Black Hills

We made it here to Ft. Welikit in the Black Hills of South Dakota. After miles and miles across South Dakota with this view, we arrived yesterday afternoon. It is gorgeous here. Low humidity, temperatures in the low 70's. Perfection. All three of us slept like logs last night and we're very happy to be together.

Last night we took a walk and ended up at the playground where Piper challenged Papa to a game of tetherball. My photos are out of order, that one is below the next one. While they were playing, a group of little kids gathered round asking Piper to play with them. She's just like her Uncle Alex, he's the Pied Piper of little kids and always has little ones following him around. He's always been like that. He was a great elementary school teacher in Japan before he moved to London. Piper seems to have inherited that gift of being great with little kids.

She ended up playing with them for over an hour, organizing games of tetherball and volleyball. They all yelled, "same time tomorrow," as they left for their campsites!

Here she is with Papa. They played several games and I think they both won several. You can see her laughing like crazy for some reason at Papa in this picture.

Here's the view outside our camper door this morning. We love this place. I really think it's my favorite place to camp of anywhere we've been. We have a flat top grill that you see on the picnic table. It's used a LOT when we're camping. Last night Papa made burgers when we got here. Tonight is spaghetti and meatballs, (but not on the grill). Ha!

The reality of life in a camper with a teenager! This is the sofa that makes into a queen size bed. We've put a memory foam topper on top of the sofa cushions for her and she says it's really comfortable after two nights.

I'm in the process of doing a load of laundry as I type this. I have to say, this was an amazing and wonderful addition to the camper. Who would have thought I would be so excited over a washer/dryer? No more trying to find enough quarters to wash and dry clothes. Not to mention lugging them to the laundry room. This machine does both, wash and dry. I love having it.

I didn't go with Papa and Piper today. They're heading to Wind Cave for a cave tour and then to Evans Plunge, in Hot Springs to swim. It's an indoor natural hot spring pool. Lots of fun for everyone. Except me. I woke up to back spasms this morning before I even got out of bed. I think I tweaked it yesterday when I got out of the truck at one stop. I opted to stay at the camper rather than put a damper on their day of fun. I don't mind. I have my yarn, books, laundry to do and a recliner as well as that beautiful scenery to sit outside and look at. They both seemed disappointed, although I think with me and my issues, they should be used to me disappointing them. 

Meanwhile, Zoey stayed home at Piper's house with her sister, Lizzie. She doesn't seem too upset does she?  Look at those cushy blankets those babies get to sleep on. This is in Mandy's office while she works. They want to be with her. Mandy said Zoey did spend quite awhile sitting on the back of the sofa when we left her, staring at the door waiting for us to come back. I know how much she loves it there though and being with Lizzie so I don't feel too bad. We do miss her. Dennis and I both find ourselves looking for her here in the camper. Both Brad and Mandy work from home so the puppies have lots of attention and company.

Take care. I'm trying to comment on blogs while we're here as the internet seems pretty good this year. They must have installed upgraded WiFi. I hope you're all well and enjoying the end of May. I'll be back soon! We have a visit to Mt. Rushmore planned for tomorrow. We're letting Piper choose the activities she wants to do and she asked for a return visit there. We always enjoy it and it's pretty impressive to see.

Blessings and hugs,

Betsy

The Unclouded Day 

Words and music by Josiah K. Alwood

Verse 1
O they tell me of a home Far beyond the skies
They tell me
Of a home far away
O they tell me of a home Where no storm clouds rise O they tell me
Of an unclouded day

Chorus
O the land of cloudless day
O the land of an unclouded sky O they tell me of a home Where no storm clouds rise
O they tell me
Of an unclouded day

Verse 2
Well they tell me that He smiles On His children there
And His smile
Drives their sorrow all away And they tell me
That no tears ever come again In that lovely land
Of unclouded day

Chorus
O the land of cloudless day
O the land of an unclouded sky O they tell me of a home Where no storm clouds rise
O they tell me
Of an unclouded day

Repeat chorus

Tornado Warning Weekend

 I can't believe that it's Tuesday already. The days are flying by. Completely crazy. As to the title of this post, it has been a rip-roaring Saturday, Sunday and Monday weather wise around here. There were tornado watches all three nights and although there were warnings all around us, the only time we actually had a warning was Sunday night, although there were other ones very close by. We jumped in the truck with Zoey and went to Curt & Barb's basement as they're only about 2 blocks away and Mandy & Brad's house is much farther.  We hung out in their basement for about an hour or so and had a great time visiting while we listened with half an ear to the weather radio. 

