Wordless Wednesday: A Beautiful Blue

Photo Quests: Leaves Are Turning

Intro: I don't know if it's the heat or if Autumn is coming (or both), but some of the leaves are turning. I'm so happy when I start to see the signs of the new season. The leaves are just so beautiful when they change. It's one of my favorite things! What about you?

Quest Ending: I know that in the weeks ahead, I'll see more leaves changing. I hope to capture these changes on my other photo quests. It's such an amazing time to see nature going through seasons, too (so do we!). Things do transition, nothing stays the same. 🍂

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Wordless Wednesday: Eye Of The Wood

Photo Quests: Busy Bees

Intro: I stepped into the summer air to take photos. I wasn't sure what to exactly expect. I mean, flowers for sure, but not bees, especially not a bumble bee. But I came across one - which I was excited about. I watched it work among the cone flowers. A busy bee!

Quest Ending: I discovered some honeybees, as well. All of them hard at work. I loved seeing them flit from flower to flower. While summer isn't my favorite, I do enjoy the little moments like these. They make the heat more bearable. Thank you so much, bees!

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Book Spotlights: Arrow

Synopsis: Arrow

It was late in the day when the exploratory team headed by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark stumbled upon the native village of Yaxtoin, along what is now called the Clearwater River, on their journey to the Pacific Ocean. The explorers announced their arrival in dramatic fashion, wrecking one of their canoes in the rapids just below the village. Aided by a nearby native resident, they dragged their wet belongings onto dry land and set up camp. The date was October 8, 1805, and place now called Arrow had just been discovered. The expedition enjoyed the hospitality of the villagers that night and stayed until October 10, when their provisions were dry enough for travel. On their return trip in 1806, they presented a Jefferson Peace Medal to Chief Cut-Nose of Yaxtoin. In 1898, railroad construction crews would find this medal, wrapped in buffalo hide, in an indigenous grave at Arrow. With the opening of the Nez Perce Reservation to outside settlement, Yaxtoin became the bustling railroad crossroad of Arrow Junction, Idaho. At one time it boasted a steamboat dock, church, school, and store. It was upon this incidental stage that a community of shared cultures lived, loved, suffered, and rose above its own human drama. Longtime Arrow resident and author Pam Thorson has spent nearly three decades researching the rich history of this community. In this, the first of two volumes, she presents her discoveries.

You can find this book in kindle and paperback on Amazon and at ...And Books, Too!

About: Pam Thorson

Pam Thorson is a nurse, full-time caregiver, speaker, and author of four books: Song in the Night; Out from the Shadows: 31 Devotions for the Weary Caregiver; Arrow: the History and People of an Idaho Community, and Blood Falls. She is a regular contributor for the Christian music website CMADDICT.com. Pam lives in the Northwest with her family. You can also find her on Facebook and her website bloodfalls.net. 

*Grace Thorson* Some of my local photography is included in this book.

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Wordless Wednesday: Intricate Creations

Photo Quests: Discovering The Moon

Intro: I woke up at 5 am. I looked out a window and saw the moon was still awake. I grabbed my camera, and I took photos of the moon as it began to hide behind the hill. I was excited even though I didn't know how they'd turn out as my past ones weren't good. 

Quest Ending: The photos didn't turn out how I'd like, but I thought they were okay. I'm sure that someday I will get some awesome photos of the moon. I just don't know when or how, even when the moon seems to escape me every time. But I'll see you again, moon!

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Book Spotlights: Song In The Night

Synopsis: Song in the Night

As a young Christian, Kevin Thorson was a normal, healthy 19-year-old. Music was his life, and he planned to play his guitar and use his talents for God. Abruptly, all seemed to end July 11, 1997.

His recalls the words from that dreaded phone call: Pam, you need to sit down... Kevin has been in an accident... paralyzed... ventilator... hospital... She could only comprehend the bits in between those horrifying words. Kevin was lying paralyzed on a ventilator in a foreign country with a broken neck.

Pam Thorson, with painful openness, recounts the true story of her family's nightmare as they struggled to live out their faith in the face of impossible odds. Song in the night traces the journey of her family to find peace in the midst of so much darkness.

You can find this book on Amazon in hardcover and kindle.

Author: Pam Thorson

I kept waiting for the happy ending to arrive... but I finally took the advice of a dear friend: Write the pain.

So Pam Thorson finally writes about her teenage son's tragic accident. From those first agonizing days to the surprising interventions of God that brought Kevin back from the brink of death, he earned the nickname Miracle in the Making.

Song in the Night is a story of their long suffering and God's tender grace; it is a story of assurance that the family is moving upward and onward. Pam insists that it is not about us. It is about our God... Who delights at the sound of His beloved children singing especially during that long, cold night before the dawn.

 About: Pam Thorson

Pam Thorson is a nurse, full-time caregiver, speaker, and author of four books: Song in the Night; Out from the Shadows: 31 Devotions for the Weary Caregiver; Arrow: the History and People of an Idaho Community, and Blood Falls. She is a regular contributor for the Christian music website CMADDICT.com. Pam lives in the Northwest with her family. You can also find her on Facebook and her website bloodfalls.net. 

