A Beautiful Easter Sunday

It was another beautiful day in Maynardville yesterday on Easter Sunday.

We started out with pancakes for breakfast, then got cleaned up for the 11:00 service over at Ball Road Missionary Baptist Church.

Here's a picture of Michelle and Jeremy with their two, Kayla and Noah.

After church we got another picture that included Mike and Joan.

We went for a drive and stopped by Tennessee RV but they were closed on Sunday.  Mike's works for ESI (Erection Specialists, Inc) and is a crane operator.  It was nearby so we drove past that as we took the back roads home to their house.

Mike and I washed the cars and we spent most of the afternoon outside.

Michelle and Kayla and Noah came over for a while and played more ladder ball and then we enjoyed the afternoon chatting.

Michelle works for Knoxville Employees Credit Union and she gave Pam a picnic blanket that we will put to good use.

We also found out we could join the credit union for $5 and apply online, so we will have to take advantage of that.  It was very thoughtful of Michelle and a very nice gift.  She must work for a great place!

We talked some more, then went back to the coach for the evening and saw some MLB with the Opening Game of the season.  I cashed it in when it was 7-7 in the top of the 8th.  Gotta love the Red Sox vs Yankees!

That was our day--hope you had a nice Easter too!  Thanks for viewing and we look forward to your comments.  And we look forward to getting to 100 Followers soon...  :)

Sunday in Houston Again

We really like the First Baptist Church in Houston.

The message is clear and relevant, the worship is good.

And my nephew goes there.  Since Kelly is in town, we went back to see cousin Mark.

Kelly's friend from Baylor, Megan, also joined us.  After church we went out to lunch at Mama's Cafe.  I got to meet Megan's boyfriend Mark, who sat across from me at the table.  He is a good guy and easy to talk to.

After lunch, we went by Megan's place to meet her new pup - Buckley.  He is not quite house broken yet but a good little pooch.  Plus he is not a yapper which is nice.

Pam did all the driving while I took it easy and let me back get better.  I am still walking gingerly but it is making progress. I am hopeful I'll be back to 90% is another day.  I'd say I am about 50% - 60% now.

We had an early team meeting yesterday so we could have a potluck of sorts.  Carol made enough gumbo for everyone and we enjoyed some fellowship before our weekly orientation meeting.  We met three new couples and everyone heard each others stories:  where they were from, what they did in their former life, how long they have been NOMADS and "anything else you want to tell us" which usually means kids and family.  I really like that part.

After that, Kelly and Pam went to the store for a few things and I put the heating pad on my back.  I watched the healthcare vote which is pretty depressing.  How are we really going to pay for all this?? It is pretty scary to me but all we can do is see how it works out.

Speaking of work - we are ready for another good NOMADS week.  Hope yours goes that way too and thanks for viewing the Roadrunner Chronicles.

Sunday in Houston

While our NOMADS group went to Moody Memorial Church in Galveston, we went to Houston to meet up with Brad & Sue (brother & his wife), their sons (Mark & Drew) and friend Darrick.  We met at First Baptist Church for the 11:00 AM service.

Wow - that is a big church.  They have 21,000 members and about 7,000 attenders.  It is one of the largest auditoriums we have visited.

They had a baptism.  Most of all we liked the message.  The pastor talked about Abraham and Isaac and how, "God will provide".

I took a photo while everyone was getting seated.  And we got a group shot.

Later we went to lunch at Chuy's.  There was one in Tucson but we didn't go there, so I am glad we got a chance to check out.

It was good Mexican food.  The atmosphere is a little different.  This locale must have been a converted garage.  Where else do you see hubcaps on the ceiling?  An pictures of Elvis lining the walls.

How about you -- where did you go for Sunday lunch/brunch?

After lunch we went back to Mark's.  He a and Darrick are rooming together and have done a very nice job of fixing up the place.  Sue wanted a picture of her sons so I took a couple.

While we were at it I had one of the guys take our picture.

