COOKIE BAKING and VISIT TO SUNSHINE ACRES in MESA

Last Sunday evening Bill and Esther came over to visit and Esther and I had to play a game of 5-Crowns.  Well, one led to another since the score was 144 to 17 in my favor!  The second game was 17 to 16.  Much better!!

Then on Tuesday I went to a cookie bake here in the park at the Regal Hall kitchen to meet up with Jane and some other friends.  I was amazed how many were there and it was fun.

These were very time consuming,
but I will have to try them sometime
as they are the same dough that I use
for pinwheels.

Carol, one of the ladies running
the project.  I also scrap book with her.

Yummy!!  Before the attack.

Jeannie, Heather, Bonnie and Jane

We finished it off with a feast of cookies and hot drinks.  Yummy!!  Then we got to fill a plate to take home.  Some are in our freezer for Christmas Day.  I learned a couple more recipes (though one was an accident)  that I want to try next year for Christmas when we will be back in Ohio.

I did go out today and stocked up on groceries.  I will do a little baking, but most of it after Christmas for when our son comes to visit.  I still need to get a ham and some fruit even though I spent $130.

On Wednesday, I began the day doing laundry and waiting for Bill and Esther to get off work.  We were taking them for an afternoon tour of Sunshine Acres children's home.  We have visited it each year that we have been here and we usually take someone else with us as it is so impressive.

One of the newest children's home with five bedrooms for ten children,
and a small apartment for the group home parents.  It was
 built by a gentleman from Canada who offered to build two
such homes.  They never turn down an offer.

Our tour guide standing in the kitchen of a home.  They eat
in house on the weekends.  The children are responsible
for the clean-up after, as well as keeping their
bedrooms top-notch for showing during the week.

Boy's bedroom

Another boy's bedroom

Boy's bedroom with outdoor theme.
including the hand painted trees on the walls.

A good sports philosophy.

Around the world theme?
A little like our grandson's ship.

Game room, guess they can watch two games
at once.  One wonders how many homes for children
in need are done up so grand.
However, it is all done with donations.

The children's chapel,
such an awesome scene
looking out the window. 

The donations and progress that they make are definitely attributed to answers to prayer!!  The guide told of one donation of milk when they were completely out in the morning and not sure where the money would come from for it.  Someone drove up with a trunk full before they had even had time to pray.  Just shows God knows our every need!!

Gary had donated time to teach some junior high students pencil drawing back in 2012, but we did not see any of those children as they were at public school this day.  We will stop back for their annual BBQ in February.  Maybe he will see some of them then.  It is amazing to see how some of the children progress with their lives after this structured living and the loving that they receive there.

We also stopped in their thrift shop where they get much of the things needed for the homes as well as a profit for the coffers.  We will go back to that as they have twice the floor space in the store than they did when we were there before.  Gary and Bill saw a lot of shirts that they want to look through. It was too close to closing time to look this day.

From there we went on to the Mesa Elks for sandwiches for dinner.  My Reuben on rye was so large and tasty!!  I saved half for the next day.

Saw this in the ELKS parking lot.  Gary and Bill had to drool.

We came home and then I got busy on our Blog.  I am trying to get it caught up before the end of the year when I have the hardback printed up for the year.  Our friends Donna and Bob sent me a few pictures of NM to replace some that I lost of ours.  Thanks, Donna!!

Thursday was my day of tests.  I went to Simon Medical and had it all done there.  All had good results, with the exception of the bone density that shows I am deficient in Calcium.  So will have to take care of that.  I shouldn't have to have the other tests redone until December 2015. PTL!

We finished the day playing Bingo with Bill and Jane at Regal Hall.  Gary won (for his first) the cover-all.  He had to split with another winner, but $25 is nothing to sneeze at.  I also spent the afternoon at scrap booking with a new friend, Kerry, from a neighboring park Sunlife Resort.  She is wanting to get a group started in her park the first of January.  So I will join her for that and the park has provided a nice room for it.  I should get a lot of scrap booking done this winter.   Gary is keeping himself very busy with his wood carving and his genealogy research.  What we are doing is sure more to crowd us out of house and home!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!