Christmas in Tucson, AZ

We were so blessed to have all of our children, grandchildren, Great Grandma, and Aunt Joni all together for Christmas. Everyone but the kids values having a family picture.

The Presidential Grounded?

That's right. We were in Houston, caring for Sophia for most of the month of November. We flew to Nassau, Bahamas, December 1. While there, my mother ended up in the hospital with heart problems. We flew back to Houston, drove back to Tucson, and moved her back in with us.
You would think since we are retired, we would have time for Christmas cards, but we have been very busy with her move, her medical issues, etc. We are delighted that she is back with us, as we can keep a closer watch on her, and enjoy her company.
So for now, we are enjoying being home in this beautiful, sunny weather.

Casas Church - Sermons in MP3 Format

Casas Church - Sermons in MP3 Format

Recently Joni heard this sermon at Casas, and wanted her friends to hear it. I thought if I published it, some of you might be able to get to it more readily. Enjoy.

Tucson AZ..Just Passing Through

We spent a week in California with our four grandchildren. I volunteered in Jackson's classroom at Bridgeport Elementary School. We spent time riding bikes, eating Dip'n Dots, going to the park and watching Jackson play basketball. We played games and watched movies together in the evenings, and helped with homework. We headed home Saturday, November 8. As soon as we got home, we did laundry, repacked for our Houston trip and spent one evening at home. On Sunday, we went to church, finished packing up and headed toward Houston, to care for our three month old Sophia. We arrived in time for Carrie's best friend, Jennifer's delivery of her baby. Carrie went back to work today, a very sad mommy to leave her baby. We are hoping our time here in November will help her ease back into work.

The Most Important Issues In the 2008 Election

Which Prayers Do You Forward?

So many people send prayers over the internet, requesting that the prayer be forwarded. Many or most of them I do not forward, because they seem shallow and manipulative ("If you don't forward this....... etc.....") Often they are not even based on truth. Also, lately I have been troubled by so much misinformation on the internet coming through blogs. I love blogging, but realize that words can hurt, heal, encourage, discourage, and there is a great responsibility in what I say in my blog. In the best of circumstances, there may be confusion or disagreement. What is the truth?
Today I read this prayer on the Desiring God Blog, and I decided that it was one I would forward. It comes from a book by John Piper, entitled Spectacular Sins and their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ.

A Closing Prayer

Gracious and glorious Father,
because you are rich in mercy,
and great in love,
and sovereign in grace,
we ask that you would make this little book
a window onto the panorama of your glory,
and a skylight to your supremacy in all things.

By the truth-loving power of your Holy Spirit
grant that the glass pane would be clean—
that what is faithful to your word would be confirmed,
and what is not would be forgiven, not confusing.
We ask that your cloud-banishing illumination
would be given to our minds,
and that spiritual understanding would fill our hearts,
and that according to the command of your apostle,
we would grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

May we see the spectacular sins of the world
as horrible as they are.
And may we see the holiness of God
as pure as it is.
And may we see the rule of God over the sin of man
as righteous as it is.
And thus grant the steel of ultimate reality
to strengthen the spine of our faith,
and sweeten our lips for the bruised heart.

Put the ballast of biblical truth
in the belly of our little boats,
lest the crashing waves of calamity
in these changing times
cause us to capsize in the sea of trouble.

And according to your apostle's warning,
forbid that the increase of our knowledge
would cause the increase of our pride.
Rather, O God of infinite wisdom,
reveal, with all our understanding,
the unfathomable sinfulness of our hearts without Christ,
and the infinitesimal smallness of our strength
in comparison to yours,
and the absolute dependence of our life on you,
and the unfathomable depths of your judgments,
and how dim is the mirror in which we see.

