Hunting Elk, Finding Grace, Giving Thanks

Hello All,

The past week and a half - two weeks(ish) have been elk season around here.

Many vertical miles have been covered.

It has been unseasonably warm so the elk haven't bee pushed down by the snow yet.

That translates into us having to go find them in Tim-buk-tu.

I had a spike tag since we are just after the meat.

We did see some but nothing where we could actually get to them.

So once again, we are elkless.

I do feel blessed in that I got a bear and a buck.

Elk are just a little more elusive.

One nice thing was that it was 'away'.

Not away as in far from home.

We just drive up the road a ways, get out, and start climbing.

But away from the 'outside' world, the anger, the bashing, and the filth.

One of the days, I hunted alone since Mr. LB had to work.

It was the best therapy.

As I was hiking along, the song "How Great Thou Art" found its way to my head.

Why is it that when a song gets in my head, I know only the chorus 

and a partial line here and there?  Poor little brain.

Regardless, for the past week or so I've spent a lot of time conversing with God,

and this (partial) song has continued to pop into my head.

I kept thinking of looking up the lyrics but haven't had much of a chance.

Finally, a couple nights ago after supper, Mr. LB and I sat in where it was a little softer and where the fire is.

I finally got to pick up my stitching, and he browsed facebook on his phone.

He was laughing at something a friend posted.

Then he brought up something another friend had posted.  

It was a song.

Can you guess which song?

Oh yes, "How Great Thou Art" by HomeFree.

It's an amazing rendition.

I had never heard of them.  They won a TV contest at one point so I might be the only one who hadn't heard of them.

Here is "Ring of Fire" also - just because, well, Wow!

Needless to say, I'm thinking God is working on me.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year.

I love that families get together and give thanks, no gifts or gimmicks, 

just thanks.

Honestly, I was struggling a little with the tension of society this year.

We will be traveling to see family we haven't seen in many years

including my 93 year old grandmother.

(My last surviving grand-parent.)

I am so anxious and excited to see them but had some sort of reserve or trepidation about traveling.

When that song played on Mr. LB's phone, it all began to dissipate.

I know we will be fine on our travels,

and it's okay to enjoy the season and appreciate all the gifts we're given

with each dawning light.

He does work in mysterious ways.

I'd like to wish each of you a very happy and safe Thanksgiving.

PS: The next day, I did something I haven't done in at least a year or two.

I went and splurged on the CD.

I have listened to that song numerous times in the last couple days.