Monday, July 10, 2006

Family, Friends, and Fellowship

We just got back yesterday afternoon from a lovely vacation in the mountains of Arizona. I can't believe we're back so soon. Gotta tell you, if you ever get to visit up in Payson or Prescott, take the opportunity and enjoy your stay. There is so much to see, so much history and beauty you could have a never-ending vacation. Don't they call that retirement? ha!

My mom and Norman live up in the White Mountains in an incredible house Norman built for her. It is amazing with a porch that spans the whole south side. You have your choice of chairs, the swing or the glider to relax in while you watch everything from the leaves moving on the the trees to the antics of animals to the friendly neighbors waving as they drive down the street. In the afternoon you can stretch out on the hammock while the breeze rocks you to sleep. I could live that way for sure.

The best part of the visit, though, was enjoying my family. GrammaDear officially turned 100 years old yesterday. Plus friends came by--Tracy and her girls. I hadn't seen Tracy since her daughters were babies and now they are quite grown. Tracy and I go way back. I think she was about the age of her youngest daughter when we first met though she and my sister were the ones practically inseparable back then.

There was also the opportunity to visit the Women's Bible Study at Mom's church. They going through Liz Curtis Higgs book Bad Girls of the Bible. I saw old friends and made new ones there also.

For the weekend, Phil and I were at Family Camp with our church. The keynote speaker, Randy Spence, had the wonderful habit of spinning a story to pull you in and then holding up the mirror for you to see your own place in the story. I should never have worn make-up.

We also got to slip over for a party with friends, making connetions with people we hadn't seen in a while. It's funny how life keeps you moving until you find too much space between you and people you thought you would see routinely.

So, I've had this amazing and restful week of family, friends and fellowship--also fun. Now I am jumping back into my life with both feet. I am the guest blogger this week on the God Allows U-Turns blog so I hope you will check in there. I am sharing how God has blessed us so abundantly (like I do most times here) but including a great deal of my personal testimony. So, if you are the least bit curious as to how I got to be so . . . okay, just don't finish that statement where I can hear you. Anyway, drop on by. I will be blogging daily over there (don't get used to it) and would love it if you left a comment. Until then,
Abundant blessings!

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip! I wish mine had been as relaxing. Now back to the grind, huh?

Georgiana Daniels said...

I love the White Mountains, we used to go skiing there every spring. Sounds like you had a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

You are so nice to say such nice things about us! We loved having you visit and wish we could see you more often. We'll try to hold a spot for you until you return. Love you! Mom

Anonymous said...

Now THAT sounds like a vacation. I love being able to see new places and explore new cities, but there's something to be said about being in the company of family and just sitting around admiring God's world. I don't know where Payson or Prescott are, but I'm guessing by the fact that you didn't mention oppressive heat that they're in the more temperate part of the state? Given the heat wave here in the OC, the scene you described sounds that much more enticing. Thanks for sharing!

-Alison
blog.alisonstrobel.com