Last Daze

Haha.
I took 500 photos in the first 48 hours on this trip.
And 20 since then. All taken today.

Sandra had a conference to go to on Wednesday and Thursday, so I stayed at the hotel. Happily making myself at home at the pool.

On Friday and Saturday Sandra had other business to attend to down here, including shopping, so once again I was very happy to stay at the hotel and chat with the Almighty about some sunshine whilst I sat at the pool.


This is what the sky looked like this morning:

The temp was in the high 90's, but the sun was playing hide n seek behind the clouds.

Once again - I had the pool to myself.

Oh, there was blue sky. It's just that the sun was never in the part of the sky that was cloudless.

THIS is where the sun was:

I had made my peace about it.
It was warm.
I was not at work.
I had a quiet, comfortable place to read.
And the thunder was exciting.

All in all, an excellent day. Maybe not perfect, but good.

I got lost in my book (Book 7 of Outlander series) (which is a re-read for me) and I started crying during those super sad parts. Haha.

And then:

Haha, Sadly, the rays of sun didn't make it to the pool deck.

The only spot where they did?
Here:

So I moved.
And read my book, in my bathing suit, at a metal picnic table that left a waffle pattern on my thighs and bum.


And may have shed a few tears here too.

Haha.
And this is how a sun-loving book worm does a vacation.


Three things I'm thankful for:

1. Books. And the way they just transport you.
2. Airplanes. And the way they transport you as well.
3. The sun DID come out to play, despite the forecast.

In Arizona

It's what? The early hours of Saturday morning and I'm still going on about Sedona.

Haha.

If you're wondering about the days we're spending in Phoenix (W - S) there won't be much to tell. Sandra went to her conference. I sat at the pool. On Wednesday there was sun. On Thursday and Friday there was not. (And with no sun expected on Saturday, I am quite sad. We are prepared to drive ANYWHERE in this state to catch some rays - but alas. It is not meant to be. All of Arizona will be under cloud cover and is on storm watch.)

Sigh.

So. Anyway. Back to Tuesday, when it was hot and sunny and we were sightseeing not sunbathing:

After a few hours of hiking, we drove over to the Chapel of the Cross...

Where we were the youngest tourists.

The view from the top was breathtaking.

It's a small chapel, built into the hillside.

And when I stepped inside, I moved to the bench in the front row, sat down, and prayed. 

This was my favorite spot in Arizona.


Three things I'm thankful for:

1. The vision Marguerite Brunswig Staude, an artist, had as a young woman, to build a place like this.

2. Movies about real people and real events. Saw this tonight, and enjoyed it thoroughly.

3. Ice cube machines.

Shalom,
xo

Vacay-ing

My room mate is all congested. Much sniffing and groaning and mouth breathing.
She is confident in the power of Oil of Oregano so apparently this is very temporary.

~~~~~~~~~~~


Last night, just before I fell asleep at 3 am, I asked Sandra, who was still up (!) doing work on a report, if she would, before she left for her conference at 8 am, lay out a towel and put some magazines on one of the three lounge chairs at the pool for me.

She did.
So when I got to the pool area at 11 am, there it was. The only lounge chair with a towel on it. Haha.
No one else wanted a lounge chair.
No one else even wanted a regular chair.
No one else wanted to be in the 100 degree heat, I guess.
Chickens.

It was awesome.
I spent the day at the pool alone.
All. By.Myself.
I did not hear another human voice til 6:30 pm.
I didn't use my voice til after that.

Such a relaxing day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~



I just gave Sandra a breathe-right strip. She won't take a decongestant. Here's hoping she'll be able to sleep tonight. :)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 I've read two books so far:

Did you know what an orphan train is? Did you know that from 1854 til 1930, TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND orphaned children were put on trains and sent west, stopping along the way at pre-arranged stations so that folks needing farm hands or house keeping help or a child to love could come to the station and pick one up?


From Wikipedia:
Prior to departure, they were bathed, given new clothes, a coat, often a Bible, and reminded of good manners.The trains transported children from lodging houses, orphanages, private homes or the street, bringing them to towns where local organizers had created interest in the program. Notices were posted around town and in newspapers, informing locals when the children would arrive and of the viewing location. At towns along the route, the children assembled at the train station or were brought to opera houses, schools, or town halls for the community to meet and interview.

And I read this one, (above) written by my friend, Jenn.
MY NAME IS IN THIS BOOK.
At the back. In the Acknowledgements section.

But that's not why you should read it. Haha.

If you read the first Hollie Porter book:

Then you absolutely must read this one because love (!) and marriage (!) and wedding mishaps and plans gone awry and otters and hockey players and its set in BC and have I mentioned that my friend Jenn wrote it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 Backtracking...

On Tuesday we hung out in Sedona.

First, at the crack of noon, we went for a hike, because there's nothing like elevation and temperatures nearing 100 degrees to make a person want to climb a mountain. Sandra did far better than I. Not that we were competing or anything. But I quit when, in order to continue, one needed to be on all fours. I can only do threes, as my right hand holds a camera. That and I'm way too out of shape. So I sat there, halfway up and enjoyed the view while chatting with God.

It was here that I stopped.

And instead of looking up, I turned around and looked back:
That black vehicle in the parking lot (upper left corner) is how far we'd gone.

I was totally OK with that.
I found a rock to sit on and a sliver of shade to rest under while I watched other hikers trudge up or skip down the path.

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Oh my goodness, this patch of earth? Is overcome with joy. SO MUCH BEAUTY. So much silent shouting. The rocks are praising Him. 

Worship the Lord with gladness, come before Him with joyful songs. Yup. Yup. Yup. Thankyouthankyouthankyou, God, for everything. Especially this thing. This mountain. This place. This vacation. This red earth. These green trees. This blue sky. How great is our God? 

Know that the Lord is God. It is He who has made us, and we are His...

we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Thank you for opportunities to see You in other places. Thank you for making all this. Especially these pastures, for Your people. 

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

and His courts with praise -give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the Lord is good and His loves endures forever, His faithfulness through all generations.

That whole generation bit - thank you. Thank you for being faithful through all generations. For those that came before me, and sigh, especially for those that are coming behind me. Thank you thank you thank you. 

Do you see that rectangular shape dead centre in this pic? Near the bottom of the red rock?

That's where we went next.

Three things I'm thankful for:

1. Cars with air conditioning.

2. Moments when you're just overwhelmed with gratefulness.

3. There is a God who is worthy of praise.

Shalom,

xo

In the sunshine. Looking at big, pretty, old things.

I'm in Sedona, Arizona right now.
But earlier today? I was at the Grand Canyon.

I posted a few pics to my instagram account.
CLICK HERE, to see what I've been up to...

Also.
Selfie Sticks.
Oh My Goodness;

Then there are those that just want attention, haha:

This was my attempt at a self-timed photo:

So after that, I just handed my camera to a stranger and asked them to take the pic:

Three things I'm thankful for:

1. Road trips
2. States that are 34 degrees in October
3. The sign on the lookout patio at the Desert Viewing Centre's Watchtower: