Jackson (our Boykin Spaniel) turned two in July and he is definitely enjoying his 2nd hunting season.
You’ll have to look closely to find Jackson in the photo below, he is next to Jon Aten, front left side. It’s from this morning’s hunt where they got 22 birds.
He may look small but his Boykin personality shined through in 4 days of hunting at Wings of Freedom, which ended today. He is a fierce and determined bird hunter! He and Jon got the chance to show that in several hunts with veterans over the last four days.
Jackson was the only Boykin Spaniel at the event so he hunted with some Labs, GSPs and GWPs, and did great with all of them. (Bigger dogs don’t bother him a bit since he trained with Labs and lives with 125 lb. Labrahound.) I understand several people inquired how they could get one like him. 😊
I am proud of both of them — and I’m glad that baby oil and a metal comb works so well on burrs, because we’ve removed LOTS of them! Those burrs just love his curly ears and the feathers on his legs.
Jon & Jackson, left side, front row
As I write this I am reminded that I have much to be grateful for, to name a few… Jackson who is curled up on the foot of my bed right now, my son Jon who is a veteran and has such a heart for veterans (to befriend and serve them), for family who joined us for an Italian dinner celebrating our 51st wedding anniversary last weekend….and so much more.
But most of all I am grateful for the amazing and faithful love of God. He knew/knows me, and yet He loves me. just as He loves you.
I cried when I learned he had been shot and killed at just 31 years old. It was both shocking and heartbreaking.
I did not know him personally, but I greatly admired his faith in Jesus Christ, love for family, dedication to speaking truth, and his love for America.
I understand that Charlie wanted to be remembered for his courage and his faith. I believe that he is and will be remembered for both of those things, as well as for his passion for the youth of this nation. His impact was significant.
It’s amazing to hear, read about and watch all of the prayer vigils (world wide), the overflowing churches and to hear leaders in our nation worship and give honor to God at the Charlie Kirk Memorial Service at the Kennedy Center, 9/14/2025.
Tomorrow (9/21/2025) it’s expected that 100,000+ will gather in a stadium in Glendale, AZ for a final memorial service to honor Charlie Kirk. Millions more will watch via network television, YouTube, Rumble and more.
All who are there, or watching or listening will hear from highly respected leaders, but more importantly, they will hear the gospel.
Please join me in praying for:
Erika and the Turning Point family to experience the grace, strength, peace and comfort of God, personally.
The protection of all speakers and attendees and that any plots, plans, and schemes of the enemy to disrupt the memorial will be exposed and thwarted. And for great wisdom and insight for all law enforcement and security personnel.
Pray for Pastor Rob McCoy, that God anoints and uses him and the message he shares.
Souls saved, hearts open to truth and for a great and long lasting revival and impact to reach college and high school students with the love of Jesus.
No technical difficulties and no online hindrances will affect live streams of the service.
I am expecting a great move of God. I am grateful that He can take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good. It has already begun and I expect it to continue to be a turning point toward God by many.
These flowers needed to be transplanted to inside the fence, where they belong.
In part 1, I wrote about the preciousness of meeting with Jesus. In this post I want to share what Holy Spirit has been speaking to me recently, as I was working in my yard, which is partially a garden.
It has been an unusually warm summer season in West Michigan this year. I found myself delaying normal yard/garden tasks for weeks! I did not start until the beginning of September. Only mowing grass was done, when necessary.
When it was finally cool enough, wow, there was a lot to do! It took me several hours each day over a whole week to prune bushes, pull weeds, remove errant vines, and transplant perennials. The result was a trailer filled with yard waste and a much neater yard as shown in the photos.
Toward the end of the week as the trailer was filling and I was weeding out/transplanting flowers, I heard the inward voice of Holy Spirit speaking to me — both about the project at hand, and how to apply lessons learned to my spiritual life.
First, there were so many things that had gotten out of hand, and that made it hard work to set things right. I realized that even with the warm days, there was often a cool time early in the day. I could have used that time to tend to one small area at a time — preventing weeds from spreading and doing what was needed for healthy plants, and it would have been easier.
That applies spiritually as well! He wants us to come to Him every day, to fellowship with Him. We can bring even the little things that need attention to Him at any time, ask and expect Him to teach us and to work with, in, for and through us.
Weeds – ugh! The longer they are let go, the more ground they take, and some have deep roots. Weeds will choke out the life of other plants. BUT, after a good rain and with the right tools, it is much easier to remove them.
Spiritual Weeds – I thought of Ephesians 5 where it talks about the washing of the water of the Word (who is Jesus). How as we hear/read the Word it reveals the truth as well as what is not true (and weeds are like lies). And of II Corinthians 10:4-5, which talks about the weapons of our warfare, and casting down imaginations (also lies) that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. We have been given the tools we need.
Then there are perennials. In their place they are beautiful, but can be invasive, almost becoming like weeds. They can become overcrowded and more of a nuisance than something to enjoy. For example mint — it must be managed or it will take over!
Spiritually, similar to perennials, I must be aware of even the good/beautiful things in my life. It’s good to have/do/enjoy other good things, but they must be managed. My relationship with Jesus must be first and take up the most space in my heart.
This rose bush from my husband’s grandmothers yard that I have transplanted three times. It grows wildly each year and needed significant pruning- but it will come back strong and beautifully.Rose bushes which had grown very tall and out of shape took two days to prune. A weeks worth of yard clean up, bush pruning, vine cutting and more!It looks a bit messy, but herbs are under control and flowers transplanted.
My garden still needs more work, but I committed to tending it, the same with my relationship with the Lord. I am grateful for His patience, grace, leading and most of all His love.
Hopefully you have enjoyed this story, and are also encouraged to tend your garden, or better yet, to spend more time with Jesus. Oh how He loves you and me!
The story of these two gardens are linked together by Him, Jesus. The first one is in the Garden Tomb. The second I loosely call a garden, it is the small lot on which our home rests. And in my heart, they are both linked to the song, In The Garden.
This is part 1:
Today in church we sang, In The Garden, and I was reminded of hearing and singing it as a child. As now, even then the words seemed very precious to me, creating a picture of intimacy and peace in His presence. I somehow knew that being with Him made me know I am safe, secure and loved.
In The Garden was written in 1912 by C. Austin Miles. It is based on a vivid dream he saw after reading John 20, and was then inspired to write this hymn about the first encounter between Mary Magdalene (Mary of Magdala) and her risen Lord.
According to Miles’ great-granddaughter, the song was written “in a cold, dreary and leaky basement in Pitman, New Jersey that didn’t even have a window in it let alone a view of a garden.”
I encourage you to listen to a wonderful video sharing the story and song of In The Garden here.
Below are the words. As you read them, I encourage you to get quiet and picture yourself meeting with Him in a place of peace, intimacy, and surrender. Speak to Him, and listen, expect Him to answer. He wants to reveal himself to you. Oh how He loves you and me.
I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses, And the voice I hear falling on my ear The Son of God discloses.
Refrain: And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice Is so sweet the birds hush their singing, And the melody that He gave to me Within my heart is ringing.
I’d stay in the garden with Him, Though the night around me be falling, But He bids me go; through the voice of woe His voice to me is calling.
I have found that listening to instrumental music by Alberto Rivera helps me to quiet myself. I particularly enjoy the albums titled as prayer soundtracks. There are several others. You can find him on Amazon Music or Spotify, and probably other music streaming services, as well as on YouTube.
A Grateful Grace-full Life 