Prayer-Hiking & Community Work are the best!

As much fun as we have fording streams, singing our praise & shooting the wildflowers & wildlife, the prayer-time on our hikes is the best part of our outings. Last week we supported the "Right to Life" rummage sale with items dropped off on the way to the hike. This week we donated cut rhubarb from our gardens. All my spring rhubarb is now harvested & donated! On the way back home we stopped by the Skalkahoe Lodge & I made a reservation for Louis & my 35th Anniversary dinner in mid-June. We will attend "Fiddler on the Roof " at the "Hamilton Players" Playhouse after the anniversary dinner. I heard about the lodge & about the play while hiking. We have also planned part of our VBS & a meeting for the "Ladies in Lavender" group while tromping the trails.

Sunburn, 4 ticks & a wonderful 8 mile hike around Lake Como

The chipmunks didn't beg for food, but they did sit still enough for a quick photo.

These two does stood like statues for several minutes as we walked by & stared & clicked our cameras.

At the height of Spring run-off, we could see other smaller falls from the trail.

We ate our lunch feeling the cooling spray from this waterfall at about our half-way mark. Rock Creek roars down the falls, under the bridge & then empties into Como Lake.

How I enjoyed our latest hike! Lake Como is south of Hamilton & a little west of Highway 93. Wednesday was a gorgeous 80 degree day - perfect to hike the eight plus miles around the lake. The Spring flowers were in full bloom, a few fishermen were enjoying the lake before irrigation from this lake draws it down to half its current size & wildlife was peeking at us much of the trip. We saw several chipmunks, deer, loons, a tiny frog, butterflies & zillions of wildflowers.

Spring blooms #2

Which of these are apricot & which are apple blossums? The strawberries you already know. We are hoping that none of these will be frosted this year. ( The apricot are on top & the apple on the bottom.)

Spring blooms at home

Our Spring flowers are finally starting to bloom...Tulips, tiny grape hyacinth, our strawberries (not pictured here), & our fruit trees. Can you tell which blossoms are from the plum tree, which from the cherry trees & which from the pear tree? The pear blossums are on top, the cherry are next against their almost reddish wood & the plum are last. I'll post the apple & apricot blooms in the next entry.

Snow on May 4th

As Sherry mentioned in her blog entry today, large snowflakes fell against our spring blooms around 9:00 a.m. today. I grabbed my camera & took a couple of quick shots against our plum tree in full bloom & our apple trees just starting to bud & leaf out. The snowflakes were falling so quickly, my shots look almost like time exposures! Ten minutes later the ground & trees had a thin snow covering. Another 20 minutes & the snow had stopped & completely melted. The grey mare peeking around the apple trees is Diego, the mare we board in the summer. She helps to pay for the hay for all four horses.

Hike continued

A forest fire swept through Blodget Canyon seven years ago, leaving charred tree stumps & fallen wood. Mushrooms now make their home on such remains. Can you see the stiped garter snake in the center of one of the photos? As we neared him on the trail the medium sized snake slithered under the leaves to hide, but part of his body still showed. We also startled a chipmunk, squirrel, blue jay & velvet-antlered buck. Butterflies flitted around from bloom to bloom. The orange type, like the one I caught on camera, were the most numerous. They tended to fold their wings when they lit on the ground or a leaf. Tiny lavender butterflies were around but were not photogenic. When they landed and closed their wings they looked like small grey lines. A few larger butterflies with a white stipe near the edge of the wings appeared to be black in color. However, when they touched down, they didn't fold their wings & you could see they were a glorious dark burgundy with the white stripe. I tried & tried to capture one on film, but they were too active to catch. Sorry!

A nest of safety over Blodget Creek

Blodget Creek is full to the brim with the Spring run-off. As we crossed a bridge, we noticed the bird's nest perched way out on a limb that stretched out over the fast moving creek. Any fledgling that fell from that nest would be swept away quickly. I'm so glad that we are safe in the nest of "in Christ" although we too can look down or about at the raging waters of circumstances.

Blodget Canyon Hike

Despite the threat of a thunderstorm with lightning, the Hallelujah Hikers traveled due West of Hamilton to hike Blodget Canyon. The rain didn't begin until we had finished our 5.33 mile hike amidst gorgeous early spring flowers.

