Journaling Page 2

🌼 Welcome to Page 2 of My Journaling the Journal

My journaling page is stitched from newest to oldest.

If you’d like to begin at the very start of my journal, simply click on this link to page 1, then scroll down to the entry titled:

“Welcome to my Journaling the Journal” — Page 1

This second page continues the journey in the same way — newest entries at the top, older ones tucked below like layers in a cozy quilt.

 page 2 first entry: Back on my Feet🌼 

🌾At the Ranch and in Life — 🐎 Adapting on the Journey is a happening thing 🌾

Have you noticed that we're on session 28 of our YouTube reading of Smile-Mile StoryTime?  Did you notice that as we’re reading about the trek in Smile‑Mile Inheritance, that Thomas is changing? Ralph and Paul have. They even make a comment to each other that city boy Thomas is becoming comfortable being a country cowboy.

And this is from my life too. 🌻  My husband, William, was born a city boy. Down Town Toronto Canada, and he lived in down town New York, Syracuse and Anaheim CA, working in Los Angeles. So it was a major change for my city boy to move to Kingman AZ in 1995. . . it's country rural. He suggested this move because he noticed I could breathe when we visited my mother, he’s so caring. Anyway, the move was hard on him, which I didn’t realize until a year later when I asked how he was doing with the move. It bothered him that there were no malls, and no street lights and no curbs and gutters! And he was serious. He missed those amities from his life.

Gratefully, he did adapt to being a country gardener, 🌻 which was totally new to him. Adapting to situations is a happening thing in this Trilogy story. So hang in there and see what else is going to be happening when we get to Volume Two – Living the Inheritance. That will be happening next year. 🐎 We’re working on the final editing so it’s ready by then.

Till next time, thanks for your continued support of the My Ranch 🐴 family story by sharing it with your friends and family. Take care and as always, may the Good Lord continue to bless you and yours with His Peace and guidance.

🌻 Love hugs, Grama Jean 💛

Journal entry:  August 19, 2026

✨ 🙏 Faith for the Real Life Trials We Face 🙏 ✨ 

Life happens in real time around us and bad things do happen to good people. 🏕️ In Smile-Mile Inheritance we are following along as Thomas and Ella face the trial of their life in overcoming behaviors that have separated them from each other. 👢 

In my real life right now, my good friend Susan is facing the life threatening trial of her son and his family as they are relocating to a new job. I have my health issues and feel the loss of Dad Manly and my Mother daily. In the Old Testament 📖 , we are currently reading and learning from the book of Job. Yes, real life does have a variety of challenges, trials, and troubles for each of us to face.

And just as Job, we need our Faith to see us through. Do you know that God is real? Do you know that He is your Heavenly Father and that He loves you? Do you believe that all things will be for your good?  ✨ These are principles that we are taught in the Book of Job and are important for each of us to learn for ourselves. ✨  With the power of the Holy Spirit we can know, do and BE what the Good Lord intends for us to learn, grow and become.

This Faith of mine is written into the pages of my Trilogy — which is actually Heavenly Father’s story for you to relate to as you read it.  🐎  Hopefully, this story may help you grow nearer to your Heavenly Father and Jesus. Thanks for joining this journey of life. May you go forth this day, and always, with the power of Love in your heart. Remember, Jesus loves you and so do I….

🌻💛Love hugs, Grama Jean 💛🌻 

Journal entry:  August 12, 2026

🕯️🪵 Smile‑Mile Inheritance: True Tales Behind the Trilogy 🐎🌾

Perhaps you have been following along with my reading of Smile‑Mile Inheritance on YouTube and noticed when the story was about Maria breaking her right wrist and three ribs. 🏕️🪔 Well, that is a true story. Only it wasn’t mine. My friend Marin actually did get the “hi‑ho Silver” dump off her Irish Cob along the mountain trial on their property and did break her wrist and three ribs 🐴 She let us know as time went on and the wrist healed that those ribs were certainly the worse and took the longest to heal. I totally agree with that, because I have had two broken ribs. We both agree we healed with the Good Lord’s help ✨

