Month: August 2026

Ed named my habit of making lists, constantly. He called it “bullet journaling.”

Today I’m going to bullet journal some things, sharing thoughts with my readers. So much has happened to me over the past year, that I can only think in ideas.

So, fasten your seat belt….(ha, ha!)

I’m listening to Color Theory at the moment, “Glory Days.” It’s a great song. Find it and be inspired.

Music is such a part of my whole day. I started the day with a gorgeous sunrise, and a “chat” with my favorite artist/influencer (who I pray for daily!) –who is currently in Khazakstan giving a concert. It’s always fun to chat with someone on the other side of the world. I’m getting up, while they are shutting down for the night.

Ed and I had devotions this morning, and true to form–the Scripture just TOTALLY MATCHED our day! I always love this!

I’m memorizing Psalm 71. I’m putting my old brain through the paces.

After Mom’s death I spent time organizing stuff that had been moved around from the basement water project. It was quiet and therapeutic work, a job that I had no energy for during these past years. It loomed over me.

Things that had been neglected or need deep cleaning have been addressed.

Had a house guest, Carl Teichrib, author of “Game of Gods,” and a good brother in Christ! Ed, Cheri and I had GREAT conversation (like always!) when he and his wonderful wife visit Corgi Hollows. Over the years I feel like they have become family. He is headed to “Burning Man,” with a strong presentation for helping people find TRUTH.

He keeps his hand on the pulse of cultural trends.

The truck needed a new transmission seal, second time in a year. Sad face. Something isn’t right with that design. $$$

Keeping our fleet running is so expensive.

We have thoughts about my mom’s house and how to deal with it. Lots of thoughts. My brother is (thankfully) in charge. I hate making decisions!

Of course, I do make decisions. I must.

Cheri, back from Alaska, is planning her future after college. This is big stuff.

Ed is moving back to Corgi Hollows, and this is joyous news! We are back in the mode of changing rooms around to accommodate his living needs. Always something! Busy.

Rosie, our new kitty, is a welcome addition to the mousing team. She is just a little sprite, pure white, with yellow eyes. She loves Corgi Hollows, and she’s already explored our “neighborhood.” Alex, Ed’s cat, has taken her on hunting lessons. It’s pretty cute. Topi is gaining weight and we are all concerned about him. He just hangs around on the front step, mostly. Such a wonderful cat!

Corgi Hollows, in the country, has a mouse issue. They love to come in and run rampant. Old houses, especially ones like mine with odd lay-out, have nooks and crannies where they get inside. My cats keep me sane. I HATE catching mice. Please, cats! Do it for me!

Thinking a lot about the Rapture. When I see the fraud in Minnesota, abortion, the trend toward socialism nationwide, the wars that abound, the anti-Semitic hatred that seems to grow by the day—I can easily feel discouraged.

My hope is in Christ alone! When things seem spinning out of control I run to the One who controls everything and remind myself that He works all things together for good, His purposes.

I have signed up to be more active with the church worship team, and guess what? I will be playing the double bass.

I have one, and though I only had a few viola lessons in the past, I think I can manage learning the bass. I replaced my old and decrepit guitar with a lovely Yamaha, and I really want to learn “Arial Boundaries,” by Michael Hedges. I PLAN to take guitar lessons just to learn this piece.

I am healthy again, although my YMCA pool has been closed for two weeks and I just couldn’t bring myself to swim in the lake. (I fear the pike and the muskies). I sat on the beach, and I plan to go to the beach this afternoon. One of the lakes nearby has ecoli right now. Won’t go there. I love that lake. It’s my favorite. I learned to sail on that lake. They used to rent out little catamarans and my mom and I sailed around that lake all summer.

I wish they still did that.

Changes.

I will go to the other neighborhood lake instead. This is Minnesota. I have multiple choices.

Ed is on a “Mom, eat more protein!” kick.

