Get With It For God

    Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you; they sing the praises of your name.”

Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot — come, let us rejoice in him. He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations — let not the rebellious rise up against him.

Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.

(Psalm 66:1-12, New International Version)

    I wish the Bible message I’ve just shared was shorter. I wish it was about five words – something like “Get with it for God” or “Wake up, God’s got it” or something. I know I could find a Bible verse like that, but I like the one above; God put it on my mind to blog about today.

I hope you read the whole thing and take it to heart. I hope you have turned your life over to God. I pray that you pray to God – just talk to Him – in all your times of need, as well as your times of thanksgiving. I pray that you have accepted His Son Jesus Christ as your Savior.  

I’ve been feeling a sense of urgency. Our country, the whole world, seems to be spiraling out of control, and I fear for all those who are not believers, for those who have turned their backs on God. I wish that God had granted me the ability to speak to these people, to share my testimony with them. But instead, God told me to write. So here I am.  

And I humbly ask that you share God’s word with others as well, in whatever way He has shown you.

God, grant us strength to follow Your path and to spread Your Word to others. Amen

Finding Something to be Thankful For

   2020 was a rough year. Last Christmas, just eleven months ago, we celebrated that the year was almost over, that things were about to change, that 2021 would be better, that it had to be. Last time I tempt fate that way.

I’m not gonna lie – 2021 was horrible! Just like the year before, it was one thing after another. We kept thinking – well, there’s not much else that could go wrong. And then – boom – something else happened.

Yet, looking back, putting aside the injuries, the illnesses, the deaths, the bad news, the national and international scandals, global warming – you name it – I can still find so much to be thankful for. So, so very much.

I hope that this Thanksgiving you can find much to be thankful for as well. That you can find peace and balance in your life. 

That the pieces of life all come together for you in a way that fits for you.

And that you find joy and the ability to laugh.

Thank you for reading these dumb blog posts of mine and thank you for being a friend. 

Sufferings

   Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck. Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can’t find a foothold. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me. I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me. (Psalm 69:1-3, New Living Translation)

I’ve been pretty much free of any COVID symptoms for a week now. I was hoarse and a little congested earlier this week but basically feeling pretty good.

   But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mud; don’t let me sink any deeper! Save me from those who hate me, and pull me from these deep waters. Don’t let the floods overwhelm me, or the deep waters swallow me, or the pit of death devour me. Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful. (Psalm 69:13-16, New Living Translation)

I maybe never prayed such a fervent prayer as this one, even when I was at my sickest. But I still prayed, not only for myself, but for my daughter and everyone else who has had to suffer from this illness. Or any other severe illness. Cancer, COPD, Lou Gehrig’s, Alzheimer’s. The list goes on. Yes, we have all suffered with one thing or another. And if not ourselves personally, we have supported our loved ones through their trials.

   I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power. Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. (Psalm 69:29-30, New Living Translation)

Here’s the funny thing. When I started writing this post, I was thinking more about Thanksgiving coming up this week and wanted to write about that. The Bible verse above is one of the first to come up when I went searching for the word “thanksgiving.” When I read the rest of Psalm 69, I was stunned by how fitting it seems right now. 

   The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged. For the Lord hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people. Praise him, O heaven and earth, the seas and all that move in them. (Psalm 69:22-34, New Living Translation)

Even with all of our trials and all of our sufferings, we still have much to be thankful for. 

 

What's in Alma?

               I really should update you on my COVID-19 journey, but I still have so many other journeys to tell you about. Let’s just say for now, that as I write this, I feel my symptoms have completely cleared. As with all of my travels, I have settled back into my normal life. But since I don’t have any pictures from my illness (as if anyone wants to see those!), you get to see more from my trip to Alma the end of August. 

Sunday morning of that weekend, I took a walk along Hwy 37. 

This summer I did seem to capture multiple flowers on every trip. 

And berries too. 

