Knowing His Glory!

I have been thinking about Liberia lately. I will be traveling with a team from my church there in November. I have been thinking about what Issac who was at our meeting on Sunday said about Liberia. He stated that at one time the people were a God-fearing people and that now after years of war the people need to see the glory of the Lord once again. As I was thinking about the glory of the Lord I was drawn to the following scriptures.

Isaiah 6:2-5

"Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost; for I am a woman of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of host!"

I then began to think if one is to teach on the need to see the glory of the Lord one must be experiencing this glory.

Father I am a woman of unclean lips and I am lost without you.
May I feel your glory,
May I experience your glory,
May I know your glory,
May my delight be in the fear of the Lord and knowing the glory of the Lord.

Monday Gratitude Pages August 30, 2010

Why is it that sometimes when I make a decision to find joy and gratitude in things that the enemy wants to confuse me. I don't know why, but to be honest the last week I have struggled to find my joy ... I have taken the time to tell the Lord about my struggle and for this today I am grateful ...

105. Grateful to know that He always hears my voice!

Fun Friday

I participate in a community of bloggers at Holy Experience each Monday and for that reason I thought I would try a little something new to see if I can drum up more readers and writers to learn from .... so ....

We used to have Friday night pizza and game night with our immediate family. Now as the children have all moved out of our home we have moved Friday night pizza to our daughter and son-in-law's house. Tonight, Friday night once again we will enjoy pizza with family and friends ... not sure at this point who will be there tonight but my plan is to bring the pizza (as the golfer is out-of-town, you guessed it ... golfing) and a new game called Mexican Train.

Happy Friday!

Now new to Friday ... we walk with Family and Friends and have fun, feel free to post ideas for Fun Friday by using the link below and blog hopping along with me ....

Past Prayers

Ashley, January, 2010 yet my prayrs for her were 3 years ago to the day.

August 25, 2007 (3 years later)

Oh Father how I worship You for You are my Father. Oh how I thank you that You are Ashley's Father too. I thank You that You are ever where MN and MO. Encourage Ashley today and may the woman in her platoon have integrity. Oh Father be Ashley's comforter, Kelley and Josh's provider, Adam's healer, Carrie and Jacob's encourager and Lisa's peace giver.

This fall as I find myself in yet a different season of life I have been drawn to reading and writing more. Yesterday as I sat in my living room on my comfy couch catching a few moments to read I picked up The Contemporary Christian by John Stott.

I found in his chapter on guidance, vocation and ministry some things we are called to ...

Fellowship with Jesus
Freedom
Peace
Holiness
Witness
Suffering
and Glory!

Monday Gratitude Pages, August 23, 2010

Today I am continuing in my practice of 1000 gifts from my great Father for which I am personally grateful. I love to say over and over that God is good all the time and all the time God is so good. I am finding myself today forever grateful for His goodness to me! Have you told the Lord how much you love Him and how grateful you are for His character and His gifts to you lately?

91. clean sheets

92. good night's rest

93. marriage

94. children

95. God's majesty

96. clean towels

96. warm shower

97. grandchildren

98. girlfriends

99. God's love

100. good food

101. fresh fruits

102. extended family

103. those who make up the beds in hotels

104. God's greatness to us on these past two weeks on the road

Love Sundays

love God's majestic creation all around us throughout this trip


Sunday Night at the Best Western in Lusk, Wy population 1447

OK so it has been a long time since I have done a Love Sundays post but if you follow my labels you can read past love Sunday posts ... for old time sake's ...

love that I woke up with my husband's arms holding me in a king-size bed this morning

love that I was able to take a nice warm shower

love that we hopped in our car and we were on the road again

love that I was able to read the Daily Bread aloud to Terry as we drove

love that we listened and enjoyed together Selah's CD with the songs .... Great is Thy Faithfulness, His Eye is on the Sparrow, Sweet Hour of Prayer etc.

love that Terry read to me and I read to him from If I Live to be 100 ... such a thought provoking book and I love when Terry reads to me

love that I spent individual time reading the scriptures and praying

love when we filled up with gas yesterday at Nephi, Ut it was with a gas gift card from Terry's cousin Nancy

love that we ate lunch at McDonald's today (not really love but that I can count on McDonald's to be GF)

love when we stopped at Rawllins, Wy to get gasoline and a gentleman from Wy asked Terry if we wanted a discount and he swiped a 3 cents per gallon discount card at our pump before Terry got gas

love when we went to pizza hut for dinner tonight that our server was more than happy to accommodate for GF (not pizza but salad)

love that Terry was able to enjoy pizza even if it was a Sunday night

love that we got a glimpse of the Twins game tonight

love that we are in an air conditioned Best Western with a big screen TV for Terry and free WIFI for me

love ebt's (early bed time) in a big bed next to my best friend

in more ways than one I have rested well on this Sunday, this Sabbath and in more ways than one I rest in His Arms yet one more time ... love Sundays!

