With a grateful heart Shirley returned to an active life after her recovery from breast cancer. This photo was taken in the Alpine region of the Beartooth Mountains, where she resumed hiking with the Red Lodge Hiking Club. Her collection of stories and poetry represent two years of journaling and spiritual growth. A rhythm of life is found in her writing where courage, faith, and joy abound.

Beyond her cancer reflections, she shares memories of her childhood and married life in Iowa and her recent move to Montana. She takes you from the prairies to sheep pastures to mountaintop experiences. Her love for biking, hiking, skiing, and scuba diving give you energy to explore your path.

As an artist, Shirley paints pictures in her writing that help you relate to the wonder of God's creation. Throughout, you will be lifted by the experiences that she shares of her life, family, friends, and God.

She hopes this story of survival and joy will encourage and strengthen her readers. The poems and stories are short and easy to read. Shirley, her husband Bob and their cat Bunny now live in the beautiful state of Montana.