Cross Country Skiing

There are activities Paul and I used to do more regularly before we had children.  We liked to go fishing.  We liked to golf.  And we like to go cross country skiing.

Once the girls were born, none of them ever seemed interested in any of these activities, so they kind of went by the wayside.  Now that the girls are grown up, and almost "out of the nest", Paul and I have discussed bringing some of these activities back into our life.

One of those activities is cross country skiing.  We started doing this when we lived in Glendive, Montana.  We ordered some skis and boots from the Lands End catalog, and also purchased some clothing and other supplies...everything we needed.  Which was great, except for one small problem.  It didn't snow much in Glendive, believe if or not.  We lived there in the late 80's, and that area was experiencing a bit of a drought.

But the fun thing about that was we needed to go and find some snow.  So off we traveled to Yellowstone Park.  We stayed near Mammoth Hot Springs, which are absolutely beautiful during the  winter, because they are all iced over.  I remember driving into the park, and we were still down low enough that there still wasn't much snow.  Elk were just lying around on the ground as we entered the town.  It was quite a sight to see.

The nice thing about the park is there were lots of trails just for cross country skiers.  So fortunately the people on snowcats went their way, and we went ours, which was much quieter.

And very unpopulated.  We hardly saw any other skiers the whole day.  But we did see wildlife.  It was rather awe inspiring to be skiing along a trail as a 500 pound buffalo is staring down at you while bedded down in the snow on the side of the hill.

We also saw an ermine....pure white with a little tip of black on the end of its' tail...pop up out of the snow. 

This was in the winter of 1988.

Later during the summer of that same year, some big news came out of Yellowstone National Park.  The park experienced the largest wildfire in recorded history.  If you recall, one of the reasons we had traveled to Yellowstone to go skiing in the first place was because of a drought.  Well, that drought contributed to this big fire, because the park was so dry.

Because we had enjoyed our time at Yellowstone so much the first time, we decided to go back the next year, in the winter of 1989.  This year we invited Paul's brother Kevin and his wife Linda to join us.  This time we met at West Yellowstone, and rented a cute little cabin to stay in for the weekend.

The park had changed over the year.  As we skied along the landscape, the charred remains of the trees looked like wooden matches that had been burned then blown out.  It was easy to trace the fire's path during the winter.  And often you would have a path of burned, charred trees, next to living, healthy pines.  It just depended on how the fire's path wove through the park.

Again, we encountered wildlife.  We saw a beautiful herd of elk, over 100, traveling through the park.  We also saw an elk dead under a tree as we skied by...not quite as lovely and majestic looking as the herd.

We also had a visit from a baby moose at our cabin.  It came down the road and was looking in the window.  It was so cute....but we knew the danger.  We did keep our distance.

Some day I hope to return to cross country skiing here in the Silver Valley. 

Some day it would be fun to experience cross country skiing in Yellowstone Park again.

I'm ready to go!!!

James Taylor

James Taylor is one of my favorite singer, songwriters and performers.  I really want to attend one of his concerts in the near future.  Recently he and Carole King toured, and I so wished I could have attended one of those concerts.

He is performing in Maine on my birthday this summer in July.  I keep dropping hints to my family that it would make a great birthday present, but I'm not sure that is going to happen.

The first James Taylor album I owned was called "JT".  It was one of the purchases I received when I was a member of the Columbia Record Club while in Junior High and High School.  I knew every song by heart, and loved each and every song on the album.

Later, I purchased the album on CD.  One day I was listening to the album, and the song "Another Grey Morning" started playing.  It was as if I had a sort of epiphany.  The words to this song had a different meaning to me than they ever had before. 

From the time I was pregnant with my first daughter, until my youngest daughter was around two years old, I dealt with depression.  It was like the lyrics in this song said, I walked around in a gray fog.  My life at times seemed very repetitious as a stay at home mom with three kids.  I struggled quite a bit at times. 

