I was reading through a notebook that I keep of things I’ve read and found a line that led me to Oswald Chambers words from “My Utmost for His Highest” - February 22nd* … I believe that God and my own personal angels use whatever they can to inspire, fortify and gently nudge me… Some days it is more of a shove than a nudge.

“Tenacity is more than endurance, it is endurance combined with the absolute certainty that what we are looking for is going to transpire. ”

“Tenacity is more than hanging on, which may be but the weakness of being too afraid to fall off”

And a bit later in the entry:

If our hopes are being disappointed just now, it means that they are being purified. There is nothing noble the human mind has ever hoped for or dreamed of that will not be fullfilled.

I also have a quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt that I thought was funny at the time:

When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

That doesn’t seem so funny today, but the mental image is just right. I am sad, scared, confused and exhausted. These words and some quiet reflection brought new hope. I have tied a knot in the rope and will hang on - and while I do not want to fall I will hold on not from fear of falling but because I have faith that my hopes ARE being purified. And not just my hopes…Bill’s, and also those that we might share.

Philippians 4: 6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds [in Christ Jesus].”

*The entire entry is here.

I have no writing in me at the moment. Arrived Ohio yesterday late afternoon…tired and sad but glad to see my dear friends and to be at their home which is beautiful and familiar. It feels wintry at 40ish and blustery - Karl was in heaven…for the cool air, the freedom off leash and he seemed to remember that we’d been here before.

- the sky painted pictures that I could not resist…

Photography is a hobby turned passion - taking photos and playing with the lights and colors is therapeutic.

From eastern Tennessee…

I gave Karl a butcher bone for his birthday treat - IN the motorhome. It is generally too messy for an inside thing, but it is his birthday and a birthday dog should have something special so I decided I’d just be prepared to clean the carpet. For whatever reason, no mess - a good thing!

We took a long leisurely walk before lunch - a break for me and in honor of birthday dog I allowed him to spend as much time sniffing stuff as he wanted. It was not entirely altruistic - we are in Tennessee and the rv park has pretty grounds with trees and shade. Adjacent is farmland and a view to rolling hills. A soft, warm breeze was blowing and a front moving across the hills. …pleasant and relaxing for me - just following Karl.

He soon got too warm and we headed for some shade under the trees. He laid down and rolled on his back in the grass, in the shade. He stopped, looked at me - and I say he laughs - wagged his tail and dared me to make him move…at least that’s how I interpreted it. The grass was fresh and thick and dry - heck, what a good idea to just sit in the shade and enjoy the breeze, so we did.

All the birthday stuff was apparently exhausting - even after sitting in the shade and sniffing the air for a bit, it was necessary to take an afternoon nap.

Karl is 7 today! Karl … official name “Kharlampii” which is Russian for “Joy Shines” - lives up to his name every day. Happy birthday my good dog! May you have many, many more!