The Hidden Moon
Wispy Clouds
The Big Dipper
Starry Night
Dusk
This was fun...
8.8.10
30.7.10
28.7.10
15.7.10
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.
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.
12.7.10
8.7.10
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 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
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.
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!
30.6.10
A Road to Adventure
Anna and Niki a.k.a. my backseat buddiesThe trip didn't start out like others. I was slightly nervous going on a road trip with three people I hadn't travelled with before. They are my friends, but I hadn't spent this kind of time with them yet. It didn't take long for my nerves to calm down. I realized how silly I was to be nervous. I had a blast.
Some people think western Kansas is boring. I disagree. There is something about the vast, open prairie that inspires awe. Just as I feel small next to a mountain, I am reminded how tiny I am compared to the miles and miles of open landscape. Never mind the seeming barrenness of the land. The land is beautiful. The blue sky, golden fields, green pastures speckled with black, brown, and white spots, the Flint Hills that are a luscious green, rolling on for miles. And the clouds, oh the clouds...
One of the things I enjoy the most while travelling west through our great state are the sunsets, and since we left at 4 in the afternoon I was able to enjoy one that night.
John and Chris
Though they are not part of the natural landscape I cannot leave out the wind turbines. Talk about enormous. My first experience with the mammoth machines was in California when I was 9. They went on for miles and miles and miles and miles. It was fun travelling past them this time as there was an architectural engineer in the car with us. He volunteered all kinds of info about them. I encouraged him to go on even though, at times, he thought it nerdy. (If you want nerd just listen to me talk for a while. You will get your fill of nerd ; ) )
As amazing and beautiful as all of the scenery was the people are what made the trip. Four incredible, confident, adventurous people. (five total, of course) Each of them ooze these qualities. They are not above other people, in fact they freely share their faith, and offer their help and friendliness. Over the past 5 1/2 years I have hung out with Niki, Chris, and Anna over and over again developing sweet friendships. They have this friend John who recently became my friend as well. He was an acquaintance from a few years ago that I met at The Barn. Since March I have hung out with him and the girls a couple of times, but still hardly knew him. He was the lone guy on our trip. I wonder what was going through his head as we drove out to Colorado to hike, camp, etc. I think he was pleasantly surprised. In fact, as we climbed up boulders on our last day hike he told us that a good number of his guy friends wouldn't even do that with him. It was settled early on that we were the best girls to road trip to Colorado with.
Last night at group Tom asked Maeret, yet all of us, if she had ever met anyone who had the presence of the L-rd all over them. I immediately said yes. Initially I was thinking about Cindi Lombardo, but close behind her were these four.
Left: The crew at the Arkansas River
Below: The crew on the Shavano summit
Much to our enjoyment the annual FibArk Festival was going on in Salida. Well, I enjoyed some of it, the drunkenness not being that which I enjoyed. There was a pro trick kayak tournament, karaoke, bands, a parade, and hooligan, uh, 'races'. The hooligans being rafts of sorts.
The teams were given 6 weeks to build their hooligan. A good majority didn't last a full minute. It was amusing. I'm still not entirely sure the point of the 'race'. It was hilarious-some more than others.
Stay tuned...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)