Photos of the B&B and Landscaping

Another Group of Guests

Well it’s already Thursday and Chet and I are currently flying to California for Mike’s wedding, and Chet is one of the groomsmen.

We had guests check in last Wednesday and check-out Sunday (our 1 year wedding anniversary)! All but one couple were families from Montana Academy. Chet and I had a great time serving and hosting them. We cooked several great breakfasts: ham & egg brie strudel (that was so delicious) served with an streusel baked pear and freshly baked scones, upside-down apple cinnamon French toast, sausage-spinach quiche, and berried and cream French toast. Everyday we start out with some kind of fruit, scone and then the main course. People loved the breakfasts, and some said it was too much.

We also served happy hour that came with a glass of wine or beer and appetizer. The appetizers we made were zesty sausage cheese balls that were so yummy, Mary’s famous bean dip, sausage stuffed mushrooms and a pesto-baguette bruschetta. All four appetizers were very good. I also baked chewy ginger snaps and peanut butter chocolate bars that were in a baggie, tied with ribbon, and placed in each room. And of course I had to try most of the stuff to make sure it was good, but always doing that is not good for me. But I have to say I did enjoy it.

The week prior to the guests’ checking-in I bought some games for outside: football, badminton and volleyball set, horseshoes and we already had a croquet set. I was happy to see the games being used by the guests and they really enjoyed it.

The Bed & Breakfast has turned out spectacular. The pictures on the Internet are just what I’ve taken but we just received our first half of the professional photos. She did an amazing job and I’ll be posting those on the website, facebook and everywhere else shortly. The landscape has also turned our great! It has made such a difference.

Chet and I were very busy the days leading up to the guests coming and of course very busy the days they were there, but we enjoyed it very much. I feel we work great as a team!!

The Next Month

Here in Montana we have a busy month ahead of us. Currently at the B&B we are landscaping, finishing last minute orders on the inside, buying patio furniture and getting ready for our next group of guests May 18^th. Jim, our handyman, built the best bar area for guests. I call it a bar but it’s really not. Let me explain: it’s located in the library/ready room and it has a fridge, microwave, coffee maker, snacks and dinnerware pieces for the guests to use at any time. This allows them to have their own space and Chet and I to be able to use the kitchen whenever we want. J

Chet and I leave this Sunday for Great Falls, MT for a full week. Chet will be making up some drill weekends while he was in training and then he has his regular monthly drill. While we’re gone our photographer will be coming to shoot on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Once we get back from Great Falls, we have two days to get ready for the guests, grocery shop, clean the entire B&B and finish last minute things. The guests come from the 18^th – 22^nd. It will be a much bigger group this time around, but Chet and I are very excited.

The guests check out on the 22^nd, our one year wedding anniversary. Yup! I know what you’re thinking: “It feels like you just got married and you’re already having your one year anniversary?” The answer is yes! Time flies by so fast. We just got settled in our apartment two months ago and we’re almost to our one year. J So after they check out we are going to celebrate!

Then five days after that, May 27^th we fly to California again. Chet is in Mike Loumange’s wedding. So he had to fly out for the bachelor party and the wedding. We are going to stay about nine days and we have planned to go to the river house with dad and the family. Thankfully Court and Nick will be in Cali at the same time and I’m so excited. Perfect timing!

Then……… The Sunday after Mike’s wedding Chet has to fly back to Kalispell. He arrives around 11:30pm and has to drive 4 ½ hours to Great Falls to drill for a week. Yikes! Poor guy is going to be so tired driving in the middle of the night in the middle of no where. But there you have it. Our schedule is busy, exciting and fun all at the same time.

Please continue to pray for us that God will use us in mighty ways here in Montana. Also, that we can be a witness and disciple to our guests and the people in our community. Pray for Chet’s drill weekends and flying. He’s trying to find a plane to buy to start pilot instructing.

Our First Trip back to California Together

Chet and I flew to California last Wednesday and spent a week there. As I’m typing this Chet is just getting home and I’m on my layover to fly home. This past week has been a very busy but fun filled week. Chet hadn’t been to California in 10 months and 7 months for myself. He went ten months without seeing his brother John and friends. Our first night in Cali we went to Bangkok Blue for dinner (Chet and I’s favorite restaurant of all times) with John and Shauna. It was so delicious!

Thursday Chet and John went to John’s San Diego house and spent the night while I met up with my dad, and then Shauna. I got to see Syenna and play with the most adorable baby girl ever. She’s now 7 months and is so much fun to play with. That evening we went to dinner with my mom, brother, nanny, Bill and the Itzen family. We had a great time.

Then comes Friday. Chet and I made Dottie, Sean, Christina and Manny dinner and brought it to the Tarcon’s house. We met Brooks, Dottie and Sean’s three-week-old baby girl. Hanging out with them was so much fun. And the stuffed pasta shells were a success. Saturday was another busy day going to my dads house, then bringing dinner to the Bracci’s house and meeting their one month old baby boy, Carter. Following that we met Beth and Eric at their new place. We opened a bottle of wine and caught up with them and many other friends. We had a blast!!!!

Sunday was a crazy day. Bill (my nanny’s husband) fell and broke his ankle. The paramedics picked him up, they put on a soft cast and he might have to get surgery. Please keep him in your prayers for a fast recovery. After we heard that Chet and I went to nannies early to help mom and Ron get ready for the family party. We celebrated Mother’s Day and Christian’s Birthday. Sunday was another great day that ended with Usama Bin Laden dead and we spent the night at nannies.

Monday we helped mom pack up Malin’s office, had lunch at the most delicious Mexican restaurant, enjoyed a walk with Granna, dinner with Dad and the family and later on met up with Beth and Eric again. Tuesday we decided to go to Newport Beach, get some color, enjoy Taco Tuesday and stay the night at the guy’s house. Another very fun night.

And now it’s Wednesday. Dropped Chet off at the airport and enjoyed the afternoon catching up with Alex.

I never realized how busy we would be when visiting California. So many people to see, babies to meet and places to eat at. J We had so much fun, but now we’re excited to get back home. I have to say the food in Cali is much better than Montana. I got to enjoy all our favorite restaurants.

Need a Miracle – Please Pray for Tommy Runnels

Ron’s dad, Tommy Runnels, had a minor stroke last Wednesday and then another one that was more severe last Thursday. He has been in the hospital since then and they don’t know when he will leave. Today was the first time (after 6 days of being in bed) that he got out of his bed and in a wheel chair. They believe he had another one within the past few days that caused more brain damage. He also has a very bad case of Alzheimer’s that is continuing to get worse as time goes on.

My mom informed me today that he cannot talk. The stroke affected the left side of his body and he can barely move his left arm or leg. This is very severe and at this point they don’t know if he’ll ever fully recovery, and probable not be able to do his favorite thing in life: golf! After he’s done at the hospital he will go to a rehabilitation center and they’re not sure if he’ll ever move home.

Please, please pray for Tommy, Mimi (Tommy’s wife), Ron and the rest of the family. It’s not easy when you see your dad with Alzheimer’s and now a stroke that has changed his life forever. I know God has a plan for everything and I pray that the Runnels family will seek God 1^st and continue to pray and have faith in our Almighty God.