Return from Arizona ~ Ladies Retreat

"Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God;

for it is pleasant; and praise is beautiful."

~ Psalm 147:1 ~

My heart is extremely full of praise and thanksgiving!

Thank you each and everyone who prayed for me 

as I traveled to and from Arizona.

I had also asked for prayer on behalf of mom as she 

had surgery on her hand and elbow, and with another praise, 
the surgery went very well and mom is doing great.

Mom can already feel the change from the nerve block

and is able to use her cane now with out severe pain.

I've had a song of praise in my heart now for the past few weeks as

God's goodness time and again, fills my heart with joy.

Arizona was HOT 🌵☀️

I'll never forget the day it was 109 degrees!

It was a great time regardless of the heat

and I was able to accomplish so much for mom.

I did some pruning on a few cactuses around mom's home

and found it quite different from the type of pruning here in Colorado.

Mom and I took a beautiful drive through the

Saguaro Desert National Park on a lovely Sunday afternoon.

You know...the more I visit Arizona, the more beautiful I find it.

Such beauty in each and every cactus, even this disfigured one.

The second day on my drive home I chose to take a scenic route 

and I was not disappointed!

My dad loved taking the back roads and I'm no different.

It was a perfect sunny day and it was as if I had the road all to myself.

Slow and peaceful is the best way to describe that drive.

Donatella and I stopped a number of times

and took a leisurely walk discovering new territory. 

Oh the new smells that Donatella enjoyed,

she was in her Hound dog glory! 🐾

As I came around a bend there was a herd of buffalo in the field
and what a magnificent sight!
This was quite an awesome ranch and well looked after.
The buffalo seemed quite at peace on those grounds near that pond.
I quickly turned the car around and sat by the roadside 
drinking in the beauty of this magnificent animal, God's creation.
When I left Arizona the temperatures were in the 90's and cooling down some.
I left behind warm sunny days and beautiful blooming foliage
and was greeted with the changing of colors in our Aspen trees.
One of the mountain passes I drove over had a few clumps of yellow
popping up announcing that Fall was arriving.
While I love and enjoy all the seasons, I have to be honest,
I am not ready for this next season quite yet.
 

"God is with you"
"If you have a heart willing to be changed
and a mind willing to be stretched, 
our God has something amazing planned for you.".

This was the theme for the ladies retreat 
with Liz Curtis Higgs in Pagosa Springs Colorado.
Three days after I returned home from Arizona, I repacked my suitcase
and headed for some quiet time alone
just me and God, and a whole lot of joy and laughter
with author/speaker Liz Curtis Higgs.
It was through a dear blogging friend and her giving heart
that I was introduced to Liz just after my knee surgery over a year ago.
Liz is a cancer survivor who has an infectious positive attitude, who is
full of joy laughter and a smile that warms your heart.
Being able to go to one of her speaking engagements 
has been a desire of mine since I first read her book
"31 Verses To Write On Your Heart".
Liz teaches the Word of God in a way that you understand it ~ word for word 
and in a way that is thought provoking for your own personal walk with the Lord.
 She's amazing!

~ Liz and myself at the retreat ~

I had the most wonderful time at this retreat!!
I left Pagosa Springs having met new friends and sisters in Christ
and a renewed and refreshed heart through the working of the Spirit.
Liz does not usually speak to small groups,
but God opened up that door for a unique purpose 
and I truly believe that it was God's appointment for my being there.
Three Bible characters Liz spoke of were, Sarah, Lea and Hagar,
and she shared how "God was with them".
God knew them, He knew their situations, their troubles pain and sorrow
and He met them right where they were and never left them.
God's love is enough, may we never forget that!
The joy of the Lord is our strength,
the strength of the Lord is our joy.

You know summer is coming to an end when these beauties arrive.
These happy little "weeds" line our highways 
as our Summer comes to a close.
I love seeing these as they show off their happy faces,
it's just knowing what follows... the end to another Summer season
that I dislike about their appearance.
I'm doing my best in making the rounds so I can visit with you,
but these last few weeks have not allowed for many visits.
I hope to catch up with you and the beauty you share 
with us throughout our blogging community.
Take care my friends and God be with you.
God is worthy of our praise!

Joy!
Debbie
💖