A brief look into my childhood.

Dad was not home much anymore. His job took him out of town a lot. I wondered if Dad would go sledding with us this winter. The snow would start falling soon. Ingelstet's hill was the best place to sled. Pumphouse Hill though was closer to home. I remember once Dad took us to a farm with big rolling hills. It was cold and the winds whipped the snow furiously. Dad loved sledding probably as much as we did.

I got my brand new Western Flyer that year. Oh, it had shiny sleek runners. And it had a cross board steering arm you could tie a rope to and steer. Or, you could sit and use your feet. I waxed the runners-took off at a run-leaped onto my sled and whisked down the hill as the frigid wet snow whipped against my face. Closer and closer -- came the bottom of the hill-faster, faster. I must quickly decide -- would I brave putting my brand new sled into a powerful turn risking a rollover? Did I want the billowing powdering of snow that would inevitably accompany my rolling turn? Yes-I would do it! Hold on, there I went-twisting, rolling, end for end, repeatedly plummeting unhindered against the ripples of frigid dampness. I must hurry back to the top of the hill. Although the wet snow filled every pocket, every opening of my jacket and entered even the tightly secured haven of my galoshes another adventurous ride down the hill I wanted.

What a chance I took that day. Looking back at it now I realize life was full of chances and changes, good things and bad things. The closer I came to the bottom of that hill the scarier it got. Would I damage my sled, would I get hurt, would Dad be proud of me? Life brings many things to us, I made a choice to brave the hill, and it was exciting and very safe actually. I realize now that Dad would never have let us sled there if there were any danger of us getting hurt. He watched out for us all the time, well at least when he was home.

Dad headed out of town again, I wished he’d get a different job. Mom didn’t like it either. She was always crying. I wondered when he’d be back. I missed him a lot. Grandpa was not feeling well. Grandma was crying a lot also. She was praying a lot too. I remembered her telling me God never leaves us. He was watching out for us always. Then she’d sniffle and have me help her bake some cookies. I wondered when Dad was coming home. It’s been almost a month now. He’s never left us alone this long before.

Hebrews 13:5, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Deuteronomy 31:8, "And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."