Ski Trip with Surprise Adventure

The Farmer used to ski and we would take youth groups on ski trips. The Farmer’s bride took ski school when their daughter was about 11. Their daughter took off like a flash and the bride of the Farmer flunked ski school. She was always proud of being such a good student. She was Salutatorian of her high school class. But those studies did not include insanity, such as putting two wooden boards on the bottom of your boots and heading down a mountain with only a ski pole to protect you from injury. This Grammy has some common sense and that does not make any sense, when you could be shopping!

“Skiing combines outdoor fun with knocking down trees with your face.” – Dave Berry

That was all a few years ago. This year in March, that same daughter, who now has four children of her own, invited us to meet them in Breckenridge, Colorado to join their families’ ski trip. We didn’t ski as the Farmer has a bum knee he’s going to get replaced and well, you know my thoughts on skiing. We were along in case Addie got tired of skiing and needed to go back to the hotel for some craft time with Grammy. It’s a good thing I always have crafts and will travel.

The last day of the ski trip it started to snow really heavy in the mountains and we planned to travel home that night. The forecast in Kansas was pretty awful, with winds of 80 mph and blowing dust. It was decided that instead of staying in Denver that night we would leave Breckenridge early afternoon and head for the farm.

The wind was ferocious but we made it to farm around 10pm. We caught some water and got everyone to bed as it looked like it might be an interesting night. About 2am we lost power and our windows of the old farmhouse were plastered with snow. In all we received ten inches of blowing snow with very large drifts. There would be no snow plow through our country road and no way to get out of our drive. The interstate was closed anyway. We had enough water to keep us all going and a gas cook stove with plenty of supplies. It was a great adventure and our hearts were so grateful to be home. We were not too warm as we had no heat but we weren’t too cold either. No internet so we played games and had a grand time.

“A perfect example of the power of prayer is when a big blizzard closes the schools on the day of a big exam.” – Doug Larson

Our daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren were able to get out the next morning and head home. It was a great adventure and we were truly blessed to be safe and home.

Praying the Kansas Border

My husband and I took our tiny camper and drove 1550 miles around the border of Kansas. We stopped and anointed each border county in Kansas and felt led to leave a stalk of wheat. We decreed and prayed to the Lord of the Harvest for a tremendous harvest of souls in Kansas and more workers for the harvest. (Matt. 9:37-39) We spent time praying in each corner and at the geographic center of the 48 states.

Our goals were to

Anchor Kansas in Hope
Appeal to Heaven
Apply the Oil
Activate the Harvest of Souls

We spent time at Mt. Sunflower also. It was a beautiful green at Mount Sunflower, and some friends met us there. Connie played the shofar, and that was so powerful. The warfare seemed intense there, and we were exhausted after we left. It was difficult part of the journey but rewarding. We thank our dear friends for organizing this.

As I prayed about what we could leave in each county and at the geographic center, I thought about seeds. But because we are retired farmers and love this season of harvest, I felt the Lord say this is the season of harvest, not planting. So I gathered stalks of wheat that we carried and left one in each county as we prayed and decreed. It is not time to plant seeds, but it is the time to call in the workers for the harvest because it is harvest time. Matt. 9:37-38. So using our Appeal to Heaven flag we asked the Lord of the Harvest for more workers to bring the great harvest of souls in.

As we drove around the border of Kansas, we thought about all the green we saw the entire way. There was never a more beautiful time to drive the Kansas border as we saw the lushness of green. The harvest of the ripe wheat was a beautiful sight to see also. We saw wheat that would not be cut, due to the early drought, and wheat that was hailed out, and wheat that was being harvested and wheat that was ready for harvest.

We met wonderful people on our journey and met a couple from Atlanta, Georgia at the geographic center of the United States. They said Kansas is beautiful. And we certainly had to agree.

We read Give Him 15 by Dutch Sheets every morning and we have read Gina Gholston’s book “Carry On”. We felt led to take our teardrop that has Psalms 139:25 and Proverbs 3:6 painted on the sides of it and drive the borders.

We were met with a bald eagle that sat in a tree outside of Baxter Springs and waited for us to get his picture. We had to turn around, change camera lenses and get some nice photos. His head was held high. What a beautiful sign from God!

We prayed at the Mine Battlefield museum, and were particularly touched by the battle that took place here in the Civil War. We are in a battle now, not physical but spiritual. The Union forces won this battle in one hour, even though they were out numbered 8000 to 1200 troops. We read the “Gettysburg Address” here and sang all the verses of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” This was a very moving experience. My husband said the Union troops had the advantage by being on the higher ground. May we battle this fight with the full armor of God from the higher ground.

In several counties, we used the words of Abigail Adams in the letter she wrote to her husband on June 20, 1776. These words seemed to be very fitting words. She wrote, “I feel no anxiety at the large armament designed against us. The remarkable interpositions of heaven in our favor, cannot be too gratefully acknowledged. He who fed the Israelites in the wilderness, who clothes the lilies of the field, and who feeds the young ravens, when they cry, will not forsake a people engaged in so right a cause, if we remember his loving kindness.”

