HAPPY NEW YEAR

My motto for 2009 is

THINGS GO BETTER WITH "GOD."

Fog in the Napa Valley

Chiquita and Christmas

This photo is in the cartoon effect.

Now she's in the spotlight

Birds are supposed to like being in trees, right? Well, Chiquita is afraid of the Christmas tree.

Christmas at Larry's

Isabel at 15 months

Ruth, Katie, Megan and Isabel in holiday PJs

Larry reading to Isabel

What Christmas Means to Me

Why did Jesus leave heaven to be born as a baby? There is a song entitled "Love Came Down at Christmas." It is true. Jesus loves us so much He doesn't want us to have to pay the penalty for our sins. Instead He chose to suffer and die in our place to make it possible for us to live forever. And best of all, He's coming back to get all of us who accept His sacrifice in our place. How can we not love Him and live for Him in return?

Jesus knows me, this I love!

Our Sabbath Walk

Today I was into mosses on trees as you can see.
They're much prettier enlarged.

New Look

This is our living room now with furniture re-arranged.

Christmas at Our House

Notice our new floor.

A California Snow Day

Our neighbor's yard.

Our camellia bushes are supposed to withstand frost.

Our backyard

It all melted by noon but was beautiful while it lasted.

Happy Sabbath

Mark 2:28
So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

Pumpkin Time

Our neighbors across the street provide the best photo opportunities!

Another Ocean Pix

No blur in this spray of water!
Click on it to enlarge.

Thanksgiving Day

Dennis and Uncle William

Michael after eating.

Marc after drinking?

Debra and her 29-year-old brother William.

14-month-old Dennis

Tragedy at PUC

Four of our male college students were killed in a car accident last Saturday night. One of them was in my nutrition class along with several of his friends. The kids have had a rough week dealing with it. Today there was a memorial service on campus for all of them. It was a wonderful celebration of their lives. The father of one from Hawaii gave a great talk to help the students cope and also to make them more aware of just how fragile life can be. He challenged them to drive safely too. Classes are out for Thanksgiving next week so the students will be able to refocus on classes the last week of the quarter on returning. I think all of us will be glad when it's over!

New Insight

I read something this week that really impressed me because it is so clear. I just wanted to share it with any readers:

The temptations of Jesus reveal some contrasting parallels with those of Adam and Eve.

1. The fact that Adam was tempted while in the Garden of Eden, in an environment free from the corrupting reality of sin; Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, in an environment under the influence of evil powers.
2. Adam had an abundance of food, while Jesus was deprived of food.
3. Adam was not fasting; Jesus was.
4. Both Adam and Jesus were tempted to satisfy their desire for food apart from the will of God; Adam accepted the food, Jesus didn't.
5. Adam was tempted to question what God had said and showed a lack of trust in God's word. Jesus also was tempted to question the trustworthiness of the word of God, but He rejected the temptation.
6. Adam openly went against the Lord and joined Satan in his rebellion against God and His government. Jesus was offered the kingdoms of this world if He would only worship and join Satan in his struggle against the kingdom of God. Jesus remained loyal to the Father.

By overcoming Satan on the fundamental points in which Adam failed, Jesus was undoing Adam's failure and making His victory available to those who will put their faith in Him. The Sinless One became sin for us in order for us to receive by faith the righteousness that was not ours but His. The perfect sacrificial Lamb took on Himself our sin in order to restore us to unity and harmony with the Creator.

I think that is beautiful!

A Sad Day

Ellie saying goodbye to her dog of 9 years.

Michael's last goodbye.

We have boarded this dog for Al's sister for the past few months but we had to put him down because he was becoming a liability. He recently and innocently bit a young girl who was asking for it but also has grazed a couple others just doing his job protecting. He was a loyal, good dog at home and will be greatly missed.

Today's walk

This street is lined with walnut trees and people walk it to pick up lots of nuts. After yesterday's rain the streets were loaded.

These are olives growing on an olive tree.

This horse pasture in on our walking route.

Al and Giza

I love the ocean

More Ocean

Pelicans and gulls were thick where the Russian River enters the ocean.

I love this lonely-looking scene.

The Ocean

Last Sabbath we went to the ocean and the waves were crashing in. It was beautiful! We left just before sundown.

It's the truth!

I don't know who said it but. . .

"There's nothing you can do to make God love you more and there's nothing you can do to make Him love you less."

. . .and His death in place of ours is the proof.

Today

After church we went to Ellie and Bud's where I met Max, their pet rooster, for the first time. He's quite colorful and unique. He also bit my finger. Then we took a picnic lunch and headed toward the coast. We stopped for lunch at the Armstrong Redwoods and took a walk there.




After that we headed to the ocean where I took about 70 pictures of the big waves. It'll take me some time to go through them, delete and edit but I promise to post some of the best ones as well as videos as soon as I can.

Fall in the vineyards

I just can't stop taking pictures of these beautiful leaves.