Author Archives: Ellen

The Ark Encounter

Today was day seven of our Land That We Love Tour and we were very impressed with this encounter!

What an amazing morning we had in Williamstown, Kentucky visiting the life size replica of Noah’s Ark. Dear forgot that in Noah’s day there were no sunglasses but before I judge they didn’t have eyeglasses either.

Lots of photos were taken and I might have to do a weekly post on all that this experience offered.

On this Monday night we stayed in Berea, Kentucky about 80 miles south of the Ark Encounter at the historical Boone Tavern on the campus of Berea College. It was nice to only be on the road today for about 110 miles. We’ve traveled 2500 miles already.

On Tuesday we travel south and then east to Boone, North Carolina.

Something we saw at the Ark Encounter to think about. This is from the father of lies, the devil, the serpent.

Thank you so much for visiting and commenting while we’ve been traveling.

When In Kentucky…

Continuing on our Land That We Love Tour we are now in Kentucky. No photo worthy events on our trip from North Dakota to Omaha Nebraska and then from Omaha to St. Louis, Missouri. From St. Louis we drove to Kentucky and we had a surprise that I-64 east and west were closed this weekend in Louisville. We had to do some map maneuvering to get us past the closure and back onto I-64 to continue to Shelbyville and Georgetown. On that maneuver we were able to stop into Cave Hill Cemetery for a little while. I would have enjoyed staying there longer but we had a reservation to get to. The photo above is from Cave Hill.

For dinner Red State Barbecue in Georgetown was recommended to us. Since we were staying in Georgetown on Sunday night we decided to try it and are glad we did.

Brisket with a side of beans and corn pudding, delicious!!

Today, Monday, we are heading north a bit to the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky. After our ‘Encounter’ we are heading south toward Tennessee with an overnight stop in Berea, Kentucky.

Long days on the road with little catch up time when we get to our lodging has limited my visiting time. Thanks for your understanding. I’ll come around when I can. Hope all is well…

Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul ~ Hymn

Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul

Dear refuge of my weary soul,
On Thee, when sorrows rise;
On Thee, when waves of trouble roll,
My fainting hope relies.

While hope revives, though pressed with fear
And I can say, My God,
Beneath Thy feet I spread my cares,
And pour my woes abroad.

To Thee I tell each rising grief,
For Thou alone canst heal;
Thy Word can bring a sweet relief
For every pain I feel.

But oh! when gloomy doubts prevail,
I fear to call Thee mine;
The springs of comfort seem to fail,
And all my hopes decline.

Yet, gracious God, where shall I flee?
Thou art my only trust,
And still my soul would cleave to Thee,
Though prostrate in the dust.

Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face?
And shall I seek in vain?
And can the ear of sovereign grace
Be deaf when I complain?

No, still the ear of sovereign grace
Attends the mourner’s prayer;
O access may I ever find,
To breathe my sorrows there.

Thy mercy seat is open still;
Here let my soul retreat,
With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet.

Words: Anne Steele, 1716-1778.

Badlands National Park

Our Land That We Love Tour started in the Badlands National Park in South Dakota on Friday morning, September 24th. We drove the 39 mile loop and stopped at every scenic turnout.

Amazing morning at Badlands National Park. We managed to arrive at dawn and were awe-struck. On Friday our day ended in Omaha, Nebraska.

Psalm 19:1-6

The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5     which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
    and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
    and its circuit to the end of them,
    and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Praising God today for all He has done…

On to South Dakota

We continued on our Land That We Love Tour into South Dakota today, Thursday September 23rd. It was a long day and I’ll leave you with just one postcard. Later I will document more fully all we have seen. No time for the computer on Thursday.

We loved getting to this spot which was a ‘bucket list’ must see in person destination. Mission accomplished.

I have many photos from Mount Rushmore so be forewarned that I’ll be sharing them soon.

Friday we head to a new time zone.

Montana and Wyoming

We have moved further east on our ‘Land That We Love Tour‘. We took a back road out of Helena to get back to the I-90 interstate east to Wyoming.