In White Cloud, KS in the NE corner of the state a beautiful zebra striped swallowtail butterfly landed at my feet and flew in between my legs several times while three hawks (we weren’t sure what kind of birds they were) soared high above our heads.

At the geographic center of the United States, we soaked several stalks of wheat in oil of frankincense and left them there. As we were leaving, I felt the song “Spring Up Oh Well” in my spirit. We prayed and decreed in the tiny chapel. This is another key spot. We braided three stalks of wheat together and left it there. This represents the three strand cords’ strength. Our God is so faithful.

We came home, exhausted, but thrilled that the Lord had given us, safety, protection, and many prayer warriors to help us complete this journey.

Toto, we are not in Kansas Anymore

Toto, I’ve got a feeling we are not in Kansas anymore.”
Dorothy from the Wizard of OZ

The farmer/windmill man and I are not in Kansas anymore. We arrived at Ridge Haven Cono camp in Walker, IA yesterday. We are on another one month mission with the SOWERS (Servants on Wheels Ever Ready) group. We have met the great couples we will be working with this month and are delighted with the range of experience and talents. The Lord knows how to put together a good team.

This country is beautiful farmland. This is right up our alley. The farmer/windmill man loves to take pictures of barns. This area has an ample supply of models for his creative juices. The camp is located next to a soybean field and across the road they are raking hay.

Today we learned the interesting history of this camp as it began as a school and took in lots of missionary kids for their education while parents were overseas. International students were also educated in this place. They have a sister camp in the Smokey Mountains. The differences in these camps and terrain is extreme.

“If we walk far enough,” says Dorothy, “we shall sometime come to someplace.”
Dorothy from Wizard of OZ

Our time during shelter at home was productive and enjoyable. I spent time putting together quilt blocks and finished a quilt top while the farmer was also assembling pieces of wood to make a butcher block for his bride and a long work table for himself. We were finally able to see most of the grandchildren (not all together but a few at a time). We had four of them spend a week with us before we left and we camped with some of the others. We were so thankful for Facetime and other means to keep in touch.

Our church family was able to start attending together again two weeks ago with several precautions and I didn’t realize how much I missed worshiping together with fellow believers in the church setting. Tears flowed the first Sunday we were able to have some of us gather again.

“Toto did not really care whether he was in Kansas or the Land of Oz so long as Dorothy was with him; but he knew the little girl was unhappy, and that made him unhappy too.”
Dorothy of the Wizard of OZ

2020 has been an interesting year full of surprises and troubling times. Maybe this year has taught us much. Maybe it has shown us that faith, people, family and friends are more important than anything else. Maybe being with those we love no matter where we are, is more important than where we are on the ladder of success and that the happiness of others makes a huge difference to our happiness.

“A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.”
the Wizard of OZ

We attended church this morning with a delightful flock at a drive in service. The pastor had a powerful message for us all. The farmer and I decided we could come to this church again and hope to while we are in the area. It is so precious to be with like minded people who love the Lord.

We are in Kansas

The Little House on the Prairie is calling us home. This is the longest time we have been away from the farm. We’ve been gone two weeks in the past but not four. What an interesting time in history to be away from home as everyone becomes more distant from one another and more things are closing. We are incredibly thankful for this time at this camp and with these special new friends but are grateful that the Lord has shown us in many ways that now is the time to get back and experience spring time on the farm.

Psalms 59:16 But I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.

Yesterday we picked up a few items to get us on home at the store here. A young man checked us out with his gloves on. He looked a little out of place and said he was learning on the job. He regularly worked in the tire and lube department but they had closed that down and now he was a cashier. He had a wonderful attitude as I know his job has not been easy at this time. He expressed his gratitude to have the job and grateful they did not send him home. What an inspiration he is to us all. I’m sure he has a young family and he is grateful for his work.

Cooking in preparation for the trip home.

We are grateful to have a house on the prairie to go home to. Having the grandkids come see us would make it even better but they need to stay at their own homes right now and not travel. I’m hoping for some new kittens and a small garden and to find my sewing machine again.

I know many of you have been stuck at home for several weeks already and getting away from home would be wonderful. Home means so many different things to so many people. Homes can be a cardboard box like I saw in Ethiopia, or a 19 foot camper trailer, an apartment, a house boat, or a farm. Home means an enjoyable, happy place where you can live, laugh and learn. It’s somewhere where you are loved, respected, and cared for. (taken from Meaning of Home contest).

In the word of God, the home has both a physical and spiritual meaning. We must build our home upon solid structural and moral foundation to ensure its sustainability over time. Scripture gives us guidance for creating a good home.

Is. 28:16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.

Joshua 24:15 But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

I always stock up on supplies living on a farm so we are in good shape for a 14 day self quarantine. Good to be home.