After that, we needed to get back to Galveston for our team meeting.  Joe led the meeting and we went around the room for introductions and a little background information.

I love that part of the meeting -- hearing everyone's story.  We have three nurses in our group which is always nice to know...

After the meeting we went back to the Roadrunner and took it easy before we went to bed.

That was our Sunday --  Thanks for viewing.  And thanks for leaving a comment or two and letting us know you are out there.  Hope you have a good week.

Lazy Saturday in Galveston

Saturday we didn't have anything really planned.  About 8:00 Joe knocked on the door and invited us to breakfast with the other NOMADS who wanted to go.  A couple was leaving after six weeks of volunteer work and Joe wanted to give them one last send off.

So we went downtown to 14th Street to the Sunflower Bakery.

What a neat place.  It has been completely restored since Hurricane Ike and has a lot of personality.

It wasn't too long and everyone arrived

and the waitress brought out the food.

Too bad we had already had breakfast when Joe mentioned it.  We opted for a cinnamon roll which was very good.

We got back to the Roadrunner and John and Jo-Ann pulled out their 5th wheel and stopped for some hugs and goodbyes with Joe and Francis.

And then Dotty and Tom came over for a picture and to say goodbye.

After lunch we got out the hoses.  Pam washed the car and then I washed the coach.  It has been quite a while since I did that but both look a lot better.

We read and watched some TV but it was basically a slow day.  The wind kicked up so we didn't go for a bike ride.  And it is a little cool.  But maybe the next few days will be nicer.

We plan to go to church today with the group and we may get in a walk along the beach if the weather stays nice.  We will see...

Thanks for viewing the Roadrunner Chronicles!

Super Bowl Sunday & Seeing Friends in Maricopa

Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints and Who Dat Nation!  They played a great game and really made it exciting.  Especially with a second half opening kickoff surprise.  They just kept coming and were too much for Peyton Manning and the Colts.  

We had the chance to drive a couple hours up the road and meet our friends Bub and Winnie at their church in Maricopa, Arizona.  It is west of Casa Grande and a two hour ride from our Agave Gulch campground at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson.

When we started out about 7:15 it was cloudy, cold and rainy.  

About 60 miles and an hour later north of Tucson, it began to clear up and was a nice day. 

They worship at the 'Church of Celebration' which meets in a Junior High School gymnasium.  It is a relatively new church and has about 600 members.  

Today was the first Sunday in their new facility.  We had a little trouble finding the place and were late.  

Plus, we ended up on the wrong side of the tracks about a mile from the school when we had to wait out a train that was passing through town.  The trains out west are often loooong ones.  This was over a mile long. 

Bub was waiting for us and we made it in time to catch a few songs before the preaching started.  Josh, the pastor  gave a message entitled, 'Whose Team Are You On' which was a call to personal integrity and purity and a challenge to read more of the Bible (the New Testament in particular) in the next 90 days.  It was good, I am glad we got to attend.

After church, we drove by their home in the area.  In the last 10 years, Maricopa has grown up out of a sleep little farming and industrial town, to over 40,000 people with at least three very large subdivisions.  Many folks from Phoenix commute out to this area.  We drove to nearby

 Chandler for lunch.

I used to come to Chandler back in the early 1970's when I was a freshmen at Arizona State University in Tempe, but I literally don't recognize the place.  It has changed so much.

We found the restaurant (Buca di Peppo) an had a very nice lunch and spent a good while eating and catching up.  Before we were taken to our table, the hostess took us through the kitchen which she said she does with all her guests. 

 That was a different twist.  It looked a lot like a restuarant kitchen to me...  I have never had that happen before.

As a momento we had our picture taken.

Later, the staff  arrived with a large complementary cupcake and sang to us since Winnie is having a birthday this month.

Years ago, we all attended Grace Church in Albuquerque and Bub and I played on the church softball team together.  That was when Pam and I lived there from 1988-1992 while I was stationed at Kirkland AFB in the USAF.  

