M Is For Monkey

It is time once again for ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in the fun go here. This week is starring the letter "M".

My very favorite place to visit is Belize. Gina and I have been there 4 times in the last 5 years. Our first trip was in 2004 to help build the New Horizon SDA Chapel.

One of the interesting to do on a trip to Belize is to visit Mayan Ruins. We have been to the Mayan Ruins at Lamanai a couple of times. Besides the ruins, a trip to Lamanai is very interesting because of the Howler Monkeys. As you walk back to the ruins you are almost certain to hear the Howler Monkeys, and if you are lucky you will be able to see them.

Howlers Monkeys are found in tropical Central and South America. They are aptly named for their cacophonous cries. When a number of howlers let loose their lungs in concert, often at dawn or dusk, the din can be heard up to three miles away. Male monkeys have large throats and specialized, shell-like vocal chambers that help to turn up the volume on their distinctive call. The noise sends a clear message to other monkeys: This territory is already occupied by a troop.

If you are not expecting to hear them, Howler Monkeys can be a bit disconcerting. If you haven't heard them, you can listen to an audio file by clicking here.

On our last trip to Belize in March of this year, we spent one Sunday with a friend of mine, Collet Montejo. He took us to the Mayan Ruins at Altun Ha, and to the Baboon Sanctuary. The Baboon Sanctuary is located 35 miles northwest of Belize City and is a unique conservation effort bringing together eight villages to protect the population and habitat of Belize's Black Howler Monkey, affectionately called "baboons" by the locals.


FALLETT YOUNG CALLS DOWN THE HOWLER MONKEYS

Our guide Fallett Young took us into the jungle to see the Howler Monkeys. We were excited when we recognized him from the TV program Destination HD Belize. We had watched the TV show not long before we went to Belize. Fallett has lived in this part of Belize his whole life, and has a very special relationship with the baboons. Because of community-based efforts by Fallett and others in the area to preserve Black Howler Monkeys, there are more than 4,000 individuals waiting to be spotted and photographed by curious travelers.

Getting to be that close to the monkeys, and actually have them take food from your hand was a very exciting and rewarding experience.

Baton Rouge Sunset

Sunday's Sunrise Sunset Meme

This Sunday we are visiting Cynda and Dave in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This is a sunset picture that I took on a previous visit here.




Make sure and visit the Sunday's Sunset Sunrise Meme

Moses

MOSES HELPING ME IN MY BIBLE STUDY


Now that the nights are cooler, our cat Moses has been wanting to spend the night in the house. When the weather is nice, he won't come in the house for the night. but if it is cold or wet, he wants in. We call him our foul weather friend.

We never intended to have a cat, but sometimes things happen that you just aren't planning for. My daughter Cynda helped me write this story of how Moses became our cat.

Meow, Meow, Meoooooooow, "Do you hear that"my wife asked. Yes, it sounds like a cat.Meow, Meooooow, Meooooooooow. Richard, you better go check it out. It sounds like it is in trouble.

We walked down the hill to the creek behind our house. The pitiful cries grew louder and louder. They were coming from a small gray kitten. He was caught in a tangle of roots on the creek bank. The kitten was on the far side of the creek. This meant that I had to walk down the creek to a place narrow enough to cross. I found a place where I could wade across the creek, then I fought my way through a mass of bushes and briars. When I finally reached the drenched kitten, he frantically held on to the roots. I had to pull with all of my strength to get him out.

I was afraid that the kitten would fight like a little tiger because of how fiercely he had struggled; however when I held him close, he melted into my chest. Almost immediately I heard a soft, gentle purring. Hello, Moses I said, Your name will have to be Moses because I drew you out of the water.

What were we going to do with a kitten? Our family had never owned a cat. We had always been dog people. Our dogs have always been pampered pets. Some people have even said that our dogs are the masters of the house. Now we had a tiny helpless kitten. What was to be done with it? I guess it was ours.

