First let me say a great big thanks, and God's blessing to all those that resonded to my last post.  More than once it brought tears to my eyes when I realized that people were willing to pray for us from all over the U.S.

We just got back from the doctor.

Pop was feeling bad enough that he consented to let his #5 daughter (Valerie) go with us to the doctor.

There was only one problem with this..... just before we left, daughter #4 called and asked.  "Did you just get back home?"  for just a minute my mind went in all directions.....(Where had we went?... Is my mind failing me? ...  Did I forget where I went?)  All of a sudden it dawned on me ......  Valerie wasn't the olny one involved in this.  Our children were working against us (or for us), they had ganged together to get Val, to get Pop to the doctor.   It didn't help matters any when we got to the doctor and we said something about this, the nurse looked at Val and said, "Yes, it's almost as hard to raise parents as it is to raise teenagers, they won't listen to you"

I would say this. Since they didin't listen to us when they were teens, now it's our turn to not listen to them.

We went to a walk-in clinic and that doctor let us know there was reason for concern, and didn't think it was a good idea to wait for 2 weeks till we could get  in to see the other doctor again.

Pop's blood pressure was 159/107 (he had just taken a pill a couple hours before)

The doctor did an EKG and gave him another pill to take, a pill for his headaches, and sent us home telling us to se our regular doctor tomorrow morning (in the same clinic)  So tomorrow we have an appointment at 10am to see our doctor.  Pop came home, took pills and went to bed.

I don't know what I'd do without my blogging friend to fill my day while Pop is in bed.  Thanks you all, and God bless you all.  Please, keep praying.

Maybe we will enjoy our second day at Gwen's tomorrow.....

Right now I have a prayer request that to me seems urgent.  Pop, (my husband) has not been feeling good for some time.  He's starting to sleep all the time, and when he gets up from a nap, sometime he don't know if it is today, tomorrow, or yesterday.  He is too stubborn (he's a man) to go to the doctor but when you have 9 children on your trail sooner or later they will come up with a good reason to send you to the doctor.

The other night when he was talking to our son Mart, Pop mentioned that a tooth had been bothering him. Pop wondered if that could be the problem why he don't feel good. Mart assured him that a bad tooth can cause all kinds of problems.  Soooo.......

This morning Pop went to a walk in dental clinic.  They wouldn't pull his tooth but told him to go to another clinic, Pop went.......... they took his blood pressure..........  It was 225/100.

The doctor said he wanted to get the blood pressure down before he looked for other problems.

By now you know my prayer request... Please pray for us and at this time and mostly for Pop. 

I can joke about not knowing what to do with Pop sometimes, but I'd rather wonder what to do with him, than do without him. 

I glad I have a God who knows all about it and I'm also glad I can trust in Him to supply our needs.

Let us see we are at Gwen’s place, right. I cannot believe it has been over a week since my last post. I have been in a lot of pain this last week. Is that a reason or an excuse?

Let me tell one more thing about the canyon where my daughter lives. I don’t know what you picture in your minds when I say “a canyon” I’m quite sure the minds picture is different to those that live in the east, than those that live in the west. So let me say it is a gentle canyon. When we lived near Estacada, OR we lived on a ridge above “Eagle Creek” There was a 500 foot drop in elevation in a half mile. (From our house to the creek)

I would say this canyon of which I talk, is not quite as deep, although close.

They had a late start to church that morning so we arrived in time. Several of the families meet in what is called a “Home Fellowship” This morning there was only one other family there besides my daughter’s family and us. Sometimes there are 4 or more families that meet together. The father in one of the families I understand came from the “Sleeping Preacher” churches.

After a study in the Word and prayer, we had lunch together. After an afternoon of visiting, the other family went home and the evening was spent catching up on family news.

What were all Gwen’s sisters doing?

What about Robin? Are they getting ready for Jolene’s wedding? How are the plans coming? Is she able to work in her flowers? They are so pretty.

And, Mrs. Darling, seems to me she has more than her share of work, she is always so busy.

Laurie: How are they getting along on the dairy? Is the flood clean-up pretty much over with?

Val, is she still enjoying her new house? How about their “Bent and Dent” store?

And the boys, Scott, Ted, Mart, and Ben, how are they doing?

