Needles, CA- Presidents' Day

Our trip to Needles produced a beautiful view of the surrounding desert in it's winter state. It offered beautiful wild flowers and cactus turning different hues of pink to coincide with Valentine's Day.

Saturday started with a 2 mile hike into Grapevine Canyon in Nevada. The short hike provided several fun and challenging rock climbs. It was also fascinating to view the ancient Indian pictographs on the high walls of the massive rocks.
We had a great time driving into Oatman, AZ visiting a historic mining town, complete with roaming burros who didn't hesitate to introduce themselves.
We toured downtown Needles, which still remains as the Sante Fe RR Depot just as it did in the 1880's. Still standing is the original El Garces Hotel/Sante FeTrain Depot which housed the Harvey House, part of Fred Harveys chain of railroad side restaurants. The hotel is currently being renovated.

Are we there yet?

On a recent trip with our three grandkids, they were anxious to get to our park destination, and the oldest - echoed by his sister in imitation asked two or three times, "Are we there, yet?"

Obviously, they were anxious to arrive. It made me think about my own question to God- "Are we there yet?-- Meaning to heaven when I get anxious and tired of being 'strapped in my seat'.

The signs around us point to heaven, in the happenings around the world, just as the Bible predicted in Matthew 24. Just as I pointed out to my grandson the signs depicting a park which consoled him temporarily, I need to also remember to look at God's Word often to console me. As a believer, it's exciting to know that we're almost there!

Choosing at Christmas

Christmas brings out the best in people, and unfortunately, the worst.

I refer to all the goodness and generosity I see around me in dozens of cases. Sadly, I also hear about the terrible things, such as a Salvation Army volunteer robbed of the donations, and the stampede of shoppers at a store entrance killing a security officer, and not even being stopped by this tragic event.

I'm reminded today, this moment, that we all make choices of what we do during this season. Age has taught me well to know that it's not in the big things, but even the smallest gestures of kindness that we make differences in other people's lives. So I choose today, to be patient, no matter how long the line may be; smile at someone who may need encouragement today, and to be watchful in my attitude and how I react, even to those who are stressed, tired, and emotionally racked, because I don't know what difficult situation they may be in. But God knows- and I remember that it's His character I need to remember in all my dealings--not only throughout the Christmas season-- but every day of the year.

So here we are again, dragging out the boxes full of Christmas past...ornaments, Christmas cards and decorations. How fast these years go!

It's a shame that so much emphasis is placed on the material and not so much on the spiritual. Yet, this is really what the season is all about...

The birth of Jesus and more important his death on the cross, and resurrection is the ultimate gift of life-- one that will never end.

So, yes, it's fun to see the shining lights, enjoy the laughter of the children as they open gifts, and their excitement fills the chilly air. Coupled with the true meaning of the Christmas season, it gives us peace and joy.

'Tis the Season...

It's begun...pulling out the boxes of Christmas' past...strings of lights that get tangled just by looking at them...rushing and rushing...hoping to move faster than the counted days to Christmas Day with "x" number of items to complete.

But after it's all said and done, the wallets empty, and the weight gained, there is the satisfaction that smiles were exchanged with friends and neighbors, that we were able to reach out to those who hurt, and that Christmas is more than commercialism.

You just have to look for the good things of the season, and ruthlessly discard the rest. Have a special Christmas Season!!

Giving Thanks

This morning, we decided to gather pictures from last Thanksgiving to view with our family when we gather this Thanksgiving. It's a way of giving thanks. So often, the Thanksgiving Day consists of stuffing a turkey, then stuffing yourself and not remembering the real reason why!

Yet, the wisdom of the words ..."Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess. 5: 16-18) is such a reminder of what Thanksgiving is really all about.

It's not just about giving thanks for the good stuff, but also for the adversity in our lives. This is because the tough stuff is only there by God's will and because He knows we're going to come out on the other side with more strength, more blessings, and shaping us into better individuals for having gone through it. More importantly, it's then that we can then reach out to those facing difficulties and challenges.

Happy Thanksgiving!

33rd Wedding Anniversary- Central California

Our wedding anniversary getaway this year was to El Capitan State Beach and Santa Barbara along the central coast. The vehicle we drove, a 36 foot RV, was considerly larger than the '69 Volkswagen Beetle we drove 33 years ago, but it was fun to remember our first trip as a newly married couple.

One reminder of our honeymoon trip was the strong winds we experienced last night that shook the RV, just like the wind blew against our Valencia hotel room windows 33 years ago on November 8,1975.

We enjoyed a challenging 33 mile bicycle ride to Santa Barbara, through Gaviota, along the coastal hillsides of Hope Ranch and the peaceful scenery from El Capitan State Beach south.

It's good to know that we still enjoy one another's company, and its challenges. More importantly, we enjoy Gods blessings- our children and grandchildren, that will make the next 33 years even more exciting.