This little church was in Montana.

Fall colors were pretty off the interstate as we approached our Wyoming destination.

We arrived in Sheridan for the night and right away Dear was in trouble.

Better put your hands up, Dear!

On our travels on Wednesday we listened to some more sermons in 1 Peter and some good music and also enjoyed periods of silence except for the tires on the pavement. We are pondering the attributes of God and these verses.

Isaiah 55:8-9

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Montana Land That We Love Tour

Our day one destination for ‘Land That We Love Tour’ was Helena, Montana. Helena is the state capital of the state of Montana. We stopped at the Capitol building and were able to walk about inside and out.

On a gentle slope surrounded by 10 acres of spacious lawns and other state buildings, Montana’s Capitol looks north over the beautiful Prickly Pear Valley. The building is constructed of sandstone and granite. A statue depicting Liberty sits atop the copper dome. A walk through the Capitol will allow you to view many beautiful paintings, including Charles M. Russell’s magnificent historical depiction of “Lewis and Clark Meeting Indians at Ross’ Hole” on September 5, 1805. The main section of the Capitol was completed in 1902. The two wings were completed in 1912.

Dedicated on July 4 1905, the Thomas Meagher Statue stands tall at the front of the Montana State Capitol Building, the largest and most distinctive sculpture on the grounds of the capitol campus.

More on Thomas Meagher’s interesting life can be read here.

The state Capitol building was opened for use on the Fourth of July, 1902. The story of the Capitol building really begins at the top, with the “Goddess of Liberty,” as she has been known for 100 years. It’s the statue that stands on the copper dome outside.

After our visit to the Capitol we had a meal in town and then found The Cathedral of St. Helena. I’ll share more from the inside of the beautiful Capitol building and St. Helena Cathedral later.

We traveled through Washington, Idaho and into Montana on Tuesday September 21st.

During much of our 5+ hour drive Tuesday we listened to sermons on 1 Peter by John MacArthur (Grace to You). We didn’t get past verse 2 after 3 sermons. That is what you call expository teaching. Tomorrow Wednesday we’ll be listening to these verses exposited.

1 Peter 1:1-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

Today is Wednesday September 22nd and the first official day of Autumn/Fall. We will be traveling further on today.

Happy Fall Y’all.

Land That We Love Tour

P1050070

Our bags are packed. Our vehicle is loaded. Our house keepers are watching over our home. We are eastbound from the State of Washington. We’ll travel south in Washington, east to Idaho and make our first overnight stop in Helena, Montana. Hoping to add postcards along our journey. Time will tell how much time I have to blog and visit other bloggers. We’re naming our trip, “Land That We Love Tour”.

Granola Chews

Granola Chews

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups white flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup softened butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 cups granola
  • 2 cups dry oatmeal
  • 1 cup walnuts chopped

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Combine flour, soda and salt and set aside.
  3. Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla till creamy.
  4. Add one egg at a time to the creamed mixture beating after each egg.
  5. Gradually beat in flour mixture.
  6. Stir in granola, oatmeal and walnuts.
  7. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet.
  8. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown, watch after 10 minutes.

I like to use a dough scoop because the dough is easy to drop onto the baking sheet and the cookies are uniform.

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise ~ Hymn

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, silent as light,
Nor striving, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy Justice like mountains soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of mercy and love.

To all life Thou givest, both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, true life of all;
Thy blossom and flourish only are we,
To wither and perish—but nought changeth Thee.

To-day and To-morrow with Thee still are Now;
Nor trouble, nor sorrow, nor care, Lord, hast Thou;
Nor passion doth fever, nor age can decay,
The same God for ever as on yesterday.

Great Father of Glory, Father of Light,
Thine angels adore Thee, veiling their sight;
But of all Thy good graces this grace, Lord, impart—
Take the veil from our faces, the veil from our heart.

All laud we would render; O help us to see,
’Tis only the splendour of light hideth Thee;
And now let Thy glory to our gaze unroll
Through Christ in the story, and Christ in the soul.

Words: Walter C. Smith, 1867.