Fresh Oil Today!: Sedona

Hey Ya'll and Happy Monday!

I pray that you had a blessed weekend and are off to a great start this first week of October! Who'd of thought this year would pass so quickly and here we are just 82 days until Christmas!!! Holy cow, I'm not even ready to start thinking about Christmas.....I'm just getting into the swing of Fall, ya'll!! I must confess, though, I have bought a few stocking stuffers and such, but that's it so far. How 'bout you?

You may have noticed that since my elbow/hand surgery I still haven't got my blog post groove back and haven't posted very often. I just completed physical therapy last week and praise God I have my feeling in my left hand now but still pain in my elbow but my doc says it may be months before the nerves return to normal. Not complaining, just slows me down a little and looking forward to getting back into full swing. And I must say, it sure is easier typing with two fully functioning hands now! PTL and many thanks for your prayers!! Also, allot going on here...nothing earth shattering, but just the stuff of life that can wear on you so I've been taking time with the Lord to pray and re-prioritize some things and "press-in" and get "re-filled" and take a stand through prayer for some things I've really had on my heart and believing God for answers and breakthrough in. If you've read my last several posts...."Through Stormy Seas" and "A Mighty Army! Warrior Bride! they have been along the lines of trusting Him and His Promises and He will see us through our storms and warring against the attacks of the enemy with the authority given each believer through the Name of Jesus and His Word. You might say that I've had fire in my bones lately about this! I was so blessed by so many of your comments and emails because obviously so many of us are in a battle right now and we need to encourage and pray for one another and lift up battle weary arms and stand our ground for the victory and freedoms given to each of us through His Name and His Blood!! Well, here I go preaching again.....told ya, I've got fire in my bones about this, ya'll!!

Movin' on.......yesterday afternoon, my sweetie and I decided to drive over to Sedona for lunch and just enjoy the spectacular views.....we just needed a short get-away and leave everyday life behind for a few hours (can anyone relate??). And, I'm tellin' ya, friends, if you've never been to Sedona, AZ or never seen pictures of the red rock cliffs that take your breath away, you just have to come for a visit. Anyone who is around me for more than five minutes knows how I love Arizona and the beauty God bestowed upon it! I love it.....God's marvelous handiwork is on full display everyday here in ways that are indescribable! Yes, I know you're thinking about the Phoenix heat.....I mean 118 degrees in July in as hot as h. e. double hockey sticks but that's why we have A.C. and it's a dry heat anyway! lol! This coming from a Georgia born and raised gal who only knew 100 percent humidity and sticky, glistening sweaty summers before being transplanted into the desert.....I'll take a dry heat anyday!! My hubs says that I should work for the State Tourism Dept because I can really talk it up when it comes to my beloved AZ!!

So saddle up and ride along as I share some of my Sedona Sunday adventure.......

The drive into Sedona yesterday (as always) was jaw dropping gorgeous. The distant cloud formations against the azure blue skies and the ginormous redrock mountains and spires is awesome. It's just about at this point in the highway that first time tourists slam on the brakes, pull over and start snapping pictures. Since I live only an hour from Sedona (blessed me!), I just take a deep breath and leave all care behind and feast of the Divine landscape.....Ahhh...my heart sings!....Still takes my breath away everytime!...His beauty is everywhere!

Gettin' closer to Sedona now! That's Court House Butte to the right.

Oh and I must point out that sitting at the base of Court House Butte is one of my fav furniture stores .....Designs West!....Oh yeah, it's the best for beautiful southwestern and rustic accessories. When in the West, I decorate like the West! (Note: when I lived in Florida I was totally into the whole shabby beach chic thing and all over the sea side look...still love that too, but, uh it look kinda looks weird in the cowboy southwest, ya'll!)! Anyway, we stopped in there and I drooled over everything and got some great ideas! My hubs is the best to just hang out while I get my decorating vibe on!! I'm lovin' our Sedona Sunday gettaway, ya'll!

Oh and this is my dream bed!.....Someday, oh yeah!!

And this is what I have in mind for my guest room....yee! haa!.......

And when I have grandbabies, this is what I have in mind for my little buck-a-roo's room at my house.....

And for grandma's little cowgirl princess, I'm thinking about this......Luv it!!.....

