Author: Corgi Hollows

Last week I had 22 lengthy interactions with people. I counted. I was exhausted on Sunday, and a bit down. My energy was sapped, but my spirit was full.

This was a week I’d intended to “get stuff done.”

Time is in the Lord’s hands, though, and I followed His lead. It’s easier to say “no” these days, as I get older and realize how short time can be!

But I said yes, and I had a fascinating week. It was full of surprises.

Some of the people I got to be with were family, but mostly they were old friends, new friends, good-byes…

I did karaoke with six students. I was the only American. First time singing karaoke and it was fun with them. We went to a Korean restaurant down by the University. There is a karaoke place upstairs. I didn’t know any of the songs they knew, but they had a few John Denver songs that I recalled. One of my favorite songs in high school was “Sailing” by Christopher Cross. They had that one too. 🙂

I got to sing it for my new friends. Being sixty-ish with a bunch of younger students has its privileges. They were so warm and sweet. I hope we can do it again!

As I chat with friends my age I realize how much we all have in common with the general cultural and societal changes. We evolve into entropy. We all have problems.

And the answer is Jesus. Always.

He is love and power.

He gives us the hope to face our issues. He is the fullness that fills our emptiness.

I was listening to Jackson Wang, of GOT7, talk about his lovely family and all the love he gets—yet still has this space for SOMETHING else.

IT’S JESUS, JACKSON!

We must spread the good news. How will they know without a preacher?

The sun is shining on this early August afternoon and it’s beautiful on the lush green of Minnesota. What a beautiful world.

I thank the Lord for all the sweetness, and I will trust Him for accomplishing the tasks that remain before school starts.

By the way, the hotel is for sale and I am pretty sure I will not stay when the new ownership takes over. Another end. I am too old to learn new tricks.

I am experimenting with playing Scripture all day long in the background. I have DVD’s with the New Testament, and a little device called the “Wonder Bible” which simply reads the Word with the press of a button. It’s a great experiment. I’m not always cued in on what is being read, but it is interesting to catch something throughout the day.

I feel that the spoken Word is powerful, cleansing.

This is an experiment. I will see how it goes. I’m living alone right now, so I feel I can do this. It might irritate someone, but for me it is interesting. I will try to report next week.

I would think Corwyn, Yuki, and Topi would benefit too. Why not?

Scripture is powerful!

This is an edit, an add-on: On Sunday I was surprised by a very REAL dream of Brian! I have not dreamed of him since he passed away. I don’t know why. I guess I was just too mentally drained for dreams. I didn’t remember anything. On Sunday I dreamed of him. He was SO REAL. He didn’t say anything, but I said “Don’t go!!” The dream ended and I was left alone. Still, I saw him briefly. If only we could change the past. Maybe. What we think we want or need isn’t always what God planned. I know Brian is in the presence of the Lord and I doubt he would want to be back here. That seems to be the story most tell.

I am promised that I will see him again.

Let’s be surprised!

MARANATHA!

I found Predicate this morning, lifeless. She had lived her reclusive 17 years and passed peacefully. I thought she was still alive when I found her.

But she wasn’t.

On Saturday I could tell that she was fading fast. She seemed unusually loving for her, wanting to be held and stroked. Unlike her. I think she was saying good-bye.

Today in “Days of Praise,” the devotional that comes from ICR, it was about the Noahic Covenant. That is the one that God made with animals.

God cares about the animals. The Bible makes that pretty clear. They are a glorious part of His creation.

Predicate’s days were also numbered.

I grieve today.

She gave us many years of sweetness, sass, and love. She held court as the reigning cat in our home.

Can you believe that we only have Topaz now? I can’t.

Ed has a cat named Alex, and if Ed moves back next summer he will bring Alex along.

Corgi Hollows will have two cats again, then.

I am still looking for a pure white cat like Gandalf. I miss him, so much. He was such a good hunter!

Cats are working animals here at Corgi Hollows. I justify having two, at least.

They keep the chipmunk and mouse population manageable.

I signed another contract with the waterproofing people. This time I pray that the chaos and damp will be ended.

Just in time for the Rapture!

Are you watching all the shaking and quaking of the earth? The political upheaval? The signs are getting urgent.

