Mission Trip 2012, On the Road Again

On our way up north to Alaska we are making a few side trips. The drive west on I-10 proceeded through many miles of spring Texas wild flowers. We didn't stop for pictures but imagine fields of yellow daisies, bluebonnets, Indian paint brush, buttercups and many more.

We spent the first night at Balmorea State Park, but were disappointed that the pool at San Solomon Springs was closed due to something that was causing swimmers to itch.

The following morning, we drove to Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico. Due to the warm weather, we had to kennel 3 cats and the dog before walking down the natural entrance.

The natural entrance has been improved over the years with an ampitheater for visitors to watch the flight of free-tail bats. Unfortunately the bats have flown the caves for Mexico.

This unusual photo is of the natural entrance to the left with light motes in blue and artificial light along the very dark serpentine walkway descending 750 feet into the caves.



I took many photos of the formations but am only including two.

These soda straws and stalmites cover many high ceilings. Photography with a small camera is difficult due to the darkness and limited artificial light. Flash photography caused washouts.


This is one of mery many columns built up over the years of calcium deposits. Our self-guided tour from about 1 PM to 3:30 ended with a quick ride up the elevator, 750 feet in one minute!We camped overnight at an Escapees park. The following morning we were met with a glorious sunrise.


A Navajo woman was weaving in the traditional manner on an updated verticle loom. She had been working several weeks and stated that the finished rug would take her about 5 months. These rugs sell for thousands!

From the Hubble trading post we entered Navajo reservation and drove north to Canyon de Chelly. This photo is of part of the hiking trail, down 600 feet into the canyon.


From the bottom of the canyon we were able to see the White House pueblo ruins, built thousands of years ago by the Anasasi tribes.

Our route next took us 150 miles across First, Second and Third Mesa to the Grand Canyon.

Our first view of the canyon was from the Watch tower. The air was misty with a forecast for snow!

We will have to make a return trip when the sun is shining on the magnificent colors of the canyon.


We walked the rim near the original village.

Did I mention snow? We woke to 2" of fresh, powdery snow. Temp was 20 degrees. Fortunately we have propane and a generator. We walked the rim again in snow.




This is what a small part of the rim was like in the snow.

We drove south in snow to Williams where we sat out a blizzard in a McDonalds parking lot.

We are now headed toward Fresno.

He is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed! What a glorious Easter this has been. We have celebrated the aniversary of Jesus over coming death for our sins. During our morning worship service pastor Big Jim and our Director of Missions, Dion, held a commissioning service to pray for Nick, Monique and me as we begin our mission trip to Alaska.

Nick and Monique have been attending our church since their move from Florida.
Nick joined our curch by promise of letter from his previous church.

Monique asked to be baptised and followed our Lord in baptism, to show publicly and symbolicly Jesus's death, burial and resurection.

Monique and Nick survey the basment of the RV to make sure there is plenty of space for the donations of coats that we are taking to Alaska.

We have to pack summer and winter clothes. While it is in the 80s here, Delta Junction is just climbing above freezing and it is snowing.





We are joined by Sassie in preparation for our trip. The three cats are locked inside.

While in Alaska we will be roofing a church, assisting with Vacation Bible Schools, cook, clean and teach at a youth camp, then assist other churches before we return.

Follow along for an adventure.

Church welcomes sinners

Visitors to West End Baptist Church are always met by loving church members. We recognize that we are all sinners in need of the Lord. However, unwelcome "visitors" broke windows and attempted to steal from the church last week. Fortunately the alarm system's siren blasted them into a hasty retreat.
Five other churches and businesses were also hit about the same time.
Pastor Big Jim Salles sends a message on the church board. Are you familiar with Exodus 20?

Everyone is welcome to worship with us in the Lord's House during regular church hours. Unfortunately churches must lock doors to prevent robbery and vandalism.

We are praying for you.

Art in the Park

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day in Orange, a perfect day for book signing in Art in the Park. Before the crowd arrived I took a photo of my booth with the new table cover I made.

The cover is a pieced quilt with photo fabric prints of the front covers of my books. The sun is so bright that the covers are a little pale, but perhaps you can make out the titles.

Later in the day a young man stopped to talk and took my photo.

Several friends and fellow writers visited with me at my booth.

I enjoyed talking to the many shoppers and lookers who stopped by.

I sold quite a few books. The proceeds have been added to our Alaska fund.

Watch my blog for details of our missions trip.

Dabbling in Creativity

Dabbling is trying to do something new to learn a new technique or expand creativity.

I'm a dabbler.

In preparation for our Alaskan Adventure I've been creating a fabric collage notebook for maps and brochures.

This is the cover of of the journal.

The background fabric is a print of license plates. A compass of scrap quilting is centered with a Navaho beaded medalian. The closure was made from a silver-colored belt.



Inside the journal each state has a pocket divider made from my fabric stash.

The first page/divider represents Texas.

Both the red and blue sections are actually pockets.




One of my favorite places to visit and explore is the Grand Canyon. The watercolor painting on fabric is a pocket.


I found a mesh fruit bag that made a perfect pocket for California.

There are pages for each state we will be traveling through: New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska.

I have not yet come up with an idea for Canada or the Yukon.














While we travel, I plan to draw or paint as well as take photos to document our itinerary.

Below is a small watercolor of a neighbor's oak tree and azaleas as a tribute to spring in Beaumont.


I'm also dabbling in another project. I've been crocheting a rug/mat from strips of plastic bags.

When I get bogged down with writing, I dabble to get inspriation.

Writing is still a priority.
I will be signing my books at Art in the Park in Orange this Saturday.

Come by and see me and see if I've enlarged the mat.

Daring, Determination, and Devout

I've been following the Iditerod-The last Great Race on Earth. DeeDee Jonrowe, a musher that I met three years ago, is running her 30th race of 1,000 miles in minus 20 degree weather (chill factor -35) with hurricane force winds and white-out blizzards.

DeeDee, age 58 and a breast cancer survivor, is the foremost female dog musher in the world today. She has recorded the fastest time of any woman musher, and has come in the top ten 13 times. Today running against 65 other mushers, she is in 13th place with approximately 800 miles of snowy wilderness behind her and 200 miles yet to run to Nome.

The anual running of the Ititerod commerates the serum run of 1925, when antitoxin serum for a diphtheria epidemic in Nome was run by dog sled from Anchorage. The first race was run in 1973. Beginning in downtown Anchorage on the first Saturday in March, the mushers race 20 miles and because of modern traffic restart in Willow the following day. DeeDee has been on the sled runners or running behind her dogs for eight grueling days and nights.

Where does she get the determination to train her kennel of 70-100 dogs year round, the stamina to compete in the Ironwoman Triathalon and to run the Ititerod some 30 times?
DeeDee's faith in God is evident in her statment "God has blessed me with the health to once again travel through His most beautiful handiwork, experiencing a reflection of His unconditional love thru the bond I have with my team" (from her bio. at deedeejonrowe.com)

May we all dare to follow our dreams, have the determination to persevere when the going gets rough, and declare our Devotion to God who makes it all possible.