Dedicating Day 12 to Lisa, Kelley, and Sid

We started out from Eleanor's on Friday and stayed the night in Utah. We then traveled all the way to Wy today where we are hunkered down at a Best Western. The sign outside advertised the golf channel, a big screen TV, and 7 layers to the bed. It is clear here just what is important in life. Well once we got to our room we saw a TV the size of the TV we had for some 20+ years (small) with no golf channel but there were 7 layers on the bed if you can count the little piece of material draped across the foot of the bed as one layer.

You can imagine the disappointment Terry experienced. I am happy to say though that they did give me numbers and letters for a WIFI password that worked! Ha! I guess there's no place like home where you get unlimited access and a big screen TV.

Anyways this post is for Lisa ... The picture of "Mary Mary" as Mary pours the water into the pond at the St. George Museum.

The guitar sculpture also found at the St. George Museum (picture taken with you in mind, Kelley).

And the Train that was traveling along the mountainside for Sid.

3 days and counting 'til we arrive on the home front!

Leaving Eleanor's on Day 10

Friday August 20, 2010

Wow it is hard to believe that it is already day 10 of our road trip. We have had a wonderful time with Eleanor, and Nancy & Charlie. I can't tell you how many times I called Eleanor, "mom" and how many times Eleanor called Terry "Art". We had a lot of time to talk "old times", enjoy homemade food, and appreciate good fellowship with one another. Terry found himself busy fixing things for Eleanor and I had a good time talking with Eleanor as we washed dishes by hand. Once again it has been so good to fellowship with family in an unhurried, beautiful, and very precious way!

not the library but I can read for free

I was reading some blogs yesterday and happened to read about this stie where I can read books for free and review them on my blog ...

Of course the read books for free appealed to me so I signed on ... feel free to check it out if your are interested!

patched into Eleanor's neighbor's wireless to recap day 7 and 8

One thing for sure I can say about a good vacation is that it seems like we have been gone forever rather than just 8 days thus far .....

Interesting things to note that on Day 7 we left Hat Creek at 9 am and for $9.50 we were able to pump 2.9 gallons. Our half way point on Monday was Willows Calf. (now having traveled 2248 miles)

We found a Starbucks right next to a Subway so we took out our dollars from Carrie (we had decided these dollars would be used for treats) and I proceeded into the Starbucks and got a hot chai and then went to subway to get Terry a cold coke! Today we found ourselves traveling along the coast and stopped briefly for me to put my feet in the ocean. At 2:50 pm we traveled over the Golden Gate bridge and when we got to the other side it cost us $6.00. At 4:30 we arrived at the Ramada Limited (once again "Limited" must mean no access to Internet even though they say wifi available). We walked across the street to the Santa Cruz Dinner for dinner. It reminded us a bit of the soda fountain in Terry's dad's drugstore. We sat at the counter and watched the server make malts.

Tuesday, August 17 Day 8

We had a contenetial breakfast in the motel lobby and we were off and driving at 9:31 am. This was the latest we had left any of our overnight stays. The temps were a cool (high 50's) and there was a cool ocean breeze along with a bit of fog.

As we were driving down the 101 in Ca towards Aunt Eleanor's home in Atascadero I was reading Neenah Ellis' book to Terry. We were at the chapter entitled Margaret Rawson, "We used to go out into the park in back and eat lunch." This women had lived to be 100 and was an author. Fascinating story!

I paused and said aloud ... "If I can be a teacher with a college degree at 57, I can be an author at 75." Of course, I believe I have been a teacher since I have been a mother. And since I am already a writer, hence this blog and journals dated back to 1980, I can just say i will be a "published" writer by the age of 75. Sometimes it's good to speak your dreams aloud, right Lisa?