We watch. We wait.

Rosh Hoshanna is Sept 22 to 24 this year. What a great time to anticipate Christ’s return!

“No one knows the day or hour” is a Hebrew idiom that refers to the Feast of Trumpets. Rosh Hoshanna.

We all may watch with anticipation on these high watch days.

The hay is cut and baled. We finally had a few days of sunshine which allowed this to happen. It’s beautiful. Dogs and I can run in the fields again. The hay was incredibly long! We have limited access to running the fields in winter and when the hay is uncut. It’s a joy to let the dogs run freely.

So many things have been gotten in order this summer at Corgi Hollows. I feel like one of those old Scandinavian housewives that constantly kept their homes spotless in case Jesus came and snatched them home.

Forbid anyone finding a speck of dust in their home after they’re gone!!!

I was raised with that in mind.

Laughable, now, in this crazy technical age, but they had a point.

The Bible itself admonishes us to get our house in order!

Believe me, I’m trying!!

Right now I just keep praying for the Lord to open the eyes of the ones I’m praying for.

I was reading in Hebrews this week. Yes, I’m almost done with reading the whole Bible in 2025. I was reading about the faith of the “hall of fame” in chapter 11. So many of those mentioned were clearly people WITH ISSUES.

Like us.

They had faith. They believed. And God counted them righteous.

What a beautiful promise for us failures.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

This is a precious promise and God is the merciful judge.

Will you and I spend eternity together? I sure hope so. I trust that you have placed your faith and trust in Christ. I have.

I cannot imagine the wonder of it all. We have so much to look forward to.

So much hope.

See you up there!

MARANATHA!

My person I am praying for in Korea, Rocky, has a song with this title. I’m borrowing the title today. Pray for Rocky with me. He is an “influencer.”

I am praying for “influencers” in Asia, in particular, since that is where my ministry heart lies currently. I still pray for my friends and contacts in Germany and Turkey as well, along with many prayers for my own people here in America.

Prayer is on my mind. It’s powerful. I am thrilled to see God working in the lives of those I am praying for.

Last night there was another tsunami warning that included the island of Chisik, where Cheri is working this summer. It was the second tsunami warning for her this summer!

I must say that although I am trusting the Lord for my children daily I still catch my breath and my heart beats a bit faster when I think of dangers that accost them. I know God is in control. He’s in control of their lives and deaths.

Haven’t I learned this lesson?

But loss is hard. Life is hard.

The tsunami was a “nothing burger” for Cherie, again, and I must say that I’m grateful to God.

Prayers for those that were affected by the huge earthquake near Russia.

Today my Bible reading took me through the last chapters of 1 Thessalonians and all of 2 Thessalonians.

I was underlining most of chapter five, 1 Thess..

Can you read it today? It isn’t long, and it is a chapter of COMFORT.

Paul assures us that we can watch for Christ’s snatching moment: the Lord is going to catch us away, seize us, snatch us, rapture us, harpazo (greek), and Paul says it’s going to happen like a thief coming in the night.

BUT Paul reminds us that those of us who are watching WILL NOT be surprised and it WILL NOT be like a thief in the night for us believers. Read it again.

We are watching and we can anticipate Christ’s coming for us.

Doesn’t it look like it is soon?

We are not appointed to God’s wrath. That is “Jacob’s Trouble.” We are the bride of Christ, the church, all who believe He is Lord and Messiah.

God isn’t through with His bride, the Jewish people. He will reveal Himself to them through a troubled time, with 144,000 evangelists. (See Revelation, it hasn’t happened yet, folks) Two witnesses will come to preach. Life will be unbearable for those left here. The world will groan!

Too many “christians” think the Bible is all about them. It isn’t. It’s primarily about God’s chosen people. The Jewish people. God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham. Read about it in Genesis.

When God restored the nation of Israel all of us Bible believers took note! Things were starting to happen!

We are watching!

I love 1 and 2 Thessalonians!! Such words of comfort and peace to us who love Jesus.

Watch with me!

MARANATHA!!!

Have you read Hannah Hurnard’s iconic books, “Hinds Feet on High Places,” and “Mountains of Spices” ever?

