I grew up in northwest Montana, in the Flathead Valley: home to Glacier National Park, the Blackfeet and Flathead Indians, the Rocky mountains, clear waters, wide open spaces and adventure. I am a country girl at heart who lives in Central California. The picture on the far left is a barn I captured within a hay field. I love adventure and my sons and I have experienced some amazing places in this country. The next picture is of me at the Chihully Glass Museum in Seattle. A must if you ever travel there. Then Two medicine in Glacier National park, my oldest son at his wedding in 2017 Then, my youngest son and and I at the swinging bridge in Libby, MT.

The rocks were in the clear waters of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. Everyone always asks, "are the rocks really like that?" Yes they are. The waters in Montana are amazingly clear. The pictures below look like a river, but its actually a creek. The last picture on 

the first page is the boat you take 

to tour the lake at Two Medicine.

This is the farm house I grew up in. I have great memories of fun, work and adventure. It was here that I became a writer. My mom had a type of guest book for guests of our home to sign their names, write or draw in. It was called "The Empty Book." Next to the "Empty Book," were mason jars filled with colored pencils, markers, pens, #2 pencils  and of course 

a 64 count box of Crayola 

Crayons; you know, the 

one with the sharpener.

When I was ten I asked 

my mom if I could write 

in the "Empty Book."

To my surprise she said yes. It was there that I wrote my first poem and became a writer. I still enjoy writing poetry. And as a profession I have been ghostwriting non-fiction books for others for the last six years. I also love airplanes. I thought it was just a personal obsession until connecting with a cousin in Australia who hitchhiked around the world via aircraft right after WWII. He was an engineer for the Royal Australian Air Force and his son works in the same industry today. It was great fun to find that a love for flying and aircraft ran in my blood. I, along wth my oldest son (who loves airplanes to and is stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln, in the U.S. Navy, which is an aircraft carrier),

served in the USAF Auxilary Civil Air Patrol. We flew and learned about aircraft, served at airshows all across southern California and were honored to tour the Chino airport flight tower; a highlight of my life indeed. These photos are from some of 

the planes that flew during the 

Chino Planes of Fame airshow. 

It's pretty famous; even my 

Australian cousins had heard of it.

it

had heard of 

My life philosophy is this: You are the author of your own life. Go after it. Have many adventures. Smile often and let the sun shine through you. Today I do dialysis 3 days a week, have had 3 open heart surgeries, a 2nd stoke in my eye just last week, and lost my right leg two years ago. But, despite it all, I graduated with my BA at 45 and I'm now earning my Masters degree. I live life to the fullest and have many adventures. The last two pictures on the next page are of me in Glacier National Park in the summer of 2017, and my kids and I at the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park, years ago when they were young. I hope you enjoyed this journey.,

I couldn't tell a story with only three pictures. I look forward to learning more about all of you during this semester. May the road rise to meet you!