I have always told my hubby that I would have never been one to go west. I would have stayed in the comfort of the east with all the conveniences and safety that it offered.
IF there had been cell phones back then, and IF I had gone west, these are some of the texts I might have sent to my mom back home.
getting awfully tired of the smell of cow chips
heard the Indians today and I am afraid
love the quilt you made me
the wagons are creaking along and we are number 7 in line
wish I had stayed in the East
lots of dust
tell dad I love him
I miss you mom
seems like we have been traveling forever
I miss having a soft roll of toilet paper
I do love seeing the stars at night
maybe someday women will be able to wear pants, it would be a lot easier than dresses
reading makes the days go by faster, glad I brought a few books
the wagon behind us has a passel of unruly children
I have found a few good friends, and we sit around the campfire in the evening together
Jim is doing well. He keeps busy, keeping the wagon rolling
Horses are doing well
What I would give for a nice hot soak in the tub
I often think of the women who braved the wagon trail to come west. I admire them. I am not tough. I would have cried myself to sleep each night, and wanted to "go home". Thankful that I didn't live during that time period when the wagon trains were headed this way...
I love conveniences. Plain and simple.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Simplicity....
There is so much we can live without. I hate clutter, even though if you looked at my home office you wouldn't think so. Everything just gets plopped there and "I will put it away later"....
I have begun to go through my home and get rid of "stuff". Now, why was I keeping this? Have I used it in the last year?
Off to the Goodwill. I already made one trip this morning. I plan on making many more.
Less clutter, less stuff, less to clean, less to dust.... sounds freeing to me!
I have begun to go through my home and get rid of "stuff". Now, why was I keeping this? Have I used it in the last year?
Off to the Goodwill. I already made one trip this morning. I plan on making many more.
Less clutter, less stuff, less to clean, less to dust.... sounds freeing to me!
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Alaska How I Love Thee...
I have internet.... First time I have been able to use my computer is today. I am sitting at Safeway (Eagle) grocery story and using their free internet.
I stepped off the plane in Anchorage and took in a deep breath of the brisk clean fresh air and absolutely felt at home!
I have spent time with my dad, and loved every moment. In fact, when I am done blogging, I am headed back out to see him again for a little bit. It is such a gift to my heart to be able to come and spend time with him. Something that I will always deeply cherish.
I spent yesterday with my darling daughter and met her Brian. It is so fun to see her beaming. Ah, my mother's heart. He seems like such a wonderful young man. I was able to meet Brian's mom and grandmother yesterday too. What a heritage that has been passed onto him.
Went to Church On The Rock this morning. What a wonderful word that Skip Bowersocks shared and I was able to see many people I love. My biggest surprise was seeing my roommate from ABI, the Bible School we attended so many years ago, Pam Christensen. What a blessing and treat for me. I don't think we have seen each other for over 20 years.
This is really such an ugly time to come to Alaska as it is known as "break up".. Everything is dirty...and yet, I absolutely love it. Don't have to worry about washing your car up here :}
I am thankful for the Lord's grace that covers us and has covered us through the years. It is only because of His grace that we are who we are and it is one of the greatest gifts we can give each other. GRACE.......
I stepped off the plane in Anchorage and took in a deep breath of the brisk clean fresh air and absolutely felt at home!
I have spent time with my dad, and loved every moment. In fact, when I am done blogging, I am headed back out to see him again for a little bit. It is such a gift to my heart to be able to come and spend time with him. Something that I will always deeply cherish.
I spent yesterday with my darling daughter and met her Brian. It is so fun to see her beaming. Ah, my mother's heart. He seems like such a wonderful young man. I was able to meet Brian's mom and grandmother yesterday too. What a heritage that has been passed onto him.
Went to Church On The Rock this morning. What a wonderful word that Skip Bowersocks shared and I was able to see many people I love. My biggest surprise was seeing my roommate from ABI, the Bible School we attended so many years ago, Pam Christensen. What a blessing and treat for me. I don't think we have seen each other for over 20 years.
This is really such an ugly time to come to Alaska as it is known as "break up".. Everything is dirty...and yet, I absolutely love it. Don't have to worry about washing your car up here :}
I am thankful for the Lord's grace that covers us and has covered us through the years. It is only because of His grace that we are who we are and it is one of the greatest gifts we can give each other. GRACE.......
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
My Red Ruby Shoes Are Clicking....
It would be fun to have a pair of ruby red shoes, but for now, this picture is absolutely adorable.
I am imagining myself with this pair of shoes on, and my feet are clicking together, "there is no place like home".
This week I will be headed to Alaska again to visit my dad and to see my girl Laura, and meet her Brian, and to see the rest of my family up there and some dear friends. It will be a short visit, a mere 4 days, but I will squeeze every minute out of it.
