Fifteen years of Wedded Love!

See how happy I am, to be in a loving marital state with DJ Bigelow,

husband of my youth and of my old age.

Today we celebrate fifteen years since we said "I do!"

Hooray! Happy, happy! :-)

Our Friends the Paulins

In this post, I would like to highlight the friendship our family shares with the Paulin family, Paul and Julie and Levi and Chelsey. When I was turning 21 years of age in Porterville, California, DJ and I fell into a lovely comraderie with Julie and Paul. At that time, their babies Chelsey and Levi were 4 and 5 years of age; DJ and I spent many a Monday night playing Spades and other rousing card games in their home. Through the years (I think I hear someone singing a song by that title in my mind!), we have kept contact; and I was blessed to spend my 35th birthday with the Paulins at their Red Post Ranch in Potter Valley, California. Here is a "Say Cheese!" photograph that Brooke Bigelow snapped of Paul and Julie, as we were saying good-bye.

Here is the vineyard planted by Paul and Levi. Those grapes better grow!
Here are able-fishermen/women DJ and his kidlets, after a good day's fishing with Paul.


Ceadmon thoroughly enjoyed his time playing in the river with the Paulins' dog Winston.

Searching for buried treasure....

Down by the river, Paul and Alexandra searched thoroughly and tediously for buried treasure. Paul was so excited to be rewarded with the find of two arrowheads; he graciously shared one with Alex.

When our family visited the Paulins and their Red Post Ranch in Potter Valley, California, Julie blessed the Bigelow bambinos with a real ranch experience: egg gathering (among other things)! Here are Brooke, Julie, Alexandra, and two unborn chickens.

Pictured here, Levi and Alexandra are hard at work, baking cookies - the important things in life!

While visiting our home last fall, the patriarch Paul Paulin spent some time (reclaiming childhood?) playing trains and reading childrens' literature with Caedmon. Caedmon loves Paul! We all love Paul!

Here is a snapshot of Levi Paulin on the day that he began his college adventure to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. It was our pleasure to house, feed, and send Levi off on this grand day!

It's a shame that I do not have a picture to better showcase the mane of Chelsey Kay Paulin; the word I use to describe Chelsey's hair is AMAZING. Even more important than that, Chelsey is a fun, fun-loving, funny, crazy chica! She overflows with life and energy! Good luck to Chelsey as she embarks upon a college adventure - watch out, Chico State! :-)

Hooray for friendship! The Bigelows love the Paulins! :-)