The Mo-ghee-own Rim - our new word for the year

Remember having to memorize states and what they produced in grade school? Well, now that I am in this wonderful state, we really enjoy actually seeing the copper, silver or gold mines. These are copper mines we found between Winkelman and Globe on routes 177 and 60.

This pic actually belongs below with the petrified forest pics. I tried to insert it there, but it liked this spot best. Anyway, Jim noticed the bark-like texture. It is rare. Most bark and limbs were torn off as the logs moved along the river before they were petrified.

The Salt River Canyon is absolutely beautiful. It is on rt 77/60 between Globe and Show Low. there were hikes available there, but we were enroute with no time to spare. Another time, perhaps, we can schedule a hike along the river.

Petrified Forest

These trees were under water in a swamp for years. Minerals entered the cells, so the trees turned into rock. Very simple explanation of this beauty! The natives actually build a home out of these rocks!

Ancient writing on this rock

If you think the painted desert is anything like these following pictures, you are wrong! I am disappointed in how the pictures turned out - but maybe the Lord does not want me to have a picture of this favorite part of His world. Maybe He just wants me to long to go back again and agina?!? You can see faint color - but it is really breathtaking. This was a delayed trip for my __th birthday. Well worth the wait!

The Painted Desert Inn was part of the Fred Harvey Restaurant Chain. For the younger friends, consider researching out his history and how he helped with travel out west! I included the menu - 75 cents for a lunch! The walls were expertly painted - ceiling is beautiful and it overlooks the painted desert. It is no longer a working restaurant, but a part of the National Park system. Certainly worth a visit.

These pictures are from the actual rim, which runs about 200 miles long. Our hotel room has information on this hike and we are so grateful! If we had been on the main road, we would have only had a brief sight of this scene. It is a very beautiful blue ridge! I asked Abby to stand under the mistletoe in the tree. She graciously complied with my whimsy! Jim was fascinated with the complexity of a pine tree. The last picture shows rocks intertwined in the root system of a fallen tree with the blue ridge in the background. Yes - that place was a treat! We wanted to take the road further, but it turned into gravel - no way in our Scion!

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is a very special treat. Who would know that the Lord placed a natural bridge with running water and moss in AZ?!? We arrived after an earlier hike, so we chose to skip the hike to the area below the bridge. We would like to plan for that next time. It was amazing scenery and a lovely place for our picnic lunch. The Park Ranger asked for prayer for his retirement hope - he seemed really worried.

We really enjoyed reading this sign. It shows grateful termites eating away in a forest. They are grateful for EnvironMENTALists and their lawyers! We were in hunting country - but, all of AZ is that way.

Not for the the faint-hearted: It was Elk season, so we saw a guy with his refrigerator truck. He unloads the elk and then skins them and does a weigh and then puts it in the truck for more porcessing at the main plant.

This is TRUE. On Rte 260 east of Payson, there is a light to warn you about crossing Elk. We stopped there and explored the area. Found guts, lots of empty booze bottles and a smelly elk carcus. So, we're thinking the lazy hunters just wait right there and shoot them as they cross!

A Powerful Role Model - Well done, good and faithful servant!

Joyce Sauer's Memorial Service was yesterday. She lived a life of 79 years of service to the Lord. I have only known her a few years, but she has had a huge impact on my life and I pray to finish the race like she did. There is a story in the Bible about workers who start the day and then others start working later in the day. They all receive the same pay. I know some people who think this is unfair. I feel blessed, because I did not start serving the Lord early in life - I was in my 30's when I really "got it". Fortunately, both Joyce and I will share an equal gift of salvation. She is in her new body now and I joyfully await the day when I will leave this earth.

The pictures are of Joyce with our dog Missy. She loved my visits.

On this particular visit, Abby was with me and she was also moved by Joyce's spirit. She had a genetic degenerative disease that caused a severe humback. Eventually, her lungs were crushed and she stopped breathing. In these pictures, she was on oxygen. She eventually had to give up driving and was confined to her home.