This, my friends, was the main reason I was happy to move to Spokane all those years ago. Tornado's. I've lived through a couple of very close calls, including seeing the proverbial cow flying through the air. Yes. I saw that when I was about 13-14 years old and have never forgotten it. Then a BIG one in 1975 that flattened a big part of Omaha when I was 15. Dennis's Mom barely missed being in the middle of that one. I was at work at the nursing home getting people out of beds and into hallways. There is no real warning with tornadoes. Although forecasting is much better than it used to be, one can literally drop out of the clouds right above you with no warning. Although I don't get as scared as I used to, I still do not like them.

A house a few blocks from Mandy's did get struck by lightening and they had hail, otherwise they were fine too. We have a tornado shelter here at the condo, but it's just a building built with bricks instead of wood and it's at the front of the complex. We would have been soaked trying to run there because the rain was pelting down. I think we would be just as safe in our garage as we would be there. But we know how to get into Curt & Barb's even if they aren't home and that's what we'll do if we have enough warning. Today was COLD compared to the last week and no rain forecast for awhile. Thank goodness.

And now onto much nicer things. A lady at church brought two huge bouquets of peonies to church on Sunday. After church we could take some home if we wanted as they would just be left there otherwise. I brought just one and let me tell you, it has made the condo smell SO good. I love peonies and have had them at all of our houses. I do miss them. And do you see the sweet Mother's Day card I got from Miss Piper? I love hedgehogs and it was the most wonderful card. It says I'm one of her favorite people and believe me, she's one of my favorites too.

Dennis went out kayaking with our camping buddies last Thursday before the wild weekend weather hit. This is our two person inflatable kayak and it wasn't the easiest by himself. I really need to try to go with him sometime. I don't swim and with my back I'm not sure I can even climb in, but I know he would love it if I tried. He called me when they were done and I met them at Culver's for some frozen yogurt.

I finished two more prayer shawls for the Med. Center and took them, along with 3 others, to my sister on Sunday and she delivered them when she went to rock babies in the NICU last night.

The first one is a simple granny square shawl. It's 18 x 70 inches and perfect for someone in a hospital bed or wheelchair.

I played a game of yarn chicken as I made it. I had exactly 5 1/2 inches left of white when I finished it. I am completely out of worsted weight white and cream. I have been trying not to buy yarn this year, but I do need to have white and cream on hand so I think I've going to have to break down and buy some. 

This one used the last of my stash of cream. It wasn't even a full skein.

Now I've started another "Grace" baby blanket using Mandela Baby in the Diagon Alley color way.

We leave on Monday for the Black Hills with Piper. Hopefully the internet will work while we're there. It has worked at that campground in the past, but not fast by any stretch of the imagination. We're looking forward to it for sure. It's our favorite place to camp, (in the summer.) In the winter there is waaaay to much snow. :-)

Thank you for asking about the skin biopsies. Although they were both considered pre-cancerous, they were benign and now they're gone. It's weird because both were in places that the sun doesn't ever touch. I'm just glad they are now gone and I have no worries about them anymore.

Take care my friends. I'll be back soon and will be visiting with all of you on your blogs. Continuing to pray for the world and all of those who don't know the love of Jesus. Without Him I would be nothing.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

WITHOUT HIM

By: Mylone R. LeFevre

Without Him, I could do nothing
Without Him, I'd surely fail
Without Him, I would be drifting
Like a ship without a sail

Without Him, I would be dying
Without Him, I'd be enslaved
Without Him, life would be worthless
But with Jesus, thank God I'm saved

Oh Jesus, oh Jesus
Do you know Him today?
Please don't turn Him away
Oh Jesus, my Jesus
Without Him, how lost I would be
Without Him, how lost I would be

Tulip or Stem Festival?

