IRS

Janie on the trail in Palo Duro Canyon

I preached at the nursing home this morning and we visited the hospital.  After lunch I went to work on my taxes.  I dumped a mountain of papers out of a box onto the table and started sorting. I am off to a good start.  I will put it all away neatly before going to bed.  It would be nice if I could finish up this evening and I may who knows.  I took a brake from taxes to make some pork chops and rice.  I thought I would blog before getting back to the taxes.  The blog post right after this one is a copy of what I put under the hiking tab of my blog.  I put it here so it will be printed in my blog book at the end of the year.  God bless you.

Palo Duro Canyon Hike

Hiking the LIGHTHOUSE TRAIL in Palo Duro Canyon Texas

Janie outside the amphitheater

It is a short drive from Canyon, Texas to the Palo Duro Canyon State park.  The entrance fee was $10.00 and we made our way to the trail head.  We first stopped at the amphitheater for a photo opportunity.  This was our first trip to the Canyon and we would love to return to see the play that is preformed here.  My parents went to see the canyon years ago and I have wanted to go but just never took the time.  I took Janie's picture then she took mine.
I don't know who these people were in that photograph on that wall but I sure want to be on their side when the fighting starts.

Janie took this picture of a flock of wild turkeys by the side of the road

We visited the trading post next and picked up some souvenirs.  It was cold and windy so we bought a couple of hooded sweatshirts to keep us warm.  I wore mine for the first mile and then took it off.  It was perfect for the occasion and I am sure I will use it again soon.  Janie kept hers on most of the time removing it only once when we were about 3/4 of the way to the end of the trail.

Janie in front of the replica dugout

We left the trading post and drove to the first river crossing.  The water was low and the crossing dry.  Just after the first crossing we saw a flock of wild turkeys by the road and stopped to take a picture. They were not afraid of us at all.  Before reaching the second river crossing which is very near the trail head we came upon a dugout which was a replica of the one used by the man who was an early explorer of the canyon.  There was nobody home and no furniture in the dug out whatsoever.  

The Second Water crossing

Me at the Lighthouse trail head

The second water crossing was also dry.  We stopped to take a picture of the water.  I was glad that it was a sunny day and no chance of rain.  I could see that if a flash flood should come that way it would be a little trouble getting back out of the park.  Just beyond this second crossing and to the right is the parking area for the Lighthouse trail head.  There is a map of the trail and two thermometers.  One is just above the map and the other is at the start of the trail.  There is a warning there about taking plenty of water with you on this trail.  I suppose this is for the summer hikers and I would not want to hike this trail in the summer time.  It was in the 40's when we arrived and we took three 20 oz. bottles of water with us and had water left over when we got back to the car.  

The trail leads to the wall at the far right then turns right

The tip of the outcropping of the canyon wall .3 miles from trail head

The trail is very well marked and proceeds from the parking lot and winds its way to the base of the canyon wall.  It is a beautiful sight.  The trail turns right and leads around the end of this massive red wall obstacle.  It is not massive when compared to the Grand Canyon but I certainly would rather go around than have to climb over this outcropping of the canyon wall. Up to this point it was very cold and windy.  The hood on the sweatshirt really helped keep us warm.  The walk thus far is easy and the view is outstanding.  There is a warning along the way to stay on the trail.  It was wasted on us for we had no intention of leaving it.  When we reached the end of this outcropping of the canyon wall I departed from the trail to have my picture made.

Cactus by the trail

The steep climb at the end of the trail

The trail continues with lots of cactus on each side of the trail.  The trail itself has been well worn and is very red in appearance except for a place or two where there are traces of white.  The only animal tracks we saw on the trail were those made by a small deer.  There were a lot of bicycle and shoe tracks on the trail, most of them fresh.  We did not see anyone on the trail until on our way back when we saw two young ladies heading for the Lighthouse.  I gave them some words of encouragement saying, "If two 57 year olds can make it so can you."  There were some small birds all along the way and we could hear birds in the distance.  Besides these we encountered no other wildlife.  I can see that if you were hiking this trail in the summertime you might very well encounter a rattle snake.  I assured Janie that we would not be seeing any of these in February. 

Janie almost to the base of the Lighthouse formation

Yes, Janie had to climb this twice once for her picture and once for mine

The trail continues offering little challenge to the hiker until it brings you to a picnic table.  There you may sit and rest in the shade and contemplate whether or not you want to continue up the steep, and I mean steep, rugged climb to the top of the ridge to reach the base of the Lighthouse formation.  I left Janie taking her shoe off to check her feet and went up the steep trail a bit and returned to report that it was not going to be easy.  She wanted to press on and I admired her courage.  The sandy soil on top of the steep rocky trail was very slippery.  We made our way with me in the lead very carefully step by step mostly on all fours up the steep trail.  I was not as worried about getting up the trail as I was about getting back down again.  This part of the trail needs to have steps installed or some sort of rope or rail for assistance. This section of tough climbing was about 150 feet long.