There is something about "going home". A place where you have years of history and people that have shared your years and life with. People that have known you since childhood. It is a sacred bond you share with them.
I can't wait to hug my dad and hold his hand and hug him and tell him how much I love him and am thankful for him. I don't know how many more days the Lord has left for him on this earth. I want to be able to take every opportunity I can to be with him.
So, red ruby shoes, take me to where part of my heart remains, Homer, Alaska.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Surviving the Shipwrecks of Life....
Read this article and just had to share it. It is deep and profound! These same thoughts have been swirling around in my heart for sometime now.
Surviving the Shipwrecks of life.
By Greg Laurie.
From Worldnetdaily.com.
In April 2008, I began teaching a series in the book of Acts at my church. Little did I know at the time that pretty much in the middle of that series, the greatest tragedy, trauma and shipwreck of my lifetime would take place.
I have had my share of hardships in life – more than many, but not as many as some. I had hoped that maybe the big shipwrecks were over. I always knew there would be storms and difficulties in the Christian life, but hopefully no big, traumatic events. I had hoped there would be relatively smooth sailing all the way to heaven. But with the unexpected death of my oldest son, Christopher, that was not to be.
The apostle Paul, a prominent figure in the book of Acts, was shipwrecked three times. In those days, travel by sea was primitive. It was harsh. You took your life into your own hands when you boarded one of those first-century sailing vessels. And Paul had lived through a shipwreck three times.
So how do we survive a shipwreck in life? We all will have them in some way, shape, or form. The reality of life is that you are either coming out of a storm or going into another one. That is just the way it is. There are times when you will have smooth sailing. There are times when the sky will be blue and the sun will be shining. There will be beautiful moments between the storms. And, not all the winds that blow in life are necessarily devastating.
On Paul’s voyage to Rome, we read in Acts that “the south wind blew softly” (Acts 27:13 NKJV). Sometimes that is the way it is. The south wind is blowing softly. You feel the warmth of the sun on your shoulders. Thank God for those moments. But then a storm comes.
Sometimes people think that when they are in the will of God, they will have smooth sailing. That was not true of the apostle Paul. He seemed to face every kind of adversity imaginable. He had many enemies that were jealous of his success and would follow him around and undermine him, intending to destroy him. He had many setbacks in life that involved beatings and physical harm. And he had a personal, physical disability that he prayed to be healed of, but God said no.
Commenting on those setbacks, he wrote, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9 NLT).
Five years before making his journey to Rome, Paul wrote the believers there, “I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you” (Romans 1:10 NIV). In other words, “Hey, would you guys pray for me? I am coming your way. And pray the Lord gives me a prosperous journey by the will of God.” Did God answer his prayer? Yes.
We hear a lot about prosperity today. A lot of preachers love to focus on that. Some are even classified as prosperity preachers. And I think, unfortunately, they have hijacked a biblical word. God wants a believer to prosper. But the problem is with the meaning that people pour into that. For many, prosperity means that you never will be sick. You never will have problems. You will have plenty of money. And life will be just great.
But the reality is that you can live a prosperous life in the will of God and still face conflict. Paul went through shipwreck on his way to Rome. But he had a prosperous journey, by the will of God, because of what it ultimately accomplished. So that is a different definition of prosperity than we might think of normally.
Paul survived a shipwreck of life. And as I have already said, we are all going to face storms and difficulties and, yes, even shipwrecks in some way, shape, or form. So it is time for us to get our sea legs and learn how to get through them, how to survive them and how to learn the lessons that we can only learn in such a place.
Paul’s confidence and hope was built on four principles, principles that we can apply to our storms today.
First, he was conscious of the presence of God in the face of danger. He told his fellow travelers, “Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me” (Acts 27:23 NLT). God was with Paul in his storms, and He is with us in our storms as well.
Second, Paul could have confidence through his storm because he belonged to God. He spoke of “the God to whom I belong” (verse 23). Do you belong to God? Like Paul, you, too, can say that you belong to Him.
Third, Paul could have calm in the middle of a storm because he was doing the will of God. He was on an assignment for God, so he could go with the assurance that God was with him. We are not necessarily assured of smooth sailing, but we are definitely assured of a safe arrival. And know this: As long as God has work for us to do, then we will be here to do it. God will preserve us to do it.
It has been said that you can’t direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails. I cannot control the world. I would love to if I could. But I cannot control my environment, nor can I control the circumstances that come my way. I can control my reaction to them, however. I can adjust my sail and adapt.
When hardship hits, you can get mad at God, and you can get bitter. Or, you can completely surrender and say, “Lord, I trust You, no matter what.” It is our choice what we do with the sail when storms come our way.
Surviving the Shipwrecks of life.
By Greg Laurie.
