December 17, 2011

We have our new and very official court dates!!!!!!

The court dates are officially set!  We leave January 29th.  Arrive in country on the 30th and finally get to hug and see the twins in person on January 31st!


I am soooo excited...... mixed in with moments of terror and rubber band legs! 

So here is the final countdown of our fundraising for our first trip.....we will hold our Ipad 2 drawing on January 23rd!


I am going to compile my list shortly to let you all know the odds of winning and hopefully we will have some more join in on the contest!  Remember, all you have to do is donate (no specific amount) by clicking on the button to the right.  Or make a purchase at our online store http://www.walnutgrovetraditions.com/
Or post on Facebook about our blog/request for donations....or even email me that you prayed for our family and you want to enter our contest....I truly appreciate the prayers and kind thoughts.

Also, I have changed our fundraising thermometer to reflect that all we need to pay for now is the plane tickets.  (We will just have to fundraise for the next two trips after we come back)  I'm still waiting to hear the exact amount so this is currently an estimate.

I am soooo thankful for the outpouring of support that we have received in the last two weeks.....I could just cry thinking about it.  What a difficult and yet amazing and uplifting experience this has all been!!!  I promise to do better with blogging and will post more soon! 

December 12, 2011

Define necessity?

We finished our John's fundraiser and haven't yet heard how it went but we all had a good time and since we haven't eaten out in a very long time, that made it all the more special.

We will soon be working on a yard sale fundraiser but haven't yet decided if we will try for this Saturday or wait until January since we will be facing the holidays.
I will also try to write in the next few days about where we stand and how much closer we are....it is a good feeling and yet I would love to just be fully funded and be able to relax and focus on preparing for the trip and how we can make the transition and bonding as easy as possible for the twins.  We will get there...some way, some how, I know we will get there.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about true necessities and actual needs this year....more than I ever have.  I saw these posted on Facebook.




And, it obviously gets you thinking......and re-defining what is actually a neccessity and what is not.

And then I saw this next video. 

I want you to watch it....not necessarily for the nice things that the adoptive parents say to the girl they are surprising, even though it is nice, but rather to really and truly understand what it means to have a family.....and what it means when you don't.  You see, when I think of necessities now, I would put family right alongside shelter, food, and water. 

And though, many of us do thank our Heavenly Father for our families and attempt to be appreciative.....I think that after you watch this video you will be changed in your appreciation of how much you have and how deeply it would hurt to not have them......to be alone.  Hang in through the first part so you see her reaction when she finds out that they actually want to adopt her and that she will finally have a family:



Having a family is as important as our food and water and the air that we breathe.  I urge everyone who is reading our blog to truly consider the plight of those who don't have families this Christmas...there are often Christmas trees in malls and large stores where we are all encouraged to offer material presents for children who may want/need them.  While this may surely be a kind act, I want to also encourage those of you to consider helping a child to find a family.  There are so many sites where you can sponsor children and help the families that would want to adopt but just can't afford it, to be able to bring them home.  All of the children that are posted below (and so many more!) are on Reece's Rainbow or Project Hopeful




















So how do I define necessity?  Family!  Please consider a visit to these websites and offer help for the families that want so badly to bring the children home or for the children to have enough sponsored funds that a family can just step in and bring them home.  If you have been reading this blog very long or know our family personally, you will know the extreme efforts and roller coaster it is to fundraise.  Many families are just not able to do it but would love to welcome a child into their family.  Could you also consider if your heart has been touched and if your family is willing to open up a spot in your heart and home for these children who need you.......

December 5, 2011

John's Incredible Pizza Fundraiser-see what you will be missing if you don't come!

We are continuing to work and plan even though we have until February now.  We know that it takes a lot of preparation and we do *not* want to be in the rushing around mode like that EVER again!

This Friday from 6-9 is our fundraiser at John's Incredible Pizza Company!  See the flyer on the John's Incredible Pizza tab above! 

Once you see the pictures, you will know why you want to come....other than our good cause! ;-)


  • Salad - They have an amazing salad bar with all kind of different yummy veggies and dressings.

    • Soups - Two different soups every day, including Pasta Fagioli, Beef Stew, Chicken & Dumplings and more.
  • Pasta - Choose from Regular Marinara, Meat or Alfredo Sauces and specialty pastas such as Italian Casserole and many others.