The ledge leading to the plateau, I'll stay right here thank you.

The trail got better for a little while and then it turned steep and slippery again as it reached the base of the Lighthouse.  We sat down on the ledge with our backs to the wall and the slippery slope beneath our feet.  It was a great sense of accomplishment and very worth the view.  As I sat there with Janie I saw the 2 foot wide ledge to my right leading to a plateau between the lighthouse and another formation behind it.  There was a 60 foot drop off next to the ledge and I felt it was not worth the risk to strive for a closer look.  Walking a ledge with a rock wall on one side and just 2 feet to the other side lies eternity is not my cup of tea.

Janie and I sitting on the ledge at the base of the Lighthouse formation

As far as Janie and I are concerned reaching this point was just like reaching the summit of Mount Everest.  Had I been even 20 years younger I might have stayed longer and taken more risk but not now. I would not have been disappointed had we not made it all the way.  I kept asking Janie if she wanted to turn back but she was determined to continue.  I am glad we made it the top.

The canyon as seen from the Lighthouse ledge

The view strait ahead from the Lighthouse ledge

We lingered, sitting on the ledge for just a few minutes.  Janie was praying the whole time that the Lord would help us make it back down that dreaded 150 foot section. I took a couple of pictures from the ledge and then we started our journey back.  The first picture I took was the view of the canyon to our left.  The second was the view strait ahead of where we were sitting.  The picture of the ledge was to my right.  

Janie coming down the most dangerous section

Janie being very careful on her way down

We made it fairly easily down the steep slope from the ledge to the top of the dreaded section.  I went down first placing the downhill foot carefully in place and testing it before transferring my weight to it.  Using both hands to steady and support myself I made the first few feet and then stopped to make sure Janie was managing the descent.  I was prepared to stop her from sliding all the way down the slope if she should stumble.  She came to one section where she tried a new method which worked well for her.  She sat on her heals and slid in a fairly controlled way holding on to the sides of the path.  It was a real relief to have this section of the trail behind us.  Janie stopped at the picnic table to remove a pebble from her shoe.  Her feet did not give her any trouble at all.  She did have a pain in her left leg that got worse the closer we got to the car.  It was not serious and was gone the next day.  On the way back she did not walk as fast as I did and we did not stop for very long on our way back. I frequently stopped to let her catch up.  The trail has mile markers along the way at each 1/10 of mile from the trail head. I had brought along my GPS and it was nice to know how far we had come. I had marked the coordinates of where we were sitting on the ledge at the Lighthouse.  I also saved the track in my GPS for when I return to this place some day. 

Janie and I at one of the covered benches on the return trip

There were two covered benches and two uncovered ones spaced along the trail.  We stopped at both of the covered benches to rest and eat a snack and drink some water.  There we let our feet dangle and rest.

One of the sights we saw on the way back to the trail head

There is a interesting thing that happens on a trail like this one.  It is a new trail going out and most of the time your looking always ahead.  On the return trip you see things that you did not see when you passed by before.  We took several pictures on the return trip.  There are layers of white rock in the walls of the canyon and also thin layers of white can be seen on the trail itself where it climbs up hill.  It really stands out against the red wall.

The Capital Peek formation

Janie was walking slower the closer we got to the trail head. Her leg was hurting but she declined my offer to carry her the rest of the way.  She was very glad to see the car coming into view.  This was a great hike and I want to do it again with my children and grandchildren.  I mused to Janie that the grandkids would not hesitate at all at that ledge and would sit with their feet hanging off the edge of eternity for a picture.  One I would love to take from my relatively safe perch.   
On our way out of the canyon we stopped in at the visitor's center and gift shop.  Janie wanted a magnet for the refrigerator.  There is an amazing view of the canyon from the window of the visitor's center. I took a couple of pictures which would be our last in the canyon.

The canyon as seen from the visitor's center

A good view of the ledge, lighthouse on the right castle rock on the left

This hike was outstanding and I hope to do it again soon.  I believe that Janie likes hiking and is even now on her computer looking for our next adventure. 

New Members, Wonderful Day

At the Cross in Groom, Texas

7:00 put tie on, eat banana, read over the sermon text.
8:00 go to hospital, visit 2 there and pray with them
8:30 deliver a radio to a shut in so she can hear the service.
9:15 go to church
10:00 teach the Sunday School lesson
11:00 sing with all your might and feel your heart fill with joy.
11:25 preach the sermon that has caused you to feel like you are about to burst.
12:10 Call for a motion to accept 2 new members who have 3 young children.
1:15 take a nap
2:45 leave for the nursing home service
3:00 lead the singing and preach a sermon.
4:00 review the lesson for the evening service
5:15 return to the church
6:15 teach a much needed and well received lesson.
7:15 choir practice and learn a new song with some much needed help
8:30 take the tie off and get to work on the sermon for the Monday nursing home service
9:45 say yes to a wedding ceremony request
10:00 blog
10:45 head for bed.

