Voice of the Spirit

Summer Canyon Hike

Summertime at it's best...

Up the canyon, it is a bit cooler.

The water is cold and clear.

The beauty of this hike is the river.

It must be crossed multiple times to stay on the trail.

Nothing feels better on a hot summer day...

than crossing a cold mountain stream!

Along the way we saw butterflies, wildflowers, and some Moo-bears. (cows)

From Indian red dirt, to rock strewn streams...and giant caverns carved by nature.

We had lunch on a log with our bare feet in the stream...

explored caves and old maps carved into trees...

laughed, ran, teased and threw 'bullets' at each other. ( flower heads...dangerous, I know.)

Got a little sun and a lot of fun...

All for free.

In God's country.

Love it.

Home and settling back into the saddle...

Well, life is a bowl of cherries...right?

After being gone for a couple of weeks it takes a girl a few days to get back into the swing of things again. Although it is great to be home, my heart still misses 'home'.  I love where I am.  Where life has brought me.  That I was able to spread my wings and fly...however...with that independence and the dreams of a naive young woman...much was left behind.  Only now I have the wisdom to see it.  There is no way I could ever live in the south again.  It is far too depressing.  Yet, the moss covered trees and hills blanketed in mists speak to my heart in a way even I don't understand.  In my heart it is still home.  Where things are a lot slower.  People speak a little softer and hold a door open.  Sure there are issues and problems.  That can be found anywhere.  But where I came from... it is almost like time stood still.  People say please, thank you and M'am and Sir.  And though it may be years since I have been there...someone still knows who I am.  A small wave in the store.  A childhood friends tears.  A face that lights up when you walk through the door.  Such simple things.  They make life worth living.

Here in the Rocky Mountains...nearly two thousand miles away...may I live worthy to have the heart of a southerner.  May I speak a little softer and hold a door for a stranger.  Say yes sir and yes m'am...even if people look at me funny. ( that happens a lot anyway! )  May my heart stay soft and pliable.  Open and forgiving.  Yes, my heart is southern.  Through and through.

My soul belongs to the mountains.  I could never leave here.  My soul sings at the sheer beauty of this place.  There is nothing like it.

So, now you know a little about my heart and soul.  And you thought it was all guts and glory...
That is for another day!

Crazy Summer Blues

Well it has been a crazy summer so far.

Good, crazy and blue.

All at once!

June brought baseball games, warm summer rain and kids home from school.

As the ball games wound down and the afternoon thunderstorms began to roll across the sky...

I got a phone call...from my Dad.  On a sunny bright Sunday he called to tell me that 

Dot, my beloved Grandmother was very sick.  After a heartfelt conversation, some prayers on my knees,

I packed a suitcase and bought a one way ticket to  Louisiana.

My heart whispered to me a one way ticket would do.

Sam would come get me when all was said and done.

I flew in to a sticky hot welcome.  Rented a car and drove to my Grandad's. 

I had no plans, other than to help and love.

Dot helped me to better understand how to love.

What love reallly is...

And to never, ever stop loving someone.

No matter what.

So, Love flew into town, and wrapped her arms around her family.

That love was me.  That love was freely given.  A gift.

As I look back across my life, it was far from perfect.

But love was part of it.  

As I have grown and looked back across the expanse of years...

the realization that love started it all has been a surprise to me.

A welcome one...

And in return that love multiplied.

As I held Dot in my arms and cried.

As I stroked her hair and hot tears streamed down my face.

As I thanked her for her gift of love to me.

And gently told her I would see her soon...

and never, ever forget how much 

LOVE

                means to me.

I suppose Love is what lingers...

                 when the body becomes a shell

and the soul is set free.

Maybe that is why she waltzed into heaven on July 4th...

to claim Independence...

      and embrace love

And this Love...(me) 

is left behind

                     to live

                               to laugh

and most of all....

to love.

See you soon Dot...

I can't wait!