From Worldnetdaily.com.
In April 2008, I began teaching a series in the book of Acts at my church. Little did I know at the time that pretty much in the middle of that series, the greatest tragedy, trauma and shipwreck of my lifetime would take place.
I have had my share of hardships in life – more than many, but not as many as some. I had hoped that maybe the big shipwrecks were over. I always knew there would be storms and difficulties in the Christian life, but hopefully no big, traumatic events. I had hoped there would be relatively smooth sailing all the way to heaven. But with the unexpected death of my oldest son, Christopher, that was not to be.
The apostle Paul, a prominent figure in the book of Acts, was shipwrecked three times. In those days, travel by sea was primitive. It was harsh. You took your life into your own hands when you boarded one of those first-century sailing vessels. And Paul had lived through a shipwreck three times.
So how do we survive a shipwreck in life? We all will have them in some way, shape, or form. The reality of life is that you are either coming out of a storm or going into another one. That is just the way it is. There are times when you will have smooth sailing. There are times when the sky will be blue and the sun will be shining. There will be beautiful moments between the storms. And, not all the winds that blow in life are necessarily devastating.
On Paul’s voyage to Rome, we read in Acts that “the south wind blew softly” (Acts 27:13 NKJV). Sometimes that is the way it is. The south wind is blowing softly. You feel the warmth of the sun on your shoulders. Thank God for those moments. But then a storm comes.
Sometimes people think that when they are in the will of God, they will have smooth sailing. That was not true of the apostle Paul. He seemed to face every kind of adversity imaginable. He had many enemies that were jealous of his success and would follow him around and undermine him, intending to destroy him. He had many setbacks in life that involved beatings and physical harm. And he had a personal, physical disability that he prayed to be healed of, but God said no.
Commenting on those setbacks, he wrote, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9 NLT).
Five years before making his journey to Rome, Paul wrote the believers there, “I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you” (Romans 1:10 NIV). In other words, “Hey, would you guys pray for me? I am coming your way. And pray the Lord gives me a prosperous journey by the will of God.” Did God answer his prayer? Yes.
We hear a lot about prosperity today. A lot of preachers love to focus on that. Some are even classified as prosperity preachers. And I think, unfortunately, they have hijacked a biblical word. God wants a believer to prosper. But the problem is with the meaning that people pour into that. For many, prosperity means that you never will be sick. You never will have problems. You will have plenty of money. And life will be just great.
But the reality is that you can live a prosperous life in the will of God and still face conflict. Paul went through shipwreck on his way to Rome. But he had a prosperous journey, by the will of God, because of what it ultimately accomplished. So that is a different definition of prosperity than we might think of normally.
Paul survived a shipwreck of life. And as I have already said, we are all going to face storms and difficulties and, yes, even shipwrecks in some way, shape, or form. So it is time for us to get our sea legs and learn how to get through them, how to survive them and how to learn the lessons that we can only learn in such a place.
Paul’s confidence and hope was built on four principles, principles that we can apply to our storms today.
First, he was conscious of the presence of God in the face of danger. He told his fellow travelers, “Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me” (Acts 27:23 NLT). God was with Paul in his storms, and He is with us in our storms as well.
Second, Paul could have confidence through his storm because he belonged to God. He spoke of “the God to whom I belong” (verse 23). Do you belong to God? Like Paul, you, too, can say that you belong to Him.
Third, Paul could have calm in the middle of a storm because he was doing the will of God. He was on an assignment for God, so he could go with the assurance that God was with him. We are not necessarily assured of smooth sailing, but we are definitely assured of a safe arrival. And know this: As long as God has work for us to do, then we will be here to do it. God will preserve us to do it.
It has been said that you can’t direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails. I cannot control the world. I would love to if I could. But I cannot control my environment, nor can I control the circumstances that come my way. I can control my reaction to them, however. I can adjust my sail and adapt.
When hardship hits, you can get mad at God, and you can get bitter. Or, you can completely surrender and say, “Lord, I trust You, no matter what.” It is our choice what we do with the sail when storms come our way.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Sticks & Stones....
"Sticks and stones may break my bones
But words will never hurt me"
I remember these words being chanted on the playground from my childhood.
It wasn't until I was older that I realized how untrue those words are.
The scars of painful words leave a lasting imprint upon our lives.
It seems we so carelessly use our words these days, that we don't take the time to reflect on the ramifications of them.
"There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing".
Proverbs 12:18
But words will never hurt me"
I remember these words being chanted on the playground from my childhood.
It wasn't until I was older that I realized how untrue those words are.
The scars of painful words leave a lasting imprint upon our lives.
It seems we so carelessly use our words these days, that we don't take the time to reflect on the ramifications of them.
"There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing".
Proverbs 12:18
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