How about yourself Gwen How are you doing? “Just fine” she gushes, “I just love it here” “Did you see we got a porch roof since the last time you were here and also a new “outhouse” “The spring flowers are starting to bloom and everything is just lovely. It is so delightful to go out each morning and find new plants and flowers. In addition, the creek is such a joy. Although it has been dreadfully rainy this winter, bringing the water in the creek quite high at times. But we’ve enjoyed it and thank God for our little place everyday” And the boys are doing quite well. The older boys are still courting, and doing quite well also.

“O, by the way, I forgot to tell you A____ (the oldest boy at home) is officially engaged”

We went up and visited in the mobile home a bit. Making our way back to the house, it was not long until darkness settled in the canyon. They lit the lanterns and after visiting some more it was soon time for bed.

Our daughter and her DH slept in the mobile home that night, her little girl on the living room floor, the boys retired to the lofts, leaving us the “master bedroom.” We found our way by use of a “modern” flashlight. The master bedroom was complete with a shower in the corner (the water came by gravity flow) also just outside the shower sat a bedside commode. Which my daughter had showed me in the daylight, she had just gotten it and was very delighted with it, and she had gotten it free. (Last fall they paid $40.00 to have a Porta-John hauled in for grandma and grandpa to use for one day while they (we) were there) L

Last fall they had a make-shift out door facilities but this spring they had a brand new “outhouse” I’ll tell you about it, because it works and I like to know how things work. J it is at least 4 foot by 8 foot by 8 foot high. It sits on a side hill. You enter in on the uphill side, the hill slants to where the back is about 4 foot off the ground. The little building has a clean-out door in the back. On opening that door, you will find a wooden box. Built especially for the job it must do. In the bottom of the box is a layer of dirt and dried leaves and at different times during the day, the door is opened and another layer of dirt and dried leaves is shoveled on top of whatever has fallen into the box at that time. Therefore, it goes a layer of dirt and a layer of ? several times a day.

Early the next morning the box is taken out and exchanged for a new box. The box from the day before is then taken to a set location and they add vegetables peelings and what ever it takes to make garden compose out of it. They have directions for making a sanitary compose after all things decay. They also have several different boxes so it goes several days before the first box is dumped and used again.

The little building is clean, the inside has a vinyl floor, and the walls are cover with light colored printed paneling. Beside the white commode, sit a little table with a candle on top. There is also a counter on which set a gallon jar of hand sanitizer and paper towels. The use of lime for odder, along with the décor, makes it quite a charming little building.

Well I declare it has taken most of one whole post just to describe the “little house out back”

God has been good to me. I received a note this morning from a friend. A couple years ago she had a bad stroke, while she was still in the hospital her husband had a heart attack. Recently she hurt her foot real bad, but when it got better they took a trip. A week ago today they ware visiting Mt. Rushmore when her husband had another heart attack. This time they put in a stint. Her sister went back and brought them home. I am so glad God gives us grace in times of trial. Please pray for them.

BLESSED IS THE LORD, FOR HE HAS SHOWN ME THAT HIS NEVER-FAILING LOVE PROTECTS ME LIKE THE WALLS OF A FORT! Psalm 31:21, tlb

So many things I ask for - months and years ago - Seem so absurdly foolish - I’m glad the Lord said no!       Ruth Harms Calkin

It is 9am and we should be a my daughters by 11am. There are a couple toll roads between here and the place we turn off. We placed a call to my son-in-law to get last minute directions. We get off at exit __ and then you go thru the town of _____ Right in the middle of town, you make a right turn. If you go past the store front you’ve gone too far. (Anyone would think when you get into a town you would go past several store fronts) but I must remember I’m in Oklahoma, and I must think like the people in OK if I’m going to be in OK. After going a few miles we came to a church across from the church on the right was a tumbled sort of looking building and yes one would say at one time there was a store front, (but, were we really in town yet?) Up ahead there was nothing, so we went a ways looking for the town. We couldn’t find a town so we turned around and went back and turned at the store front and, it turned out to be right

In a couple of miles we came to their mailbox. Last fall we turned 90 feet on the other side of their mail box, but this spring we were told they had a new drive so we were supposed to turn 40 feet before their drive way. We drove slowly as to not miss the new drive. We turned in. Now folks we’re not talking about a paved driveway or even a gravel one, but a dirt path (wide enough for a car) out through the woods or field. We turned in and before long it looked like the same drive we took last fall, so we backed out and took one that crossed a field. Down thru a wooded area and soon things looked familiar. We spied the house down thru the trees. As we drove up the family came out to meet us. It was sooo good to see Gwen (my daughter) and family again.

