Wow! What a day!!

*A Memorable Morning*

The day began with a flight on a Cessna 172.
We flew over 3 mountain ranges and 3 lakes.

(Prepare for Take off)
I was so excited, everything was funny!

Jake actually let me take off... it was a little scary at first.
He then took control and hovered over the ground for a bit on a soft take off.
It was really cool!

(Ok, so self portraits in a plane, with turbulence,
are not easy to take. )

(Rockin' Left to Right)

( I was flying the plane on my own, over a lake, help!)

Jake said, "ok, just try to keep it straight. I thought he was joking and then I
noticed he'd let go of the controls and he really meant,
KEEP IT STRAIGHT.
I was having a hard time seeing over the tall dash, you know for the lines to fly within, haha...
I then realized it's not at all like a car, duh! You are really depending on the wind and the choke to keep you steady.

When Jake took the pic above, he said,
"I'm gonna' take it sorta' slanted because
that's how you fly the plane, ok?!"
Haha.. very funny!
It's harder than you think!

(Cheesin')

Oh, I almost forgot, when we turned to go back to the airport... I was the only one stepping on the peddle to turn the plane, while I was also trying to keep it straight.
I was so excited!!
Haha, well, I got us turned back the right direction... but the whole 'STRAIGHT' idea, well, that was another thing... oops! :)

On our way back it was 65 Degrees outside - it felt great when I opened the window. I was joking that I was flying the plane with one hand. I realized then
I really was, because Jake had let go. Yikes!! :)


(The descent)


(THE LANDING!!)


TIME REALLY DOES FLY WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN!!
The flight felt so much shorter than it was. =(

(Back on solid ground)


We had so much fun!!

************************************************

*An Afternoon to Remember*

I had made plans to spend some time with Cherita today since the airport I was at was on her side of town. So, here's how it went. She ran some 'fun' errands. Blah... so Natalie and I stayed in the car and made the best of it.

(Thinking)

(Bright ideas!!) (Secrets.. hmmm!)

Goofy faces are sooo much fun! Especially when you can get a PRINCESS to do them with.

She's so my little buddy! :)
She once said, "Janet, we are such GOOD FRIENDS aren't we?!
I love you so much!"
Now that's good stuff!!

This was followed by Cher finding a new innovative way to enjoy a curly fry.
Ah... great segway to our next adventure... well, maybe not.


What fun we had playing, sliding and pretending we were mermaids in the water. Haha, I told Cher that Natalie should write children's books, she has an unbelievable imagination.
What a great way to spend a day off!

Should sleep well tonight!!

FuNnY

Due to the current financial restraints,
the light at the end of the tunnel will be turned
off.

Yikes! :-/

Yippee.... Let's GO!!

Ok, so my thoughts in this picture were...
"I'd much rather be IN the river than next to it."
I then told my sister, I am SOOO coming back to raft this river!

So, here we go!!!

Vacation Scheduled - Check
Flight Booked - Check
Elevated Excitement Level - Check
Hurry up and WAIT - Grrr... CHECK!

So, my sis and sis-n-law are getting ready to have their babies so I thought I'd not be able to make this trip. As it works out, they are both probably going to have them early, maybe even within the next couple days. So, since I'm going to miss the births overall (which is the whole reason my sis wanted me there), I decided to wait until later in the year to visit my new little munchkins. We are having a boy and a girl, oh, I mean, uh, they are having them.. haha!

Anyway, so the white water rafting trip in Idaho is ON!! Yippeee!!!
My friend Ali is so super excited to know we are going.
My nephew Nathan may also go... soo VERY cool!

I may also try to visit some other friends from High School while I'm in Boise.
Haha, it'll be kinda' weird seeing them again, but great. :)

Pictures to come!! So, hurry up and WAIT!
Haha =)

Doggy Yoga... too cute!

I was doing my morning exercises and someone felt left out.

Guess who?

Haha, so he got on the mat and started doing a few
tricks of his own.

It was hilarious!

