I'm privy to it.

This outhouse is located on the side of a mountain, and being the only place to go, I used it. This is a well-constructed pit toilet in WV. It is made from landscaping timbers and had a very dim solar light inside. It also had a very large wolf spider, but we reached an agreement before I entered. "Hey buddy, I just need to use your house for a second and promise not to stomp you if you stay over there." 

Please pray for Karen

Karen has advanced cancer which is in every organ and affecting the bones of her ribs and back. Her pain continues to increase. She struggles to eat even a bit of food and has been losing weight daily. She has another bad infection. She is weak and exhausted from fighting. She is discouraged. She asks for prayers for pain relief and her attitude. Her husband Joe is suffering alongside her and also needs prayers. 

Old Relics Deep in A Forest

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You need 4WD and no fear to get into this area of WV. The drive is over grass instead of a road or driveway. We didn't get shot, and I didn't hear any banjo dueling. But, we weren't there long.

Faithful Gratitude

Years ago, our family found a half-starved, beat-up, black kitten that looked like it wouldn't make it. My children brought it to me, wanting me to help it. I named it after a recently deceased friend of mine as a reminder to me to pray for her family. Frances comes in every morning to eat. Then she comes to wherever I am to spend a few minutes with me. She does not meow and demand my attention. She does not step on my laptop and interrupt my morning work. She simply sits there quietly. I think she is thanking me. When she's done, she goes to the door and asks me to open it, and goes about her day. Frances is beside me now, purring with her warm, soft body pressed against my arm. Her faithfulness in gratitude is a touching reminder of how much more we should remember what Christ has done for us. 

The War is Raging

“As soldiers of Christ, our promise is victory in battle, not the absence of conflict.” Even though the victory belongs to the Lord, in the face of most certain battle, it is still our duty as soldiers and ambassadors to train and wage war (Prov 21:31). When we are attacked, we are in a singular battle, a microcosm of the overall war. It is meant to distract us, to divide us from others, to destroy our hope and joy. We must remember that we are not alone in battle and that many others are involved in the war. We are not meant to fight alone and individual battles may be difficult, but our victory is secured in Christ (John 16:33, Rom 8:37-39)." Dr. Karl Payne

Sleeping Beauties

I heal and recharge in peaceful places like this.
I'd rather be surrounded by nature than in the fanciest hotel.

Lord willing, we will get two more trips in before cold weather and the holidays.

Honey bee asleep on a Prunella vulgaris plant

Clint was worried about the little one, so before we left, I tapped it to make sure it was alive. It was. It went right back to sleep. Bees, particularly male bees, will nap on or in flowers. The photo was taken in daylight, but the flash made it look dark.

Allogona snail (forest snail) asleep on Laportea canadensis (Canadian Wood Nettle)

It filled its belly and took a nap. They ARE tasty greens!

I was able to legally harvest some of these nettles, so I brought some home. I pressure canned some for Clint. He likes their texture. I dried some for my green powder that goes into my daily homemade yogurt and blueberries.

Home

We had a great time in the middle of nowhere, all to ourselves. Once we got to where we were going, we saw fewer than 20 cars in 5 days, and most of those were the same hunters training dogs to scent while standing on dog boxes in the back of their trucks. One of my favorite memories from this trip was sitting on a rock in the middle of a creek while Clint shelled us peanuts. We watched the minnows hit the shells. Then there were the miles and miles of flora and fauna we enjoyed as we talked together.