Autumn napping on brother while we watch football and Halloween afternoon.

This week has been a week of lessons and enlightenment. It really truly seems that some weeks just fly by and I can't remember the best parts. Other weeks I can't get over a "bad" day. My bad days these last couple years are nothing even close to what bad days used to be. The are tolerable and funny when I step back and look at them.

The results from the ultrasound of my leg came back all clear. No clot and nothing to worry about. I think I have neglected to drink enough water (something I preach non stop to others) and the result was a 24/7 cramp. It was nice to get the docs clearance.

Monday Autumn and I went to GreatFalls to spend the night and some time with Lala and Papa and hopefully see the cousins. Julianna is getting so big and she is so so smart it has been amazing how fast she is growing and changing. Logan and Autumn are getting more comfortable with each other with every visit making it another bonus of moving so close to family! We also got updates on the Oregon cousins when Grammie Jo and Papa Bob arrived safely after a road trip to see the C. Goodans. Dana did a great job at the dealer with his Dad away but I think he was very happy to have them back! I was just as happy as it meant that he could come home for lunch again, or run to the house and help me when company was on the way for supper.

A downer of the week came when we got the news that our friend Jenny and her kids decided to move. We will miss them and hope the very best for them!

We have had the Bruchez fam over twice now for supper (with out Matt who is away for work) and it was a riot!! Mere and Autumn are becoming great pals and we even catch the two hugging but can't make any ooo's and ahhh's. It is becoming familiar for us all to be together and it is the kind of relationship that I have missed living in bigger cities. Phoenix...or the outskirts that may as well have been another state, was not the easiest of places to form and maintain close relationships since we all lived so far apart. We all tried but it was a chore to spend a day at someones house when you knew the drive home was going to be long and frustrating.

Anyway, back to wonderful! The other morning...about 3a.m I was sitting on our couch under our wonderful picture window peering out the curtains to see what or who else could be lurking at this wee early hour. Five deer walked across the street with out a care in the world. I thought it was beautiful and I hoped to myself that Autumn would appreciate it and not forget how cool this type of thing is. I was so bored with deer when I left MT I used to tell one of my Dads "keep going it looks like the 80 we just saw". I'm a gawker now. I look around when I drive and see how incredibly gorgeous this little town that I left swearing never ever to return really truly is. The highway wave seems to be dying from here to GreatFalls but in town it is still a very active practice and I love it!

Bringing our week to a close I heard the most profound thing from my father in law. It was one of those slap my own forehead why can't I just get it, moments. He stated the date of his heart attack, a terrible and scary moment for his entire family. He said "That's when I stopped caring what everyone else was doing and only worried about my family. Who cares what anyone else is doing. Just let it go." When I shared it with my mother we both said ooooo, aaaaaaaa, and laughed as mom said "God is that you?". Ha! It was just something I needed to hear at exactly the right time as I sat in the dealership and realized later that I was there with my shorts on backwards and probably a little bit funky smelling after an afternoon in this oddly warm Nov. weather. It was one of those moments that I will never forget and really wasn't that big of a deal. But...that's how cool life is. Something that is just simple conversation gets you over that speed bump you keep rolling backwards and having to hit again. It seems like these moments happen a lot lately. It feels great to be me today. I feel gratitude in everything that I have and everyone that is in my life....Oofta I feel blessed!