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Greetings!
Greetings from Paradise! There is no gallery or software
news in this issue. Instead, I'd like to share a few of my
notes and thoughts about our big move, the wonderful
trip we had and the incredibly beautiful new home we
have found. As you may recall from the March 2004
issue, I had decided to relocate and wasn't certain how
long I would be off-line. Everything worked out very
well (and I must say very quickly), and I'm happy to
share some of our excellent adventure with you.
I write to you this Spring from beautiful southern
Arizona. Southeast of Phoenix, we are surrounded by
mountains, palm trees, unique flora and fauna such as
the Saguaro, and a perfect climate and fantastic
landscape which is almost difficult to describe.
The Big Move
The old HQ (our house) in Missouri sold in only a day
and a half, with an offer of more than we had asked!
The logistics of all the moving preparation were so
much fun to embrace, and we are still amazed at how
well everything just "fell into place" as a well
choreographed plan.
Our trip from Missouri was wonderful, and quite an
adventure. I drove the biggest truck U-Haul rents,
with Marilee's car in tow, and she followed in the Jeep
with the cats (Yoda and Lily) in tow. Actually, they had
the whole Jeep cargo area to themselves in a nice big
cage. They had a good trip, although they won't admit
it, having seen five states and as many hotel rooms.
We indeed "got our kicks on Route 66", travelling
through Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and
Arizona. The scenery is incredible and unforgetable
once we got into New Mexico. The entire trip was
blessed with beautiful weather and highways (once we
got out of Missouri [grin]), and we'll always have fond
memories of every stop along the way. We took our
time and enjoyed the 4 day, 5 night vacation (which
the drive itself was). With our 2-way "walkie talkies",
we could talk and share our sightings, as well as plan
our "pit stops".
Some of the most memorable events of the trip (other
than the awesome scenery, places and people) were
driving the mountain passes. Climbing the elevations
was a chore for the loaded truck (I think I can, I think I
can). Then, heading down the grades, eyeing the
signs "Runaway Truck Ramp ahead" were even more
fun, all the while having in mind a story I remember
about the Lord in control of a speeding tandem bicycle,
laughing and shouting, "Hang on! We're having fun!" to
the fearful and doubting soul in His charge.
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The Saguaro Welcome |
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After a great stay in Albuquerque and visiting my uncle
and cousins, we had a good day's drive to the mountain
passes of Flagstaff, Arizona. We drove on through to
Phoenix that Sunday night to do one more hotel stay
near our new home, ready to unload and move in.
Approaching southern Arizona, the increasing number
of silhouetted Saguaros seemed to be waving hello. I
began feeling a real sense of nearing home back when
we began seeing desert and the lava and extinct
volcanoes in New Mexico. The southwest landscape
and life really jumps out at you when the giant Saguaro
appears. I knew I was home that Sunday night.
Our house is really well "out in the country" (it's been a
long time since I've been able to look up and see the
Milky Way!). The San Tan mountains are right up the
street, and on our way to shopping and errands, we
pass many small farms with goats and other livestock,
even Llamas, as well as ranches and lots of folks riding
horses. Oh, and watch out for that roadrunner (beep
beep)...
This is without a doubt the place to be! The climate,
the mountains, the big open skies... The wildlife, the
desert, the cacti and palm trees... What a wonderful
place this is, I can't adequately tell you!
Check out Roosl y Saguaro
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Let go and Let God |
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Many people dream of just pulling up roots and starting
over. Not many are blessed with (or seize) the chance
to do it. We felt we were so rooted in before that we
laugh now at how we had been clinging to "nothing",
and came to be here. We were like kids during our trip,
over our walkie-talkies while we drove our excellent
adventure, exclaiming all the while.
It's really so absolutely true, that if you let go and let
God be in control, you'll be amazed!
There was much more with us during our excellent
adventure than me in a truck bigger than I've ever
driven, towing a car... Much more than my best friend
and our "babies" sharing the seemingly unknown and
the thousands of miles and past experiences behind
us...
The Love, Forgiveness, Support and Strength that was
there with us through this adventure, and is here with
each of us always, I pray we all accept and embrace.
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For Him |
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Two things for you:
1. If God is your co-pilot, swap seats!
2. Let go. Let God.
Forever grateful to God for His given blessings, I'll never
say enough about what His presence and meaning are
to me in my life...
Lord, help me to remain humble in my thanks for your
abundant gifts and guidance. We thank you for our new
beginning, and our beautiful new home in this beautiful
place...
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Coming up... |
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As I settle in to our new digs and get these things
going again, I'll soon return to newsletters of gallery
and software updates and other familiar work and "stuff
like that there".
Along the lines of the contests.. Notice anything nifty
about my new phone number? It's a __________!
Enjoy your Spring!
Back issues are always here...
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| A few Quick Links for you... |
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