Ahhh... A Camping Trip

We had such a nice time camping on Canyon Ferry Lake last weekend. We found a wonderful, FREE spot with a gorgeous view, (relatively) easy access to the water and no people anywhere near us! It was so nice. Yes, camping is a lot of work for the parents who have to pack up all the stuff, set up the tents, build the fire, cook the food, do the dishes, etc. But our kids are getting more and more helpful every year, and I love helping them make these memories that will last a lifetime.

Celebrating Ben

Well, I lost the election and have resumed my "normal" life. I was very disappointed by the loss, but the good news is that we're looking ahead to a fun summer and I now have the time to do things like "put stuff away" and "do the dishes" and "blog." So that's the bright side.

One normal thing we did, right after the election, was attend my nephew Ben's graduation from high school in Moscow, Idaho. Ben is a super cool kid with an incredibly bright future. Eric and I feel honored to have been able to have been a part of his growing up, and we're inspired by the wonderful job my brother and his wife have done in raising this amazing young man.

We had fun in Moscow, hanging out with four generations of Waldens and Hildings. It was great to reconnect with my family after the intensity of the campaign. They were all very proud of my effort which made me feel good.

So, now I'll be dipping my toes back into the crafting world and the gardening world and the baking world and the cooking world. And the blogging world! See you here again soon.

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A very talented local graphic designer DONATED the design of this logo to me. Isn't it awesome!?

SWITCHING GEARS

My posting came to an abrupt halt last week because I made a very big decision - I'm running for the Montana state legislature, seeking to represent House District 78 in the House of Representatives. It's going to be a huge commitment of time and energy, but after prayerful consideration and seeking some wise council, I've decided to jump in to the race.

The sensation was like being at the top of a huge water slide, knowing the ride would be fun, but terrified to push yourself forward. Well I pushed, and the ride has been awesome so far! The nice thing about this commitment is that it has an end: June 8 is primary day, November 2 is the general election, then the legislative session runs from January - April of 2011. Yes, the hours will be long and my girls are young, but I think there could be no better example for them at this point than their mom working hard toward a lifelong dream that could concretely make their state, and their lives, better.

Of course this all means I'll be able to spend less time in this wonderful space, which makes me kind of sad. But there is a season for everything in life. There are many things I want to do in my hopefully long life. For now, it's this race. Here I go...

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