Welcome winter! Wow, what a year it’s been. We move into winter glad to finally see snow on the ground again. With our trusty wood stove and our little cabin we are fairing quite well so far. It has been a tough fall for me as many of you already know. With my Dad’s passing, the oncoming winter and holiday season has felt much different. My Mom and Sister were able to join Stu and I for Thanksgiving and my birthday which has been very nice. To be able to share the cozy home we have made here in Livingston with my family has felt refreshing. Despite the new normal we have been trying to make, a consistent hole resides in the middle of our family. We are all experiencing this differently, and being together for the holidays, while extremely fortunate, has amplified the loss we are experiencing.
On a brighter note, Stu and I are both enjoying our jobs highly. Stu has finally settled into a routine, which only makes him more and more comfortable with our new life. He has even started buying some new Montana toys. We have officially extended our trailer family to include a boat and a snowmobile. Fun in every season. At least Ruby has some company in the back pasture during this cold winter. She definitely will not be seeing the sights like she did last winter; especially not since our good old (but expensive) truck has gone off to greener pastures.
As Stuart settles into his new found hobbies and snowboarding, I have also found a new hobby. I have officially started leasing my first horse! Well, not my first, but my first horse as an adult. I figured it was time to finally take the plunge. I am only a few days in and still have so much to learn and rediscover. So, as that progresses I will make sure to keep you updated.
My golden birthday this year has already been blessed with family time and some new art. I hope that as the holidays settle in I learn to sit more comfortably with this feeling of grief. But, I know time will be the only help in dissipating these feelings. More soon!
