I know that I haven't posted in a while and that is due to a number of different things, but mainly just being busy and a bit stressed out take up the majority of the reasons. Plus, nothing extraordinary has happened recently either. I have many thoughts and ideas that have been formulating in my head but I haven't gotten to the stage where they are developed enough to share them quite yet. So, here you are stuck with my ramblings....that is, if you want to take the time to read them. If not, I won't be offended. Promise.
- Last night I had a pleasant evening that is very note worthy of in my mind since it was something that I had never done while living in this house. Jessica and I pulled out the futon mattress that I used to use as my "Angie bed" and drug it to the backyard, which consists of a 12x12 cement slab. We then snuggled up in our sleeping bags and watched the newest version of Pride and Prejudice together on her newly purchased Mac laptop. After the movie we rolled over, spread the blankets on top of both of us, and talked while we gazed up at the starry night sky.
The last time I was in my sleeping bag gazing up at the night sky was during my last week on the trail in December. The temperatures were a lot colder in Arizona during that time than they were now here in Rexburg, which made last night a bit more pleasant and comfortable. There was definitely a different feeling to it though because as I gazed up I saw the side of the garage to my left and the side of the house to the right instead of tall sycamore trees and a big open sky. We fell asleep listening to the noises of passing cars on the road and freeway that run on either side of the house instead of the crackling of the fire, the chirping of grasshoppers, and a nearby running stream of water. It was definitely not the secluded and pure nature that I was used to, but it was still rather enjoyable due to the company and still being able to look up into the night sky and see the stars. It made me miss my days on the trail and I wondered if there were anymore weeks still left in me to give.
As Jessica and I got cozy in our sleeping bags and covered ourselves with the blankets I jokingly asked her if she was a blanket hog. She openly admitted that she was and then I expressed my gratitude for having a zero degree sleeping bag. When morning came and as I was falling in and out of sleep I heard Jessica whisper my name. I rolled over towards her to respond, "yeah?" She then told me to look at the blankets. I was rather puzzled by these instructions and my initial thought was that a friend of ours had somehow come in the middle of the night and stolen all the blankets. But as I peered out of my sleeping bag to see the blankets Jessica made the comment, "Who's the blanket hog now??!!" I had all the blankets as if I had purposely snatched them and neatly laid them on top of me. I couldn't believe it! We both got a good laugh out of how I ended up with all the blankets when Jessica is in reality the blanket hog!
- Since I have posted the “True Stability” posting below I have felt an increasingly less amount of stability in my life and an increasingly dislike for the role that money plays in in our lives, which basically comes down to control. Money controls almost everything; I’d vote the majority. This has become one of my stresses recently because as I have relied on an unreliable source of income it has turned around and kicked me in the rear-end leaving me practically penniless, which of course doesn’t make for a very fun game of stretching every penny to it’s maximum limit and wondering if my faith is strong enough to get me to and from Idaho Falls six times in one week (180 miles total) on a tank of gas that already has its gas light on. Hmmm. We’ll see what miracles the Lord pulls tomorrow morning as I make my way to Idaho Falls.
As I find myself feeling more and more unstable in this world I keep reaching further and further out to grasp onto something that can provide that stability in my life that I need. By doing this, amid everything else I’m going through/learning in my life right now, I have reached a height in my relationship with my Heavenly Father that I have never before obtained and have recognized more and more His blessings in greater detail. I have noticed a change in me that before I struggled with a little bit with a friend of mine due to pride. As I have let those walls of pride come down my turning over of everything to Heavenly Father and giving him all of the credit and recognition has become first nature in almost everything I do. This has provided me with a trusting and abiding relationship with Him and has given me the absolute and surest stability in my life that I can rely upon.
- Last night I had a pleasant evening that is very note worthy of in my mind since it was something that I had never done while living in this house. Jessica and I pulled out the futon mattress that I used to use as my "Angie bed" and drug it to the backyard, which consists of a 12x12 cement slab. We then snuggled up in our sleeping bags and watched the newest version of Pride and Prejudice together on her newly purchased Mac laptop. After the movie we rolled over, spread the blankets on top of both of us, and talked while we gazed up at the starry night sky.
The last time I was in my sleeping bag gazing up at the night sky was during my last week on the trail in December. The temperatures were a lot colder in Arizona during that time than they were now here in Rexburg, which made last night a bit more pleasant and comfortable. There was definitely a different feeling to it though because as I gazed up I saw the side of the garage to my left and the side of the house to the right instead of tall sycamore trees and a big open sky. We fell asleep listening to the noises of passing cars on the road and freeway that run on either side of the house instead of the crackling of the fire, the chirping of grasshoppers, and a nearby running stream of water. It was definitely not the secluded and pure nature that I was used to, but it was still rather enjoyable due to the company and still being able to look up into the night sky and see the stars. It made me miss my days on the trail and I wondered if there were anymore weeks still left in me to give.
