After 2 days of rain, clouds, and general malaise brought on by the weather, the sun is shining and I feel pretty good! We received over 6 inches of rain, but, praise God, very little water in the basement and no wet drywall in daughter's window frame.

I've been trying to figure out how to blog about our trip without overwhelming the whole blog-it was so wonderful, so relaxing, such a blessing, and so many beautiful, breath-taking scenes were taken in and photographed, that I really have no idea where to start!

I suppose the best place to start would be with the biggest blessing of the entire 10 days, the baptism service we attended out in the middle of a ranch with the Flat Tops Mountains of Colorado as our back drop. The baptism was held in the "Cowboy Hot Tub", a natural hot spring discovered by accident some years ago when previous owners were drilling for oil. When the new owners took over they made it into a "hot tub" of sorts by lining it with a rubber mat and stones along the side for sitting. It runs at a constant 104 degrees and is a glorious spot for glorifying God by taking the step of obedience through baptism.

It was such a blessing to be able to share in something with fellow believers, of whom we only knew 2 others, our dear friends M & S who recently moved to the area to pastor one of the small local churches. The Lord has surrounded them with many wonderful people and the truly God-exalting landscape of northern Colorado.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the tiny cabin (one of several at this location). We had the "honeymoon" cabin, complete with canopy, coffee maker, fridge, microwave, our own woodstove, and a feather mattress. We were so impressed with the feather mattress, we bought one for our own bed shortly after returning home! Between the cool mountain breezes, the quiet of the community and the feather mattress, we slept very well!

I wish I could put my finger on what makes my heart swell so when I'm in the mountains or even just in the valley looking towards them. I think that part of it is the sheer size, the power that it took to create this world we live in, the ruggedness and strength they show in their quiet way. To me, while they are quiet, they also shout the glory of God! The speak of time gone past, yet they speak of glories to come. They radiate peace, yet they proclaim violence. They are a dichotomy to me. Beautiful, yet frightening. Welcoming, yet dangerous. They blaze in the sky when the sun shines strongly on their peaks and they are shrouded in secrecy when the clouds and snow roll in. I am left in solitude as I ponder what it all means to me.

It's been too many weeks, once again. I can't seem to get my writing mojo going and yet, most of what I think about is writing. I find that I have a lot to say but it doesn't want to come out.

Have you heard just had one of those weeks? Boy, this has been it! I've had a migraine that just doesn't want to go away, my laptop bit the dust, and after buying a new computer and loading it up, locked my keys in the car! Good grief!!

However, I went back to a desktop and while I'll miss certain aspects of the portability, I'm looking forward to more stability.

It's been almost 2 months since I've posted. We've been quite busy. I've joined the Iowa Speedway Ministry and have enjoyed two races thus far.Being a part of the ministry means that we get to go just about anywhere. We are there to minister, to drivers, crews, and fans.The first afternoon, we had a deluge! Totally unexpected!! It made the microphone go out on my phone! We were soaked. I now make sure that I have a poncho with me!
Yes, I was this close to Danika Patrick. I found her to be very focused! She moves fast and stays on task, I suppose that's why some people see her as a bit snotty. I didn't get that impression at all. She was very willing to sign autographs, especially for the kids. We were able to get right up to the pit boxes. This is Helio Castroneves waiting to go out for practice. I was able to get his autograph and talk to him a bit. He's a darling man!

The Iowa gymnast, Shawn Johnson, came to the races on Sunday. She seemed to enjoy herself.I stood right below the flag this past Saturday night, it was a beautiful sight! Sadly, I'm afraid it isn't going to mean much before long.

Wow, it's been several weeks, again!! Life has been full! There have been great things and not so great things, but God is always faithful and He is ALWAYS good!!

My daughter got safely off to Thailand. While she was expecting to be a teacher's aid, instead, she is a teacher! She's doing so well and thoroughly enjoying herself!
This is a picture from the first day of school. It's a beautiful mixture of faces!!

This past weekend she was able to take a visit to a "wat". She enjoyed the trip and the view, but felt so sad for those worshiping a dead idol.
She's beautiful, inside and out!!!!!

My son proposed to his girlfriend on Friday night!! We are so blessed and excited!! She is a beautiful girl--inside and out!!!! She loves the Lord and she loves my son! They balance each other wonderfully.
Today I received a wonderful, exciting, and fun blessing!! I was invited to join the Iowa Speedway ministry. This will give me a focus for the summer, give me the opportunity to meet many people, and have fun!! I'll get to go to all the races and meet the drivers, etc., as well as minister to others! How cool is that!!

