All the way to the top!

This week we went to our local activity center.  (Boy, local is relative isn't it!)  We had not ever been there, but heard from lots of friends that it was very fun.  We did the batting cages...yes, we.  I got in there too!  And much to my son's surprise (and mine!) I made contact with a lot of them!  SweetTate was too cute!  SweetHeart got in their with him to help, but it wasn't long before he was ready for his solo shot and in one cycle he hit 5 out of 10!  Way to go little slugger! 

SweetDoll hit 9 out of 10 when she got her rhythm going.  SweetBoy was getting some really solid hits!  I am excited for the season to start!

Here is my honey!

Then we went to the rock climbing wall.  I have always wanted to repell, but never had an opportunity to do it.  SweetTate was not excited about getting his feet that far off the ground, so he didn't try it.  Surprisingly, SweetHeart did!  He is not one for heights either. 

SweetDoll said, "I'm going higher than you!"  And she did go higher than SweetBoy and her dad.  But not higher than Mom--I made it all the way to the top!  No picture proof because I left my phone on the ground, but I made it!  I don't know how people do that for long periods of time.  I have got to get in better shape!

It is a great facility.  We will definitely have to go back and bowl and play some more!  Fun day!

God Stop at the Grand Canyon

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.  And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything.  Rather, He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.... God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us."

Acts 17:24-25, 27

God often gets my attention with nature and teaches me something.  So when we went to the Grand Canyon, I totally expected to meet Him there.  As we were sitting at the Grand Canyon watching the sunset, we had been there all day and I really hadn't slowed down enough to think about it.  But He had been working on it all day!

When we watched the IMAX movie about the Canyon, it told the story of people who had come to the Canyon way back in history.  There were native people living there long ago.  Then explorers came who couldn't find a way across it.  Eventually some fellas on a log raft decided to float down the river through the Canyon looking for gold.  (Do you have the picture of logs tied together, kind of like a Huck Finn contraption on the Mississippi?  Good.)  One guy asked the other, "Is this the right river?" wondering if they were in the right place for treasure.  Then they heard the roar of the rapids, and despite their attempts to avoid them, the first crest and fall of the white water smashed their raft to pieces.  The man decided, "This is not the right river."

Several years later, another expedition team made their way down the river.  There were three boats with three men in each one.  They made it through the first set of rapids...barely.  The next set cost them a boat and a man.  The next set they decided to take it cautiously and walk around it as best as they could.  When they came to the next white water, three men decided they were done and walked away.  They liked their odds in the wilderness of the Canyon rather than the raging river.  They were never heard from again.  The rest of the team went on through the rapids--the last set they encountered. 

The movie showed modern vacationers riding rubber rafts on the rapids with screams of excitement.  I have been on a rafting trip in Colorado and it is very fun!  But I can imagine how not being in right equipment, not knowing the river and terrain, and not having a guide would be terrifying!

Now let's switch perspectives to the rim.  On our Ranger Guided Tour she pointed out some "green tufts" on the Canyon floor.  "How tall do you think they are?" she asked.  (In the top half of this photo.)

They are 80-foot Cottonwood trees that look like something an ant would crawl right over and never blink!

At one point we could see part of the river and the rapids.  They looked like no big deal from here.  But if that tree is that size, they were probably pretty significant when you are in the middle of them!

Here is another thing.  I don't know if you can tell from these pictures or not, but there is a pattern in the Canyon to some degree.  The way the river winds through the Canyon might look random from the Canyon floor, but from the top you can see how the curves and jut outs make the same formations.  There is a Designer who has a plan.

So what is the point?  When I'm in the middle of the raging water of life, I feel like the rug has been pulled out from under me...I wonder if I'm on the right river...I feel unequipped...I want to bail and abandon the original plan...I feel alone.  But the truth of it is, I am more than just a minuscule part of creation.  God knows my name!  He knows exactly the situation I am in.  He is with me!  He knows what is around the bend.  To Him the future is history!  He has given me exactly what I need so I am equipped.  He has a plan for me and no matter what happens, He will work it out for my good and His glory if I will cooperate.  When I set my heart, mind, and eyes on God, He will give me His perspective. 

These are some of my memory verses that I have been working on this year that also came to mind as I was thinking about this.

Psalm 34:4

I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.  (NIV)

Philippians 4:19

And my God will supply your every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (NET)

Isaiah 26:3

People with their minds set on You, You keep completely whole, steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don't quit.  Depend on God and keep at it because in the LORD God you have a sure thing. (The Message)

Judges 5:21b

March on, my soul; be strong! (NIV)

Father,
Thank You so much that You are a big God!  Huge!  You work on the majestic, grand scale and the human scale.  You know me and love me any way.  I am blown away by a glimpse of Your love!  Thanks for meeting me here, and reminding me that no matter what may happen, You are still in control.  Help me to keep my mind set on You and keep going.  Thank You that when we seek You, You promise that we will find You.  I love that about You!  Thanks for a great day with my family and with You.  In Jesus' Name...Amen.