Wabasha, Minnesota, is just across the Mississippi River from Alma and is known as the Bald Eagle capital. I was pleased with myself that I spotted this one. 

But, if you know me at all, you know I have to visit every cemetery I can. Why are they so often situated on hills? 

The Alma Area Museum is in the building which was once the Buffalo County Training School & Teachers College. It had been built in 1902. In 1967, the school was discontinued, and the building was used as the Alma City Hall and Library. In 1982, the city leased it to the Alma Historical Society

Castlerock Museum houses arms and armor, with exhibits that include many time periods in European history. 

  

The United Methodist Church in Alma. 

The Tell Church in Tell, which isn't a town at all, only one church and one bar. 

               Wouldn’t you know, I had planned on going back to the Alma area to visit my friend the weekend of October 30. If I had stuck with that plan, I wouldn’t have ended up catching Covid from my daughter. But I guess that's how it goes. 

 

Being Together

      Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer. (Hebrews 10:24-25, Good News Translation)

Here’s another one of those things. Before church last night, I was talking to another woman about how sad it is that people don’t think they need to come to church. Believers who weren’t able to attend church during COVID, and now that they could, they are continuing to watch church services on TV or the internet.

And then these verses above were part of the day’s Bible readings. Huh? As usual, God has got this. And He clearly wants us to be with other believers.

This pandemic did so much to all of us. We thought we would all be just fine – no matter where we are, however isolated we are, we can still communicate with others. We have video chat and Zoom and a whole bunch of other options. (When I was a kid, it was science fiction to be able to see the other person you were talking to on the phone!)

But I just don’t think it’s enough. And I don’t think God thinks so either. He made us to be social creatures, creatures who need physical contact with others who are like us.

Yes, here I am, having just recovered from COVID. Yes, people still need to be careful out there. Yes, it’s no fun getting sick. But we still need to see one another in person, even if it’s at an arm’s length away, even if hugging might not be safe, yet.

God wants us to be together. He knows we need to be with other believers. The path we are on is not one to be walked alone. Even with Jesus Christ at our side, we need our friends and families as well.

Lord, let this pandemic become a thing of the past. Help us to move on, together, closer to You. Amen.   

What's in Willard?

                During one of my many travels this summer, I ran across the utterly adorable village of Willard. Okay, maybe the town itself wasn’t so cute . . .

But they had a very nice little community park. Settlers Park. Built with mostly historic materials from local abandoned houses, barns and schools. Signs near every structure telling where it had come from. So, I spent probably too much time and took too many pictures.  

Perhaps the most prominent structure in Settlers Park is the kozolec, which is Slovakian for hayrack. A freestanding vertical drying rack with a roof, it was usually made of wood and would be used to dry fodder for animals, mostly hay and other food stuffs such as field corn.

The barn boards used for this kozolec, which was built solely for entertainment purposes, are from the Frank and Mary Volk’s homestead. They moved to the Willard area in 1909, two years after the community was founded.

In the late 1990s, residents of the community began talking about what they wanted to do for the one hundredth anniversary of Willard in 2007. With an amazing amount of work from the handful of citizens, a historical society was formed, followed by the creation of Settler’s Park.  

There wasn’t much else in this unincorporated town – a community center, catholic church, post office, two bars and an auto repair shop. I couldn’t find its population anywhere. But the Hendren township, where Willard resides, along with an even smaller berg named Tioga, boasts 500 residents in its 36 square miles of land.   

Websites with the sparse information I found online on Willard and Settlers Park:

               https://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/hendren/community/Centennial.htm

               https://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/hendren/history/2Willard.pdf

               https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hendren,_Wisconsin

               https://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/hendren/index.htm

               https://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/hendren/history/index.htm

This bovine was the only sign of life in the park that day. Can you make out the inscription on her leg? 

