Well, the first round of our Green Valley experience is coming to a close, as we leave day after tomorrow.  We have enjoyed the people, the games, the experiences, the weather (for the most part) and the down time.

Fritz's blood pressure has slowly come down, which is the big plus. He plays ping pong nearly every weekday while I'm doing water aerobics. On rainy days, I'll play ping pong and must confess it is a more thorough workout! However, my hip just doesn't like that much activity, and I love being outdoors and in the water, so I'll stick with what works!

We haven't played any more pickle ball or shuffleboard as our friends went back home to Wyoming for the holidays. We'll try those again when we return in February. Haven't done much sightseeing, either, as the weather has been uncharacteristically cool and wet. Yes, we've even had lows down into the mid 20s! Fortunately, such days don't last long and soon the sun is shining and the temperatures creep back up, seeming warmer than they are in contrast to the cool weather.

I've taken pictures of nothing but scenery. The facilities here are nice, but who can beat God's paintbrush? 

Moonrise at sunset

 The sunrises and sunsets here are spectacular!

Mountains ablaze!

I am disappointed that I haven't seen any javelinas; a peccary that is a distant cousin of the wild hog. However, I don't really want to encounter one as they can be vicious. Here is what they look like:

We are visited each evening by a huge horned owl that appears very well-fed, and woodpeckers claim their territory by tapping on the flag pole in the mornings. Jackrabbits and cottontails are also frequent visitors in the park.

We've sharpened our skills at Euchre and a mid-west offshoot called 'Pepper'. Last night we learned a new game called "Oh, Hell!"....and it was, ha! Can't wait to teach it to my siblings at the family reunion in May!

From here, we're headed up to the Apache Junction area for a few days, then Wickenberg on our way to Quartzite, where we'll spend a week. Unlike many die-hards that dry camp in the desert, we're staying in an RV park. I understand this town of 1,000 becomes a metropolis of 500,000 people during this particular time of year, as there is a huge RV show and flea market. We are manning a booth to promote Proton Radiation Therapy for cancer. We'll have plenty of time to browse around as well. After our week there, we'll head back to Apache Junction for a week then return here to Green Valley for the month of February.

As I write this, many in my family are suffering with the debilitating cold, and I confess to feeling a tad guilty that we have escaped the grip of winter. Yet, God has allowed us to be here for some reason, and our job is to do His will wherever He places us. We have much to learn and some perhaps to teach. I just pray we are faithful as we enjoy His pleasures.

Til next time.....God keep you warm!