Journey's End?????

Yed, today is the day, teh day we arrive at our new destination - well sort of.  But more of that later . . . .

Yesterday we drove up & down & around the mountins from Billings MT to Wallace ID.  We watched the temperatures drop, the rain fall, the wind blow and the hail bounce.  Amy was driving the van and I was trying to keep kids entertained.  When we stoped for lunch at a Subway you should have seen the looks on faces when we entered wearing shorts, tank tops, sandals . . . When we were leaving one of the employees actually came out to read our license plates to see where we were coming from.  :)

I've decided after driving through Wyoming and Montana that in order to live in the country (which is beautiful) you must desire solitude.  The housees are few and ffar between, there were no billboards, few signs for places to see.... but have no fear!  I saw an ad on the t.v. for an online dating site for farmers only.  Enough said (The modern version of mail order bride?)

We spent the night in Wallace ID.  highly recommend this tiny town as a visit if you come out this way.  Lots of history, snuggled in the mountains, home of a silver mine and great food.  The towon is less than 800.  We plan to return for a weekend sometime.

Here's an interesting sign we sw a few times - Game Crossing Next -- miles.  Not something we saw in NW Iowa.

Once we were on the other side of the mountains, past Spokane, we began to see cattle and wheat fields being harveted.  We also saw these two large piles of wheat on the ground, like the piles of corn we have in Iowa.  Also spotted several dust devils.  I now understand way the Class A baseball team of the Tri-Cities has the dust devil as their mascot.  We did complete our journey here nd now we ar trying to settle into an extended stay hotel.  How long?  Depends on paper work and the bank.  So maybe our title today should read, "this portion of our journey is complete"

I have to say that with each mile drawing us closer to our destination, I was filling with excitement.  Once we were unloaded and getting settled into our room, I started to feel anxious.  I couldn

t jump into my car and get groceries, I didn't have the pans and utensils to start cooking, I didn't have ..... o.k. you get the picture.  I then started to feel depressed.  I am tired, I am out of my comfort zone, my normal surroundings and feeling somewhat disconnected.  

"Martha, Martha," Jesus answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few are needed - or indeed onlly one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not betaken away from her."  Lue 10:41-42

Busy can be a badge of nonor that some people wear, I know I have.  Looking back I cn see how I was getting burned out, exhausted.  I do belive part of what God wants to teach me is to get back to times of just "being".  I know when we are always busy, always doing (even when they are all good things) that we often can't hear God, experience Him as He desires.  Also, we will have exhausted our energy supply and have none for the challenges and trials taht will come.  I need to remember, that time off for ME is not wasted, just as I would look at it for anyone else.  Jesus went off to be by Himself and Mother Theresa learned the hard way as well.  

"Teach me, Oh Lord, what you want me to know, who You want me to be, and what I should do.  Amen."   

Continuing on.....

we are off after spending the night in Billings MT. I was so tired yesterday that I didn't write or blog.  It was a long day yesterday with many stops and lots of highlights.  Crazy signs we saw included
Crazy Woman River, Crow Language Fluency classes, and Toe Service!  We began the day  by driving to Mount Rushmore.  I have to say we have two very patient and brave truck drivers (Aaron and Phil) with the roads we are traveling.  We have named the yellow trucks Banana Knoup and Banana Blok and I say when we are separated we are in a Banana Split.
In the afternoon we arrived at Little Bighorn, Custer's Last Stand just as a strong thunderstorm also arrived with strong/\ winds,  /\/\lightening and rain.  Some lightening struck  a prairie fire to the west of us and created some beautiful colors in the sky as the sun was setting.
It blew through and we enjoyed some great history and awww felt moments.  While there Santa was spotted in his summer attire of khaki shorts, sandals and a red shirt.  I spoke with him as he was looking at some gravestones in the National Cemetary.  Later I saw him again in a local gift shop at the Crow Cafe.  I promised not to tell what he was purchasing.  :)
At the cafe I enjoyed my first Buffalo Burger and some Indian Fry Bread.  By the time we arrived at the hotel and had everything taken care of, it did not take long to fall asleep.  The dogs have been traveling very well also.
This morning as I was reading my devotions, I couldn't believe how

God was affirming me.  It reminded me of when I have asked God for something, He is answering and with that comes responsibility,accountability, chaos and craziness.  Sometimes we forget what we have asked for amidst the chaos and craziness.  While packing my desk at home, I ran across a not of a prayer that I wrote during a sermon series at Hope Church.  We wrote them and then was mailed them back to remind ourselves of what we wrote. I stuck mine in my "file" and it was forgotten.  My prayer was for God to use me as He saw fit and WHERE he saw fit.  WOW!  The last couple of lines of my devotion were this - So stop.  Ponder.  Inhale.  Exhale.  Smile.  Pray.  And keep going.  You will grow into the place you need to go.
"May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy."  Col 1:11

The close of "D" day

It is the close of "D" day or better known as departure day.  Well it took us over 12 hours to arrive at our first hotel.  I know, I know, you are probably thinking several things but let me remind you that we are traveling as 4 adults, 3 children 5 and under, 2 dogs in a mini van and two 26 foot diesel trucks that each have a vehicle behind them on a tow dolly.  OK, now you have the picture.  The funniest thing today was when this caravan found itself on the wrong street in Rapid City which was a winding unkept gravel road up one side of a hill and down another.  OK, so maybe the drivers didn't think it so funny at the time, but in time they will.  ;-)  
As we traveled across South Dakota I was reminded of the wonderful creativity our God has.  You see it in the rolling hills, the herds of cattle with their young, the many rows of bales of hay, the wheat being harvested and when we stopped at a rest stop near Chamberlain, in Eden's words as she ran to the edge of a wonderful overlook and exclaimed, "I can see the whole world!"
Of course I know we left great beauty behind in Iowa and as I would think of that I would begin to question our decision.  Tears would form and I wondered what we were doing.  BUT our God is a great big God and He is with each one of us through each day of our journey - no matter where it takes us or what He asks of us and even when we struggle and our eyes begin to look down.  He will lift them up, He will wrap His arms around and He doesn't make mistakes.  Sleep well.  Goodnight.

New Beginnings minus 1

Well, the truck is in the driveway, the house in shambles, and just when you think you couldn't possibly have any more tears, the waterworks begin once more. 

Do I think we are doing the right thing?  Absolutely!  Doesn't mean the goodbyes are any less hard.  Obviously the Lord has been directing this whole thing.  I am one that was sure I would die in the house I am in, never move.  But here I go after 35 years of living in our home ready to start the New Beginnings 2015.  

More will come as we travel this adventure, but for now........

Thank you to so many that have shown support, encouragement, and appreciation for how God has used us here in the Spencer community.