(no speedos for him.. haha)

(He also does Downward Dog, but he was getting a little shy)

The funny thing is, he actually holds some of the sitting positions for a long time.

He's so much fun...great if you don't have kids to entertain you.
Hehe! =)

Time for a smoothie... yum!

Happy Stretching!! 8-)

My Brand New Home!!

IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY!!!

Sunday's are my most favorite day of the week! When you're traveling through this weary land sometimes you need a sanctuary a place of retreat, where you can rest and lay down your burdens. A place where others are sojourning the same road, bearing one anothers burdens, traversing to the same city and encouraging each other to press on.

I received a call early yesterday morning from Susie, she called to tell me "John's gone home." John Preston was a man I met over 10 years ago when he was holding a revival here in Phoenix. He was a tall, slender man with a booming voice... a 'gentle giant' many would say. He was one thing for certain and that was a 'PRAYER WARRIOR!' He had the biggest heart for souls, all he wanted was to enlarge the Kingdom and then go to his 'Brand New Home.' In fact that was his favorite song.

"Wait'll you see, my brand new home,
wait'll you see it's beauty fair,
nothing down here can compare,
wait'll you see my brand new home...
I'm gonna' occupy for FREE," then he'd always insert
"Jesus Christ" here and then finish it off with a certainty
"WAIT'LL YOU SEE MY BRAAAAND NEEEEW HOME!"

When the Spirit of God would come in the sanctuary, around the table or wherever he might be, John's eyes would fill with tears and a far off look would consume his face... almost as if he were looking at a world beyond the one we know and longing would fill his countenance. He impressed in me a strong desire for that BRAND NEW HOME. John went home yesterday morning around 8:30A.M., and my selfish heart is only saddened by the loss of his mortal presence in our midst, but my hope and determination is renewed.

I also realized today, Heaven isn't going to be a strange place to John (oh how I wonder what he's doing now in that city), it won't be a strange place because he always held a piece of heaven in his heart - living here as he'll live there. In fact, one revival there was an altar service and the presence of God was there in such a real way... one of the children came towards the altar and John picked her up. Someone in the church thought it was so precious that they took a photo of him holding her and when it was developed their was an amazing image of an angel with a haze surrounding John and Natalie. (I will post the image in this section when I get a copy of it so check back.) You see -- this is what he lived for!!! He lived to die!! Only to live again!! What a wonder and a hope we possess!! Amen!!

I had just prayed for John this week, as I knew he was very ill, and God allowed me to see his entrance and the rejoicing there would be in heaven when he arrived. In my mind I could see Christ's arms outstretched to him, saying 'well done, my child, enter in.' John then telling Christ how he remembered the day he breathed breath into his life, the time when he formed him... and then Christ asking him about his life on earth... straining to remember John said he remembered some, but John continually asking if it was just a moment, not too long... just a little while, when I was there on earth, right? Christ confirming, yes, it was just for a moment.

I testified to this today and God came, Praise His Name. God's presence filled the sanctuary today, through tears in testimonies, songs of Praise and the reality of the hope that we possess through the blood. Several testified 2 or 3 times throughout the service, Hallelujah's and Amen's resounded as others encouraged them on. You see, the last several months, it seems not a week has gone by without someone 'going home.' God is calling His children home and yet, for the last few months, God has saved more than 10 souls in our AZ/CA churches alone. God is trying, he's pleading, he's longing... time is wrapping up and many things in this life are mere distractions when compared to eternity.

The last few weeks have been extremely trying for me, but the service today, the reality of the God we serve, His sovereignty and strength have challenged me to trust Him more.

More than anything WE'VE GOT TO MAKE IT!!! We've GOT TO KNOW our name's inscribed in the lamb's great book of life... MORE THAN ANYTHING!!! My desire is renewed!! It won't be very long... just a moment longer and then we'll all be home!! God help us to keep our eyes on eternity, heaven and a new life eternal!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some pictures from today... enjoying time with friends and fellow travelers on this journey! :)

(Angie)
Sunday afternoon dinner at Susie's is a highlight on Sundays...
good food & good fellowship.

