Thursday already, Jan. 3, 2008

For breakfast I had a tasty grapefruit straight from a tree right here in the park. Love that about the valley here... fruit trees everywhere.Don and I got out this morning to walk around. Needed some fresh air. We met Tom & Sharon Peterson riding their bikes. Tom informed us that today is Sharon's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHARON!! You sure look good for a SS aged lady. Congratulations! Enjoy your earnings. We enjoyed visiting with Tom & Sharon from Oregon and look forward to spending more time with them. They own horses back home and have served the Lord with Campus Crusade for Christ. Afterwards, we drove into Casa Grande for a Whataburger meal. On the way back, we were curious about an addition at the base of the mountains (that keep us from receiving AT&T cell phone service). The houses were very pretty with 3-5 bedrooms, 3-car garages on 1/2 - 1 acre lots with white rail fences. The mountain backdrop is very pretty in a southwestern kind of way. While driving around I spotted a QUAIL... and then more, but couldn't get close enough to them to photograph. The quail here are Gambrel quail with the little top-knot on their heads. The weather today was pleasant with slightly overcast skies. Notice the freshly plowed field in this pic. When we got home, Darlene & Donna were sitting out visiting, so I joined them. We love the open attitude of RV'ers... everyone's welcome everywhere. We are all here to meet and make new friends and we have met and made some wonderful ones. OK, this is the last pic of Darlene that I will post for awhile. :-) However, I'm sure that her family loves seeing her picture, so I will post just this one.... she's so cute. If I catch her picking her nose or something embarrassing, I will make an exception and post that for sure.

Family note: Mama Trudy (my mom) seems to have a cold/congestion with a slight fever. Please prayer for her to get well quickly.

Don worked hard watching KU beat VA Tech tonight so he's "upstairs" already. John & Karin, I hope watching VA Tech wasn't as painful for you as watching OU last night was for us. At least VA Tech showed up.

We're all going on and olive farm tour tomorrow, so off to bed I go.

two things i have to say...

...about last night:

1. Count it ALL joy and,

2. Sic'em BEARS!!!!

As promised, the Christmas Miracle story

This Christmas miracle story is written by Frank Maguire, an accomplished and published writer. He's has also been serving as our worship leader. You will be blessed by this story. Because of the length of this story, I have linked it here. Just click on this paragraph and you will be taken to Frank's account.

A letter from CRM General Director

We received today a letter from CRM Director, Dennis Maloney. It's a wonderful insight into our heart and vision so we wanted to share it with you: (click here)

It's 2008!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! EVERYONE!!

Neighbors and good friends, Dave & Darlene, sent us this Happy New Year greeting.

It's so cute we wanted to share it with everyone.

(click on the "Happy New Year")

I will probably be adding to this post throughout the day as we watch the bowl games. So, yeah Vols! over Wisconsin. Missouri is beating Arkansas (you ok, Don, Terri & boys?). Texas Tech just completed a successful onside kick. Don's having a ball with the remote.

Don has already made our black-eyed peas in the form of Mama Trudy's delicious black-eyed pea salad. I will make my favorite Cabbage Skillet dish to go with the salad. Yummmm.

The Santa Anna winds are blowing across Arizona today. Really windy here.

While Don watches football (takes a nap; he's had a good snack of cheese, olives & crackers; I would take his picture, but I value my marriage too much :-)), I'm going to share a few very interesting pics with you that Darlene took last week. These were taken on the way to/from the Saguaro (pronounced Sa-Wah-Row) Forest National Park and in the forest. A rock balanced on the side of a mountain. Looks like a good gust of these Santa Anna winds would send it rolling through the forest. Oh Look! Mickey Mouse got dressed up to visit the cactus forest! Isn't he cute? Interesting formation of arms. The Saguaro is 75 years old before the growth of appendages begins. Rock formations are just fascinating. A beautiful view of the Saguaro Forest. A view from the ground of a young cactii surely about ready to grow an arm or two. They weigh tons because of the amount of water stored inside. More desert forest flora. (Yeah! Noble Oklahoma f/ball player, Colby Whitlock, just recovered a VA fumble at the goal line and Texas Tech made a TD next play, game tied. Go Big 12! uh oh, Tech player down--team mates are praying.) Away from the forest are the crops of the desert. Jonny, just look at this cotton ready to be stripped. Pretty maize (I think) field almost ready for harvesting.

Thanks, Darlene, for sharing these pictures with us.

Yeah Big 12! 4 - 2 in the Bowl contests! (You have no idea how hard it was for me to cheer for the Red Raiders.. no idea.) Tomorrow is the Fiesta Bowl. Boomer Sooners! OU is here in Arizona with us, but we will watch the game on TV, just like you.

Dinner was yummy. Kitchen is clean. It's very true, the less cabinet space you have, the less time it takes to clean it. WaaLaa.

As I look forward to this year of 2008, here is a New Year's prayer I found that speaks my heart and I prayer it speaks yours as well.

