Close Call

One day this week Chiquita was out of her cage climbing around on the buffet, the last I knew. Giza was also loose in the house. Normally we're in the same room and monitor the behavior of both but--Al and I were both in the study when all of a sudden we heard a loud commotion in the dining room. I flew into the room yelling at the dog and when I got to him he dropped Chiquita from his mouth and she waddled off the other direction because her wings are clipped. Al came and got her back into the cage and we put Giza out. Feathers were everywhere. Later I checked Chiquita over carefully and her chest looked a little bruised and that's where most of the feathers came out as well as some tail feathers. She's one lucky little parakeet.

Countdown

We leave for Mexico early Thursday morning and will return March 9. I'm sure the trip will be an adventure in many ways that I hope are all good. I plan to take many pictures. Each one in our group will be taking an extra 50lb. suitcase of used children's clothes to give out to the Mayans. We're also taking many other miscellaneous things from soap to coloring books for them.

In the meantime I'm still preparing to teach the nutrition class at college. I have many videos to preview and assignments to plan for. Hopefully I'll be ready when class starts March 31.

Dog Sitting

We have Giza for 2 weeks. He's shepherd/doberman and a very calm, friendly dog that's easy to care for. The house does smell a little doggie from having him inside at least at night.

PUCKERED PRIUS

Yesterday we were driving along a main street near our house following a large truck. Soon it slowed and stopped on the road unexpectedly so we stopped and waited. The next thing we knew he was backing up. We lay on the horn but too late to stop him before the front of the car went under the truck. Then he pulled forward away from our car. The driver explained that he had just passed the driveway where he was going. He said it was his fault and he was sorry.

Relaxed

I've quit being stressed and have relaxed this week. I've hardly spent any time on preparing for the class I'll be teaching and it feels good. I'm sure I'll be able to pull it together without getting stressed anymore. One day at a time will do it.

STRESSED OUT

For those of you who don't know, I've accepted a request to teach an introductory course in Nutrition at Pacific Union College spring quarter beginning March 31. I have been super busy getting inducted onto the faculty, learning the technology of visual equipment in the classroom, studying the textbook, preparing a syllabus of info about the class to give to students including assignments for the 9-week quarter, preparing power point lectures, etc.

I'm also attending and helping out at CHIP (Coronary Heart Improvement Program) at the church Mon.-Thurs. nights for 2 hours for the whole month of February. I've been asked to coordinate the program next year so I'm learning how to run it. I can't imagine doing this if I start teaching 2 quarters each year.

The third thing I'm doing is getting ready for a mission trip to Mexico, leaving Feb. 28 for 10 days. We are accumulating clothes to take and hand out to the Mayan Indian children down there. Needless to say, when Al and I return home I'll be still preparing for teaching.

If that isn't enough, I just finished the El Dorado Nature Club's newsletter since I'm the new editor. Al and I got is back from the printer and had to insert a page in the folded copy, fold it, put stickers on to hold it closed, put on the labels and stamps. It took us all morning to do 100. After the Mexico trip I will only have a week to put the next copy together, get it printed and mailed before the next camping trip. Whew!

I'm going to need a vacation in Mexico so I plan to take lots of deep breaths and relax while there. I'm not taking any work with me so I'll just be doing whatever job I'm assigned.

More Trip Photos

Here we are checking out some interesting landscapes at a KOA near the resort where we stayed.
This is the Good Samaritan sculpture on the LLUMC campus. We spent an afternoon wandering around town where we both attended graduate school. It's changed tremendously.
These flowers were blooming on the campus of Loma Linda University. It was warm there too.

More Trip photos

We saw some beautiful sunsets when there were clouds to reflect the light.
The central valley of CA is very fertile land and we drove by miles of orchards like this one.
This is Al on the Salton Sea. The sand is actually made of tiny shells intact. I got some in my sandals and couldn't keep them out so Al had to carry me back to the car. It's more salty than the ocean and salt sticks to objects along the shore.

The Gospel in a Nutshell

Does it bother you that Jesus loves you more than you love Him?

What is the measure of His love?

He loved enough to suffer and die that you can live--forever.

What is the measure of your love for Him?

A willingness to live for Him and not for self so you can enjoy the gift of eternal life that His death made possible.

It's a win-win situation!