Thoughtful

Josh and I are born only 2 years and 5 days apart. Making us both Leos (I'm the 6th and he's the 11th of August), we are selfish so when he drives 60 miles to bring me lillies and chocolates to cheer me up after a horrible day I had I can't believe he is a true Leo. He is my love.

Sit back

This was the last card I made at my aunts house, my old dwelling. Saw the stickles idea somewhere (can't remember where) for salt and thought it was just too cute. Time to do some relaxin'.

Finally done!

Going to be an aunt to a niece soon. Ella Rae Dodds will arrive somewhere around March 10th. This blanket should keep her warm for a few years. It only took me a few years to complete so it seems fitting. I started it in Singapore in 2006.

On the Ranch

Such a simple life, where hard work pays off. But in 20 below temperatures you wish it paid better.

I like em' BIG!

Not really sure what is my Mom and I with the BIG drinks, but now Josh has caught the bug too! I think a minibook is in order and a BIG drink bartender!!
***updated*** The boot drink is from the NEW Prospector in Great Falls, the large beer is from the Sud's Hut in Helena, and the blue drink is at the Sip n' Dip in Great Falls

Who knew

I guess I did one creative thing last month. My cousin called for a crafty favor. She had been saving this poem and invite for 2 years. She finally gave it to her daugther-in-law for Christmas, it made her cry. Is it wrong that that is my goal when scrapbooking. Is that evil or sincere?

Ready

for spring
to wear flip flops
to be done with physical therapy
to scrapbook again
to put rubber to ink again
to be motivated to clean the hot tub
to finish moving in

I'll keep you posted on how well that goes.

All mine

In thirty years. In December I bought my very first house. Now I really feel old. Josh bought me lillies and the previous owner gave me this little doll that says "according to an old Indian legend, this house angel possesses strong medicine to ward off evil spirits, keep your teepee safe, your moccasins dry, and your heart warm -B. Jasmin" with a card that said this house brought her to Montana, she was married in the back yard, she brought her son home here and she hopes I have as many wonderful memories as she did. I have some very cool people in my life, and they keep multiplying.

Strength

People are powerful.

They can make you...
drive 60 miles to feed cats horse pellets
laugh until you snort, repeatedly
want to purchase Martha Stewart product
talk on the phone until your ear wants to slide off your head
feel the need to create your own purse
miss them so much you dream about marrying them- or perhaps I ate something weird to make me dream about marrying my sister
reach goals you never knew you could
aspire to be a better person
addicted to watching Grey's

Side swiped

Surprise: a feeling caused by something happening suddenly or unexpectedly
Each day is full of surprises.

Here are my Thursday surprises:

I got to work early, that never happens.

Josh texted "hey sexy have a good day" even though I said some cranky things to him on the phone last night. I put my foot in my mouth again, surprise, surprise.

My boss made tacos for us all at lunch. A Mexican surprise- "OLE"
(subtitle- My boss made tacos for us all at lunch. A Mexican surprise- "OLE")

My Mom called me, that never happens either.

I was complimented on my interviewing skills, and he was surprised too by my never having training. Well if he met my mom he would understand...she perfect for the NYPD interrogation department.

My headache went away after I took some excedrin. Weird how that works.

We are all in this race for something moving way too fast to see the small things. There is a surprise around every corner. Even when I turned to look away from my computer at work, I saw this (last month). I know, good grief the clouds and I should get a room already. I can't help it when you are in love you want to shout it from the roof tops. I LOVE CLOUDS, sorry Josh.

Familia

This is the Smith Family on Thanksgiving- big feast and big attitudes.

Baby got back

Looking back, last year was huge. It always seems you need to hurt before you feel good. You need to lose something or give something up to finally get what you have always wanted. "The scars you bare are a sign of a competator" Dr. Weber from Grey's Anatomy (which I just finished the fourth season and Melissa has caught me up to speed on the 5th season of what I have missed). This year brought me many scars- physically and emotionally. Some I will take into 2009, but some I want to stay in 2008 forever. I experienced so many things, met so many people, had so much fun. Looking back I hope it just gets me ready for the excitement in 2009.

This photo was again taken at 80 miles per hour driving to Great Falls from Stanford. I love to take photos in my little screaming banana- dirty, cracked windshield and all. It's hard to drive away from something so beautiful. But I am glad that I have to if it means I get to see this. I guess that day I traded a boyfriend to see this sunrise.

I'm Special

So Josh has an older brother, Les who kept asking me if I had seen all of these places on their ranch. I had yet to see them and he was shocked. So after hearing how cool these places were I asked Josh why he never let me see them since they were so important to his brother. Josh said that whoever he showed them too would be really special. Of course I started laughing and giving him a hard time to find out when I would see them. But the day finally came when I got to see Judith Gap. This is where they keep some of their cattle and it is WAY cool because there is a wind farm there. These windmills are so crazy are eery looking. But the view all around was breathtaking! Here are the photos from the day Josh decided I was special to him, oh and more importantly where they moved the cattle back home. With every new thing I see I still give him a hard time about how special I must be.

ON FIRE!

This is the last sunrise photo from my aunt's deck. It is my absolute favorite because it ends a chapter, or set it on fire. It looks like the city is covered in lava huh? Isn't it breathtaking!?

Ripples

Oh- so if I forgot to mention I am RUNNING!!! I am up to 9 minutes now. Let me tell you it was such a great feeling to be sweating. Man I have not sweat since November 29th 2007 when I tore my ACL and MCL. Talk about getting into shape for my New Year's resolution. I am ready for this attitude to create a ripple effect throughout my life. I am ready to sweat physically, creatively and mentally! Bring it on 2009!

Clarity

Everything is so unclear, just when you think you know where life is taking you it flips you into a corkscrew and you lose sight of everything around you. Sometimes you are lucky and see the fog before it hits and you prepare yourself for what you think is going to happen, but it's guarenteed to throw another corkscrew your way! "You can do anything the impossible just takes longer." I saw this painted on a van the other day- it gives me hope that we have some control in what happens but I am prepared for the fog and won't lose sight of what is important to me. This photo is of the fog while heading into Great Falls from Stanford at 85 miles an hour.

A branding we will go!

Josh, his friend Tyler and I drove to Stevensville where his brother Les lives to go to a "branding party" at the Blacksmith Brewing Company. This was only the second time seeing branding at all. I had no idea there was so much smoke! This brewhouse has a beer called PD, which stands for panty dropper! I got a kick out of that one.