There is a character called Umbrage in those stories. I find her characterization of the figures in these books fascinating. “Much-Afraid” is the main character and she is from the family of “Fearings.” Umbrage is a relative of Much-Afraid’s, and she interests me.

Umbrage is defined simply as “offense or annoyance.” (Google)

I see it a bit deeper, fleshed out by Hurnard’s character.

This “woman” was locked in an attitude of offense. That’s umbrage. A bitter event happened of which cannot be let go. She represents all of us in a human response to something bitter in life. It’s a natural response.

A few years ago the world was mostly in the clutches of Covid-19. We all took sides, read heaps of information, stood firm or followed. Both sides took umbrage against each other, since the bitterness of the threat pushed us into different warring camps.

Friendships were lost, families were fractured. People died without proper grief and observance. It happened to me, and I can bet (pretty sure) it happened to others. You.

You were forced to take a side if you didn’t take a stand, even if merely by default. No one was excused. You either wore a mask or you didn’t.

No matter what the TRUTH of the whole puppet-master scheme turned out to be, WE humans were skewered into moulds whether we wanted to be or not.

I am not here to discuss that, but what came of it even years afterward. The umbrage.

I examine my own heart and I am guilty of harboring umbrage in my own soul. I confess and ask God’s forgiveness!

I know this is deep down because I took umbrage at someone yesterday for dredging up the past differences of heart and soul, angrily scolding me for holding an opposing view.

I have no right to take umbrage. That is sin in my heart.

I can still hold my own (educated) view, but I cannot succumb to a bitterness that may be linked to that stance.

Take it to the LORD. He understands. How many times could HE have taken umbrage at the Pharisees and Sadducees?

We have no right to take umbrage. We are told to love our enemy. Umbrage will disquiet the heart and mind, snatch peace from your day, and bring rot to your bones. Its relationship to bitterness is tight.

The Chief Shepherd changed Umbrage’s name when she turned to Him. He renamed her Forgiveness.

She was married to Resentment and her daughter was Retaliation. I won’t spoil the story any more because YOU HAVE TO READ IT.

Are you bearing umbrage instead of forgiveness for past “wrongs?” However you perceive these wrongs in your life, can you give them to the Shepherd who cares for your soul more than for your body?

I’m reminding myself, pleading with God to help me forgive, even as this sad history revisits us from time to time.

Satan is a liar, and the father of lies. He loves to dredge up past grievances and spoil our happiness. He would love to destroy our joy. Can you let the past go? Can you forgive? Can you overcome his tactics of umbrage and bitterness?

I hope we can, together.

MARANATHA!

The haze of Canadian fires is settled on our home. It makes for headaches and some breathing discomfort, at least for me. It is not a bad odor, more like a campfire. The smoke is probably not the best for health.

The Lord provided my air conditioning in just the right time.

I worry about my mom, though, as she is “green” (like me) and turns on the air reluctantly. As I keep an eye on her I am once again reminded of the importance of family and the responsibility to look out for one another.

Having one person (at least) is necessary for human health. Having a team is even better. We support each other in every way. The hermits in Yukon Territory die happily alone, but most of us need each other.

This summer has been such an experiment for me.

Living by myself has shown me a couple of things. First and foremost is the realization that family life is so fleeting. Our kids grow and leave the nest before you know it. Suddenly you miss the hectic pace of kid’s activity.

For me, the things I’ve taken for granted are coming into focus. I have written about selfish living as a single person. I think I’ve realized how much I’ve relied on my team. I’ve been a bit too expectant of their support. It’s a good lesson to learn. Having five kids and an extremely capable man for a husband for so many years —I was so helped by all of them.

It’s been a slow lesson to re-learn life skills on my own. No support.

Good lesson learned this summer. I have great appreciation for the team.

Never take that precious family life for granted.

It’s fleeting.

I choose to see answers to prayer as miracles. When I ask God for something I must be patient to see the results of that request. God always answers, but sometimes the answer is, of course, “no.”

When I see God moving and helping me (as I’ve prayed for) in my life I am thrilled, and I see spiritual intervention as miraculous. Every time.

As I have written before, my challenges usually involve major house repairs. I love my old house, built by my uncle decades ago. He has long passed on to glory. I love living in the beautiful countryside, where I grew up.

I was thrilled to buy this house, a foreclosure, ten years ago, with my husband.

I see God’s hand in it completely, as the tragedies and traumas of the past five years unfolded, and I am so happy to be close to my mom as we have seen this time through.

Not to beat this theme to death—but it is my concern for the past three years(!!!) —-I must daily trust the Lord for the repairs that must take place.

I dedicated this house to the Lord with my husband back in 2015. This is HIS house. Each repair and maintenance issue is HIS issue.

And I’ve watched Him help me.

A widow with little ability to know what to do about home repair has survived and seen God work things out.

There have been setbacks. Many. But God is still good and answering my prayers. He has His own purposes in those setbacks!

There are days when I think that the Lord is returning to catch us up soon, why fix anything?

But that is not good stewardship. We must do the right thing and responsible thing UNTIL He appears!

So today I am grateful for a new furnace, new gutters (that have significantly helped the water in the basement issue!—though water still seeps in with the heavy rain we’ve had). The old A/C has been replaced. It hadn’t worked for three years. The new one is humming along in this July heat and smoke from the Canadian forest fires.

I am so grateful to God for this blessing.

The furnace is a must in Minnesota. My old one was iffy and not up to code. I’m so grateful about the new one for upcoming winter months.

Cheri is supposed to return in a couple of weeks.

Being tied down this summer (pets and other responsibilities) has had its benefits. I’ve focused on getting projects done, planning, and PRAYER.

And God is working miracles.

My family fractures are healing. God is taking care of me. One day at a time.

God is GOOD, all the time.

MARANATHA!!!

Our Northern Lights Chorale Director (he’s now retired) invited me to join a “summer choir” which meets for this week, with a concert on Saturday.

I invite you all to attend at Faith Lutheran Church, Hanson Boulevard, Coon Rapids, on Saturday. The 19th. The concert is at 3:00.

I am sure you would enjoy it.

It isn’t a long program, but the songs are beautiful and the proceeds go to memory care and other aging ministries.

For me it was the first time singing in a top-notch choir since Brian left.

Minnesota is the land of 10,000 choirs.

They vary in pitch and skill.

I have been blessed to sing under Bruce Phelps and Jere Lanz. I also was at an event directed by Rene Claussen once.

When you sing Minnesota/F Melius Christiansen/Scandinavian voices — sort of stuff your standards are simply above the norm. The harmony and inflection is tight, the songs are ethereal and heavenly. Angelic. Think Concordia Choir, St. Olaf Choir, etc…

We are simply blessed to have such quality of music in our beautiful state.

Last night my heart was touched. The sound of harmonizing with gorgeous voices all around you is simply amazing.

Bruce was happy with what he heard. Our hearts leaped within us.

If you have the time on Saturday, come. This choir is mostly former or even present members of the Northern Lights Chorale. It was like a family reunion for me.

I spent 10 years with that choir, most Thursday evenings during the school year. It was Brian’s and my “date night.”

I couldn’t even sing for a year after he died. I listened to certain music over and over as part of my grief journey.

I couldn’t listen to choir music or even classical music for a time. It was too painful. God used the time to broaden my tastes and ears.

It is all good.

But it is nice to be back.

Singing.

I’m back.

They that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Read John, chapter four.

Jesus is the answer to all our problems.

Oh that HE would come again SOON!

There is a little clip on Instagram of an elderly lady talking about heaven. I’m inspired by her words.

She said that heaven is a place where God will always be revealing something new —endlessly—that is so wonderful—that we will constantly be worshiping and praising Him! His wonderful Presence and all that HE is will constantly amaze and thrill us.

Compare that to airless, dark suffering in hell. Pain, loneliness, endless torment by horrid creatures.

The choice is obvious to me.

Choose Jesus!

Choose this day whom you will serve.

God’s rules, not ours.

This is a spiritual transaction, being born again. WE are dead spiritually until we are born again!

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

God’s rules.

Make that decision today! Don’t wait! He is coming again soon!

MARANATHA!

I am praying that you choose Jesus.

It’s a beautiful day here in Minnesota, but (it seems) per usual, I am battling sadness in the sunshine, recovering after a bout of bad storms.

I am struggling with the balance of regret, grief, loss, sorrow and trust.

Legitimate sorrow and even despair is countered by trust.

Our glorious hope counter-balances ALL despair.

Yet each day brings its trials and troubles, the persecutions and losses. How does one walk the fence between these realities?

I had water in my basement yesterday after the tornadoes went through.

Three separate contracts with the water-proofing people and I had water in my basement.

Yet there was a bad storm. Almost four inches of rain fell here.

Do you see my dilemma? Catastrophic events trump even the best guarantees.

Yet I will call them for an opinion.

I will call the AC/furnace people to get that 30 year old system replaced.

I will call the garage door people to replace the broken door openers.

Hey, I called the septic system guy! I am sure he will get back to me…

I just get a bit down as I face these house things on my own. Is anyone out there understanding this?

I have a huge problem brewing in my pasture. Logs from the trees that needed to be cut lie all over, preventing any mowing from happening.

No mowing means small trees taking root. It’s a constant battle against nature taking over.

These problems are sometimes insurmountable to me. I can make calls for “professional help” but it never ends.

Limited resources, limited time, limited strength.

I am working as much as I can this summer. I am picking up shifts at the hotel as others take vacations.

Yes, I am complaining today. I find decisions like I am facing very hard to make on my own. I have been taken advantage of.

The Lord knows, and EVERYONE is accountable to HIM.

I try to remember that vengeance is the Lord’s. It’s not mine.

So enters my trust. I will trust in God.

I will trust Him to help me. I will trust Him to guide me. I will trust Him to take care of me.

I will walk forward, even in my discouragement.

Do you know why I look for Jesus’ return for us? Life is really hard.

Pray for those who were hit by the tornadoes. My home, thank the Lord, sustained minimal damage. God is always good, even in the storms of life.

MARANATHA

This Sunday I made, according to the app, 700 days of learning Chinese on Duolingo. It is actually a longer time, since I broke my streak back then. It’s fun to watch progress, albeit slow. I have always found language learning extremely difficult, and there is no rhyme or reason for my interest in it.

I guess I just want to connect with people.

Yesterday I went to the lake with a young woman from Turkmenistan. I said to her, “Your name means ‘beautiful,'”

She just lit up! She was literally thrilled, and we made an instant connection.

Knowing someone’s language is almost magical. I have found that even with my extremely poor language skills I can connect with people worldwide.

Yesterday I finished the Old Testament. I have been reading five chapters a day since January 1.

This is also a milestone, since the New Testament is relatively short! Here it is, mid-June, and I am finished with the largest part of the Bible.

I have already decided to study Isaiah more in-depth after I finish the New Testament.

Isaiah is just one of those books where you must spend time.

It was a beautiful day yesterday, although very hot. Today the temperature has dropped again to pleasant Minnesota summer. My air conditioning hasn’t been working for a few years now, so it’s on the list to replace, along with the furnace.

I used the old trick of shutting up the house early in the morning, closing windows and curtains. There is always a marked difference in temperature between inside and outside on very hot days.

I also have fans. Thankful for them.

I’m feeling the “mom-vibes” this morning, wanting to nurture and teach my little ones.

My little ones are now adults, but I still hope they listen to their parent, listen to their grandparents, too.

In my own home repair trials I have been thinking about financial wisdom. Several years ago I gave my Saturday mornings to “Primerica,” learning an industry that I never really had any interest in.

(I also earned most of my Master’s degree in a subject I had no interest in: Public Administration!)

I’m not good at languages, either,……

There is a theme here. I tend to try to learn about stuff I don’t know anything about!

I do know something about living frugally. I’ve unlocked the secrets.

I will share the secrets to financial freedom with you.

(Not necessarily in order of importance unless indicated!)

Don’t smoke.

Don’t consume or purchase alcohol.

Don’t use illegal drugs.

(duh)

Chip away at your debt before you indulge in anything. (It will be surprisingly quick to cancel your debt)

Pay your tithes and offerings religiously.

Car payments? Double them. Put one in the bank for the next car. Don’t buy your next car on a plan. Purchase it outright.

Mortgages. Refinance as necessary to lock in low interest. Pay off your home ASAP.

Stacking. Once a debt is paid off, stack that next payment onto one of your other debts. Don’t allow yourself to splurge. Your debt will quickly disappear.