The dainty Fairy Slippers were in a few spots, but the Trillium bedecked the florest floor this year.

Dressing-up on May 1st or Iyar 13th (Jewish Calendar)

This week's Power Sunday School paper ended with a Dwight L. Moody quote: " The Scriptures were not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives." My devotions are becoming application-oriented as I take this quote to heart. Character traits of Christ that I need in my life can be role-played until they are mine. "Putting on Christ" is like the story of the man who had to wear a mask to make him look much nicer than he actually was. He wore it for years. When he finally took off the mask, he found his own face had grown to fit it. What had begun as disguise had become a reality. Can this be part of the reason God has ordered us to "dress up like Christ"? Of course, in actuality the Holy Spirit does all the work as I make myself available.

I also plan to focus on implementing some of the stepped suggestions to good health from "Fitness for Seniors", which I have been reading this Spring.

1. I have purposefully increased the activity level in my day. I try to find reasons to walk up & down our stairs multiple times a day. Louis can hardly believe how quick I am to serve him in all the "go-for" tasks. Like Jeannie, I am thoroughly relishing my walks in our neighborhood. Tomorrow our Wednesday Hiking Group starts again rain or sunshine. The Spring weather has given me all sorts of great raking, planting, watering, clipping, etc. exercise as I soak in my Vitamin D. Today I washed the car, so I am certain that we will have rain for our first hike.

2. Making sure that I drink at least 8 glasses of water/tea/fruit juice a day was my second step. Some days when I am at home that is not too hard to do. Shabbat & Sunday services make this more difficult on the week-end...as liquids are not allowed in the sanctuary. This step alone has greatly cut down my appetite.

As I take more steps, I'll try to note them on the blog.

Happy Birthday Israel & Ledge Conner

Israeli Independence Day begins at sunset today.

Also, I'm a Great Aunt once again. Scott & Brigitte (my niece & nephew via my sister, Esther)birthed "Ledge" this morning. Mom & baby are recovering well.


Beth Tephila has only one more Shabbat at the Lincoln School Baptist Church building. The building & grounds have been sold to a developer & will be turned over to him on May 1st. Five different pastors responded to Louis's inquiry regarding another place for us to meet. Information has been shared with them, which each must now share with his church board for a final decision regarding our relocation after about 6 years.

Getting Ahead

A puddle started forming around the base of our hot water heater in recent days. We found out the leaking meant we had limited time to replace the water heater or risk a flood downstairs when the tank fully ruptured. We checked into the tankless water heaters now available, but found them to be about double the cost of the tank types. Our budget, which we thought we were just getting ahead on & could lay some $ aside, just barely covered the new tank. PTL! He knew exactly what month we would have some extra $ & timed the hot water tank replacement need perfectly. This precise timing of material needs has happened to us before. It's great proof in our lives of a loving, sovereign God.

The men who delivered the tank know our place well. The first new tank was faulty & wouldn't stay lit to do any heating. This photo was taken when they brought a second new tank to replace the first new tank. Now we have a lifetime warranty!

Epicenter

One of the ladies from our Thursday Precepts Bible Study group loaned me this book. Joel Rosenberg clearly outlines why he believes Ezekiel 38 & 39 are on the board - ready to be fulfilled anyday. His recent fiction novels: The Last Jihad, The Last Days, The Ezekiel Option & The Copper Scroll gave possible scenarios & are becoming actual headlines one by one. I highly recommend the novels & this latest book that explains what is happening in the Middle East & Russia...& how it will impact you.

Joel C. Rosenberg is a writer & communications strategist who has worked for some of the world's most influential & provocative leaders, including President Reagan, Steve Forbes, former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu & former Israeli deputy prime minister Natan Sharansky. Until recently, he was a political columnist for World magazine.

Spring Cleaning

The past three week-ends have been so pleasant that Louis & I were motivated to plant seven Vogue rose plants along the west side of our house. (These roses are supposed to have coral or salmon colored blooms.) We soaked the bare roots in root stimulator & planted the bushes in sheep manure compost. Leaves are developing on each bush. Hurrah! I spent a couple days raking the pine needles & dead grass from our lawn. It was great exercise & kept me out in the sun. Then Ari & I roasted one wheelbarrow load after another wheelbarrow load after another... in our fire pit, until all were ashes.

A cup of Spring

While Louis was at work Easter afternoon, Ari & I hiked Antrim Point to check out the first Spring wildflowers bedecking the foothills behind our brick home. Cheery Buttercups were sprinkled in all the sunny areas, Yellowbells were here & there in shady spots & the tiny, delicate pinkish Aster-like blooms were along the trail. I picked a handful to share with Louis. This demitasse cup was perfect for displaying early Spring. We were given this cup years ago by Louis's Mom, who has been with the Lord about 18 years now. This is the first time I've used it. Louis was pleased with the many memories the cup & flowers provoked!

Three weeks in Virginia was enough already! Esther returned home in time for Easter, but not the Passover Seder. As all the facts come out over time, I may share some of the "why". After picking her up at the Spokane Airport, we celebrated at Marie Callender's (one of my favorite Spokane restaurants). We were seated at the table closest to a wonderful fire in a fireplace. As we warmed up & dried out from the cool rain outside, the ambiance was perfect. The food was delicious as always. God gave me the best Easter gift in Yeshua's resurrection. I receive this second gift in gratitude for being so unexpectedly soon.

Stuff That! Share This!

Although most of our spare moments now are spent preparing for the Passover Seder, Louis & I snuck a statewide taxidermy show into our busy schedule & I attended the 1st Young Life banquet for the Bitterroot Valley. Sherry will probably tell about the second, so I'll include some photos of the first outing. I considered the banquet a success in sharing the vision of reaching the unchurched youth of the Bitterroot Valley for Christ. The taxidermy show included mounts, paintings & sculptures. Louis took pictures of some of our favorites.

Esther's now in Hampton, Virginia

After visiting relatives & friends, Esther & I drove to Spokane one more time. She boarded the plane for Phoenix, Charlotte & then Norfolk around 7:45 a.m. yesterday. Before I went to sleep back in Florence last night, she had called to say that she had arrived safely. Now she is commited to the Lord, while she is with her birth father, Jason.

When you are 19, the world is one grand adventure. I am praying that "this adventure" will both mature Esther & draw her closer to the Lord. She had one moment of hesitation after buying a magazine to read on the plane. She stopped midway up the ramp to the security area in the airport which you see behind her in the first picture. "Mom, I've decided to stay here." Then on second thought & realizing everything she was taking with her was already loaded on the plane, she sighed & continued up the ramp. Many gestures of goodbye & love followed...waves, blowing kisses, "I love you" in sign language, etc. She placed her coat & carry-on bags in the bins to be scanned & walked out of my view. She cell-phoned at each change of plane. The Lord gave her a good journey, although the plane in Phoenix was delayed over an hour due to mechanical repairs. She barely made the switch at Charlotte to the plane for Norfolk, as a result.

These last two photos were taken at my parents' home on Sunday, as we visited. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for her & me. I listened to & sang praise music as I drove back to Missoula from the Spokane airport. It took away the ache in my chest, but the tears did fall for awhile.

Happy Purim!

Once again we celebrate the fact that the whole order of the universe has to cease to exist for anyone - named Haman, Hitler or otherwise - to wipe out the Jewish people.

See Jeremiah 33:20-26.

I baked several dozen hamantashen to celebrate Purim today at Beth Tephila...actually a day early. Purim starts at sundown tonight. We read the story of Esther & Mordecai, using the grogger noisemakers when Haman's name was mentioned, wolf whistling when Esther's name was read & shouting, "Hurrah" when Mordecai's name was heard. See my Purim 2005 blog entry for the hamantashen recipe.

We have much to celebrate. God was good and gave us four more lambs within the last 24 hours! Now only one ewe has not delivered a lamb this year. Our Columbian ewe doesn't even look pregnant, so she may not be. She didn't have a lamb last year & delivered very late in the Spring the previous two years.

Rejoicing & Mourning

I am still rejoicing that Joe accepted the Lord when our Bible Study group interceded in prayer. We are also rejoicing that he has already gone home to be with his new Lord. We mourn with our sister, Linda, who will miss him. Now all 5 of her brothers are with the Lord, to her knowledge. She & her sister are still here.

I am rejoicing that our lambing season has begun & 2 new lambs are wobbling near their mother ewes tonight. Louis & I are mourning that only 1 lamb survived each set of triplets born yesterday. Four little cold, wooly bodies are bagged & waiting for garbage day because we were not expecting their arrival until March. The ewes had not developed full bags, as they usualiy do before delivery. They also had continued to eat well the evening before the night births, so we were not tipped off that we needed to check any of the ewes closely. God was merciful to spare one lamb for each ewe.

I rejoice that God allowed us the joys of parenting via adoption. We mourn that Esther has decided to move to live with her birth Dad, Jason. We release her to the Lord, knowing He can continue to woo her to Himself in Virginia, as well as here in Montana. Esther's last day at Staples is March 4th - Purim of all things! Esther's feast! Jason has bought a ticket for her from Spokane on March 13th. Tempus Fugit!!

Love & Respect

Two week-ends ago, Missoula hosted a "Love & Respect" Conference for couples. Emerson Eggerich's organization was not sure if it could break even in Montana. Although there were 1600 seats available, they expected no more than 600-800 to be filled. Surprise! Not only did the conference sell-out, more & more couples (especially from Canada) were still calling trying to get into the conference after it was sold-out. Several near-by states were well-represented, in addition to numerous Canadians. Louis & I knew we couldn't attend since much of the conference was on Shabbat, when we lead Beth Tephila. So, Louis went on-line & purchased the set of 4 cassette tapes. Emerson reads his book to you on these cassettes..."Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires, the Respect He Desperately Needs."

The second & third trips I drove to Spokane recently, zipped by while I listened to these tapes. Louis had already listened to them while driving to & from work. They are now on loan to my sister, who heard two of the tapes while on the second trip with me.

The content is organized into three cycles:
1. The Crazy Cycle - with which nearly all married couples are all too familiar. She doesn't feel loved, so she doesn't react with respect. He doesn't feel respected, so he doesn't react with love. They each step on the airhose needed for the mate to be able to breathe properly. She needs love to breathe & he needs respect to breathe. It goes round & round in most homes, even though both spouses are well-intentioned, at least at the beginning of the interaction. They do not understand each others comments, because the same words do not mean the same thing to each of them. ie. She says, "I don't have anything to wear." (Meaning, I don't have anything new to wear.) He says, " I don't have anything to wear." (Meaning, I don't have anything clean to wear.)

2. The Energizing Cycle - with which a spouse can stop the crazy cycle & energize her/his mate. Emerson gives 2 six-letter acronyms to help a spouse remember what energizes the mate. Men are to remember the acronym "COUPLE" & women are to remember "CHAIRS". I focused on the CHAIRS: C - Men are made for conquest... so support your man in his work &/or other challenges in life.
H - stands for hierarchy. The man is held most responsible for the marriage by God, so he should hold the final authority on making decisions... after getting input from her, of course. They are equal before Him, just with differing roles.
A - represents the appreciation, which he also feels as "respect", that he craves as much as the air he breathes.
I - is for the insight men have so that they are not as easily deceived as women - even with all our intuition. She should be willling to listen to & even ask for that insight from him.
R - represents the relationship that he wants. It is usually summed up in his mind as "shared experiences".
S - sex is the last but not least item of male energizers. God made men with a need for sexual release. If she withholds sex from her spouse, she sets him up for huge temptations. Men also spell "intimacy" as sex. Women spell it as "heart to heart talking".

3. The Rewarded Cycle - is the best part of Emerson's book/tape. Each spouse is expected by God to give unconditional love to her or unconditional respect to him. Why? Because our responses to each other are not really about the mate at all. They are all about our relationship to Jesus. No matter what our spouse does or does not do, we can still react appropriately with the help of the Holy Spirit. It's a matter of spiritual maturity. How we respond to any irritant only reveals who we are inside. If your mate never reacts correctly back, that does not take you off the hook. If you are not rewarded for your correct responses on this earth, you will definitely receive His rewards in heaven, for such unconditional love or respect is what pleases Him!!

All the above points were "fleshed-in" with numerous examples & Scriptural passages. I recommend the book, tapes or conference to anyone who wants to strengthen their marriage.