Here are the lyrics to this song:

Another Grey Morning

Written by James Taylor

 

When I feel as though my love is sinking down
The sun doesn't want to shine
When it feels like she won't face another day
Life is unkind
She's frozen in time

And here comes another grey morning
A not so good morning after all
She says "well, what am I to do today
With too much time and so much sorrow"

She hears the baby waking up downstairs
She hears the foghorn calling out across the sound
Repetition in the morning air
Is just too much to bear
And no one seems to care
If another day goes creeping by
Empty and ashamed
Like an old unwanted memory
That no one will claim
The clouds with their heads on the ground
She's gonna have to come down

She said "move me, move me
I'm locked up inside"
Well, I didn't understand her
Though God knows I tried
She said "make me angry
Or just make me cry
But no more grey mornings
I think I'd rather die"

 

But I don't think I realized I was dealing with anything unusual until I heard the words to this song.  It was as if the grey clouds lifted and it helped me understand a little bit what I had been dealing with all those years.  The words of this song had a whole new meaning. 

 

If you would like, take some time and listen to the song yourself.

 

 

 

 

Tradition

When I pulled this subject out of my jar today, the first thing that came to mind was this:

We all have traditions in our lives.  I, for one, love tradition.  As I come off of the holiday season, I have gone through a season of embracing a variety of traditions that we have incorporated into our family life.

• We buy a live Christmas tree...a Fraser Fur.  We call our tree Benton after a character in the television show "Due South".  He is a Canadian Mountie named Benton Fraser.  The actor is Paul Gross.

• Each of the girls has their own small artificial tree.  They each have received different themed ornaments since they were babies, and these go on their trees.  Molly has angels, Zoe has bunnies, and Cosette has stars.

• Growing up Mom always had a cornucopia with colored Christmas balls spilling out of it onto evergreen boughs as part of her decorations.  I continue this tradition at my home.

• Each Christmas Eve we choose a country and learn about this country's traditions for Christmas, and eat food from this country.  This year our country was Scotland.  Countries we have celebrated in the past include England, Germany, Thailand, Romania, The Ukraine, Italy, Greece, Russia, Japan, Mexico.  If we know someone from that country, we ask them for help, and sometimes they join us for the meal.  This year our friend Gail has Scottish ancestry (she is from the Cameron clan) and shared with us some of her Scottish heritage for our meal.  Last year some wonderful friends had relative from The Ukraine, and they joined us for dinner.  A few years ago some neighbors had been missionaries in Thailand, and they shared with us special Thai recipes and traditions.  This makes it all the more special when people we know are involved.

• Our family usually attends a service on Christmas Eve.  The church we attend now is the church I grew up in, and they have an evening candlelight service.  For years and years, the tradition at this service as been for everyone at the end of the service to light candles and sing "Silent Night".  I love this tradition!

• Caroling.  I like to sing Christmas carols, and I'm not sure there has ever been a Christmas season where I have not gone caroling.  When I was younger, my Campfire group would go caroling.  As I grew older, it was church youth groups.  Now we have a caroling party each year sometime between when Christmas vacation begins and Christmas Eve.  We invite people to come and join us, and we walk around our neighborhood to carol, then we pile into cars and drive to different destinations around Kellogg.  This year we had 24 people attend our party.  It was so much fun!!  At each home we visit, we give them a small bag of homemade hot drink mix, such as Fireside Coffee, Christmas Tea, Café Bavarian or Vanilla Chai Tea.  Then we come back to our house, and play "Catch Phrase".  It is a wonderful tradition!!

As I look over the rest of the year, I tried to think of other traditions I do at other times of the year.  Here is what I came up with as other yearly traditions.

As I take down the Christmas decorations, my living room is taken over by Snowmen.

On the Fourth of July we sit behind the Silver Mountain condos in the parking lot and watch the fireworks.

In the spring I plant vegetables.  I also buy bedding plants and put them in pots in front of my house.

We have an Easter Egg hunt on Easter morning.

Each summer we go to Murray, Idaho and eat hamburgers at the Sprag Pole, because they are the best hamburgers I have ever eaten.

Traditions are good.  As Tevye says in the song "Tradition"...

Because of our traditions, we've kept our balance for many, many years. Here in Anatevka, we have traditions for everything: how to sleep, how to eat... how to work... how to wear clothes. For instance, we always keep our heads covered, and always wear a little prayer shawl that shows our constant devotion to God. You may ask, "How did this tradition get started?" I'll tell you!
[pause]
I don't know. But it's a tradition... and because of our traditions... Every one of us knows who he is and what God expects him to do.

