DOD Casualty Report

National Memorial Cemetery - Phoenix, AZ

The first death to be reported this month and the third during 2013:

Staff Sgt. Jonathan D. Davis, USMC, 34, of Kayenta, Arizona, died Feb. 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

He was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 32nd Georgian Liaison Team, Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

Mid-week from San Antonio

We've had a couple quiet days here on Toscana Isle.  Charles has been nursing a sore tendon and Belinda has been nursing Charles! 
Wesley in the meanwhile continues his life as a professional house cat and is doing a very fine job of it!

Wesley's Sunday

                                 

 

 Wesley has been enjoying his Sunday with a bit of fresh air followed by a nap in the kitchen, basking in the warm sunshine!

A lovely Sunday at St. Andrew's

We had a wonderful Sunday in San Antonio which began rather early (for us) with the first of two worship services at St. Andrew's UMC.  Charles had been asked to preach at both services and was more than happy to step in during the pastor's absence.

As seen on Toscana Isle

Wesley has been hard at work today, keeping an eye out for any feathered visitors!  We have a smaller assortment of birds than we had in McCamey but Wesley doesn't seem to mind!

Preaching Log of Charles' Ministry!

If you click here, you can see Charles' preaching log, to date:
See the log here!

On the road

Charles took advantage of an extra day off and the wonderful "winter weather" here in south Texas by going to one of the "greenway trails" here in San Antonio.  He managed to get in fifteen miles today, slowly getting back into shape!

This afternoon in San Antonio

The old Lone Star Brewery



Hispanic folk art

The goddess Minerva (L) and the Emperor Trajan (R)

 

After attending two beautiful church services, Charles decided today to take in one of San Antonio's art museums.  The San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) is a wonderful sampling of art from the ancient near east to contemporary art being made today.

Set along the banks of the San Antonio River, the museum is located in the old Lone Star Brewery.  Today was the last day of a special exhibit of artifacts from the ancient word of Aphrodite and the Gods of Love.  It was so interesting to see and it was the first stop on a wonderful afternoon of art and culture!

Sunday, Sunday

Wesley keeps a watch on the activity on Toscana Isle

University UMC



University UMC

First Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church

Charles' weekend with Wesley continued this morning with a bit of a hiccup - a dead battery!  After calling AAA and getting a new battery put in it was off to worship!

The first service was at University UMC which is always filled with amazing energy and today was no exception.  One announcement that was great to hear was the $60,000 which was raised in December to support an outreach program at the church. Great things are happening at "the U."

After University UMC he drove downtown to First Presbyterian Church.  This is a beautiful church and like University UMC, is doing some exciting ministries.  They are planning on errecting five Habitat for Humanity homes next month!



How to Live a Happier Life!

Wesley's morning break

After a busy morning of chasing balls, jumping off and on various pieces of furniture and racing from room to room, Wesley took a well-deserved rest!

Happy Valentine's Day

Belinda gave Charles a treat this morning, three red roses for him to take and enjoy in his office at the VA Hospital. Charles made sure Belinda had a teddy bear in the car to accompany her on the drive to San Angelo (where she'll be visiting her mother). 

A Prayer for Valentine's Day

from Out of the Ordinary by Sr. Joyce Rupp

Praise to the One whose love stirs the ancient embers
sparks the breath of prayer

Praise to the One whose love entices the wandering
beckons the confused

Praise to the One whose love grows wings on the weary
dreams hope in the discouraged

Praise to the One whose love soothes with the ointment of mercy
transforms with the touch of compassion

Praise to the One whose love threads the energy of friendship
stitches the strength of fidelity

Praise to the One whose love tickles the soul with laughter
urges the heart toward joy

Praise to the one whose love embraces the untamed
dances with the passionate

All praise to this Gracious One
All gratitude to this Beloved
All love to this Mentor of Friendship
All devotion to this Shaper of Hearts.