  • Pizza - There are a ton of different choices and some that you can't get anywhere else!  They're famous for their Spicy Peanut Butter Pizza and Alfredo Pizza. There’s also Macaroni & Cheese, BBQ Chicken Ranch, Fiesta, Buffalo Chicken and Garlic Pesto pizzas as well as the traditional combinations like Veggie, Meat Lovers and Hawaiian.


  • Desserts - Freshly made doughnuts!!!!  Need I say more?  Well, there is!  Their desserts include freshly made Cookies, Soft-Serve Ice Cream in a Cup or Cone, Apple Crisp and Cinnamon Rolls


  • Now, what kind of environment do you want?  I always choose the cabin fever room:
    It has a warm and calming fire place and feels very cozy!  But, there is also a cartoon room where there are large screen cartoons playing, a sports room, surf's up room(skateboarding and surfing etc), and the fusion room which plays current music videos for the teen crowd.

    After you eat, there's more to do!  Head for fun world!

    Kids of all ages have the time of their lives in our Incredible Fun World... Bumper Cars,

    Twister,

    Frog Hopper,

     Bowling,

    Laser Tag,

    Incredible Express Roller Coaster, and over 100 of the latest Video and Redemption Games.

    Redemption games pay-out tickets that are then put into the ticket eaters and can be used to redeem incredible prizes from John's redemption counter. We entertain both big and little kids for hours.

    Please come!  Meet up with your friends and enjoy the time spent together while supporting our twins in finding their way home!  If you live a distance from Roseville, consider making a day of it and get all of your Christmas shopping done!  There is a *huge* variety of specialty stores as well as a large mall and Costco, Target, and Walmart.  I also highly recommend Tuesday Morning because they have truly high quality and interesting items all at deep discounts.  (And, I'm not getting paid to say that....darn!)

    **Please be sure to mention Project Hopeful when you arrive and buy all of your purchases (entertainment, drinks etc at the cashier and not the kiosk for us to receive the donation)  The fundraiser only goes until 9pm but you can stay until it closes!
    Hope to see you there!!!!!

    December 3, 2011

    The twins do get a family for Christmas, just not the way we expected....

    We should be four hours into our flight across the world today and I am feeling it.  At the same time, we came so close and experienced so many miracles and I am feeling that today even more. 

    I am struggling with how to put into words what all happened this last week.  In part because we were going so non-stop and had, on an average of two hours of interrupted and fitful sleep each night.

    I know, once again, how much Heavenly Father wants us to adopt these two wonderful children.  I also know, unfortunately, how much the adversary would like to prevent it.  I felt this battle of good and evil so strongly this last week that if someone had just told me our story, and I hadn't experienced it myself, I truly wouldn't believe it and would chalk it up as complete over exaggeration.

    Each and every day we had moments of excitement and panic that we were going to be able to go and then moments of excitement and panic that we weren't going to be able to go.  The emotions were flying!

    We were able to raise nearly all of the money in order to travel but we didn't raise enough funds for the plane tickets.  Then, we thought we could take a loan for the plane tickets and spent time working on that avenue.  After that, we realized that we had to have all of the cash in clean unmarked bills (due to the country's worry about counterfeit) and since we were transferring money from different accounts the actual funds weren't there to pull from until after our plane would leave.
     
    It finally came down to the last few moments on Thursday when we were given a deadline of one hour to complete the rest of the tasks we needed to do.  One of the last pieces of the puzzle was to rent an apartment and have the full address and rental agreement finalized.  The only problem was that it was later evening in the twin's country and we couldn't get a hold of anyone.....if we only could have had one more day, we could have made it work.

    So, with sadness mixed with small amounts of relief, we finally decided that it was best to wait until February.  Maybe God is teaching us patience.  Maybe He is ensuring that we are truly ready and prepared to bond with them.  Maybe we won't ever know exactly the reason or purpose for the wait.

    What I do know is that we did see miracles happen and we did see mountains moved!  We had family, friends, and even strangers come to help our beautiful children finally get a family for Christmas.  And, I don't feel like we failed in that endeavor at all.  There is more detailed information here that I would love to share with all of you but I feel safer in saying that because of all of our and all of your efforts....and the fact that we were supposed to be traveling soon.....the twins were told that they have a mommy and a daddy and that they were coming for them!!!!!

    So, you see, they are getting a family for Christmas now,  because we can now send pictures and our love to them!!!  Our one-sided relationship is over, and now they have a chance to get to know us through pictures, letters, and gifts until we are finally able to wrap our arms around them and bring them home!

