Indian Cliffs Ranch

We had a good day of it today in El Paso!
I'm a little late tonight with posting pictures
because just after Mr. Jones and I returned to our hotel tonight,
a pretty powerful storm swept in and knocked out the power!
The Lodge immediately went to half power,
but it knocked us off the internet.
And soon after that, a hotel employee was knocking
on our door telling us the place was being evacuated!
We were already in our pj's, had to throw some clothes on
and stand outside in the parking lot
while the fire department checked out an
electrical panel that was "smoking" somewhere in the building...
but now all is well and the pictures have been uploaded
(and all of you bloggers know how slow that process is!)

Our day began with worship at Bethel Family Ministries.
Diana suggested that we try it. She heard about it through a friend.
Bethel is not on base, but after just a short drive, we were there!

Bethel Family Ministries
is a family-friendly church
with lots of support for Military families
and good children's programs and activities.
Emma and Chris got to attend a children's
class together for 3-5's.
They learned about baby Moses today.
They colored pictures of the basket his mother
made for him to float him in the River Nile.
They learned that God was able to keep Moses safe.
This was one of the posters hanging in their class.
Since Matthew is two, he went into the nursery.
Mr. Jones, Diana and I attended the worship service.
There were many songs of praise to the Lord.
The pastor taught about "faith" from Hebrews 11.
The sermon was challenging and encouraging as well.
We sat right behind a military family. This dad had been
deployed, served in Baghdad, and had returned home
safely last October.
He told us there are many military families that attend
this church and that each and every person who had been
deployed had returned home safely!

We played for awhile at home, but after lunch we
went to the Indian Cliffs Ranch 20 miles east of El Paso,
and then north 5 miles into the desert.
We were hoping this place would be as kid-friendly
as Old MacDonald's Farm in Houston,
and at first, we were disappointed.
But let me show you some pictures ...
This is the entrance to the ranch ...
The area surrounding the ranch is amazingly beautiful ...
Anyone who says a desert is ugly, just isn't looking!
Christopher enjoyed seeing the animals,
even though they were in cages ...
Emma said she liked the goats, but
"they smelled."
Christopher agreed!
The deer were beautiful. They didn't roam
freely around the place, but they were still pretty to see.
Grandpa tried really hard to get all of us to look
at him and smile at the same time ...
this was the best picture of the bunch!
There was always someone who either wasn't smiling
or wasn't looking!
This small lake had geese and other fowl ...
but it was the clouds that caught grandpa's eye!
Beautiful!
The Llama and the longhorn cattle ...
This is a fun playground with lots of stuff to do ...

Cuties!
Matthew did some exploring around the fort as well ...
There was bridges, tunnels, mazes ...
... and lots of shade!
Good thing, because it was another scorching hot day
in the wild west ...
This little burro was so darling!

He decided to check out Matthew's tray
to see if anything was worth licking ...
He was so friendly and sweet ... Diana is very good
with animals, and they seem to love her too ...
I think she would have brought this burro home
but Jesse might not appreciate it ...
Emma was very amused that the little burro wanted
her water bottle ...
I think this was our favorite animal!

There were huge bison, ostriches, cows,
little prairie dogs, rattle snakes (!),
bunnies, sheep -- and we took pictures of all of these animals;
however, there are just too many pictures to post them all ...

Admission was free to Indian Cliffs Ranch!
We really had fun there.

On the way home, we stopped at Wendy's and
stuffed ourselves with salad and chicken nuggets
and french fries and frosties!
A perfect ending to such a nice day ...

Thanks so much, Lord!
Thank you for beauty, for animals, for food,
for grandchildren -- for your unfailing love!