My Pastor.

This is Gary.  He is my Pastor.

He doesn't have a church building.

He doesn't speak in front of a congregation.

But he is my Pastor.

During family night at the Norton's on Sunday, we celebrated Gary's 55th birthday.  As a group, we read notes that came in from various people who had kind words to share in tribute to Gary.  I failed to get my note in, so this is my 2 cents.

We first moved to Arizona in 2002 and while it was exciting and adventurous, we never felt more alone or disconnected.  We had no friends, no family, not even a church to speak of.  After visiting numerous churches, we both felt comfortable at Superstition Springs Community Church.  The church was still meeting in a school and at the time was about 500+ people.  We attended for a brief time, less than a month I think, before we met the Pastor. Gary.  In our brief meeting, he suggested we get together for lunch.  And we did. We ate at Fuddruckers and I could even tell you the booth we sat in.  I don't know if Gary remembers this lunch, but I do. 

The Thanksgiving holiday was just a few weeks away and days before, we received a message on our answering machine from the Pastor. Gary.  He said he remembered we didn't have family in Arizona and wanted to invite us to Thanksgiving dinner at his home.  We couldn't attend because our family came to Arizona that year but the gesture was endearing.  I don't know if Gary remembers that invitation, but I do.

As time passed, we continued to receive invitations to special holidays, then family events and eventually to just their regular Sunday night dinners.  I don't know if Gary knows the impact this had in our lives, but I do.

Later, we up and moved to Texas.  And we found ourselves in trouble.  Our Pastor, Gary and his wife, Elaine flew in for a weekend.  And we were able to get our lives back on track.  I don't know if Gary realizes how life-changing that trip was for us, but I do.

When we decided to move back to Arizona and we needed a place to live until we could purchase a home, it was our Pastor, Gary and Elaine who opened their home to us and had us LIVE with them for as long as we needed.  I don't know if Gary understands how significant that was, but I do.


I've attended numerous churches, held member's status at many of them but there is only one person, I call my Pastor.  It is Gary. Because he is the only one, that has truly been a pastor - a shepherd - to me in all senses of the word.  He is a remarkable Pastor to this day. 

Happy Birthday to my friend, my Pastor. Gary.  Love you.

Pictures from Family Night celebrating Gary's Birthday

Outside after dinner...

Reading the notes that were sent to Gary...

We gave Gary a bag of essentials to take to Africa i.e. Sunscreen, Insect Repellent, Travel Pillow, Longhorns T-shirt...you know, the necessities.

I see we have some work to do here...

Funniest present ever!  A 1 year subscription to www.seniordiscounts.com - from Lynn...

Mari & Asher...

Yay, we got those little fingers to Hook 'em!

SKATELAND - Oh yeah.

Nathan and I attended a birthday party at Skateland. Skateland.  That name just takes me back 26 years ago to when my cousin Gayle would take me roller skating. It was a total throwback and flashback to the 80's for me.  The skates, the music, the people.  Hahaha - the people who CAN skate and the people who CAN'T.  Too funny!!  Much has been updated to stay current with the times, like inline skates are now available but the total roller skating experience  has remained the same and the spirit of roller skating is still very much alive!

I actually didn't roller skate, I just didn't want to break an arm again but I enjoyed watching our friends.

  

 

 The birthday party girls just getting their skating wheels warmed up...

Not many people know that I'm a fierce Air Hockey player, something I'm very proud to share.

Nathan is now 'in training' to carry the torch.

I love these pictures of Nathan totally enjoying this new game. 

...and HE SCORES!  (I let him score just for the record.)

Cake time, just seconds after I took this picture Nathan proceeded to blow out Sara's candles.

The birthday party minus Nathan (was on my hip crying and very tired by this time).

So much fun, I'm considering having MY next birthday party at the skating rink!

Workday

This Friday, I went into the Oracle Office for the first time because I needed to get my new badge.

Here's my badge picture...it'll have to do!

Engagement Photos? But I'm not a Photographer!

Here is another amateur photo shoot that I was asked to do. Greg plays Softball with Shane & Carly, who are getting married this year.  They asked if I could take their 'engagement' pictures to which I cited my non-professional disclaimer and then I acquiesced. As I edited 800+ pictures later, it became painfully obvious again that I really am not a professional - not even close.  Fortunately, I took some good pictures but I wished I had more considering the number of total pictures I took.  It seems like I only walked away with a small handful of pictures that I would qualify as 'frameable'.  Here's the good ones....

That's it for now, I'm gonna go look up photography classes now.
Wait, gotta make dinner first, then clean the kitchen.
Oh yeah, gotta move the laundry over.
Dangit, I forgot I gotta pick up the dry-cleaning today.
Ah...well, that photography class will have to wait a little bit longer!

Just a Hike

Just checking in with a few snapshots from a recent hike with the girls at San Tan Mountain....

That's it...for now....

Riding the Metro | Fast Train

Just a recent digi-scrapobook layout I recently put together of something we did this weekend.  We rode the Metro to downtown Phoenix with our friends, Mike and Becky.  Nathan thoroughly enjoyed riding the 'fast train' and the adults thoroughly enjoyed dinner at The Spaghetti Factory (thought of you Horvaths!).

This scrapbook layout is for Nathan's 2010 book...

Greg snapped that picture of Nathan with his hands up but I wasn't paying attention so I'm not sure why he struck that pose!