We returned from our camping trip and I tried to catch up with your blogs last night after catching up on laundry and other necessities. We had a great time. The days were warm and the nights were cool, down to 41F the third night! As the blog title says, we missed prime tulip time. Most of what were left was stems in the flower beds. Apparently the peak bloom was about 3-4 weeks ago. We had such a warm spring and you just can't plan on that can you? The actual Tulip Festival, with a craft fair, parade and all kinds of events started Thursday and goes all weekend. I think there will be a lot of disappointed people in Pella, Iowa this weekend. 

It didn't affect us much. We all had a great time. There are lots of great shops, restaurants, bakeries, meat & cheese shops, etc. Pella is in southeast Iowa and I can't believe I had never been there. It was about a 3 1/2 hour drive each way for us, pulling the camper.

In the photo below from left to right, Curt & Barb, Terri & Phillip, Angie & Jeff, Dennis & I and Zoey. Yes, we have a dog stroller. It's our first time using it and she loved it. There were a lot of people there and it was much better than a leash.

Curt & Phillip are both Dennis's cousins. Phillip has had a LOT of health issues and is waiting for a heart transplant. He and Terri stayed in a hotel and spent the daytimes with us.

This was the only bed of tulips still blooming and even those were starting to droop a lot. This sculpture is a sundial and was very accurate.

Outside the visitor kiosk were a pair of wooden shoes. Unfortunately they didn't fit very well. Ha!

This was the view from our camper door. No close neighbors. I have to say, I think it was the most peaceful and beautiful campground we've stayed in. The spots were huge. We had bluebirds flying all around us the entire time. So much birdsong. There is an eagle sanctuary right across the DesMoines River from the campground.

Sitting around the campfire, but I missed taking a photo of the actual campfire! Such peaceful evening and so fun. We played a bunch of different trivia games, boys against the girls. We didn't keep score but I'm pretty sure the girls won.

This is such a cool sculpture by the river. It's shows all of the birds of the area and how large their wingspan is. I wish I could have gotten enough detail to show the writing on each bird. Our campground was called Howell's Station, but there used to be a river ferry crossing here years ago called Horn's Ferry.

These were the original ferry prices for traffic crossing the river. 

Then a bridge was built to replace it. I hope you can enlarge this and read it. The portion left of the bridge is from the river bank on the left to the supports on the right of the photo below. The rest of it collapsed into the river in 1992. We were able to walk out on the bridge to that spot. A bit scary because of the plank floor. You could see the river between the planks but it was still fun. From there we watched 5 adult eagles soaring through the sky and a baby across the river in it's nest.

We certainly had a wonderful time. Although my back prevented me from joining in, most of the others went kayaking, biking and hiking. It was so relaxing and although the diesel fuel prices weren't fun, we still thought it was worth it. It's a corps of engineers campground and with our America the Beautiful pass we only paid $12.00 per night! Most places are $75-$120 per night now, although we try to find deals where we can.

Yesterday I went to a Mother's Day luncheon at a community center here in Omaha. I've gone for the past three years with these same three friends that I've known for over 50 years! The speaker yesterday told the history of the Durham Centennial Museum that was originally the Union Pacific Railroad Depot. Every year they have fantastic speakers. The first year I went it was about influential women from Omaha. Last year was about Elizabeth Barrett Browning. 

From left to right, Jaleena, Barb, Sheryl and yours truly. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed salads, chicken croissant sandwiches and brownies for dessert. I always enjoy the company of these three ladies. We've been through a lot together, even with me living so far away for so long. 

Dennis went to Piper's Taekwondo testing this morning and she advanced another belt. She's been doing so well and moving up steadily. Tomorrow we're going out to lunch with them and Brad's family. We like a restaurant in a tiny, tiny town called Malmo in farm country Nebraska. Really good food and very nice people. I'm looking forward to visiting with Brad's parents, we haven't seen them for a few months.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you as well!

I hope all is well with you all. 

Blessings and love,

Betsy

The Churches One Foundation

Text: Samuel J. Stone

Music: Samuel Wesley

1

The Church’s one foundation
  Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation
  By water and the Word:
From heav’n He came and sought her
  To be His holy Bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
  And for her life He died.

2

Elect from every nation,
  Yet one o’er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation,
  One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
  Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
  With every grace endued.