Terry than is thinking aloud and is remembering his mom's birthday (100 years) 4 years ago last March was the last time he saw Eleanor in Calf and for me it was 9 year ago when Terry and I were working for Joni and Friends. We both of course remember our visit two summers ago when Eleanor and Nancy came to MN to visit.

A lot has happened in years past. Lots of good memories that both Terry and I are thankful for having the ability to share and remember as we drive and talk with one another.

Gratefulness to our 5 Star Hotel Family!

Monday, August 16, 2010

What can we say but thank you, thank you, thank you for the best and only bed and breakfast, that serves lunch and dinner too! We are so grateful for the family and fellowship we have experienced the last couple of days.

What made our time so special here in Hat Creek is family. It's connection and community with those we love. We enjoyed the food, (steak, baked potatoes, homemade potatoe soup) the tour of the grounds, the flowers, the pigs, the rooster, Dewey, Musha, and Rambo, the peace, calm and quiet! But most of all we enjoyed the cousins and the second cousins and of course the 3rd cousins. As we have said on many occasions friends come and go but family is always there!

We so enjoyed everything and will miss you all. We will expect a visit to Minnesota so we can try to return the hospitality and take you girls to the Mall of America!

What an amazing family!

Until we are together again .... much love and gratefulness!

Day 3, 4, 5 a lot of driving and a lot to see

OK, we have not had Internet connection until tonight at Bill and Kaye's Terry's second cousins day 6 so I will report on day 3, 4, and 5 briefly and then will hopefully post later with day 6 which of course is today Sunday, August 15th!

So at 11:37 on day 3 we entered Yellowstone and the temps were 64 degrees! we arrived at Old Faithful and it erupted at 4:15! At 5:30 pm on Thursday we entered the Grand Teton National Park and found ourselves at an elevation of 8262 at the continental divide!

Amazingly beautiful country ... what a joy to experience together.

We arrived in Jackson Hole Wy at 7:30 in the evening extremely tired and we stayed in a "hole" no remote for the TV, only hot running water occasionally, no phone, no comfortable bed but it was only for a night so what can we say.

We were thankful to be on the road again on day 4 and after traveling 1266 miles so far we entered Idaho Falls. Breakfast today was krispy kremes for Terry and fruit, yogurt and coffee for me. Oh did I say that was our drive-thru gas station breakfast? Oh and we purchased 4 for $2 2 M&Ms in honor of Sid, Pru, and Annika for Nana and 1 twix and 1 snickers for Bampa. At 4:30 pm we signed up for a room at the Super 8 and had dinner at JR's bar and grill at Elko. Not to be mistaken for where Ashley's friend Cassie lives. Whew ... what a day!

So you may be wondering about day 5 ... boring ... no seeing, no doing, just driving and finally arriving at our lovely destination of the 5 star hotel, motel, room in Hat Creek at Terry's second cousin's house. We enjoyed a time of visiting, eating steak, baked potatoes, salad and the lovely company of Kenny, Karen, Bill, Kaye, Mariah, and Kayla!

Later in the evening we played Mexican Train, a game. I was doing well when we had to play one more game and darn Terry won that game! Oh well I am going to try my luck one more time tonight.

day 2 do you want a fiber bar?

6:45 start (time change) 474 miles down

B. Do you want a fiber bar?

T. How about one of those mamoth muffins from Perkins didn't you get some of those?

B. What? Did I get some, so I could watch you eat them while I eat my gluten-free rice bar? No!

T. There you can see some of the Badlands.

T. There is the dinosaur! (80 foot dinosaur just outside of Wall).

B. Want to listen to Praise and Worship music?

T. Well we are just outside of Rapid City

T. How about McDonald's?

B. Sure, that's good.

B. Got to thinking while in the bathroom and started laughing now who in our age range would have saved $89 and slept in the car. Came out of the bathroom and said this to Terry.

T. Well, Matt would have ... oh he's not in our age range though.

8:50 back on the road 81 degrees

Reptile gardens

T. I think we went here I remember handling the snakes.

T. North by Northwest, that's the film I was talking about that was filmed in the Black Hills.

Mt.Rushmore $10 to park

B. walking up the stairs from the sculptors studio at Mt Rushmore ... Are you tired? We can rest. That's the beauty of the day we are in no hurry, no schedule.

