right down that path.  So once I made the decision and decided on what I wanted to do, where to go and getting financing squared away, it all came together really fast. It all happened in about 10 days.  So now,  I am a student even as we speak I write this blog post.  I began classes on Friday.   

I figured that since this year is my 25th year high school reunion and I haven't been back to school since, that I might as well become a student all over again.  Crazy?  Maybe! But why not?  I am excited! Actually I am more excited to getting all the schooling behind me so I can start my exciting career. 

I am working towards my Associates in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Financial Forensics.   I will be combining my two loves.  Most of my career has been in the field of doing bookkeeping and accounting and then after spending a couple years working as as Private Investigator, I found I enjoyed doing that as well.  So in about 3-1/2 years I will have a degree and will be able to investigate money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, etc., for places like the SEC, FBI, Financial Institutions, Banks, Law Enforcement offices etc.  I am very excited! 

I decided I have to do something to be more competetive in this economy.  Being unemployed for a year now is not fun and competing with over 800+ applicants for almost every job I apply for is crazy.  So now I am a full time student with CTU- Colorado Technical University. 

In other news, DH and I just got back from camping over the weekend.  It was so nice to get away from everything for a couple days.  I caught a fish!  It's been a few years since I have been fishing, so this is big for me.  We camped along a river and I caught my fish with a worm, before I even put the line in the water.  I was just dropping the line in and the worm barely touched the water before that fish grabbed it.  It's a 9" brook trout, kind of small but big enough to eat. Haven't eaten it yet, but soon!  I will post pictures of our trip later on.

Well I have to get going.  I have assignments for school due this week, a talk I have to prepare for church on Sunday, plus preparing my normal Sunday School lesson and practicing songs on the piano for Relief Society, on top of all my normal day to day stuff.  It looks like it will be another crazy week. 

So TTFN.  Happy 4th of July!