3

’Mid toil and tribulation,
  And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
  Of peace for evermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
  Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
  Shall be the Church at rest.

4

Yet she on earth hath union
  With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
  With those whose rest is won:
O happy ones and holy!
  Lord, give us grace that we,
Like them, the meek and lowly,
  In love may dwell with Thee.

Another Month Just Went Whoosh!

Where oh where is the time going? How can it possibly be May 1 already? I'm beginning to understand even better our daughter -in-law's Dad's saying, "Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end the faster it goes." And with that, here's a photo of me in Galveston at Bubba Gump's Restaurant. Doesn't it sound like something that Forrest Gump would say? I forgot this picture was on my phone until Dennis took the one below this week.

Here I am, sitting next to Ronald Regan outside of Sheel's Sporting Good's store here in Omaha. We had gone to a nearby restaurant for lunch after our doctors appointments last week and Sheel's is across the parking lot. Dennis wanted to get prices on some things and we always like to look at camping gear, so we wandered around the store to get a little bit of exercise. I had a few biopsies and my leg was really hurting so I had sat down for a minute when Dennis surprised me with this picture. I don't like photos of myself at all.  Believe me, Dennis didn't need the exercise. Besides very, very physical work at the Open Door Mission, he goes to the exercise room here at the condo several times a week for an hour and a half. Right now he's out doing a full-moon hike with friends. They're trying to hike the first evening of a full moon as it gets dark during this year. They really enjoy it and I encourage him to go with them, even though my back doesn't let me participate.

I finished the granny square shawl and really enjoyed working with the two tones of purple. I made the border up by just doing some double crochets, single crochets and a scallop stitch for the border. It's nice and long, almost 72 inches. This will be donated to UNMC prayer shawl ministry.

I made both of these little pieces this week while waiting at different places. Very simple and easy to do and only 6 inches in diameter. It made me realize just how much I have always enjoyed embroidery and I just haven't done much of it for awhile. I may get a few flour sack towels and make some dish towels for the camper.

This bottom one was only made with five different colors but I love it.

Tomorrow we'll take a run to the storage lot and load some food and clothes into the camper. On the way home after church on Sunday we'll turn the refrigerator on and go pick up the rest of the food and anything else we may need from the condo. Then we'll be off to Pella, Iowa and the Tulip Festival. We're camping with our usual gang. Our minister Jeff and his wife Angie, Curt and Barb. Also Curt's brother Philip, (who is also Dennis' cousin) and his wife Terri will be joining us during the day but staying in a hotel as Philip has had some serious health issues and isn't up to camping yet. 

We have other friends who were in Pella a couple of weeks ago who told us that the tulips were already past their prime when they were there. Last year it was the end of May before they bloomed. The weather has been so strange this year. Warm, then cold. So we may not see the tulips, but I think that Pella has other things to offer. Everyone except me is taking their bicycles and kayaks so there will be lots of other things to do too. We'll be there until Wednesday and then come back home. We're both looking forward to being back in the camper. Fun times for sure.

I just thought this picture below was a cute photo I saw online. Even though our girls aren't long-haired chihuahua's, the sentiment is the same for Zoey and Lizzie. :-)

I hope you are all doing well. We've been busy, just doing doctor visits and this and that. A funeral this past week of a long-time friend who died at 68 of cancer. She was a bright spot in this world with a smile on her face until the very end. She will be missed, but oh, how she's celebrating in Heaven right now with Jesus! The memorial service was a fitting tribute to LuAnn, with lots of uplifting stories of her life and happy "Jesus Music" as she called it way back when we sang together in our 20's. We were in a group that traveled the midwest singing concerts.

I'm not sure if the campground we'll be at will have any internet, so I'm not sure if I'll be online. There aren't a lot of amenities there, so not sure how good cell reception will be for my hotspot. If I can get online I will be visiting with you all. Take care and I'll be back soon.