(Juliana Arnold-Jones and Angie in the background.)
Everyone pitching in

Cooking Spanish Rice at Susie's is always fun.
We always have a knock-down-drag-out
about letting me take some of the left over rice home with me.
Her answer is usually an adamant, NO!
Haha.. I got some today! She's so selfish, she wants it
all to herself. She says, "if you want more, make more - that's mine!"
She's usually the MOST giving person in the world...
I guess we all have our moments.

(Beautiful Shania)

Susie is one of my dearest friends in Phoenix - she calls me 'little sister,'

though she really is old enough to be my mom, but I try not to remind her of that. =)
Also proof that I wear more than baseball caps and hiking boots... haha!! 8-)

(Cher being silly)
(Bryan Jones & Ethan)
(Clinton & Ethan)

I am so glad I'm a part of the family of God!

Random

There's nothing like having a smoothie in the morning!!
They are a fresh, healthy and satisfying way to start the day.
It's almost like starting your day with a dessert... now that can't be bad. =)A few different views so you can enjoy it as much as I did. Yummy!

All dogs need a friend... I mean besides their best human friend... they need one of their kind, you know, someone to relate to, someone that understands them... someone like Jake's new friend.

One that he can take care of! Haha!! 8-)

FYI, he has successfully removed one of the puppies eyes.
He's such a good sitter! Crazy Dog!!

So many memories...

My morning has been spent going through my office. My office consists of a closet packed with my hobbies, equipment and all of my past. Yikes, scary! Well, anyway... I have been going through everything in my house trying to 'simplify' my life. It's funny how doing this always takes longer than you think.... haha, mostly because you have to stop and look at those old pictures, read all the newspaper clippings from High School, wonder "what ever happened to them," question 'how' you coulda' EVER wore that and just reminiscing - you know how it goes. So, I ran across some 'letters of recommendations' from my High School teachers, old photos from our choir's Carnegie Hall trip and sooo much more. [I wish my scanner were working, I'd add some pics... I'll have to do it some other time.] Wow, what memories!

~~ A Special Celebration~~

~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Happy Birthday Susie

*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(Sus had a great time... it was a 5 course meal beginning with
fresh, warm Rosemary Bread and ending with a handsome older man singing to Susie
a very Special Happy Birthday in Italian, followed by a delicious Berry Tiramisu)

Romano's Macaroni Grille

You have to hear this guy sing to Susie, it was
Beautiful!


(Haha... I'm retarded sometimes, even in expensive restaurants...
laughing's most important)

(Susie's B-day Gladiola)

(Amazing!!)

Great time had by ALL!!
(Even though it was just the 2 of us. Hehe)

To wash or not to wash?? That is the QuEstIOn

The Average Rainfall in Phoenix is approximately 8 inches a year. We are 'truly' in the desert.
Well, Monsoon has officially started... and with it so have the rains, winds and lightning (which I eagerly invite, normally).

It's important to tell you that I washed my car on Saturday... it then rained Saturday night. Grrr! So, I went back to the car wash and redeemed my 'Rain check' and had it washed again on Monday. Haha... on my way home, it rained again! ReAlLy?? Hmmm... Oh yes, it's also important for me to tell you that I paid $25 for my wash and light detail and then I gave the nice men a $10 tip; mostly because I felt so bad that they were working so hard in 110+ degree weather.

Hmmm... to wash or not to wash, that is the question?!

(Before the rain)

So here are my calculations:

Basic wash $10 x 365 days per year - 52 Sundays =
$3,130 per year

So, I figure, if it rains everytime I get my car washed, I can make it rain everyday of the week, minus Sundays for only $3,130 per year. Hmmm... now that might be worth it!! haha!!

*Disclaimer: I LOVE washing/detailing my own car... I hate that I don't have a yard :(

DELICIOUS!!

