The next generation

We were down a country road which had long since turned to gravel or dirt, when a doe crossed the road. She stood still and watched us after she had crossed instead of disappearing so quickly to give one doubts as to whether she had ever been there. In a few seconds we understood as her fawn wobbled across the road after her. The baby could not have been more than a foot tall, if that. We saw the same scene re-enact a couple more times on our trip. The last little fawn seemed to be a tad bit older, and scampered up the hill, taking a second to turn and give us a curious stare as well. We were so fortunate to see the spring fawns, the next generation.

It is such a pleasure to watch my daughter and son-in-law pass on the strength of their faith to their children, our grandchildren. These two young ones of the next generation sing praise songs, know Bible stories and verses, and already demonstrate the joy of the Lord. What a goodly inheritance!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power
to the next generation,
your might to all
who are to come.
Psalm 71:18

He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our forefathers
to teach their children,
so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.
Psalm 78:5-6

Not on the map

Headed north on HWY 95 towards Riggins we passed this wonderful two-tiered waterfall. I couldn't believe anything this beautiful wasn't noted on the map. No name, but breathtaking. We pulled over and got out of the car. We carefully navigated a walk closer to the falls on the river side of the barricade. The icing on the cake was finding the wildflowers at the base of the falls.

We did most of this trip with a very uncharted attitude. We made no reservations except for the rental car at the airport. We tried to let the Holy Spirit guide our path. Even when motels seemed to have no vacancy, we would walk into situations where there had just been a cancellation. There was provision and so much more. We were exceedingly blessed by wildlife, waterfalls, and even lakes that weren't on the map.

Isn't it so like us to want control over the route and have things all mapped out? I've heard it said that life is what happens while you are making other plans. We miss so much blessing by rigidly sticking to our plan and not paying attention to the small nudges directing us to the beauty and riches God has for us that are not on the map.

~~~~~~~

I will give you...riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD.
Isaiah 45:3

Field of yellow gold

We were on the way from Bonner's Ferry out to the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge when we passed this glorious field of yellow gold. The barns in the middle of the sea of golden blooms filled my spirit to overflowing. I don't know if the field was joyful and everything in it, but I surely was!
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let the field by joyful, and all that is therein.
Psalm 96:12

I will tell

On my trips I often ask God to show me His wonders and promise in return that I will brag on Him.
That is really the essence of this blog.
~~~~~~~

I will tell of all your wonders.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name,
O Most High.
Psalm 9:1-2
~~~~~~~~~

Standing on the rim of these two canyons, I asked myself the Psalm 8 question of 'what is man that you are mindful of him?'
I felt so very small next to these majestic paths. The first four shots are at the Perrine Bridge spanning the Snake River Canyon at Twin Falls. Yes, the water looked like someone had poured coloring in it for a St. Patty's Day celebration. The dirt ramp that slants toward the canyon in the fourth picture is the site where Evel Knievel tried to jump across the Snake River Canyon in his sky cycle.

The last two shots are at the canyon at Swan Falls south of Boise designated as Birds of Prey Natural Area. Many raptors caught currents of wind from their perches on the canyon walls. They circled over the expansive canyon with eyes peeled for a little movement that would mean a tasty meal. We saw vultures, eagles, hawks, and red-winged blackbirds there.

Psalm 8 says that God has made us rulers over the works of His hands; put everything under our feet.

What a majestic God we serve! I will tell of all His wonders!

Loopy in the lupines

I'm back from Idaho, having covered 2,000 miles in the rental car. It was an amazing trip. We decided, with guidance from a friend at church, to go there for vacation. She gave us her personal map, marked with 'must see's' throughout the state. I am so grateful to have a nice digital camera that allowed me to bring home only 350 pictures to download, instead of waiting to see 600 and having to get them all developed to see what I got on film. Those blurs of birds and moose can immediately go away.

My husband says it is really unfair that I got to experience the wildflower season in three states this spring and summer: Texas, Colorado, and Idaho. The variety and colors were breathtaking on the mountains and spread across the valleys of Idaho. This state is a hidden treasure. We decided to take the road less traveled, and found ourselves seldom on the road with another car. While the crowds were at Yellowstone and Glacier, we were nearly by ourselves driving through incredible beauty.

We also found ourselves without signal on the cell phones a major part of the trip. That was a little disconcerting when we found ourselves at the edge of deep canyons with not another person in sight; or along a high winding tiny forest road when we were warned by the sign, 'Grizzly Bear Habitat!' We didn't turn on the car radio during most of the trip...we just talked and took in the beauty that uncovered itself along the way. Sometimes, it seemed like an hour had passed, and all we said was "WOW" or "THANK YOU JESUS!" or took a big deep inhale of the smell of forest or flowers and exhaled "AAAHHHHH!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~

O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name
in all the earth!
Psalm 8:1