Blessings and hugs,

Betsy

What a Day That Will Be

By: Gaither Vocal Band and Jim Hill

What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see
And I look upon his face
The one who saved me by his grace
When he takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land
What a day, glorious day that will be (in the second person)

There'll be no sorrows there
No more burdens to bear
No more sickness and no more pain
No more parting over there
But forever I will be
With the one who died for me
What a day, glorious day that will be

What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see
When I look upon his face
The one who saved me by his grace (but when he)
When he takes me by the hand (takes me by the hand)
And leads me through the Promised Land
What a day, glorious day that will be

Oh, what a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see
When I look upon his face
The one who saved me by his grace (but when
When he takes me by the hand (he takes me by the hand)
And leads me through the Promised Land
What a day, glorious day that will be

A Finish

Good Morning! It's a beautiful, pure blue sky and sunshine day here in the midwest. It's supposed to be 88F, so pretty warm for April but it will cool off again by Thursday. 

Yesterday was a morning of doctor appointments and then lunch at Cheddar's. Dennis had blood work for another appointment scheduled for next Monday. I had four spots removed at the dermatologist and am now waiting for the biopsies which I'm sure will be fine.

I finally finished the stitching on the birth announcement for Baby W. It took longer than I expected it to, but I do like the way it turned out. I still have to press it and frame it. I plan to go to Hobby Lobby today or tomorrow to find a frame. For privacy reasons I have blocked out the personalization part. All in all, I'm glad it's finished and I can get it ready to mail off to London.

Dennis did a small project last week here at the condo. We have been trying to decide what to do with this fireplace since we moved in. Neither of us liked the dark brown paint. Other condo owners have tiled theirs from floor to ceiling, others put granite on the entire face. We didn't really care for any of them and the expense was crazy. Finally we decided to paint it with paint we already have and see what we think. That could be easily changed if we didn't like it.

This is the result. We both love it. It brightens up that corner of the room a lot. It's hard to believe that just a little bit of paint made this much difference. What do you think? It was a lot less expensive than refacing the surface.

I have started and ripped out several crochet projects. I just couldn't seem to settle on anything. Now I'm making simple ten inch granny squares that will eventually become a prayer shawl for the hospital. I do love this purple color. Of course, I love anything purple. :-) I feel like I'm unsettled for some reason and I don't have a driving desire to make anything in particular. Have any of you ever felt like that?

The world is still in turmoil but I know that God is ultimately in control. Things will happen as He allows and as the timeline in the Bible lays out. I know that He loves me and wants what is good for me. He wants the best for you too. The world is broken and so are the people in it. But His love can overcome it all. I do hope you know Him too. 

I'll be back soon. I'm enjoying mornings on the balcony. Listening to the birds and reading my Bible. Spring is such a wonderful time. The earth is coming back to life and we get to witness it it all.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

There Shall Be Showers Of Blessings

Text: Daniel White based on Ezekiel 34:26

Music: James McGranahan

1

There shall be showers of blessing:
  This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
  Sent from the Savior above.

 

Showers of blessing,
  Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
    But for the showers we plead.

2

There shall be showers of blessing—
  Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
  Sound of abundance of rain.

3

There shall be showers of blessing;
  Send them upon us, O Lord!
Grant to us now a refreshing;
  Come, and now honor Thy Word.

4

There shall be showers of blessing;
  O that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
  Now as on Jesus we call!

5

There shall be showers of blessing,
  If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
  If we let God have His way.

Monday, Monday

 Good Morning my friends. Life just doesn't seem to slow down does it? We have been busy around here since returning home. Dinners with friends, appointments, etc. I have been busy cross-stitching on our new granddaughter Baby W's birth announcement. I'm to the point where all I have left is the outlining and personalization but that will also take a few days. I've been staying up until the wee hours of the morning working on it. Mandy has knitted a sweet little hat and booties set for her and I want to get them all in the mail before little Baby W outgrows them.

I haven't picked up yarn and a hook or needles for days except during Sunday school yesterday when I was able to knit on my "take along" socks.

We canceled our trip to Salt Lake City next month. With the cost of diesel right now, we decided that going to Spokane later in the summer was more important to us than to a camping meet up of people we don't know at all. We're still plan on going to the Tulip Festival next month in Pella, Iowa and taking Piper to the Black Hills Memorial Day week. We're sure hoping that prices fall back to normal before the big trips. 

I thought I would share the four projects that I made while we were in Texas last month. First is a shawl for the hospital oncology unit. A simple granny stitch that I put a single crochet border around.

