Saturday Links

Nuggets of Gold shares short stories, quotes, and fun facts: 

https://joyroses13.wordpress.com/2026/04/12/the-snuggly-lion-a-different-spiderman-alien-ravioli-and-other-facts/ 

https://joyroses13.wordpress.com/2026/04/14/tuesdays-thoughts-541/ 

God bless. 

 

Favorite Book Friday

Take a Chance (Prosperity Ranch series Book 5) by Heather B. Moore romance. Fun. Likable hero and heroine. Interesting concept. Keeper. 

 

Thankful Thursday

Support in difficult moments

Opportunities to serve

Air conditioning, fans, and ice

Kindness 

Bird song 

God's grace

The Piano Guys - Thank God I Do/Be Still My Soul

https://youtu.be/lXwuZhjtq3U?si=6NDq5G8Wgw0Ghc5d 

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

 

Sunday Scripture

Matthew 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

 

Saturday Links

April 4th, Davids Daily Dose shared Easter wisdom: 

https://davidsdailydose.org/2026/04/04/the-unspoken-promise-navigating-the-messy-middle/

Tales from a Mid-Lifer shared lovely "Blooms Along the Path": 

https://family5power.com/2026/04/08/blooms-along-the-path/ 

God bless. 

 

Favorite Book Friday

Son of a Wanted Man by Louis L'Amour western. Tyrel Sackett made an appearance in the story, along with Borden Chantry. Now I want to read the story in which they first met. I also enjoyed the main character's story, Mike Bastian, seeing his journey to becoming his own man.

 

Thankful Thursday

Midweek Gospel Study

Farewell potluck until fall restart of MGS

Friday morning, woke to the smell of rain 

Air Conditioning and Fans

Still cools off at night 

The wonder of help others who can do nothing for you.

Church 

Bird song 

Visit with a dear friend 

God's grace 

Mac Sinise - Angel's Theme 

https://youtu.be/v1k1hwutQK0?si=qZUCiIjks__EXQze 

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

Lucy asks Mr. Beaver, "Then he (Aslan) isn't safe?" 

Mr. Beaver replies, "Safe? ... Who said anything about safe? 

'Course he isn't safe. But he's good...." 

~ C. S. Lewis 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe 

 

Sunday Scripture

Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

 

Saturday Links

Grant Ferguson, over at Wrting for Eternity, shares a 4-part series "The Work of Our Hands":

https://writingforeternity.com/2026/03/25/the-work-of-our-hands-part-1/ 

More Song Dog Journal posts: 

https://songdogjournal.com/2026/03/30/ranch-wife-musings-the-cute-factor/ 

https://songdogjournal.com/2026/03/04/waiting-3/ 

God bless.

 

Favorite Book Friday

The Man from the Broken Hills (Not listed as a Sackett novel but it's Milo Talon, a Sacket on his mother's side) by Louis L'Amour western. I want to read the other Talon books. So many books, so little time. 

 

Thankful Thursday

Midweek Gospel study at church

Cool enough to leave the door open more often than not.

A/C and fans for when it's a bit toasty

 Opportunities to serve/help others

Church 

New book by a favorite author

Favorite ebooks finally available in paperback 

God's grace

Mat and Savanna Shaw - Be Moved 

https://youtu.be/hNWhZlpbAPw?si=f8wdDLHyzPAYAzjy 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

“I know you have the faith to be healed, 

but do you have the faith not to be healed?” 

~ David A. Bednar

 

Sunday Scripture

Matthew 18:1-3 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?  And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 

Saturday Links

Into the Light Adventures shares a bit of the editing of photos process: 

https://intothelightadventures.com/editing-process/ 

And more dog photos: https://intothelightadventures.com/this-is-why/ 

God bless.

 

Favorite Book Friday

High Lonesome by Louis L'Amour western. Page turner. Didn't expect to find myself cheering for outlaws. Ultimately a redemption story. 

 

Thankful Thursday

Serving/helping others

Church

Waffle brunch with family

A/C, fans, ice

Cool enough, every day, to leave the door open for a little while

Re-reading favorite books 

Visit with my sister

Grill Night with the neighbors  

God's grace

MercyMe - Make It Well 

https://youtu.be/3wnzzOpqzdk?si=0BY75luL6-MzFzIX 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

Don't give up because you had a bad day, 

forgive yourself 

and do better tomorrow. 

~ Lauren Gleisberg 

 

Sunday Scripture

Zephaniah 3:17 “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” 

 

Saturday Links

This year, I discovered Danielle Cress and her blog Truly Inspired Books, a fascinating study:

https://trulyinspiredbooks.wordpress.com/2026/03/07/why-jews-read-the-bible-backwards-and-why-it-changes-everything/ 

Song Dog Journal is one of my favorite blogs, every single post. This is Choose Wisely: 

https://songdogjournal.com/2026/03/09/ranch-wife-musings-choose-wisely/ 

God bless. 

 

Favorite Book Friday

Novel Threat (A Pen and Dagger series Book 1) by Traci Hunter Abramson suspense romance. Re-reading in preparation for the newest release.