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Wordless Wednesday: Surrounded By Flowers

Wordless Wednesday: Beautiful Blossoms

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Chickens

Photo Quests: Life Is Growing

Intro: There are a few flowers blooming - two are violets and daffodils. When I went outside with my camera, my goal was to capture growth. I was able to find some plants making progress in growing. Soon, there'll be flowers. Like you, I'm sure, I can't wait!

Quest Ending: The photos I took may not be thrilling but seeing them gives me joy. When life is overwhelming, I look to nature. It fills me up with hope when I see life growing. It's so encouraging to witness new life emerging from the ground. And may they keep growing!

Wandering At Home: Searching For Clovers

I found it before - the elusive clover. It was many years ago that I chanced upon one in our backyard. I can't remember if it was three-leaf or four-leaf, but I found one, nevertheless. Since it's St. Patrick's Day, I decided to search for one. I had eaten a really quick lunch and headed outdoors with my camera. I was skeptical at finding one, but I wanted to search, anyways. It's a cloudy, rainy day, and I went without a coat on. I love grey days, so it didn't bother me much. I actually always thought I'd do well in a country where it rained all the time, but I don't know for sure. But I digress, I walked around the green patches of grass.

I found many weeds, grass, and flowers amidst the green patches. All the green was, and is, lovely. My hopes of finding a clover were looking slimmer as I walked around, however. I came across some budding daffodils, purple violets, and flowering weeds. I enjoyed seeing that spring was upon us. Even though, there is often hardship, beauty still remains. All the greenery and flowers remind me of this. I don't know if hardships will ever truly lessen for anyone, but beauty is ever constant. You can especially find it in nature. I guess that's why I love take photos of the living, to preserve it for myself, and others. Beauty will live on.

As I was walking, I discovered some desert parsley, which was surprising to me. I usually think of it as a summer plant, but I guess I never noticed it blooming this early. I then found some other kind of plant that I have no idea of, and also, some pretty moss on a railroad tie. Still no clovers. I came across something that looked like one, but I had a feeling it wasn't. So, I pressed on. With spring coming near, I couldn't wait for more flowers to bloom. The birds were already anticipating it. I could hear the many birds chirping away. Everything seems to wait. Almost waiting impatiently, though, like the earth can't wait. 

A few droplets on a blade of grass. It had previously rained. While the earth gets a shower to prepare it for rebirth, I admire its whole process, impatiently. On St. Patrick's Day, I felt like I enjoyed the holiday the best way I could by looking for clovers. And truly, just taking in the greenery around me. I do have a little Irish in me, but not a lot. I always just like to celebrate this holiday in a simple manner, not doing much, except for being out in nature - one of my favorite places to be. I didn't do the traditional meals or drinks, only a walk for thirty minutes. It was really good to stretch the legs and take some wonderful photos. 💚

Close to the end of my walk, I found more of those plants that looked like clovers. I'm certain they weren't, and aren't, but it was fun to find them. They resembled close enough for me, and I was satisfied with them. While I didn't find any clovers, I still found treasure. And a little bit of luck. Getting outside for a brief walk was beautiful, and going on a hunt for clovers was pleasant. I felt blessed by God for this day. I'm just thankful to Him for His creation, and the beauty that I get to discover in it. By the way, today's post was special. It's a new series that will be posted on Mondays. Not every Monday, but it'll be posted randomly. I hope you liked today's post, and I pray you have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

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Photo Quests: Winter In Dark Tones

Intro: I had gone on a winter walk. With my camera, I snapped various photos of trees and miscellaneous. I mostly took them of the pine trees we have. I've always admired them since my family planted them there many years ago to create our own little forest. 🌲

Quest Ending: I always like doing photos in black and white, and I hope you enjoy them, as well. I didn't get any special photos that day because there wasn't much to find. But I know Spring is coming soon, and with it, more life. And lots of light, too! Can't wait for it all.

Wordless Wednesday: Following The Fence

Blog Update: What Would You Like To See More Of?

Winter is still here. January was a surprise, however. It didn't really snow during then. January and February seemed to switch places. It's been bitterly cold here, and it's even supposed to snow some more. While I like Winter, I'm eager for Spring. Once Winter is over, I think everyone will be more settled. I, myself, will find the warmer days easier. And with the change of seasons, I'll be more active in writing. I'd also like to do more photography when I can. I'm just excited for the new changes, and I actually can't wait for them all.

With so many changes coming, I wrote a post especially for that today. What would you like to see more of? Do you like my devotionals and photo quests more than the other posts? What do you prefer? Or what would interest you? I'm ultimately looking to adjust for my readers to see what does and doesn't work. If you have any ideas, be sure to leave your comments on this blog post. The comments will be really helpful in me being able to see what everyone enjoys. I want people to like my posts and find encouragement from them.

As for the blog itself, it'll soon to turn into a website, plus my blog, of course. The pages on here have been updated for the time being. With the Facebook page, I've created images to share there each day. I don't really plan on using any other social media space. At least, for right now. In my writing, I'm working on some poems, and the book, as well. I try to find extra time for all of this - which is something I don't always have. But I want to pursue my writing and maybe, a little photography. We'll see what happens in the next few months.

If you have any other ideas, please let me know. And if you'd like me to spotlight your business, do a book review, or anything else, send me an email at: thewanderingwithgrace@gmail.com

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson