S.A.D. and Technology

I like TLA's.  Most of them are pretty functional and cool (USA, GFA, CGO, I-N-O, etc).  However, I'm not big on ascribing a TLA to every malady a person can experience (e.g. ADD, etc).  Still, I've been hearing a lot about SAD lately — or maybe its just that I'm more aware of it, since I'm heading into a long, snowy Winter for the first time.  Anyway, a friend who's lived in the area was telling me about a "sunrise simulator" he bought, to help him wake up with what would feel like the rising sun... even when the sun doesn't peek out at all, for days.  So I've been looking into things like this, wondering if it could or would make a difference in my or my overall outlook, heading into the cold, dark season.  Does anyone reading this blog have any advice or experience with this topic?  Please leave a comment, if you can.

Have a sunny day!

Now that we're here...

Well, as far as the Columbia Falls post office is concerned, we are now officially Montana residents.  Truth be told, we have moved into a house where, because the postmaster hasn't seen their way clear to put a mailbox at our residence, they feel compelled to give us a free PO box:

#171.  Zip=59912.  Feel free to drop us a note. :-)

Anyway, we finally have our own place, after camping out on the Tams' backyard for nearly 3 months.  Good thing, too.  We had had our fill of the "Frosty Coleman Tent", with many a night below freezing.  (Many, many thanks to our dear friends for hosting us as long as they did... much longer than any of us expected.)

So now, as we hunker down for the long Winter, we must remain focused.  For we were called by the Spirit of God to this region, to make it our home, to establish a different legacy than the one we grew up in.  We do not know what He has in store for us, but we are becoming sure that there are things to be studied, proficiencies to be gained.  Spring will come again, and with it, the further study of even more ways of making a life here, perhaps even gaining the land necessary for practicing what we study.  That is our hope and prayer.

I heard it said --  no, predicted -- that the next twenty years will be completely different and unrecognizable from the last twenty (or more).  I believe that is true.  And so, a different legacy is necessary, on a very grand scale.  I only hope that I can lead my family into it.

How about you?  What will be your legacy?  What will you trust God to accomplish through your lifetime, by faith?

God and man

Don't confuse "pleasing your pastor" with "pleasing God".  One does not imply the other.

Dr. Baldwin's annual "Survival List" column

Troubling times are imminent.  If you care to survive them, please read this.  Dr. Baldwin is a kind-hearted and level-headed man of God with a burden for the long-term persistence of the body of Christ in the U.S.

Chuck Baldwin Live | Fighting for Constitutional Government in America

It's time to rise up.

A day that will live on in infamy...

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I took one step closer to being a true Montanan today:

I hit a deer.

Yessirree, just doing my morning commute on state highway 2, breezing through God's country, awake and vigilant... and under the speed limit, mind you.  (There's no greater deterrent to speeding, like the thought of hitting Bambi at 75mph.)  Suddenly, from the brush on the right, out she jumps -- characteristically oblivious to her impending doom.

I brake.  I swerve and honk.  I curse (in German, so it doesn't count).  She pauses, and I think I may escape this one.  But nooooo, she just continues on her merry way, and THWOP!! -- gets slammed against the starboard bow of the good ship Sienna.

I groan.  I mumble something about canine offspring.  I pull over to assess the damage.  Hmmm... no blood, no guts, no hair... no dent, no broken glass... (I look back, expecting a twitching victim) -- no deer??  I guess (I hope) she just got a little car-spank, and scuttled back off to the forest, to brag about how close to death she came.

I breathe a sigh of relief and drive on, gratefully humming an old worship song about a deer & water.

Thank the Lord for little miracles.

Happy Birthday, my Love

Yesterday, I got to enjoy the birthday of the most wonderful person I've ever met.  The book of Proverbs says that whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.  So it necessarily follows that the Good Shepherd must be awfully fond of this here dumb sheep, to give me such a bride.

Homemade gifts and cards abounded yesterday, and Little Miss Puff even went to great lengths to "bake" a mud cake for her mama.

Life is good.

Lots to catch up on

"Part of the difficulty of blogging is that it requires so much writing."
--Anonymous

..OK, it's not really an anonymous quote.  I said it.  Or rather, I typed it.

Today marks our 72nd day in Montana, and much has happened... and much has not.
Happenings:

• Found a job, with the most scenic commute I've ever had.
• Got snow tires for the L-O-N-G winter
• Found a place of our own to live for the winter.  (And no, it's not in our big Coleman tent.  That novelty wore off some time ago.)
• Met some good friends
• Visited Glacier National Park in the summer
• Went river-rafting with the kids (except the smallest :-)
• Kids got to milk a cow, ride horses (prepping for our own), and just generally completing their metamorphosis into "country-folk".
• Helping to build a friend's house (also prepping for our own)
• Had relatives over for a visit (Dad, Uncle and Cousin)
• Discovered the blessing of these local and highly-organized thrift stores... we even know some folks "on the inside" ;-)   (Nice pants for $3!  Who knew?!?)
• Bought the Mrs. a gun and a knife... it's legal in this state to carry both in her purse.  Boo-ya!
• Checked out some scary properties
• Made use of an outhouse.  More than once.
• Slept outside in 30-degree-ish weather.  Regularly. (Don't worry Mom... we're safe and warm at night!)
• Performed "surgery" (so-to-speak) on fire engines, ambulances and heavy construction equipment

OK, on to the [drum-roll please]...

"Not-(yet)-Happenings"

• Buy a homestead of our own
• Own a dog, and various and sundry other domestic animals.  Some for milking, some for laying.  Fill in the blanks.
• Build our own house.
• Feel like we are prepared for winter... Brrrrrr!
• Acquired a pickup truck with a full gun rack, a metal grille and a winch.
• Earn as much as we did "B.M." (Before Moving)

WON'T Happenings

• Losing faith, or losing heart.  Won't do it.

Keep praying for us, as we continue to see the Lord's provision more clearly, in the most mysterious ways.  Pray that He uses this time to make us more like Him.

Oh, and a very happy birthday to my dear Bride.  She is truly the most amazing creation I know.  "Thank you for saying 'yes'!"

Hold them close, hug them tight

INSTANT SURVIVAL TIP: Hold your loved ones close

Freedom

"Freedom isn't the right to make your own decisions... freedom is the result of the right decisions made."

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