I have several favorite places where I have enjoyed a certain peace not afforded in day-to-day life.  One of those places is a friend’s horse and cattle farm in Texas.  Many times I was there at the farm to visit my friend.  But, I, also, had a standing invitation to “be” there on the place to just “be.”  When I wasn’t there to visit her or ride any one of a number of horses she let me ride, I sat on an old chair at the back door of the barn to study and write.  The view out that door was of horses and paddocks and a big blue sky.

Recently, my husband and one of the grandkids went back there with me.  It was great to be back even for a short time.  I’m thankful for my friend and her generosity in sharing her place with me during the years I lived in that part of Texas.  I’m thankful for all my friends in Texas and the memories we share.

Do you have places of peaceful “being?”

In memory of all who served and sacrificed in defense of our nation.

Sometimes when tragedy strikes family or friends, it is important just to “be there” with them.

Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Here’s the second audio file of my granddaughter asking me a question about the RJ’s Journey book. Enjoy!

 

My husband and I went to our land in MN on Wednesday, May 10.  It snowed.  But we were only going to be there for a few days, so we worked anyway.  We have plans to build a cabin-in-the-woods.  Our goal this trip was to plant the Norway Pine seedlings we ordered.  We did.  The little trees are about 6-8 inches tall.  I felt sorry for these little ferns who were hoping for spring.  They weren’t the only ones.  We planted 45 trees, sowed grass seed and trudged through the snow.  Next trip we hope to have a driveway and spot for the cabin cleared.

It was beautiful even if it was cold.  The birds were singing their morning songs.  When the sun came out it was warm and inviting.  The smell of the woods and the crisp air brings back memories.  We, also, saw a pair of trumpeter swans, some Canada geese and ducks on a nearby pond.  We have enjoyed many MN springs in the past when we lived and farmed there.  It was fun to be there in springtime again, but now in our retirement.

Northern Moz has recently experienced a devastating cyclone.  I am aware of this region because of the ministry Orphans Unlimited.  My daughter spent three months in 2008 at the mission serving widows and the orphans they care for.  I spent five days there also and subsequently served on the board of the mission centered in Texas for 10 years.  Because of the cyclone, much damage was sustained by mud brick homes and food storage buildings and crop growing areas.  Knowing what they have experienced makes me realize the abundance of rain we have been having is only a minor inconvenience.  Their growing season is compromised and it is a matter of life and death for them.  orphansunlimited.org

In RJ’s Journey, RJ was able to bring two possessions with her on the Oregon Trail. She chose to take her journal and her “Hannah doll.”  All I know about the doll pictured above is she belonged to my mother.  I can observe that she has wooden hands and maybe a paper mache head.  She isn’t fancily dressed like the china dolls I see on the internet.  She looks like a little pioneer girl.  My mother was born in 1917, so I’m guessing this doll is approximately 100 years old.  I don’t know what Mother called her, but let’s call her “Hannah” in honor of RJ and all the pioneer girls who settled the American West.

 

I recently did an interview with my oldest granddaughter about RJ’s Journey. Here’s part 1. Enjoy!

I just love taking pictures of my little spring flowers.  They are so bright and brave.

There is probably a story in there somewhere, but I have so many other stories on my mind right now a story about bright and brave blooms will have to wait.

There are no pictures yet, because the books aren’t finished.  BUT, there are at least four books in process right now and a series in the idea stage.  I started a book in 1996 or ’97 while I was teaching at Harvest Christian School in Sandstone, MN.  It got saved on a floppy disk and not forgotten, but put away and then the floppy got outdated.  Now since I started writing in earnest I wanted to see that book again.  A few months back my tech savy son-in-law transfered the manuscript to a format I can work with and I revisited and kept writing that book I started over 20 years ago.  I might be calling it The Madisons but don’t hold me to that.

Several years ago, I wrote a series of vignettes (vignette:  a short piece of writing…that clearly expresses the typical characteristics of something or someone.  Cambridge English Dictionary) from the perspective of some of the people closest to Jesus when He walked the earth.  I want to get that book published this year.

Owen Hartmann and the Wild West Show is about half way done.

Gotta’ Laugh is a personal memoir of  some of the Funny, Embarrassing and Otherwise Awkward Moments of my life.  It is written, I just have to muster the courage to publish it.

A series for children with main characters Maya and Max is in the germ of an idea stage.

Those of you thinking about writing:  you, like me, might have more stories to tell than you realize.