Grant to our minds and hearts
new and deeper capacities to see and savor
the glories of Jesus Christ.
With every new glimpse of his glory in your word,
let there awaken new affections in our hearts.
Ignite our souls to treasure Christ in a way that
destroys our sinful lusts
and delights the deepest recesses of our being
and displays his truth and beauty
to a world that does not know
that this is what it needs more than anything.
And from this all-satisfying treasuring of Christ
may there flow a liberation from selfishness,
and a triumph over bitterness and anger,
and a freedom from worry and fear,
and victory over depression and discouragement,
and the severing of every root of sensual lust.

All this freedom, Lord, we seek for the sake of love.
Grant that our contentment in Christ would be a
dissatisfied contentment,
eager to expand by including others.
Grant that the joy of the Lord would not be a solitary joy,
but the strength to sacrifice
for the good of others,
even those who hate us.
May brokenhearted boldness
and contrite courage
attend all our deeds of compassion
and all our commendations of Christ to a lost world.
Awaken in us tender affections
for those who hurt,
and self-forgetful attentiveness
for those in our presence.

And in this treasuring of Christ for his supreme glory
and this overflowing love for others,
may Jesus be exalted above all things—
honored, admired, adored, esteemed, enjoyed,
praised, extolled, thanked, and worshiped.
May our light shine in this world
so that people see you in our sacrificial deeds of love
and our uncompromising words of truth
and give glory to your hallowed name,
Father.

Through Jesus Christ,
your Son,
Amen.

Rocky Point, Mexico Highlights October 2008

Denny Getting a Haircut on the Beach

The vendors in Rocky Point are always looking for a new way to make a buck. Along comes a guy on a bike asking if anyone wants a haircut. Well, Denny got his haircut for $5 plus $1 tip, a soda and "could I borrow some scissors? I lost mine on the beach". So Denny gave him an old pair of barber scissors he had in his toolbag for some reason.

Rita's Mountain

One of the regrets we had when Denny and I were both working long hours was that we often neglected spending time with friends. All of you who are busy know the feeling of not having enough energy at the end of the day to spend quality time with people you care about. Two or three years ago, Manny and Rita, Denny and I discussed what fun it would be to drive down to Rio Rico to see property that they were interested it. It was shortly after I got my Toyota convertible, and Manny wanted to go in my car, with the top down, listening to Hall and Oates. Well, the time went by and we never did go. Rita loved that property and wanted us to see it! So a couple of weeks ago we picked up Rita after school, picked up Manny down the road and headed to Rio Rico. It was a beautiful evening, and we had a great time.

Carrie and Sophia visited Grandma and Grandpa

Carrie and Sophia spent Monday through Friday in Tucson. We so enjoyed having them here. Eric and Tanya and the kids were over, my mom came, and Denny's sister Joni. We all just enjoyed holding that baby and seeing some of her first smiles.

Sophia Visits Donaldson Elementary School

On October 1, we went to visit Donaldson Elementary. No one could wake Sophia up! She slept through the entire visit, the trip home and for another hour after that at home!

Sophia Learns To Communicate

Mom,

I let Sophia pick out her outfit today...do you think she's trying to tell me something??

Carrie

Our Family is Safe in Houston

I think most of you know our daughter, Carrie and son in law Dali live on the northwest side of Houston. We were unable to connect with them until just now. We finally heard from Dali via text. There is no phone service, but he is able to text. He says they lost a tree, have no power, and they have a roof leak. Other than being very warm, they are ok. Our niece, Bekah is also in Houston, and she is ok.

Back in Arizona!

We are back in Arizona...... the dry heat feels soooooooooo good! We will be home in about two hours....

Catie and Grandpa Eating Fish Eyeballs

While Caitlin and Tanya were visiting this weekend in Houston, they went with Dali to the Hong Kong Market to buy fresh Tilapia. Dali fixed us an African meal complete with the whole fish. Denny decided to try the fish eyeballs (which are considered edible in the Ivory Coast). While Caitlin was grossed out, it looked like she also tried an eyeball. Actually she was eating a rootbeer barrel!