I like the phrase..."we've kept our balance for many, many years". 

As we live our lives, finding a balance is good.  That helps us live our life to the fullest. 

I look at traditions as a bridge.....it helps us connect the past with the future.  It helps us identify with what has come before us, and see the importance of what has happened in our past.  And it helps solidify the relationships in our lives as well as we journey into the future.

It helps us find the beauty and balance of both what has come before, and what lies ahead.

And because of these traditions, our relationships are stronger.

Because that is what living a good life of tradition is all about.....the strength of relationships.

What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?

This is  question I deal with a lot in my job.  I work with middle school and high school students on a daily basis, helping them explore the vast world of college and career opportunities, hoping to provide them with information to make an informed decision so some day they can answer this question for themselves.

But, as far as answering this question in the context of what career I want to have, this has really never been answered in my life.  As I headed off to the University of Idaho after graduating from college, I had no idea what I wanted to study.  The only thing I knew I didn't want to study was Education.  I guess I thought there were already too many teachers in my family.

I ended up with a degree in Communications, with an emphasis on Public Relations.  This degree helped me get a job at Dawson Community College in Glendive, Montana as the Director of Admissions and Public Relations.  But this job was very time consuming, and I knew starting a family was on the horizon, so I resigned from this position, and became a radio announcer.  This job's schedule worked out much better for me once our first daughter was born.

After leaving Glendive, we moved to Meridian, Idaho.  For the next nine years I would stay home and raise my daughters.  I would do a little babysitting in my home during this time, and help out at a friend's flower shop, but most of the time I was home with the girls.

Then we moved to Kellogg.  I stayed home at first, but reality hit, and financially I needed a job.  So I applied for, and got a job as a reporter for the local newspaper.  I worked there for a few years, and decided I wanted to stop and pursue writing a book.  So I took a year off to work on researching for a book I am writing.  (Yes, I'm still writing the book.  I hope to get more serious about it this year.)  Then a friend approached me about being the office manager at their family business, so I jumped into that position for a few years.  While at that job, I was approached by someone at the school district about a new position that was opening working with middle school and high school students, and providing them information about college and careers.  I started this job back in the fall of 2007, and have been at this job about seven years, (which for me is some kind of record.)

But when I look at this question now, "What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?", I don't think of it as a job or career or position.  I look at it more as the type of person I want to be in this world.

I want to be loving.  I want to think of others instead of myself, and care about their needs.

I want to be joyful.  I want to smile and laugh, and have a spirit that uplifts people who are around me, not bring them down.

I want to be peaceful.  I don't want to stir up trouble, just for trouble's sake.  I want to be a calming influence to those around me.

I want to have patience.  I want to not get upset if things don't go my way, or if people disappoint me.

I want to be kind.  I want to know the right words to say to uplift a person, or know if they need a hug, or a special word in a card. 

I want to have goodness in my life.  I want to choose to do the good thing when given choices in my life.  I don't want to do evil, I want to do good. 

I want to be a faithful person.  I want people to be able to count on me, and I want to have faith in my beliefs and live as though I do believe in those things.

I want to be gentle.  If a soft word or touch is needed in a person's life, I want to be there to give that word or touch. 

I want to have self-control.  I want to be disciplined in my life.  To not give in and do everything I want to do, and have the control to do what I believe what is right.

And, as one who follows Christ, these character traits are all lined out in the Bible, in Galatians 5:22-23.  They are often referred to as "The Fruit of the Spirit".  The way it works is, as I draw closer to my Heavenly Father, His Holy Spirit transforms my life and these characteristics become a part of my life.  It is not me struggling to be a better person.  It is me letting God's spirit live through me as I deal with others.

And this is the freeing thing about following Jesus and growing up.

You don't have to grow up all by yourself.

The Creator of the Universe is right there beside you, helping you every step of the way.

Defining Moments

Yesterday I completed my hand-written list of 365 topics that I will write about during the next year.  I cut the lists up and then created a container to put them in that has a photo of my vision board I created for 2014.

The first subject I will be writing about is "Defining Moments". 