After lunch, we decided to head back to Tucson to see the game and it was an exciting one.  I always pull for Peyton Manning but am also a fan of Drew Brees, Sean Peyton, Greg Williams and backup quarterback Mark Brunnell.  Like I said, they played a great game and clearly deserved to win this one.  Congrats to them and their city and fans!

We watched a new show- Undercover Boss- and then went to bed early.  Hope you all have a good week.

Thanks for viewing the Roadrunner Chronicles.  And we'd love to hear from you-- drop us a note and/or add a comment!

Mrs Ward Sees Her Home

Yesterday it was my turn to lead devotions with the NOMADS group. First we sang Victory in Jesus! then looked at three verses in Proverbs Ch 16 and three in Matthew Chapter 5. I really like devotions and our time together each morning. As full-timers we visit churches when we can but often we don't get to worship together as much as we'd like.

Next, we had team meeting to discuss the punch list at the two houses where we working. One group went to the Ward house and the other went to the new house. They spent the day getting it ready to put down new flooring.

At the Ward house, Pam and I worked on the bathroom flooring and layed down some luan to give it a very smooth surface before we lay new vinyl tile.
Arlin and Marley took a look house made sure they had an updated materials list. Marley is our current team leader (and NOMADS committee chair for the United Methodist Church.) Arlin and his wife Susan are here this week to help and also get ready to assume the project lead responsibilities beginning next week. Marley and his wife Nancy will be leaving next week after being here a month.

While we hung the medicine cabinet, Maryetta was putting the finishing touches on some sheet rock seams and baseboard. John hooked up the refrigerator and got the ice maker working while Pam put the fixtures back onto the new sink.Nancy was painting door jams and Harry got the closet doors ready to install. Then Mrs. Ward (the home owner) came by with her daughter Samantha to see how things were progressing.

During the Hurricane Ike had water up to four feet in the house and lost everything. Mrs Ward is living in Beaumont Texas with her daughter and is looking forward to moving back in to her 'new' home by Thanksgiving.She talked with us and was emotional at times as she recalled how things were and how grateful she was to be standing in her new place. It is hard to imagine what these people went through if you have never been in a disaster. It was special to be able to see and meet her. Many of the hundreds of volunteers that have worked on the house since March did not get the chance to meet her.We posed for a group picture on the front porch.

After a very productive day we met back at the church for dinner. We needed to finish up the leftovers we started on Sunday. We had a potluck on Sunday but had so much food we could not eat it all then. Every one was tired after a busy day so we didn't linger too long after dinner.
Pam and I did the wash using the church facilities and then went to bed. It was a good NOMADs day.

Thanks for viewing the Roadrunner Chronicles! We appreciate you stopping by!

Justin, Lazy Sunday and Ping Pong

We picked up Kelly and one of her roommates Shea and went to church at Watermark Community Church in Dallas. The whole congregation is twenty or thirty somethings.They are building a new auditorium and are adding to their downtown campus. It is quite impressive and a very large church. Most of all the worship and message were great. The pastor Todd Wagner spoke in the series: The Big Twelve (church doctrine and why it is important.)After church, Pam and I joined Kelly and some of her friends at Bread Winners Cafe. It had a great brunch menu.The cafe was open and spacious, well decorated and the food was excellent.
A highlight of the time there was seeing one of my favorite PGA golfers: Justin Leonard. His wife Amanda was nice enough to take our picture.Leonard has been on the tour since 1994 and done quite well. He has 12 PGA tour wins including the 1997 British Open Championship. He and his wife were very gracious. I imagine fans introduce themselves all the time. The price of fame.

Next, we went to Kelly's house, hung out for the afternoon, had dinner and played some ping pong. I used to love playing ping pong growing up. Pam joined in and gave Kelly a run for her money. Pam and I left about 8:00 and made it back to the campground in plenty of time. Curfew is 10:00. That sums up another day with the Roadrunner Chronicles.

Thanks for viewing! Feel free to leave a comment and hope to see you next time.