O-H-I-O

After almost 3 weeks, I’ve finally made my way back to Ohio to 50 degrees and cloudy skies. No comparison to yesterday morning in Jackson where it was 10 degrees and snowed up to 15”!!! In fact on my way to let my friend’s dog out the snow was so high and hadn’t been shoveled that I had to walk to their house from the highway!

I did a little last minute shopping yesterday in town before packing it up and found myself thoroughly enjoying chatting with some of the local workers starting with Grace at Persephone who made me a yummy green matcha drink and had my last meal there until next time I’m in Jackson. 

Next I got to visit with this delightful gal, Kati at one of the shops I frequented. I love it how God just puts people in our paths that we know isn’t accidental! She’s one of those special people!

Now I’m in Ohio after a long day of traveling and had dinner with some dear friends! 

Typical Jackson Day

My days are becoming predictable and routine here in snowy Wyoming. In the mornings I drive to my friend’s and take care of her dog with 2 walks. In between walks I spend at least an hour reading, talking to friends and family and today I started a reading plan for Advent. It’s something I’ve never done before but I’m interested in it this year. 

Day 1

Then I typically stop at Persephone Café and enjoy a pastry or meal and tea. This is one of my favorites: White Wolf Tea and Winter Gem Salad. 

This afternoon I got to hike again at Taggart Lake. Hiking is one of my favorite things to do here. 

Then out to dinner we go! Tonight was the Cowboy Bar Steakhouse. Best green beans I’ve ever eaten! The chef even came out and explained how he made my favorite food I’ve had here. Slightly blanched French green beans topped with brown butter, fresh garlic, sliced almonds, white wine and lemon zest!!

The Christmas lights were lit this past weekend. Iconic Jackson winter photo!

My time is coming to a close here. Too tired to write more. Good night. 

Thanksgiving

The past few days have been more restful and less physically active for me... however, no less beautiful.

Thanksgiving Day was very different this year since I’m only with John in Wyoming, but I’m not with my children, parents, siblings or any other family members for the first time on Thanksgiving in many decades. It makes the holiday not really feel like a holiday. Since John and I go out to dinner every night at a local restaurant while here, it was kinda like just another night out except with more traditional Thanksgiving foods. 

We started our day with a really long drive up toward Yellowstone but the southern entrance is closed so we drove a highway that gave us another view of the Tetons. 

 

This is by what’s called The Oxbow. 

This is a pasture of horses with the backdrop of the Mountain range. The ranches out here are unbelievable. It’s funny because there are real cowboys out here who work hard and are dressed in typical cowboy attire that’s dusty and worn and then there are people out here who dress like cowboys but I’m sure have never worked a day in their lives but spend thousands on fancy cowboy attire! It’s a peculiar place out here where there’s so much wealth. 

This is my own contribution to the Tetons. In case my readers are unaware, Grand Tetons means large boobies!! 

This is Jenny Lake that’s partially frozen where time stood still for a while as I breathed in deeply the crisp air and thanked God for another day of life where I can experience His amazing creation!

John and I ended our evening at The Bistro restaurant. They provide paper table cloths covering the fancy cloth and a small basket of crayons. Notice the 3rd grade rendition of my artwork I drew. A colorful hand Turkey!

Then Black Friday came with much frost and frozen fog. I think this is one of my favorite things to see out here. There’s a special name for this kind of frozen crystal vapor. It’s called hoarfrost. 

These white dots in the photo are actually large Trumpeter Swans. They live close to where I’m staying and I love to drive to their partially frozen pond and listen to them honk. 

Ended last night at a Jackson Moose hockey game again. 

Physically I’m still feeling amazing! I thank God for this gift. There are a few minor physical things I’m aware of and dealing with, but aren’t we all?!

 

I Give Thanks

God says to be thankful in ALL things! So…Father today here’s my prayer. 

I’m especially thankful for You in my life!

I’m thankful for my faithful and loyal husband, John Wonderly. 

I’m thankful for my beautiful and loving children, Sarah, Jonathan, Alex & Jumi.