Have an emergency fund. You never know when something vital to your lifestyle breaks down and needs emergency repair.

Life insurance: cover your debts and your funeral expenses. What are you worth to the ones who need you? It’s worth it.

Health insurance. It’s worth it. Especially if you get cancer.

Car/Home insurance. Just get it. It’s required.

Always pay off your credit cards. Every month.

Coffee. It’s a $4,000/year habit that you didn’t realize. Buy it at the gas station. Make it at home. Splurge once a week, or even once a month. I buy my Caribou about 6 times a year. Only.

Have an entertainment fund. Put it in an envelope. This envelope system is magical. It can work for your whole life, encouraging budgeting and discipline. I find it most helpful in paying for fun things. When the money is gone the fun ends. The expensive fun ends. You will become more creative, too.

Living expenses: shop thrift stores, budget grocery, limit your eating out or pre-processed foods. Learn to bake with real (cheap) flour or rice. Join a fruit and vegetable co-op. Buy your meat (grass fed!) bulk. Investing in a freezer and bulk meat saves in the long run and prevents splurge purchases of expensive protein at the grocery store.

I admit I have so much grass fed beef liver in my freezer that I could get through the seven year tribulation. I strongly dislike liver. (I’ve tried everything.)

Dairy products seem to be the one area I must fork over for, at their cost mercy. I don’t have a cow. Eggs are sort of that way for me too. I do not want to keep chickens, even if I live on an acreage. I know several folk that do keep them, including my daughter, so if they are fresh I can find wonderful eggs.

There are some things you just must include in your budget.

Canned food is generally cheaper than fresh and it is useful as its shelf life is flexible. A belly that needs to be filled doesn’t necessarily need gourmet or organic. It depends.

Buy cheap. Buy clearance. Buy sales. Summer sidewalk sales were my lifesaver as a mom of 3 very young children and a husband in college, only working part-time. We qualified for welfare in Iowa those days.

I fed and clothed my family, thanks to my husband, his family, and, of course, the Lord. We managed!

We did not need to accept welfare. God took care of our needs.

Don’t work on Sundays if at all possible. (I know that our emergency services must, first responders, soldiers, medical staff, etc.) Avoid being scheduled on the Lord’s Day.

I’m becoming more, and really always have been, convinced that God is serious about the 4th commandment. Do your part in helping others to keep the Sabbath holy too. Don’t shop on the day of rest. Eat at home. Blue laws were good for the country. God honored them, I believe.

Fix the car you have until it truly “dies.” Drive it to the car graveyard if possible. Don’t be tempted to drive the latest Greatest. Cars are notoriously money-drains. If you can keep yours until it can’t run anymore you have actually gotten your money’s worth.

Lately it is cheaper to repair a vehicle than purchase a new one.

Appliances are lasting only around five years now. If you have one of those 1970’s models that is still functioning don’t be quick to “upgrade.” Fix it one more time.

I had to spend thousands of dollars getting my basement water-proofed. It involved major repair work to the plumbing and foundation of my home. I think it was worth it because my basement is DRY! Thank the LORD! The process involved a new floor drain, new softener system, new drain pipes, tiling, sump pump, and septic hook-up. I also had the front of the house re-landscaped with drainage in mind. Gutters. New roof. Everything I did was in hopes of getting a dry house.

Now I still need to tear out the moldy wood floor. I haven’t found someone to help with that yet. I still have a few little plumbing jobs that need fixing. I see the light at the end of the home repair tunnel, though. I’m grateful.

Now my septic system is in need of repair, so I will look forward to that problem being solved before long.

In the meantime life happens. Downsizing continues. Things come together and I strive to get my house in order.

Saving money and living frugally is sort of an experimental equation. Establishing the rules of discipline and clean living will only benefit! Bad habits cost. Big time.

“FOLLOW ME FOR MORE TIPS!”

Ha ha. ha ha.!

Actually, I do know something about this. I’m not just spouting nonsense. I’ve lived my own advice. I’m telling the truth.

God has taken care of this little widow. I continue to trust Him.

I anticipate all these problems to be GONE when Jesus comes to get us in the Rapture. The Bridal Feast awaits!

MARANATHA!