HOPE

Webster defines hope as: to desire with expectation of fulfillment; trust; reliance; desire accompanied by expectation of fulfillment; something hoped for; one that gives promise for the future.

The Bible says: "Put your hope in God. My hope comes from Him. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord. Hope deferred makes the heart sick. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction. Of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now these three remain, faith, hope and love. For this life we have hope in Christ. Christ in you, the hope of glory. But, to put their hope in God. While we wait for the blessed hope. We have this hope as an anchor. Faith is being sure of what we hope for...

We have not been left hopeless. We have a promise from God that he will never leave us nor abandon us. All his promises are yes and amen.

Hold on... help is on the way.

There is still so much life to be lived and so much good to give.

Jeepin', Fishin' and Shootin'

Took the day off yesterday as Construction Man made his way home this past weekend from NoDak. We headed up the Clarksfork Canyon with the top off the Jeep. Too much fun... it rained and I had an umbrella in the back... we were way up the canyon, so I popped up the umbrelly and Russ drove us out of there. We laughed alot, got wet and ate lots of crackers, apples and water. It was hot-- again... been quite a summer. This week is fair week here in Powell. Gonna see the niece and nephews show their pigs at the Park County Fair. Should be a great time!

Practicing up...

Up the Morrison Jeep trail next to the Clarksfork River.

Miracles Never Cease to Amaze Me!

I'm back from visiting my friend and her husband in the hospital. He has a brain injury from a skiing accident on June 5th. The neurosurgeon was very aggressive in his approach by removing a flap of the skull to allow for swelling that lasted six weeks as the brain began to heal. The skull flap was replaced Tuesday. The physical therapist had Logan up that very next day, sitting him on the edge of the bed and making him touch his shoulders, smile, stick out his tongue and try to hold his head up. He was listening and trying very hard to respond.

Today they put him on a tilt table and stood him on his feet to give him a foundation and something to do with his feet as he "exercised" his arms and neck.

He has quite a recovery to make, but the promise of healing is already being demonstrated. God sure had a great plan when he designed these bodies of ours. I stood by the door as they worked with Logan and the tears filled my eyes to watch him reach out for his wife. He even tried to smile and wave at me!! I was so honored.

I have been blessed indeed to be in the service of a friend. As I watched this tiny, young woman tenderly care for her husband lying in that hospital bed, I was moved at my core to observe such devotion and true love. She continues to tell him how handsome he is and how strong he is. How he can do this. He can do this... he is strong enough to push through.

I am encouraged and thankful for love. Yes, love can move mountains. God's love... miraculous, powerful, unfailing. You know it when you see it. Thank you, Lord.

Back in Black!!

So, we have returned from the Pryor Mountains and have jumped back into work, weeding and watering... and not in that order!

My parents even came to visit on their way home from Michigan. Such a great time we had being together, eating and working around the house. Thanks so much, Mom and Dad, for all your wonderful efforts in furthering the cause on Road 8!

As promised, I have a few photos of Addy in the trailer and some of the folks we visited with. Words cannot describe the expanse of the mountains we rode in. Addy kept up very well and learned so much about being a real horse. She was tired at the end of each day but gladly headed down the trail on the next one. We crossed rivers and creeks, traversed straight up and down huge mountains covered with rock and sagebrush, chased a band of loose and wounded horses to bring them in for doctoring, even choused a cow or two. What a great adventure. I also got to cook a bit for a party of six... too much fun!

I'd go again... wait a minute! I am going again, on Labor Day. Then I get to cook for a party of about thirty people. Should be interesting. Dutch ovens and the likes.

I need to scoot. Gotta go to Billings and be with my friend whose husband is recovering from a bad fall/head injury. He is doing very well. God answers prayers!!

Stuck truck!

Addy in front of the four wheeler.

Baerbel, my new friend from Germany.

"I'll head off this direction to see where those horses went."

Headin' Campin'

We are off to the Pryor Mountains in Montana this week. I've got the truck loaded, I'll put Addy in the trailer early in the morning and head off to meet my friend Kelly in Bridger.

We are excited to meet up with some other friends in Pryor and do some riding, some eating and lots of visiting!

Nurse Child and The Beautician are lined up to water the garden and lawn, and feed Hank the Cowdog while I'm away.

Should be a great time. I'll take lots of snap shots and load them into the MacBook when I return.

See ya!

The wild mustangs of the Pryor Mountain Range.

Location, location, location.

JOY

"But the experience of joy is different, deeper, because it knows the whole story."
~~Sheila Walsh


In reading "Honestly" by Sheila Walsh, I have found her experience of coming through depression to be uplifting and honest!

I love joy, though not opposed to happiness, but have found a unique difference and Sheila's words seem to sum it up as best as I can find anywhere.

There is peace with joy. Happiness has an expectant nature to it. Maybe happiness is like a relative of joy, a young, inexperienced relative, flitting around and luring us into places of torture as we try to pursue it rather than resting in it.

Joy seems to find us. We try to find happiness.

Joy in a job well done.

Joy in relationships.

But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace....
It's no wonder that joy would be sandwiched between love and peace.
Enjoy your life today.
You have God's permission.

Happy Birthday, TONYA!

Today is my sister in law's birthday. She is an amazing woman! She is the mother of four sweet, sweet children, and the wife of my baby brother. I don't know the exact number of years they have been married, but I do know that they have both tried very hard to make a good life for their family.

Tonya loves to exercise and spends the bulk of her day being "mom!"

There is no one as kind as she. She is caring, loving and giving. I know that she puts great thought into her relationships and I for one am thankful for the love she shows to me and our family.

I love you, Tonya.
I hope your day is spectacular!

My Dad and Tonya

Happy 4th of July!

Sunday Stills...

Our cat, Turtle, waited three years for us to come home!

Young helpers on one of our Mexico missions trips.

Grandma B and our annual cabbage roll bake. I will miss her this fall when the cabbages ripen.