Now in order to picture these next 2 days, one must go back to about 1930. You picked out a piece of land and settled on it (they paid for this land) you cleared the land and built on it and lived off the land.

O, I guess we should mix the 30’s with today.

The house is a pole building about 16 x 40 foot long with a loft at each end. The kitchen at one end and the master(?) bedroom at the other end. They have 9 boys and 1 girl so the only rooms that are walled off are their bedroom and the little girl’s bedroom. The rest of it is open. It is kept neat and tidy. The kitchen counter and dishes are all stainless steel. And they’re table is one that one of the boys made. It would go well in any modern lodge or log cabin.

Let me describe the little girls (Gracie) bedroom. It is a room about 5x5 feet. Along the one end is an upper bunk bed. She has a head board for her books and little girl trinkets. She is 7 or 8 years old. And under the bed is a closet for her dresses. The rest of the floor space is a complete playhouse. The bedroom has an outside window for light also a window into the rest of the house so her Mommy can watch her any time she wants. It would be a dream bedroom for any little girl that loved to play house, and Gracie is quite tickled with it. And shows it off quite delightfully.

In the house is a wood stove that sits close to the loft over the kitchen. There is a hot water heater up in the loft and when they fire up the stove there is pipe running up to the water heater and another pipe that runs down to the kitchen, so the hot water is gravity flow.

Along the back of the house is porch that runs the length of the building, over the porch is a roof. And on the porch is the sink for washing after chores. And tubs for laundry time. Also on the porch are 2 washing machines. The one is a new modern $600.00 front loading machine, the other a wringer washer that has the motor taken out and is ran by bike pedals. You guessed it, she uses the pedal machine.

On the hill above the house they have moved in a mobile home. Hopefully one of their boys will bring a new bride to the canyon one of these days. They have also built a large shop, in which to build mini barns. They are working other jobs as of now, but they hope to have their own business after awhile.

One last thing. There is a beautiful stream running about 70 foot from the house. The stream is fed from up above from other sources but it also has a year around fresh water spring. Its water stays at 58 degrees winter and summer. The creek is full of watercress. It tastes kind of like turnips.

I won’t make this post as long as I did the last. My computer wasn’t working right and I don’t think I was either. Anyhow I think I took the prize for the longest post in the blog world. I divided it into two posts and then Pop’s birthday popped up in the middle making a very confusing post.

Now that you have a picture in your mind of what the place looks like. I’ll tell you tomorrow what we did there for 2 days.

Just now in the tape deck is the Chuck Wagon Gang, did any of you listen to them when you was growing up, my mom had at least 50 records of theirs. I’m guessing that a lot of you have heard the song “I’ll Fly Away.” Not long ago I learned something about that song. When Albert Brumley wrote the song in the mid 40’s he tried to get different recording artists to sing it for him. No one would. Finally he ask the “Chuch Wagon Gang” if they would sing the song. They agreed to sing it on their radio brodcast (in 1948) and see how the people responded to it…. It went on to be one of the most recorded gosple songs. In 1993 when we visited “Precious Moments Chapel” in Cathridge, Missouri we got to see and hear one of Albert Brumley’s grandson’s sing several songs.

That  time we had attended my son’s wedding in Seymore, MO. And most of the family was with us at “Precious Moments Chapel” My son all of a sudden got the idea to go to Branson to see “Shepherd of the Hills.” He said something to Pop about going along and before I barely knew what was going on, we were on our way. I wanted to see the play, but I didn’t like running off from the rest of the family. We got there just after the play had started so they let us in for half price. If you’ve ever read the book, I would say see the play if you have a chance.

I just thought of another time (I think it was the same trip) when we was going through Arkansas. I had always wanted to see the passion play at Eureka Springs, but didn’t know if we could make connections. As it happened, we were driving through Eureka Springs about the time the play was scheduled to begin. There was a thunder storm that night, and it was a bad one. As we were driving through the town the thunder cracked LOUD and it seemed to come through my window, I could hear it plainly above the sound of the motor home. I said to Pop ‘”why don’t we go see the pasion play” just then we saw a sign that pointed to it and Pop turned up the hill we went.

