llane62  

It is a GORGEOUS morning and a quiet one too! John is down in Denver attending the Republican State Convention as a delegate; Jordan just left to go to the conference:  Do Hard Things done by two of the Harris boys, and Jared is at a birthday sleepover and going bowling today with Cub Scouts.  THIS HARDLY EVER HAPPENS!  I'm home alone and in a house the size of ours.....  .....this is a real treat! 

It's been a great week.  I'm adjusting to "summer" quite quickly.  Yesterday I spent most of the day outside working in the garden and planting all the flowers that I bought when I was down in Denver on Thursday for traffic court.  (remember?...I did the ArtsatHome broadcast on location at Starbucks?)  It did my heart good to have my hands in the dirt again and working with beautiful colors.  I've been working hard on this rustic wildflower garden that John fenced for me last year.  It's coming together nicely and I'm looking forward to sitting out there with my morning coffee very soon. 

However, I think I'll wait just a bit longer as earlier this week during my morning coffee time, we had a bear visit our house and make himself at home on our front deck.....even going so far as to stand on his hind legs and look through the door window.  Can you believe it?!  We've got the pictures to prove it...but I STILL can't figure out how to put them up on the site.  Hopefully, someone can help me with my technical challenges soon!

The morning I drove to Denver, in the first TWENTY minutes of my drive, I saw about 9 deer, 1 bear, a herd of elk and a herd of antelope.  Have I told you lately how much I LOVE living here?  I do have to admit that the coyote issue is driving me a bit crazy!  As I started Tuesday's broadcast of Beginning With The End In Mind, I was sitting at my writing table in front of the side window in the living room and when I looked up there was a coyote RIGHT BY the tree just a few feet from the house.  He was just walking by and my chickens were just calming watching him pass them.  It was really weird!

My thoughts this morning are still centering on change!  I'm facing alot of changes right now.  I think I've alluded to them in previous blogs.  I'm facing some huge changes within my work; I'm continuing to face changes as I continue to adapt to how and where we have chosen to live; I'm facing changes (not all bad) in friendships; I'm facing changes in seasons....and the list goes on, just like yours does I'm sure.  We talk alot about God being unchanging......       

and I know that to be true....and yet, HE does send US changes.  These changes are situations or people that we can struggle against.....or work with!  In other words, God uses change to refine us to be more like himself.  God uses change to accomplish his plan in our lives.  God uses change to get us out of our comfort zone and encourage us to grow in areas in which we need to grow. 

I find that I'm miserable and frustrated when I struggle against the change.  Why do I do that?  Why do I try to control things that are beyond my control?  I certainly am aware that I do NOT like the unknown.  It's not that I don't like adventure or even risk....I just like to take CALCULATED and planned risks.  My "trust factor" needs to be stronger and I need to trust that GOD is control and that HE knows the unknown.  I need to rest in his unchanging character during the CHANGES that I have to face. 

SO, I guess you could say that this week, I did better in resting....and not struggling and chafing against the changes that I'm facing.  I tried to be more flexible and definitely tried to trust more.  What is that saying?  "Blessed are the flexible....for they shall bend, but not break."

I'm so thankful that God keeps me in the palm of His hand and that "HE that hath begun a good work...will complete it."   So, I'm going to choose to enjoy this "beautiful morning."  Who knows...I may even break into that great song from the musical "Oklahoma" and start singing....."Oh What A Beautiful Morning." 

This is the day that the Lord hath made...I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Faith and Courage,

Lori