There's no better way to wake up to a 'day off' than a good hearty breakfast!!
On the menu today:
~ Open face Panini on Rosemary Sourdough bread~

DELICIOUS!!

Ingredients:

Whatever's in the fridge! Haha!!

Flights, camps & rafts ... OH MY!!

So, I just found out that one of my co-workers is a FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR!!
Now, this is pertinent information and something I should have been privy too way before this.

Jacob, who also loves to harass me, has offered to take me up on a
Discovery Flight

YIPEEE!!! I can't wait!!

When you ask? Maybe as soon as next week.
Wowzers!!!! I can't wait!! Did I say that already?!?! =)

I LOVE FLYING!!!

I have flown a couple times with friends in small engine planes but I've never had the chance to sit in the front with the controls at my fingertips.
Ugh! Yikes... hmmm.
Well, anyway, Jake (not my dog, my co-worker) will be there the whole time.

Wish me the best!!!

I'll be sure to take lots of pics. and maybe a few video clips. =)


(Get this, I told my mom what I was planning on doing and she said
she was jealous... this only after she said I was "CRAZY!")
________________________________________________________

*****Tentative Schedule*****

July - Discovery Flight
August-Sept. - Payette River
Rafting
September - Sky Diving
Church campout (sometime)
October - Havasupai Trail Hike
Grand Canyon
(4)WATERFALLS,Camping

WANNA' COME???

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
LET'S GO!!!

The Kingdom of God

O WORLD invisible, we view thee,

O world intangible, we touch thee,

O world unknowable, we know thee,

Inapprehensible, we clutch thee!

Does the fish soar to find the ocean,

The eagle plunge to find the air--

That we ask of the stars in motion

If they have rumor of thee there?

Not where the wheeling systems darken,

And our benumbed conceiving soars!--

The drift of pinions, would we hearken,

Beats at our own clay-shuttered doors.

The angels keep their ancient places--

Turn but a stone and start a wing!

'Tis ye, 'tis your estrangèd faces,

That miss the many-splendored thing.

But (when so sad thou canst not sadder)

Cry--and upon thy so sore loss

Shall shine the traffic of Jacob's ladder

Pitched betwixt Heaven and Charing Cross.

Yea, in the night, my Soul, my daughter,

Cry--clinging to Heaven by the hems;

And lo, Christ walking on the water,

Not of Genesareth, but Thames!




(Francis Thompson)

Please leave a comment on your opinion or thoughts of this priceless piece of literature.

REVEGETATE

4:00 A.M. - Alarm Clock, RING!

4:05 A.M. - Alarm Clock, RING!
4:15 A.M. - Janet RING alarm clocks neck (except it doesn't have one)
4:16 A.M. - Leap out of bed, BRIGHT EYED and BUSHY TAILED
4:30 A.M. -RING Kathy's doorbell (oh, forgot...
I had already gotten dressed and ready by this point, FYI)
5:00 A.M.- Arrive at new hiking location, North Mountain Reserve, aka,the back side of the
mountain range we've been hiking.
5:01 A.M. - Kathy says, 'let's take it easy today, no big mountains,
just a nice easy hike.'
5:01:59 A.M. -Kathy lies through her teeth - yet again

7:55 A.M. - Crawl way to car, carrying 2 dogs on my back with no water left

8:00 A.M.

9 MILES LATER.....GET TO CAR!!!!!

So here's the way it went, really.
"We are going to take an easy hike," she says. Uh-huh! Right!!
Well, at first it almost seemed like she may have been telling the truth,
but I know better than that.
(This from the woman that cycles 200 miles in one day and says,
"oh, it wasn't too bad." :-/)

This sign was one of the first things we saw today on our trail...
when it finally got light enough to see.

I was laughing so hard at this sign because this is what was around it.
I thought it was so funny, because everything surrounding it was DEAD!! No, let me correct that statement... the weeds and plants weren't even 'planted' in the ground. They were just laying there like carcasses waiting to be rescued by a campfire blaze.

So this became our theme for the rest of the 'EASY' hike.


REVEGETATE!!!!

Kathy is infamous for telling 'TALL TALES,' and terrible at assessing distance.
The hike began with a steady incline into the valley behind Squaw Peak and Dreamy Draw where we usually hike... it was nice - at first!

The mountainside, along with much of the valley, was covered in
Teddy Bear Cactus.
WANNA' SNUGGLE UP?!
They don't bite!

The views were nice, really.
It's funny because I kinda' think that the 'trail' you take into the mountain is the way you take out of the mountain, right? Uh, yeah... not so much!!
Well, Kathy my friend does not subscribe to this philosophy. Oh, no, she REFUSES to retrace her steps the way she came - there's no adventure in KNOWING you'll get back from where you came... hmmm?!?!
Instead she would rather hike the circumference of the city,
or state if need be, to get back to the car.
This is VERY important to her... I mean, VERY, VERY important to her. =)

I do however have to admit... we had some pretty amazing views... see for yourself.

(Doesn't this pic of the Saguaro, kinda' look like a right hand?)

(Psalm 104:2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment:
who stretchest out the heaven's like a curtain...)

(Psalm 104:19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth
his going down - or rising for that matter)

Not too bad... so, I was willing to forgive her for the 'easy hike' which had only taken us about 2 miles into the canyon (not bad). Until, she decided to climb over another mountain, which lead to another and then to another... uh, all the opposite direction from the car. (oh, and this was all on our 'way back' to the car - go figure)

So we decided to stop at the top of one of the mountains to rehydrate and...

REVEGETATE!!!

I was really trying hard to look like one of those dead weeds.
{ I'm such a dork ;-) }

AFTER REHYDRATING AND REVEGETATING...

Jake thought he was king of the jungle...
until
UNTIL
UNTIL
UNTIL
He chased a chipmunk through the mountainside and darted under a
Cholla Cactus at full speed to catch it.
OUCH!!!
Poor Bub... he came back with Burrs and Needles in his back, paws, ears...
well, pretty much everywhere.
Mommy to the rescue! Yeah, right!!!
I don't make it a habit to carry tweezers with me on a hike.
I ever so cautiously removed what I could until we got home.

Oh, I almost forgot!!! We saw a helicopter guiding a rescue off the mountain we usually climb. Yikes, that could have been me the other day. Cha-ching $$ Poor peeps... that'll be a hike they're sure to never forget. (See the little dot in the sky, that's the copter)

Ending: Kathy kept saying 'we are almost there, sorry, we're almost there.' I think she kept repeating this out loud because she was trying to convince herself that we really were almost there. I think it was when she ran out of water that she decided we'd gone a little more than a couple miles... uh, yeah!

The last half a mile was tough. Poor Sally and Jake. They would walk on the trail at a normal speed, and as soon as they passed a shady spot they'd just fall and lay down... we almost had to pick them up to move them. Poor babies! :( They finally made it!! Yay!)

We made our way to Einstein's Bagels and had a delicious breakfast.
Then Kathy went to bed with Sally at her house...
Jake went to bed at our house and mommy (me) went to work. Huh?

Somethings wrong with this picture!?!?

Grrr... oh, well... it was worth it!

(Disclaimer: all of these pics are from my cell phone, so they may be a bit blurry... sorry, need to take my 'real' camera out some day.)

______________________________________________________

While I was on the trail, I thought to myself... 'how much people miss!!'
This feeling was reconfirmed when I saw the sun peaking out from behind the Saguaro Cactus and I considered the majesty of their beauty.

I mean really, what is it that makes people get up early, I mean, really early, and stir the sun from it's slumber??
What is it that makes all the people on the mountain smile and say, 'hello?'
Why do the trail hikers/bikers all stop to pet your dog and ask about your day?
Why does everyone seem to care and notice everyone else on the mountain?
More importantly, what is it that makes all of us off the mountain forget about everyone,
when we're -- off the mountain?

Hmmm....

Psalms 121
I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help...