 

 

Defining Moments are those things that happen in life that define who we are in our life now.  They make us who we are today.

 

 

Today my friend April at http://www.essence7wellness.com wrote about looking back at the past year, and challenged her readers to do some things.  I thought these challenges worked perfectly with today's subject, so here is my response to her challenges.

 

Collecting fresh product at the Farmer's Market at Union Square in NYC 

on my 50th Birthday in the pouring rain.

 

Was there a particular story, person, object, event that stood out?

 

One week that stood out to me as a very Defining Moment was my trip to New York City for my 50th birthday.  I had decided I wanted to go on a mission trip and my family decided they wanted to come along, as well as my niece and two others.  It was everything I hoped it would be.  My favorite part was waking up each morning know that my sole purpose for the day was to serve others.  We were given our instructions by others, and did as we were asked.  And it was amazing.  And I found a beauty in Harlem and the people who lived there. 

 

 

Did you forge new pathways to understanding?

 

Yes.  This came about by reading some books, and by attending a Simply Jesus Gathering in Denver in November with my husband Paul.

 

On my journey as a Christian, I have attended many churches, all very diverse from the other.  I have gleaned much understanding from each of those experiences.  My beliefs as a follower of Jesus are finally coming clearer to me, and I have found authors who write about how I believe, and how I want to live out my life as a Christian here on this earth.  It has been very refreshing to define some of my Christian beliefs, and find others who share my way of thinking, as well as challenge my way of thinking.

 

The cast of "Mining Madness at the Mill, or a Big Bang for Bunker Hill" performed August 2013 at the Sixth Street Melodrama in Wallace.

 

Did you accomplish great things?

 

Making people smile and laugh is a great thing.  My work in the Sixth Street Melodrama and Theatre in Wallace helps me do that throughout the year.  Last August I wrote and performed in a production at the theater with my husband and two of my daughters, and my other daughter was the light technician for the production.  Doing things with my family is a great thing.  And I am so thankful they all like to perform and be involved in the theater so we can do this activity together.  The subject of the melodrama was the blowing up of the Bunker Hill Mill, an event that happened in 1899.  It was based on a true story from some families that still live her in the Silver Valley, and we were fortunate enough enough to perform the show in front of some of the family members.

 

 

Peaches Maximillian Holyday Roberts:  December 24, 2001 - September 16, 2013

 

 Maybe your year was difficult or sad.

 

Yes, there was sadness and difficulty.  One of these sad times was saying goodbye to our beautiful dog Peaches.  She was the sweetest dog you can imagine, and it has left a large hole in our family to have her gone.  But she will forever be in our hearts.

 

We also said goodbye to our Auntie Lila this year.  Family gathered together last spring in Orofino for her funeral and burial in Lewiston.  Paul and I were able to provide music for the service, which was a very big honor.

 

Meeting up with friends from college during my trip to Sun Valley in April.

 

Gatherings of family and friends.

 

One of my absolute favorite things to do is gather together with family and friends.  I had many opportunities this past year to reconnect with people I haven't seen in a while, and spend time with family members.  Cultivating relationships with others has always been an important part of my life, and I'm glad I was able to spend quality time with friends and family this past year.

 

Some of these gatherings included:

 

*  Sibling Outing with Bill and Christy to take photos in Manitou Park in Spokane.

*  Theater Board attending "Sweeny Todd" at Lake City Playhouse.

*  Higgins Point outing in CDA with family.

*  Attending "Much Ado About Nothing" (finally) with members of Paul's family.

*  Sibling trip to Nelson, British Columbia.

*  Cherished times with lifelong friends from high school.

*  "Essential Commandment" weekly Bible Study in our home on Sunday evenings.

*  All the holiday gatherings that brought the year 2013 to a fabulous close.

 

Things you wish you could redo?

 

Hurting others.  Whether intentionally or unintentionally, I don't like contributing to hurt in a person's life.  But I am human and it is going to happen.  And to those of you, if I have caused any hurt or anguish in your life this past year....I truly am sorry.  Please forgive me.

 

There it is.  Some of the moments that have helped define my past year, and contributed to my life.

 

 

 

When we were children, we used to think that when we were

grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. 