Each time I visited, we would pray for each other. The last time I saw her was 2 weeks before her death. She was in obvious pain and discomfort. Breathing, even with oxygen, was labored. She asked about Abby and loved hearing about her, her job and the new boyfriend. Joyce really loved people. She was no longer able to go to church to fold bulletins, but she was still able to smile. When I asked her, "How can I pray for you?" This was her answer, "That I can serve the Lord!" Wow! So many physical things to focus on and she was focused on serving Him! She is an excellent role model. It is too late to meet Joyce on this earth, but I pray that this story will touch your heart. As Jesus said, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Matthew 25:21

Pearce, AZ Festival

What an interesting day! Lots of storm clouds to enjoy and wonderful stories from our tour guides Jim and Evelyn. Pearce was a lovely festival. However, the cold wind surprised all of us. Enjoy a few of our pictures and plan on going to the festival some year!

Pearce store Bost family - 8 kids - Boy just won state mandolin championship

1800's Mercantile - for sale, if you are interested!

Good ol boys - Pearce style Huge hands!

Guy who was very proud of his skunk hat

Bad hair day - or does this guy work at this mess?

Texas Canyon

We are still smiling, even though Dairy Queen ran out of ice cream! Abby,Jim and Evelyn paid $1 to see "The Thing" at the Dairy Queen stop. They think it is an Asian mummy - but nothing in the exhibit actually says what "The Thing" is. There are billboards starting in New Mexico to advertise this place.

Abby, Sue, Evelyn, Jim, Jim, Joe, Marianne

The Importance of a Captured Israelite Girl OR How to act when things don't go my way!

What a blessing to find newness in the Word of God! Last Sunday our minister mentioned 2 KI 5 about the healing of Naaman the leper. I had read it before, but I had never seen that the young girl in the story had been captured from Israel. She was in Aram, as a slave to Naaman's wife. Could we be right in thinking that things weren't going her way? Yet, she apparently heard that Naaman had leprosy. She believed the prophet Elisha could help the man who held her captive and shared that with her mistress! What does that say about her heart - about her forgiveness of him? Naaman was healed and we hear nothing of that little girl. It struck me deeply, because there is unfairness in life - even for believers, who are trying to hear from God and wanting to obey Him.

Then on Thursday, the Lord suggested I read Luke 4 during my quiet time. I thought "temptation chapter - I've read it before,but OK". Well, it does talk about the temptation of Jesus, but it also includes Jesus' words in the synagogue. Verse 27 = And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed - only Naaman the Syrian.

Ok - Jesus could have spoken about so many situations in the Bible to get His point across, but He chose the Naaman story. It was an important point in history and of great significance to those to whom He was speaking. What if that little girl had not mentioned Elisha? How do I react in unfair situations? Can I always be faithful and forgiving to honor Him? This I do pray.

Serene - quiet - secluded - beautiful get-away

What a blessing we received from the Lord! We made plans to take time away to celebrate Jim's birthday. I bid the price of a Motel 6 room on Priceline and we were TREATED to a $199 a night room at a wonderful resort. There were 5 pools and miles of beautiful walkways and gardens and lots of opportunities to relax. They even gave us terry cloth robes to wear! We did have slow mornings and didn't rush. We both like to work, but rushing off to work 5 mornings a week does get old at our ages! While there, I passed out 297 Sweet Evangelism packages and that was a thrill. Wonder how the Lord has already used each one? Enjoy pictures of our special treat time!

Although Phoenix is only 2 hrs away,it is lower in elevation and supports different plants. Here are some examples of 3 varieties that do not grow in Green Valley.

This tree is really cool. Unfortunately, our pic didn't come out too well. Guess we'll have to return for a better shot someday - good plan!

We took a nice trolley ride in downtown Scottsdale and saw these sites from the trolley. We plan to return one day to check out the many art shops and see the beautiful work they offer. For today, it was just nice to have someone else do the driving. The streets were a thrill, because they reminded us of New Zealand. There were flower pots on nearly every corner - so much charm!

So - see the little canal of water in front of this huge condo? Would you then call this waterfront property? Well, apparently, they can justify this. We laughed.