Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day...



We thank and remember those that died
for our freedom and the freedom of others.

We praise and thank the Lord of all
for Him Who died
for our ultimate freedom from sin and Hell.


"Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends."
~ John 15:13


Friday, May 28, 2010

Haven at Home on Wheels... Day 26... More Desert, Mexico, Exploring New Home Land...




We got up a little before 6am this morning,
eager to finish our journey.
We piled into Yuki and she wouldn't cooperate by starting,
so hubby gave her an attitude adjustment with a hammer
(Marine Corps style) and we were on our way a little after 7am.

When we stopped to fill up gas, we picked up a few hats
as a souvenir of our southwest visit. ;o)




As we traveled and went through the first checkpoint,



the officer asked if we had any fruits, which we didn't,
and, also, proceeded to tell us that he liked our hats. lol
The children, especially, found that comical!


We traveled passed much more desert sand dunes and mountains,
went through another checkpoint, and saw many
border patrol police and the Mexico border!



We went up and down mountains and valleys!
It was a real challenge for poor Yuki!
At some points, we were only average 25 miles per hour
as we went up some of those mountains!



As we reached the top of one mountain
and began our descent, we soon realized
that the beautiful view we saw was our new home!



Being geographically challenged,
I did not realize that our new home would include
mountains, valleys, city, and ocean!

It was a real joy to know that we will be able
to see these beautiful mountains for the next few years!





As we traveled to our campground,
we were intrigued to see the trolley tracks
in the middle of the city road!

We made it to our campground, set up camp,



then explored part of our vast home area.
We went downtown, to the island,
and to surrounding areas.

Even among the city, there was much beauty!



And the weather truly is gorgeous!

We enjoyed a delicious italian supper
at a local restaurant and then retired for the night.


We are thankful the LORD blessed us
and provided us safety during the 4,000+ miles we traveled.


It was quite an experience
and we are thankful for it
and for the precious memories we will have
in the many years to come!


Thursday, May 27, 2010

Haven at Home on Wheels... Day 25... Desert, Cactus, Oasis, and More!




We were up around 7am this morning
and started preparing for our departure of Flagstaff.
We groomed at the campground's restroom,



then took a quick trip to the playground,



and we were soon on the road, again.




As we drove through Arizona,
we saw miles more of desert like mountains.




A little before we reached Phoenix,
we began seeing LOTS of really tall cactus!




We were tickled to see so much of it.
And we just loved their "hair dos" of flowers on top!




It was very hot as we drove further south.
We passed through one place called Dateland
and stopped for supper. ;o)
Also, there was an oasis tucked in
the middle of the desert there!



It was amazing to see such greenery among all the brown!


As dusk began to approach,
the sky was full of beautiful oranges, reds, yellows...




And as the sun was setting,
we enjoyed the breathtaking sight
as it slowly said goodbye behind the mountains.




I had finally got to see first hand
the "purple mountains, majesty" sang about
in "America, the Beautiful".
And it was beautiful! Very!



-----------------------------

One exciting thing we saw
was a border patrol officer.
It was the first time that we had seen one!



---------------------------

We drove through, what we call, the dirt hill mountains
and reached Yuma, where we stayed the night
at a very classy rv resort.
They had some amazing features there!
But they were empty because it was their off season.
We enjoyed having such a luxurious place to ourselves. :O)

We were, again, thankful for the Lord's blessings
and for so many new wonders that HE allowed us to see!





To see more pics, see our
Photo Journal: Arizona and Beyond


Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Haven at Home on Wheels... Day 24... The Grand Canyon...



Today we woke up at the foot of a mountain! It was a beautiful sight!

We loaded into Yuki, picked up some breakfast,
and headed to the Grand Canyon. We were excited!
We had only seen it in pictures
and were eager to see it in person!


As we drove, I loved watching the snow-capped mountain
(known as Sacred Mountain). It was a breath-taking view,
especially among all the desert-looking land.


There was lots of desert hills on our way
and, as we got closer, there were many other canyons
before we reached the Grand one.
They were wonderful to see!





Eventually, we arrived at Grand Canyon National Park.




Our first stop was a spectacular view!
The deep canyon seemed endless!
The rock formations and colors were gorgeous!




The Colorado River in the distance was beautiful.





And the way the canyon rocks and the horizon met
was absolutely breathtaking!
What a testimony to our Creator's marvelous handiwork!




"For the word of the LORD is right;
and all His works are done in truth.
He loveth righteousness and judgement:
the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made;
and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth...
Let all the earth fear the LORD:
let all the inhabitants of the world
stand in awe of Him."
~ Psalm 33:4-6,8


Also, at our first stop, there was a watchtower
that we were able to climb.
The climb (and descent) was exhausting
but the view was worth it. It was amazing!





At our next stop, we were able to
climb out onto some rocks to get some photos
and a whole other view! It was wonderful!






What an amazing creation we have to enjoy
at the hand of our awesome Creator!

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

On the way back to our campsite,
we stopped on the side of the road
to view some things that were being sold
by some of the local Navajo people.
We enjoyed seeing some of their jewelry,
pottery, and other craft work.
One woman shared with me a few stories
of their Navajo custom/traditions.
For instance, she told me how the Navajo people
take the juniper seeds that fall from the trees,
dry them out and make them into jewelry...
That they believe those juniper seeds
will ward off evil spirits and they even
put them on their babies.
It was sad to hear of such misplaced faith.