 

But to grow up is to accept vulnerability....To be alive is to be vulnerable.

 

Madeleine L'Engle

 

 

 

 

 



Purposeful

 

 

It is time I clear away the spider webs and blow off the dust of my blog and resurrect it for another year.  That is because I have chosen a word for the year, and that word is PURPOSEFUL.

 

pur·pose·ful

ˈpərpəsfəl/

adjective

adjective: purposeful

1. 1.

   having or showing determination or resolve.

 

 This year I would like to be more purposeful in my daily writings, and that includes creating a blog entry each day.  I am almost done creating a list of 365 subjects to write about this year.  Once the list is done, I will cut it up, and pull out a subject each day to write about.  I hope this helps me be more disciplined and will motivate me have determination and resolve in keeping up a blog.

 

Over the last year, my blog writing has been non-existent.  I have been a slacker.  I hope to change that for the year 2014.

 

I'd love to have people read my writing, but that is not why I'm writing.  I'm writing for the discipline of writing.  I'm writing to get some thoughts out of my head and on to the blank page.

 

Anais Nin's says, “We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.”  

 

That is what I want to do....look back at the life I've lived, at the moments of my life, and share my thoughts.

 

So join me this year for my Silver Valley Stories as I tackle different subjects for the next 365 days. 

 

 

Taking A Leap Of Faith

^"The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd."  Hebrews 11:1-2

Last night The Princess, Z2 and I were having a conversation about taking a leap of faith.  The Princess is ready to do something different, and take a new course in her life.

Her practical sister Z2 cautioned her about being too hasty with her decisions.

The Princess believes God is leading her in a certain direction.  I told her, "Take a leap of faith.  You are never going to know if God wants you to do this or not unleass you take that leap of faith."

Then it reminded me of PKR and I about 20 years ago.  We were living in Eastern Montana, and The Princess was about 8 months old.  PKR was the Associate Pastor at our Church and also substitute teaching at the high school.  I worked as a radio announcer at the Christian/Agriculture station in town.  We felt like God was telling us it was time to move.

Our two options were either around Kellogg, where both our parents lived, or to Meridian, where some of Paul's family lived.  It came down to moving to Meridian, because Paul's grandpa, who was the Pastor of the church, said Paul could get a small stipend for being the Youth Pastor if we moved to Meridian.  So, with no job prospects, an 8 month old baby, and our faith in God, we took a leap of faith and moved to Meridian.

Well, actually, Paul moved to Meridian.  The Princess and I went to Kellogg for a while.  Paul's parents and my mom came to help us move.  As we headed west, PKR and his parents drove the U-Haul truck to Meridian.  Mom and I and The Princess drove our car to Kellogg.

Eventually PKR got a job with his cousin Verl building houses.  When I moved down to Meridian, we moved in with Paul's brother and his wife until we could find a place to rent.  (As I recall, finding a place to rent in Meridian was a very frustrating exercise.  Eventually, though, God blessed us with an apartment right across the street from the church.  It was perfect!!)

As I spent my days taking care of The Princess, and looking for a place to rent that would take a baby and two cats, PKR worked construction, and also applied for a job in the Meridian School District.  He eventually got an interview, and was hired by the principal of Meridian Academy, the newly formed Alternative High School in the Meridian School District. 

Through this summer, God met our every need.  We always had a place to live.  We always had food on the table. And PKR always had a job.  Our faith grew, and we knew that God would always provide for our needs.  But we needed to take that leap of faith.

When we hear that still small voice speaking to us, and leading us in a certain direction, we need to respond.  We need to say, okay, I'm stepping out in the unknown, but You are walking right alongside me Lord, and I know it is going to be okay.  And as He provides for us, our love for Him and our faith in Him grows by leaps and bounds. 

So Princess, it is time to spread your wings, put that foot forward, and see where God is leading you.  Remember, He is walking beside you every step of the way.

Caleb's Crossing: A Book Review

Yesterday I finished the book "Caleb's Crossing" by Geraldine Brooks.  It was the book I chose this month for my Book Group to read.  It is an historical fiction story about the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College.

