Yosemite

Some of the people in my LifeGroup at church took a trip to Yosemite this week. Most went to hike Half Dome, but some, like myself and a few others, either wanted to do shorter hikes or take pictures. It was a really fun time, so I decided to attempt my first photo blog with pictures from the trip.

Jennifer and I ready for the trip!

(we took 8 vehicles up there...completely packed with duffel bags, food, tents, and chairs)

At camp. I liked the different colors of the chairs.

I am not a RockStar fan. However, I really liked how this looked and decided to take a picture of it.

My husband roasting hot dogs :)

S'more ingredients (Notice the Reese's packages under the Hershey bars? Best s'more idea EVER!)

The next morning, the hikers got up very early and left for the trek up to Half Dome. The rest of us hung around camp for awhile before leaving for our own adventures. I was in the photography group. The rest of the pictures are of the places we stopped on our journey.

Upper Yosemite Falls

From Tunnel View (see Half Dome in the background?)

One of the Yosemite trail horses

The Chapel that everyone wants to get married at

The top fall is Nevada and the bottom Vernal. Both have to be passed in order to reach Half Dome

The view of Half Dome from Glacier Point

Jenn and I at Glacier Point

I like this one with the tree in front of Half Dome

It was fun to be so up close and personal with God's creation. This was one of the only times I've ever really tried to take pictures to capture that beauty. Many times I just like to get pictures of the people I spend time with. This trip was definitely a nice change of pace. I am so glad I was able to go!

Healer

Tonight was amazing.
I have been fighting allergy issues since Wednesday. I was really bummed that I wasn't feeling better today, because I was supposed to sing on the worship team. But, I think God had a different plan tonight.
We had a guest worship leader tonight who was awesome! She introduced a new song. I had been listening to it all week, to be prepared for practice today...but I guess I hadn't really paid much attention to the lyrics. Tonight, as I was preparing to take communion, the words of that song overcome me. I couldn't help but cry as they hit me right where I'm at.

I believe You're my healer
I believe You are all I need

I'll trust in You

Thank you, Jesus, for loving me and being all I need. I'm sorry I lose sight of that too often.

(If you want to check out the song, it's called Healer and it's by Hillsong. And I wasn't referring to being healed from my allergies, but being healed in other areas of my life)

See Ya Soon

Life is amazing to me sometimes.
I have been thinking so much this week...about so many different things. I have sat down numerous times to write a new blog...but each time I did...I couldn't find the right words to articulate what I was thinking. I am hoping this time, it works.
We watched the L O S T series finale last weekend with two sets of couples that we love dearly. One set we've been watching L O S T with each week for the last two seasons, while the other set just started watching it in January...and caught up just in time to watch the finale with us. It was bittersweet watching the finale together, because it wasn't just the ending of L O S T...it was the ending of life as we've known it the past almost two years.
There will be no more L O S T dates each week. There will be no more opportunities to tell friends about how amazing this show is...and for them to be able to watch the final episode with us (well, at least not for the first time). And, the six of us will never be able to hang out like that ever again.
Before I continue with that thought, I feel I owe it to myself to try and write down some of my thoughts on L O S T as a whole.
Josh and I were never "religious" TV watchers. When I was growing up, my family used to watch certain shows every week...but only if we were at home or able to watch them. There was never a need to watch a show from start to finish...or even to watch the episodes in order. Shows like Full House and Family Matters didn't necessarily need to be watched in order anyway (at least, that's how I felt then). But, all that changed for us about three and a half years ago...when the sixth season of 24 started. We watched an episode with Josh's brother and were instantly hooked. From then on, we began watching episodes of different shows religiously...from beginning to end. And, we discovered we actually really enjoyed doing that. So when Josh stumbled upon L O S T, and we watched the first episode, we were hooked.
We watched the first four seasons in less than 3 months. There were lazy Saturdays where we watched 8 episodes in a row, because we just HAD to know what happened next. We then had to wait about 4 months before the 5th season started...in which time we re-watched all four seasons.
Anyway, to make a long story short, we really enjoy L O S T. Not only was the mystery a huge draw to us, but we love the emphasis on the characters and their stories. Never before had I cared so much about a character's back story then I did while watching L O S T. And while we had our own theories along the way of how it was going to turn out, we were definitely surprised throughout the sixth season as we got some of our questions answered.
The finale was no different. It delivered the amazing character stories we'd known and loved, while answering a few questions, and emotionally drawing us in. When the two and a half hours were finished, I had the biggest lump in my throat from trying not to weep. My eyes definitely welled up with tears more than once, but I was too embarrassed to weep in front of those other five people. And yet, I'm not sure why I felt that way...as most of them were crying and fighting back the tears as well.
While the finale of L O S T did not answer every question I had, I felt satisfied with the way it ended. Because I realized the importance of L O S T and the part the fans enjoyed the most was not the mysterious part...but the relationships between the characters. The relationships are what shaped and molded the direction of the show. The relationships are even what mattered the most in the ending. Those years the people on Oceanic 815 and the others on the island spent together were the most important years of their lives. They found purpose, forgiveness, love, and a camaraderie that they had never known before. The events they went through together shaped the rest of their lives, as well as their "afterlife".
I think that is why I got so emotional. Because the more I thought about it, the more I realized how important relationships are in my life. While I have had many different times of growth in my life, these past two years have definitely brought the greatest growth. The people I have met have shaped me, challenged me, and lead me to the places I've needed to go to find out more of what God wants for me. Whether the people in my life were only there for a short time, or will be there for the long haul, they have all made an important impact on who I am as a person...and I will never be the same because of them.
So to go back to why the six of us will never be able to hang out like that again...the second couple of the two are moving back to their home this week. Even though I feel like Josh and I have only really gotten to know them pretty well in the past six months, they have been in our lives for almost two years now. And even though that is not that long, they have impacted our lives in amazing ways.
We had to part ways tonight. It was much harder than I thought it would be. Not knowing them extremely well, I had no idea I would be this emotional. And yet, I have been thinking about them leaving non-stop for a week now. We were able to spend a good five hours with them on Friday night...chatting, sharing stories, and learning more about each other. And it wasn't awkward at all. It was so natural...like we'd been best friends for years. The wife said it perfectly tonight as we hugged each other through our tears:
She told me that she felt like she and I had this really cool bond...that really couldn't be described in words. We just felt comfortable with each other and she knew she could trust me. She also said that she knows we are going to be okay, that this isn't the end, and that we are going to stay in touch. It warmed my heart immensely to hear her say that, as that is exactly how I feel about her.
When I gave her the final hug for the evening at Chipotle, she told me she would see me soon...and I know that she will. This is not the end of our friendship...it is only the beginning. We may be separated by hundreds of miles, but in our hearts, we will always be close.
Our newfound friendship reminds me so much of L O S T. While the time we've spent living in the same town may be over, our bond will never be broken. She has been a huge part in the most important part of my life thus far, and for that, she will never be forgotten (and that horrible lump in my throat from the finale is back again...oh, dear tears, it is ok to fall).
See ya soon, dear friends. You will be missed, but we will see you very soon.

Wonder

Four hours ago, I would have said I was pretty down in the dumps.
We headed home from church, declining offers to go get dinner (since it's not in the budget to do so for the rest of the month), but pretty bored and trying to figure out what to do. We got home and I sat down on the couch, just feeling icky. Not sick, but bummed icky. I was feeling alone, sad, bored, tired, and hungry all at once. Alone because I know I have a couple of friends who really need to talk right now, but they don't want to...and I can't do anything about it. Sad because my heart aches when I see people hurting. Bored because I spent most of the day at home, not doing anything, and was hoping for a more eventful evening. Tired because...well, I don't know on that one. I got plenty of sleep last night, so I'm not sure why I felt so exhausted. And hungry...well, that's pretty self-explanatory. Anyway, I just wasn't feeling like my usual self.
Josh suggested watching a movie, so I got on my iPod Touch, hit the Redbox app, and looked for something interesting. I stumbled upon The Invention of Lying, which I remembered seeing commercials for last year, but we never saw. I thought it sounded interesting enough, so Josh went and picked it up. Josh made himself some yummy pasta, I ate my leftover sandwich from yesterday's lunch, and we put the movie in the Xbox. It wasn't as funny as I thought it would be, but it was thought provoking enough to keep me interested, and it helped lift my spirits a bit.
After the movie, Josh headed for bed, and I logged onto Blogger to see if any of the other blogs I follow had new posts. And, I got a great treat! One of my favorite blogs that I follow had a new post. The woman (Kelle) who writes the blog is an amazing photographer, she writes so beautifully (I feel like I am sitting in her living room with a cup of coffee in hand, listening to her speak to me), and her story amazes me. Her blog can be found here One of my friends actually blogged about Kelle's blog a few months back, as one of her friends had stumbled upon her blog. I enjoy reading her blog so much, and I know many others would enjoy it as well.
Anyway, reading her blog made me feel completely better. I just love how the pictures she posts and the words she writes just make me feel so much more content in life. Which reminds me...
The sermon at church tonight was on the final commandment: Do not covet. And, one of the verses they used was Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV):

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

This verse has popped up so much in my life lately. We are starting the book of Philippians in the college group, so it first popped out at me from reading through it a couple of weeks ago. I keep being reminded of it whenever someone talks about being content. The sermon tonight just capped it off. I know God wants me to be content with what I have, and obviously it is something I definitely need to work on. So funny how He works that way, huh?

So Proud

I am tired and don't have the energy to write much, but I am so proud of the young people in our college group. Watching the way their lives have changed these last few months has been a wonderful growing experience for me. To hear their questions, to see the light bulbs click on, and to listen to the notes and the things they studied ahead of time just gives my heart so much joy. I am excited for a new chapter in the college group, as we have graduating seniors joining us now. I think God is and will continue to do some amazing things in our group...and I can't wait to see it happen.