Random photo posting

I shot this photos on the 9th of January, near Sheldon ND. It was quite a hike out to it, but was well worth the effort.

Finders credit to Mark Levos and thanks for taking me there.

Caramel Recipe

For those of you who have been asking for the caramel recipe I use, here ya go!

Caramel Recipe

3/4 cup of butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup Karo syrup

Bring to a boil in a sauce pan over medium heat. Boil for 3 minutes
Slowly pour in a 14oz can of Sweetened condensed milk
(I have used the cheaper stuff and it works just fine)

Bring to the soft ball stage (238°) remove from heat.

Stir in 1T (or several) of vanilla and nuts (both optional)

Pour into a 9x9 greased baking dish. (or, I have used a silicone bunt pan, freeze and then turn out onto a decorative dish. Fill center with pecans.)

Cool, eat in large slabs or glue directly to your rear end.

A new chapter, new triumphs!

So, as I am getting excited about our trip abroad, I wanted to take some time prior to prepare. Brian got me thinking when he asked about the things we wanted to see and do in Italy. It made me think about what I really want this trip to be for me. The following is what this trip means to me, and what I want to accomplish as well.

As you know, for my 30th birthday, Brian took me to Paris. But for me it was more than a trip, it was a genuine celebration. The first day that we landed and started exploring the city, we ended up forging the mountain of stairs called the Arc de Triomphe. As we stood upon the the summit, I was overcome with the realization that for me, this was my triumph, our triumph as a family, as a community.

Having just come through those trying years when Hope was a preemie baby with all of her extra needs, prayers, love and energy. At that moment she was as strong as ever, and I have to say, that I too came through that feeling a sense of strength and accomplishment. One that I didn't realize I had in me. Through a leap of faith, we tempted fate again and decided to have another child, with a relatively event-free pregnancy, Megan joined our family and was a pretty happy and carefree baby. Here too, we learned how to be parents all over again, and this time the baby came "cordless" and with a bit less drama, but no less celebration.

I can't believe that anyone would argue that there were some difficult years leading up to that trip; infertility, special needs child, the dance that my father had with a deer on his motorcycle and months in intensive care and rehabilitation, and the loss of my grandfathers and loved ones over the preceding few years. But as we stood atop this beautiful monument, it was for me, that moment of triumph. We had made it through, we had not only survived, but I believe, had flourished. We had come through stronger individually, as a family, and as the larger community, that generosity, of time, money, prayers and love, made possible. A triumph indeed!

Now as we ready ourselves for this next adventure, I am reminded that it too parallels that trip, in that we have again, faced adversity. The loss of loved ones including my beautiful mother, grandmother, the loss of two of Tom's grandparents and an aunt, and my uncle Bill and the discovery of cancer in my dear aunt Joan. While all battles may not have ended how we had hoped for, through it all, we have endured, we have held together, we have lived in the presence of great love, and I believe through it all, we have once again flourished. And, while we still forge on, and continue to wage battles, we have to believe that we are due. Due to rediscover the beauty and excitement of life and all it has to offer. To live life to its fullest.

What this trip is, for me, is the beginning of beauty and vitality this life as to offer. A celebration of what we have accomplished and the inauguration of a new chapter, that of celebration and abundance. It is my intention for this trip, to breathe, to soak it all in, and inspire me to write the next chapter. To write it with love, with passion, creativity and fervor.