The book is very interesting, and gives you a glimpse into life in the latter part of the 1600's.  It is always fascinating to me to be swept up into another time and another place as I read books.  This book first takes you to Martha's Vineyard, an island off the coast of Massachusets.  You learn about the Native people who first inhabited the island, and how and why the English made their way to the island.

Then you meet the narrator Bethia and how she met Caleb, and their relationship throughout the book, and she is the one who tells Caleb's story.

This will be a fun book to discuss, because there are some various themes running through the book, such as light and darkness.

I would recommend this book because of what you learn about the culture of that time, and because it is a good story. 

It seems like I don't have a very good track record for the books I choose for our Book Group, so I'm glad I finally chose a good one!!

Simple Delights

Sometimes I catch myself enjoying little things in life, and today I want to write some of those down.  I refer to them as "Simple Delights".  I hope to make a list occasionally to remember the little things that bring me joy. Because today is January 12th, I am going to share 12 Simple Delights.

A warm, soft bed to lie on
Soft sheets on my bare feet
A cat cuddled on my head
Our dog Peaches laying down beside my bed
A purring cat on my lap
Our dog Sadie snuggled at my feet
Thick socks to keep my feet warm
Flannel pajamas
A warm cup of coffee
My daughter's enthusiasm
Talking with my husband
Praying with my husband

What are your Simple Delights?

Priority Number One

I'm home tonight enjoying some alone time.  I had some work to do to get ready for being in class with sophomores tomorrow, so I came home after my senior parent meeting instead of attending the boys basketball games with PKR, Z2 and KikiAru.  The Princess went to visit a friend, then off to Coeur d'Alene to see a movie with AA. 

This has been an interesting week.  I am now back to working full-time.  It has been a long time since I have had a 40 hour work week.  But I am so thankful to be able to have this job, and work with the students I get to work with each day.  And right now, the seniors are busy filling out FAFSA applications and applying to colleges, and filling out scholarship information.  So it is a busy time.

At the end of the month I start working at Kellogg Middle School again with seventh graders.  That will be fun, getting to know a new group of students and parents.

So, with this new schedule, setting my priorities is even that much more important.  I am slowly working into my new focus.  Part of my problem is I have way too many priorities.  I even combined and wittled down some, but I just have too many things in my life.  Which makes having a plan and goals for each week even that much more important.

I loved the verses in my quiet time this morning with the Lord.  I want Matthew 22:37-39 to be my Number One Priority every day..."Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it.  "Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

If I keep this my daily focus, all other priorities should fall into place.

One of my goals this year is to read our book club book each month.  This month the book I chose for book group is "Caleb's Crossing" by Geraldine Brooks.  It is a historical fiction story about the first Native American to attend Harvard.  One of my book club members just sent me a text about how the ending made her cry, and only one other book has done so, (and she blamed that on pregnancy hormones), so now I am very motivated to finish the book before I host our book club next week.  I can always use a good cry!!

Priorities in Order...Goals Have Been Established...Time to Refine Goals

Today was a good day.  No one in our house had to be anywhere until 12:30 p.m. today, so we all got to sleep in and relax today.  I had a wonderful time of quiet this morning.  Raymond Pert came over to say goodbye before he headed to Spokane to have dinner with IEG and her husband.  RP heads back to Eugene tomorrow.

I spent some time organizing the Christmas stuff in our basement storage room.  Then we put it all away, and it is in order and ready for next year.  It felt good to have that done.

Goodbye Santa Claus, hello Snowmen.  Now the living room is full of cute smiling snowmen.  I guess if there isn't snow outside, there is a little bit of winter wonderland inside the house.

PKR and I made a "date" at 6 p.m. to work on our priorities and goal setting.  For about 2 hours we sat and went through our lists, refining them, and discussing them, and putting things on a calendar.  We now have our Priorities and Goals set.  Tomorrow, we meet again at 6 p.m. to break the goals down even more and set some deadlines or put some timelines to them.

It has taken us 25 years of marriage, but maybe we are finally on to something!!  Who says you can't teach an old dog (or perhaps a couple of middle-aged dogs) new tricks?  I think we may be learning something from this!!

One of my goals is to write in my blog at least once a week.  Well, it is January 7th and I've already written three times this week.  Let's hope the ball keeps rolling!!

