Where has the time gone?

My goodness!  It's Friday already. 

We've had a very good week of visiting with friends and new friends here at Sunscape, praying with people, talking to ministry peers, rejoicing, weeping, rejoicing.

Congratulations to Barbara and Darrell Howard on the birth of their new and healthy grandson, Tyler.  He is beautiful and we are rejoicing with you.  Fun times ahead!!

Don wrote Sunday's Coming and we got it posted and have had a few responses from it, which we always welcome and look forward to.

Wednesday, Don went to the Men's Bible Study in the morning, while I wrestled with Blogger to get Sunday's Coming posted.  For the longest, I got no response from Blogger. 

Wednesday afternoon, the Sunscape Fire Department took the truck out for a test run, just to make sure everything is still working.Thursday, we found ourselves over at Quail Run visiting with Rick and Wendy.  As we were walking around, we spotted the hot air balloon that goes up almost every afternoon from the Eloy Airport.Chuck and Janet have arrived at Q.R. and we had fun visiting with them.  In this picture we were laughing about a call Rick just got on his cell phone.  It was a young kid (wrong number) who asked for his Granny.  Chuck said,  "You should have said, 'No, this his your Grandpa Rick.  What are you doing on the phone?!!'"  From there, the suggested responses just got worse.  You can only imagine.Today, Friday morning choir practice.  Our numbers are growing and we love it!

"The greatest pleasures of earth cannot be compared to the joys of heaven."

Ladies Bible Study starts

I'm so excited.  I talked to my granddaughter, Lydia, on Skype last night! It was almost like having her in the room with us.  Audio was so clear and picture was perfect.  I'm already planning to talk to Mama via Skype when she moves to Georgia - my brother has a computer. 

We started our Ladies Bible Study here at Sunscape this morning and look what a beautiful group of ladies showed up.  We are finishing the study of the names of God that we started last season.  I'm looking forward to gleaning so much from these girls.

When I got back to the Q, Don had his famous (to me) chicken noodle soup ready for lunch.

This afternoon we visited three different couples in the park.  We enjoy riding around in the golf cart and just stopping to visit people. 

Don woke up with a sweet friend on his mind this morning and the thought stayed with him all day.  We prayed for her and still the thought was with him, so this afternoon, I called Joyce.  Guess what?  It's her birthday!! Now is that cool, or what?  We didn't know it was her birthday and God put her on Don's heart so we would call her and wish her a happy birthday.  We are so thankful that it was a happy reason that Don was thinking of her.

Later this afternoon, Thelma and I rode our bikes.  That's always good therapy for both of us.

I also had a nap this afternoon.  It was a very good day. :-)

Counting our blessings.

Monday is not blue

Connie came by this morning to visit for awhile.  What a delightful personality and huge-hearted lady.  She and hubby Bob have been involved in many services, especially to our military returning home and their families.  There's are stories behind this bike, but I can not do them justice, so I won't even try. It is a beautiful day today and our bougainvillea is in full bloom since the rain last Saturday.

While sitting at our dining table, working on the Bible study for in morning, I noticed the wonderful view outside the open door.

This afternoon, Mike Moore came by with a trichocereus for us.  Thanks, Mike!Hopefully, we will see this in the spring, large white flowers.

Thanks Mike!!!

We are so blessed.

Digger and Bear

I wish I could video all of our Sunday morning and post it, but I can't.  But Don's sermons are posted in audio at: http://www.crmintl.org/.  Then click "CRM Audio Sermons" in the sidebar menu on the left.  There are two of his sermons there so far along with sermons of other CRM chaplains.  Today, Don begin the "I AM" series with "I am the Living Water."  If listening, everyone heard the Good News about Jesus Christ this morning. 

Rick Fury joined us in the choir this morning, but we didn't get a chance to visit with him and Wendy after church, so Don called and invited them to meet us at Duffer's in Arizona City for lunch.  We enjoyed the brunch buffet and then went over to Quail Run to visit some more and walk Digger, the little doggie they were taking care of for the day.  He's a cutie.

