Sunday is here

We had 169 in church this morning.  A few more folks have arrived in the park for the season.  We were told that there were people in church this morning who haven’t been to church in years.  Praise the Lord!!!

After church, we visited a lady who recently lost her husband and has been through a lot since.  She was in a bad car wreck and now has to have surgery on her arm.  We hope we can help her as she struggles through the grieving process.  She sure misses her husband and best friend.

This afternoon, I rode my bike to get water… took me several trips as I can only carry one gallon at a time in my bike basket, but that’s ok.  It’s good exercise.  On my last trip, I stopped by to visit with Carolyn and Sadie-Sadie.  We sure have a good time together.  She’s going through the “good grief” also.  I love it when she finds things to laugh about… it’s good for the soul and healing.  You may think it’s odd that I referred to grief as good, but that’s actually the name of a book by Granger E. Westberg that Carolyn’s daughter sent her last week after she had a particularly “bad” day.  I’m going to read it.

Well, we’re happy that the Cowboys have now won two games in a row since Jason Garrett took over as their head coach.

We’re much happier about what God is doing in this park. 

Friday in the RGV

This is pretty, but it’s not as pretty as Arizona sunsets. Yet.

It has potential, but the freeway sign sort of steals from the beauty and the utility poles and wires.  We would have to drive several miles to get a really good sunset picture.

So I will just entertain myself with creating interesting moon pictures.

And capturing clouds that look like mini-twisters way up high in the sky.

I have been looking at pictures of photographers who have really wonderful, translated expensive, cameras, and I almost hesitate to post my pictures, but I love taking them and I love looking at them anyway.  They are a gift and a blessing to me and this is, after all, my blog. (smile)  I do enjoy and appreciate the pictures taken by others also.

Daily Promises
Blue Letter Bible
November 19, 2010

Psalm 126:6 (New Living Translation)

⁶ They weep as they go to plant their seed,
      but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Our Father is so faithful to lift us up from our grievous trials and temptations! He stretches His hands before us and makes all things new and beautiful in His light. Though weeping may last for a night, there is always a shout of joy in the morning for those who trust in the Lord.

This has been brought to you by the following ministries:
Blue Letter Bible
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Friends are a blessing from God

I managed to ruin another batch of brownies today.  Last batch… cooked too long.  This batch… didn’t cook long enough.  I know, I didn’t use the clean toothpick trick today.  Next batch should be just right.  Should be. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Thursday is choir practice day at 3:30 PM.  We started practicing Christmas music today and it was good to see a few more folks show up.

Dennis and Sally came over for dinner, a couple of card games and prayer tonight.  Don prepared another “out of the park” dinner.  Grilled  four of the southwest chicken breast he purchased Tuesday.  They were quite spicy, but when paired with grilled fresh pineapple rings…. home run~~~!!!  I almost didn’t get a picture of the salad before Dennis dug in.

I hesitate, but only for a second, to say that the Ladies won tonight.  We played one “stupid game” aka Zilch, and Dennis was the champ.

I am so grateful for friends.

Sadie, Sadie

Don and I had a really good visit with the park managers, Jim and Donna Hall, this morning.  It’s a breath of fresh air to have managers who actually asked us to stop by the office to visit and pray with them.  This is also their first year year and we are looking forward to being an encouragement and support for them and vice versa.

Well, Thelma, my “exercise consciences” at Sunscape will be happy to know that I got a bicycle today!  And I even rode it … twice! I hope it won’t take me long to be riding eight miles a day.

Late this afternoon, I rode over to Carolyn’s to visit and take a picture of Sadie, Sadie, Pretty Lady.   That may be Sadie’s name, but the Pretty Lady in this picture is Carolyn… inside and out, what a lovely person.

Little Sadie is very tiny.  Did I mention that she’s a ShiChi, a Shih Tzu-Chihuahua hybrid?

We’ve had several prayer request from friends today, and appreciate our prayer partners joining us in prayer.

Psalm 25:4-5 (NAS)

⁴Make me know Your ways, O LORD;
         Teach me Your paths.
⁵Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
         For You are the God of my salvation;
         For You I wait all the day.

So far this week…

This week had a bumpy start, but God is faithful and we know He sent us here for a reason, so we are trusting Him and persevering with faith.

On our way walking to the Monday Morning Meeting where Don opens the meeting with prayer after the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the National Anthem… no led by Don, we saw this tree.Don said the fruit looks like papaya.

