For a Little While

                                Last year's beauty found one fall morning as I drove around.

It's time to take a break from my blog posts. My blog was created February 19, 2009, and I've been creating new posts every week for most of that time.

Some changes are happening here on Ridge Road that will take a lot of my time. So I'm going to break away for a spell and concentrate on other things.

If you have enjoyed these weekly posts, there are a lot of old ones, of similar flavor, that you are welcome to read. And, when I get a nice snap or two, I just might post them for you to see. You can find old posts by date down the right side of the blog.

My posts are my witness to Jesus, my Lord and Savior. I write to encourage hearts and direct their thoughts to God and his creation.

God is at work. I'll resume one day and tell you all about what life is doing here on Ridge Road.

Those Words Again

               I hope to find some of this color soon! It's so hard waiting for the leaves to change.

I was sitting here waiting for the leaves to change color, and it started me thinking about snow. It just did. I decided I would do a Shutterfly book with my pictures of snow, and started the process this morning.

While I was looking through my journals to find quotes and stories about snow, my eyes feasted on other entries I've written down. My heart was encouraged and I laughed! so I thought I'd share some with you!

These are from Carol's Thoughtful Book, 2008-2009:

"John Bunyan was once asked a question about heaven which he could not answer because the matter was not revealed in the Scriptures. He advised the inquirer to live a holy life, then go and see."

"Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a fire?" C. S. Lewis

"Prescription for a happier and healthier life: resolve to slow your pace; learn to say no gracefully; resist the temptation to chase after more pleasures, hobbies and more social entanglements; then 'hold the line' with the tenacity of a tackle for a professional football team." James C. Dobson

"I am now officially too old to die young. It is the autumn of life and all of my organs have headed south. It takes longer to rest than to get tired. There is nothing left to learn the hard way. Life isn't about young and old; it's about dead and alive--and I'm alive." Charles Lowery

"Solitude is for me a fount of healing which makes my life worth living. Talking is often a torment for me, and I need many days of silence to recover from the futility of words." Carl Gustav Jung (oh how I relate!)

"I am sorry for men who do not read the Bible every day. I wonder why they deprive themselves of the strength and the pleasure." Woodrow Wilson

"Always do right. This will surprise some people and astonish the rest." Mark Twain

"Laughter is the most beautiful and beneficial therapy God ever granted humanity." Charles R. Swindoll

"Language has created the word 'loneliness' to express the pain of being alone, and the word 'solitude' to express the glory of being alone." Paul Johannes Oskar Tillich

"Little strokes fell great oaks." Benjamin Franklin

"It rained so hard that all the pigs got clean, and all the people dirty." Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

"The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those who sang best." Unknown

"Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. 'Pooh?' he whispered. 'Yes, Piglet?' 'Nothing' said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. 'I just wanted to be sure of you.'"

"Writing is not easy for most of us. Dr. Gaines Dobbins . . . was a prolific writer. Someone said to him: 'You must enjoy writing.' He responded, 'No. I enjoy having written.' (I identify)

Now, have those leaves changed color yet?

On the Mountaintop . . . for Real!

"In the beginning, when this great universe lay in the mind of God, like unborn forests in the acorn-cup; long ere the echoes waked the solitudes, before the mountains were brought forth, and long ere the light flashed through the sky, God loved his chosen creatures."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

                                                                        Spruce Knob

There I was, all by myself, on top of the world! 4863 feet. The highest point in West Virginia. And it was a long drive to the top!

Spruce Knob was one of the places I wanted to go as I drove through Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. The sky was a striking blue and the temperature was pleasant. I wanted to have a "mountaintop" experience in the land of wild and wonderful.

Half way up the gravel and dirt road, two work trucks passed. Other than those trucks, I was virtually alone on this winding road and slow drive. Just when I was beginning to wonder if I'd made a wrong turn, another work machine, leveling the dirt, came by. I flagged him down and said: "I think I may be lost." He replied, "You're not lost. You're right here." It made me smile.

I'd been on top of Pike's Peak in Colorado once, with a friend, but this was the first time I reached the summit alone. That last 1,000 yards started my heart a fluttering! No railings protected the side of the road coming back down, and I got as close to the other side as I could. I also came down the wrong side of the dirt road when I left. I wasn't taking any chances! and I was very glad there was no wind.

We often talk about having a "mountaintop" experience, whether it's on top of a mountain or in the coziness of our home. John Hamby says: "It is from the mountain top spiritual experiences that we gain the encouragement and strength to face the difficult times."

I've had my share of "mountaintop" experiences with the Living Lord. Nothing can compare to knowing God is with you and helping you each day. Yet there's something to being on top of the world, alone, and looking at God's creation.

I did find a blacktop road for my descend back to level ground and stopped at a restaurant for an ice cream sundae! I needed to celebrate! I was back down to earth!

My four days driving around mountains and winding roads were thrilling, and God didn't disappoint with the beauty of His creation.

I chose a trip to West Virginia so I could visit a dear friend I hadn't seen in 35 years. We had been sister-in-laws in my 20s and stayed in touch until my early 30s. With life changes we lost touch. Then, in 2014, I found her daughter on Facebook and was reunited with my friend, who was now a sister-in-Christ.

What a glorious time we had being together and sharing our hearts.

God always seems to surprise me with the desires of my heart! One morning as I began the day I came upon a cow with two new born calves! You know me and my baby animals! What a way to start my day!

My lodging was at an Inn in the valley and provided quiet, calm and a refreshing view. They had their own family of deer which I was happy to watch as they lingered in the field. I stayed in the "Garden Room" at the Inn and came back each day to sit in a garden and rest.

In the lower part of the forest is the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and it is against the law to use a cell phone. For an hour north, south, east and west there was no cell service. I admit, when I was at the top of Spruce Knob, I was wishing I had cell service!

You never know what you'll find around each curve in the road. When I came up on this old gas station and the little green truck I just had to stop and take a picture.

I loved this farm I came upon with the mountains completely covered with fog. One of many curves in the road that provided delicious scenes!

I even found this house snuggled up to the mountains and decided I could live there!

It was a wonderful few days away from the grind of life to appreciate a little bit of heaven in the mountains of West Virginia. All of this wouldn't have been possible without Jerry staying home and caring for Mom. He gave me his blessing to go and have fun. And that's just what I did!

"Does not all nature around me praise God? If I were silent, I should be an exception to the universe. Does not the thunder praise him as it rolls like drums in the march of the God of armies? Do not mountains praise him when the woods upon their summits wave in adoration? Does not the lightning write his name in letters of fire. Has not the whole earth a voice? And shall I, can I, silent be?"
Charles Haddon Spurgeon