    None of this would have happened if we hadn't had the faith to go ahead and do everything we could to make it work and if all of you hadn't done so very much to help us have the hope and the encouragement to persevere and keep going forward....

    We are incredibly thankful for what should be one of the best and most meaningful Christmas holidays that we have ever had.  Certainly not the most materialistic by any means, but where we have finally begun to truly understand the true meaning of the birth, life, and teachings of Jesus.

    In closing, let me share with you just a tiny sampling of the many miracles and blessings that we have seen:
    1. Our church family has surrounded us with a type of love and protection that I have never felt or experienced before.  They are also doing the 12 days of Christmas for us which entails a secret delivery each night for 12 days in December. We have received the most amazing and wonderful goodies and donations.
    2. One of the donations that came in was by the sweetest little girl in our church congregation that is 9 years old.  She had been saving money for Christmas presents and felt the promptings of the spirit to offer this money to our twins so that they could also have a family like she has.  You see, she is also adopted and she has an amazing and loving family that she knows to appreciate.  I was moved to tears by her sacrifice and the love that she extended towards our family.  Do you think I will tell the twins about this gift of the heart...you bet!
    3. I heard from so many people who wanted to know how they could help and what they could do!  We had many people who selflessly and  freely gave their hard earned funds to help and many who offered advice and support.
    4. While applying for a credit card to help with the plane tickets, the bank teller was unsure if we could do anything quickly enough for us to travel on Saturday.  While she stepped away from her desk, I bowed my head in sincere and fervent prayer.  When she came back, she worked a bit more on the application and began to talk about how we would not find out for a minimum of 2-3 days, when she paused and stared at the screen for a minute.  Then she said under her breath, "that's weird!" and looked up at me with a surprised smile and said that it was considered an instant approval and was for the exact "ideal" amount that I had just mentioned. 
    5. Project Hopeful was additionally amazing and reached out for help on our behalf and raised over $600 to apply to our plane tickets!!!  People that live nearly as far away as our twins donated to help us!  They are also helping us with our upcoming local fundraiser at John's Incredible Pizza co. on 12/9(more details to follow!)
    6. Lastly, the day that we officially found out that we could not go, we received beautiful gifts to bring to the twins and donations from my sister and we had an anonymous very large donation that came in the mail in a cashier's check.  It lifted us and encouraged us on a day that was very difficult.  I hope our anonymous donor reads our blog and can hear how appreciative we are for their sacrifice and kindness!!!!
    Sending love and appreciation from our family to all of yours!!!!!!!!!!!  Our next update should include our new court date for February...may the time pass quickly for the twins and productively for us! ;-)

    November 30, 2011

    Cheaper flights!!!

    I went on some recommendations of a travel agency and it looks like there are some better deals and that the twins flight will be half of what I thought! 

    I'm heading to the bank right now to inquire about even a small loan or credit card.  Please pray!!!!  If anyone feels the pull to help, we remain extremely grateful...especially if we don't qualify for the loan now that I have tried so many avenues and all of the inquiries have hurt my credit (which has always been good) so it is frustrating! 

    Continuing to try.........

    Still trying....but not looking good....

    Just a brief update....we are still trying to see if there is anything we can do to bring down the flight expenses but as it stands we are short of the funds for that. 

    If we wait, we will likely have grants and fundraisers that will help and it will be no problem. 

    But, then we, and more importantly, *they* will have more waiting.....

    I will update the thermometer shortly.  I am so encouraged by all the outpouring of love and answer to prayers.  Maybe, even if we can't go, there was a reason for this push to get us ready both mentally and financially.

    Thanks to all of you!!!!  I will update in a few hours when the final decision will be made.....

    November 29, 2011

    We're getting there!!!!

    My husband just called and said that a family member was willing to loan $5,000!!!!

     And that coupled with the recent donations takes us to $5,325 to add to our thermometer!!!

    I am so appreciative for kind and loving people that are acting on our Heavenly Father's behalf to help our family!

    Thank you!!!!  I will update again soon!

    Strength under pressure

    I apologize for leaving everyone hanging but the information has been changing by the hour with a lot of unknowns. 

    We are in a tight spot.....we had been under the understanding that we would not likely travel in early December and that we would more likely be traveling in January and would have more time to fundraise and/or get loans, grants etc.

    We were completely unaware until yesterday that we could travel this soon! 

    I could be holding our twins in six days.......it just makes me ache thinking about it......

    So, we've been hustling and inquiring about whatever we could possibly do.....including loans to make that happen.

