My blog’s been quiet but my summer has been full!  God has shown His great grace over and over.

I read On Writing Well by William Zinsser. His book was very helpful and fun to read. But… his statement that “ultimately the product that any writer has to sell is not the subject being written about, but who he or she is”  was quite troubling to me… until I accepted the fact that if my books are about me, then they show that I’m all about God and His Word.

I enjoyed 2 weeks of concentrated writing of my next Bible study on Hebrews. It is a fascinating and challenging book. I experience precious intimacy with the Lord in those intense times of study and writing.

Have you heard that people who are so heavenly minded are no earthly good? Oh no! That’s not the way it’s supposed to be! And so, along with reading and writing, I also did some serving and socializing!

Family filled up our home up several times! Parents. Siblings. Nieces and Nephews. And our precious granddaughter! We hosted a special sweet 16 party for our niece and about 30 of her closest friends. And we were thrilled to celebrate our granddaughter’s 1st birthday with friends and family. Another big event was directing the wonderful wedding of my daughter’s dear friend.

Adventuring in Alaska was the biggest highlight of all. After years of anticipation and planning, we finally made it… all 6 of us (the baby stayed home.) A cruise ship and a rental car took us to exciting destinations. A stopover in Toronto on the way allowed us to visit Niagara Falls where we were given a visual display of the never-ending overflowing grace of God.

Every day was fantastic in its own way as we saw totem poles, whales, and glaciers. The morning that our ship visited Hubbard Glacier was bright and sunny. If the massive flow of Niagara Falls reminded us of God’s grace, what did the massive flow of ice at the glacier demonstrate to us about God? Emily and Sarah were quick to share that it demonstrates God’s awesome power. The constant movement of the glacier reminds us that He is always at work. The grinding of rocks and changing of landscape demonstrates that He refines us. The Hubbard Glacier also prompted a fellow passenger to praise God, so I joined her and made a new friend! (Great to meet you Mary Jo!) We listened to “If creation sings Your praises so will I” as we took in the glory of God in His creation.

Once on land, we enjoyed our road trip north to Denali National Park and we kept our eyes peeled for moose and “the Great One” – Mount Denali. Both were elusive! But we saw flowers and rivers and mountain ranges and snow and grass and big mosquitos and eagles and fox kittens and mama grizzly bears with cubs and caribou and lynx and hares and mew gulls!

And then, on our last day, we joined the 30% club of people who actually see Denali. The mountain is so high, and covered with snow, that it looks like clouds. But how exciting! We saw it, and then we climbed aboard a little plane and got a little closer. Wow! We even landed on a snow covered glacier and could have worn shorts and tshirts because it was such a warm, sunny day.

I expected Alaska to be amazing and it was. But it was even better than I thought it would be. And bigger! And there is so, so much that we didn’t see.

Alaska makes me think of Heaven! I know Heaven will be amazing but it will be so much better than I can even imagine. And the main thing is – you have to go there yourself to see it!! Do you know the way? God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son Jesus, and if you believe that He died for your sins, then you can take the best trip of your life! Eternal life belongs to those who believe in Jesus as their Savior. HE is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 3:16, John 14:6)

I taught about Heaven at a summer Bible study – it’s such a beautiful topic!

I brought a surprising souvenir home from Alaska – a broken ankle! I rolled my ankle and broke it on a great adventure – so it was worth it! And I praise God that it wasn’t anything worse. It’s healing slowly but surely. My husband has been so kind and patient.

The summer is winding down but I’ll keep enjoying the sunshine and warmth as long as the Lord allows it to last. The next season holds a return to teaching my favorite book of the Bible: Ephesians! Get a workbook and study the Bible with me!

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