Replanted Peach

The transplanted peach is coming home. Was it the snow? The icy roads? The driveway? The constant freezing cold weather? Nope! It was a certain "young" man who has swept me off my feet and convinced me to come back south to get married. Yep - you are reading that correctly!! I'm getting married!!!! Whoah! What happened there? "I didn't even know you were dating anyone", is probably what you are thinking. It's hard to put into words what has happened, but it is only through JESUS that we were brought together and a true testimony to His amazing faithfulness and provision. The short version of the story is that TWO WEEKS after I moved to Wyoming, I received an email from a guy in Spartanburg, South Carolina, which started the ball rolling. He knew my cousin, who had given him my address and thought we would hit it off. Well that's an understatement. After multiple emails and burning up the phone lines, we finally met in person over Christmas and that was it. Actually, he knew he was going to marry me after that first visit but I was on a slower train and it took me a while to figure out what God had in store for us. On the last day of his recent visit to Lander, he proposed outside Hudson, Wyoming on the side of the road. It was absolutely perfect and I cannot think of a better way to get engaged.

So death of a blog....but birth of a marriage!! I have resigned from my job at NOLS and will be headed back to the sunny south at the end of February. And not a moment too soon as the temperature the other morning was 22 below zero. Are you kidding? Enough of that nonsense.

God has a funny sense of humor because I'm convinced that the ONLY reason I moved to Wyoming was to meet my husband...my future husband who lives in South Carolina. That's a good one, God! I am so excited and can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me next!!

Thanks for staying tuned and look forward to seeing everyone very soon! OH MY GOSH I'M GETTING MARRIED!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a few minutes after getting engaged on the side of the road. I love how unconventional, yet completely perfect it was. Look at me! I'm not even wearing any make-up and he has about 5 days of scruff on his face. Again I say, perfect!

Nope, no ring yet but isn't that just a formality? I'm more excited about this amazing guy than a piece of jewelry.

It was zero degrees when he proposed, as seen by the car thermometer. I think the snow on the side of the road where he got down on one knee had to have been FREEZING!

Hudson, Wyoming. Population 407. There isn't even a stop sign in the town. Perfect.

ILYMVC

Elk Refuge

MVC Sickie!!

Finally....Jackson

Finally made it up to Jackson this weekend, although I feel a little cheated since visibility is so poor from the snow we haven't even caught the faintest outline of the Tetons. Expectations are a killer, aren't they?!!

A Snowy Tundra

Obviously not a faithful blogger... Winter has arrived and locals keep telling me that I must have brought the snow and cold weather with me from Atlanta. Apparently this winter is one of the coldest and snowiest Lander has seen in years. Go figure. Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE Lander, but this peach confesses that she has struggled some with the recent Wyoming forecast. Perhaps it was driving my city car, not knowing how to navigate icy, snowy roads, sliding right through stop signs as another car heads my way with my life flashing before my eyes. Having to park the 2-wheel drive Camry at the bottom of the driveway and hike through knee deep powder to my house? I'm dealing with freezing temperatures beautifully thanks to my puffy down jacket, but I'm not sure I'll ever get over the fact that Lander waits a couple of weeks after a snowstorm to plow the roads. Then by the time they get around to plowing, the 2 feet of snow that fell is now packed down to a solid sheet of ice. Make life interesting for sure.

After shoveling the driveway by myself (and getting quite the workout I might add), I finally broke down and hired someone to plow it. I am no longer held prisoner. It's a beautiful thing.

I'm not sure you can appreciate the length and steepness of my driveway in this shot, but believe me, it's ridiculously long. My poor Camry never had a chance.

Another salvation!!!! An all-wheel drive Subaru Outback. Who would have thought that I would ever drive a Subaru?? It's completely awesome, hugs the road and gets up my driveway without any problems. I've had it for two days and absolutely love it.

MVCJ16

Snow Shoeing on Togwotee

Saturday I went snow shoeing up on Togwotee Pass with a couple of friends from work. Elevation - 9,600 feet! Snow Pack- too many inches to count!

My first view of the magnificent Tetons from the top of Togwotee Pass.

Headed up into the backcountry.... It's amazing how easy it was to negotiate several feet of snow with our special shoes!

Thanksgiving Part II

Again, can't figure out how to post more than 5 pictures at a time, therefore another Thanksgiving post.

Thanksgiving

Each year a group of NOLS orphans get together and have a potluck Thanksgiving. I think there were 17 of us squeezed around the table. MUCH to be thankful for this year!! White tablecloths and everything! Wow!



Our hostesses, Carrie and Cara. They did an amazing job!