The Favorites Tag

I was tagged by Emily at Living Through Jesus for the Favorites tag. Thank you dear!

1. What is your favorite thing to do at home?
These days, sit and FaceTime my boyfriend. *blush* The other day we talked for 6 hours straight!


2. Which is your favorite, cats or dogs?
I love kittens. Watching them tumble and jump. Waddle around and learning to explore. Cats on the other hand? Not a huge fan. I would prefer a dog!


3. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
If I could live anywhere? Taking out the realistic things like needing a job, family, etc.? If none of that mattered to me, I would probably live somewhere like Eastern Oregon or Idaho. Somewhere in the hills with pine trees and snow capped mountains. *sigh*
At this time of my life, I am not sure where I will be living in a year. I may be moving 3,000 miles away, or I may still be right here. God only knows. And where He sends me, I will go.


4. Do you love to travel?
I think I do? To be honest, I have not done a ton of traveling in my life. When I was real young we did make yearly trips to visit family on the East Coast, and I always loved it. Occasionally the family would take a vacation like to the beach or a once in a lifetime trip to Disneyland. Best. Vacation. Ever. I'd go back there in a heartbeat.
We did take one vacation road trip to Idaho and I really enjoyed that.
I was privileged to take a road trip with my Grandpa one year and it was amazing!
So yes, I do enjoy traveling. Though I have never do much of it. And the little I have has not been very far traveling, except to the East Coast.

Crater Lake

5. What is your dream job?
To be a wife and Mommy. Never have dreamed of another.


6. What is you dream vacation?
Let's see...
I would absolutely love to travel to Malone, New York and see the childhood home of Almanzo Wilder. Travel the Midwest and see the homesteads of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
I'd like to take a road trip and see historical sites like Mount Rushmore, Tombstone, Deadwood. Western towns, boot hills. Rugged places. Graves like Jim Bridger's, Calamity Jane's, Jesse James', and Billy the Kid's. Remember, growing up I loved anything to do with cowboys and mountain men.


7. Do you have a favorite drink? What is it?
Coffee.


8. What is your favorite home-cooked meal?
Growing up, it was chicken pot pie. Now? Too many to truly choose one.


9. Which do you prefer: pop or water?
I do enjoy pop occasionally. I probably would even prefer it. But I know it isn't healthy so for the most part, I stick to water.


10. Who is your favorite singer?
Who is? Don't you mean who are? It's way too hard to pick just one singer!
As a teen, my favorite singer was Loretta Lynn, and although she still is special to me, I have come to love many others just as well:
Charley Pride, Buck Owens, Patty Loveless, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Lynn Anderson, Keith Whitley, Crystal Gayle, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Alison Krauss, Lionel Cartwright... ok. I'll stop now.


Out of all those singers, if I was forced to pick only one it would be Patty Loveless.


11. Ice cream or milkshakes?
Ice cream!


I tag:
Shantelle at Between the Pages of this Bookish Life

Forever // P O E T R Y

If forever lasted longer

Than forever truly be

I'd want to spend forever

Together, you and me

If life was a river

Ever flowing to the sky

I'd want to sail it with you

To the sweet by and by 

If love could be measured

And spread for eyes to see

Mine would pour from deep within

And fill the roaring sea

If forever lasted longer

Than forever truly be

I'd want to spend forever

Together, you and me

- Felicity Estola

 

East to West // part three // the final days

Nothing can last forever. All good things must come to an end, as hard as they may be.
Josiah's final days here were such fun, though at times I felt so sad my stomach would hurt. I didn't like remembering that soon, he would be leaving and flying back home.


One thing he did say he would like to do before he went home was to see the Pacific Ocean. I remember when I seen the Atlantic for the very first time. And the very last time as of right now. It seemed far different than the beaches I grew up going to!
So one day, we all loaded into the family van, and my Dad drove us all to the beach!

But first! Coffee! This was my first time, as well as Josiah's, trying this coffee shop. It was delicious! If only it wasn't such a long drive to it. *sighs* Organic and stevia options? Yes please!

Lunch at our traditional little restaurant!

The sand was hot!

That guy is my best friend.

You can't go to the ocean without ice cream! Cotton Candy and Blackberry. Mm.

It was neat spending the day with my family, and watching Josiah interact with them all!
Before heading home we stopped at a nearby tourist attraction. Who else is afraid of heights? My legs were Jell-O by the time I reached the bottom again!

Josiah's plane wasn't scheduled to leave until late Thursday night, so we had the entire day to spend together. In the morning we were up early, made breakfast, and then we headed out the door! We drove to some local caves and walked the length of one. It was my first time here as well! It was so cold in there! We nearly froze to death!

As far as we could go.

I sort of like that guy. I think I'll keep him.*nods confidently*

Before heading back home, we made a stop at a local coffee shop! Josiah needed to see what the fuss was all about.

"I can't espresso how much you bean to me."

 Once home, we just spent the day hanging out around the house. I have a hope chest filled with childhood mementoes and I loved digging them out and sharing them with Josiah.

Us three played my Winnie the Pooh memory game from when I was a little girl several times!

Off for Burgerville one final time!

This time, the whole family came. I didn't get a picture of them all though.

We weren't exactly feeling too happy at this moment. *winks* Time was ticking too fast.

We spent the rest of the evening watching "Bolt" with my family. *smiles*

At the airport!

*tears*

It was far harder saying goodbye this time. I did not like it. Come back soon, okay?

East to West // Part Two // my mountain

"Our home lay in a small valley west of the mountain.

We often called it Salmon Creek Valley, although I don't

think it was ever officially called that.
It was "our valley" and Silver Star was our mountain,

my mountain."

-Betty West

My great-Grandma wrote those words above. It is from her I got my love of the mountains. I did not spend very much time with her growing up, and she passed away when I was quite young. Still, her free spirit was passed down to my Grandma, Mother, and finally to me.

The need for mountain air. Western skies. Cool breezes. Open land for as far as the eye can see. Sunshine and wildflowers.

My mom's side of the family once leased the section of mountain we call "Silver Star". My great-Grandma grew up running cattle up those hill sides. Staying in a cabin and riding horses. I remember hearing stories about it for as long as I can remember. That place has always had a special place in my heart. And in time I came to feel the same as Grandma Betty. This was my mountain.

From the very first time Josiah said "hello" to me, I think I told him of this special place. I wanted to share it with him, show him the place I loved so much. The Ranch is now a memory, so he will never be able to see the cabin in the woods. Maybe that is why I wanted to share Silver Star with him so badly. So Saturday morning we loaded up and headed for the hills.

The road up there is very rutted and narrow. I have never dared drive there on my own and have always rode with someone. This time, I took a deep breath and with Josiah by my side, took to the mountain roads. I was a nervous wreck and we had some scary moments, but I made it safely to the top and back down!

It was a dream come true to share this place with Josiah. I am so thankful we were able to make the long hike together. We even shared some nasty sunburns. *wink*

Care for a glimpse of my mountain?

My home is so beautiful.

Chancy and Dustin. Tiny little specks.

Looking out on the same land their ancestors did.

My best friend and I. <3

View from the summit! It's called "Silver Star" because you can
see the five mountains (also volcanos) from the top.

My Grandpa and Sue captured this of Josiah and I.

Mountain air and my love. Life doesn't get much better than that.

*my heart*

God's handiwork. Oh the colors our Lord created!

The gang! Missing Grandpa and Sue.

I'll see you next time. *waves*