T. Yea, no schedule that is if you want to sleep in the car again, Ha!

10:47 back on the road 85 degrees

T. Ok, Sturgus is our next stop, well not stop but drive through.

Sturgus arrival 12:15, departure 12:47

T. Ok, how far is Rapid City? This is a long way for Pat and Marlee to see her family.

Rapid City gas 12.2 $35.85 at 12:03 and it is 92 degrees!

T. Sturgus was not what I expected ... I thought there would be motorcycles lined up to see. You know, like a car show or something. Instead that place had motorcycles all over the place!

B. Ok well, I am going to run across the street to get Starbucks.

1:10 entered Wyoming

We drove up, around and down Bighorn National Park, 8,347 feet. 5:13 77 degrees

T. look down ... it's incredible!

B. WOW yea, beautiful!

B. Should I read the next 25 pages of If I live to be 100?

T. Yea, sure .... as he listens, how old was that woman?

B. 117, I wonder if I will live to be 100?

6:45 arrival in Greybull Wy. gas 13.2 $37.47

7 pm lodging ... Yellowstone Motel 2 queen beds and a bath tub non smoking $101.65

7:15 dinner at Lisa's (not of course our daughter Lisa's but a bar right across the street from the motel called Lisa's)

8 pm I get into the bathtub

8:30 ... I kiss Terry good night and I get into my own queen size bed :-)

day 1 no rooms really?

Day 1 began very different than we had planned but then we have learned through our 37 years of marriage that our plans are often much different than what God has in store. We took off from Plymouth MN at 1:20 promptly making a couple of stops on the way. As Laura Pederson would say it is important to note that as we left Plymouth the temp was 88 degrees. Terry prayed and we were off on our CA road trip. We popped in our "Falling in Love Again Tunes" from Kelley and laughed as we listened to the tune "Even Though We Ain't Got Money I'm so in Love with you Honey." We continued to laugh as we opened up and read 1973 the card filled with $37 dollars from Carrie. We noted that in 1973 a gallon of gasoline was .39 and to fill up for our road trip it cost us $2.69 a gallon. As we drove through Lakefield Terry remembered how he and his family would drive there once a year to visit Grandma Kasch, his mom's, mom. We stopped at a McDonalds to get an ice cream cone for Terry and a Frappe for me spending 4 of the crisp $1 found in the card from Carrie.Terry drove the first 190 miles and I read the first 25 pages of If I Live to be 100. I drove the next 100 miles. We stopped in Mitchell and spent $24.00 with tip for dinner at Perkins and then filled up with gas 12. 7 for $36.22. At about 9 pm we began to think about finding a Super 8 and resting our heads. We stopped in Murdo and went to Super 8 ... one smoking room left for $89 (no thank you). We stopped at the 4 other motels in Murdo only to find the other hotels had no rooms left. We drove on to the next rest stop another 44 miles. Normally we would spend our annibersary in a nice Bed and Breakfast but yep ... I think you guessed it ... this year about 11:15 pm we arranged ourselves in the Rav 4 for the night!

Monday Gratitude Pages, August 9, 2010

81. Sunday's Corner Cookout and Baptism

82. the sound of the bird's

83. the sun

84. Lisa's safety (team USA vs Canada) kickboxing match

85. clean clothes

86. breakfast each morning

87. for songs and hymns

88. for time of worship

89. for time in the word

90. for naps

Honoring Kelley August 9, 2010

Happy Birthday Kelley ... today I look back once again to handwritten Journals ....


Just a observation for me as I re-read journals from the past ... I love my honesty before the Lord.


Aug. 8, 1986
Lord, Thank you for getting me through one more day. Oh Lord, I pray for a better attitude. Please help me not to be so down but rather to be excited about the new baby. Help me to not feel so bad when people say "Are you still around?' My scripture reading today is Is. 52-57
Aug. 11, 1986
Praise the Lord, for a new baby girl, Kelley Catherine! You are from the hands of God and we thank Him for you. My prayer request would be that I would be able to get the needed rest once I get home. I pray that I would not get over tired or low in spirit. My scripture reading today in Jer. 1-3
Aug. 14, 1986
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for things going so well in our first few days home with Kelley. My prayer request is that You would help me to not be so short with the other children. I pray that You would help me to be a patient mother. Help me to answer all their questions and not to feel them as interruptions. My scripture reading today is Pro. 31
Aug. 19 1986
Oh Lord, I am praising you right now for such a good morning start. I am so thankful that Kelley woke up at 5 am and I have been able to have this time with you. I pray that You would help me to keep my time with You my highest priority. This morning I will work on my homemaking bible study.


