Stream in the Desert

Did I mention the gorgeous sunrises from my bedroom window?





Thursday was my last day in Wisconsin, and I have to tell you - I dreaded leaving. I adored that place!! Allison and I were on our own that morning, so we had some camera fun.





This sweet thing reminded me so much of Braeya when she was a baby.




I did not bring her home. I cannot be the crazy cat lady.

The three kittens that lived in a box in their house. Man it's been a long time since I got to play with kittens!!

This is the kitten's mama, Joyful. I had to thank her for allowing me to disrupt her brood.

Then we went outside...you'll see why in just a second. But on our way out, Butter and Dolly said hello. Hello!

The first day I was there, Allison gave me a bit of history about the farm. It had been in her family for several generations and she always dreamed of living there. She never thought she'd really ever get the opportunity, so when God opened the door, she was extra grateful. She said the reason her ancestors settled on this particular piece of ground was because of this tiny stream that bubbled up from the ground - for no particular reason - and provided a constant supply of water.

The very moment she told me that story, I remembered a couple of verses from Isaiah. They had been pivotal in my desert, and in addition, Beth Moore just talked about them in our Bible study DVD a few weeks ago. I knew this was not coincidental. God brought me here for this.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up! Do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert...

And streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-20)

Healer of my heart...Lover of my soul...Maker of the stars, the earth, the sky...come and make me whole. Savior of the world...my voice praises You alone...Healer of my heart....Lover of my soul. (Song by the Martins.)

Butter and Dolly joined me at the swing....

I really do love dogs. One day I hope to have one!

I could have stayed forever...I really could have.

Allison had coupons for pumpkin lattes at Starbucks, so we headed to town. Did I mention the Starbucks was in a Target?

When in Target, one must shop! :) When I put on my jeans that morning, I learned they no longer fit. So two safety pins later...I was half swimming through the Target. Allison said we should look at clothes.

So we stopped in shoes first. I have never, ever, in my life, owned boots. Never. (Snow boots excluded. I mean pretty boots.) Allison adores boots and declared I should own a pair. I decided to take advantage of her boot expertise and let her help me shop. She found a super cute pair and tucked my never ending jeans inside. I felt like a fisherman in hip waders. LOL!!!

I fell in love. And as a result, I now own my very first pair of boots ever.

And two pairs of jeans that FIT. Who knew? (Down one more size too!)




After our shopping trip, it was time for me to say goodbye to Wisconsin. Sadness.

After changing into the jeans that DO fit - and the cute new boots - I repacked the car (again) and drove down the road. Allison told me later that they call their home Blessing Valley. Totally appropriate.


I didn't want to go....but I recognized as I left that God had, in fact, answered my prayer.

He had worked a healing in my heart.