Here is the virus shawl I asked in a previous post if anyone knew the pattern. Cindy at "The Delighted Hands" blog sent me the link for the blanket. Thanks Cindy! I don't know why mine is a bit wrinkled but I'll try again sometime and hopefully it will be better. Notice it's the same yarn as the shawl. I was limited in what I took on the trip. :-)

This is the V-stitch baby blanket that my friend Terri at the "YarnJoy" YouTube podcasts made. Her's was just like this, ruffled too. I ripped this one out three times and started completely over before throwing up my hands and just completing it, ruffles and all.

And this one was using up all of my tiny bits of yarn I had left. I finished it just a few miles from home. 

The only one of these projects that turned out like I intended was the shawl. All three small blankets were a bit of a disappointment. My tension was right. The patterns were followed and they still look pretty wonky. 

On a happier note, we made it to a place we both love the second day we were in Galveston. Buccee's! It was lunchtime and Dennis had a brisket sandwich while I chose pulled pork. We had banana pudding for dessert and of course bought 2 bags of Beaver Nuggets. One for us and one for Curt and Barb who love them too. We're supposed to be getting the first Buccee's in Nebraska this fall right outside of Omaha, not too far from us. That could be dangerous. :-)

This bird was a metal sculpture between our RV park and Jamaica Beach on Galveston Island. It was huge and I have no idea what it is! I always find art works like this on our travels to be fascinating.

Oh my, we're missing this view. It was 33F here two days ago. Today it is supposed to be 89F and it's VERY humid. I ended up turning the AC on already because we were sticking to the floors when we walked across the wood. Paper and towels were very damp when we picked them up too. I'm thinking this means storms somewhere this afternoon, but I don't think they are predicted in our area. It's pretty early for this heat and humidity though. It's supposed to be much cooler again in a couple of days.

Miss Piper missed three days of school last week with some kind of bug. She went back on Friday and even ran track after school! We didn't see her over the weekend. She still had the sniffles but the biggest reason was because she had TON'S of homework from missing those three days. We did FaceTime for awhile with her and Mandy yesterday afternoon and she read me some poetry she had written for class. It was really good. That girl. She has my heart. I love her so much. It's wonderful to be part of her life by living so close.

I hope you all have a wonderful week planned. Dennis is at the camper this morning, remaking the bed after I washed the sheets. He had a few other chores planned there too. He enjoys going there and "puttering" around the camper, planning the next trip. Normally I would go with him, but I really want to get this cross stitch done, plus I needed to get a blog post up to say hello to all of you!

We have a funeral this Saturday at church for a 91 year old man that I've known my entire life. For many years he was the fire chief on the volunteer department in the small town I grew up in. My brothers were both volunteer firemen too and one was the fire inspector. Dennis and I will be working at the lunch where they are expecting around 300 people. That's a LOT of food! Carl's wife was my Girl Scout leader and I graduated with one of his daughters. We've stayed in contact with them over our 30 years in Spokane.

It's strange, after living across the country for 30 years, we came back and picked up our life almost as it was before, minus our kids being grown. Same church, many of the same friends. It's almost like those 30 years didn't happen. Then we go back to Spokane to visit and it's like we're still there. Strange indeed.

I'm stilling praying continually or all of those involved in wars and conflicts around the world and those being persecuted by evil men. I'm so glad that I have the hope of the Lord living in my and the Holy Spirit guiding my heart. I pray for each of you too, my dear friends. I hope you know Him. The giver of Life abundant.

Blessings and Love,

Betsy

ABIDE WITH ME

TEXT:

Henry Lyte, Justin Smith

MUSIC:

Justin Smith

1. Abide with me; falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers, fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, abide with me.

2. Thou on my head, in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious, and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, though I oft left Thee,
On to the close Lord, abide with me.

3. I need Thy presence, every passing hour.
What but Thy grace, can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, abide with me.

4. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight, tears lose their bitterness
Where is thy sting death? Where grave thy victory?
I triumph still, abide with me.

5. Hold Thou Thy cross, before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, Lord, abide with me.

He Is Risen Just As He Said

Easter Blessings to Each One of You!

