I had the pleasure of hiking to the top of Mount Sentinel yesterday. Have not done that in years. There were still arrowleaf balsamroot and lupine blooming at the top. Lots of bitterroots in very good health also. A few tiny plants of clarkia.

At the top, after coming up from the Kim Williams trail, we met a younger woman who was just reaching the top from the front side (the harder side). She was still huffing and puffing a bit and asked, "Is this the top?" I smiled and said "Yes". She shared that it was her first time to make it to the top. She appeared to be someone who is working to get in better shape, probably against some genetic predispositions towards gaining weight. I felt so honored to be there with her at that moment and that she shared her accomplishment with me. I know what it takes to push through to reach a goal and that it sometimes takes more than one try. But how great it feels and then the next time is so easier.

We hiked down the front from there and at the M there was a man quite a bit older than me (and I'm not young...), a family with young children, another middle aged woman, and various college age folks. A few younger kids coming up slowly as we made our way the rest of the way down. EVERYONE was in a good mood and smiling.

The trip made me happy!

Carla

ps- I should have taken photos to share. Instead I was just searching the WORLD WIDE web for some photos of arrowleaf and lupine together that I might "borrow" - and the first site I went to was a forum of amateur photographers. Someone had posted photos of their hike that included the flowers. I kept thinking, GOSH, this could be Mt Sentinel, GOSH, those mountains look just like the Rattlesnakes.... GOSH, the town looks a bit like Missoula... and then it is revealed that it IS Missoula! Funny. Unfortunately, the photos didn't do it justice so I didn't borrow them... better in my memory

Right now I am truly celebrating the decision to sign up for HHO, at first I was very impatient to get to the "whole picture" but I always am impatient to "arrive".. before I signed up for this online program I was continually making bad decisions. It has been so helpful to think about healthy choices every day, tweak a bit here, a bit there.. I am celebrating this new day and the healthy decisions I am making today and I look forward to who I am going to be ..
~Debbie

Happy that my sister and fam came to visit last weekend. It was so good to sit together in the grass and....just be. While we talk on the phone often, there is just something more to sitting together in silence, just listening to the birds sing and watching the grass blow in the breeze.

We had a wonderful halibut dinner and even the g'kids enjoyed a spinach omelet for breakfast!
Together, Cindy & I listened to Carlas recordings and talked about the benefits of the program.
How wonderful it is to share In this life lifting venture together!

Hope we all start hearing from Cindy on the posts, she has always been my mentor and I'm one lucky sister to have her

woohoo i think i have it now.

Welcome Cindy! Nice to "see" you here. Hope you like the new website and that we see more of you!

Carla

Hi, Cindy!

It's great to meet you, ever so briefly. I look forward to getting to know you, learn from you and share with you.

Beckita

Oh I saw the most magnificent rainbow tonight, it was backdropped by thunder clouds and very brightly shot straight up into the sky. It lasted a very long time and I sat in awe taking in every moment of it till it faded ever so softly to a place where only I know.

I love it when you take us to your memories Carla, you have such an appreciation of the little things...the things that have the biggest importance.

Hello, Everyone!
I was AWOL at Flathead Lake this week and, through the generosity of friends, spent some days with my son and daughter, their spouses and grandkids. It's a magical place with an incredible view and it holds many memories of former summers when my kids were young and brought along friends whenever we stayed in this home.

On the way going, we stopped at Arlee Elementary where my husband, Ted, had taught first grade for nearly thirty years before retiring due to a cancer battle which ended his life too soon. It was the first time we visited the Ted Hesse Memorial Garden all together. Each of us has been blessed with a lot of healing in five years so it was a remembering full of laughter. The artwork of the students reflected the ties for which Mr. Hesse was famous and we giggled and embelished the stories behind each tie's image.

So, here's to families, memories and change.
Beckita