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Showing posts from November, 2016

Cheesecake Delight

My pastor made a great point in his sermon a few weeks ago.  Are you plagued with questions, frustrations, addictions and anxieties from time to time?  The solution, of course, rests at the feet of Jesus where we can be ourselves and ask our questions.  The pastor spoke of the delight of quiet time with Jesus and compared it to dining at the Cheesecake Factory! We relax in the beautiful setting at The Cheesecake Factory.  Oh, to eat a good meal and then walk to the front of the restaurant, stare into the dessert counter displayed behind glass and swoon at the array of every cheesecake imaginable.  How does one choose?  No matter how stuffed we are from dinner, we must leave room for the rich delicacy.  About eight years ago, my sister and brother-in-law flew in from Chicago during the Christmas holidays.  My daughter and I picked them up at the Phoenix airport.  After we hugged them profusely and packed them into our car, we headed to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. 

A Day at the Arboretum

The mountain cities north of us show off an array of fall beauty.  Our family decided to get in the midst of all the yellows, oranges and reds as we drove up to Flagstaff, Arizona, a few weekends ago.  We visited the arboretum! ***************** A new exhibit features butterflies.  We had to carefully enter one of the greenhouses and watch where we stepped as fragile butterflies freely landed, sometimes on us! **************** This photo features the San Francisco Peaks, the highest mountain range in the state of Arizona.  Humphreys Peak, the highest point in Arizona stands 12,633 feet. We experienced perfect weather that day and enjoyed getting out in the fresh air on this little hike at the Arboretum.  It is a special memory of a day with family.  "While the earth remains, Seed-time and harvest,  And cold and heat, And summer and winter,  And day and night shall not cease.&q

Hanging on to Hope

I’m struggling.  My best friend’s husband is dying.   I feel clumsy, so clumsy.     I want to help; I don’t know how. My emotions feel raw.  My eyes fill with tears.  I love her so much and feel her pain. “This is life,” she tells me “And it’s the pits.” I’m honest and ask her if I’m doing enough.  Does she feel my prayers?  Does she feel God’s strength pouring into her to feed him, clothe him, and shower him? Her petite frame looks worn out.  She quotes the Word.  God will never leave me or forsake me.  He is my strength and my song. She tells me too many people drop by the house.  It overwhelms her. She has to say, “Please don’t come.” She needs quiet and space to refuel.  Seems other friends want to know their part in this too!  She assures me she knows she can text me or call.  She knows she can count on me. I get the text to meet in Old Town for breakfast.  In the restaurant, we cry over eggs and bacon.  I tell her I hate cancer.  I speak lo