I’m thankful for a precious new granddaughter. 

I’m thankful for my loving parents. 

I’m thankful for my sisters who are my dearest friends. 

I’m thankful for a close and loving family. 

I’m thankful for a wealth of numerous amazingly authentic friends!

I’m thankful for the gift of life, which I do not take for granted!

I’m thankful for the knowledge of my eternal future when my spirit no longer resides in this physical body.

I’m thankful for breath-taking nature! 

I’m thankful for Jesus dying for my sins and giving me the gift of salvation. 

And, yes, I’m even thankful for cancer because of all the beauty and miracles that have been experienced in my life because of it!

Amen!

I had to start my day with Gratitude today! 

Although it will be a non traditional Thanksgiving for me as I’m still in Wyoming, it will be beautiful to be with my best friend and live life together today!

So Much Indescribable Beauty!

Wyoming & Idaho are filled with truly incredible beauty! Snowy mountains, icy branches, pink, lavender, orange and red sunrises & sunsets, horses and wild animals have littered my photos the past few days! Sunday night we drove to the Elk Refuge and got to hear an elk herd calling to each other! 

This is one of my favorites. This is a lenticular cloud formation over The Grand as viewed from Idaho side of the Tetons!

Listen carefully to these Elk calling!

Every morning I’m glad to be able to help my friend here in Jackson by doing a little dog sitting and it’s been very pleasant hanging out with their loving pup! He even enjoys hanging with me while I read in the mornings. He makes me chuckle as we walk and he hops around and pounces in the snow looking for mice and voles! 

As I continue reading through the book ‘Crafted Prayer’, there have been some REALLY SWeet moments with God as I begin crafting my own prayers. I’m very thankful for the words God has put on my heart. Monday I hiked in Wilson, WY at Rendezvous Park and there were 3 memorials for people who have died and I allowed myself to engage in each one either by looking through the binoculars or sitting on some dedicated benches placed specifically for those individuals. It was the last one I sat on that God infused my mind with these inheritance words for me. 

“Live. Live on. Rejoice in the fact that you’ll never die, so go ahead and live fully now. It’s perpetual…this life. It’s eternal. Have no fear. No fear of death. No fear of disease. You may laugh in its face because you will never die.” 

Plastic covering a new memorial bench. 

Memorial binoculars overlooking the Tetons

Memorial bench for a hockey player

One of my favorite spots to hang out in town is Persephone Café and Sunday I convinced John and Matt to join me. The food is incredibly scrumptious.

 Yesterday I drove with my friend Margaret to Idaho Falls, ID but then our time to say good byes finally came. Such a cherished time with friends I’ve had these past weeks. The drive we took through the Pass has such remarkable pine trees loaded with snow! Once again it’s like driving through Narnia. 

And to close todays blog, I’ll share something that has brought me to a space and sacred place of being in Yahweh’s Presence. Please feel free to sit and soak in this song of beautiful worship as these souls lift their voices in authentic praise. My Spirit is profoundly thankful for this video that cries out “Lord I Need You”. 

Margaret, Moose and Many Blessings

The freezing cold thermometer said -9 when I woke up, but it felt like -19 with the wind chill!! Thankfully it warmed up to about 20 yesterday. This morning was no better… -8° when I woke up! However, the sheer breathless beauty of this place makes up for all of its coldness.

After caring for my friend’s dog and reading my books, I headed to Persephone Café again yesterday and I’m headed there again today to meet up one last time with Margaret. I did a bit of window shopping and found a nice Christmas gift for a very special lady. This person has allowed her husband to come hundreds of miles away from their home and family to be with John and me while he skillfully helps John install a beautiful staircase and yet another Jackson hole mansion! My friend Margaret met us at the local hockey rink for the first Jackson Moose game of the season last night too!

This is literally the view I have from the cabin we are staying in for three weeks! The Teton mountains are something to behold!