The setting of the play was in the rocks and hills of Arkansas, making the perfect place for all the scenes. We watched, very much impressed by the way it all came to life. It sent chills up my back to realize anew all that Our Lord went through because He loved us so much. About half way thru the play it started to rain, As the play went on it rained harder, and most of the people got up and left. We stayed and about the time they played the scene of the cross, burial and reserection, of course there was artifical thunder and lightning, but above that you could see real lightning, as it flashed through the night sky and hear real thunder as it broke the silence of the night with loud “thundering” cracks.

We decided later that it was worth all the sitting on the rain soaked benches. We will never forget that night.

      HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY DARLING (POP)

my mind goes back 50 years, that is a long time.  How did we know at 16 and 18 that we could stand each other for this long.  Young people nowdays are so young at that age but, then "we were different"

So many of our dreams have come true (so many of them haven't)   I loved you then and I love you now.

I don't know what I would do without you (but then sometimes I don't know what to do with you)

I like the way you look out for me and protect me when we are away from home, especially since I cna't talk very well. (I wish you would look out for me at home)

This isn't going very well, but I remember the time when you told me I was beautiful, then added "That flattered you, didn't it"   I should of know then it was time to run, but then I may have been too young. Anyhow I love you, love you, love you. and I don't wnat to do without you.

I don't have to get him a birthday present, He got a big one this morning.  She weighted 8# 9oz.  Her name is Laural June, and she is Pop's 6th great-granddaughter.  (Mine, too)

                HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREAT-GRANDPA !!!!

I'm sorry folks, but in order to keep up with my trip you will need to read the post below

I didn’t sleep good last night, I went to sleep about 11pm, woke up at midnight, went back to sleep, woke up at 4am and every half hour till time to get up. If only I had my bed at home. Better make the best of it, cause it will more than a month till I see home again.

When we drove into Burlingham last night, we spotted a huge pile of grain on the ground. It was at least 40 feet high and 80 - 100 foot in diameter. Imagine a pile like that in Oregon. I can just see it turn green from sprouts in less than a week. It is interesting to drive on the side roads around Tangent to Harrisburg, Oregon during the grass seed harvest. After a rain, every crack in the road has grass growing in it.

It’s 9am and were on the road.

In Kansas now and driving into the wind and dust. It is blowing so hard it jerks the pick-up around, so bad I can hardly write. “Whoa, Pop don’t get blown off the road”

Kansas, land of waving grain. And grain elevators galore. Every few miles there is a group of grain elevators. Someimes as many as 60 in one bunch.

Pop got tired off the dust on the windshield so he turned the washers and wipers on. The wind immediately blew the dust and water off to the right, but the wipers wouldn’t go to the left because of the wind. Kansas…land of waving grain, grain elevators, dust and wind. J

One time going through Kansas on I-50 we seen an exit to a wildlife refuge. Following the signs we came to a pond with a blind. Went into the blind and took pictures of ducks on the pond. As evening fell we heard the call of a Great Horned Owl. I immediately went to the motor home and put my tape in the deck of Owl calls. We opened the windows to make sure the owls heard it, and soon there were three owls in trees around the motor home. What a thrill. The Great Horned Owl is such a large bird and so beautiful. When we got home we noticed on the picture that the markings down by his legs look like the marking around his eyes, no doubt to make him look as scarry as he can to peditors. God thinks of everything.

I remember one time my aunt telling me. She would have her devotions early in the morning. One night they was away late, therefore, getting to bed late. Not wanting to wake her husband in the mornig by setting the alarm, so she could wake up and have her devotions. She prayed that God would somehow wake her up. Time for devotions, an Owl called in the tree outside her window.

I can think of many times when I was at my lowest, that I would hear the call of an owl and that would remind me that God knew all about it.

