YES!! This is a pencil that was gifted to me today by by a 70 year old couple that goes to my church. What is funny is that they were in Hamilton Montana and knowing that i graduated from there had a great idea to go to the high school and ask if they had a pennant or flag they could buy for an alumni(me). They haven't been in a high school in decades. They apparently did not acquire the necessary visitor pass!!! Instead of getting me a gift they were given this pencil asked to leave and told not to come back?? High school isn't what it used to be ehh?

Check out some of our work

We are loving our Lapidary classes! We have cut several cabochons and still work on soapstone and some newly acquired alabaster at home since we only have hand tools here. The tomato plants are trees!.... we have lots of garden growing. I'm not feeling so wordy today so Ill write more this next week. 

I looked back

And realized I am also looking forward. It was fun for me this week to see how much I blogged this time last year. We were so excited and freshly clean and full of hope. Now we are the fulfillment and the culmination of that hope. I am exactly where I want to be doing exactly what I dreamed I would. No I haven't forgotten my long lost children, I am investing in myself, and praying Gods will be done, and I feel less tragic, and more humbly hopeful. I have been opening doors I boarded up long ago, and closing ones I should never have opened. Joining our Lapidary school is awesome...I feel oddly akin to the rock hounds there...like Im home after a long journey or back at a familiar place. The pumpkins are behaving perfectly. Our crazy little sunflowers that have millions of babies are back 6 strong. The tomatoes are making roots to China, and all the nursury plants are repotted and up for adoption (haha sale).  Our yard is way clean and other than the dust from carving soapstone, the house looks great. Theres never been more life on the Rancho...we even have a new tenant...they eat rattlesnakes and cactus.....sounds like great fun!