April and I left Lake Pines at the end of the year and went to Lake Seminole for a week.  We had a great site and just relaxed.  That is one of the benefits of retirement.  Here is a picture of our site at sunset.



After a very relaxing week we left for the Pensacola area and landed at Palm Lake RV Resort in Foley, Alabama.  Here are  couple of views from inside the resort.





And here is the view of our site:



I took the photo of our site (above) from a spot under these palms which is our view. There is a birdhouse behind the palm trees.



And we have a view of a birdhouse.



Here we see a big moon behind the palms.



Here are some relaxed and retired RV'ers.



From Palm Lake we took a couple of day trips.  First we see the two of us at Meaher State Park on Mobile bay.



Then we went to Fort Blakeley State Park.  The last major battle of the Civil War was fought here.



This was very interesting.  Lots to see.  Here is a very old cemetary.



Next to this we saw a grave marker for eight different people.  Two listed on each side.



Here is a map of the battleground. 



Here is a photo of site #3 from the map above.  Three people earned the Medal of Honor for actions at this site.



Then we went south of Mobile, Alabama to Ft. Gaines on Dauphin Island.  Here is an aerial view.



Here is the front entrance.



Inside on the grounds of Ft. Gaines.



A view from inside a gun turret.



A view from atop the forts wall.



At a gun.



Watch for our next update.

Here are some recent photos from a couple of day trips we took.  This first one is where April lived when I was at OCS, Ft. Benning.  Dawn was born while she lived here.



John and April at Lake Harding in Alabama.



Here we are at a Corps of Engineer campground in Alabama.



This photo, of April, her dad, and me, was taken in front of Port Columbus, the Civil War Naval Museum



Here is one of the displays inside.



One day we went to Callaway Gardens in Georgia.  April is the orange butterfly; her dad is the green one ; and John is the blue one. 



Here the three of us are in front of the butterfly house.



Here are two close up photos of butterflys inside the house.  You got to go here to really enjoy butterflys.  Watch the video  they offer.





The day before April's dad left we went to the Columbus Riverwalk and took these pictures.



The river...



The three of us at a statue of Columbus.

We are back at Lake Pines near Columbus for a few months.  Here are some pictures we took on our trip from Arizona.  First another trip back to Tombstone. 



Next we see Heritage Hall, formerly a church, in Casa Grande, AZ.



A look at Montezuma Castle near Sedona, AZ.



Our view while eating lunch at the Grand Canyon.



April and me at entrance to Grand Canyon. (I know it would have been better to be standing on the left side of the sign.)




After seeing our great grand son and taking a picture of 5 generations it was time to leave Denver heading to Georgia, again.



We'll send more later.

Here is our first picture of five generations. 



The star of the moment is Ethan Sean Weins in mom's (Ashley) arms.  Proud daddy (Sean) is to Ethan's left.  In the top middle is Great-Great Grandpa (Sam).  To Ethan's far right is Grandma (Tam) and Grandpa (Scott). And of course to Ethan's far left is Great-Grandma (April) and Great Grandpa (John).

April and I are enjoying our travels in Arizona.  Here are some recent photos. 

This first one from Ajo, AZ is a painted on a building.  April and I had been joking about this place being the end of the world, we stopped for gas and saw this.



South of Ajo we went to Organ Pipe Cactus National Park. 



Then to Tucson and a vist to my sister Pat and her husband Dale.




From the floor of the desert we drove to 10,700 Mt. Graham and found ice and snow.




Before we went to St David, Az we visited Lake Patagonia.




Here a few pictures from St David AZ.  The first is the two of us in front to the clubhouse.



In front of a fun spot in the campground.



Our campsite.



Sunset at St David.

A New Year's message to start 2008

We are blessed by God with the beginning of a New Year.

Recently I sent a Bible study to a friend where I commented that I find that I often treat prayer like a Christmas list, asking God for the things that I want and that I think I need in my life.  I have found that God may not give me what I really need until I let go of a few old habits and make more room.  Maybe some of you feel the same way.

Matthew 6:33 tells us "...seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, an all these things shall be added to you."

The beginning of the New Year offers us the opportunity to make resolutions that matter - an opportunity to pursue a new beginning, to transform our commitment and words into conviction and action, and to put our spiritual households into order.  Not only for the coming year but for the rest of our lives.  Perhaps we should start this New Year by listing some of those old habits that, with God's help, will be eliminated from our life.

I'll confess a couple of things I resolve to eliminate in 2008.

A focus on a need to have a lot of money:

Luke 16:13 tells us that God and money cannot both have first place in our lives.  Other scripture warns against putting too much value on possessions.  Remember, if you put God first, then...

A worrisome attitude:

Jesus tells us not to worry, because life is more important than physical things.  He gave us several illustrations to prove His point.  The birds of the air (Mt. 6:26) are fed by the heavenly father, and the lilies of the field (Mt. 6:28) grow in such a way that their splendor is greater than even Solomon's.

Of course your list may be different (i.e. to be number one, to fit in, to be attractive, or to be strong).

We need to resolve to change our minds, our hearts, and our lives, resolving to discern not our own wills and desires, but the Lord's.  These resolutions should not be something that is restricted to the beginning of a new year.

Remember, God is the giver of all good things.

April and I want to take a moment to wish you and your families a Happy and prosperous New Year, good health, warm friendships, and above all the blessings of God.

After a week at Hidden Valley Ranch north of Deming it was time to leave and head toward Arizona.  We took our time and saw some sites.  Here are a few photos.

North of Deming about 30 miles is a unique site.  An outcropping of rocks pushed up that gives the appearance of a small city. Thus the name City of Rocks.  To give some perspective of thier size.  The small white objects to the left of April's right shoulder (to her left as you look at the picture) is an RV park.


About 150 miles west from here we got to Tombstone, Arizona.  Here is historic downtown where the gunfight at the OK corral took place.


They re-enact the gunfight throughout the day.  Here are some of the characters roaming the streets.


In the 1800's if they were bad actors they would end up in the tombstone courthouse. This the actual courthouse where you can find the sherifs office and jail.


If they got this far they may end up in this courtroom.  The actual courtromm complete with original judges bench and attorney benches, rails and seats.


Of course if it didn't work out well for the defendants they would end up here.  (seven were hung here).


Here are some famous characters from then.


Well it was off toward Casa Grande.  Here is a photo near old Tucson.  It is interesting to see the different types of vegetation you can see in the desert.