The sky is dark behind us, filled with dust. Kansas is flat with gentle rolling hills. In Kansas as well as Wyoming you can look every direction and not see anything but more dry rolling hills Today you can’t see too far because of the dust.

 we should make a stop ahead, we just passed a big bill board that said “Big Yarn Shop Ahead” “Grove City Yarn” Maggie (Knitting Kat) are you still with us? We can stop if promise you won’t by too much yarn, after all we’re about full of luggage. J

We’ve passed several blinking red lights, people must like to speed on these long, flat raods. When a car passes Pop at a great rate of speed, he gets great pleasure in seeing the poor car sit along side the road (after a couple miles) with “blinking red lights” behind it. (I don’t know about Pop) L “The Bible says “he that laughs at calamity shall not go unpunished” maybe that is why Pop has “blinking red lights” behind him sometimes. Although I think it make a diffence if it’s a real calamity or breaking the law.  I don‘t know, I‘ll have to think that through.

I don’t know why the bill boards show up so much out here, maybe because you don’t see anything for miles and then when you do get close to a town the first thing you see is huge bill boards.

It is still 126 miles to Salina where we turn south to Oklahoma. O, dear here is another bill board that says YARN - the second friendliest yarn shop in the universe (I wonder which is the 1^st friendliest) another says Russel Stover Candies - free samples. We passed a couple smaller bill boards that say “Jesus is Lord, I trust in Him.“ I always feel good when we pass those kinds of signs.

Along the road around the fields there are fences and the post are rock. I wish I knew how to explain it so you could really get the picture. But the posts are actual rock a little bigger around but in the shape of and as tall as wooden fence posts. I wonder where they get rock that size and shape. (I guess I should look it up an google J )

Oh, I must of went to sleep for awhile. We’re headed east near Salina and as soon as I can get Pop to turn at the right places we’ll be headed south toward Oklahoma. We, we made it and we are now headed south on 135 to Oklahoma, and by 4:30 in the after noon we cross the border into Oklahoma.

We’ll spend the night at Blackwell, OK. Tomorrow morning (Lord Willing) we will reach my daughter's place in time for church. She lives in OK.

Although this trip is rather long at times. I must remember to keep a song in my heart so all the world will know I love Christ. It’s not hard when I think about all Christ has done for me. I can’t begin to name my blessings that he gives me everyday.

“Happy is the people, whose God is the Lord” Psalm 144:15

You all take care now........... and God Bless !

March 28, 2008

I-80 goes across Wyoming from one end to the other, a total of 403 miles. It can take all day, but not today, we‘ve got to reach our destination. So checking our watch after breackfast . It is 9:30am, so we’d better get started. We don’t travel long days, It wears me out and Pop is not an early riser. A friend of ours once said. “Pop don’t get going at the crack of dawn, it’s more like the crack of noon” J I’m not an early riser either if I don’t have to be, but I can be.

I will say this about Pop. For 17 years while he worked in the woods, he got up early, sometimes he would leave the house at 3 or 4 in the morning. I guess now he’s catching up for lost time.

We are on our way…. The sun is brightly shinning and it is a clear, blue sky day, but it is cold. Every time I’m here I can’t help but marvel at the gigantic rock formations that reach for the sky. They are right at the edge of town, cause one definantly can not build on them. Although that would certainly building on the rock, like the wise man did.

If we keep going we will make it thru this state and beyond today.

Just now we came up behind a semi and painted in big letters on the back of the trailer it says, JESUS IS LORD, NOT A SWEAR WORD. As we pass, it says the same thing on the side of the truck, only in bigger letters. I wish we could see more of these kind of trucks.

Wyoming has it’s own beauty, but is a long way across the state. It’s still 259 miles to Cheyenne. Which is at the east end of the state. I could count trucks or I could watch an occasional train as it winds its way through the desert. There are patches of snow along the road and in the mountains.

Speaking of trains…. I love to watch the coal trains up in the northern part of Wyoming.

They are long trains. Most over 100 cars all the same and all full of coal, and lots of them. Carrying coal to all parts of the nation.

On a side note… My mother used to like the song by Vernon Dalhart, “Hobo Bill’s Last Ride” Mom had a bother, named Bill that was a lone type of person, he was known to ride the trains, He walked out of his families life in the 50’s and the last time he was seen, he was driving through the countryside in 1958. I didn’t put it together till after we were married a long while. Although I’m sure the song wasn’t about her brother, I’m sure she thought about him, and it made her lonely every time she heard the song.

