He is There

"Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there."

Proverbs 139: 7-8

We are reassured over and over of the Lord's presence throughout God's word. Not just for a fleeting moment, or when we open our heart in prayer. When we wake, He is there. When we are typing away at the keyboard, He is there. When we have hit rock bottom, He is there.

Why do I forget that fact? The Lord of lords is RIGHT THERE, waiting for me to turn over every need to Him. He wants us to fall on Him, not just for a few things here and there, but to turn everything over to Him.

His word is so beautiful. I never tire of reading passages. I just feel a release of pressure, tension, and fear rise out of me when I sit down to read it. There are promises of protection and assurance laced throughout. Where else is that available?

When I need it most, He is there. Thank you Lord for your presence.

Wordless Saturday

No Phones ? That's Okay With Me

I work for a company that builds natural gas pipelines, and we travel from place to place. We are currently in the West Palm Beach area, and in the continuing process of setting up the temporary office. This time around, we are having to wait for quite a long time to get our land lines.

I used to have the belief that without phones we are lost, out-of-touch, useless. This time around, I must admit, I am enjoying every minute of silence. Less hassle, problems, and more time to work. It's wonderful. I told my boss I was completely content without a phone and if he chose not to get them, I was okay with that.

It's back to basics!

Cooking Up Some Western Books

Her footsteps meeting the creaky sidewalks of Tombstone took Sherry Monahan back in time. Back to the 1880s, where the West roared through town, in a place the Apache's once roamed. A streak of silver and a man named Ed Schieffelin brought the town into existence and ultimately into western history.

With the passion of a writer and
a hunger for tastes of the Old West, Monahan dove in and published her first book, Taste of Tombstone: A Hearty Helping of History, in 1998. In 2008 the book sports a new cover and a few new updated items to sniff out. Inside the pages, she travels back in time to a place that was rough and tumble, but had a slice of refinement in it's French cuisine and fresh oysters. She shares what shaped the town, from it's wild cowboys, gunfights and taverns to it's local - more refined - inhabitants. She even adds a few recipes from the same era.

Sherry's research has taken her to new places, which includes consulting on a western movie and working on several series for The History Channel, including Wild West Tech. She writes a feature column for the Tombstone Times and is a contributing editor for True West Magazine.

Check out Sherry's freelance work along with her other books about the Old West, a bit of western history and some recipes to try at home. You can learn all about this Women Writing the West member at www.wildwestinfo.com.

Starting School for the First Time...

This week starts a new era in my oldest son's life. At four, he will be starting preschool tomorrow.

I must admit, my emotions have been out there on my sleeve. I am excited for this time in his life. New friends, new teacher, and the best part - a new playground. Yet, I feel the first twinges of him growing up and not needing Mom as much as he used to.

As we took the "preliminary" walk through the school, we peeked into the classroom. It was naptime, and kids were scattered around the room sleeping soundly on their mats. He silently surveyed the room and said, "But I need you in there, Mommy." I so desperately wanted to grab his hand and tell him that I would love to spend the day in there with him. But, I didn't. I told him that he would do great without me and at the end of the day I would be waiting for him with open arms - and I will. I will listen without fail to stories of new friends, crafts, and what life is like out there on the playground.

He will be fine. I will be on the sidelines, wiping tears of joy now and again, as I cheer him on in his new adventures.

Wordless Wednesday