I mentioned earlier that PKR and I were also doing a Daniel Fast, a time to fast and pray about our lives, our church, and whatever else God seems to want to show us.  I found a book online that is titled "The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast" by Kristen Feola.  I bought it for my new Nook Color, and it has been a wonderful resource this week.  Each day is a different devotional reading, plus it explains what a Daniel Fast is, and also gives some great recipes.  What a blessing!!

I'm looking forward to church tomorrow.  We had a good Worship Team time last week.  It seems like renewal is in the air in many areas of my life, and Worship Team is one of them.  I can't wait to see how God uses our team this year. 

Another goal is to get to bed by 10 p.m. each night, so I had better start getting ready for bed.  Can't wait to see what is ahead tomorrow!!

New Years Are For New Beginnings...Changes...New Challenges...Renewing Our Faith and Hope

I love new years.  New years are a chance for new beginnings, for changes, for new challenges, for renewing our faith and hope. 

This year is already starting off with changes.  Personally, a big change in my life is going from working part-time to working full-time.  This will be a change.  I will be finishing up a grant at Kellogg High School, and beginning a new grant at Kellogg Middle School with the federal grant program I work with, Gear Up.  But I am looking forward to the challenge.

Another change is PKR becoming the president of the board of directors of the community theater we are involved with, the Sixth Street Theater.  This brings on a new challenge for him as well, and I am also on the board, and I am the board's secretary.  This will be a new aspect of theater life for us.

The Princess has decided to return to college next fall and pursue a degree in Communications with a minor in Business.  She has applied to return to NIC, and will take some classes here in Kellogg and online.  She is welcoming a change in her life, and also welcoming the new challenge.

Z2 is a senior this year, and has been accepted to the College of Idaho in Caldwell.  She is looking forward to attending this college, and starting a new chapter in her life. And, as with all college experiences, it will be a challenge.

Kiki Aru is a sophomore this year.  She is hoping to take Drivers Ed and get her license.  That is the challenge she is most looking forward to this year.  And she really wants here sisters to move on so she can have the house to herself with Mom and Dad!!

I am looking forward to the new year, and looking forward to seeing how all our changes and challenges play out.  I have evaluated my priorities, and set some goals that hopefully will make this a very purposeful year ahead. 

Happy New Year one and all!!

Breaking Down The Walls in 2011

The Walls of Jericho

I spent some time this morning reading some things I wrote down at the beginning of 2011.  I'm glad I wrote those things down, because I see how far God has brought us this year.

As PKR and I began 2011, we were in a very dark place.  We both felt very lonely, and we felt we had spent a lot of time building up walls and not letting people into our lives.  We had cut ourselves off from people, and it wasn't good.  So we made a concerted effort to break down those walls, and reach out to people, and start building back relationships.  And, as I look back over the year, God was faithful.

One of my first moves was to start meeting regularly with my friend CM for Bible Study.  What a good choice that was for me.  Through the year, we were able to lift each other up, and learn about our loving God.  Part way through the year we started reading Eugenia Price's book, "Woman to Woman", a book that focuses on the importance of having your personality under Christ's control.  Even though this book was written in 1959, it is such a timely message, over 50 years later.

Next PKR and I hosted and lead a Bible Study through our church in our home.  I can't begin to describe how these members of our church family helped PKR and I through some very difficult times.  The study was called "Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God", by Henry Blackaby.  We learned so much through that study, and the fellowship with our group was amazing.  We were very blessed.

I also made some reconnections with people I hadn't talked to in a while.  It made me realize how important relationships are in our lives, and to not take them for granted, or close ourselves off from people.

As I sat down to write out my prayer list for the year, it was so exciting as God revealed to me all the people to put on my prayer list, and the abundance of people who are in my life that I have the priviledge to pray for each day.  I am surrounded by some very wonderful people.  And many of these are people we have opened up to this year, and developed or renewed a relationship with through 2011.

Last year was about "breaking down the walls", as Joshua did to the town of Jericho.  I am so thankful our hearts were opened and the walls were broken down in 2011.

This year is the year of focusing on priorities.  Each day I want to ask myself, "What are my priorities today?"    That is my task today.  To sit down, write out my priorities for the year, and set goals based on those priorities. 

