Towneplace Suites By Marriott Tempe

... any pictures as evidence, though, do you. No no, we were incognito cute.

Here's a tip for anyone coming to Phoenix: get signed up on the Internet for Groupon and get email alerts for special deals in the valley. We saved a bunch of money by getting half price tickets for tonight. It works like this, you have 24 hours to purchase and if they get enough buyers the deals on, if not, you're not charged. So you either buy or ignore with a new deal coming out every day.

... miles from Mesa, so it is mobbed in the summer. Arrive late on a summer weekend and you're not getting that boat near the water.

Here's a shocker: Roosevelt lake is not small--it's 22 miles long at full pool--but summer water temperatures can be more than 90 degrees. It's deepest point is 300 feet, so we're talking surface temps here, but still, impressive.

In 1911, when Roosevelt Dam was built it was the highest masonry dam, and Roosevelt lake the largest man made lake ...

... for most of this information is from the Bradt Guide for Ethiopia, with Carole's added commentary of the Ark of the Covenant. It is fascinating to me and such a great adventure story if it could ever be proven. Good read on the subject is The Sign & The Seal, Graham Hancock. Many believe his research presents a very compelling case for it being there while others think it is hogwash. Personally, I think they are just jealous! :)

... was a sudden and unexpected mass exodus to grab these huge boxes off the pallet (the security guard was yelling that you couldn't take the bikes off the pallet off until 5am – but nobody listened to him) so I managed to manhandle one in the trolley, andthen put my hand on another until the security guard had calmed down and I could wheel it away from his watchful eye. By then 100's and 100's of people had flooded the aisles of Walmart and I was ...

... of fries, 1 soda & 1 milkshake. Not to worry. On the road again we had been seeing billboard signs since just out of El Paso advertising 'The Thing' at exit 322 on the Arizona Interstate, with hints that it could be an extraterrestrial and some spooky eyes in picture also...
Of course us being us, we just had to go there and pay out $3.50 entry for all of us to go and see ...

We leave for Ethiopia on December 15th and are getting very excited. This is one of the first steps
towards keeping friends and family updated while we are gone.
This is our first trip to an African country so we are extra excited for a completely different experience.

... up. He had been to Rome and Croatia recently giving us lots to talk about. Then out to Bigler Dermatology for the growth on my L index finger. I liked the guy as opposed to the guy in AJ that cut this growth off several years ago. He was a total jerk! Rude and condescending. Lane said he has heard that from sooo many that have transferred to him for treatment. Anyway, he does not know what the growth is or why, after removal 2 times, keeps coming back, always bigger. He ...

... requires us to pay at a parking station. Push the buttons to sort out how to pay and the machine tells us it is not taking money at this point. Maybe a Sunday thing? So off we trot through a nice green park area to find ourselves a coffee shop etc. Rick found a wonderful shop selling Native American Indian craft, and speaks to the assistant who informs him that they are an outlet for 26 native tribes. I bought a nice little dream catcher on a deer hide necklet. Karon wouldn't ...

... and strikingly beautiful puts some things in perspective. Having companionship for the first week and a half was invaluable. My family here in Arizona seemed to really like her, and the reverse is definitely true as well. We met a few friends of David's - Angela and John - and truly enjoyed their company and the conversations that ensued with all of us together. With all the different backgrounds, we sure had some great conversation about pretty much everything imaginable and ...

... way God sees us. I tend to question him about what he has lined up for me to do. . .What if I let you down? What if I'm not received? What if. . .What if. . .? The cool thing is that I only have to obey and follow Him. He's never let me down. . .I don't know why I keep questioning if he'll be there the next time. It's also encouraging when he speaks. This morning I woke up with Isaiah 50 on my heart. As I was reading, verses 4-11 stood out to me ...