Fathers Day

Fathers day in all it's glory.  Or not so much...  It was a nice laid back day for us.  We went to church.  Came home and just took it easy.  No big parties, (shock).  Just us.  We made Sam a breakfast of homemade raspberry waffles that we tried to serve him in bed.  He got up.  It is Sam, he does what he wants!  After church we had a simple lunch of sanwiches and watched some movies.  I popped a cake in the oven and had pork in the slow cooker.  

That is when the chaos started.  Ellie threw up out of the blue.  She was asleep on the couch, sat up and just threw up.  ???  Sam's Dad showed up and was looking for cake.  The boys went outside to play some ball while Ellie showered and Katie took pictures of herself in the backyard.  Strange, I know.  It seems like all kids these days take pics of themselves...whatever...  We had Polynesian pork with rice, some salad and cake.  

We hung out in the backyard and simply enjoyed the day.  (Now you know why Ellie is in PJs)

Summertime, and the livin' is....

Yup.  Summer.  Time of sunshine extradoinnare.  We have had simply beautiful weather the last couple of weeks.  Kids are home, the sun is out, and the days are long... Wonderful, no? 

Katie celebrated her 11th birthday on June 4th.  It is amazing to me how time flies.  It seems she was a sweet baby who wanted to cuddle just yesterday.  She has grown into a beautiful young girl.  It won't be long and she will be a young woman.  Crrraaaaaazy!  She has a kind heart, a quick smile and even quicker wit.  She is much like Sam and even craves the same foods he does.  Although she is much like her Dad, she is much more herself.  She stands strong in the face of opposition.  She is determined, stubborn and strong willed.  She has the biggest heart and will care for anything and anyone she can.  It has been a great joy to watch her grow.  And grow she has, she is nearly as tall as me.  ( Not saying much, but still...)  In a year she will be in the YW program at church.  I am looking forward to it with anticipation... As I teach her scriptures, and ideals a young woman should have, it makes me want to be better.  Try harder and dig a little deeper.  What a blessing I get to learn right along side her.  Love my Katie!

Sam is still in school and working toward his MBA.  We miss him sometimes, but know that it will be worth it.  He is learning so much and it is helping him/us already.  He keeps up his PT from the hip surgery in April and is nearly healed.  He is crazy and I think that helps!!!  He loves us, and I couldn't ask for more...he really is my best friend.

Riley is 12 going on 2.  LOL!  That means he is all boy.  He has already spent a week camping in the boulders with the Scouts.  They did a really long geo-cache hike that at the end was a 'treasure'...that treasure was a letter from me.  A letter from Mom.  Wow, that was a sentimental thing for me to do.  I took a glance across these past 12 years and realised that he is still my miracle.  Love that kid.  Want to kill him sometimes, but I really do love him!  That letter is on proud display in his room...so he can read it every day.  And he put it there himself.  

Ellie is 8.  She is my baby.  She keeps us young, and laughing.  When the others are breaching the void of teenage angst... Ellie is still on the teeter edge of innocence.  Seeing the world through her eyes makes me remember there is good.  And lots of it.  She is so helpful and loving.  She is the first to crawl up in my lap and give me a hug, because she NEEDS it.  She needs me, and I need her.  Her smile lights up this house like nothing else.  Love that girl!

Me.  Well, I trained for a triathlon that never happened.  Sam had surgery and I got sick.  What do ya do?  I am still running, teaching yoga and pilates...  And have been taking runs up the canyon behind my house.  Armed with the dog, I make about a 6 mile loop through the majesty of God.  Sunrise or sunset runs up there are simply heaven to me.  On Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturday...Riley comes with me.  It is good for him to feel the power of his body.  There is a mind body connection on a run like that...it is very empowering.  By the end of summer...I hope to be able to reach the top of the mountain...I am half way up already.  So here goes nothing.  Conquer the mountain, conquer the world!  

That is the update.  Over and out!!!

Until We Meet Again