I like the board on the wall in the Main Hall… pictures of all the veterans in the park.  We are grateful to each and every one.

The Monday Morning Meeting in the Main Hall.

That’s Sarah, the activity director, in the white shirt.  She does a great job with activities.

One activity is Quilts for the Wounded Warriors at Fort Hood.  Here are two quilts made by talented quilters here.

I’m sure you’re not surprised that I like the one with horses.

Monday afternoon, we met new neighbors, Chuck and Marilyn, who just arrived from Iowa.

These three flags are not far from our park… Mexico, Texas, United States flags.  Something about this picture just doesn’t seem right.  I’m wondering if our northern states bordering Canada fly the Canadian flag at the same height as the U.S. flag?  I’m not at all opposed to visitors flying their native colors proudly, but to have a business here and live here in the U.S…. well, it seems strange to fly their native flag in this manner.

This morning (Tuesday), it was very foggy here in the RGV (Rio Grande Valley).

We had a good visit with a few folks waiting in the Main Hall for the mail to be put up.

Don and I walked over to the woodworking shop to ask about having a small table made.  It’s a really nice woodworking shop.

From there we walked to Carolyn’s ‘house.’  She’s in the choir and didn’t show for practice last Thursday afternoon or for church Sunday.  We walked to her place last evening and she wasn’t home, so we needed to check on her.  Carolyn lost her husband to a major stroke in July and is still going through the grieving process.  I can not believe that I did take a picture of the Shi-Chi puppy she got last evening.  Sadie, Sadie, pretty lady, is so tiny and just adorable.  She'll be good company for Carolyn.  We prayed with her and left after a really good visit.  Carolyn is one of those folks that we feel like we’ve known forever.  She is from Norman, Oklahoma, and our paths have probably crossed there, but we didn’t know each other before coming here.

The produce man was back this morning with just about any type of vegetable you could want. 

There was also a meat vendor with lots of good frozen fresh beef, poultry and fish which is individually packed in Illinois.  Don stocked our freezer.

I made goulash and pan-fried fresh okra for lunch.  Really yummy, if I do say so myself.

It was so nice outside this afternoon, Don and I sat on the “patio” for awhile.  Our “John Deere” bushes sure did appreciate the water I gave them last night. 

Now they are growing beans.

Neighbor Bruce Beem stopped to visit awhile.  His wife, Linda, works in the office.  They workamped at Sunscape one season, so we know some of the same people.  It was fun talking to Bruce.

Don made a salad with fresh veggies we purchased this morning and served with leftover chicken breast dish he made last night that was ‘out of this world.’

It was a terrific Tuesday.

Kris Update:

[Oh how we look forward to these updates as we pray for Kris.  Thank you, Carol, for keeping us in the loop.]

Dearest friends and loved ones,

When folks ask me now how Kris is doing, I’m afraid my heart is not fully equipped for an answer yet.  My faith is certainly 100 percent, and we’re not backing down one iota from all of this, believe me.  It’s just that with this last surgery, the seizure, and some really high doses of pain meds and the anti-seizure med has slowed Kris down just a bit.  She’s much weaker, she’s much more tired, and she’s still fighting an infection.  More meds are needed for that.  Her neurologist here at RIOSA is concerned enough right now to ask all outside visitors to give her some time.  Her husband, Russell, her son, Joshua, and George and I are considered immediate family, of course, and we’re okay.  It’s just hard to keep track of all who visit so we don’t want to take any chances in her weakened condition.  The doctor has ordered more blood tests, a urine test, and some x-rays, and he has increased her anti-seizure medicine.  We ask everyone’s understanding and appreciate it tremendously.  We’ll keep you all informed, especially those out here in San Antonio, and we just ask that you please do come at a later time.

Having said that, a visit from brother, Gary, last week was no doubt a big highlight to Kris, once she was awake enough to know he was here.  He flew out last Monday and left Thursday, the day after we took her back to Health South RIOSA.  His wife, Judy, unfortunately couldn’t come this time and we missed her so much.  How sweet it was, though, when Kris finally came out of the anesthetic completely (which wasn’t for a day or two, really), and recognized her big brother!!!  When she squeezed his hand and smiled at him so sweetly, I thought Gary’s heart would pop!!!  Of course, we can’t deny it filled us with joy as well.  Thank you, Lord, for safe traveling mercies!