We met bear while we were walking with Digger.  They were very nice to each other.After putting Digger back inside his home, we walked back to the Fury's and passed by Lyle and Kathy's.  They bought a park model last season and a new Harley this season.  Really pretty.

We spent the rest of the afternoon playing cards with Rick and Wendy and we (the girls) almost let them beat us, but no, couldn't do that.  We had a really good time, we always do with the Furys, but we missed the U.S.A.F. jazz band concert in the park in Casa Grande.  We heard a report that is was an hour and a half of the best performance.  Wish we had all driven into C.G. for this concert.

~~~~~~  

Dear Lord, teach me to quiet my soul so that I can hear Your still, small voice. Thank You for the peace of Your presence. Amen.

The Wicker Basket

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could.

One day the grandson asked, 'Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?' The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, 'Take this old wicker coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water.'

The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, 'You will have to move a little faster next time,' and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the old wicker basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was 'impossible to carry water in a basket,' and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough,' and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, 'See Papa, it's useless!'

'So you think it is useless?' The old man said, 'Look at the basket.'

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old wicker coal basket, it was clean.

'Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out.' 

Moral of the wicker basket story: Take time to read a portion of God's word each day; it will affect you for good even if you don't retain a word. 

Thought for Today: Gods Love is like the ocean, you can see its beginnings but not its end.

I really like this story because I don't retain things too well anymore...old age may have something to do with it but I just figure my brain just gets overloaded! God isn't concerned about my brain anyway, He's more concerned about my heart.

(Thanks to Peggy for sending the above to me.  I love it.)

"With the help of the MASTER, you can create a MASTERPICE with your life." - Stacie Bostic

Happy Saturday - random post

Friday, it was cloudy.Friday night, while we were visiting with neighbors, it came a little shower.  It smelled wonderful... the wet sand, clean air.

Oh, yes, we played a game of Nil with the friends and, the girls still rock.  Just saying.... better success next time, guys. (wink, wink)

This morning, still cloudy with evidence in the pavement cracks of the moisture last night.Don and I walked up to the Community Center to look over the craft sale.  I met author Peggy Grich, who is staying in the park with her husband for a month or so.Maybe I will look her up and buy one of her books.  

Back at the Q, we found that Betty, who records the service each Sunday in the sound booth, had left a CD recording of Sunday's sermon.  It can be found at http://www.sermon.net/crmintl along with other CRM chaplain messages.

This afternoon, Don's blood pressure is down to normal.  An answer to many prayers.  Thank you if you were one of them.

We were watching a football game on TV (Baylor vs Texas... if you didn't see it, don't ask) when we heard a soft sound on the roof of the Q and then a distant rumble.  Another answered prayer... it was raining and it rained almost all afternoon.  Wonderful wet, soaking, rain.  I said wet rain, didn't I?  Oh, well, it's my blog.  No, actually, I said, wet comma soaking comma rain.  Anyway, you get the idea.  We are very thankful for the rain.  Very.  Thankful.  Ok, I'll stop.

You know, in an RV park, you just never know what you might see.Yes, that is a very large pair of John Deere print "drawers" up the flag pole at Ray and Elaine Anderson's park model.  It seems while they were away recently, Larry-Larry and Jack (local pranksters who we played Nil with last night) hoisted this new flag.  We are a little nervous about going away for a few days, if we get the opportunity.  No telling what we might find at our site when we return.  Thanks to Elaine, Larry-Larry's wife, for sharing this photo with me.  It's too funny.

At least, the Sooners won tonight.  Sorry A & M fans. 