Betsy

Hello! Long time, no see.

I seem to have dropped off the face of the earth didn't I. Not really, but it was hard to get online and after trying over and over with no luck, I finally gave up and just enjoyed being with Dennis and doing absolutely nothing. Well, I did crochet 3 baby blankets and a shawl that I'll show you next time. Right now I'll just show some of the beautiful scenery we experienced. We arrived home a little after 4:00 pm yesterday, unpacked the truck, started laundry and went to the Good Friday service at church at 7:00. We were exhausted last night. It rained off and on most of the drive home and that adds another level of stress when you're pulling a camper. Drivers just don't seem to realize that you can't stop like in a car, and they pull right in front of the truck. With no signaling I might add. I think some remedial drivers education is needed for lots of people! Ha!

Horseback riders on the beach on Galveston Island. We saw lots of groups of people on horseback just riding and enjoying the sunshine.

Our campground was technically in Galveston, but it was just two miles down the road from Jamaica Beach and 20 miles from the Seawall in Galveston. We rarely left our end of the island. We were very lazy and stayed on the beach and in the campground most of the time.

Sunset from the door of our camper. It was so gorgeous there and every day was beautiful.

I have no idea what kind of bird this is but there were several hanging out around our campsite. Look at that beak! 

Cars went right on the beach. Weekends were busy with people playing. But the campground itself was quiet. 

We loved being on the beach. Most nights we walked up and down the beach and then had our folding chairs that we would just sit and watch the waves. 

One of my favorite things to do was watch the seagulls. They would soar above us without even flapping their wings. They look different than the seagulls we are used to seeing on the Oregon coast.

We went back to the historic Pleasure Pier that we visited before our cruise a few years ago. We had lunch at Bubba Gump's, designed around the movie "Forrest Gump." It was delicious but we definitely wouldn't eat there very often. Pretty expensive for what you received. It was the only meal we ate out  for the entire month. We did pick up pizza two different nights in Jamaica Beach but other than that we rarely left the campground, there was just no need to.

These signs were on the tables at Bubba Gump's. When you needed your waitress, you just flipped it over to say "Stop Forrest Stop." We ate at another Bubba Gump restaurant in Lahaina, Maui years ago. It burned down during the fire that destroyed most of the town a few years ago. It was a fun place to eat too.

This was my meal. Four different types of shrimp and delicious seasoned fries. Yum!

Dennis got the fish and chips. The bottom piece of shrimp was about 12 inches long! The photos don't do the meals justice.

Zoey loved the entire trip. She made lots of friends and played with other dogs in the dog parks at the various places we stayed on the way to and from the Gulf.

I'm sorry I didn't comment on your blogs for the last several weeks. The internet was rather sporadic but they are supposed to be upgrading the wifi connection in the next few weeks at the Galveston KOA. That will make it easier next year to stay in touch. We've already made reservations for next February and March! We enjoyed our time there so much. There are tons of activities in the winter months for the retirees that stay there. Some are there from December through March or April. We were the "short-timers." 

We had thought about taking our time getting home but then realized how much we both wanted to be in our home church for Easter weekend. Tomorrow we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, JESUS! We are so truly blessed in our lives. Our new little Granddaughter, "Baby W" was born on March 31 in London. Mom and baby are doing fine. We are so excited, but won't see her for at least a few months. Grandma, (me), can't wait to get my hands on her. She's precious. The state of the world right now is not conducive to traveling, so the daily FaceTime videos will have to do for awhile.

Wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend of celebrating His death, Burial and Resurrection! 

Blessings and love,

Betsy

WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS

By: Isaac Watts

1. When I survey the wond'rous Cross
On which the Prince of Glory dy'd,
My richest Gain I count but Loss,
And pour Contempt on all my Pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the Death of Christ my God:
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his Blood.

3. See from his Head, his Hands, his Feet,
Sorrow and Love flow mingled down!
Did ever such Love and Sorrow meet?
Or Thorns compose so rich a Crown?

4. His dying Crimson, like a Robe,
Spreads o'er his Body on the Tree;
Then am I dead to all the Globe,
And all the Globe is dead to me.

5. Were the whole Realm of Nature mine,
That were a Present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my Soul, my Life, my All.