All posts by steph

Sabbath Rest – Precious Love

Sometimes on a Sunday afternoon, I just put in my earbuds, and listen to my favorite Pandora station of modern hymns and worship songs. Ah, sweet bliss! I had never heard this one before – maybe it’s new for you too? – but I found great truth in the lyrics.

There will never be another
In whose name we are redeemed
Oh the precious love of Jesus
Pouring out for you and me

There is forgiveness flowing down
From where the savior died
The son of man upon the tree
Exchanging death for life
See Him there in innocence
The body and the blood
Behold the King, crucified
Spotless lamb of God

Oh the precious love of Jesus
Oh the fount of grace divine
Flowing as a mighty river
Washing sinners in its tide
There will never be another
In whose name we are redeemed
Oh the precious love of Jesus
Pouring out for you and me

Sin and death crushed underneath
The weight of nailed pierced hands
He plundered hell and tore the veil
As creation held its breath
Then on the morning of the third
The Son began to rise
Up from the grave, victorious
Hallelujah, He’s alive

Oh the precious love of Jesus
Oh the fount of grace divine
Flowing as a mighty river
Washing sinners in its tide
There will never be another
In whose name we are redeemed
Oh the precious love of Jesus
Pouring out for you and me

He is worthy
He is worthy
Worthy is the Lamb
Sing forever
Hallelujah
Worthy is the Lamb

Music video by Chris Tomlin performing Precious Love (Lyric Video). Sparrow Records; © 2022 Rivermusic Holdings, LP, under exclusive license to Capitol CMG, Inc.

My sweet Valentine

I’m rerunning a post about Gary from way back in 2010 because he is still this guy. My guy.
April 28th, 2010 – Gary
Before I continue with more “pictures of rocks”, I need to share a little something about Gary.
He turns 60 today.  [He’ll be 74 in April]
Many of you know Gary – you know what a hard worker he is, what a good job he did taking care of his family, and I’m sure you know how much he has loved these last five-plus [19 plus!] years that we have been on the road. But maybe you don’t know this about Gary.
He has become an expert at waiting.
Zabriskie Point-4
At Death Valley while I find just the right spot for that perfect picture.
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In Sedona as I climbed up to the cathedral view. (Don’t know why the hood is up!)
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At one of the small lakes in Prescott, AZ – as I checked out the shoreline.
Gary GC-1
All bundled up waiting for the bus that wasn’t going to get us to the Grand Canyon rim for the sunrise.
Gary GC-2
Or passing the time while I wait for the sun to set.
Wupatki Natl Monument-2
Maybe he’s waiting for me to finish exploring some Hopi ruins.
It’s true that sometimes he walks on ahead, knowing that I’ll catch up once I figure out how to get that pretty flower into the picture.
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I don’t have any pictures of him waiting for me at various quilt shops around this big country, but he’s done it time and time again.
And always with a smile.
I think it has something to do with those verses in 1 Corinthians –

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Happy birthday Valentine’s Day, dear husband of mine. Thanks for waiting for me, and watching out for me, and putting up with my horrible sense of direction (along with just a couple of other idiosyncrasies), and for loving me even when I’m less than lovable. I’m so thankful you’re my Valentine!

Mondays are for Memories – Happy Hour – SOWER Style

This past weekend we joined together with some other SOWERs working in the area for dinner out and a local play.

