July 4th came and is gone already. Leland and Tara worked at River Runners Rafting Co. all day, Russel had a day off from his endless job and went to Billings to replace his old broken phone, Dustin and I had a laid-back day with napping, reading, and making a great supper for everyone to come home to. I went to the Cody Parade in the morning. The July 4th some of us are grieving our nation and praying for better days. I ran across this song from Toby Keith. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoZftznHz7o Happy Birthday America!
What are other songs that sing of grieving our nation, or find a way to look forward to peace?
On another note, I so appreciate living in Wyoming. Those nearly constant clear skies and views of the mountains around us bring me hope and clarity. I've tried to analyze it many times. Like Dustin says, "Why Wyoming?" I shrug and say, "It's the West where we've always wanted to be."
How do I reconcile with the idea that country music and western culture are considered for some to be red-necky and uncultured?
I have no wish to become a cowgirl with unabashed rigor. I only love the basic way of looking at life through the lens of rock-solid values. The history of this area is full of betrayal, killing, and tough times alongside hidden beauty in dry rugged places. The wide-open roads, the acres where nothing is between towns are priceless.
I am curious about the wildlife, the mountain versions of the flowers I've known in the midwest, the birds, and the way this weather works out here. It seems the weather here is fickle. I've noticed that while living in WI and OH we always claimed swift weather changes. Well, Wyoming has got that one beat.
It is with regret that I found that the school system is teaching the same stuff all the other schools in America are teaching. Gender fluidity, and cancel culture stuff, and so it won't be long until this West will feel a little more like the coastal cities of our nation.
We're going to have a revival, perhaps a kind of reset button, where polarized ideas will be tested. And Love will win. Truth will win.
Lest anyone gets to thinking this means one side or other, think again. It means anyone who loves and leans on the truth of God's word with a living relationship with the Author of life will win. How does that look? Not like nationalism, patriotism, or the like. It will look like abundant love running over, caring for the one in front of me. It will come out of the surrender of obedience to the One who holds it all.
Pictures convey more meaning than words. The following photos are for the record of our life in Wyoming. 
Norv, Sharon, and the girls came to visit one Sunday. We toured the Heart Mountain Internment Camp.
Leland bought himself a pickup, Silverado 4x4. It's his fix-it project.
Dustin and his friends did a Civil War project in their social studies class. He has some stories to tell about that.
Dustin's 8th-grade graduating class. The weather was perfect that day.
He is walking away from 8th grade right here. His final walk to the car from grade school.
Leland drives the transportation for a rafting company.
We got a free raft ride down the Shoshone. I loved it. These pictures are the bus ride to or from the raft ride. The bus driver? Leland
Pictured are scenes from driving up the North Fork of the Shoshone. Notice the elk.
Tara arrived for the summer + and is working on getting to know Elliot.
One Sunday afternoon Leland helped take an event tent down high in the mountains at one of the ranches there. I went along and being intrigued with the landscape and setting snapped some pictures of the ranch.
I am running a small baking business out of a Cafe in town. Here are some of what I do.
So long, farewell, until later.