As Jessica and I got cozy in our sleeping bags and covered ourselves with the blankets I jokingly asked her if she was a blanket hog. She openly admitted that she was and then I expressed my gratitude for having a zero degree sleeping bag. When morning came and as I was falling in and out of sleep I heard Jessica whisper my name. I rolled over towards her to respond, "yeah?" She then told me to look at the blankets. I was rather puzzled by these instructions and my initial thought was that a friend of ours had somehow come in the middle of the night and stolen all the blankets. But as I peered out of my sleeping bag to see the blankets Jessica made the comment, "Who's the blanket hog now??!!" I had all the blankets as if I had purposely snatched them and neatly laid them on top of me. I couldn't believe it! We both got a good laugh out of how I ended up with all the blankets when Jessica is in reality the blanket hog!
- Since I have posted the “True Stability” posting below I have felt an increasingly less amount of stability in my life and an increasingly dislike for the role that money plays in in our lives, which basically comes down to control. Money controls almost everything; I’d vote the majority. This has become one of my stresses recently because as I have relied on an unreliable source of income it has turned around and kicked me in the rear-end leaving me practically penniless, which of course doesn’t make for a very fun game of stretching every penny to it’s maximum limit and wondering if my faith is strong enough to get me to and from Idaho Falls six times in one week (180 miles total) on a tank of gas that already has its gas light on. Hmmm. We’ll see what miracles the Lord pulls tomorrow morning as I make my way to Idaho Falls.
As I find myself feeling more and more unstable in this world I keep reaching further and further out to grasp onto something that can provide that stability in my life that I need. By doing this, amid everything else I’m going through/learning in my life right now, I have reached a height in my relationship with my Heavenly Father that I have never before obtained and have recognized more and more His blessings in greater detail. I have noticed a change in me that before I struggled with a little bit with a friend of mine due to pride. As I have let those walls of pride come down my turning over of everything to Heavenly Father and giving him all of the credit and recognition has become first nature in almost everything I do. This has provided me with a trusting and abiding relationship with Him and has given me the absolute and surest stability in my life that I can rely upon.
- My beautiful butterflies had babies! (Well, technically eggs). I had noticed all these tiny white balls covering many of the large leaves of the Scarlet Rose plant that is growing in the tank and thought it was butterfly droppings. After a few days I gazed a bit closer and discovered tons of tiny tiny little caterpillars crawling on the leaves. I quickly did a little bit of research on the internet and discovered that the white dots on the leaves were in fact butterfly eggs and little caterpillars had emerged. There are so many of them and are eating up the plants at such a rapid rate I don't know how I am going to continue to satisfy their appetite! I am excited though that I get to start the whole butterfly life-cycle process over again, but this time on an even larger scale!
- A promised before, below are the pictures from the Cabin/Mt. biking trip (In My Element) that Jessica and I had a couple weekends ago.
The cabin that Jessica's father built in the 1990's that is set upon a hill near Swan Valley, over looking the Snake Rivier.
This is a view from the cabin. If I would have walked 50 feet further I would have been over looking the Snake River below.
My tire after the first muddy hill we ascended. I never realized how much resistance mud on your tire adds as you bike.
A view overlooking Swan Valley and the surrounding mountains
Jessica and her method of getting to the top of the mountain. Must have worked well because she beat me to the top!
This before the final acent to the top of the mountain with Swan Valley and the mountains behind me.
Finally at the top of the mountain! I loved the open space, freedom, and peace I felt up there!
Jessica after making it to the top!
My strong, trusted friend that carried me to the top!
Had to put a picture of Jessica actually on her bike. Don't know if she spent more time on or off of it, but she did great with the Huffy bike she has.
I couldn't post pictures and not include a cowpie. For anybody who knows me well knows my history and love of cow pies for all the many different things they are good for. I enjoyed the time I reflected upon all the great memories I've had with others that included cow pies.
One of my favorite shots! I love the clouds, the mountains, and the trees in the foreground! It was absolutely gorgeous!
A shot that I got while laying down in the green grass field at the top. Thought it was a cool picture.
I strapped my camera to my chest so I could video record my decent down the mountain. It is quite the video/ride, but I'll save those with easy stomaches a trip to the porcelain throne due to the easiness of getting motion sickness while viewing the video.
You know it's been fun when you get to play in the mud!
My joy of a well spent morning doing something that my body and soul needed!
Jessica crashed out within minutes of leaving the Cabin. That mountain really did her in!
2 comments:
Hey, you haven't blogged in a long time... you should catch us up
Hey yo! What's up with you??? I miss your fabulous blogs
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