As I sign off, I am excitedly expecting to receive pictures of my beautiful eldest grand-daughter in the next few days. She turns 10 in a few days. I can hardly believe it. I love and miss you, Lydia.

New Year's Eve 2007 in Arizona

A New Year Without Fear (click)

by Dr. Adrian Rogers

It's New Year's Eve and Monday. Laundry Day. Don is at the Monday Morning Men's Prayer & Devotional time. George has invited Don to breakfast afterward. I'm off to do the laundry. I'll be back later.

We finally got our mail from our forwarding service. Lots of Christmas cards and pictures. We love the Christmas letter we received from my niece's hubby, Ken, and the unique family picture. (If you can't get everyone together in one setting, there is a way to get everybody's face on one 4"x5" picture. But you have to be much more tech savvy than I am, which Ken is: way tech savvy.)

Also, received a Christmas letter from the Zacharys in Noble, OK. Congratulations to Cynthia on the adoption of beautiful Kearra & Cearra. And congratulations to Kearra & Cearra for being so blessed to be a part of such a loving, caring family.
And then there was the Christmas card and picture of Frank and Bettye Boydstun's prodigy, Beth, Rachel, Dinah & Franklyn from Macomb, OK. Frank was/is the worship leader at Macomb Baptist Church where Don was pastor for a year before we begin this RV ministry. Upon our arrival at Macomb Baptist Church, I had not seen Frank since I was in the 5th grade and he in the 2nd grade in Blooming Grove, Texas. Central Baptist Church, BG, TX was Frank's dad's first pastorate. You can imagine how amazed we were when we discovered we had been in each other's world in another time. From Blooming Grove, Texas to Macomb, Oklahoma... wow! We miss & love them and seeing their picture made us happy and sad at the same time... I think that's called "mixed emotions." Are you practicing the key board, yet, Bethie?
James Brockhaus, Congratulations! regarding your 80th birthday celebration with friends and family. Sure wish we could have been there to share the joy of your day with you. I recall your 50th wedding anniversay celebration and how much fun we had. James, that picture of you and me is still one of my most treasured. Happy birthday! a few days late.
Stephanie, Rick and family sent one of those cute singing Christmas cards. Looking forward to their trip to Hawaii next summer, the card plays the Hawaiian Christmas song while Santa lounges under a palm tree. Hey, we have those here.
For all the other Christmas cards we received, thank you so much for remembering us. They have served to decorate our RV.

~~~~

Fairly quiet day. Made a trip into Casa Grande to Wal-Mart. Don took our shower apart, but the RV store in town was closed, so that repair job will have to wait until Wednesday.

While we were at George & Nancy's Sunday, I got a great idea from Nancy: a sheer curtain over our huge mirror in the bedroom. I was fortunate to find a sheer that matches our quilt perfectly. We love the warmer, homey effect of the curtain. Tonight we took dinner over to Larry & Linda Meyer at the High Chaparral. They were in this park, but moved to the HC. Linda had a bicycle accident and really messed up her pelvic bone. She can't put more than 50# on it at the present time. QR folks have been taking meals over every night for the past month. She's doing really good, just going to be a long time healing. We ate with them and then played a game of "Pegs & Jokers." Don and Larry beat Linda and I FOUR times! We had never played this game before and Don really liked it. I wonder why? I didn't much care for it. I wonder why? :~] My apologies to Linda for not taking another picture with her eyes open. She's a beautiful lady. We had a great time of fun and fellowship. Don and I got back home at exactly 12:00 A.M... Happy New Year!!

Sunday is here.

It was a little tiny bit warmer this morning. Another beautiful Lord's Day.

As always, God showed up at worship service this morning and brought quite a few new faces with Him. We haven't learned all the names yet, but we will. Worship leader, Frank Maguire, visits with Sharon & Tom. Today is Frank and Helen's last Sunday with us until late March. Frank is such a good worship leader and pianists that I was so into singing & worship that I forgot to take a picture of him at the piano. That makes me sad. Frank signals what we all feel and you will soon understand when our Christmas miracle is posted... to God be the glory. It is such a blessing to know the Maguires and we will always consider them friends. Don preached a good sermon this morning about resolutions with text from Colossians 3:9-10 & Daniel 1:1-24. Don's words were God's words and hearts were touched, including mine. After church, everyone pitches in and moves the chairs off the floor and putting the the cushions and hymnals away. This room is the Carnaval (not my spelling choice) where a lot of the activities take place during the week. Then we all meet in the Cantina across the breezeway for fellowship and coffee. Nancy Reid invited Don & I to eat lunch with she and George. We were delighted to join them. The Reid's are park Hosts. They are very helpful in helping people get set up at their sites when they arrive. George is very handy with hammer and saw and built Don a "cradle" for hauling propane tanks to be refilled. It's great for keeping the round tank from rolling around in the bed of the pickup. While George was finishing up helping new park residents parked, we soaked up some sun with Nancy and watched the sky for lift planes & sky divers. Spotted some planes, but could not see the divers from where we were.