Spring Break

Long time, no post!  Sorry about that.  I'm finding that 1) there are not many news worthy things going on and 2) my creative writing has other outlets at the moment--facebook (it was inevitable, right fb friends?) and the Mom and Loving It blog.  Have you checked it out lately?  But this week I have a couple of things to share.  We'll see if I actually get them done!

We had talked about going somewhere for spring break, but we didn't decide on anything.  Until about 3 weeks before hand, we decided to go to Arizona!  I had been through there on my trip with my grandparents when I was younger and I was excited to show my kids the Grand Canyon and Painted Desert/Petrified Forest.  And a certain favorite baseball team has their spring training facility out there!  So we planned our route and itenerary, booked hotels, bought tickets, and we were off!  (I usually say, "We are off like a herd of turtles!"  But SweetTate has added his own twist..."We're off like monster turtles!")

Part of our itenerary was planned time at the hotel for the kids to swim.  Problem...the hotel that we had planned the most time to do that in their indoor pool, the pool was being painted.  SNAP!  But when we arrived in Phoenix it was warm enough outside that we could use their outdoor pool.  Perfect!  We were at the hotel for 2.5 minutes and the kids already had their suits on and waiting on us to go.  Oh.My.Word. That water was so cold!  I can not describe it!  Yes, I can say that from experience because I jumped in the take-your-breath-away icy waters.  We seriously wondered if it qualified us for the polar bear club, but we didn't think they had sign ups for that in Phoenix.  The kids loved it, and life is good.

 Her lips turned a few more shades of blue before we decided it was time to get out!

Our first adventure was the Rangers game. 

A friend who had been there a few weeks before said they would sign autographs before and after the game, so that was our main souvenir objective.  Each of the kids had a ball, I had  my scorebook, we all had sharpies--we were ready!  We waited...and waited....no one was signing before the game.  Snap!  So we went to our seats that were amazing!  Right behind the Rangers dugout!  And had a delicious ballpark hotdog!  Yum!  I think they are better than the ones in Arlington.  We enjoyed the game.

Josh Hamilton hit a home run, Neftali Feliz had a good start pitching, and the Rangers won!  And we actually saw most of the game!  It wasn't so stinking hot that we were drinking so much to stay cool which brings potty breaks every inning with kids!  By the end of the game, most of the star players had already left and signed autographs as they left, and where our seats were, amazing as they were, we were not in the right place.  But after the game, David Murphy stood at the corner of the dugout signing.  SweetBoy grabbed his ball and went to get his signature.  I really didn't think he would because there was such a crowd. 

Before I could really hope that he got one, SweetBoy was back beaming showing us his signed baseball!

Awesome!  Then SweetDoll and SweetTate took off, and they got their baseballs signed also!  I seriously need to send David Murphy a thank you for totally making our day!  And yes, he is our favorite player now!  (I'm reading over this and noticed how many !!! I have used.  Sorry, but if I were talking to you in person, I would be that excited.  We had a great day!)

The next day was a full day at the Grand Canyon.  SweetHeart had been there before too and what he remembered was watching the IMAX film.  We found that and really enjoyed the views it showed.  (And it was much cheaper than the helicopter ride to get that loose your stomach feeling as you plunge over the side!)  Then we made it to the Canyon.  The vast, majestic views were beautiful, and it was amazing how it looked a little different through the day as the sun went down. 

I wanted to stay for the sunset, so we took a picnic supper to eat at just the right spot to watch it.  One of the highlights of the day happened as we sat there.  Earlier in the day we went to a Park Ranger presentation on the big birds of the Canyon.  We learned about four different birds and how to recognize them.  We saw lots of ravens, and then we saw one of the rare ones--a California Condor soared above us!  They are terribly ugly vulture-type when they are sitting, but in flight, they are very graceful and beautiful!  I am so glad we planned a time to sit and enjoy or we would have missed that.  The sunset was not that different than ones we have here, but I don't often sit down and enjoy one so it was special.

As we made our way back this direction, we planned to stop and see the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest.  It is amazing to me that there is something so different and interesting just off the highway, but you have to get off the highway to see it!  We walked around the Crystal Forest and marveled at how these huge trees used to live in this place that doesn't have a tree in sight now!  And what makes the hillsides purple? 

It is one of those places that makes me think that my God is so creative!  The kids did the Junior Park Ranger program and were sworn in.  That was a highlight for them.

In our travels, we noticed several things that looked like they were the inspiration for the Disney movie Cars.  These sandstone formations look like the car profiles they had in their hills.

Then on the way to the Painted Desert, we drove through Holbrook and saw Sally's Cozy Cone!

When we stopped for lunch the lady there told us they have a tow truck parked there that people stop and take pictures with.  We drove back by and it was Mater!  We just had to stop!  That was too fun!

We had so much fun and enjoyed our time together.  I realized that our kids are at really good ages to do stuff like this.  And I'm so glad we are at a place where we can.