    And we thought we had the solution, but this morning there were more complications and delays..... which would still render it impossible to go because we need to make our decision today and make the plane reservations to leave on Saturday.

    *AND* moreover we found out that if we don't leave on Saturday that we will have to wait until February to travel.

     Two more months that they will wait.......two more months where anything could happen.  It is extremely hard.

    To truly understand me,  I want you to imagine that two of your beloved children were in a country half way around the world from you.  Imagine what you would do to get to them......and you have a chance to hold them and love them by Monday, rather than waiting another two months with empty arms.......... and they with no family. 

    I came close to folding again this morning from so much recent discouragement, but I prayed for strength and prayed for the ability to have better knowledge of what to do and how to get them home.  And, as I opened my eyes, I felt comforted.....and strong! 

    I don't know if we can give the twins a family for Christmas......I don't know if they will experience the love of devoted parents by Monday but I will try and I will pray for continued revelation from our Heavenly Father to know His will. 

    Today is the day that we have to decide......if anyone has thoughts or revelation or a desire to donate or help, you have no idea how much it would be appreciated.............

    November 28, 2011

    NEWS!!!!!!!!!

    I knew it, I knew it!!!!! I had just read on a new and wonderful friend's blog Our Adoption Journey about the various scriptures and hymns that suggested that blessings were around the corner........and another wonderful friend and blogger who just recently adopted a beautiful daughter with Down Syndrome and is an amazing adovocate (so check out her blog) Our Journey to Anya had just written in my comments that the day I had yesterday often came prior to the travel date...............was she right or was she right?!?

    How about a court date of..........

     December 4th!!!!!!!!!!!

    That would mean that we would be leaving on Friday for the twin's country!   We don't know if/how we can pull this off but I will update the blog when I know more.

    If you have ever considered helping us....even with the tiniest amount, we would appreciate it more now than ever before, please consider helping us get the twins home before Christmas!!! 

    More soon..........

    November 27, 2011

    Happy Birthday Kate Margaret!

    Have you ever felt like Satan has launched an all out attack on every front?  Well, if you have...you will know exactly where I am at right now.....

    Trials are hurtling towards our family from every side lately and many of them just aren't topics that I can discuss. 

    They range from the minor and yet very annoying fact that we have a little creeper of the mouse or rat persuasion that chewed our dishwasher hose which resulted in a flooded kitchen and a couple of days of handwashing our large family's dishes.  Which, of course, results in lost time for us to do other things...like figure out how in the world to raise the rest of the money that we need!



    So, my wonderful but disgruntled husband was able to go into town and get the correct parts and fixed the dishwasher.  The dishwasher was fixed, the mouse bait was put out and all was well in our household, right?

    Of course not!  The next day the *brand new* hose was chewed in about four places as well as the upper back corners of the actual dishwasher!  Mouse-2, Us-0

    Hmmm, why did I say I wanted to live in the country and where are our cats?!? 

    So after several more days of dishwashing by hand, I am thinking of a new plan:


    Logical consequences, right?!?

    Or instead of cats, maybe we need to get a new pet:

    Sorry!  My girls did not like this picture at all either!  But, it is the way of the chain of life and a natural solution, right?

    So, I mentioned that there was a range...and that the mouse and flooding and extra chores were the least and smallest of our problems or distress.  And, I meant it.....

    Again, many of the issues are too personal to discuss but involve separation and loss and tests of faith. 

    And today is the anniversary of our dear daughter's birth and death five years ago today.
     Happy Birthday Kate Margaret.......
    We love you just as much today as we did then....and my arms ache for you still.  We love and miss you so much and promise to work hard to be reunited someday!

    We have made a little more progress but I just can't emotionally do the Walk Across the World travel guide today. 

    By midnight tonight, it will be a new day in the twin's country and any time after that we may hear about our court date.  Prayers welcomed......

    November 25, 2011

    A Terrible Dream!

    Before I get into my terrible dream I want to show two new items that will be listed in our store-Walnut Grove Traditions

    Both of these items are completely unique to our store:

    It is the cutest little Polar Bear Bunting with original artwork from our daughter:

    The great thing about baby buntings is that it makes it so much easier and faster to change their tiny bottoms!