Mom report:  There's news regarding Mama Trudy, my mom.  She's moving to Georgia to live near my brother.  We are very relieved about this and she's very excited.  I'm praying she will manage to sleep between now and the 15th of December.  Guess where we will be going during the summer months?  My brother and nephews have 6 1/2 months to get a site ready for the Q.   Let's see... 50 amps, sewer hook up, water hook up.  That should do it. 

Grandchildren report:  Emma is over pink-eye.   Thank the Lord, and thank the Lord, Camden didn't get it, nor anyone else in their house.  It would be a shame to mess with these brown eyes:

Logan's first grade football team won their league championship game this morning.  Season record: 14-0.  Undefeated!  Way to go, Logan!

Sad report:  We had another death in the park.  Sharon only lost her husband this summer and now she's gone.  Please pray for her family.

Happy report:  There's a new addition to the Q.... a portable ice maker!! We've been looking for one for a long time and found one on sale the other day. No more going back to the store to buy a bag of ice when we forget it while we're out.  And now we have a whole empty shelf in the freezer, ready for a sale on meats.  Look at those beautiful ice "rounds!"And it looks nice on the counter, too.

Tomorrow is Sunday, so I'm going to bed.  Signing off with a favorite praise song, The Revelation Song.  G'nite.  We are so blessed.

O America

Brendan Graham (who wrote “You Raise Me Up”) heard William Joseph perform in Los Angeles, and after hearing "Sweet Remembrance Of You" he was so inspired that he wanted to add lyrics. Now William and Brendan have created the beautiful anthem “O, America” and the Irish supergroup Celtic Woman have adopted it as their own! They have sung it every night on their American tour, and their adoring fans have rewarded the song with a standing ovation every night. This song was released to the world on June 23, 2009.
This website displays the beautiful lyrics:
>>O America!<<  It is a beautiful song.
Let's pray for our true Allies and thank God for them every day.
Let's pray for the revival of true American Patriotism.
Let's pray for God's mercy for America.
Let's pray for our family, friends and neighbors... that they would all know the joy of the salvation of Jesus Christ and true freedom.

Updated 10/9/2013: the above link has blocked the video, so click the YouTube link below to hear this beautiful song sung by Celtic Woman.

http://youtu.be/nLNn2YflwNs

Thankful for Thursday and things within

As we were leaving the park headed to Don's doctor appointment, the Sunscape Hikers were gathered and getting ready to go hiking.The VA Clinic is occupying new office space in Casa Grande.  It's really nice.Don was telling me to "c'mon."Inside the waiting room.Don saw Dr. Tilben, a very nice lady physician.  Don's blood pressure was high, which we knew it would be.  Dr. Tilben said that could cause his heart to palpitate and of course, cause headaches.  She adjusted his BP meds and wants to see him again on the 30th.  I enjoyed chatting with Dr. Tilben as she has three dogs that she enters in agility events at the AKC shows.  This is Harlee, one of her two Corgis.  Harlee is white, blonde and black... a very unusual color combo for the Corgi.  The next show is Nationals the third weekend of March in Tulsa, OK.

From the doctor's, we went to Arizona City to John and Margie Cartwright's for coffee with friends that we enjoyed a couple's Bible study with last winter.  It was so good to see the friends again.

And for the lover of the rose:

Don and I stopped at the city park because my camera just needed to capture these beautiful roses.  How amazing!  All different color roses on ONE  bush.Don't mistake this for pink... it's pastel lavender.Yellow roses always make me think of the state where I was born. Green grass and huge trees in the park in Casa Grande.

I am following the blog of a young friend, "My Journey to Becoming a RockStar," and would like to share just a snippet of her wisdom with you today.  Stacie wrote:  "I am just amazed at where I am today;  Psalms 37:4 says "Delight thyself also in the LORD: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."  I have finally learned that this does not mean that God is like this heavenly Santa that will give me everything on my list.   What this means is when I align my desires with God's, I become content with what I have and the life I am living.     What a great place to be!  It has taken a while to get to this place, and I never want to go backwards.  Life is not perfect and it never will be; however, this is the life God has given me and I'm blessed beyond words!" 

Well said, Stacie, well said.  You are blessing and and encouragement to me.

We are so blessed.