visitors

The other day the dogs kept getting upset and barking.

I went to the door and saw an AT&T truck sitting out front

and thought that was why.  But then I heard this weird scraping noise

and thought the guys from the truck were doing something around

the front door.  I looked to see what they could be doing and found this guy

trapped between the window and the chair trying to get out.

 I scared him he scared me and I left him

alone because of it.  When I checked about an hour

later he was gone.

 When I went outside to photograph the turtle
I saw this flower blooming and thought it looked as pretty
from the back as it did from the front
 especially the way the light came through it.

 And I forgot to say Happy Birthday to Chuck online, Tuesday.

He doesn't care.  I said it in person and that's what he prefers.

 Some of the family came over Sunday to celebrate

with us as a surprise.  Trish put his gift in a girly bag, cute.

Chuck, his Mom and Frank and Renny.  Renny

really likes Frank.

Corey and James and Mini-onion

Chuck saw a painting of a beagle he liked in an antique store.

So I painted one of his beagle for his birthday.

He named her L.C. when we got her because she 

had papers and it was fancy for Lady of Charles.

But we never filed the papers and when she goes to the

vet she's just Elsie.  She's become an old lady, poor baby.

I can't remember if she's 11 or 12.

 I spent all of last week sanding, and painting part of the

kitchen.  We decided to wait to finish it because I'm still 

not sure I like the color.  I wanted gray and on a small door

it looked just right but on all of these doors it's got a 

cooler blue base look.  I am a warm color person.  I

just don't know if I can warm up to this color.

On the road to Terry and Donna's

Amazing to me how many people think New Mexico is
in or part of Mexico - instead of the state between Texas and Arizona.

Sentinels

Narnian lamp post

Donna knew what I needed after a long trip from Florida
to Colorado and then a not so long trip from Colorado to
New Mexico.  So pretty, relaxing and delicious!

We had tea, scones and jams, chicken salad on apple slices,
fruit, cucumber sandwiches, cookies, and molten lava chocolate cakes (probably
not the right name for the cakes), and I probably forgot something.
Everything was delicious!!

 

Walking, Terry and Donna have a really nice place to
walk.  Pretty views.

having fun with our shadows

Devotions

This baby girl loves her "grand dalf"

I think she liked me a little too.

Such a cutie!!!!

Reading today:

Streams in the Desert:

Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob…I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp with many teeth.   Isaiah 41:14-15

God can take an individual or a nation, who has all the weakness of a worm and through the energizing work of His own Spirit, endow that person or nation with strength enough to make a profound mark upon the history of their time.

Almighty God can make us stronger than our circumstances and can turn each situation to our good.  He can take the darkest disappointment, break it open, and discover a precious jewel of grace inside.  When God gives us an iron will, we can cut through difficulties just as an iron plowshare cuts through the hardest soil.  Christ is building His kingdom with the broken things of earth.  People desire only the strong, successful victorious, and unbroken things in life to build their kingdoms, but God is the God of the unsuccessful—the God of those who have failed.  Heaven is being filled with earth’s broken lives and there is no “broken reed” that Christ cannot take and restore to a glorious place of blessing and beauty.  He can take a life crushed by pain or sorrow and make it a harp whose music will be total praise He can lift earth’s saddest failure up to heaven ‘s glory.  JR Miller

Jesus Calling:

Abundant life is not necessarily health and wealth; it is living in continual dependence on Me.

Don’t take yourself so seriously.  Lighten up and laugh with Me.  You have Me on your side, so what are you worried about?

Manitou Cliff Dwellings

http://www.cliffdwellingsmuseum.com/

They walk with the wolves on leashes.  We couldn't
tell who was growing the wolf or Jobee which was a little scary.

Wolves are beautiful animals.

I thought the cliff dwellings would be bigger or more.
I just read that the larger cliff dwelling remains are in New Mexico.
They have one with 800 rooms.  These, in Manitou Springs, were very interesting and
it's very hard to imagine what it was like to actually live in the cliff dwellings.
What a beautiful view they had.

Jason, Jesse, Jobee

I was amazed they let you go inside and also
go on this balcony area.  

Back at home playing frisbee with the dogs

The hospital where Jason works.

Reading:

16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Four years.  I can’t believe it’s been 4 years since I was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer that has spread to my bones, or metastasized to my bones, or bone mets.

My Dr. changed my appointments from 6 month intervals to 4 months in between.  I don’t know why.  I do however have to have a biopsy done – not sure when yet.  Chuck says not to worry it won’t be anything serious.  I just don’t like getting them done because it’s always been really painful in the past.

And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.   Matthew 28:20

I know God has been with me because I don’t think I’d still be here otherwise.  How things fell into place with work and not working anymore has been quite miraculous.  I know I would not be here if I had continued to work because of the heat, the stress, the noise, the pollution and the mold.  Those were the bad things.  The good things were my kids I did get attached to them.  I do miss seeing them, talking to them, having them draw pictures for me to hang up.  I am talking about the elementary school kids.  I liked the other ages too but the younger kids were my favorite.

Enough reminiscing.  I am grateful for where I am and blessed to be able to stay home

and spend more time with my family.  I wouldn't have been able to go to Colorado with

Jesse or visit Terry and Donna if I were still working.  Being able to travel and spend time

with family has been a huge blessing and I believe one of the things that's helped

keep me motivated and not focusing on cancer.  Blessed I am!