Finally Getting to Camp at Chippewa Falls

     You probably don’t want to hear about any more of my travels, but I can’t help myself. I could write six hundred words on how I’ve managed my COVID19 infection, tell you all the unpleasant details, relive the last horrible week over again in my head, just so you can read it. But, sorry. I’m on the other side now. Life will go on, and you know what else? Today I even made some camping reservations for next spring. So, take that, world, I got this.

But back to August and a couple of hot, sunny days in the western part of our state.

Four years ago, Hubby and I had planned a week’s worth of camping at Lake Wissota State Park in Chippewa Falls, but those plans were thwarted by kidney stones. (I’ve told that story several times.)

This year, I thought we’d go for just two nights. We had been on the go enough all summer. Plus I had spent that weekend in Chippewa in May with my friend. I wanted to show some of those spots to Hubby, but there were many that I hadn’t touched on during that first trip.

We arrived mid-afternoon on Wednesday. Didn’t do much except set up camp. The next morning, after a drive around the campground, we drove over to Erickson Park.

 And the Glen Loch Dam.

This bridge takes you across to the far end of the Irvine Park Zoo, but I didn’t realize that until Hubby and the dog had already headed back to the truck.

No worries, we drove over to the other side. I wanted to get a picture of Dino posing with the bears, but he would have nothing to do with it.

These big boys had no problems posing for me. 

Yikes! Hate to meet them in the woods at night. 

We drove around town for a while, then finally came to a stop at the Cook-Rutledge Mansion.

Hubby said I should take the tour while he and the dog sat in the truck in the shade.

But you know me, instead, I took way too many pictures on the outside and then walked around four other city blocks looking at other old houses.

Why spend all my time on just one?

Then there is always a church or two.

Notre Dame Catholic Church. 

Which I have also visited and blogged about in the past. 

But, like I said, it was a short trip and even though I took over 300 pictures, I don’t need to share them all with you.

I’ll continue to keep you posted on my health. Have a good week.

Covered in His Peace

  I waited patiently for the Lord. He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of destruction, out of the sticky mud. He stood me on a rock and made my feet steady. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many people will see this and worship him. Then they will trust the Lord. (Psalm 40: 1-3, New Century Version)

My COVID symptoms have gotten much, much better over the last 36 hours. My daughter is finally starting to do better as well.

Happy is the person who trusts the Lord, who doesn’t turn to those who are proud or to those who worship false gods. Lord my God, you have done many miracles. Your plans for us are many. If I tried to tell them all, there would be too many to count. (Psalm 40: 4-5, New Century Version)

But our lives have been far from trouble-free. As already mentioned, the health of me and my immediate family members is okay. Even my son’s dog is doing okay. But there is so much else out there that is not okay. Not even close.

Lord, do not hold back your mercy from me; let your love and truth always protect me. Troubles have surrounded me; there are too many to count. My sins have caught me so that I cannot see a way to escape. I have more sins than hairs on my head, and I have lost my courage. Please, Lord, save me. Hurry, Lord, to help me. (Psalm 40: 11-13, New Century Version)

Friday night, with so much on my mind, I laid in bed for hours, praying and finally reached for my Bible, where I’ve been reading Psalms. Chapter 40 was the one that came up next.

But let those who follow you be happy and glad. They love you for saving them. May they always say, “Praise the Lord!” Lord, because I am poor and helpless, please remember me. You are my helper and savior. My God, do not wait. (Psalm 40: 16-17, New Century Version)

I turned out the light and God blanketed me in His peace. And to be honest, He didn’t blanket me in sleep, as I laid there another hour. But at least I had His peace. 

Thorns and Wrinkles

             You know the saying: I can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.

            You know what else they say, something like don’t even think it or it will come true.

            Here I am four days into a COVID19 infection, kicking myself that for starters I thought I was invincible, that I’d gone this long with a fair number of minor exposures and I’ve even had the vaccine. Also kicking myself because I’d been thinking I should get the booster and here I am. Also thinking, oh, so I’m positive – I have an awesome immune system and I’ve had the initial two vaccines, how bad could this be?