Romans 1:16 (NIV)
¹⁶ I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV)
¹² That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

It's been a long time since I've wanted to sit down and blog. So much has been going on that sometimes it's just been to overwhelming to decide what to write about. So, here's a bullet point list of some of the highlights...

• After a lot of preparation and fundraising, my middle child will leave for Thailand this coming Sunday. She will be working with SIM and will help out some other missionaries in their school. She will be gone for 6 months. I am humbled to see God working through our daughter in this way and am so excited for her to experience a different culture and that she will have the opportunity to simply focus on doing God's Work without distractions from daily life and the political challenges of our own country. We commissioned her at church yesterday and it was a comforting and powerful time as we prayed for the Holy Spirit to fill her and use her.
• A young woman that I adore and have mentored and her family have also taken the missionary plunge, although they have only gone to Colorado (that's far enough!). They left this past Saturday. I miss them all so much. Her husband has been a joy to watch grow and mature and it is so awesome to see what God has done in and through him. We are looking forward to our summer vacation out to visit them and sit under his preaching at their tiny Colorado church. I know that the Lord will do mighty things through both of them and that my friend will become a wonderful mentor to the women in her new community.
• A young couple that I introduced were married this past Saturday. It was a great wedding, filled with meaning and humor. Light-hearted, yet full of commitment. So much joy!!
• My best friend told me a couple of weeks ago that she was expecting, unfortunately, she lost the little one on Saturday (that was a big day--the wedding, friends leaving, my daughter seeing some people for the last time for 3 months, and losing a baby). She is doing well, but tired.
  
• My son started a new job last week. This one is a big boy job. He's preparing to take some serious steps in his life.
• Our state Supreme Court legalized gay "marriage". I have done a lot of weeping, praying, and even protesting about this subject. Not only that, but our state legislature has run amok, refusing to deal with the people, even shutting them out of a "public" hearing. They are borrowing and spending beyond anything they've ever done before and they are proud of it! I continue to praise God, knowing that He is on His throne and that, despite the fools beliefs, He is in control.

Despite all the craziness, God continues to cling to me and He is holding me through all the ups and downs.

As I watch the awesome miracles and changes that God is working in so many lives, I can't help but be encouraged and strengthened in my own faith.

My friend who just had brain surgery almost died last Thursday as blood clots made their way into his heart (a 7 cm one!) and lungs. If not for the anesthesiologist and the surgeon who "just happened" to on call and available, if not for where he was, Mayo, if not---the list goes on and on, he would not have made it. All the doctors are astonished as the way things keeping "working out". Those of us who have been praying know that God is fully in control and that He is the one working out all the details, bringing glory to Himself and a precious testimony to all those involved. I know that my friend will rise from all of this with a faith so strong that nothing will be able to break it.

This past weekend was spent with a dear friend, laughing, crying, talking. I watched her soften and find hope. What a blessing. She recommitted herself to the Lord on Sunday evening. How awesome is this God I serve!!!

Many other things have been happening also, and I've just been sitting back taking it all in. He is good! It's made me refocus and get busy dealing with some of my own issues--my weight, running to food for every emotion and for no emotion. I need to be running to Him. Praise Him that He is faithful, patient, slow to anger, and mercifully forgiving!!

My friend is doing well following his brain surgery. There are many challenges that lie ahead and many ups and downs (as evidenced by the valleys in the last 12 days or so).

March is just around the corner, always my toughest time of year. I suppose that part of it is SAD, but I don't believe that's all there is to my bouts with anxiety and depression during this time of the year. I am so thankful for all the coping skills the Lord has taught me over the years and I know that I will be able to get through it and the sun will shine again, it's just tough sometimes to face it. I'm praying that spring will come a bit early this year, as winter has been long and cold, thankfully there have been a few thaws this year.

Please be in prayer from a dear old friend, (who happens to be the brother of one of my best friends) Pastor Mike Evans. He will be undergoing brain surgery this morning to remove an AVM the size of a peach. He is a husband and father of 5 children and the pastor of about 150. He is also a writer and writes a column for dads in our statewide homeschool newsletter. His trial (which began before birth but just presented itself last October in the form of a seizure) is causing not only his faith to grow, but his testimony is reaching out all over the world. It is estimated that 150,000 people or so are praying for him. This photo is from 1982, when we shared 6th period Chemistry class. 27 years later, he looks much the same! Thank you for your prayers!!