Beauty coming and going…

The prairies are beautiful at this time of year…IMG_20150724_142629829

IMG_20150724_154220243Cycling to AirdrieIMG_20150728_173154875_HDR

As are the little people who live there…

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As are the mountain vistas we pass coming and going…

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It isn’t very nice to have family so far away from us,

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but it does give us the excuse to traverse some beautiful landscapes.

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And now safely home once again, we are grateful for travelling mercies, P1180089

for work accomplished  IMG_20150727_155234274_HDRIMG_20150728_123714206_HDR

and for good memories made with family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(… a lesson in whistling by Grandad)

–LS

By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; … so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy. Ps.65:5-6,8 ESV

Back to our Beginnings…

The roots of our marriage lie here on the prairies…

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…in a small town nestled like an oasis in the middle of vast stretches of farmland under a big sky…

This is where Jim and I met way back when we were young—one from the East Coast, one from the west, converging here to study the Bible and prepare for future ministry…

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…and lo and behold our paths crossed and the rest is history!

We wouldn’t have foreseen returning to this place years hence with our youngest offspring already 17!

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…to visit kin now living here…

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Many things we didn’t envision, couldn’t envision…

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…but in it all God has been good to us.

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–LS

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Ps.90:1

Covering the miles…

P1060774 It was that time again…to hop in the car and head east…come what may…to see our favorite grandbabies and their relatives…

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We love the bright wide-open spaces after being so long on the coast nestled amongst green giants under so often gray skies…

 

Out here Angus is more than a burger; P1070005it’s scenery!

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From pasture to patty they go!

 

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Highway miles have their own beauty on the prairies…

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…and their own tonic…

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But in the end it’s worth the effort and the wait… just to get a few days to catch up with these little people who have captured our hearts…

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And then the trek back home…with happy pictures and memories…of homemade play-doh, and swinging and singing and walks, and books and waking up to “Grandmom!”…

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And at last, the final ferry home…

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Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Ps.127:3

–LS