            It’s bad. I know I’ll get through it; I hate being dramatic, but, yeah, I feel awful, like those thorns have shot me through all over my body. And oh, if I could only smell those roses. I thought I had lost my sense of taste, but when I threw up earlier this week, I sure tasted that.

            The only rose in the picture is that Hubby hasn’t gotten sick. Good thing he went ahead and got his booster two weeks ago.

            So, here’s the thing. As much as every last one of us has been wishing for months now that this pandemic would go away, or that it will at least slink into nothing more than the common cold, it’s still out there, folks.

            And for you anti-vaxers, who want to say to me, “see the vaccine is nothing but a hoax, it’s worse for your body than getting COVID,” I say phooey to youey.

Get the vaccine, people, continue to wear your masks in public, social distance when you can.

I’ve got a whole theory about how I caught it. It’s all about numbers, and frankly, I’m too tired for that right now. Maybe next time.

Thanks for all your prayers and support. This is just another wrinkle in the road called life. I’d rather have wrinkles on my face though. 

A Day to visit old Haunts

I’m still trying to wrap my mind around how many road trips I’ve taken since May. What is wrong with me that I just keep jumping in the car (or the truck with the camper in tow) and taking off some place.

Well, I think I’m done for a while. Our warm, beautiful Autumn has turned into cold, dreary winter-fall. And there are so many things to do around the house. But you’ve not heard the last of me; not by a long shot.

The middle of August, we jumped in the truck (no camper) for a ride up to the UP to a few of our frequently visited places.

Lake of the Falls County Park near Mercer, Wisconsin, captured my heart many years ago, so any time we drive north along Highway 51, I have to swing in for a visit.

The water wasn’t nearly as high this August as it had been in June of 2020, when Hubby and I camped there. 

The cofferdam in August 2021

The same cofferdam in June of 2020

 

Looking over the dam this year. 

And last year. 

The runoff was the most remarkably different. This year. 

Last year. 

And no ride through Mercer is complete without a visit to the world’s largest talking loon. "Claire d'Loon" weighs 2,000 pounds, stands 16 feet tall and was unveiled in May, 1981. Two loons in Minnesota, a floating bird on Silver Lake and a concrete loon overlooking Long Lake, surpass her in size, but they don’t “talk”. Neither does Claire. She makes loon noises. You know – those haunting calls you can hear at dusk over lakes in the Northwoods. But I haven’t heard Claire calling any other loons when I’ve visited her.

Our next quirky stop was in Ironwood, Michigan, at the world’s largest Indian. Erected in 1964, Hiawatha’s height is 52 feet and his weight is nine tons. He was designed to withstand 140 mph winds, which is a good thing because he sits on top of a tall hill on the south side of Ironwood.

But here’s a fun fact I found online after searching out more information on the statue. In 2019, he was repainted and had a complete structural repair to the tune of $25,000. The company which did it is only one of very few places nationally that makes and repairs these fiberglass structures. And that company is the F.A.S.T. Corporation of Sparta, Wisconsin, which we visited in June. Who knew? 

Now, remember Hiawatha can handle winds of 140 mph? But our next stop was built to withstand winds of over 190 miles per hour and was even designed to sway up to 18 inches in a brisk wind. Built just five years after Hiawatha, it rises 1,782 feet above sea level. 

Copper Peak is the largest artificial ski jump in the world. It hosted the first international ski flying competition in the winter of 1970. Unfortunately, it has not been used for that purpose since 1994.

 

You can however take the Copper Peak Adventure Ride. An 800-foot chair lift ride takes you to the crest of the hill, after which you take an 18-story elevator ride to the main observation deck. From there, you can climb an additional eight stories to the top starting gate. For $25. We opted out. 

We rather hike through the woods at Black River Harbor to visit Rainbow Waterfall.

Or soak up the power of Lake Superior. 

Who knows where I'll take you next time.