Part of this process of developing these goals is doing something for 21 days called "The Daniel Fast".  This is a time when you fast from certain foods, and focus on what God has for you for the upcoming year.  We were fortunate to learn about this practice while we were under Pastors Ralph and Susie Lowe at Christian Life Center, and it was carried on by Pastor Carey Schram. 

Yesterday, at our current church, Mountain View Congregational Church, Pastor David Langer gave a wonderful message on how the Magi are our model in seeking after Jesus.  They prepared for their journey and then followed the start in search of the King.  The Magi found more than they anticipated.  And that is the same with us.  As we seek the Lord, we will find more than we anticipate.  Often when we seek after the Lord, we get bored and give up on the seeking.  But the Magi would not be deterred.  They did not give up.  They continued their journey until they found Jesus.  Like the Magi, we can bring find someone who can bring more into our lives than we will ever know.

Jesus is inviting us into a relationship with Him.  Jesus takes care of us in the journey of this life.  Jesus will move us beyond our lowly expectations and dreams and move us beyond all that we ask or think.  Then Pastor Dave asked us these questions..."Are we truly seeking him?  Am I seeking Jesus Christ day by day?  Do I want to give Him my all?  He can do more with our lives than we can ever imagine."

Where am I today and where do I wish to be?  If I am weary and heavy laden, He will be there for me.

What a wonderful message to begin the new year with, and to be like the Magi, daily seeking after Jesus, and finding more than I could ask or think.

I look forward to the year ahead, and seeing what 2012 will bring.

Sibling Assignment 151: Sibling Outing

A photo taken in the Hobo Cedar Grove Botanical Area near Clarkia, Idaho.

During the month of August, my sibling Raymond Pert and Inland Empire Girl and myself headed out on a "Sibling Outing".  We have done several of these over the years, and this year our destination was driving east to Wallace, then driving over Moon Pass to Avery.  Then we headed down the St. Joe River to Calder, then St. Maries.  Then we headed south to Clarkia, and then on up the mountain to Hobo Cedar Grove Botanical Area.

For Sibling Assignment #151, Raymond Pert has asked us to write about a particular thing that happened on our Sibling Outing that was especially enjoyable.  If possible, include an image, but not required.

Inland Empire Girl's is here, and Raymond Pert's will be here.

For me, the most enjoyable times were sharing stories as we drove along in the car.  We had the priviledge of being together from about 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day.  That is about 10 hours of uninterupted time spending time with my brother and sister.  And we realize this is a rare thing.  I don't know too many other people who make it a priority in their life to spend time with only their siblings, without other family around.  I am fortunate to have a brother and sister who want to make this time a priority.  We try and do it at least once a year.

As we drove in the car, we would bring up stories of memories of driving in the car to our grandmother's house in Orofino, and the erratic driving practices of our father.

My siblings would give me a good-natured hard time as I shared yet another historical fact about the area we were visiting.

We had a book with us that shared facts about the areas we were driving through, and it was fun to share those, or listen to my sister share them.

I'm glad we understand the importance of connecting with one another, and spending time together, even if it is fr oone day, once a year.  It helps continue to create memories that we add to our family story book.

Sibling Assignment 149: A Collection of Pottery

I'm getting caught up on my sibling assignments.  This sibling assignment was given to us by IEG, and the assignment was this:

"Create A Collection".  Choose something that is easily accessible: soup bowls, cell phones, sofas, chairs, vases... whatever.Create a series of photographs on the collection all photographed the same way. Put the together into a collage or a frame together. Write about the experience.

I took some of the pottery items I have collected over the years and photographed them, and put them in a collage.  Some I have bought.  Some have been gifts.  I started this collection the first year I lived in Montana.  I found a vase at a county fair, and loved it, and decided to start my own collection.  Unfortunately one year, while living in Meridian, the shelf my pottery was on fell to the ground, and I lost some of my pieces.  But they are still in a box in the basement....with the hopes of being made into a mosaic creation. 

I love pottery.  It is such a solid, earthy art medium.  I have always wanted to learn how to do my own pottery pieces.  Some day...some day.  But for now, I get to enjoy and use pieces others have created.