Family, Weddings, and Road Trips

      Last week, My Love and I hit the road after work on Thursday. My youngest brother Mick, was tying the knot with his fiance Payge and so we were headed for a weekend with my family. We had decided to head out Thursday night and stop at Luke's sister Anna's to spend the night. We pulled in late and as we were doing so, Luke began to notice an unpleasant sound coming from the car.       Unfortunately, the axle was just about broken, fortunately, we were at Anna's house. So, Friday morning Luke and Travis(Anna's husband) took the car to the local mechanics and they set to work on fixing it. It ended up taking a lot longer than we hoped and so we didn't make it to the rehearsal like we had planned. I am thankful that we were with people we loved however, because if we had had to wait around with nothing to do all Friday, I may have gone bonkers.

We checked out a local coffee shop. Gregory, Bea, and Anna

 Bea

 Margaret 

    We missed the rehearsal, but we did make it to the dinner. After the dinner my family loaded into our various vehicles to head to my parents home a half hour away. We were cruising down the highway when we were suddenly thumping and bumping. Luke pulled off to the side with dismay. We had blown a tire. Thankfully, my parents were right behind us, so they pulled over as well and Dad helped change the tire. We realized the irony of all this car trouble happening to the newest car we own, the one that shouldn't have problems. Oh well. 

    Saturday morning we got spruced up and headed to the Church where we hung out, took pictures, and spent time with family. All of my siblings were there(something that rarely happens) as well as both sets of my grandparents and 2 sets of aunts and uncles. I quite enjoyed it. 

My brothers. Mick(The groom) Jesse, and Jordan

My daddy, looking all spiffy, and myself

Mick and his new wife Payge...Or Mr. and Mrs. Shearer(Photo credits to my dad Rohn)

Mick and Jesse(Jesse was the best man)

My Dad and Mom...Rohn and AmyJo(Photo credits Aunt Janelle Shearer)

Mick, Payge, Grandma Shearer and Grandpa Shearer(I have no idea what was so funny, but I love this picture. Photo credits to Aunt Janelle Shearer)

Grandpa and Grandma Shearer and Lydia

Jordan and I

Luke and my Uncle Dan

    Not only did I get to see my family, but my dear friends Amanda and Emily were there with their families as well. It is always great to see them. They are my oldest friends(Meaning, our moms were friends before any of us were born and hours of our childhood were spent together) and we don't see each other nearly enough. We took a group picture and I'm so glad we did. It made me think of another group picture we have from when I was like 13 years old. 

2016

Amanda, Lydia, Emily, me, Jesse, Mick, and Jordan

2003(ish)

Back row: Amanda, me, Lydia, Emily

Front row: Jesse, Mick, and Jordan

    At the reception they had a s'mores bar. However, instead of going to said s'mores bar, Jordan decided to roast his marshmallow over the tea candles on the table. It required a lot of concentration. 

 Lydia and Claire(Emily's daughter), me, Amanda, Jordan and Emily

Claire and I. 

Emily and I discussed how awesome it would be if my baby is a girl. Because, Baby Williams and Claire will be just about exactly as many months apart as Emily and I are. A true friendship in the making. 

Speaking of Baby Williams, he or she is getting quite big. Tomorrow is my ultrasound and I can hardly wait to find out if it is a boy or a girl. I've also started to feel some occasional kicks and it puts a smile on my face!

Happy Thursday!

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you as you are to them." ~Desmond Tutu

Happy October

     Happy October! Today is full of Autumn's beauty and goodness. Fog hangs low over the ever changing trees with a touch of coolness in the air. Leaves litter the ground and the trees are just about at their peak of color. We started a fire in the stove last night, and had tea and muffins for breakfast. Really, I do believe that Fall and Saturdays were made for each other.
     Life has been good. School is settling into the swing of things, the roof is still in progress but getting closer, and friendship abounds. May your day be lovely!!!

Mr. Ephraim is on the move...

And cute as can be!

The red barn is such a nice pop of color in any season's photo.

And this awesome guy continues to steal my heart. I am blessed indeed. 

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the Autumn tree." ~Emily Bronte

Life In The Northwoods

     A couple weeks ago we bought a new car. We had decided that a 2 door and a car seat were a combination we didn't feel like dealing with if we could help it. It is a 2004 VW Passat and the newest car we have ever owned. It's a pretty sweet ride and we named her Stella, because every good vehicle needs a name. I'm looking forward to the backseat having someone special buckled in.

    Today, Luke got back to work on the roof. This has been one long project and slowly but surely, it is reaching it's end. Just in time for the changing of the seasons too.

