Spring is Coming??

March 5, 2009

How many times have we thought that only to have the temperatures drop into the low 30's again? This has been a rather strange winter here in Foley, AL as it has been in many areas. Today is gorgeous and the lows are supposed to be in the upper 40's or higher for the next several days. Daytime temps in the high 60's to mid 70's and this is more like what we have been expecting. So many of the people here at Anchors Aweigh are from northern states and of course we all know the weather there has been harsh most of the winter. Still we have had colder weather than normal and that cuts back on some of the outdoor activities which most have come to enjoy during their winters along the Gulf Coast.

We have been here at Anchors Aweigh RV park in Foley since October 2008. This has been an opportunity to serve God in a smaller park and to be able to minister to the needs we often are not aware of in the larger parks. We still help out at the State Park in Gulf Shores but here we get to know the people better and they try to let us know if anyone needs our help. February has been an especially tough month as one of our park members has spent most of it in the hospital in Fairhope and undergone several surgeries. The last was heart bypass and she did not recover from that and also went into kidney failure. The Lord called her home March 3rd just after 9:00 p.m. Hwe family from IL are here now and Butch will conduct a memorial service tomorrow morning. This situation is made more difficult since she was actually the one who had to do everything regarding their RV as her husband is on oxygen and appears not to be able to really take care of himself. This has put a lot of strain on the park owners and also on friends and there is a decision to be made which involves his care. Butch is speaking with the family now and trying to help them understand that he is not capable of living in an RV because he can't do the necessary things to take care of it and that they must make the decision best for him. Please pray for this family and for Butch as he ministers to them.

We spent yesterday visiting our son and his family. This was the first time in over a month that we have been able to see them. They have had sickness or we have and the month just seemed like forever. The night before we went over there our son was watching the weather and commented that it was to be colder in Foley than at their house. Our little Lily Grace said "oh no, Nanny and Papa might get cold" and none of us even knew she realized we were in Foley. She will be three in June but amazes us every time we see her.

We look forward to getting back to Alabaster the end of March. I am scheduled for some surgery to repair the muscles that allow you to open your eyes wide. Mine are now causing me some vision problems so this is to be corrected on April 3rd in B'ham.. After spending some time with family and friends we will go to Hunting Island, SC in May for the summer ministry there.Hope to see many of you before then.