Across from Court House Butte is Bell Rock.....You've probably seen shots of this vista in about every old western movie.....It's amazing!....(I didn't get a good picture, so I've included this one from the web and I think this aerial view of Sedona is breathtaking, ya'll!)......You did so good God!! - You always do!!!

photo credit: Dream Sedona.com/Mike Koopsen

In the midst of the gorgeous red rock buttes and spires is one of my must see places!The Chapel of the Holy Cross. Again, my amateur photography didn't do it justice so I included this one from the web also for your viewing pleasure.....

photo credit: google images

It was built in 1956 on a twin pinnacle spire about 250 feet high jutting out of a 1000' red rock wall. I have such a sweet time with the Lord everytime I visit the chapel. Visitors from all over the world quietly stop by and I'm always amazed at how most everyone stands or simply kneels in prayer in such a holy and reverenced hush. The chapel was inspired by Marguerite Bruswig Staude in 1932. She wanted to build a structure that would glorify her Creator and give gratitude for all that her family had received. She traveled throughout Europe looking for just the right location and upon returning to the United States she and her husband traveled through Sedona and were struck by the beauty of the area and decided the chapel would be built there. The history of the chapel states..."This would be a monument to faith, a spiritual fortress so charged with God, that it spurs man's spirit godward". And I can testify....It is truely charged with the presence of God and spurs me on, everytime! My hubs and I sat inside the chapel in silence for quite awhile just being washed by His gentle touch and feasting upon the glory of His handiwork seen beyond the expansive Cross framed chapel window. Wow! How refreshed I always feel upon leaving this place.....Thank you Lord!

Just outside the chapel is a small flower garden in the midst of all the beautiful red rock desert cactus fauna and flora that I just love. I snapped this pic and love the sign.....It's kinda hard to read but it say's "Please don't pick us we're smiling at God".....luv it!!!

Ok, ya'll, now that our soul and spirit had been so wonderfully nourished we realized that it's time to head on into Sedona for some chow! BBQ was what we had a hankering for so we moseyed on over to our fav Red Rock BBQ for lunch.....BBQ with a view! They're known for their baby back ribs and pulled pork so we were ready to put our feed bag on, let me tell ya!!....yum!!

Not such a great shot of my mouth watering best pulled pork sandwich in the West (with the cute chilli pepper garnish on top) and the best seasoned fries in the universe, but I think you can get the idea of how wonderful our BBQ with a view was (so worth blowing my diet).....heavenly, ya'll! Hmmm?? Wonder if there will be BBQ at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9).....hope so.....just saying :))!

Now that my man's tummy is full, it's on to his fav place.....Clear Creek Trading Company. It's kinda totally a guy thing place. It's a trading post for all kind of stuff....antlers, stuffed buffaloe heads, cow hides and other sundry stuffed pitiful furry creatures and indian artifacts. Hubs would love to have a buffalo head over our fireplace, but I just couldn't stand to sit in front of the hearth with poor buffy's big brown eyes looking at me! So for now, we just enjoy poking around the trading post and looking at all the great western stuff....(BTW...I'm so wanting the vintage wagon wheel on the right for somewhere in my back yard next to a barrel of flowers....Oh yeah! I'm adding it to my Christmas wish list, ya'll!)....

Note the piles of antler sheddings behind us! Hey, it's the old west ya'll!

And now we're ready to drive to our fav Dairy Queen just beyond Sedona in Oak Creek Canyon and slurp a peanut butter cup blizzard..(diet's really in the tank now...what ev!)...Yee! Haa!.....It's the best ever and located down in the middle of the canyon with Oak Creek just across the road....beautiful!

And how many DQ's have you been in that have a Cigar indian.....only in the west, ya'll! Luv it! (Now that I think about it, he'd look really great next to my fireplace.....adding him to my Christmas wish list, too!!)......

Well, my sweetie and I had a most wonderful Sedona Sunday! Amazing how a few hours of rest and recreation, good food and gorgeous surroundings can sooth the soul.....Oh, yeah - God thang! And I hope you enjoyed a peak at some of my fav places and things in Sedona, Arizona and the cowboy southwest, ya'll!

So before I hit the trail I want to leave you with a scripture

the Holy Spirit branded within my heart recently........