Square Dancin'

I've always wanted to learn how to square dance. After Grandpa's death last year and going through the farm house I was gifted all of Grandma's square dancing skirts (Homemade by the way). 

Since losing both Grandparents, I have tried to look back on the time they lived and grew up in. Copying in a sense the understanding of what it took to get through long hard days in the fields, milking cows and teaching school.....not to mention all the meals I know Grandma made.

September 2nd 2019 at 1:00 pm in Rollag, MN, I learned to square dance! 

I was nervous, but determined to stumble my way through. ( I have two left feet when it comes to dancing, no cordination whatsoever) 

My partner was a delightful fellow named Abel. 

He made me very comfortable and never got harsh if I missed a step or call :) 

I was red in the face and did it anyways

We had a dandy caller and the steps were quite simple if I didn't overthink them.

Thankfully everyone else knew what they were doing and only had to push 

and pull me slightly to and fro :)

There was plenty of smiles, swings, turns, laughter and joy throughout my lesson and I am especially thankful to have the opportunity to learn how to square dance! 

They come from a generation of respect for ladies and honor for men. I love these types of people and am eager to learn more and more from them as I strive to soak up the wisdom they have hidden in their souls. 

A special thanks to Michelle Qualley and Sid Fossan for the photographs and video. I am so glad someone could capture the preciousness of these moments! 

I am so satisfied and full of the love of Christ. He has given me so much boldness and more confidence to do things without caring or fearing what others will think of me. My life is good. God's mercies are never ending and He IS ABLE to do far more then we ask or even think (Ephesians 3:20)

Sunrise in Rollag, MN. 💛

My Personal Testimony

I grew up in a Christian home. Professed Salvation January 21, 2001, was baptized shortly after. However, I never fully let go of certain parts I wanted to hold on to. Holding on to those things caused me more grief, sin and guilt then I ever care to admit. April 14 2019 after being more broken and crushed then ever before I repented of my sins and the Lord saved me! He has been working on me ever since!! He is growing me in the Word and in Prayer. And praise God I seek more and more of Him each day. His grace and mercy to me have been abounding! 

Renewed Fellowship with my Lord is the greatest blessing I will EVER receive💖💖

"Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."

Luke 15:7 

PC: Angela Zahnow

Dust

🎵

She's sick of this town, she's sick of that boy
Yeah she's sick of dreams that never take flight
There's gotta be more than the same old story
So she's gonna turn the page tonight
And turn the radio up
Roll the windows down
She got a full tank of gas 

Ain't no stopping her now

She's got the pedal to the floor in a hand-me-down Ford
Yeah, the only thing that's left to do
Is catch a couple green lights and those baby blue eyes
Are leaving nothing in that rearview
But dust, nothing but dust

She's fighting back tears, she's fighting back years
Of the only life she's ever known
There's a future that's bright in the dead of this night
And all she's gotta do is go
And turn the radio up 

Roll the windows down
She got an open road 

Ain't no stopping her now

She's got the pedal to the floor in a hand-me-down Ford
Yeah, the only thing that's left to do
Is catch a couple green lights and those baby blue eyes
Are leaving nothing in that rearview
But dust, nothing but dust

She got the radio up
She got the windows down
No she won't look back
Ain't no stopping her
Ain't no stopping her now

She's got the pedal to the floor in a hand-me-down Ford
Yeah, the only thing that's left to do
Is catch a couple green lights and those baby blue eyes
Are leaving nothing in that rear view
But dust, nothing but dust
Dust, nothing but dust

🎵

Grief is Love

 "Grief, I've learned, is really just love.

 It's all the love you want to give but cannot.

All of that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, 

the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest.

Grief is just love with no place to go."

A Promise of God's Faithfulness

Have you ever had a favorite song? Maybe one you didn't even know the title of, or where to find it, but you loved it so.
The melody, the words and singing brought such joy peace and comfort when you heard it.

Little blessings like songs can make our day. It certainly did mine today!

I'm here working at a local greenhouse, cleaning flats in the back room, listening to Heaven 88.7.

I've been praying that this one song would come on for about 1-2 hours now.

So far it hasn't played, but since I rest completely in God's faithfulness I tell Him that even if this song does not play I still know He is faithful and if I continue in His will He will reward that. 

However, that little terdhead Satan likes to mess with ones mind trying to discourage ya.

I keep praying and talking to God, ignoring that devilish whisper that "God is not faithful and something as little as a song playing on the radio is too insignificant a request for Him to fulfill"

I'm almost done with my shift when I hear the familiar beginning melody of my favorite song.

I am humbled and surprised all at once. I love it when the Lord chooses to bless me like that and considers my worth enough to pursue me with His love.💓💖

I walk over, closer to the radio, prepared to soak in the message and beautiful melody of this song.

I fall to my knees in complete surrender to His faithfulness as I sing along (at the top of my lungs)

to this pretty melody. A completely peaceful and waiting moment. My God is SO good!

May I remember this as the days come when I feel discouraged, worried or non trusting of Him.

Evening falls

There is a quiet peace about the setting sun.

The slow fade and darkening hours set the tone for evening.

A time when the work is done.

With anticipation of whats to come has special meaning. 

She heads out for a big adventure, against the rising moon.

The tires roll over top the uneven bumpy country road. 

As the colors of the sky contrast day swoon.

Evening comes closer with each passing mile, life slowed.

The full moon shines out in the twilight.

Peaceful sounds in the distance awaken her mind.

 A slow breeze captures the beauty of the night.

With each passing mile, a quiet place she might find.

A silhouette against the white abyss.

Lost in thought as evening falls.

Infatuated with the sunset bliss.

Dreaming of heavens golden halls.

She loves this closer walk with God.

A joy to be alone in His presence.

To soak in all the day has brought leaves her awed.

So thankful to know His omnipresence. 

"I have one desire now- to live a life of reckless abandon 

for the Lord

putting all my energy and strength into it."

~Elizabeth Elliot

𝆕𝆕Beyond the sunset, eternal joy𝆕𝆕

Laughed Until We Cried

"This past year my family

Was sittin' cross-legged 'round the Christmas tree

listening to granddad

We all knew it'd probably be his last.

He was crackin' jokes, and we were taking turns

tellin' stories 'bout fishin' or lessons learned

out on the porch with him,

We all felt like kids again.

Oh man, we were livin'

Sittin' there reminiscin'

We sang, and talked and traveled back in time.

We laughed until we cried.

Its like the best days under the sun

Every emotion rolled into one

A little of this, a little of that

Kinda happy, kinda sad"