Thanks to Nancy & George for precious Christian fellowship, hospitality and delicious tortilla soup and salad. They blessed our hearts. The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing, making a cookie recipe that Don saw Rachel Ray make, watching a hot air balloon and sky divers with the field glasses, visiting with neighbors, watching football and Hallmark movies on TV, reading blogs of family and friends and writing this blog.

I am so grateful that God has called us to this ministry. Where else could we meet so many wonderful people from some many different places.

New favorite spectator sport - 12-29-2007

Nothing's as frustrating as computer woes. Was up until 2:00 a.m. trying to get yesterday's post completed. Count it all joy. Hence, slept a little late. Woke to another cool morning, no wind.

We got a phone call from Barbara Howard with sad news. Barbara & Darrell are here from Amarillo and a long time friend of Darrell's has learned that he has stage 4 lung cancer. Barbara was away from the park when she called and I told her we would go over and check on Darrell. This news has hit him really hard. Praying partners, please pray for Darrell's friend and this whole situation. The Great Physician is still the same and the God of Mercy and Grace is always with us. We walked over to talk to Darrell, but Rick Fury had already rescued him and took him out to play golf. Thank you, Rick, for your encouragement and compassion.

Don and I got ready to go back to the airport to watch the National USPA Collegiate Parachuting Championship and the Arizona Boogie skydiving competition. Skydiving is a big thing in Arizona.

Contestants are here from 20 countries all over the world.

When we went outside to get in the truck, our new neighbors, Don and JoAnn Miller, were walking from the Waterin' Hole so we stopped and visited with them.

There's the wind tunnel in the distance. Hey all our Branson friends, do you see how flat it is here? Have you noticed that in a lot of the pictures? Unless your in those mountains in the background, there are no curves or up and down roads here. Sunsets are very pretty here and they tell me sunrises are nice, also. ha ha Diver leaving the drop zone after his jump. We met him later and his name is Mike. This jump was from 13,600'. Mike is checking his altimeter, which is a gadget of technology of which I am unable to describe all that it does. Mike showed us where it logs each jump he makes; what time; what altitude; speed at different altitudes. It syncs with computer and does all kinds of things. Mike has logged over 400 jumps in two years. Mike told us that last year at this same competition, two divers died. I missed a perfect opportunity to ask him if he was ready to meet his Maker. It really never crossed my mind that God had opened a door for me until later. So I asked God to forgive me and to take care of Mike and keep him safe along with all the other divers competing.

Mike's friend is a diving newbie. She's only logged about 80 jumps. I call that "hutspah."

Tandem divers. Usually a first timer jumping with an instructor. Or someone who had sky diving on their bucket list. As I said yesterday, I sure enjoy watching this sport, but it's NOT on my bucket list.

Today, I mostly took videos of the divers as they landed in the Drop Zone. As a tandem team came flying over my head, I head the instructor say to his passenger, "Now hold your feet up a little bit."

We took a lunch break from watching the divers and went into Eloy to have a sub sandwich at the A & M Pizza Restaurant. If you're ever in Eloy, AZ, it's worth stopping to eat at the A & M.

As we were walking the road to the wind tunnel, we met, neighbors Steve & Carol. They're big fans of this sport, too, now.

These flags signify the National USPS Collegiate Parachuting Championships. As the wind blew in a different direction, the flags would turn. Pretty cool.

Air Force cadets watch the monitor for their diving scores. Yeah, we saw Coach Tom again! So of course, I couldn't pass up a photo opp. Eat ya heart out, Darlene. lol

I saw this AF cadet several times today, but never got his name. I know, you're shocked.

Coach Tom's Army cadets practicing free-falling formations. Air Force cadets waiting for shuttle to take them to their lift (airplane). More Quail Run folks enjoying the sky diving. Activities directors Bruce & DeAnn (pin hat) Hoover and friends, Kathy and Jack. Diving team waiting for lift. They will be judged on their free-falling formations.

Come again, Soon! You know we will. Richard and Susan, we can't wait for you to get out here so we can show you around this beautiful part of Arizona and if you're good, we might just bring you out to watch the sky divers. Save up $300 extra and we can all four go on a hot air balloon ride. Yeah! lol

More videos of the divers for your viewing enjoyment.

When we got back to Quail Run we drove around to see if Darrell & Barbara were home yet and we saw this little owl just sitting by the road. Lyell came out with his camera and told us that this little owl has been around for a few years. He sure allowed us to get really close to him. Personally, I think he's a little miffed that this park is named after a quail. I think I heard him ask us how many quail we've seen here and I had to be honest and tell him "Only the ones on the signs." A resident that has been coming here every winter for over 10 years said that there once were lots of quail around here, but the road runners ran them off. We do have mourning doves in abundance though, and this lone owl. He sure blends into the color of the gravel, doesn't he?