Those of you with your own book can look up the footnote and read more about that. And those of you just joining our Trilogy Journey, welcome 🤠 Hope you have found it interesting to read about how I got all this started. Have you checked out the sketches yet? There is a lot of interesting things to see and read 📚 And to you folks who are regulars, I thank you for your continued following and trust that you will all receive your share of the Good Lord’s blessings in your life too 💛 

🤗💚Love Hugs.... Grama Jean 🌻 

Journal entry:  Aug 6, 2026

🌿At My Ranch or Smile‑Mile StoryTime 

— We’re Walking the Path Together 🌿

Perhaps you’ve joined my YouTube reading of Smile‑Mile Inheritance yesterday, then you started that climb up the slate outcropping with us. It was quite a moment — Thomas and Ella tossed about like rag dolls by the wind 🌥️

During the reading, I shared a tender scripture discovery from Matthew 6:34 — a little insight that has helped me better understand how to apply that verse in my life and rest more fully in the Good Lord’s care ✨

By the way, Maria and Hawk offer many of those same heart‑steadying scripture insights in Volume 2 — Living the Inheritance. I’m looking forward to sharing that with you. In fact, we’re working through the final edits now so we can get it out there for you to enjoy… and to feel the Good Lord’s love in your life, like it is felt at My Ranch 🤍

Thank you for helping Smile‑Mile grow by sharing it with your loved ones 🌼 And don’t forget — you can join me anytime on YouTube at Smile‑Mile StoryTime 🎥📖

Well, now you all take care as you travel through your challenges knowing that Jesus will be at your side ✝️

Love hugs 🤗💚 Grama Jean 

Journal entry: July 28, 2026

🌿✨ Journaling Time – Tending Gardens & Tending Legacy ✨🌿

As I am plodding through my health issues and the Arizona summer heat, I’ve been reminded of how much I love gardening out in God’s beautiful world — especially now that my AGE keeps me from doing what I used to do in past years. 🌞🌵

Hmm… maybe that’s why my character Maria has such a large garden. My dream garden she has. You’ve only met part of it so far in Volume One: Smile‑Mile Inheritance. There’s more to come in Volume Two.  As well as all the herbal remedies she creates, like I do.🌺🌿

For now, I turn to my Trilogy Journaling, which is its own kind of garden — one I can tend without bending, lifting, or waiting for anyone’s hands but my own. I’ve come to learn that I’m moving from:

tending soil → tending herbs → tending raised beds

to

tending stories → tending memories → tending meaning → tending legacy.

The Trilogy Legacy. ✨📚

Nice to learn that it’s the same heart, just a different medium. I’m still creating. I’m still designing. I’m still shaping something beautiful. And I’m still a master gardener — now of words as well as plants out in my Arizona yard. 🌻🪴

Well, thanks for visiting. Hope you’re catching my readings of Smile‑Mile Inheritance on YouTube. I just recorded Session 16 yesterday. Thomas and Ella are on the first part of the fence‑line trail, with a challenging event about to happen. 🌲🎧

Hope you enjoy the readings.

Take care as you go forth striving to do what Jesus would do. ✝️💛

Love hugs…Grama Jean 🌻

P.S. Find me at Smile‑Mile StoryTime on YouTube 🎥📖

Journal entry: July 21, 2026

🌦️✨ July Storms, Stories & Summer Blessings ✨🌦️

Wow… we finally had an epic rainy storm yesterday — not quite as bad as what Ella and Thomas face in Smile‑Mile Inheritance. However, for us, here in Arizona, it was the first measurable rain in over eight months! 🌧️

And yep, life happens. Our 30‑year‑old house finally sprung a leak. Not the roof — the front window, and it drenched our sofa very well. Grateful for good friends, Lisa and Todd. He’s out there today caulking the window. Desert heat dries up that caulking so fast. I guess I can’t complain… the house is over 30 years old. 🏜️

Ella and Thomas are caught out on the trail with that storm of theirs — good old pine trees giving them protection. 🌲 Sorry, you’ll have to read it for yourselves, or follow along with my YouTube reading, to find out how they handle the major wind and rain that pelts them for hours.

Well, you all take care as you go through your day, and may the Good Lord’s blessings enfold you and yours. ✝️💛

Love hugs… Grama Jean 🌻

PS: search YouTube for Smile-Mile StoryTime, then you'll find me reading for you.

Journal entry: July 14, 2026

 ✨Independence Day Reflections – July Journal Entry ✨

⭐️Independence Day Celebration has come and gone. Did you catch my reading on YouTube? I shared what I’ve learned about the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence. Hopefully you make time to listen as I honor those Founding Fathers of ours, who are true heroes. ⭐️

Bruce served during WWII and is also a true hero, although he tells a few war stories about Charlie’s wartime activities—stories for which Charlie received medals of honor. 🎖️ You’ll find those memories tucked into Volume One of the Trilogy, Smile‑Mile Inheritance. Jake and Champ are great helpers on this trek. Have you found them yet? Ella is especially fond of them. 🐾

Well, time to be moving on so I can get some proof‑editing done on Volume Two… hoping to have it ready for the new year. It really isn’t that far away! So you take care, keep smiling, and stay cool this summer. ☀️💛

Love Hugs,…

Grama Jean 🌻

Journal entry: July 7, 2026

✨🌹✨🌹 Summer Steps, Storytime, and Staying Strong 🌹✨🌹✨

Working on keeping healthy so I can continue with my YouTube readings of Smile‑Mile Inheritance. I hope you’ve enjoyed a session or two. I just started Chapter Two yesterday.

As summer settles in, I trust you and yours are out there in Mother Nature, exploring and enjoying good ol’ family fun. Thomas and Ella sure are busy out in the wild as they make their perimeter trek. And have you noticed, as you read this first volume, all the critters that capture Ella’s attention? My editor noticed it right away — and after she saw the first couple of sketches, she told me I’d better be adding some of those critters to my drawings. She was right. So I did add a few.

You can see them in the sketches for each chapter on my website— just visit the Gallery tab of sketches.

Well, thanks for checking in. You all take care, and remember you are loved by the Good Lord and by many others.

🌼Love Hugs, Grama Jean ❤️

Journal entry: June 23, 2026

🌹✨🌹✨🌹✨🌹✨🌹  Back on My Feet and Back to Creating 🌹✨🌹✨🌹✨🌹✨🌹 

Greetings… 🌹✨🌹✨🌹✨🌹✨🌹  how good it is to have the health of body and the strength of character to be up and about again after a couple of months of healing. I’m finally back on track with my journaling and with posting my Smile‑Mile StoryTime readings on YouTube. Have you seen any yet? I have three sessions posted so far.

It feels wonderful to be creative again. I’m grateful even for the simple things — being able to do light housework, move around my home, and feel useful. And I’m especially grateful for my friend Trina, who came over and mopped my bathroom floor. She is as helpful as Maria. You’ll get to read more about Maria in Volume Two… sigh. That one can’t come out until Smile‑Mile finds its success. Publishers look for that, you know.

Take care as you wind your way through these hot summer days. It’s in the 100s daily where I live. Up in Montana — Smile‑Mile country — it’s holding at 82 and partly cloudy. Just right for a trek like the ones you read about in Smile‑Mile Inheritance.

I’ll check back in later… till then, take care, and may the Good Lord continue to bless you and yours.

🌹✨🌹✨🌹 Love Hugs,

Grama Jean 🌹✨🌹✨🌹 

Journal entry: June 9, 2026