Cozy Little Nest

When we first moved into our apartment I felt like we had moved into a little nest. It is the highest apartment in the complex and is so small (780 sq. ft) after a house, that it felt quite cozy. Six months today we have been in our apartment and it has started to feel like our own place. At first when we moved in all of us, including the dogs, were hyper aware of everyone living around us. I was very conscious of intruding in others space and them in mine, but now we just wave and go on with our business.



The Living Room

 I have found out that not everyone just waves and goes on with their business. One day, while Terran was working out of state for 3 weeks, the downstairs neighbor waved and then asked me, " Are you living alone now? Did your man leave you?"  "No" I answered, quickly explaining that he was working out of town.  Yikes!

I can empty the dishwasher and put everything away while standing in one place.

There are several bright spots to our humble abode and one of those is a private deck. This has allowed the dogs to be outside and for me to leave the door open. Such a blessing!

Reading Corner

Watching the world below pass by.


The park just up the road is something else we've enjoyed about this place. Each evening the dogs and I go up there for some off leash time.
 

Kaia waiting for the stick to be thrown, while Kojo grazes on rabbit droppings.
 

As we in the coming weeks are getting ready to leave this little place for our own house here in Reno I see many ways that God has taken care of us these past months. This cozy nest is certainly at the top of the list.

Home is where the Heart Is,

Naomi

Summer Visitors

Summer is about many things; sunshine, sun burns, BBQ, long evenings, and visitors. Even though we are still adjusting to our new home city and finding our way around we had summer company. We had the joy of sharing some of our favorite things with members of both our families.

Terran's Mom, sister and nephew at our favorite breakfast place that served amazing artery hardening chocolate covered bacon with strawberries.

Kyz kept us all entertained while waiting for our meal.

Checking out the extreme sporting good store Scheels.

Tamara, Kyz and I trying our hand at an extreme sport. Terran and his Mom were right behind us.

Kyz impressing us all with his prowess at target shooting.

All You Can Eat Sushi

with my Mom and brother Ben. 

 

Waiting for you to come and visit, 

Naomi

Colorado Memories

Favorite running spot in Fruita

Lunch with Greg

Nephews



Re-enacted Christmas Picture

Lanae

Sweet Aleah

Disco Dancers

"Ouch"

Two little cuties

Frustration

~ Sweethearts ~

We had such a lovely time visiting our old home state. Thank you all who added to our weekend!


Naomi

Love and Beauty

This past weekend I watched my brother in-law, Wesley, pledge himself in marriage to a beautiful girl that glowed in her love for him and the life they will be creating together.  I also saw my nephew’s adoration for his mother and how all else was eclipsed for him by her.

The Groom watching his Bride walk down the aisle 

"Her children will rise up and call her blessed"

The Beautiful Bride

Her laughter is like music

The exchange of rings

Her feet come running when called

Wes and Emily; two lives now one

She is patient and kind

Mr. and Mrs.

~ Love and Beauty ~


 Two very special types of love.



Naomi

All the pictures of Tamara were taken by her three year old son, Kaiser, during the ceremony

Shake Your Tail Feathers

             Last year for our 10^th anniversary Terran and I took a trip to Santa Fe, NM to celebrate. One of the first things we did was join a morning hike with some birders at a local bird sanctuary. We felt a bit silly raising our hands announcing to the group that we had never before birded, while most of the group had gone numerous times and were old hands at it. We set out with our borrowed binoculars and a more experienced birder as our guide. We made it several feet before spotting our first winged friend and the hunt was on from there.  We walked the trails looking for some movement in the sky or the sway of a branch to lead us to our prey while listening to our guide call out, “Who cooks for youuuu” mimicking the dove call that echoed around us. We were both hooked, but haven’t done much birding since then other then lamenting every time we can’t see a bird clearly, because we didn’t bring binoculars on our hike.

This past month that all changed!!! We took our first camping trip since our move to Reno a couple weekends ago and headed out to California about an hour and a half up the road. Sunday morning we woke to a bird that sang nonstop while we breakfasted. After coffee and eating we set out to find the little fellow. The Winter Wren was the first bird of a successful day spent peering through binoculars and snapping pictures of small dark objects that were hopping around in trees; hoping that one picture would come out clearly capturing the beauty of our avian friends.

Winter Wren Singing

Winter Wren Dancing

Naomi

Zombie Dog

He is out to get you!!!

Loch Leven Lakes

Terran has done quite a bit of traveling during our first three and a half months here. He is home now and we have been taking advantage of him being around and our lovely weather by getting out and hiking each weekend. Loch Leven Lakes has been one of the most beautiful places that we have hiked so far. It is in California about an hour or so down the road. It is a 4 mile hike up hill, but is so worth the work ending at a series of three lakes.

Lower Loch Leven Lake

My inner Washingtonian coming out.

Middle Loch Leven Lake

Duck Family

Looking down Middle Loch Leven Lake

Terran's find

High Loch Leven Lake

Sweeties In-love



Naomi

All the Way to Reno

Moving in 7 weeks from the time it was a thought to having it be a reality is a bit of a shock for the system. We did it though and are now trying to find our footing in a new job, a new city, a new place we are calling home.

Terran found out about a job here in Reno NV at the end of January, applied by the first weekend of February and he took the job a few days after the interviewing the next week. We found ourselves packing, selling our house, quitting our jobs, me withdrawing from classes, saying good bye to dear friends and family and on the road to Reno by the end of March. It sounds like a decision made quickly and without thought, but we spent a lot of time in prayer and had so many things confirm to us that this was the move we were suppose to make.

Our house sold after three days on the market. We felt that was such a gift from the Lord and confirmation that our move was the right thing.

Packing the house. The poor dogs didn't know what to think of everything being dismantled and packed away.

Black Rock Desert on our way to Reno. A very boring part of the drive, especially after almost 10 hours on the road that day.

Unpacking the boxes that had only been packed the week before. We have a little 770 sq ft apartment to call home right now. Hopefully we will be buying in the next few months, but right now are quite cozy in our little space.

The view from our apartment kitchen window. The weather hasn't been the best to make it up to the mountains yet and we've been busy, but one day soon we'll go exploring, because we can hear them calling our names.

On the next great adventure,

Naomi

2011 Pictures

This weekend is turning out to be one of those unique weekends for me, because I don’t have an over whelming amount of homework there feels to be an abundance of time. In that abundance of time I am accomplishing bunches of things that have been waiting for me, while not feeling rushed or stressed. This post is one of them. I have, since the beginning of the year, wanted to post a picture for each month, but between holiday travel, school starting early and weekend plans plus homework each week there haven't been many spare minutes. The spare minutes I have had I decided to devote to sleep in hopes to beat the first cold I have had in over a year. I did not feel getting sick during the first weeks of this year was an auspicious start, but now that I can breathe again life is looking up.

Now with great pleasure I present for those still checking this abandoned blog a peek into our life in 2011.


Like many people we started 2011 by stuffing ourselves with goodies.

We flew to San Diego in February to pick up a car Terran bought and enjoyed our day in the sun.

Lunch on the pier in the sun.

In March we got to show our property to some very special people. Our nephew Kaiser liked the dogs and water best.

We took a weekend in April to go to Santa Fe, NM to celebrate our up coming 10 year anniversary on May 12. (Tried bird watching for the first time and loved it.)

We also visited the folk art museum while there and saw some beautiful toys.

In May we cheered for our niece Aleah at her gymnastics competition.

I got a new toy in June.

Terran was baptised by our niece Lily when my family visited in August.

September rains doused us at a favorite event the Meeker Sheepdog Trails.

I got to run with our nephew Keagan, when he competed in a triathlon with his brother Kaden and cousin in October.

Terran built a long awaited shed in November (it is already packed with stuff).

Of course we couldn't spend all our time at home working.

In December we spent Christmas with my family and a couple days on the Oregon coast.

Babies can fly!

Oregon was stormy and beautiful.

Catching Up,

Naomi