We carried Moses to our back porch. My wife Regina brought towels and an old pet taxi. We dried him off and made him a soft bed in the pet taxi. I put Moses down and he immediately climbed up my leg and perched on my shoulder.


MOSES AS A KITTEN

Our back porch became Moses home. He was firmly attached to it. The world beyond the back porch was a strange and scary place that he would not venture into. He would not leave the back porch. If I carried him into the front yard, he would begin desperately clawing, fighting, and basically freaking out. He wanted down so that he could get back to the safety of the back porch.

As I remember how Moses came into our lives, it reminds me of how my relationship with God developed. I remember being in the creek. In Psalms 69:1-3 David wrote about his experience in the creek. "Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is dry."

When Moses cried out someone came to rescue him. God has made a promise to us. "Call to Me, and I will answer you".(Jeremiah 33:3) When God answers our call he will bring us to a place of safety.

Moses found a place of peace and safety on the back porch. He knew that as long as he was on the back porch nothing bad was going to happen to him. God has provided a place of peace and safety for us. "Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble." (Psalms 119:165) We need to look at God's law the way that Moses looked at the back porch. He realized that it was his place of peace and safety and he wanted to be there. Anyplace else made him very uncomfortable.

Many times we look at God's law as a jail. We feel that it creates uncomfortable restrictions. We need to ask God to give us a love for his commandments, to instill in us a desire for the peace and safety of His law. No one forced Moses to stay on our back porch; he stayed because he loved the feeling of security. That is how we should view God's law.

"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3)

From my Stories Website


MOSES WEARING MY READING GLASSES

L is for Luminaria

LUMINARIA HONORING MY MOTHER IN LAW

Welcome to my ABC Wednesday post. This week the letter is "L" and L is for Luminaria.

Luminaria are paper bags filled with sand and illuminated by a small light or candle.

Gina has been involved in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life for a number of years. She first got involved by traveling to Enumclaw, Washington to be a part of the Relay For Life there. Her sister Roberta is very involved with the Enumclaw Relay For Life. Luminaria are an important part of Relay For Life events. Each Luminaria bears the name of a person who has faced cancer, or those who have lost their battle. Each bag represents a life and story, survivor or memory – all donated in the spirit of love.

The Luminaria are placed around the track and lit as sunset approaches. As night falls it is a beautiful and poignant scene to see all the lit luminaria.


LUMINARIA LINING THE TRACK AT RELAY FOR LIFE

There is a Luminaria Ceremony that offers everyone at Relay the opportunity to honor and remember those whose lives have been touched by cancer. Luminaria also raise money for Relay For Life.


GINA SPEAKING DURING THE LUMINARIA CEREMONY

Gina and I have been involved in the Relay For Life event here in Polk county for the last two years. Gina is the Relay For Life Chairperson for Polk County. It is a passion of ours because of all of the family members and friends who have battled cancer. We decorated a float for the 2007 Christmas parade here in Mena. Our theme was Luminaria. Gina made a large Luminaria from a refrigerator box, and we lit it with a floor lamp. We had Luminaria all along the sides of the float that we lit with glow sticks.


THE REFRIGERATOR BOX LUMINARIA


RELAY FOR LIFE FLOAT IN THE PARADE

If you have never been involved in a Relay For Life, find out if there is one in your community and become a part of it. In 2008 there were over 5,000 Relay For Life events with over 3 million people participating. Don't miss out on the fun of this important event. Last year over 400 million dollars was raised by Relay For Life for cancer research, education, advocacy and service.


RELAY FOR LIFE IS FUN AND FULFILLING

Sunrise/Sunset

Sunday's Sunrise Sunset Meme



This sunrise was taken in San Pedro, Belize. I waited for the sun to be lined up in the pier gateway.

If you are interested in the posting your pictures to Sunday's Sunrise Sunset Meme, you can go here.

Flat Tony Visits Arkansas

Recently Flat Tony flew from Launceston, Tasmania, Australia to Mena, Arkansas, USA via e-mail. Tony decided to send his Flat Self around the world and he would love to have you join in the fun. So if you would like to help him out and take part in his World Tour 2008 by Hosting Flat Tony at your home, please email Tony at ynot60@netspace.net.au with your Name (blogging username will do if you wish to be less conspicuous), Email Address, Blog URL & your Home Town & Country. He will then email a full sized Flat Tony to you.

Flat Tony arrived in Mena in time for the weekend. Skye Baby is always happy when we have company, and greeted Flat Tony with a warm welcome. She wasn't as sure about him when he sat on the couch with her and shared her blanket.



Whatever we did all weekend, Flat Tony tagged along. When we went to church, he was with us. Everyone at church was interested in meeting our guest from Australia. He went with us to Sabbath School Class and had his picture taken.





During the church service Flat Tony went up front with the children for the childrens story. After he had his picture taken, he had to go back to his seat so the children would pay attention to the story.



Today we had planned a trip to Hot Springs to go shopping for Autumn and Rebekah's birthday party next week. Since Flat Tony was visiting with us we invited him to go. He really liked Gina's Mini Cooper.



When we got to Hot Springs, we went to the Mall. While Gina and Deanna were shopping for clothes, Flat Tony and I went to the bookstore.





After finding just the right birthday gifts, we left the mall and went driving to the old part of Hot Springs. We drove up on West Mountain and stopped at a turnout that overlooks Hot Springs. There Gina and Deanna had their picture taken with Flat Tony.



We were hungry, so we decided to go eat at La Hacienda. Flat Tony said that he would go with us, but because he was flat, he didn't eat very much. I offered to take him to McDonald's, and he said absolutely not. The food was awesome at La Hacienda, and we told Flat Tony that he didn't know what he was missing.



On the way home we stopped at a great little store because they had gas for 3.19 a gallon. That is the cheapest that I have bought gas for a long time. There was a beautiful sunset as we were nearing Mena, but there was no place to pull off the road so I couldn't get a picture. You will have to take my word for it that it was beautiful. I hope that Flat Tony enjoyed his weekend in Arkansas.

Happy Birthday Autumn.

AUTUMN ON THE DAY SHE WAS BORN

Today is Autumn's third birthday. I don't get to be there with her today, but Gina and I are going to see her and Rebekah next weekend. I sure wish I was with her as she celebrates her birthday tonight at Chuck E Cheese.

I remember very clearly the day she was born. The night before she was born, Gina and I were going out to eat with friends at Papa Pablanos. It was a Saturday night, and they were very busy. We were finally seated at a table that was to small for our group, but we said we would make do. Just after the waitress took our drink order, we saw that a larger table had opened up. We asked to move to the larger table. While we were waiting for our drinks to arrive Gina received a call on her cell phone. Cynda was calling to tell us that her water broke and David was taking her to the hospital. Gina was up and out the door almost immediately. Before our drinks had even arrived, the larger table was no longer needed.

Within a few minutes we were headed for Baton rouge. Gina didn't have to pack; she had already packed a suitcase several days earlier waiting for the call. We drove straight through, and arrived at the hospital around 3 A.M. Cynda had a difficult delivery and was still in labor when we arrived. We sat in the waiting room in the world's most uncomfortable chairs and anxiously waited. Autumn was born a few hours after we arrived.

You might be able to tell from the following picture that I had driven all night and had no sleep. As tired as I was, it was awesome to finally meet the baby that we had been so excited about.


AUTUMN MEETS HER GRANDPA

Even though we aren't able to be there with Autumn today, we will have a birthday party for her when we go to Baton Rouge next weekend. Here are pictures from her first and second birthday parties.


EATING CAKE ON HER FIRST BIRTHDAY


BLOWING OUT CANDLES WITH MOMMY ON HER SECOND

I promise pictures from her third birthday party. You know I love to post pictures of my granddaughters. Just so you know, I do have two granddaughters. Here is a picture of Rebekah. She turns one on October 25. Stay Tuned!


REBEKAH AT SABBATH SCHOOL