I think I’ll count trucks for awhile. It doesn’t take a very smart person to realize there are a lot more trucks than cars out here. I’ll see how many cars there are per 10 trucks. Here goes… 3 cars- 10 trucks , 4 cars - 10 trucks, 4 cars - 10 trucks, 4 cars - 10 trucks. Oh my here are 7 cars - 10 trucks. 5 cars - 10 trucks and 2 cars - 10 trucks. I’m tired of counting trucks, I think I’ll look at magazines awhile. I looked at them yesterday but who knows I might have missed something.

Time for gas; when we pull off, we meet a couple who lives in Wisconsin, they had been out to visit their son in Trememton, Utah. We hadn’t met the couple before, but we had met the son. Conrad had taught school in Pennsylvania a few years ago and we met him while he was living in my daughters house while my daughters family were out in Washington state, teaching at the Russian school for 2 years. It’s a small world. We meet in Wyoming, their son lives in Utah, they live in Wisconson. We met the son and had dinner with him and his wife, while he was teaching school in PA.

It is 1pm and we’re still going thru Wyoming. The wind is blowing very hard shaking the pick-up around as we drive.

We finally reach Cheyenne, taking a right we go down thru Colarado. We are going to stop in Oklahoma to see my daughter so we are turning down to I-70 now instead of later.

We pass Loveland. We’ve been here before. One time when we drove our motor home back east, we went thru Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. In Estes Park there are often Elk grazing in the town. On top in the Rocky Mountain Park you’ll visit

sights that exsist none other place. As the Home Website says you get to experience the exhileration of the view over the clouds. We seen the shiloette of Elk in the setting sun. The altitude from 7,500 feet to 14,259 feet slices through the mountain’s sub-alpine and alpine zones. Take a drive up the ridge road you can experience the Artic ecology. We stepped out of the mortor home and it was cold and quiet. So quiet you could almost hear the silence. As we started down the mountain, our brakes started to heat up. Pop pulled the motor home off at a pull out along the road and tried the brakes again, This time they went clear to floor. No brakes. We let it rest awile and since the motor home has self adjusting brakes, Pop backed it up several time till we had brakes again.

That night we parked at a park near the botttom of the mountain. All night we could hear the haunting night music of bugling elk. It was awesome. Many times we have to thank the Lord for the blessings of our experiences and also for His protection and mercy to us while we travel.

We are now past Loveland and headed down through Colorado. There are several toll roads to get around Denver. To get Pop thru an interchange and onto the right road is an experience of it’s own. Since Pop does all the driving he says I’m his co-pilot. Since he has to keep up with all the cars going at speeds that would scare anyone. ( I have to admit , it seems faster than it is, because Pop don’t go faster than the speed limit) he just doesn’t slow down when I think he shoud.J

We are now on I-70 headed east. It is 25 miles to the border of western Kansas.

I’m tired an when I’m tired I can think of all kinds of things to pity myself. Why? Why? Why? So I buried my head in my pillow and thought…….. about all the blessigs I have, I can’t think self pity, when I think about people all over the world that are suffering much more then I ever thought off. O. I do have my times, but I can honestly say they don’t last for long. My God is faithful and brings peace. I get the most discouraged when I think about Pop, when he don’t feel good.

Tired and hungry we pull off for the night. Burlington, CO. We look for a restaurant and find one that says Chinese Food. Pop said he wasn’t hungry for Chinese food tonight, so we went down the street and got a supper buffet at a different restaurant. It was Chinese. Pop didn’t say anything and I didn’t either. The first clue was the soup. It was “Egg Drop Soup,” and folks that ain’t American. Note: we were in the Midwest where it is called breakfast. dinner and supper, instead of breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Well this has been kind of a boring day. You have days like that when you travel. One thing for sure I never get so bored as to not get excited when I think about all God’s creation and blessing to us and the United States.

I like this thought by Glenna Oldham;

Sometims when I come to pray and close my closet door: my earth-bound thoughts are a roaring ocean beating, beating upon the sands of my mind. Then Jesus comes……

I leave you today with a few verses from the NIV

But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more. Psalm 71:14

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God. Psalm 42:5

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

It is early evening and the sun is lighting the rocks with perfect light. In the spring the sun turns cold at this time of day and is now casting it’s light on the gigantic rocks that rise above us on the left, turning the color of the rocks from gray to red.