    We can customize it with Grandma's Polar Bear or Auntie's Polar Bear etc


    This is the back side!  Lauren did a great job....doesn't get any cuter!  Well, except for the baby you put in it!  We will be listing it for $23.99


    The other item is specific to adoption and is a great way to celebrate the day your child came home or your gotcha day.  On the front side is your child's picture surrounded by adoring angels. This is printed by a digital garment printer onto cloth:


    On the back side is a poem that I have fallen in love with along with their name on top and "gotcha" date on the bottom:

    We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life
    But those who make their journey home
    Across time & miles
    Growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,
    Are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us
    By God's very own hands
    -Kristi Larson


    We can print most any custom ornaments this way with a different poem on the back side of your choosing so that we could include biological children as well.
    These will be listed for $12.99

    Email me if you are interested before I have had a chance to list them on our site at rcwalker@succeed.net



    Okay, on to my dream....I may not be alone in having nightmares after eating too much of the Thanksgiving feast and getting to bed late, but I am feeling the need to do something about this one....

    I was with my two older daughters, Mary and Emily when we found out that the twins were coming home and we needed to go and meet them. 

    I was so excited!!!  I told Mary to get our camera so we could take pictures of our first meeting....

    When we got there we realized that the children were accompanied by the head of children's welfare from the twin's country and the children's caretaker.  I saw a glimpse of our little girl in the car but never did really see either one completely.....there was a brief discussion of needing to take pictures.

    Then it was as though the scene changed to the morning of the following day....as though I had been clubbed over the head and was waking up out of a confused stupor...and I became very concerned about what happened and where the time went.  I was laying on a couch's hideaway bed (which is strange because we don't have one!) 

    I asked my daughters what happened, and about that time,  I saw our son (one of the twins) and he seemed very unhappy.  I was very upset and asked the girls where in the world he slept?!? 

    But before they could answer, I realized that there were many children from the orphanage that were also upset, sitting on the floor.  I became more concerned as I didn't know whether anyone made them a place to sleep! 

    About that time I saw the two women that were the officials from the twins country who had brought them.  They were walking down the stairs with very stern expressions on their face. 

    My concern turned to panic when I asked the girls what room they had been given.  Emily told me that they had slept in the spare bedroom.  My body froze in terror as I asked if the spare bedroom had been cleaned out? (this room is currently being mainly used for storage)

    Emily simply replied that she couldn't because there wasn't time! 

    I woke up with the exclamation of, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!" and having my heart racing out of my chest!

    So, it is officially time to nest and be sure that we are ready to go.  Unless someone else has a different interpretation of the dream, which would allow me to procrastinate! LOL! 

    ===============================================================
     Fundraising News:
    We have had one donation (thank you so much!!!!) towards the cookie basket (and also entered into the bigger prize of the Ipad 2 drawing, to be held a week before we travel )

    We need 9 more in order to hold the cookie basket drawing.  And, trust me, you *want* this cookie basket!  It is a sweet reward for doing a good thing!

    We are also continuing to make progress on our virtual Walk Across The World towards the twin's country!

    We are now in ......Walden Colorado!!!!

    It is a town of about 734 people and is the "Moose viewing capitol of Colorado!"



    A lot of folks come here to hunt Elk which is likely where one of the main businesses in town got it's name:


    
    Antler's Inn






    And, they have a restaurant called The River Rock Cafe that looks cozy and beautiful:




    
    I would love to try their Southern Style biscuits and gravy.....it makes me think of my grandma......

    Here's to hoping that within the next post or two, we will be announcing our travel date!!!!!

    November 24, 2011

    A different kind of post....

    This will be a very different post from me.  For one, I am sitting here in the quiet solitude of the morning with a chance to be still and ponder.  Well, in all honesty, it is never exactly silent here....I am listening to the crowing of roosters and the rain pouring on the roof.  And, I am loving it.  Even the roosters seem more subdued and melodic this morning.....

    The main way that this post will be different is that it will be short! ;-) 

    I have the opportunity to volunteer today with the Child Life program in our nearby hospital.  I truly debated whether or not I would do it since I knew that the times would overlap our extended family celebration. 

    Then I realized that this year is so different for me.  I have experienced such a mental change about giving and receiving....and necessity.

     I saw this picture on Facebook:

    It is a simple mix of two words and two pictures and yet it has stuck in my mind ever since I saw it. 

    The typical and perhaps cliche thing to say would be to urge us all to be more thankful for what we have.

      But, that is not how I am feeling this morning.

    I feel guilty.....I am not that particularly special....why should I have had a life with love and family and comfort?

    Then I think....we are all children of God.....we are all wonderfully amazing people and we all should have love and family and comfort. 

    But we don't.......

    No solution will be offered because as much as I wish I had answers for many things in life....I don't.