Since I don’t cook much, this is a challenge. I need to open up a can of tuna, cook a chicken breast, fry up some hamburger more often. It takes time.

Apparently it is a current trend to get more protein.

My body continues to heal from my cancer experience last fall. I am not the same. Changes. I take kelp most days, vitamins, ivermectin, sour-sop leaf tea, and barley tea. I am loving the barley tea that I drank in Japan. I ordered Japanese, Korean, and Chinese barley tea. I prefer the Japanese type best. We are all drinking it now.

For breakfast this morning I am eating that zucchini pancake we tried and liked in Japan. It’s satisfying. I want to try more of an Israeli breakfast this fall. I think the added vegetable first thing in the morning is good.

It’s been a joy to get garden produce from family and friends. (Thank you!)

The beauty of this mild summer has been conducive to exercise and health.

I have also finished about 10 projects that have been festering in partial completion; baby blankets, hook rugs, crochet and knitting things. What a great feeling!

Also percolating in my mind is our mentorship program. I still have not completed some of the basic steps to starting this up. Ed has been encouraging me, as have many others! Our team is fired up.

We have all been traveling, or up north at the cabin this summer, so it’s been tough to launch our interviews with the team.

Everything in its time! Everything that the LORD starts is happening on His schedule.

The acorns are ricocheting off the roof. It sounds like shots fired. It happens constantly, so it’s unnerving. The pets shy at the sounds, too. The sounds of late summer.

The blue Jays fight in the treetops.

My garden was a complete disaster this year. My buttercup squash flowered but did not have time to produce a fruit. The herbs are doing okay, but the tomatoes were pathetic. Even my cucumber and zucchini suffered!

My pumpkin looks pretty. We will see if that works out.

Ed is digging a fish pond for my 3 fish. I named them Xiao Zhan, Wang Yibo, and Yang Yang. They have been healthy and happy in their urn, but they will love the pond next year. The Japanese garden is really happening!

I missed all the weddings I had this summer because of my mom’s cancer and death. I still cannot believe she was gone less than four weeks after her diagnosis!

I have said over and over how grateful I am, that she did not have to live with the knowledge of cancer for months—-she found out, she accepted it, she gracefully passed into eternity with Jesus. I cannot regret that!

I do still think she’s next door, and I get a pang when I remember she isn’t.

I have so much gratefulness to God for being so merciful and kind.

I miss my cousin who lives in Arizona. She was here for the funeral, a balm to my grieving soul. I’m thinking about a quick trip down there if I can find a cheap flight.

Travel is always on my mind. I love it.

Margaret is expecting baby number 3 in February. I am so blessed to be able to zip over there and watch her two boys while she goes to doctor appointments or errands. Living close by is a blessing!

I have 7 grandchildren, one step granddaughter! My family grows! God is so good!

School is starting soon. I check the website often to see if any teachers know of days they need off. The days will come, probably more toward the middle of September. I was at school last September when my tumor took over my life. Can that be a whole year ago?

Yes. Time just flies by.

There. I unloaded my brain on you, reader! The bullets caught myself up, and filled in the gaps of anyone wondering how my “quiet” days are going.

I do miss you, friends, but I need this time to reset. I need to process loss and organize my new changes.

Mom was such huge part of my life. It is weird to plan my day without taking her time into consideration!

I do get a lot done. This is compensation.

State Fair time starts NEXT WEEK!

What a summer.

The Feast of Trumpets is approaching. Will this be the year? Perhaps TODAY!

MARANATHA!

I was overjoyed to meet a friend for coffee the other day. She does not live in Minnesota anymore, so we see each other rarely.

Both of us have had extremely similar life experiences, so it’s especially sweet to share our like-mindedness, our reactions, our ongoing challenges. We get each other.

We both love prophecy, and agree on our theology, so that is a joy.

We chatted about the things happening in the world. As we see more and more “signs of the times” we are filled with hope.

The Bible prophecies fearful things about the last days. Scary stuff. Anyone who reads the passages referring to “last days” should rightly blanch at the events predicted.

