I Love the Mountains...

PEACEFUL WALKS IN THE MORNING

The young glowing aspen (see below)

PRACTICING TAKING BEAUTIFUL PICTURES

CHRIS CARVED THIS POR MOI!

SWING PLAY

NEVER COMPLETE WITHOUT THE S'MORE!

COLORING (MOVED INTO THE TENT TO ESCAPE BUGS)

FUN WITH SPARKLERS!

HIKE TO GROTTO

SIMPLICITY

THE HEROES IN MY LIFE.

SHE PLAYS THE PART WELL!

I love the rolling hills. I love the daffodils, when all the lights are low....

BOOM DEE AUTTA BOOM DEE AUTTA BOOM DEE AUTTA BOOM DEE AUUTTA!

We finally got to go camping a couple of weeks ago. It was too short of a trip, but we still had a great time. We had planned on leaving Friday as soon as I finished a test for my physiology class. Well I got done later than hoped, we finished packing later than hoped, and our neighbors were trying to get things ready for a yardsale the next morning so we decided because it was so late any way, we would just stay and help them as much as we could and leave for camping first thing in the morning. We did and then ended up not finding a spot until around 10:00 a.m. We set up camp and had some lunch. Then headed down the mountain a ways for our hike up the Grotto. There were so many people there. It was still fun, but I have never seen it quite so crowded. There were even at least 5 dogs there at the same time. Sunday we got to relax and enjoy until we had to leave around noon to get Chris back in time to make it to work...like I said, too short.

We got to color with Auntie Karen, play on a fun swing, hike the Grotto, practice taking beautiful pictures while taking in the beauty of nature. We also got eaten and pestered alive by bugs, bruised hips and shoulders as the ground got harder and harder throughout the night...but it wasn't enough to make it not enjoyable.

One of my favorite things about camping is waking up in the morning. The sun touches the tips of the trees and makes every flower and leaf glow with dew. I love getting up while everyone else is still sleeping and listening to the sounds of the forest. Such a peaceful and calming sound because it isn't completely silent, but it is silent to all of the scattered world below. It is silent to student responsibilities, payment obligations, deadlines and jobs. As I got to take my little walk alone early Sunday morning, it was refreshing to get to see the real world, the Earth, the little things that I forget about as I get caught up in all the things I feel are important all the time. I noticed a lady bug perfectly content on a large leaf, a huge bumble bee pollinating some flowers, a bright young aspen tree supported by dark mature aspens all around it. I had a few minutes to ponder my decisions in life and to contemplate the person that I want become. I'm grateful to have things like the quiet rush of the wind through the trees or the sound of a woodpecker, a songbird in the morning to remind me that life's troubles are temporary, depth, comfort and peace lie beyond windows and doors of our busy schedules.