Springtime Warmth

Beautiful late springtime in NW Arkansas. Warm, lazy days, cool evenings, family and friends. Gardens are planted and starting to grow, new flowers and trees are being planted, deer are feeding near the ponds, and the cows are loving the fresh new fields.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are staying with wonderful, Christian friends, Linn and Shirley rather than with our daughter. Linn and Shirley go to our church - Linn  is our Sunday School teacher, full of the knowledge of Scripture. I heard once that Scripture applied without knowledge is dangerous. Shirley loves being outdoors, gardening (veggies and flowers), yard sales and flea markets, black licorice, and studying Scripture. A girl after my own heart. Fred and Linn both love to fish so they, too keep busy. Evenings find us all in the living room, playing with Angus, a very spoiled part Shiatsu, and discussing various aspects of Scripture, sometimes expressing a different viewpoint.

view from the dining room

part of Shirley's iris garden

a pink iris

different shades of purple

 Sunday morning services at PGCC were as spiritual uplifting as they always are - Vance's sermon based on Acts 12:1-25 reminded us that into every life flows some desperate moments. In those moments we need friends who will pray and the peace to know that God has it all under control. Prayer is the power God uses to accomplish His purpose. After all, God cared enough to send the very best (Jesus) to save us from ourselves.After church and Sunday School, we went to our daughter's house for a delicious brunch of delicious homemade quiche, bagel, fruit, and an amazing triple layer chocolate strawberry filled cake. Spending the time with two daughters, receiving phone calls from the other two daughters, watching the deer and humming birds was the end to a perfect day.

Saturday evening we were invited to a cowboy cook-out. Several members of a riding club had an afternoon ride, then a true outdoor cooked meal. We arrived in time to visit a bit, then enjoyed beef brisket, hot dogs, pork ribs and tenderloin, cowboy beans, biscuits cooked in a Dutch oven over open coals, salads, a fantastic combination of sweet potatoes, raisins, pineapple, and carrots.  It sounds strange but was unbelievably delicious. If a person had room, there was chocolate pie, apple pie, coconut pie, brownies, and peanut butter brownies. I had to keep reminding myself that the Lord does not like gluttony. Afterwards, we listened to some music performed by a few talented area people.  It was another peaceful, beautiful day in NW Arkansas - a day we are so thankful to be alive and enjoy God's creative work.

riders back from the trail

biscuits finished cooking over the fire - hot coals on top to finish baking

these two little cowboys spent time finishing - the little guy caught a perch (and he is deathly afraid of fish!!!)

two of the horses relaxing and enjoying the new grasses

come and get it

blessing the food

Shirley and her great grandson only 7 weeks old (Fred making sure she is doing it right)

ribs, beans, salad, biscuits, and the amazing sweet potato mixture

plain ole country music

I don't know how many times I thank the Lord for our place in this world - we have the best of it all. Winter in South Texas, ministering to those in need, springtime in Arkansas, with it's beautiful flowers, trees, and slow pace living, summer in Wisconsin rebonding  with friends and relatives, and fall is split between Arkansas and Texas. God has blessed us so very much and I am content with it.  "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5