Preterists think everything has already happened. It’s the reigning theology these days. Personally, I have never seen a description of the sky rolling back like a scroll in some testimony. I believe that is still something to come.

“Things to Come,” is a book I recommend. It’s written by D. Pentecost. (What a great name!) It speaks of things that are still to come in the prophetic timeline. He wrote it decades ago, so some things have indeed “come.”

Because of that FACT, I believe we are truly about to embark on the seven year tribulation, and before that, believers are swept away.

As things manifest on Biblical proportions I had envisioned anxiety and fear being a part of our response. In fact, I am seeing the exact opposite! Those of us who believe in the Scriptures, who have put our faith in Christ, who are aware of the prophetic timeline, are filled with hope and joy!

Jesus is coming soon! We are NOT appointed to wrath!

I have been increasingly persecuted for stating my beliefs, and I imagine the levels of persecution against Christians around the world are rising (if my own experience is any measure). That is all in the predictions. It’s expected.

The Great Tribulation does not involve the “Church,” or bride of Christ. That dispensation will come to an end with the Rapture, the Harpazo, the catching away.

But there will be so many left on earth who will be filled with regret, who will be subject to the beast system.

Recently I had to explain this term to someone. I was rather surprised that it isn’t a more well-known term to those who (supposedly) read Scripture.

The book of Revelation describes a person called the “Anti-Christ.” There are other figures that aid this leader, who sets himself up as a savior of the world. “The Beast” is one of them. In chapter 13 there is a description of an economic system that requires a “mark” to buy or sell. Economics. The Bible actually describes the mark as the number “666.”

This buying/selling system is overseen by this beast figure, hence we prophecy people call it the “beast system.” No, that is not a Biblical term. It’s extra-Biblical. It’s simply a descriptive term.

It could also be referred to as the “globalist system” as it will be global. Everyone is under it. The Bible says that anyone who bucks the system will be beheaded.

Gruesome. Maybe that is why so many don’t read about it. It is frightening, for those who will have to face these circumstances.

Nazi Germany was a bit of a taste of what is coming. The Bible describes something far worse than what happened under Hitler. Annihilation if one doesn’t comply or fit the sanctioned status (bearing the mark).

But we believers won’t be here. Those scary events are not about believers. WE are not appointed to the wrath that is coming.

The seven year Tribulation is a time where God’s wrath will be poured out upon the earth, and He will deal with His bride, Israel, and bring ALL of ISRAEL to Himself. Every single Jewish person will come to the Messiah! They will bend their knees to the Holy One!

There will be two witnesses who proclaim truth, there will be 144,000 Jewish evangelists, 12,000 from each of the tribes started by the sons of Jacob.

Is this too amazing to believe? Too preposterous?

We serve an omnipotent God who made the Universe. He knows the DNA in each and every person alive on this world. He keeps track. This is an easy thing for Him to bring about.

Jesus, Messiah, will be embraced as LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS!

Like I said, I am excited and hopeful. The millennial kingdom is coming, where Jesus Christ will REIGN on this earth!

After the bridal feast (which is traditionally a “week” or seven days—or years in this context) we return with Christ to this earth to reign with Him. Since there are orders in heaven we have yet to see how or who will reign and where. That is not disclosed.

Sure seems like we will know soon!

What hope we have in Jesus!

Yes, this earth is full of beauty. I wake up to one of the most beautiful sights every single day; lush fields, green trees, colorful skies! The wildlife here at Corgi Hollows is simply amazing. I am truly blessed.

But I recognize that this beauty is only temporal. Those of you who gaze at mountain grandeur and ocean magnificence must also acknowledge that the beauty to come will far exceed what you see today.

It is what is to come. Unimaginable peace and love, beauty and joy.

We are getting close.

MARANATHA!

I must say a word of thanks here. I have received many cards, personally, at the passing of my mom. I also received a book, “By Still Waters,” from whom I had no indication of the giver..

I am reading it!

Some of you have emailed me your thoughts and prayers!

I haven’t had the energy, nor time to reply to these lovely messages individually, but I intend to.

My sister-in-law has been spear-heading the reception of memorials and other wishes from the funeral. I hope to take some time and go over these soon.

Some of you know that I “shut-down” after my husband passed away. Basically I was a zombie after my dad passed, too. I never was able to read the cards and wishes from either of those deaths.

I saved the ones from my husband’s burial, but I need to find my dad’s cards. I know my mom saved them.

I am remiss in conveying my thoughts personally, to so many who wished me well and sympathy.

Trauma hits in all different ways.

My mom’s passing was not traumatic, and I feel entirely different.

I still think that I need to “run over there,” find out what she is needing at the moment, check on….

It’s been second nature for all these years. Hard to break habits, isn’t it?

I get a little pang of emotion when I realize that there is no longer a need or an opportunity to share things with my mom.

Loss.

Anyway, I am very grateful for all of you who have expressed your comfort, who still attempted to express it even when I dropped the ball the last times…

Thank you.

I wrote about God’s love a few weeks ago. In God’s infinite sense of humor He has reminded me over and over since then —

He loves us. He loves me.

I had the book “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23” out and I read the first chapter again. I led the singing of that Psalm at my mom’s funeral, so it was on my mind.

That chapter talks about the shepherd purchasing 30 prime ewes and marking them with his own marking.

I just felt his emotions. I tend to understand God’s love in light of how I see creation and the wonderful animal kingdom.

I know that the “wild” can be cruel. Survival of the fittest, we all hear.

But there are moments of sweetness displayed in creation. The look in the eyes of my dog when I tell her that I love her, the slow blink of my cats when I slow blink at them.

Don’t tell me there isn’t feeling, and I tend to see this in light of God’s demonstrated love for us, His children.

Of course it’s on a different level, one that I struggle to comprehend. I am content to hold the imagery of myself and my pets’ relationship. I see that love and simply know that it is a shadow of God’s love for me.

What about human love?

Well, humans are imperfect, sinners, with tendencies to wound. We all must learn to love through our own relationships. Unconditional love is a feat, but we can strive for it.

Marriages can start all rosy-eyed and morph into something that only the will can help. Children can reject you, turn away, exclude you, dishonor you (against God’s own command!)

And yet, as any parent knows, it is almost impossible to NOT love your child.

There are notable exceptions, primarily when mental illness is involved.

So is God’s love for us.

God is teaching me about His love for me, right now, as I grieve my mom’s death.

I got a really bad cold 3 days after the funeral. I was literally in bed, feverish, and congested, miserable. I slept and slept!

I got up this morning and I feel like I can enter society again.

God’s love for me let my body show its weakness and the need to STOP and rest!

I have had a few days of golden summer weather, sunshine and cool air (this is normal Minnesota summer!)

Funny: my dad’s funeral was on a day that there was a blizzard. Being a quiet sort of man, it seemed appropriate that fewer people were even able to show up! We shivered in the driving snow at the cemetery.

My mom’s funeral was on a record-breaking day of heat! The index was 112*!!! We stood at the grave sweating. Many people were able to come to the funeral! (Thank you to all who came!)

My Swedish dad and my Norwegian mom had their differences even in death! (Ha Ha!)

Interesting, as I write this a song came up in my Apple Music line up (randomly). It’s my grief song.

“The Lake Isle,” by Ola Gjello.

I listened to it over and over after my husband Brian died.

The Lord is reminding me that He is caring for me, loving me. This beautiful piece makes my spirit soar even in grief.

Grief sits in the center of your breast, above your heart. It can be stifling.

We need some language of the heart, music, to ease the pain. Soaring sound.

We do not grieve like the heathen.

“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

“In this world you WILL have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Come Quickly, Lord!

MARANATHA!