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It was a lovely evening, and it made me think about the blessing of fellowship that we have with our SOWER family. And that brought to mind this sweet “Happy Hour”  we had with our fellow SOWERs back in 2010!
Happy Hour – SOWER Style February 12, 2010
Have I mentioned before how we not only have a twelve-mile commute to work at this project but that our rigs are parked in two different locations? We’re only about a 1/4 mile apart as the crow flys (over the desert and through private property), but it’s about a 15-minute walk so it’s not like we can pop over for a quick chat or to borrow a cup of sugar (you know, for all that baking I do!). To try to compensate for our slight lack of “community” and to celebrate the end of the week (yes, even hardworking SOWERS are happy for the weekend!), yesterday we had our very own “Happy Hour” over at the other neighborhood!
Parking spot 2
While the guys were busy setting up chairs, I took in the view –
Parking Spot 2 view
Quite nice, don’t you think?
Our Happy Hour is a little different from the traditional HH – we decided to concentrate on Ice Cream instead of drinks! One of the couples picked up some ice cream on the way home and the rest of us raided our pantry for toppings. We had chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, pecans, almonds, chocolate chips, craisins and Cool Whip. And while I wish I could show you pictures of our lovely pre-dinner ice cream social, I was too busy enjoying it to snap any pictures. You know the saying, life is uncertain – eat dessert first. We concur.
I did get the camera out, though, when I saw a bird feeder set up just outside the parking area. And even though the feeder was just about empty, there was still plenty of activity –
A beautiful little House Finch
House Finch
A House Finch coming in for a landing –
divebomb
A White Crowned Sparrow –
White crowned sparrow
And my personal favorite (well, today anyway), the Gambel’s Quail-
quail
Gambel's Quail
who were busy scooting around between the rocks under the feeder. They are very fun to watch!
It was so nice to sit and relax with friends after a busy week. Plus the drive home (all 2 minutes of it) was lovely.
evening sky
(That’s us down on the left.)
We have lots of options this weekend here in the Valley – the Riverside County Fair and Datefest starts today, there’s a Greek Festival on Saturday and Sunday, there’s always the big flea market over at the College of the Desert, and different RV resorts offer entertainment and festivals…Phew. Oh, and the weather? Well, the cute girl on the local station is promising sunshine and 75.
Ah……..

Sabbath Rest – Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor

I love it when the hynms we sing in church reach deep into my heart. Oh, the security that we have in Christ – our sure and steady anchor!

Christ the sure and steady anchor
In the fury of the storm
When the winds of doubt blow through me
When my sails have all been torn
In the suffering, in the sorrow
When my sinking hopes are few
I will hold fast to the anchor
It will never be removed

Christ the sure and steady anchor
While the tempest rages on
When temptation claims the battle
And it seems the night has won
Deeper still then goes the anchor
Though I justly stand accused
I will hold fast to the anchor
It shall never be removed

Christ the sure and steady anchor
Through the ?oods of unbelief
Hopeless somehow, o my soul
Now, lift your eyes to Calvary
This my ballast of assurance
See His love forever proved
I will hold fast to the anchor
It will never be removed

Christ the sure and steady anchor
As we face the wave of death
When these trials give way to glory
As we draw our ?nal breath
We will cross that great horizon
Clouds behind and life secure
And the calm will be the better
For the storms that we endure

Christ the shore of our salvation
Ever faithful ever true
We will hold fast to the anchor
It will never be removed

Matt Boswell and Matt Papa
© 2014 Getty Music Publishing (BMI), Getty Music Songs LLC, Messenger Hymns and Love Your Enemies Publishing (admin. by MusicServices.org) CCLI #7045331

It happened last week

We’ve made it through our first week at WOL and it was a good one! Though I have to admit, we’re pretty happy that our weekend is here!
I don’t have any pictures of the guys working, but Gary did come home today with some ‘job done’ photos! The three of them had been tasked with running electric service to three different signs so lights could be installed. Like this one that is all the way done-
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But as neat and tidy as that looks, it did take a bit to get it that way! Ditches and conduit and fittings, oh my!Untitled
By the time they ran out of week (and parts), they had completed 2.5 of the signs.
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(Still waiting for the actual lights on the last two.) But all in all – those guys worked hard and the host was very pleased with how much they got done!
Meanwhile, we ladies had a variety of jobs! We started in the laundry
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moved the second day to deep cleaning the laundromat used by the RV park (and us!).
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Days three and four were spent working in the lobby of the main building.
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We were tasked with doing some of the cleaning that doesn’t get done during the daily cleaning.
Like detailing the banisters
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or cleaning the vents
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or even sprucing up the greenery!
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So while it wasn’t especially hard work, it was a fair bit of up and down (those pesky baseboards were everywhere!), so tonight my thighs are feeling like I just spent yesterday gardening for the first time in the spring. And those muscles are not being very happy!

So with week one done, we’re looking forward to a nice restful weekend. And a couple of doses of ibuprofen.

Thanks for stopping by!
Steph