Kris did do well once she recovered but, as I mentioned earlier, the whole procedure will be a bit harder to overcome this time.  We know she will!  We have no doubt!  It’s just going to take a little longer.  But, oh, the surgery did go well, and her hair will be growing on the right side of her head now (it couldn’t before!), and her beautiful face is more symmetrical.  And Dr. Teff, the neurosurgeon who operated on her the night of the accident, did an absolutely splendid job this time of correcting some things that needed to be corrected from the September surgery.  We will be eternally grateful to him for his skill, for his caring attitude, and for his willingness to go a little extra on her behalf to see she is cared for properly.  Since Kris still cannot speak, it is so difficult to know what’s really hurting, and that’s when my heart really hurts. 

With all of the problems, however, her humor is back for sure.  She watched Russell and Joshua playing Scrabble yesterday afternoon, and laughed out loud at their antics.  Saturday night was very difficult, however, and she required even more pain meds.  I stayed with her through the night because we just couldn’t bear to leave her alone.  When you consider the incision runs from her forehead to the nape of her neck again and down the right side behind the temple area, you can understand why she has such pain, especially when she yawns.   And, in order to replace a rather large area on the right side of her head that wasn’t healing, Dr. Teff actually loosened the scalp from around her entire head to move the skin over to the right side.  Yes, it is miraculous what can be done these days!  I just can’t imagine it even yet and Dr. Teff explained it in great detail! 

One other side note: we mentioned son, John, a week or so ago in one of the updates.  We said he is doing well since his surgery for melanoma last winter, and he is Cancer free and back to work full time!  All those prayers were heard and, again, God is so good.  Daughter, Stephanie, is now about 27 weeks into her first pregnancy and doing very, very well!!!  This is such a blessing for her and her husband, John, so prayers that her pregnancy continues well are immensely appreciated.  Daughter, Diana, has been sending such strengthening words in notes and cards, and helping with just being there for us on the phone.  She said she’s really learning what it means to “wait upon the Lord!”  She would like to be here with her sister but, of course, she has a fulltime position and a family. 

And, lastly, a dear friend and wife of a retired minister, author and friend, Rev. Dr. John Baggett,  emailed us this week to remind me of some of the uplifting words in her husband’s book, “Times of Tragedy and Moments of Grace.”  The book was a tremendous help to me after losing my mother last November.  Thanks, Diane, for reminding me how much I treasured John’s message and his book.  I need to read it again!  Read Psalm 34:18. 

Gee!  I can’t really think of anything else at this time, so let’s just wish all of you a blessed and healthy Thanksgiving.  May it be filled with love, with fellowship around your table, and with a fulfilling measure of God’s grace to enrich and bless your hearts.  We treasure each and every one of you for the vigil you have decided to keep with us.  Pray on!  God is listening!!!

Blessings and love,

Carol and George 

Date Day Friday

Don and I had a wonderful day together today.  It was the first time we have been back to South Padre Island since our honeymoon four and a half years ago.

The day started out with a few clouds and a very few spits of rain and a slight breeze.

This antique was cruising down the highway at about 65 miles per hour.  Don decided it has been modified.

This album contains pictures I took from the Pier 19 area where we ate lunch. 

		South Padre Island 11-12-2010 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Today was a great day for flying a kite and there were many kite flyers, but the area was locked so we couldn’t get close.

The next album contains pictures taken while we were on the beach.

		South Padre Island Nov 12 2010 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I found a perfect sand dollar on the beach with sea weed still attached.  It was the only sand dollar we saw.

There is a new Bird Center on South Padre that was opened in 2009.  We spent over an hour here on the mile plus board walks. The guide told us of all the plants, birds, butterflies, fish, turtles, and alligators in this natural preserve.  We never saw an alligator, but Don loved the “shell crabs” and I loved the falcon having dinner

From the boardwalk, I also took a picture of our honeymoon hotel across the street.

The sun was getting low, so we decided we should start on the 70 miles trip back to the Q.  Took this going-down-the-street picture as we were leaving.

A couple of views of S.P.I across the Laguna Madre from the Highway 100 bridge:

We learned today that the Laguna Madre is not very deep and thus the water is more salty than the Gulf of Mexico.

We didn’t make it home before the sun set (had to check out a DQ on the way), but we did get back before dark. I entertained myself on the way home taking pictures of the red sunset.

Thank you, God, for the glory of your creation and thank you, Don, for a wonderful “date day.”