     The first day of Fall is here and gone and the world around us is welcoming the transition. The leaves are starting to change and the crab apple tree in the front yard has already lost most of its leaves. I had a giant pot of chili bubbling on the stove today and relaxed on the couch for a bit this afternoon with a cup of creamy, hot cocoa. It's delightful and I love it. Happy Saturday!

"Life fails to be perfect, but it never fails to beautiful."~Unknown

Our Little Family

The first time I went up to Jackpine and drove through the tiny town of Williams, I remember thinking that it would be funny if we someday moved to Williams and had a baby boy and named him William. Because then he could be William Williams from Williams. Well, I have no idea if this baby is a boy and no intention of naming him William if it is, or moving for that matter. However, last year we stopped at the sign to take a picture and I decided that when we got pregnant I wanted to do it again. Perhaps this will become our annual family picture. Anyway, Happy Wednesday!

(Photo credits to Benjamin and Keren Pope)

Jackpine 2016

      There are a few events that happen every year and they are always some of my favorite times. One such annual happening is Jackpine retreat. For 40 plus years, my church has headed North to Williams, MN for a weekend of camping and fellowship. My Love has attended every year of his life, with the exception of 2 years. Once when he was 4 and his sister the Lovely Keren Ruth was born, and then the second year of our marriage when I happened to be a bridesmaid in a friends wedding the same weekend. This just goes to show what a treasured time of year it is.
     I have gone every year since we got married, except the year I was in my friends wedding. When I first moved up North for school and was getting to know the Williams family, they invited my brother Jordan and I to go with them. We declined, something that looking back, I now regret. Anyway, adventures are always had.
    This year our campsite included us, the Popes, the Andersons, the Murrays, the Johnsons, the newly minted Millers(Polly and Isaac) and Irindee. Our combined forces produced tasty food and some good campfire laughs.
     It was cool for most of the weekend which is perfect Jackpine weather. It was rather misty on Saturday morning, but it eventually cleared off. It was lovely.

The Popes. Mr. Ephraim and his sweet snuggles. 

The Andersons

The Murrays.

The Millers

 The Johnsons minus Derek who had to work. (Martha is one of Luke's sisters.)

Irindee and Mr. Ephraim 

Next year, Baby Williams will be a sweet addition to the fun. 

Nieces: Margaret and Mara

Sometimes you just need to pull down a dead tree. 

Luke discovered that fruit snacks were the way into Ax's heart. 

Playing with a chainsaw is apparently a LOT of fun. 

Travis and Luke

Martha and Irindee

  

The Lovely Keren Ruth

 Spool walking

 Nettie 

Ax found an Ax

 Our cozy campsite

Benjamin and Mr. Ephraim

The new Mrs. Miller and myself

 The Edwards Family(Anna is one of Luke's sisters)

Heidi and Mr. Ephraim

Blue eyed wonder

Benjamin and Matt

Matt and Madi

Adventures!!!

"Nature is the art of God." ~Dante Alighieri

"The world is round so that friendship may encircle it." ~Pierre Teilhard de Chardin 

Roadtrips, Pianos, and Life

      I spent today in my classroom cutting out locker tags, laminating things, and getting bulletin boards ready for the new school year. Tomorrow is the 1st day of my 4th year and that is just crazy. I'm looking forward to it.
     This weekend was lovely. Friday evening, we hit the road, heading south to visit my grandparents. My Grandpa and Grandma Shearer gave us their piano and so we made the drive in Roscoe, our trusty truck, to pick it up. I am excited about having a real piano, not just a key board in the house. Thankfully, my Uncle Rod showed up and was able to help get the piano moved. It went a lot smoother than I had anticipated.

Strapping the piano in. We then proceeded to drive around the rest of the weekend with this as well as a bunch of other stuff strapped in the back. We were cool looking!

While we were there we also had a picnic at the Oasis with my Aunt Ramona and Uncle Dan, it was fun seeing them.

      On Sunday we headed to Rochester for a quick visit with my family and then my lovely friend Polly got married on Monday. It was the most unique wedding due to the fact that during the outdoor ceremony we could hear the thunder rumbling and the clouds rolling in. And then the skies opened up and a torrential downpour ensued with monsoon winds and it didn't let up. The party carried on in groups in the barn and garage and front porch. All together it was an unforgettable wedding. I am so happy for Polly and Isaac.
   We caravanned home with the Lovely Keren Ruth, Benjamin, and Mr. Ephraim. That was rather fun and we stopped in Saint Cloud for pizza. So, a good weekend was had, and now 15 students are ready and waiting for school to start tomorrow. That is almost double the class size I had last year. Adventures!
     Oh and last week, Baby Williams decided to make an appearance in the form of a baby bump. If you didn't know before it's pretty obvious now!

Happy Tuesday.

"Enjoy the little things in life because one day you will look back and realize they were the big things." ~Unknown