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

 

The first devotional-journal I wrote is topical.  I looked in my Thompson Chain Reference Bible for topics I was interested in and I picked scriptures according to those topics.  I offer this and other devotional-journals on this website.  I have loved reading, studying, and meditating on scripture for many years.  I believe scripture has not only informed me, but formed me as a follower of Jesus.  It is a way the Lord speaks to me.  Scripture is food that nurishes and strengthens a believer.  I urge others to get into the scriptures for information and formation.  If you wonder what is going on in the world…scripture informs you.  If you wonder how you are to live in this world…scripture forms you.  I always ask the Holy Spirit to guide and teach me before I read and study scritpure.  He has always been faithful to answer that prayer.

Last week a friend from place #6 asked me how many places I have lived.  I have counted 15 different places (in five states and one province), so far.  But two of those places I have lived more than once, so there have been more than 15 moves.  And it doesn’t count the places I stayed temporarily when I was “inbetween” situations.  Saying good-bye has never been easy, but  since I keep all my old friends in a special place in my heart, I feel like I always have them with me.  Like the friend from #6.  We have known each other since the 9th grade…54 years!  We have not seen each other often through the years, but it was fun to check in on her recently since my husband’s current project is nearby her farm.  Friendship inspires me.  I have some really good friends.  I am thankful for each one.  Another reason I hold on to “old” friends is because I believe I will see them again.  I see them when I can now, but I have the belief I will see them again in eternity.  Knowing Jesus gives me this expectation.

I guess cottonwood trees grow in various parts of the United States (maybe other countries, too, I don’t know.)  But, cottonwood trees seem to be in my memory bank.  Along the rivers and waterways of Nebraska the impressively majestic cottonwood trees provide beauty and shade.  It has been a treat to be back in Nebraska several times in the past two years to see the rivers, namely the Platte, Niobrara and Missouri with the cottonwood trees gracing their banks.  I learned on this latest (May 2018) adventure in northeast Nebraska that men on the Lewis and Clark expedition cut and hollowed out cottonwood trees to make canoes.  I am sure it was a difficult endeavor.  I am happy just to admire their beauty and to mention them in some of my stories.

Just spent a wonderful spring weekend in Flagler, Colorado.  It was for Walk #175 of the Emmaus of the Rockies community.  Women from all over Colorado and one from Alaska spent the weekend together experiencing the grace of God in community.  It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord meets each one of us in just the right way and walks our journey with us.  (The picture above is not Flagler, but it is Colorado.)

You might wonder why I call my blog Ardie’s Inspirations? A lot of things inspire me and those are the things I write about.  My grandchildren are four of my inspirations and are pictured above.  I originally wrote RJ’s Journey for my grandkids.  I so enjoyed the process of using my imagination, researching history and writing I kept going.  I write in the hopes of other people enjoying the books I write and being inspired by them in some way.  I have RJ’s Journey and RJ’s Valley in print.  Matthew Hartmann and the Pony Express is available as an ebook.  An as yet, untitled book about two Pawnee children and an orphan hawk is with the editor.  I’m writing RJ’s Legacy which I intend to have as an ebook sometime this year.  I appreciate all the adults and children who are reading my books.  You inspire me, too.