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

When we got back into town,
Daddy and Will worked together under the hood
to fix a squeaky problem. ;o)
Then we enjoyed dinner together at a local diner...
getting our kicks on Route 66. ;o)

It was a day full of blessings!
What a wonderful God we serve!






To see more pics, see our
Photo Journal: Grand Canyon


Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Haven at Home on Wheels... Day 23... Painted Desert and Petrified Forest...


We were up at 6am this morning, ready to get on the road.
We got breakfast and coffee, then left
the quaint, mining, mountain town... heading west.

We admired the red and brown dirt mountains.
Such a beautiful variety!





We passed into Arizona and Pacific Time
and stopped at the welcome center.
The center was at he bottom of a big rock mountain.
It was a gorgeous sight!

Also, at the welcome center, I saw a sign that read,
"Poisonous snakes and insects inhabit the area".
I was ready to get back on the road. ;-)






Eventually, we arrived at The Petrified Forest National Park
and Painted Desert Center.





We enjoyed driving through he park, making stops,
getting out to look and explore.


















In addition to the petrified wood and painted desert,
we got to see ancient petroglyphs that were etched in rock.
And we even saw a prairie dog by the road!






The children became Junior Rangers by doing a few activities
and received badges at the end of our visit.
It was a lot of fun and a fascinating trip.

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

As we headed toward Flagstaff, we were amazed to see
quite a few "dirt devils" ("tornadoes").



They were amazing to watch!


As we got closer to our destination,
among all of the desert, there was a snow-capped mountain!
It was so beautiful!



We exited at it (it was our original destination,
we just didn't know about the mountain!)
and then set up camp.

We enjoyed the view at he campsite all evening,
as it was at the base of a different mountain.


The beauty of God's creation is, truly, endless.
What a blessing it has been to see such a variety
of HIS handiwork as we travel!


"For the invisible things of Him
from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made,
even his eternal power and Godhead;
so that they are without excuse."
~ Romans 1:20

Monday, May 24, 2010

Haven at Home on Wheels... Day 22


Monday, May 24...

We slept in until 8:30ish and lingered around
the campground at Fort Stockton until 11ish.
I tried to find the woman from last night but couldn't
so the lil' girls and I walked to the office, which was closed,
and prayerfully slipped a Gospel tract into the registration box.
As we were walking away, I saw a photo of her and her husband,
standing under signs that read,
"Nothing is impossible with God" and
"Where will you spend eternity?"
It was encouraging to see but I was sorry
that I didn't get a chance to speak to her.
I pray the LORD uses the tract.


While we were at the campsite, we saw
a tarantula-looking spider crawling outside!
It was large! Ugh!





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

We checked out and headed down the road
so Carolynne and Daddy could see a doctor.
Both are being treated for bronchitis.
While there, we watched an amazing storm wall
slowly pass us by. It was scary looking but beautiful.


We picked up their medication, ate lunch, got fuel,
and got on the road, happily leaving the storm clouds behind.

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

We got on the highway, continuing our journey westward.
The road was very long and desert-looking
and it was, oh, so hot, especially win no air on.
But the skies were an endless ocean of beautiful blue,
puffy white clouds, and silhouettes of mountains
lined the horizon through the fog of humidity.


We stopped along the long road help someone
but their help was already soon arriving.
Interestingly, the man was on his way to
the Grand Canyon (our next stop) to be a ranger.


We were soon back on the road, passing into New Mexico
and switching our clocks back an hour to mountain time.
We traveled through Roswell without any UFO sightings ; -)




The roads through New Mexico were long, too...
Long, empty highway roads with a desert view...
But I enjoyed the sights!

What I thought were hills were, I believe, the Guadalupe Mountains.
They are much different than the Smokey Mountains
that I've been accustomed to. They were beautiful.





There was some tension while traveling today.
I spent much time talking win the LORD,
trying to practice a meek and quiet spirit
and trying to remember that
a soft answer turneth away wrath (other's & my own).

The desert-like roads went on and on.
They were wide, long, and empty...
almost like a small airport runway.
There was a lot of incline, too, which slowed us down.
Cows, and lots of them, were found often
in the middle of what seemed like nowhere.


Towards dusk, the long roads reflected the bright sun
and they looked as if they were covered with water.

Miles and miles of land. .. so much beauty
in this seemingly, untouched part of our country.

When traveling down these long roads, it came in handy
that we were towing our own restroom. ;-)

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

About 7:30 pm, we were getting a break in the heat
as the sun began to set, looking like a giant, close fireball.
The breezes Began to get cooler.
As the sun got closer to setting, it looked as if
it were melting into a shimmering, fiery puddle
as it started to disappear behind the mountains. Beautiful!





As we traveled through Albuquerque at night,
the city lights glistened... a different kind of beauty. ;-)
We traveled to a stop shortly before Gallup
and picked a comfy spot in a W*l-m*rt parking lot
to bunk for the rest of the night.
We all drifted off into a deep sleep quickly
and were thankful to rest for the night. ;-)


Photo Journal of this day can be found HERE

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails