Canada = :)

My stay up here has ended on a good note. I saw a friend who I haven't seen for 8 1/2 years. Yeah, it was good. A short but sweet visit. I don't think my trip would have been fully complete had I not seen these friends. Thank You, L-rd, for that mini reunion.

Not So Short-try this again

According to m-w.com
Adventure: 1.an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks.b.the encountering of risks.2.an exciting or remarkable experience.

According to Allison pre 07.11.10
Adventure: 1.To experience risk and excitement around every corner. With every blink of my eyes. Each turn of my head.2.To travel to far off and exotic places, to face thrilling white water currents, or live without much (job) responsibility.3.Freedom.

Inside of me are deep longings. I long to be beyond this Shadowland that is Earth. This land that is but a reflection, a shadow, of Heaven, of The World to Come. I long to understand myself and what will fulfill the intense longings in my spirit. I long to live life to the fullest. To be out of doors, to take photographs, to be with people, to help others, to live in such a way that I am hard after fulfilling my destiny. I want to experience new places, the redwoods and giant sequoias of northern California, the Painted Desert, the slopes in Colorado, British Colombia, the Flint Hills as storms roll in, China, sunsets, riding a horse, be it hard and fast or slow and steady, through a pasture. I long to be known, to be seen, heard, and understood. To see people. To be present and available. I am starting to desire experiencing (new) people. I don't just mean babies either. I desire understanding myself and what the L-rd has put in me. Discovering what it is that He wants me to do. The longings draw an arrow to my heart. The deep desires of my heart put there by the L-rd Himself. What is the common thread? Beauty. I long to experience and know beauty first hand. I would be a professional beauty explorer and inspector if I could.

That's it. Right there. All of the 'longings' point to Him. What is beauty but an expression of HaShem? Glimpses here and there of Him in this dark world. The whole world groans and longs for Him and for the establishment of His kingdom. For the King to reign on His Holy Hill. O Zion, when will you be inhabited by the King of kings?!

To say I have fallen prey to the glammed up Hollywood version of adventure would be an understatement. I was also very much a part of the mainstream America book club. For a long time I would escape into these fantasy worlds. I would see the people and the glorious landscapes and experience the 'adventure' through my vivid imagination.

I have been seeking fulfillment in the things I do and judging the validity of my experiences by looking at others and what they are able to do. For me it wasn't until Sunday night that I realized I am a part of the most epic journey/adventure of all time. (cue the dramatic music). Adventure isn't being able to ski everyday, or white water raft the most intense rapids, or have zero responsibility. (don't get me wrong, it's definitely ok to expose ourselves to the fun that can be had outside. i love camping, hiking, etc.) Real adventure is seeking the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and allowing Him to have you. It is letting people into our lives, letting ourselves take part in their pain and joy, and letting them know ours. Adventure is finding the L-rd in your work environment. He's there. Don't believe me? Do you have co-workers? Are they human beings? Look at one of them. There He is. Whether or not that person seeks after Him or even believes in Him.

One last thing. Look at the big picture. Live life with an eternal perspective. Each day will be seen differently. I pray that when I truly have this perspective I won't say 'I' so much.

I had an update.

Posted it.

Only half of it was there.

I don't feel like re-writing it at the moment.

May the glory of the L-rd endure forever; may the L-rd rejoice in His works-He who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the L-rd all my life; I will sing praise to my G-d as long as I live. Psalm 104:31-34

Our sunset drive to the Shavano trailhead. We camped near the trailhead.

Mt Shavano was the first fourteener I have hiked. Would

I have done it had I known what I was getting myself in to? Great question. One thing I do know is that I wouldn't be able to do one on my own. The motivation from my fellow hikers was key.

We started at 4:10 am with flashlights and careful steps all the while wondering what my surroundings were like.

As though the steep climb wasn't enough we stumbled into another obstacle. The Wind. It was intense. John guessed it was about 40 mph! I believe it. I almost lost my hat, and was thankful I had a glove.

As we neared the summit, and I knew it, I started darting from boulder to boulder, adrenaline being supplied by the knowledge that I was about to reach my goal. I jumped onto one boulder and let out an awe-filled shout. On the other side of where I was standing was nothing except for a steep, rocky drop. The way down from there...falling.

Exhilarating to say the least.

We made it.

Amazing. Beautiful. Awe-inspiring. An expression of HaShem. I wish my camera was able to capture it. Alas, my 10.1 mp was no match for the magnitude of beauty surrounding me. As I write this I can't help but think how the L-rd feels about us, His workmanship (Eph. 2:9). Oh, how He loves us.

We spent a good 45 minutes to an hour at the summit taking pictures, relaxing, eating, laughing, and making new friends. I spent some time looking at all of my surroundings. The diverse landscapes. To the south were the long, steep switchbacks, the trees, beautiful lakes hidden from the rest of the world that were only visible from the summit. To the north the range continued on. Miles and miles of snow spotted peaks dotting the sky. I hadn't ever seen anything like it.

On the way up my quads were screaming at me, and a day later my calves were expressing themselves in an even more painful way.

I hope to see more views similar to what I saw that day. I will. And I have. When I look at you I see Him. Do

you know how incredible that is?

Post hike dirty feet contest. I won!