Sunny Sunday

This week has been a huge difference from last week!! The weather has been sunny and warm, cool evenings, and days of no or little stress. Thank you Lord for giving me peace.

We took a day off and went on a tour from our park to Rio Grande City. If you get a chance, check it out online (they have a great video) - a city with lots of history. We spent the day with friends, had a wonderful trolley tour and a very informative trolley guide, a relaxing dinner, and some brief shopping time. I particularly loved the inner courtyards of the Mexican mansions. What an amazing place of solitude for reading, napping, even praying.

our informative guide - a native of Rio Grande City

an old mercantile store

part of Fort Ringgold - which was closed in the 1947 - it covers over 300 acres. It was the Southernmost American outpost at the time.

a guardhouse

some of the barracks - the whoe area now houses the Rio Grande Schools

more barracks - the site was chosen to defend the area from Mexican and Indian attacks

a newly built auditorium with a beautiful mural

a founding father's mansion - notice how close to the road they were built

the Rio Grande River is right behind the trees - you can see the Mexican side from the river bank - some homes are built right on the river

a grotto in the middle of downtown - many people come here to meditate and pray

another prestigious home - it is said that tunnels are built under many city structures which were used to smuggle goods and perhaps people across the Rio Grande.

unique stone and metal work on this home, which now houses shops on the first floor

one of the inner courtyards - the home completely surrounds it

this is a temporary cross just outside the city as the old original one was recently vandalized

We started our Bible study at CHI this last Monday with just 6 of us, but we are continuing the study of Luke. I love the time we spend together in study, as well as listening to each other's comments and questions (not to mention the good food). Ironically, Chaplain Bill's sermon this morning centered on prayer, and the Lord's prayer as recorded in Luke, exactly what we are going to be studying this coming Monday. Again, I never realized that there are 7 parts of the Lord's prayer, 3 of them pertaining to God. Praying like Jesus was something new to the disciples and one of them asked Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray". Luke 11:1. I feel that this was just a model for prayer - adoring God, praising Him, thanking  Him, asking for forgiveness, vowing to forgive others in the same way, and asking to keep temptation  away from our door. God does not tempt us, but as humans temptation is always there.   

 

We had the Memorial service at the park this afternoon - a time when we remember those who have passed away in 2013. It always is a very reverend time - a time to grieve together but also a time to remember those loved ones. This year 32 residents (or former residents) were honored with the reading of their names and the ringing of the chimes. We have amazing musicians, choir, and soloists here in the park, and they performed so beautifully this afternoon. It was a moving time.

 

With the days so warm and lazy and getting longer, the desire to be outside and enjoying this time is pulling at all of us. There are so many activities here that a person should never be bored - many outside activities, games, crafts, breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, musical entertainment, movies and so much more.  We feel so blessed to serve here, to meet so many wonderful people, and enjoy a few of the activities. Our time is fairly well accounted for, but we do manage to squeeze in a bit for ourselves.

 

Everyone enjoy a fantastic week - encourage somebody this week to take time to study God's word - even if only for a few minutes. You will be astonished at what you learn.