sky obsession.

there is never a time that i do not enjoy a good staring at the sky moment.

if there is ever a time you are in my presence you will most likely be told to "look at the sky" 

i could sit for hours & watch the clouds float by. 

there is still joy in finding clouds that form creatures. 

& watching them slowly transform. 

or when the clouds part just enough for the sun to let a few rays sneak through 

& the clouds are outlined by a golden lining & it makes me think of heaven 

it seems as though if i just had a tall enough ladder to reach that opening that maybe at the top when i peered around that cloud there i would catch a glimpe of heaven gates.

there are 3 a.m skies on road trips. when darkness still hangs over the land. where rains fall down making windshield wipers run at full speed. where lightning flashes & lights up the country side. 

& that moment when the storm stops. & dawn begins to break . 

when the soft glow of the rising sun mixes with the darkness of the parting night clouds. 

& we whisper thank you God  & watch as the sky is painted by the greatest Artist of all.

⃝ 

1,708 kilometres lie between gentry arkansas & cartwright manitoba 

gps estimates your journey to take about 15.5 hours. 

& there ms jera & i are.

hurtling down the interstate. 

we guzzle mdonalds coffee 

& eat granola bars that have been made by a kind human. 

the miles pass by 

& the laughter rings out 

conversation changes from that of deep matters to much more carefree things in just moments. 

& silent times when the passenger sleeps so they can take over the driving. 

we are eating chick fil a & suddenly we wonder in what city we are. ( i give you permission to laugh )

it feels as though very suddenly we are at the border

the day suprisingly felt not very long. that's what good company does. 

& then two canadian girls are back on the soil of their country. 

i see the house where ms. jera lives 

her parents & her dog. 

& i feel this is a house where anyone is welcome. 

just moments later i am dropped off at ryan & jayla's  

& i get to hug mission people 

& hug my sister & the littles 

& its good to be back with people that just feel comfy. 

to sleep feels like a waste this weekend. 

so we fill the days with catching up , wedding festivities 

& reliving the days of the time when we sat on the red dirt ground of african huts. 

& i watch as chase & lacey begin their lives together & their smiles make me cry. 

& i know that this day has been one greatly prayed for day. 

all mission folk gather for an evening of great loudness. 

& we sing & i smile 

& i am grateful i got to be part of this "family" even if it was for a short time. 

then it is over. 

& ms. jera & i find ourselves once more inside her little white car this time headed south. 

⃝

i see blue skies contrasting with green fields. 

& a sky that holds a dusty hue. a colour that brings back memories of my life in kansas. 

i gaze out the window & it feels as though we are racing those giant fluff clouds that are moving alongside us at a rapid speed. 

how can one sky hold so much for me to stare at ? 

wispy clouds take on a pinkish glow as the sun once again dips below the horizon. 

the great round moon bodly holds its place in the sky. 

brightly illuminating the land beneath.

loudly proclaiming that it is the lesser light ruling the night. 

& i whisper again thank you God.  

⃝

& life at the ranch has been full. 

each morning we wake up & face whatever is thrown at us 

& we talk about hard things

have round ups that last longer then just 30 minutes 

our ranchers have been making exellent steps in their journeys.

& life is not easy  

each day we pray that we will know how to love & how to guide. 

& when the sunset sets at night & the fireflies come out to play often times you will find two tired mentors sitting on the back porch in hammocks discussing the weeks that lie ahead. 

as always the prayers are felt. 

in the coming days, the 22nd- 24th you could sigh extra prayers for good-ish weather & saftey as we head out canoeing on lake ouchita for 3 days & 2 nights of wilderness sleeping. 

& just a friendly reminder. 

don't forget to look at the sky. 

until next time 

ms. tif.