10-11-25 Are we there yet????????

 Retired/Missionary Life. Sunday.

Happy Sabbath!! Here! Have a Jesus Picture!

Today we made progress in our trek home by driving to Wolf Point. Proudly, we actually crossed a time zone. One more to go!

We grabbed some caches along the way and enjoyed views of the Missouri River and it's surroundings. All while listening to General Conference, now called truck church.

Retired/Missionary Life. Monday.

We at least thought about driving clear across Montana, but we didn't quite make it. We did make it to a really nice AirBnb in Chester. We picked up some caches and saw some cool sites along the way.

We had a near mutiny. The boys seem to have traveled enough. Last night, Frivvy tried hard to escape, pulling hard enough on his leash that I almost dropped it and trying to scurry under the horse fence to get away. And then earlier in the day, Gussy literally chewed up both of their leashes! (Using my "use your resources" skills I learned in Scouts, I built a new leash by using official knots to tie the chewed parts together.) So, first thing this morning, we found a feed store (plentiful in Montana) and bought them new leashes and new squeaky toys. This made them very happy. And the new leashes no longer reside in the back seat with the boys...

Also, here, look at a critter at the Highland's.

Enjoy!

Retired/Missionary Life. Tuesday.

We spent the night in Chester, Montana. Population 895. Just a tad bit larger than Fairfield. We loved it! Small towns rock! As we were logging a geocache there this morning, the cache owner came out and said hi to us. Turns out, I know his brother from when he lived in Chewelah. And he is the President of the local Chester LDS Congregation. Small World.

The coolest part of Chester is some dude named Chester climbed the water tower and painted his name on it...

We found a Geocache in the back of an old truck in Cut Bank. And then headed towards the mountains and away from the plains. It was so picturesque that Hanna took a ton of pictures. Enjoy!

Our trek has not been without its old people challenges. Like Hanna leaving her special cane in Miles City. Or me losing my house key ring at Devil's Lake. But then finding it in the truck two days later. And then last night, we realized our AirBnB in Kallispell was reserved for the wrong nights. And we had to cancel it (forfeiting about $200.....can I deduct that as some sort of loss on my taxes???) and having to find new housing there. We found a place in Martin City, just outside of Glacier National Park. Nice place, but our plan was to pick up a fast food salad at Wendy's, Subway, or Chick Filet tonight. None of those three places exist here. So, after walking into a local bar and grill and seeing how crowded and noisy it was with mostly beer and not much food on the tables, and seeing the locals glaring at us, we ventured on West to see what else we could find. Finally found a decent upscale restaurant and had a great meal. Rib eye for me. Shrimp Skewers for Hanna. And we both got dessert too just because we felt like it and we could.

At the new AirBnB, which is dog friendly, there is only one dog ball and one dog bed. Frivvy took possession of both and Gussy isn't sure what to do. Always fun traveling with these two. (No one attempted to escape today nor did they chew up their new leashes.)

I told them we will "go back home" tomorrow and they got really, really excited!

Retired/Missionary Life. Wednesday.

We made it home!

Below is the view from our cabin near Glacier Park. And also a screen shot comparing the gas price in Idaho to the gas price in Washington. Tough decision...

We're glad to be back home. I feel like I spent the past two weeks trying to figure out which way to turn the sink handle so hot water comes out rather than cold water. Now that I'm home, I KNOW which way to turn it.

Tonight's romantic romance talk: Hanna: "Thanks for driving me all the way to Mayo Clinic and back..." Me: "Thanks for not dying...."

Retired/Missionary Life. Thursday.

We slept in. Because we were in our own bed, because we were exhausted from traveling, and because we are retired and we just can.

Bacon and Eggs for breakfast. Took dogs for their walk before it got blazing hot out. (Wait! Isn't this October??)

Made a bunch of Missionary calls to Stewards and Missionaries that need inspections and the Office. (This is the last week to do inspections this transfer...)

No food in the house, so we planned the next few days, made menus, created shopping list, showered, drove to Plummer, ate salads, played Rummy, gassed up with cheap Idaho gas (and cleaned the windshield) went to store but then remembered we had forgotten the grocery list, tried to remember what was on the list and created a new one, bought the groceries, drove home, unloaded, put away. And, not bad. The only thing we didn't remember to buy that was on the list was some Chocolate Bars for Hanna.

Did the studying and reading. Paid a few bills.

And watched a pre-recorded football game in the evening. Eagles vs Bucs. Good thing we didn't watch the live game........it didn't go too well.

It is good to be home.

Retired/Missionary Life. Friday.

We got up earlier than usual (see the sunrise picture Hanna took below from our front door....) and we drove to Moses Lake to worship in the temple there. We don't mind the drive and love that temple, but it will be nice to have our temple back on-line next week.

Lunch at Bob's Cafe. Great steak Cobb Salads.

And back at home, the road behind our house is now a major construction zone. I think they are burying the stream. Small town becomes bigger town...

Retired/Missionary Life. Saturday.

First, from 2011, the best comment Hanna ever made on a FB post. I'm the luckiest guy ever.

Today was "Old People Go Out to Breakfast" Day. A tight game of Rummy. Then Steak and Eggs and an omelette.

Time to read and study in the afternoon. And then Justin, Del, and Ella and Molly came for dinner. Good talks about caching, football, church, Ella's new business, and many other things.