Desert Diversion

Our trip to New Mexico was filled with happy times. So much caught our eye as we passed little towns on the highway and when we arrived in Las Cruces, we couldn’t have been more comfortable staying with our family there. Their home, set back in the foothills of Soledad Canyon, is beautiful. We were constantly on the go visiting scenic mountain views from hiking trails, borrowing saucers so we could slide down the beautiful White Sands hills, visiting the huge Farmer’s Market, and touring the old city of Mesilla with its historic landmarks and shops and eating authentic Mexican food. Most importantly, Dice got to spend days with his cousin, Wayne, enjoying memories and creating tons of new ones! Our family loves Wayne’s wife, Linda, and we appreciate all the cooking she did as well as entertaining us with stories of her busy life. What can be better than precious time with family? Currently, I’m putting together a new slide show. These are a few of the photos I will be featuring.

Our hearts are full with thanksgiving as we reminisce about our trip and recall all the family love we received, all the good food and magnificent desert beauty. Likewise, as I opened my Bible today to John 16, I saw the generosity of Jesus reassuring us that we can go directly to the Father and ask Him what we want because we use His Name. Talk about generosity! This is what is on my heart today and I’m praising God for His amazing love for us. Being part of His family is a privilege. A special thanks to you, my friends, for dropping by and leaving loving comments and well wishes for our trip. They were so much fun to read!

My post today links to On Your Heart Tuesdays at A Pause On The Path.

The Daisy House

I work at my desktop with the children at my feet. A makeshift area rug made of white butcher paper lines the floor where the baby, crayon in hand, imitates her big sister. Sister focuses on the finishing touches of the house she designed. The catchy children’s song, Wheels of the Bus, blasts from the Toddler Station on Pandora Radio. Six year old Sookie unveils her masterpiece and I ooh and awe at the sketch. “It’s a daisy house!” I exclaim. “I love the colors. I wonder what the inside looks like.” Without hesitating, Sookie describes each room. “There are five rooms and they are all different colors. One is Mint Chip, another Strawberry. There is a Vanilla room, and a Cookies & Cream room and the last room is Rocky Road. You have to wear a sweater inside because it is very cold.” “A house made of ice cream,” I reply. “It sounds heavenly!” I dug into my Bible readings that morning ...

Marriage Tip #44: Do What He Wants

I thought about our upcoming anniversary. I prayed one morning for the marriages in my family, and a sentence about my own dropped in my spirit: “ Do What He Wants .” I paused, “Really?” He’s his own man. What if I end up in the wilderness camping by night and target shooting by day? What if a coyote decides to have me as a late night snack? We celebrated our anniversary early this year, Before the kids come next week. And we did it his way . This is how it happened. I never asked him about a plan or even mentioned our day. I remember how it all unfolded at the roundabout just as we drove into Sedona. He asked me if I would like to go to a baseball game. I responded excitedly, “Yeah!” Before the day was over, he purchased tickets for a Diamondbacks home game. He printed them out. He booked a hotel room so we wouldn’t have to drive home from the city after the late evening game. ...

The Final Chapter

Are you like me when you join a new group of people? Do you navigate the crowd wondering where you fit in the best? I felt insecure when I joined Word Weavers, a Christian writing group in our town. Liz and Tony welcomed me with their accepting smiles. It meant a lot. I sat with Liz in a small critique group one week. I leaned in close so we could share a writer’s paper together. She mentioned she would passively kick back and listen because she felt sick that day. Tony kept his eye on her walking over with a plate of cookies and a hug for his wife. But Liz did not eat. Last week, Liz passed away. I attended the memorial service where I learned that Liz was a dreamer and fought for her dreams up to the very end! Liz’s dream, her third book Jamie , came true. The publisher approved her manuscript and moved heaven and earth to get the story printed in book form and delivered to Liz. ...

Choose Joy in the Journey

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