Back for a little while

Hello from sunny, but not too hot, Montana.



I took a couple of weeks off to tend to homefires, but now I'm back.  At least for a little while.


Montana is enjoying warm weather, but low humidity, unlike most of the rest of the country. I've decided to invite you all to come up and enjoy our wonderful summer. First I will take you to a lovely view of the Gallatin River where you can rest your feet in the cool water. This was actually taken during spring melt a few weeks ago so the waters aren't the crystal blue they are now.













Then we'll watch some of the wildlife























and enjoy a beautiful sunset.



Maybe we'll camp out and have a campfire and enjoy the chill of 50 degree mountain air. You'll need a jacket! Me and some friends from church went camping last week in the mountains. This is my friend Dineen trying to stay warm.





Tomorrow we can enjoy a mountain drive.















We can even head down to a rodeo or two. Here's my friend Merrill getting ready to sell cotton candy at one of the biggest rodeos in Montana on 4th of July weekend. I helped for two nights at the rodeo in Three Forks last week and we had so much fun.









I wish I could just have you all over for a nice break from the heat and humidity. My husband Jim and I grew up in Kansas and we know very well how bad it can be. Jim always says, "If you live a good life in Kansas, God rewards you with Montana." I think he may be right.



God Bless You!

Battles to be Fought

This morning I awoke from a dream in which the Lord was saying to me, "Stop trying to fight battles that have already been won."



Talk about something to chew on all day.



Today, amidst finishing the final touches on my latest manuscript and getting it turned into the publisher; I thought long and hard about what the Lord was telling me. What battles was He talking about? My children's ups and downs? Finances and booksales? Weight loss and health? My grandchildren's needs? The women at my church? My friends and their problems? Maybe all the above?



Weeks ago, Jim and I visited Gettysburg National Park and marveled at the beauty of the landscape. We stood as the sun was setting and imagined the great battles that took place there. The loss of life was staggering and I thought of the blood that watered those now peaceful fields.



This is very nearly the anniversary of that battle in 1863. If you've not seen the movie Gettysburg, I highly recommend it. They seemed to have done a very good job with the history and the accuracy of the time period, emotions and characters.



Perhaps the most pivotal moment of this battle came at the Battle of Little Roundtop. In a moment of desperation Colonel Chamberlain led his men in a bayonet charge that saved the day. He did the seemingly impossible fueled by pure guts and the knowledge that if his men failed--the war might well be lost.



I stood looking down at the grounds where the Confederates charged the Union soldiers over and over, and where Chamberlain's men finally turned the tide with their attack and had tears in my eyes. So many good men died and others endured wounds in order to fight that battle.



Today, thinking about what I felt God was telling me, I imagined someone saying that the Battle of Little Roundtop needed to be fought again--that the original battle while successful, was somehow inadequate to accomplish the needed victory. After all, that's pretty much what I've been doing with some of my battles. Battles already won by having been nailed to the cross. Battles that were fought in times of spiritual warfare where the Sword of the Spirit (God's Word) and the Shield of Faith were all that were available. Battles where I knew there was no possible way I could win, but still knew I must.







I love the way God uses such simple things to set my prospective back to rights. I need to remember that my battles were won at Calvary--they don't need to be refought. The victory was complete. Now it's time to rest.

Lifes Ups and Ups

My grandkids are a constant reminder to me that there are reasons to be in this world and to continue the good fight.



In May we nearly lost Rainy - yes again. She's had another surgery and another birthday (her 9th) and we celebrate and praise God for her.














Fox is doing well and going strong. He's an amazing kid. I love to talk to him on the phone and hear him tell me about his day. He's so smart.







Max is a darling who just celebrated his 5th birthday. He love zebras so of course we had to send him some for his big day.





As I said, they always remind me that no matter how bleak things might be - God is still in control. This last month there have been some huge ups and downs - problems that I can't begin to tell you about. It seemed with each of the good things a dozen bad things followed. I felt a little overwhelmed at times, but God remained faithful, and just when I needed it most - He gave me a glimpse of heaven in the eyes of my grandkids.



I'm truly blessed and no matter whether life dishes out the good, the bad or the ugly, I know God will be there and that I don't need to be overwhelmed.