...can fall be that far away?

In answer to my own question-it looks to be very close. At least I hope so. Sometimes fall comes to the high country a bit early. Today was a stunning day! The weather was perfect. Not too hot, not too cold. Thank you God! When it comes to weather like this, I sometimes wish time could be stopped and just bask in the beauty of it for a long time. Yes, fall is my favorite time of year. Several of our last falls have been just perfect. Also, things start to wind down for me on the ranch this time of year. Sometimes, I even have the time and money to make a small trip. But it doesn't look like that will happen this year. With the kind of year we are having, money is a problem. But God is good and will provide what we need. Altho, there is a writing conference I would dearly love to attend in St. Louis. But if God wants me to go, I'm sure He will provide the way.
With things slowing down a bit, I hope to spend more time writing and posting my thoughts to this blog. I hope you will share your thoughts with me. Until next time.

...lightning

Such a beautiful thing, lightning, but also dangerous. I found out first hand. I was out and about yesterday when the lightning was very active. And yes, I got 'zapped' before it was over. No, I didn't get the entire charge, I'm sure, but it was enough to knock me down and render me unconscious for a bit. It has left me with a very healthy respect for lightning. Of course, again I have to praise God for sparing me. In 1994, I broke my neck and should not have lived through that. Again, I am aware of the fact that 'God ain't done with me yet.' But again, I have to wonder what God could possibility have in mind for me...just an old rancher. This time, however, I am filled with excitement to find out! When I do, you will be the first to know. Blessings to you and let us all keep reaching for that which has been put before us when He laid hold of us. James

wind...and more wind!!!

Yes, the wind was horrid yesterday! Today was a pretty nice day. For some reason, I was reminded of the verse in Revelation where it mentions that four angels will one day stand at the four corners of the earth and keep the wind from blowing. (Rev. 7:1) I have often wondered why the wind will not be allowed to blow. Over the next few years, will we learn to use the wind in many ways that we aren't aware of now? Please let me know what you think.

In the mean time-if you have any extra rain, please send it our way! We are less than 200 miles from the rain that folks in the northern part of Colorado are getting. If we could only pull it a little down south and then send it onto Texas! Seriously, please pray for our area and several others that are experiencing a drought, to have some much needed moisture. Thanks for your prayerful concern. Blessings to you.

...waiting for a cow to have her calf

I only hope she has it by herself. Oh well...such is the life of a rancher. But after this one, there are only three more to go. So the end of calving season is getting near. And we have gotten a little rain. So, things are looking a might bit greener.

May is always a busy month...the busiest of them all and this one is no exception. But it is a good month. The temperature is usually just about right and there are no bugs yet. They usually show up in June.

Well, it's time to check on that cow and hopefully, get off to bed. Tomorrow promises to be another busy day.

...April was a busy hard month

Sorry I have been awhile getting back to the blog. This last month was a busy hard one. It started out with a wedding in the family, followed by the annual tax deadline. Then came two book signings and last, we experienced the death of a dear friend. We have know this dear lady for nearly forty years. She will be sorely missed.

We finally got some much needed moisture in the form of snow about four days ago. PTL!!! It wasn't much, just three or four inches, but it was a nice wet one. Still praying for some more. And we all need to pray for those who have been devastated by the powerful tornadoes. I have never seen a tornado or witnessed the damage first hand that one has caused. My heart and prayers go out to those effected.

Will try and be a little more prompted in blogging. Until then, God's blessings to you.

...thankful

It is a busy time on the ranch in these early spring days. Calves are coming, there is fence to fix(that is a never ending job!) as well as just doing all the regular things. But I am thankful that it has warmed up, that I always have something to do and that God has put me in such a gorgeous place! However, we do need some moisture. April is usually one of our wettest months in this part of Colorado. Please pray with me that we do get some much needed snow or rain. What are you thankful for today? Please let us all know. Take care and blessings to you.

almost spring time

I hope the weather is warming up where you live. We have had some pretty nice days. The calves are starting to come (last night we even had a set of twins!) and, if the weather stays nice, the spring work on the ranch is just around the corner. Spring is always a busy time for farmers and ranchers. By the way...I saw my first robin of the season, yesterday.

In answer to last weeks question, from a worldly point of view, I think 'wanting' is better than having. It always seems to me that when you get what you want then you always want something else and there is no end to it. But when you really put God first, and have Him, as the 23rd Psalm assures us, we will 'want' for nothing. PTL!!!

Take care my friends.

...which is better?

Hi: I hope everyone had a wonderful week. I had a pretty nice one.

As I spoke about last week, I would like to pose a question and I hope you will give this a lot of prayerful thought as you consider it. Which is better...wanting or having? Please think about it from a worldly and spiritual point of view. I would very much like to hear what you have to say. I will give you my answer the next time I post.

I hope you have a very good week. Looking forward to your answers.

...we made it

We had a pretty mild fall and winter up until February. However, February was very brutal! The first morning of the month, the mercury sat at minus 24. It has been a long time since it was that cold here. And the temp never got about zero that long cold day. Within the first ten days of the month, we had a little over 40 inches of snow. And then, the wind began to blow! That really isn't unusual for our part of the world but it did make for some massive drifts. On one part of our country road, the white stuff piled up to about eight feet deep. We didn't make it to church for three Sundays in a row. But God is good all the time. We didn't start having calves until the end of the month when it warmed up just a bit.

I'm hoping I can pose a few questions over the next few weeks for us all to think about. God seems to have given me a very active imagination. I expressed a thought to one of my family members the other day and while giving me a strange look, he asked. "Are you a bit loony?" I assured him that I probably was!

I pray that all is going well for you and may God bless you abundantly.

...Happy New Year

Yes, I'm a bit late but Happy New Year anyway. And I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. I apologize for being so slow in getting back to this. Thanksgiving turned out to be very hard. In December, I had some health problems ending the month up with a touch of the flu. But I'm doing much better now. Thanks for your prayers.

Choices seems to have turned a corner and is doing good. In any event, the entire project has been a joy to do. But when you do what God has in mind for you, it is always a joy!

I hope in this New Year you will seek God's will for your life. Blessings to you all.
James