Staged Evidence (A Pen and Dagger series Book 2) by Traci Hunter Abramson suspense romance. Unexpected. Page-turner. Twists and turns. 

Thankful Thursday

Midweek Gospel study with sisters in Christ 

Opportunities to serve others

Church

Visiting with friends 

Cooler weather! 

Air conditioning and fans when needed

Books 

A little fall of rain. 

Unexpected blessings 

God's grace

 BYU Chamber Orchestra - Man From Snowy River (a favorite movie)

It was fun reading the comments.

https://youtu.be/iBIdEeSIFaM?si=XyR5w_UqW_72yO_Q 

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Monday Quote

Gifts aren’t meant to be repaid; they’re meant to be passed along. ~ Unknown 

Sunday Scripture

John 14:29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 

 

Saturday Links

Song Dog Journal is one of my favorite blogs:

https://songdogjournal.com/2025/09/17/tilting-sunlight-shifting-shadows/ 

https://songdogjournal.com/2025/11/13/room-for-peace/ 

More posts with good reminders an lovely photos:

https://songdogjournal.com/2025/12/07/ranch-wife-musings-the-things-that-never-change/ 

https://songdogjournal.com/2026/01/15/let-it-snow/

God bless. 

 

Favorite Book Friday

Ride the River (The Sackett series Book 5) by Louis L'Amour western, in the 1840s-50s. I had trouble putting it down. Again, the history fascinates me. I also enjoy the little touch of romance. 

The Daybreakers (The Sackett series Book 6) by Louis L'Amour western, 1870-72. I'm drawn in and feel like I'm living there. L'Amour has a gift for words. This story also gained extra meaning now that I know a little of my Welsh history. 

Sackett (The Sackett series Book 7) by Louis L'Amour western. 1874-75. Again, I love that L'Amour weaves in so many facts. 

Lando (The Sackett series Book 8)by Louis L'Amour western 1873-1879. Brutal and fascinating and not quite what I expected. 

Mojave Crossing (The Sackett series Book 9)by Louis L'Amour western 1875-1879. More history! What a journey. Whew. Interesting to see Los Angeles in the early years and love that the modern day locations are given for reference in the footnotes. 

Mustang Man (The Sackett series Book 10)by Louis L'Amour western, in the 1875-79. Action packed.

The Lonely Men (The Sackett series Book 11)by Louis L'Amour western, 1875-79. Brutal page turner. Funnily enough, one of the television stations played "The Sackett," a mishmash of a couple books, enough to recognize the books but lots of changes. I'm ever fascinated by the bits of facts and history woven into the fiction. 

Galloway (The Sackett series Book 12)by Louis L'Amour western. 1875-79. While it's true each book stands alone, together it's quite the saga. 

Treasure Mountain (The Sackett series Book 13) by Louis L'Amour western 1875-1879. Still more little bits and pieces of history woven into the story.

Lonely on the Mountain (The  Sackett series Book 14) by Louis L'Amour western 1875-1879. I confess I was a little sad at the end.

Ride the Dark Trail (The Sackett series Book 15) by Louis L'Amour western, in the 1875-79. I do like Aunt Em. L'Amour has a gift for description. 

The Sackett Brand (The Sackett series Book 16) by Louis L'Amour western, 1875-79. This should have been listed earlier in the series. This and the next actually belong after Mojave Crossing. I finally found the correct order in the Sacketts Volume 2. This story takes place in eastern Arizona, in the Mogollon Rim country. In my early teens, I did some camping and hiking in the area. Globe is still there as well as a few other places mentioned in the story. And the Lost Dutchman's Mine is referred to though not names. 

The Sky-Liners (The Sackett series Book 17) by Louis L'Amour western. 1875-79. An amazing look into our wild west history. 

 

Thankful Thursday

Easter weekend

He is risen!

He lives! 

Air conditioning and fans

New book by a favorite author 

God's grace

for King + Country - Ever and Ever Before

https://youtu.be/-7H-PGFBXpA?si=4Nl60SIJ9uxjjTCB

 

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

The richness of the Word of God ought to determine our prayer, not the poverty of our heart.

 ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Sunday Scripture

John 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

The most important words in history; words that changed everything: 

Matthew 28:6 "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said." 

 

Saturday

The disciples are confused and mourning. 

This wasn't how it was supposed to end. 

They don't understand: 

Sunday is coming. 

 

Good Friday

In the moment, it is the most awful, horrible, wicked, evil, crushing, horrifying day in history. Betrayal after betrayal. Lies upon lies. Pride on full display, determined to squash into extinction the call to humility, service, sacrifice. Unwittingly serving the greatest purpose. Unknowingly setting into motion the ultimate example of "beauty for ashes."

The adversary believes he has won. He has thwarted God's plan. The promised Messiah is debased and brutally murdered. Whew. Success. 

God holds aloft a very different definition of success. 

Jesus willingly endured Gethsemane, the flogging, the mock trial, the cross, everything because of His love for us. 

Something the adversary cannot understand. 

