Charles H. Cook was my great great grandfather and went to Arizona in 1870 to minister to the Pima tribe. This is the church that was erected to memorialize his work. After his wife died, all the children were sent to Iowa to be raised. He spent the last few years of his life with his oldest daughter in Nodaway, IA and he is buried there. Efforts are underway to raise funds and restore the church. His work continues today via the Cook Native American Ministries Foundation in Tempe AZ.

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Charles H. Cook Memorial church in the distance.

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The Casa Grande ruins is an amazing visit. Here is a flower bed at the site. I just liked the color of everything.

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Very intimidating for me.

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This saguaro with its many arms gives me visions of being grabbed if I get to close to it. I have seen plants come to life in many Disney movies.

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It is amazing how everything blooms, people, flowers, animals and even cactus. There isn't much color mid-day in the desert but here are a couple of cactus blooming adding their color.

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A close up of a Golden Barrel bloom. Back in the Midwest everything is going brown but here at Picacho Peak State park things are blooming.

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This is the Arizona moon the night after the super moon.

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