A while back I got the announcement of my 50th high school class reunion.  I knew I would not be attending, but I knew my friend from high school was living in an area where we would be traveling this summer.  She lives in Wasilla, Alaska now and we had our own little reunion just the two of us.  We had not seen each other since the summer after our high school graduation.  Then, a few days later, there was another reunion in Soldotna, Alaska with a couple of “kids” from the first youth group I directed in the ’70’s.  We hadn’t seen each other in nearly 40 years.  Finally, in Vancouver, BC a friend I had not seen in 34 years took a day off work and spent it with us.  Each of these friends represent times and seasons and relationships of my life that have formed and nurtured me.  I thank God for the people he has favored me with as friends through the years.  There are so many…and each one has a special place in my heart.

I have been awed by the beauty of creation as we are traveling through Alaska.  But, I have realized some things have been hidden from view.  The clouds have hidden mountains.  We have missed seeing whole ranges of mountains and the Great One, Denali, because of clouds.  Water has hidden creatures we haven’t been able to see.  If you look carefully at the bottom picture you see a spout from a humpback whale.  And, I am sure there have been creatures hiding in the vast forests we drove past.  But, we have seen some amazing views and beautiful creatures, at least in part and from a distance.  In Denali Park, we did not see the mountain we wanted to see, but we saw grizzlies, moose, caribou and wolf from a distance.  The Dahl sheep were so far away they looked like little white dots on the mountain.  In the ocean yesterday we saw sea otters floating on their backs, the birds of Gull Island and the water spout and backs of two humpback whales.  So, we have seen enough to know these things exist and are amazing.  There is another place that is hidden from view right now, but we know it is there.  I said when we could not see Denali, “We are taking it by faith, if not by sight, the mountain  is there.”  We take heaven by faith, as well.  Someday, the veil that hides it will be taken away.  We will see it and I KNOW it will be more than we could have ever imagined and hoped for because the Creator has prepared it for us.  I have been meditating on Psalm 104 on this trip.  I invite you, dear reader, to read it and join in praise of our Maker.

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We got in on the last day of the fair.  The cabbage looked a bit sad.  BUT, it was big! Just like Alaska which is very BIG! I always thought Texas was big when we lived there and it took all day to drive to another state.  In Alaska one drives all day and there is plenty more state to go.  It is beautiful and fun to see such a scenic and wild land.

Adventures sometimes start early in the morning.  Our driver picked us up at the house at 3:30 a.m. (thank you Sara!) and we were off for our adventure to Alaska.  When the clouds allowed we saw the beauty of the earth from 30,000+ feet.  We were in Anchorage by 1:30 p.m. local time (4:30 Central Time), met our friends (Ruth and Randy), got in our rental minivan and we are “on an adventure!”

I have seen many sunrises and even more sunsets in my lifetime.  (I am not usually an early riser.)  There is something about the expanse of the sky and the unique beauty of every sunrise and sunset.  Nature reminds me of the Creator who lovingly fashioned all that has been created.  Today, as I mark my 68th birthday, I am thanking my Creator for the grace, mercy and peace he has given me all my days.  His grace came even before I was aware of it.  His mercy has perserved me.  His peace surrounds me.  I live by faith.  I look forward to the day, as the hymn says, “when my faith shall be sight.”  Like my ficticious character RJ, I glory in the faithfulness of God. (The picture above is one I took heading to Missouri from Walt’s project in Oklahoma in 2014.)

Four years and four months ago my husband started a job with Mortenson Construction. He has been on their HVT (High Voltage Transmission) team during that time and he has gone to jobs in Oklahoma, Texas, (2 projects) Kansas, Colorado (3 projects) and Nebraska (2 projects).  It has been a great job and great fun to be in these various places to meet new friends and see beautiful landscapes.  I have split my time between being with him and being at home.  We are truly blessed to have had this job as part of our life’s adventure.  Today is his last day with Mortenson.  The pictures above are from the first project which was near Woodward, OK, in 2014.  I got to be friends with two United Methodist congregations in Woodward and led small groups using my devotional-journals.

Happy to announce “Year” is now available in paperback from Amazon.  I will soon have it available for order in paperback on this website, also.  Originally this little book was made available as an ebook on Amazon.  It is still there and available in electronic format.  It is a short story children will enjoy about a couple of Pawnee children who rescue a baby red-tailed hawk.  There is history, culture, nature and friendship featured in the story.

Words of scripture have inspired me for decades.  This verse from the Complete Jewish Bible encourages love for God, strength and courage, and hope…all because the LORD is faithful and he preserves the loyal.  There is also the warning or assurance he repays the proud in full.

Having fun with the grands this summer.  Missouri has been mostly hot and humid, but we are making the most of the time.  We posed next to a statue of Claude Monet at the botanical gardens.  I have several Monet posters in my house and I have seen some of his originals in museums.  But, the most fun the kids have seems to be water related.  Give them water guns, hoses, and buckets and hear the squeals and laughter.

As you can see on the books for sale page, my fourth book is available.  It is a little story about two children and the hawk they rescue and raise.  It is also a story about losing one’s “nest” or way of life.  What happens when the way of life you have always known is lost to you? Who is your anchor?  I wrote the story for children, but as I was writing it  I was challenged to consider my life.  When life changes, when things out of my control happen, who do I trust to always be with me? Who is the constant in my life?  Who rescues me?  My answer to those questions…

We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go.  It’s an unbreakable spritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek. 

Hebrews 6:18-20 The Message