Have you ever noticed, that sometimes in red rock country, the rocks turn red as though they had a light in them. Next time note the time of day, it will either be in the early morning or late afternoon. That is the best time to take pictures of landscape or scenery.

They say photographers should get up an hour before daybreak. Shoot till 10am, travel or take a nap and go out again in the late afternoon or early evening and shoot till a hour after sundown.

Now we see a fright train, slowly, snaking it’s lonely way along the track at the bottom of the rock mountain.

We pass a Ranch Exit. It’s something the people from PA know nothing about. Friends that have visited from PA. can’t understand why there would an exit off of intersate just for a ranch (whatever that is J )

One man told us he decided to exit at one and find out what it was all about. He drove for awhile and “It came to a dead end at a set of buildings” He didn’t realize there could have been 1 or 2,000 acres that belonged to the “set of buildings” acres, along with perhaps 100 head of cattle grazing over thousands of acres in order to get enough feed among the rock and desert land. In eastern Utah or western Wyoming you don’t raise a cow in your back pasture that is full of lush green grass. Wyoming is desert country and a rancher once told us that sometime it takes at least 100 acres to raise 1 head of beef.

We’ve crossed the state line into Wyoming. Wyoming with it’s tall windmills and snow fences. I’m getting where I can almost tell a state by the surrounding scenery without having to see the welcome sign. It is 89 miles to Green River where we will stop for the night. Fort Bridger is 10 miles ahead and Little America is 32 miles beyond that. Little America is a huge truck stop. It is complete with gift shops, a motel and eating places and 50 cent ice cream cones. Kids stay free, so says the billboards that start advertising it 32 mile before you get there.

Wyoming is one of the states that consist of rolling hills, big rocks and desert. You can stop in some spots, get out of the car, and look North, South, East and West, as far as the eye can see. You won’t see a building, tree or any sign of life, except perchance an Antelope or two.

Notice the Exit signs… In Eastern Oregon you have exit signs that say … Emigrant Springs, Dead man Pass, Poverty Flats, and North Powder. (As the wagons go west)

In Wyoming the exits are things like … Ranch Exit, Happy Jack Rd, Fort Bridger, Covered Wagon Rd, Flaming Gorge and Snowy Range Rd. In Pennsylvania it’s … Littlestown, Abbottstown. Kralltown, Irishtown, Hunterstown, or Gettysburg, Davidsburg, Dillsburg, Mumasburg, or Mount Pleasant, Mount Joy, Mount Olive, Mount Aetna and even Mount Zion. Of course there is Lancaster where were headed. I found out one thing, if you need to hide, move to Mount Pleasant, PA. There are 4 Mount Pleasants in Pennsylvania. J

We stop for gas and as we step out of the pickup we find the wind blowing very hard and cold blowing so hard you can hardly hold the door open.

Back on the road we pass a herd of Antelope, foraging among dry sage brush, rock and sand.

Up ahead is a wreak, a semi on it’s side. A man is carrying a box up to the road, the side of the truch says Fed-X. I wonder if any of the packages say Fragile- Handle With Care. We pass only to see in view another semi on it’s top and behind it are small items of every description. I can’t believe my eyes but up ahead there is another semi, things strewn along the medium from another wreck. Was it the wind or last nights snow storm?

Along the road we seee 3 different bands of sheep. The ranchers call them "range maggots," because they eat the grass shorter than cattle, leaving the cattle nothing to eat.  Usually we see a sheep wagon with a band of sheep, but there don’t seem to be any around this time. Pop said he thinks the sheep wagon was first self contained camper.

It is a wagon about 15 to 20 feet long and in it is a wood stove, table and chairs, and a bed.

The sheep herder stays in this while his sheep dog lays under it, in the shade in the summer time. There is often a horse tied outside. When it comes time to move the herd of sheep, the owner, with his truck comes along and moves the sheep wagon.

We live in Southern Idaho and one spring we decided to keep up with a band of sheep that we had seen near our place. We checked on it every couple days. I think it moved about a mile a day and sometimes more till it reached the mountains, to summer pasture. Then in the fall it would begin it’s slow journey back to the valley for the winter. It’s takes a certain kind of person to be a shepherd, stand out in the desert all day and guard the sheep from danger.

