In 2011, I asked the Lord what I could do to express the creativity he put in me.  My talents did not lie in being musical or artistic, but I knew I must have some way to express creativity.  I thought to myself, God is creative, so as his child I must be, too, in some way.  When I asked the Lord about my way to be creative he impressed upon me to write.  Specifically, the impression was to write  a series of 40-day devotional-journals with the title of the series being Redeeming Grace.  Over a period of three or so years I completed the series.  I absolutely loved doing it.

I have loved God’s word since my teen years.  I have read and studied and shared it with others individually, in small groups and through preaching for over 50 years.  The “assignment” to write the devotional-journals was pure joy for me.  As I wrote I thought of the people I have served with through the years:  the young people from the various youth groups I have been honored to know, the adults I have served with and ones I will never meet who somehow get a hold of one of these little books.

As I wrote the devotionals, I prayed for the ones who would read them.  I prayed for them to be drawn closer to the Lord through their reading and meditating on scripture.  I still pray that for myself and others.  God’s word is so precious and taking time in it with the Holy Spirit as guide is food and drink for the spiritual life.

(The picture on the cover of the book above is one I took from above the area where the sermon on the mount likely took place.  It is a field now, but a natural amphitheater and the seven springs of fresh water are nearby.  The Sea of Galilee is there with Mount Arbel in the background.  My husband and I were in Isreal in 2007.  We visited another couple who had business there and we stayed with them in their rented cottage on the Sea of Galilee.  It was the pilgrimage of a life time.)

Sara and I enjoyed our time at the MPE Conference.  It was great to have so many sweet homeschool parents and children come to our booth.  We were able to visit with them about RJ’s Journey, RJ’s Valley and Matthew Hartman and the Pony Express.  It was fun hearing from some of them about their travels along the modern version of the Oregon Trail.  I had my devotional-journals there, as well, and hope those who purchased them will have joy in spending time with the Lord and His word. Thank you to all who came to our booth.

You will soon be seeing this picture on the cover of my latest book.  It will be an ebook available on Kindle from Amazon in a few days.  The book is Matthew Hartmann and the Pony Express.  I will put a link on ardiesbooks.com as soon as the book is available.  I am excited to offer the book via Kindle.  It is a book written with 9-12-year-old readers in mind, but I think any age would enjoy it.  In the picture is an actual Pony Express station.  I visited the park where it is now located in Gothenburg, Nebraska in January 2018.

I guess you could call it a sequel.  RJ’s Valley is available.  It picks up where RJ’s Journey left off.  Brittany Ponting did the art for the cover again.  I am very appreciative of her talent and willingness to share it with me and RJ’s readers.  I have gotten quite attached to “RJ.” I did not realize that would happen.  I am sure other writers have experienced such a connection with their characters despite the fact they are fictitious.  I urge others out there to let their creativity come out in whatever medium fits you.

Grandmother, Ruth M. Ringenberg (Lehmann), was the child of Nebraska pioneers.    She had a stint as a substitute rural mail delivery person when she delivered mail by horse and buggy.  Mother, Delia J. Vance (Ringenberg), taught in country school and got there on horseback. Ardie J. Nelson (Vance), that is me, has had a life-long appreciation for horses.  Daughter, Sara J. Pugsley (Nelson), grew up with her pony Stormy.  Sara’s mount in the picture above is Coco, my beloved quarter horse.

Is it any wonder I find myself writing fictional stories about pioneers and the Pony Express and people who have an interest in horses? Hmmm…oh, make that five generations.  Below are three of the grandkids taking turns on Stormy.

RJ’s Valley is just about ready to go to the publisher.  It took four months to get RJ’s Journey from the first look by the publisher to hard copies in my hands.  I am hoping to get Valley done by April 1.  That means the publishing process has to go faster this time.  RJ’s Valley continues the story of Rebecca Jemima Callaway through her journals.  Valley contains the journals from 1860-1862.  I will not tell you what is in them…you will have to read the book to find out.  I will tell you this–when I finished writing the book and knew it was the last I would write about RJ I went into mourning.  She and her family and friends became special to me.  I have a picture in my mind of what they all look like and the Willamette Valley they called home.  RJ will always be special to me and I hope she and her historical and geographical setting becomes special to many readers, also.

I enjoy seeing old-fashioned windmills like this one.  They remind me of the one on my grandparent’s farm.  The water we pumped from that well was cold and the best tasting of any I have ever had.  Windmills like this one are scattered about the landscape.  They let us know there are (or were) cattle nearby who depend upon the water pumped by such mills.  They remind us of a less technical age.

It is the official Thanksgiving Day today.  I am thankful everyday for so many things and relationships.  Sometimes my gratitude is over things like hugs and kisses from my grandchildren.  Sometimes gratitude is the response to things like a good report from a doctor’s visit.  The day this picture was taken I was thankful for Smoke and his owner.  My husband and I had been hiking in Big Bend National Park in Texas.  I got over heated and could not walk more than a few steps at a time trying to return to our car.  I had my husband go on, while I inched my way.  I was still a long distance from the car when I saw a horse trailer pull into the parking area.  I called my husband and asked him to enlist the riders to rescue me.  (Most areas of the park did not have cell service, but at this location my phone worked, thankfully.)  These good people came to my rescue and Smoke gave me a lift back to the car.  I was very grateful.  Thank you, Lord!

Met some sweet people at Limon Memorial Library for the book signing.  I have found the folks in this community to be friendly, welcoming and kind.  Thank you to Luci for hosting me at the library, the Limon Leader for the press releases and Linda for putting up posters around town.  A special thank you to those who came to visit with me and buy RJ’s Journey.  

If you ever have the opportunity to travel through Colorado on I-70 stop in at the Limon Memorial Library and the wonderful Limon Heritage Museum.