The end of July arrived, and we loaded up our gear and set out for Buena Vista, Colorado.  Our drive up was beautiful and fun, though we were all somewhat apprehensive.  We sang in the car, laughed a lot, ran in the rain to get coffee, and made it to the hot springs at Mt.…Read more The Hike: Mt. Princeton

If you ever want to really get to know someone, invite them to hike Wheeler Peak with you.  At 13,159 feet, Wheeler is New Mexico’s tallest mountain.  There are a couple different options on how to hike up to the top and out.  We chose to go up the steep, short way (in case it…Read more The Hike: The Big Practice and Songs for Life

(Above: Our gear, all packed up the morning we hiked into the hut system) Well, I soon began replacing those dictionaries, dumbbells, and heavy sweaters inside my pack with the actual gear we needed. All that space that had contained the heaviest stuff I could fit in there began to be filled with useful things…a…Read more The Hike: The Gear

Two other girls had signed up to go on the trip, so the four of us started doing scheduled training hikes in the spring. The time seemed to fly as we talked and laughed. Though I made it through each hike easily, I still had a constant, nagging fear of the BIG one. Altitude sickness,…Read more The Hike: Downed Trees

This time last year, I was training for a hike. A big one. Am I a hiker? No. No, I am not. I thoroughly enjoy city life. I enjoy exercise in short, one-hour spurts with upbeat music blaring though my headphones. I enjoy the outdoors much the same way. My idea of a perfect afternoon…Read more The Hike: Saying Yes

It was a very long, very quiet drive. I inched around each corner and dodged every pothole. No one spoke. Levi held the little Tupperware container that held his first pet…a little fish named Squishy. My careful driving could not prevent Squishy from sloshing right into the side of his container, but I hoped it…Read more Fish, Folly, and Forgiveness

It was a day like most. I feverishly thrashed about to get out the door, trying to ignore the laundry piles and dirty dishes and windows I can never seem to find time to wash. At the same time, I pushed away the feelings of inadequacy that those undone things bring (why can’t I ever…Read more I Brought A Mess To Church

“I have crossed the horizon to find you. I know your name. They have stolen the heart from inside you, But this does not define you. This is not who you are. You know who you are.” – Moana   You’ve seen this, haven’t you? If not, here’s the link. Please watch it; it’s one…Read more Who You Are

I wasn’t asking for much, but I was sweating just the same. All I’d asked was that she take my place in science class next week, as I was going to be out of town. She said yes right away. Then I fought with her. Why did I fight with her? “Go for the ‘no’”,…Read more In Need: The Best Place To Be