Lewis & Clark's Passenger

While in Bismarck, ND this past week-end, we ate at Texas Roadhouse.  We don't eat there much in Texas, but we just couldn't resist the Texas Flag flying out front.  The restaurant has a beautiful wall mural of Lewis, Clark, and Sakajawea (Sakakawea, here) in a canoe. (FYI - the Lewis & Clark expedition camped along the Missouri River here before it was Texas Roadhouse or Bismarck)  As I was admiring the beautiful artwork - I saw it - a TEXAS ARMADILLO wearing a cowboy hat in the canoe with them! 

 I wonder what North Dakotans think about this little critter? 

Macaroni Farm

This sculpture of wheat stalks

streching to the heavens is in Williston, ND.

This is definately wheat country. 

The farmers are working hard to get their crops harvested. 

  I took this picture as a comparison

of the wheat head to my phone. 

It's probably 8 or 10 inches - 

Huge compared to wheat we have grown back in Texas.

The wheat grown in North Dakota is used to make pasta. 

I don't believe I can ever eat spaghetti again

without thinking of North Dakota.

Last week I was visiting with a 6 year old ND farm girl and her dad

about their farm. 

 "What do you grow on your farm?"

"MACARONI!"

Isn't that just the coolest thing - a Macaroni Farm!!

Always Be Ready To Give An Answer

Ok, I AM ready to give an answer for the hope within in me.

" Always be prepared to give an answer

 to everyone who asks you to give

the reason for the hope that you have." 

 (1 Peter 3:15) 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

 In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"

(1 Peter 1:2-4)

But, I have been surprised by some of the questions

I've been asked about the south. 

For example: 

"What is okra and what do you do with it?" 

"How do you cook pinto beans?" 

And the one I really had to think about was,

 "What was it like growing up on a cotton farm?" 

They are keeping me on my toes!!

First Frost

Well, we've had our first snow and our first frost. \
Brrrrrrrrrrrr.

 I think it was 96 in Midland that day! 

North Dakota Clouds

Sing to God, sing praise to His name,

extol Him who rides on the clouds

 — His name is the LORD— and rejoice before Him.

Psalm 68:3-5

 

I just can't keep my eyes off the beautiful skies here.  I see this scene often.  Why is it so blue and clear?  Less pollution?  I don't really know.  It's like looking up into the inside of a fine cobalt blue bowl.  And - I have yet to see a jet stream up there.....

 

 

 

He covers the sky with clouds; He supplies the earth with rain

and makes grass grow on the hills.

Psalm 147:7-9

 

 

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them,

 and a voice from the cloud said,

"This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.

Listen to Him!"

Matthew 17:4-6

 

 

"At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds

 with great power and glory.

Mark 13:25-26

 

 

Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him,

 

Revelation 1:6-8

September 11, 1996

Ted tore the date off the calendar, folded it, and put it in his pocket.  It was September 11, 1996.  We were in an intensive care cubicle where we had been saying our goodbyes to Heather.  She was gone. She was just a few weeks away from 19 and had so many hopes, dreams, and plans for a normal life.  But her body could not fight the infections brought on by Cystic Fibrosis.

 I can hardly believe it's been this long. She is so clear in my heart, but also very foggy.  I don't let myself dwell long on those memories, but because of other tragic 9/11 events, we'll always have a reminder.  Her life was often difficult for her as well as the rest of us.  But we were so blessed by her life. So very blessed. The memories flash through my head like an out of sequence slide show and I can't focus on just one image.  The bring a mix of emotions.

I do know that we'll never have answers to the reasons, but I do know the one who has loved me, matured me, taught me and loved me some more through the years.  Learning to lean on Jesus because of the challenges of the disease, made me who I am today.  I could have never made it without HIM. 

I only have one picture of Heather on my computer.  This photo of her and Holly was taken in an Old Time Photo Shop in Jackson Hole Wyoming when she was about 8, full of life and excitement.  Holly was 12.  Aren't they beauties?

Sometimes when I am most lonely for her, I dream about her.  I wake feeling content that we have been together.  I wonder if she'll be in my dreams tonight.......

Hi, How are You?

"Hi, How are you?" 

"Not too bad." 

That's the standard North Dakota Answer.

"Not too bad"

Not:

"Ok", "Fine", "Good", "Great",  "Fantastic",  "Awesome" , "Wonderful" or "Blessed"

Just,

"Not too bad"

Alexander Water Tower

One day the hill overlooking Alexander was full of activity.  I could see construction workers and a cement truck.  What is going on up there?  In a few days, a giant Hershey's Kiss appeared on the hill.  What is that?  Then the next day the kiss was raised and a section was attached below it.  Hmmm. The next day it was raised again and another section was attached.  This happened 7 times until I finally identified the creation as a ...

Water Tower! 

Alexander has a new water tower.

For a month, on my daily walks, I have pondered the water tower and our lives in Christ. 

The foundation is FAITH - faith in Jesus (without which we are nothing and have nothing). 

The kiss is our salvation.  The meaning of the word in Hebrew is Yshuwah (heard that word before?  Jesus.) and it means salvation, deliverance, aid, health, help, prosperity, victory - look it up.
 With faith in Jesus, we have it all. 

ALL.

But what about the in between?
 Philippians 2:12-13 tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling - not work for it.

Then, Peter says in 2 Peter 1:5-11

"add to your FAITH, GOODNESS

to your goodness - KNOWLEDGE

to your knowledge - SELF-CONTROL

to your self-control - PERSEVERANCE

to your perseverance - GODLINESS

to your godliness - BROTHERLY KINDNESS

to your brotherly kindness - LOVE

The Message Bible refers to these as:

FAITH

GOOD CHARACTER  (goodness)

SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING (knowledge)

ALERT DISCIPLINE (self-control)

PASSIONATE PATIENCE (perseverance)

REVERENT WONDER (godliness)

WARM FRIENDLINESS (brotherly kindness)

GENEROUS LOVE (love)

And what is the result?

"you will never stumble

and

an entrance will be supplied to you

ABUNDANTLY

into the everlasting kingdom of our LORD and Savior

JESUS CHRIST"

Much of Alexander's water supply is spring water. 
So our living water is an endless spring of living water.
Hallelujah!

"God is my salvation (Ysuwah).  I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord my God is my strength and song.  He has become my salvation.  Therefore, I will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation" 

(Isaiah 12:2-3)

If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:37-38).

You're not from around here are you?

This weekend is Old Settler's Day in Alexander.  The Plains Gazette said "the wagon train leaves from the Anderson Vermeer building at 9:15 Friday. Bring a sack lunch."  I headed that direction this morning to see what was going on, but all I found was the trash crew.  When I inquired about the wagon train, they said, "You're not from around here are you?"  I said no, "I'm Renee Floyd from Texas."  "Oh, your the Floyd in the RV park.  There's a house for rent over that way.  It's the Lutheren parsonage.  The preacher got in some trouble, but I guess he won't move out 'til after the trial.  The wagon train starts at Anderson Ranch."  Oh, my.   Then I continued on my way, walking and praying for revival for the town.  I heard someone in front of a house say, "Where you from?  Aren't you the dumpster diving lady?"  There go my chances for winning the mayor's race!!  (FYI - the dumpster was in front of the musuem and I asked permission.)

Texas

George Strait said it best:

I Can’t See Texas From Here

I come and go as I please

From down here, up north and in between

But baby it's a shame, 'cause I always feel the same

When I can't see Texas from here

I can't see Texas from here

No matter how I try, it makes me wanna die

So if you see me looking down, I'm trying not to show this frown

'Cause I can't see Texas from here