I discovered this fun little haunt in downtown Jackson. Spirits and Spice is a store that you can get free samples of vinegar, olive oil, and many adult beverages! Margaret is trying a specialty drink imported from France called absinthe! I must say this was a super fun little place to go and taste test some of the craziest flavored liquors and alcohols. 

A typical view at Persephone with frothy chai, my book and a great place to people watch.

The Jackson Moose opening game of the season 2022!

This might be the closest I ever get to hugging a moose!

You never know what you’re going to see in Jackson! This is a stuffed moose… A real one… And thankfully he let me give him a little smooch!

Like I said… You never know what you’re going to see in Jackson! This vivacious young man had a very spirited look about him so I had to go introduce myself and get his photo with me. Yes that is a flower tattoo on his knee that he’s so joyfully displayed! I know he must have quite a story, and perhaps I will get to hear it someday, but for now… Suffice it to say I just got my picture with him! Next time, David…next time!

When I woke up this morning, I will share that I was talking to the Lord and profusely thanking God for allowing me to experience life to the fullest and at the same time, acknowledge that I do not take it for granted. He has graciously answered my prayer to allow me to live until my granddaughter was born, and coming up on 12-12-22, I will celebrate 10 years of marriage with the love of my life! I pray I have many more grandchildren and anniversaries to celebrate. I thank God for each day I am allowed to, not only be here, but to feel well doing it! This was my honeymoon 10 years ago!

Wyoming Days

The past couple of days have been peaceful and routine. I start my day out by caretaking for a friend’s dog and going on a nice long walk with him, then coming back to her house and continuing to read from the gospel of John and a new book called Crafted Prayer, then spending time in quiet reverie with my God! Today I was bundled with every thing I had… It was a little chillier than other mornings, but I stayed toasty warm.

An excerpt from the book, Crafted Prayer…The joy of always getting your prayers answered… By Graham Cook 

“Enter God‘s Presence with thanksgiving and ask Him what it is He wants to do and what His plan is. God wants us to know His plan, so spend time in worship and ask Him to show His way and teach His path to you. A crafted prayer of supplication by Graham Cooke is this: 

“Father, I praise you for this situation. I know you have a plan and a purpose for me. I give you thanks that You are with me and that You are for me. I ask You to show me Your ways, teach me Your paths, show me Your will, oh Lord, that I may become conformed to the image of Jesus in this situation. Show me Your will that I may confidently and joyfully cooperate with you.”

I love learning about different ways God’s people pray! This book has been refreshing and enlightening. 

After my sacred time in the mornings I head into town and walk around the overpriced, high-quality shops that sprinkle every corner of Jackson Hole Square! My favorite little artisan café, Persephone café, is where I typically land for a warm cup of chai or cappuccino and perhaps get a little lunch! I read another chapter in Brother Lawrence’s book while people watching and thoroughly loving their yummy food!

Yesterday after indulging in this high sticker salad, I decided not to walk in the mountains by myself even if I have a can of bear spray, but rather, walk on a lovely path in town that follows Flat Creek. For some reason, the blue Spruce seemed especially blue to me on this walk and I thought it was really beautiful so I am sharing. I think this might be one of my favorite hues of blue!

In fact, as I continued walking it along the path, I realized I was not far from where we are staying, so I just continued walking for a total of an hour and a half until I got to the cabin. From there the boys and I went out to dinner and called it a day! 

This morning, I was in awe of the salmon sunrise beauty hitting the Grand Teton mountains in front of me. My heart naturally praises God the second I see its majesty. Words and pictures truly cannot describe what I am seeing.

Also today I’m keenly aware of a friend who is burying her husband who bravely fought a battle with cancer for many years. There’s a temptation to have survivor’s guilt when I am battling a cancer diagnosis too and yet I feel so miraculously well, but I won’t allow anyone to steal the gift from God that I’m to embrace, that of feeling well regardless of my diagnosis or future physical condition. So for that I thank my Creator for breath in my lungs and the ability to hike, bike, walk and talk. And at the same time I hold space of grieving for my friend’s sadness as she says good bye for now to her dearest best friend and husband.