Tag: idaho

An Idaho Christmas

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Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
-Colossians 3:15

Hello, Christmas…

Another Idaho winter has descended upon us.

In my neck of the woods, that means a little snow and a lot of gray days. But leave the river valley in any direction, and you’ll soon be skating on icy roads and snow. On the weekends it also means the occasional pop of birdshot as a Duck Dynasty wannabe wanders around the river road below us looking for an easy dinner.

It’s unnerving to look out the window and see a gun pointed my way.

Ah.

Christmas in Idaho.

It’s five days after Thanksgiving, and I’m feeling inadequate as my exuberant Facebook friends display their freshly decorated trees and trade Christmas recipes online.  In our log cabin, the only hints that Christmas is coming are a lovely poinsettia from my daughter-law, one Christmas card, and the meager pile of unwrapped presents I’ve bought for the annual family celebration.

My husband has hopefully set the decorations out in his shop in what may be a hint. I have yet to even venture out to take a look at them. I usually love Christmas, but this one has been dampened by the suffering of someone I love.

I worry. I fret. I give in to the  gloom.

Then I remember.

This is why He came.

Let heaven and nature sing!

Two thousand years ago, the world was much the same. Except it was a world without hope. This Christmas, we can be ruled by the Christ of peace, the Lord who delivered us from the futility of a life without Him.

In Jesus, Christmas dissolves into Thanks Giving and every day is a celebration. Our hearts are no longer controlled by either minor daily irritations or devastating loss. Until the day we see the magnitude of His victory, we ride out the highs and lows and choose to rejoice.

He rules the earth. Let heaven and nature sing: Joy to the world.

Maybe I should take a look at those decorations.

Salmon Valley Celebration

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Be hospitable to one another without complaint. – 1 Peter 4:9

Our destination was the town of Salmon, in southern Idaho. We started from our home in northern Idaho. We drove west for several hours up the Clearwater River and over the winding Lolo Pass.

That put us in Montana.

Then we drove several more hours south along the craggy Bitterroot Mountains. At the top of Lost Trail Pass, several inches of snow greeted us. Down the other side of the valley, we followed a meandering river through lovely groves of golden trees and hills scarred by some recent fire.

That put us back in Idaho.

Such are the rigors of travel in the Inland Northwest. People in our neck of the woods are used to traveling long distances between towns. Much of Idaho is still wild, forged of mountains and valleys largely unscathed by the insult of a four-lane highway. Or anything resembling a highway.

The drive, though slow, was glorious. My long-suffering son Daniel offered to drive me to the town of Salmon to speak to the ladies of the Salmon Valley Baptist Church and their guests on October 11. Dan and I took the opportunity to talk and enjoy the panoramic views of the Lochsa River country.

For caregivers, even a drive is a gift.

In Salmon, I had the chance to reconnect with Ron and Connie Seibert, the couple who led my husband and me to the Lord nearly forty years ago. As pastor of the Southern Baptist church we attended, Ron baptized both of us in the faith. Ron and Connie discipled us through those first crucial years of walking with God. Connie and I recently found each other online and discovered our common love of writing.

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Ron and Connie Seibert

The ladies of the Salmon Valley Baptist Church were warm and welcoming; their hospitality rich; their hearts open. I was blessed to be there and reluctant to leave them so soon. God encouraged me to just “give them Jesus” as I prepared for the trip. I can tell you I received Jesus back with much love from my Southern Baptist sisters.

Thanks to all of you who prayed for the trip. Special thanks to Aaron and Grace for holding down the fort at home while I was gone. Thanks, Dan, for your generous heart!

Photos courtesy Dan Thorson

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