    But, I will urge all of you to truly and deeply pray this Thanksgiving and truly give, however and whatever you feel called to do.

    Sending my love and thanks to all of you on this Thanksgiving!

    November 22, 2011

    Official referral received!!!!!!!!!!!

    It's official!!!!!  
    We are THRILLED and so excited!!!!!!!

    Our son asked us what it meant that we "received the referral".  I explained that it meant that the government where the twins live, wrote us a letter with more information about them and asked us if we were interested in accepting the twins and going forward with the adoption.

    Robertson replied, "Did you say YES, YES, YES!!!!!!!!!"

    We did respond immediately that we were definitely still interested!
    There isn't much more information that I can share but I did find out more information in regards to siblings that we did not know about before. 

    Now we wait for the attorney to speak with the judge and set the court date.  We are on pins and needles waiting and we are struggling to do more fundraisers as quickly as we can.  We have yard sales and restaurant fundraisers we hope to do,  as well as new Christmas products on our website. And, after much prayer....we are continuing our blog and giveaway. 

    We are sincerely hoping that all of you might be willing to share with others that we are still hosting
    an Ipad 2 giveaway!!!!!!!!!!!!


    and we will have the drawing in the week prior to our travel.  The drawing may be held in a matter of a couple of weeks or up to a little over a month.  And, since our fundraising hasn't exactly gone as well as we were hoping, it means that your odds of winning the Ipad 2 are great!  ..........much better than almost any other contest you have probably ever entered!!!!

    AND, I'm so thankful to a dear friend who owns a catering business and has agreed to donate to our giveaway!

    (This is not a picture of the actual cookies for the basket)
    She has agreed to donate a cookie basket!!!
    I received one for my birthday and it was wonderful!!!  Well, that is, what small amount I was able to get, since everyone else had their hands on it!  The basket was decorated beautifully and the cookies were huge and tasted.....well, let's just say that I would have no will power whatsoever to deny one of her cookies!  We will ship it inside the USA wherever you wish, so this may be used as a Christmas or birthday present or just a fabulous treat for yourself!

    How to enter: (pick *any* option to enter-you only have to do one!)
    1. Make a donation using the button to the right side of our blog(no donation is too small!)
    2. Walk and report some miles to add to the blog (see Walk Across The World)
    3. Pray for our family and email me rcwalker@succeed.net
    4. Post our link to your FB page-let them know that they could win an Ipad 2 and cookie basket!
    5. Include a post on your blog about our giveaway
    6. Make a purchase at our store http://www.walnutgrovetraditions.com/     
               We are adding Christmas items today!
    The cookie basket drawing will be held a week from today if we get a minimum of 10 entries!  So your odds could potentially be 1 in 10!  Please help support our adoption....we have a long way to go and very little time!
    =================================================

    How about our progress with the virtual Walk Across the World?
    We did make it out of Utah and all the way to Craig, Colorado!
    Craig Colorado has a population of approx 10,000 people and is a town of creativity and being able to think outside the box!  I have seriously been inspired by them to make lemonade out of lemons...here is the story:

    In 1999, the city of Craig Colorado realized that the trees in their city park were diseased and needed to be cut down.  So, what would the typical city do?  Pay large amounts of money for the trees (and stumps!) to be removed and then experience the ugly nothingness that is left behind.

    What did the officials of Craig Colorado decide to do? 

    A chainsaw festival where artists could come and transform stumps into art!  Check this out...it is amazing!












    Now that is some Chainsaw therapy!!!   Much better than mine (here) perhaps but....if you have a problem, breaking out the chainsaw might just be the solution! (Oh, with the disclaimer of not appropriate during fits of anger....)



    Craig, Colorado is also home to The Wyman Living History Museum!


    Here is Lou Wyman!
                 "The museum opened in August of 2006. The Wyman family has gathered an absolutely unique collection from throughout the west and beyond, giving museum guests an experience spanning one hundred years of American life, ingenuity and advancement. We guarantee there will be something you’ve never seen before!"

    There is a complete Colorado license plate collection and a premier chain saw collection! The chain saws range from 12 pounds to 200 pounds and blades that range from 1 to 5 feet long. 
    There is a stuffed buffalo with a fun story that you will just have to visit their website to hear!  He also seems to provide a great bed for their resident cat!


                                        They even have a resident Elk named Clyde!

    
    SO CUTE!!!!

    
    That's it for today!  Sorry for my lack of frequent blogs...I have less time than money and well...yeah...you know.......