Utah with its recent memories… In the last 5 months Pop and I, along with some of our family, have made 3 trips to the University of Utah. Salt Lake is a pretty town, it sits up against the mountains. The mountains make a lovely backdrop for the town. The reason I say some of our family is because the children don’ think they can trust Pop and I to remember all the details the doctor says, so some of them go along (I wish they would all think they have to go) J I’ll tell you a secret…when we get home the children don’t always remember what was said…

Talk about enjoyment, I can’t explain how much I enjoyed those trips with our (smart) daughters J One time our granddaughter went along. On all the trips we made we went shopping. Since we stayed 2 nights and the Doctor didn’t take all the time we had time to shop, and of course at my favorite stores. My daughter likes antiques so of we stopped at several antique stores, and I like scrapbook stores so we stopped there, and since we all like to eat, we stopped to eat. Our husbands were very patient while we shopped.

The first time down there we stop at a craft store. It was Thanksgiving time and since the world likes to call it “Turkey Day”, there were lots of ceramic turkeys and lots of slogans to go with it. One big plate in the shape of a turkey had the words “Gobble till you wobble” I don’t really think a Christian should gobble till they wobble, but we defiantly didn’t go hungry while at Salt Lake. So we said we “shopped till we dropped” and “gobbled till we wobbled.” When you have extra time on your hands and you get tired you can act pretty silly.

The first time, daughter #4, Laurie and her DH took us. The second time we drove and daughter #5 Valerie and our grandaughter Elsie went with us. The third time Laurie and her DH took us and Valerie went along also. The last time Laurie and I worked Sudoko puzzles and I needed a pencil so when we stopped at a dollar store and my son-in-law went in for snacks, I decided to go in. He went in first so as he was commming out I asked him if seen any pencils, he told me where they were but I couldn’t find them there. I finally found them and as I was going to the car, I met him coming back in. He kind a laughed as he told me he thought I had said “pretzels” We all had a good laugh about that, but let me tell you something folks, it’s worse than that now….

I can even get after Pop and he’s stays as happy as a lark because he can’t understand a word I say. L  I know what I want to say, but when it comes out it sounds so funny that sometimes we cry, but we’re usually able to laugh. Like “husband” is now “hubin” Pop says he likes being my “hubin” He says he likes it better than when he was my husband.  What do you do with such a man? O, dear life is strange. J When it bothers me the most is when the children have to work so hard to understand me.

Will we ever get through Utah? I will keep going, It seem like my thoughts wonder around more when we first start a trip, I can't talk so I think.

Utah has huge grain elevators and as we pass 50 or 60 of them that are built together, Pop says (as he usually does) “I wonder what Jim Bridger would think if he could see these grain elevators?” “He told Brigham Young that he could eat all the wheat this valley could produce” I say, you’d better get busy Jim Bridger (mountain man) instead of spending all your time leading wagon trains from Missouri to Oregon. He didn’t do such a good job with the Donner Party. Some of them starved to death.

As we go on we see exits to Wolf Mt, Powder Mt, and Mt. Zion and a sign says Devils Slide up ahead. I call it Jacobs Ladder. I wonder why everything ruggedly beautiful gets a name like Devil’s slide, Devil’s Gate, Hell’s Canyon, Devil’s Punch Bowl, Devil’s Churn, or Hell’s Gate. God created all this beauty. Devils slide is 2 sets of rock about 100 feet apart, with no other rocks close. The rocks are gigantic slabs of rock that look like they are standing on edge, with smaller rocky mountain side between. They go up the mountainside looking like a giant slide.

In order to drive to PA we will travel across 10 states but I promise to not take so much time in each state. It will take seven days because we are going to stop in Oklahoma to see daughter #3. (Gwen and her DH, Henry)

We follow I-84 till we turn east on I-80, After that it is about 29 miles and we will be in Wyoming. It is around 4pm now. We ought to be able to make it to Green River, WY for the night.

Untill next time................

“We trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all man.” I Timothy 4:10

Usually I know what I want, but I don’t what I need. Lord, it’s so good that you know what I need. You, bless me with plenty of my needs and some of my wants. Thank you for what You allow me to have. Thank You Lord