Wow, I like this one. Okay, (adjusts thinking cap).

January - Spent a sunny, beautiful day at the Oregon coast.

February - Tom bought me a tulip magnolia tree for Valentine's Day which we planted in our back yard.

March - Our kids Sierra and Brady came out to visit and we drove the coastal highway to the CA Redwoods.

April - Sister Jill and bro-in-law Mike came to visit and it was also the month of much flower shopping!

May - Mom Atkinson and cousin Charlotte came to visit, another trip to the coast, and more flower planting!

June - More road trips, plenty of rain, and our SECOND wedding anniversary!

July - Tom gets a nasty staph infection and is in the hospital, misses lots of work, but managed to get in our first overnight camp trip.

August - Cousins Charlotte and Clay came to visit, family potluck, lots of BBQs, campfires, and hot weather.

September - Camped at Detroit Lake, more hot weather, BBQ's, campfires, and attended a Big and Rich/Gretchen Wilson concert.

October - Mom came out again for our niece's wedding, enjoyed lovely fall weather and changing colors.

November - Tom surprised me by planning a trip for me to ND to see my kids, sisters, and family, so spent Thanksgiving in ND!

December - Dryer than normal month, busy at work, and a happy Christmas Day with family.

I grew up in a very small town in eastern Montana. Our main street was four blocks long. We had two bars, two restaurants (now just one), two grocery stores (now just one), a grade school, a high school, 4 churches, a post office, and a bank. Parents allowed their kids to be outside and go places without supervision. Kids could ride their bikes all over town without fear of being kidnapped. Nobody locked their car doors or their houses. People trusted each other and helped each other. Outsiders were treated with caution until you got to know something about them. Summer evenings as a child consisted of playing games such as Kick the Can, Red Light, Green Light, riding bike, or hanging out on the school play ground. We didn't have cable t.v. We played outside, even in the winter, and used our imaginations. We didn't have a choice!

There were 18 kids in my graduating class, 12 girls and 6 boys. We had to travel at least 30 miles to get to a doctor or hospital. Richey was and still is a farm community. Sadly, the population has decreased the last several years because people just aren't making babies like they did years ago, and not many are sticking around to farm like their parents did before them. The school used to be big enough to have its own football, basketball, and track teams, but now days, the high school is so small they have to combine sports with a neighboring town just so they have enough kids to make a team!! This requires a lot of dedication with the kids and parents because they have to travel to another small town at least 20 miles away each day just to practice!

I feel very fortunate to have grown up in this small community. My grandparents lived in that same small town, my aunts, uncles, and cousins lived in that same small town, and I have many people I love and respect who still live in that same small town. My grandparents, mother, aunt, uncle, nephew, and other relatives are buried there. It will always be home to me, even though I have not lived there for 36 years.

Would I move back there? No, I really wouldn't want to move back there just because it is so rural and there aren't many jobs to speak of. I will always remember Richey as the town that raised me and shaped my future, and for that, thank you Richey, Montana.

Having my daughter and son come visit in March. Flying to Florida to meet our newest granddaughter. Having our friends from England come visit in July. Taking a trip back to Montana for a class reunion. Losing weight and feeling awesome! More road trips and exploring with my bestest friend (my hubs).