The beginning of Lent

 














O Lord,
The house of my soul is narrow;
enlarge it that You may enter in.
It is ruinous, O repair it!
It displeases Your sight.
I confess it, I know.
But who shall cleanse it,
to whom shall I cry but to You?
Cleanse me from my secret faults, O Lord,
and spare Your servant from strange sins.

St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430)

Shrove Tuesday



Trinity UMC

Oxford UMC

Oxford UMC

a UMW member @ Oxford UMC sports her Mardi Gras look

We had a wonderful time tonight at two Shrove Tuesday pancake suppers. 

First, we went to Trinity UMC where we enjoyed some very tasty pancakes and sausage.  Becky Thaxton, one of Charles' 2-year Academy for Spiritual Formation companions, who is on the staff at Trinity,  presented Charles with a button for his collection.

Following a spell at Trinity, we made our way to Oxford UMC where Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) was in full-swing!  The UMW members were such good sports, wearing Mardi Gras masks!  They had five different flavors of pancakes and desserts, what a great group of people

A Prayer for Shrove Tuesday (Palm Burning)

Often the palms from the previous Palm Sunday are burned on this day to be used at the Ash Wednesday services.

Holy God, Your Son Jesus rode with pilgrims into Jerusalem, and excited crowds threw branches in His path. These palms have been to us a reminder of His reign all year. Now as we prepare for Lent, and recall, through the work of Your Holy Spirit within us, that we have fallen short of Your will for us, we burn these palms to make ashes that will mark us with the sign of mortality and repentance; and we remember that though “sorrow may spend the night, Joy comes in the morning”, and out of death comes resurrection, through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. 

(prayer by the Rev. Jennifer Phillips)

Prayer for Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday

Church of the Transfiguration - Mt. Tabor

Lord,

You have put your wonderful hope in us born of the spirit of Jesus.

This hope empowers us to be your servants in this world

bringing light into darkness.

Hope into despair.

Warmth into coldness.

Friendship into loneliness.

Food into hunger.

Care into trouble.

We are out in the open, not hidden away with shame for our beliefs and love of you.

We practically shine brightly with your spirit in us as we bring a healing touch, a shoulder to lean on, an arm around a person who is hurting, a hand to lift someone up, a ride to the grocery story or the Doctor’s office, or ourselves being present.

Lord Jesus let us remember that after you were transfigured and you were blessed by God as his chosen son, you came down off the mountain. You didn’t stay up there, you came down among your people. And the first thing you did was to heal someone. Lord, you are still in our midst. You are still healing. You are still touching lives. And so we pray that you will do so today in our midst.

Lord we pray for those who are overwhelmed with the snow, cold and no electricity in the North East. We pray for those who live in places of drought. We pray for those who live in areas of flooding. And we pray for those who don’t have clean water for drinking.

We pray for the violence in our world to end. We pray for the countries that are torn by civil war. We pray for the children who are taken into slave trade and trafficking. We pray that your light would shine and transform our world.

Amen.

  http://revgalprayerpals.blogspot.com/

 

Out on the town

We joined friends of ours, Ann and Jay Brown and John Hargis for supper at Little Italy, one of the Brown's favorite restaurants here in San Antonio.  What a fun time!  It was nice to have some time out of the routine and to hang out with some nice people and good food!

A new button!

Charles had a treat today in the mailbox, a button!  Belinda's friend, Nancy Harrell, sent Charles a "cool" button from the 2013 Saint Paul (MN) Winter Carnival.  Any day with a button is a good day!

A lovely day in San Antonio

Wesley and Belinda enjoying the afternoon air

It's been a nice week here in San Antonio, nothing extrordinary to report, just a nice week at work and relaxing evenings at home! 

This morning we attended worship at Oak Meadow UMC where we'd attended twice before.  This is a lovely group of people!  After the service we joined the congregation for its monthly covered dish lunch, fantastic food and great company!