We did it! Couldn’t look at that boathouse and not experience it!!
But the climb… oh my!This is the easy part… but the ramp with no railing… that needed someone to help us!It’s steeper than it looks here!Loved joining the friends down here.That’s LeighAnnAnd here she is with daughter, IslaBig blue eyes, dimples, and a devilish grin —- oh my —- what a cutie!
Meantime, Marcie sat up there and watched us.
Hellooo!!A break in the rain… Such a pretty day in SoddyDaisy, TN
Visiting Marcie meant being able to share time with her daughter Stacey, son-in-law Jeff, & grandchildren. Such a privilege! Jeff & Marcie showed us around the area and treated us like royalty. Stacey & Jeff treated us to dinner in their lovely home! We feel totally loved!
The friendship, the children, the scenery and gorgeous hospitality all are beyond wonderful!Thank You, Marcie!
What a treat to travel up to Signal Mountain and Lookout Mountain and see the homes & vistas up there!
Our son, Ty in CA, and our daughter, De in Switzerland , combined forces and bought us a gift certificate for Mother’s Day to one of our favorite Bozeman, Montana restaurants: Dave’s Sushi. Today we used it with great delight!
Mmm … a Bliss roll for me and a John Wayne for Bob.
Who do you think enjoyed theirs more??
Cheers! My Bliss roll was magnificent! But we both equally enjoyed the house red … a delightful blend.
Look at those sushi rolls again.
Beef on sushi!? Not my choice. But Bob loved it.
And we had enough left on our gift certificate to give Thomas , our terrific waiter, a nice tip.
Thank you, Thomas. Thank you, kids! We’re so glad you made me a mother!!
Now tomorrow we’re headed to Chattanooga. Stay tuned, my blogging friends. I’ll let you travel along vicariously.
We’re praying for warmer weather in Tennessee. It’s been a crazy May here in Montana. Today we had gray breezes, restless puffy clouds, snow, rain, and then bright sunny skies…. All within 5 hours in Bozeman. Crazy!!!
Sunday, May 3, 2026 – Sermon Notes Brian Conklin – interim pastor Madison Valley Presbyterian Church Jan’s sermon notes:
“Skipping across the lake’s surface The perfect stone seems to dance. Looking for something specific, God has chosen us as Living Stones.
Peter says we’re built on the cornerstone, The most important part of the building. Jesus Christ is our cornerstone – But He was rejected by the world.
Moses struck a stone; there were stones That allowed Christ followers to walk Across the Jordan without sinking. Stones are instruments of God’s work.
God is our steady, certain rock. Each of us is built in His image. Like rocks, if we are fitted together, We can be built into a spiritual house.
God never intended us to be a lone stone – A stone out in the field by ourselves. Faith allows us to be built into a Holy Priesthood – A place where God is encountered.
We are offerings of love, mercy, and forgiveness. Our lives make God visible on earth. Sometimes we feel like a lone stone, But we belong. We’re connected. We matter.
We’re not designed to be lone stones!
We are held together by grace. Living stones are not identical, but As unique individuals, start asking “What is God building among us?”
Where am I placed and why? Can I bear the weight of others? I am strong enough and I am fit. I’m willing to be placed and be a light in the darkness.
If you have followed my blog for awhile, you know that I used to share my sermon notes after church every Sunday. I still take sermon notes every Sunday, but not always in poetry now, and not always shared. I just got outta the habit. But, today’s sermon begs to be shared. It’s Palm Sunday… the start of Holy Week for us Christians. It’s a time to share our faith. That’s one of Jesus’ commandments! So here’s what I heard our interim minister, Brian Conklin, say today:
Jesus rode a donkey on a path of pain, Not a magnificent steed’s ride of triumph. The crowd expected a powerful leader – Not a man who would die a horrific death!
Was Jesus alone in His heartbreak? Was He alone asking, “Take this cup?” Was He alone saying, “Not My will… But Your Will be done?”
Jesus died a “flop” in the eyes Of His followers. They misunderstood. They didn’t believe the message: “I’ll die, but in three days I will live again.”
Obedience, care, compassion, humility – These were the Lordship of Jesus. Peace… and a willingness to suffer… These were His expressions of Power.
The Way of Jesus wasn’t domination. Not then – not now – So tell me, Which parade are you following? Which path do you choose?
Complacency, complicity, cruelty, pride? Love, humility, obedience, compassion? I choose the latter path – but the road is painful! Really? The Via Dolorosa… the way of suffering?
What path do you choose?
Back at home, I decided to do a little research. That path of suffering is sometimes known as Via Crucis (Latin for “Way of the Cross”). It is a processional route in the Old City of Jerusalem. It represents the path Jesus took, forced by Roman soldiers On His way to His crucifixion. It’s the winding route from the former Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is a celebrated place of Christian pilgrimage. The current route has been established since the 18th century. It is marked today by 14 Stations of the Cross. Nine of them are outside, in the streets, with the remaining five being currently inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
AI generated this image of Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. My “Path of suffering” doesn’t look like that. It’s not paved. It is much more like that first one: dark, barren, windey, foreboding. Jesus didn’t promise us a bed of roses. During this Holy Week, We are asked to travel with Him as He is arrested, tried, scorned, rejected by His very followers, denied by Peter three times, and Ultimately put to death. That’s the path. It’s not a pretty one. But, don’t stop there! If Jesus had done so, He’d be a forgotten martyr!
Walk on with confidence! Remember where your chosen path leads! Amen?