It has been a long and wonderful day.
God bless you.

Palo Duro Canyon Trip

2 foot wide ledge leading to a plateau next to the lighthouse formation

We had a really good trip to Palo Duro Canyon.  We arrived at the Holiday Inn Express in Canyon and got a real good night sleep.  I will tell all about the hike on my hiking page (see tab above).  Janie made it all the way a total of 6.15 miles round trip.  I was not sure that she would due to the fact she does not walk as much as I do.  Her feet were fine and her legs were sore when we got home.  I was proud of her.  She even climbed the slippery steep, steep grade up to the lighthouse formation itself.

Almost to the base of the Lighthouse formation

There is a spot where you can walk a narrow ledge next to the lighthouse formation and get to a plateau where there is a really nice view but something about having a 50 foot vertical rock wall face on one side and just two feet to the other side is eternity made me want to skip that view.  As we hiked back to the car two young ladies passed us headed for the lighthouse.  I told them that if two fifty seven year old people could do it they could too.  We got back to the hotel around five and ordered a pizza, ate and took a nap.  It was a really good time.  We stopped only once to eat on the way home.  We left at 10:00 and got home at 4:40 for a total of 6 hours and 40 minutes traveling time.  That is not bad for a 400 mile trip.  We got 45 miles to the gallon and diesel was $3.69 a gallon where we stopped for lunch.
It is good to be home. After unpacking and having a snack I spent a couple of hours with the Bible and I loved every minute of it.  Tomorrow is my favorite day of the week and I can't wait for it to get here. 

Taking a break on our way back to the car

Janie with Capital Peak behind her

Below are some of the pictures we took at the canyon.  The pictures do not do the scene justice.  I recommend you try to make a trip to this beautiful part of Texas.  God bless you.

Janie climbing back down from the Lighthouse summit

At The Cross On Janie's Birthday

44 degrees wind out of the north at 30 mph, it was cold at the cross

Our three children called one right after the other this morning to wish Janie and happy birthday.  We packed up and headed for the canyon stopping at the cross in Bloom, Texas. It was very cold and windy so we did not stay long there.  We had stopped for lunch at a Cracker Barrel in Wichita, Texas and so after leaving the cross we went on down to Canyon and had a small hot dog for supper.  The hotel room is nice and we are looking forward to seeing the canyon tomorrow.  God bless you.

New Copier

Our church's new copy machine

Our church voted in business meeting to increase its monthly giving to the three missionaries which we support directly by a factor of 3.  We now give each of these 3 times as much per month as we were giving.  Our copy machine at the church has been giving us a lot of problems and needed repair.  I was going to call the repairman on Monday and figured it was going to cost a lot.  I got a call Monday evening from one of our deacons who gave me the news that a company was going to get a new copier and would donate their old one to our church if we wanted it.  He went and picked it up and it looks like a really nice one.  They said that it was working fine and had not given them any problems it was just time for them to get a new one. I have always found it to be true that you can not out give God.  We increased our missions giving and God provided us with a really nice copier.  God is so good to us. 

Cedar in bloom, probably why my allergies are so bad

We had an exceptionally good ladies Bible study today.  It went a little long because we really did not want to stop.  Janie and I went to the hospital to check on our members there.  I also talked to one of our members who lives in Galveston, Texas.  He is in the hospital and his wife is also in the hospital.  He is doing fairly good but his wife is not.  I wish they were closer so that I could visit them like I can those here in Hillsboro.  After the hospital we washed the car.  It needed it really badly.  We drove down to Palestine to see our daughter and son-in-law.  They have been working on the day care center at their church and we wanted to see what they had done.  It looks really good.  We went out to eat with them for supper and enjoyed the visit.  Tomorrow I will get the sermon ready for Sunday after visiting at the hospital.  If everyone is doing ok Janie and I will head out Thursday morning for our hike in Palo Duro Canyon.  Thursday is Janie's birthday.  We plan to go by way of Groom, Texas where there is a very impressive, man made, site to see. We will spend the night in Canyon, Texas and Friday afternoon should find us on the hiking trail, if the Lord is willing.  I have been looking forward to this trip and hope we will be able to go.  If something should come up we will reschedule. 
I have ordered a new laptop computer.  This one is almost three years old and works just fine but the new one will be bigger and faster.  Our son's laptop is not in good shape so what I plan to do is to leave this one with him when we go for our visit in August.  Well its off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of sleep.  God bless you.

