Monday pictures

While we were in Phoenix today, we saw this Corvette with license plate that reads "EAT CKN."  Guess he works for Chick-Fil-A.

FLOWERS IN THE PARK

This yellow bloom was almost lost on the top of this big barrel cactus.  Remotely reminds me of hair transplants.

Barrel cactus bloom has a guest. Giant cactus. This Bottle Brush tree is loaded with blooms.

Not only do we have a beautiful cactus garden here at Sunscape, the residents also boast beautiful cacti and other interesting plants.

Pray

We are headed for the Arizona Heart Institute, in to Phoenix, to be with a gentleman from the park, Dan Webber, and his wife, Barb.  Dan is having open heart surgery at 12:30 PM today.  He has been very anxious about the surgery. 

Thank you for praying for Dan and for us as we drive to Phoenix and IN Phoenix.

God bless you today.  Have a glorious day!

It's Spring in the Desert!

[Click on these pictures for a larger view and then hit the 'return' arrow to return to this blog page.]

As I was walking through the cactus garden today looking for beautiful flowers to capture, suddenly I was this close to this nesting dove.  She sat very still just long enough for me to snap this picture. And then she flew, leaving these two small eggs, to my delight.  I quickly took their picture and moved away so she would return to her nest.  I'm not sure if she damaged the egg when she flew off or if a baby is trying to escape, but I will check this nest again tomorrow, if I have time.    

This little fellow was singing at the top of his lungs.

²⁶ Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

²⁷ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

²⁸ “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,

²⁹ yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

³⁰ And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

³¹ “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’

³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Matthew 6:26-33 (New Living Translation)

George and Nancy Reid

Two of our favorites arrived today: George and Nancy Reid, who we met last winter while at Quail Run in Arizona City. They do a lot of projects for the SOWERS organization and are on their way to their next project in California in May. For now, they are taking a two month vacation and we are thrilled that they are spending about ten days in our park.

Don cooked dinner for us all tonight and then we "introduced" them to the beautiful cactus garden here. Enjoy the "movie" I put together of the pictures I took while we were together this evening.

We are so blessed!

Cactus Rose

Motherhood

Motherhood, a precious gift. Brings a tear to your eye seeing just how deeply and tenderly all creatures care for their babies.

Ok ... maybe not ALL creatures!

Tell me it isn't so.

Sunday is Here

Another glorious Sunday in church this morning.  We were happy to see Tim Pruit visit with us. He knew to come in late and sit in the back or Don would have had him on the stage introducing him.  The message was so powerful this morning that one gentleman said, "If I wasn't already saved, I'd have gotten saved this morning."

On the way to lunch with Pat and Slim Steele I got a good picture of this alfalfa field with fresh bales waiting to be loaded on a truck and transferred.  All of the many alfalfa fields are cut and baled or being baled. Pat and Slim.  Wonderful people.

Well, our Sooners are out of the NCAA tournament.... just in case you hadn't heard and are interested.  The OU Women are playing tonight.  Maybe they will do better.  

We got an invite to join Mitch, Kim, Jo and George for dinner at Mimi's.  Mitch and Kim are leaving in the morning.  Jo and George are leaving Wednesday.  So... we said our goodbyes.What is Mitch up to?  Oh, well, he paid for dinner, so he deserves to be ornery and I'm sure George deserves whatever Mitch dishes out.    George went into Mimi's and got a hostess to come out and take our picture, just so I could be in the picture with the wind blowing my hair straight up. 

Barry Douglas

He was the first person we met when we arrived at our first RV park in Branson, Missouri.  Barry helped Don get our 5th wheel set up and put our awning out for us.  Whenever we needed anything, Barry was there and happy to serve. 

In the first few days, Barry told us about how he came to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.  His favorite hymn was "Do You Know My Jesus?" and we sang it often in church at the Branson park. Today, about 6:00 PM, Barry went Home to be with his Lord.  Don, better known to Barry as "Preacher," talked to Barry's wife, Anna, on the phone a little before noon.  She placed the phone to Barry's ear and even though he couldn't speak, he could hear and understand Don when he told him, "I love you, Brother." 

Cancer is a rude interrupter.  This picture was taken last July and Barry wasn't feeling well, but he didn't yet know that he had cancer.  This was actually his birthday. He's only known for about two months, so we are thankful that he didn't suffer so long.

So long, our friend.  We will miss you, but we'll see you when we get Home.

Saturday

Found a new flower!  "What is it?" you ask.  Or maybe you know. If so, will you please tell me. We found them lining the parking lot at Target. On the way back to Sunscape, the alfalfa fields were finally being baled. As Thelma and I were riding bikes, palm trees were getting a "hair cut."  The tree on the left has already been trimmed and the tree on the right has a man up in the middle of the branches. Now, he's visible.  They charge $30 a tree.  Doesn't that sound cheap to you?

Late Afternoon Cactus Garden Blooms

The shadows were too dark, so I used the flash and it made the claret cups look almost three-dimensional.We went over to Donna and Carl's tonight to tell them goodbye.  They are leaving for Kansas tomorrow after church, but we won't have a chance to talk to them.  They'll be back in December, so that makes saying goodbye easier for now.

For all the emails and comments, thanks!!  George and Nancy will be here Monday.  We can hardly wait!!