I am thankful for His faithfulness to you Kelley as His child, a wife, a mother, a keeper of the home, a friend, a singer .....
I love that you are ....
gentle

loving

patient

steadfast

persistent

courageous

Happy Birthday Kelley, daughter # 3 and my 4th child! lywm, mom

Honoring Ashley August 6, 2010

Sometimes I need to just look back and see the faithfulness of the Lord ... Today's looking back is in honor of Ashley!

A look back at my handwritten journal.
Aug. 4, 1988
I praise you Lord for this new little one I am carrying. Lord you know the situation please help me to be able to have the baby sometime between now and Aug. 8. Be with Terry's dad as he has surgery. Help him to go through this surgery resting on Your promises. Scripture reading today Is 25, 26, 27
Aug. 5, 1988
I praise you for the burden that feels lifted as I leave the situation between Terry's dad's surgery and the birth our baby. My prayer Lord, is just to have a good time of fellowship with Terry tonight. Help us to just be together alone and enjoy. Scripture reading today Is 28, 28, 30
Aug.7, 1988
Well Lord yesterday was the day Aug 6, another girl! I praise you for this new little one. What a miracle! Lord, I thank you for the timing as now Terry will be going to be with his dad. Lord, now our prayers go out for Terry's dad as he has surgery on the 10th. Please Lord be with him as he undergoes surgery; Give him strength; Give the Drs wisdom as they do the surgery. Scripture reading today was I Sam. 2:1-19

Looking back and looking froward to all the Lord has in store for you Ashley!
I love that you are
kind
caring
compassionate
thoughtful
honest
and honorable!
happy, happy, birthday to you my littlest! lywm, mom

http://inhisarmsagain.blogspot.com/2007/08/wednesday-august-15-2007-afternoon.html#comments

Wednesday before I go to bed thoughts ....

help me know how to react with dignity and poise and grace to what I see ....

have you ever wondered why sometimes, many times it costs more to eat healthy?

I love when people desire to come from the darkness into the light

I think the sparrow outside of Starbucks today was wondering why everyone was eating inside

it was really fun to host the birthday party at our home last night I only wish ...Jake, Carrie, Annika and Eden could have been there.

sometimes I just write cause I like to write more than talk

I think I'm getting better at listening

I love to just watch the people, I thought I saw someone I knew but as I looked closer it wasn't who I thought it was

don't you just love a kid in sunglasses? I do!

sometimes it's hard for me to understand those who are Spanish-speaking just learning English, but when I take the time to listen they are always worth hearing

went to the old Northwestern book store now Lifeway and after I paid for my purchase, Chip the guy who waited on me asked how he could pray for me .... how cool is that?

went for a walk and when I looked at the picnic table at 3 ponds park near our townhouse I remembered when I was there after we put an offer in on the townhouse praying we would get it and we did!

ran into my neighbor and she was out looking for her daughter's dog who had run away

I decided to walk longer and in different directions to look for the dog and pray that she would be found.

my walk turned into a bit of a prayer run/walk in the rain

the rain was beautiful and so fresh smelling

when I got home I found out that the Laura's dog was found. How cool is that?

wet hat, wet shoes, wet clothes, time for pj's

Wednesday Afternoon Thought

suggest, direct, control every movement of my mind , for my Lord Jesus Christ's sake

May I be worthy

Praying that God will grant me the grace to be worthy of His name today!

Monday Gratitude Pages August 2, 2010

64. sleeping in

65. stonyfield yogurt

66. my kindle

67. book I'm reading on my kindle

Spiritual Disciplines Handbook; Practices That Transform Us

68. a finished mission statement (my new profile)

69. a trip to cosco with Terry

70. not just one car that runs but 2 cars

71. a glass of cold water on a hot day

72. an afternoon nap

73. choosing joy today

74. God's grace

75. the smell of bacon and eggs for dinner

76. air conditioning when the temps reach 85 but feel 93 according to the newscaster

77. grateful for the blogs I read today that encouraged me

78. finished my 30 page paper

79. a warm bath

80. a warm chai