Church in the Hospital

Our Junior choir before services Sunday morning

Walnut Street Baptist Church could have had services in the hospital yesterday.  We have been spending a lot of time there lately.  Sunday afternoon we had another church member to visit the emergency room.  There are two members in the hospital now and they will be there for a while.  We have 2 in a hospital in Galveston and 1 in a hospital in the Dallas area.
I have not been sleeping well due to a cough.  I get an hour our two here and there.  I don't like to take medicine but was forced to do so Saturday night when I just could not stop coughing.  The medicine worked right well and I got a few hours of sleep.  I have taken some more this morning and will through the day as needed to give myself a break from all the coughing.

My view as I await the start of Sunday morning services

Today I will stay in as much as possible and get some work done.  I want to take a trip up to Amarillo on Thursday and and Friday.  I will make that decision on Wednesday depending on how I feel and how our hospitalized members are doing.  
My newest son-in-law has a facebook page.  I did not think he would ever have something like that but now he does.  I think it is a very good thing for him.  He is broadening his horizon.  I would like to see him blog next. He has never flown before and has no desire to do so.  Maybe that's what will be next for him.
Well it is early morning and I have taken some medicine which is kicking in right now.  My cough has stopped and I am sleep.....................................oh, sorry I dozed off.  I better get back in the bed.  God bless you.

Can't Sleep, Can Cough

Janie and me at the restaurant

I got up this morning at 3:55 coughing.  I tried to get control of it and go back to bed but it just was not meant to be.  I thought I would use the time constructively so I wrote a poem based on the sermon I plan to preach this Sunday.
Janie and I went to town to see a lawyer for her mother and then we went to get her glasses adjusted.  It seems that her glasses were not made right after all.  She has been having a terrible time trying to see things up close especially her computer screen.  It is good to finally have an answer to the problem.  We will return the glasses and have them remade to the right specs.  I took Janie out to eat at a Mexican food place.  The hot sauce felt good to my throat. I had to help her read the menu cause she did not have her old glasses with her.   I am not sure if this is allergies or a cold but it started Sunday with a sore throat. 

In the dentist chair again

Janie is taking her mother to the beauty shop this morning and I will stay here and get some work done and maybe take a nap.  I need to go and see my mother but if this is a cold I don't want her to catch it so I may just call her instead.  She was doing fine last week.  I will paste the poem I wrote this morning below and will also add it to my poems page on this blog.  I may print it in next Sunday's bulletin.  Okay, so now I think that "Where I Should Be" is back in bed.  God bless you.

Where I should be
by Paul Clark (2/18/2011)

"Where I should be" is a wonderful place.
There is no guilt there but plenty of grace.
It is almost like Heaven, "where I should be."
There's no shame, no fear, no cursing you see.
No punishment, pouting, and no regret.
You'd never leave it except you forget.

True joy, sweet fellowship with God divine

Those who dwell there are doing just fine.

Singing and praising are always found there.

When you arrive, oh you have not a care.

Peace and contentment can only be known

When you are there you are never alone.

Like Joseph in prison sometimes it does seem.

“Where I should be” is all in God's scheme.

It is almost like heaven here on the earth

When your heart's there you are filled with great mirth

Ask Paul and Silas about this great place.

Tis where God wants Adam's beloved race.

We might all have lived there if he had not sinned.

But now we just sojourn being burdened.

“Where I'm Suppose to be” Sometimes it is called.”

there Children by she bears never are mauled.

“In God's Perfect Will” a name that fits well.

People who love it will not go to Hell.

How to find this place of which I do speak

is easy and quick for those who are meek.

Repentance and trust and always obey

you will find the path is a narrow way.

For many, God's will they care not at all

The broad way they tread leads to a great fall.

Study the Bible and rightly divide

“Where I should be” God, from you does not hide.

We will all face God in judgment and then,

“Where I should be” He will determine

One day on His left or on His right hand

He will call men and force them to stand.

Where will you be on that glorious day

“Where I should be” I hope you can say.

Dentist

Janie hiking in France 2010

Tuesday was a busy day for us.  One of our church members fell and broke a leg and was taken to the emergency room.  It required surgery to repair and they did that on Wednesday afternoon.  We had the Ladies Bible Study on Tuesday and we went down to Lorena for services there.  Wednesday started with a meeting at my office at the church and then two or three trips to the hospital to check on two different members there.  After the Wednesday evening services we went to Henderson.  I got up early this morning headed for the dentist office.  She was able to fill that cavity without deadening it first.  It did not hurt at all.  I wanted to blog before heading out for a walk.  I am going to try do five miles to see if I am ready for Palo Dura Canyon next week.  God bless you.