Growing in different directions

It's amazing to watch your children grow and change and explore new areas. Both of our girls have just embarked on new endeavors which are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Our oldest daughter has begun making a quilt. I have been fascinated to watch her do this from choosing the fabrics (which went against what I would have imagined for her—surprise there is NO purple!) and seeing the excitement she has to work at this. Mind you, I am not a seamstress in any way shape or form. I feel quite proud to sew back on a button that has fallen off. My dear daughter has just taken a sewing class for the first time and then taken on the task of making a quilt for her dorm room which she'll be moving into in a little over a month! But she is furiously measuring and cutting and sewing away in her small amounts of free time. And I am standing a little in awe. I have pondered how in times past women would gather to quilt together, having work time and fellowship time combined.

Our youngest daughter has finally had the bicycling bug bite her. She was so excited last night to come home with her new bike that she bought with her own money. I am eager to see where this takes her. She has always been the little couch potato. The few times she was out on a bike, she did not enjoy it at all. But a funny thing happens when you work all day for months with people who not only like something but are avid about it. It has made me stop and think that is why the Lord tells us to not forsake the gathering together with other believers. When you are around someone who is eager and excited about something, it has a way of rubbing off on us and actually changing our perceptions as well.

Very interesting to watch both girls take off and try new things and also to see how fellowship is integral to every area of our lives.

Pictures from RMNP

This picture is of the beautiful wildflowers that can be seen at Rocky Mountain National Park. We never saw quite this many, though we did seem whole meadows full of yellow flowers.
The second photo is of Alberta Falls. Amazing the amount of water that is thundering down those falls.
The final shot is of Morraine Lake. It was a great example of the terrain.

Back in the saddle again . . .

Hello out there! I am finally back to blogging and I think I am finally slowing down a little, though that is a relative thing these days.

Many thoughts to try to communicate. Last weekend my husband and I celebrated our 22nd anniversary. What a blessing it was to get away to Estes Park. Though it was only for 2 1/2 days, it was restful, joyful, meaningful, playful, romantic. From roaming the shops in town, to romantic evenings at the bed and breakfast, to deep discussions, to hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, it was all perfect. In a nutshell, it was hard to come home. :)

The absolute beauty at Rocky Mountain National Park was amazing. I hadn't been there in probably 10 years and the stunning vistas and clear lakes reflecting the jagged mountain peaks moved me deeply. There is something unique to being out in nature. It calms the heart and mind. It soothes and refreshes the soul. I hadn't realized how much I had missed that or how much I need it. Even back at our cabin at the B & B, we had some time to read our Bibles and reflect before our breakfast was delivered each morning. Sitting out on our little deck, basking in the morning sunshine, surrounded by rugged mountains and watching wildlife forage just a few feet away restored parts of me I didn't know were missing.

Being out in nature, away from the everyday demands of life, where it is quiet, I can hear so much more clearly and I get glimpses of how great our God is. The awesome Creator of the universe cares so deeply for the details in all of His creation. I saw incredible waterfalls thundering with tremendous power. I also saw delicate blue flowers gently swaying alongside a creek. From the gigantic boulders and imposing mountains to the quiet streams bordered by lacy ferns, I saw the hand of our Creator God. He delights in the details of creating beauty. He made this world for His pleasure and yet, it brings pleasure to us as well. How awesome to know that He created each of us with the same attention to detail for both the large and small things in our lives: from the obvious gifts to the smallest freckle hidden below our ear. And He delights in every part of us.

Blessings.

Life updates

Well, we came through another graduation with its myriad of emotions. Amazing how proud, sad, happy, excited, exhausted we can be all at the same time. There has been so much to deal with from extended family visits to our son moving to an apartment to college orientation for the new graduate! Talk about a whirlwind!

This week will be spent getting back on track for the summer. Work, writing, volunteering ... gotta find my summer schedule in the midst of this all. In addition to running my youngest to her job and activities this summer. I'll post more as I get my "writing legs" back under me this week.

Blessings