The disciples didn't understand, regardless of the Master's gentle tutoring. Compassion begs to be embraced. How could they? No one had ever done what Jesus was doing. It was all new. Everything was new. Hearts and minds needed to be changed. 

Jesus led the way and invited all to follow Him. 

And yet, how many would willingly follow Him through such a grizzly death? 

Would I? 

He does not ask it of me. He asks me to follow Him. Every day, I declare my choice by the actions I take. Sometimes, I follow well. Sometimes, I don't. Jesus provided the perfect way to overcome the times I don't. Repentance: Turn back to God. No one is exempt. But no one can cheat. What you choose will be written on your heart and show in your daily steps. In this life, it is never too late to make a different choice. 

The advantage we have over the disciples, in our faith walk, is they don't know Sunday is coming.

 

Thankful Thursday

Air conditioning, fans, and ice 

Midweek Gospel study at church 

Palm Sunday

Church with family

Waffle breakfast with family

Visit with my sister

The Last Supper - The Apostles still don't understand what is to come. Jesus knows. 

God's grace

Gentri "The Lord's Prayer"

https://youtu.be/m7e5BUjd4RE?si=Rt36yl7Mf8RMGyab 

BYU Vocal Point "I Stand All Amazed"

https://youtu.be/9L_qPCVxTFY?si=vuwweViRfs23uZ1Z 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

Thank you, Donna Keevers Driver, for creating this for me:

 

Sunday Scripture

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

 

Saturday Links

Song Dog Journal is one of my favorite blogs: 

https://songdogjournal.com/2026/01/02/ranch-wife-musings-whats-in-your-cup/ 

https://songdogjournal.com/2026/01/30/ranch-wife-musings-no-one-warned-me/ 

Gorgeous "Storm Clearing" photos from Tales from a Mid-Lifer:

https://family5power.com/2026/02/18/storm-clearing/ 

God bless.

 

Favorite Book Friday

Easter is coming. 

Celebrate with a story.

The Blessing Basket

The thirteenth novella in the series.

Welcome back to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

Cici, Candy Crothers, lies to everyone, except her Holiday Diner boss, only because he informed her if she lied to him he'd fire her. She ran away from an ugly past and still worries it might catch up to her. Sharing her nightmares is nowhere on her list of things to do, ever.

Trace Brown left the Army honorably but not unscathed. Anger controls his life, holding him back from pretty much everything, including becoming a chef at Holiday Diner. The diner's head hostess intrigues him, but not enough to risk sharing his day-to-day battle with PTSD.

Nothing can drive God away. His hand is stretched out still. He is always there, waiting...

http://a.co/8o1meMa 

 

 

Thankful Thursday

Air conditioning

Visit with my sister

Church 

 Seeing and hearing the neighborhood quail

 Watering my palms before the bees come for the bottle brush blossoms

Celebrating a 50th Wedding Anniversary for friends 

God's grace

The Piano Guys - Claire de Lune

https://youtu.be/o-mK22OESx4?si=3D2CmP42gLzT6mMJ 

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Monday Quote

Tolkien Fact, from The Lord of the Rings: Mushrooms and toadstools always bring to mind the fact that Frodo Baggins loved mushrooms. Quotes from the movie:

"Frodo Baggins, the bravest of hobbits." ~ Samwise Gamgee. 

"Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam." ~ Frodo Baggins

 

Sunday Scripture

John 14:25-26 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

 

Saturday Links

Nancy Ruegg, over at From the Inside Out, shared great negative thought corrections:

https://nancyaruegg.com/2026/02/05/hey-self-listen-up/ 

For His Purpose shared "A Break on the Bench," a reminder I needed: 

https://forhispurpose.blog/2026/02/06/a-break-on-the-bench/ 

God bless. 

 

Favorite Book Friday

Sackett's Land (Sackett series Book 1) by Louis L'Amour western. While it's listed has a western, it takes place in 1600. An unexpected enjoyment to recognize the mention of the battle of Lepanto, as I've listened to the narration of that bit of history by Buck Sexton a few times. L'Amour did his homework. The book is written in first person, a point of view I'm not particularly fond of reading. However, L'Amour writes not in an effort to reveal the character's inner thoughts and feelings but instead in the mode of storytelling, an autobiography. 

To the Far Blue Mountains (The  series Book 2) by Louis L'Amour western. While it's listed has a western but takes place in 1600. This is a continuation of the previous characters. The first time I read the Sackett series I didn't know much about my family history. The story delved into Wales, the Welsh, Celts, and Ireland. I also knew nothing about St. John's, Newfoundland, until recently when I discovered the police series "Hudson and Rex." L'Amour's writing is sometimes poetic, painting stunning pictures. 

The Warrior Path (The  series Book 3) by Louis L'Amour western set in 1620s. I enjoy all the bits of actual history thrown into the story. The visit to Jamaica and private haven of Port Royal was fascinating. Page turner.

Jubal Sackett (The  series Book 4) by Louis L'Amour western set in 1620s. Unlike Dan Brown who includes facts that aren't really facts but more fiction disguised as facts - yes, I looked them up - L'Amour uses facts and explains when they are simply theories based in facts, though some might dismiss the facts as fiction.