Rock Creek to Boulder Lake

The goal yesterday was to find our way to Boulder Lake in Gore Range. Mark and Teena's map was very helpful because we had to find our way on three different intersecting trails. On the way we saw a bald eagle and a moose.

Below is Boulder Lake and where we had our lunch together. We found it to be stunningly beautiful with the peaks all around, still covered in snow. The moose sighting was a little unusual because we had stopped to take a rest on the trail hiking up. I went into the woods to "find a tree" and during my time alone with said tree, there he was, only 20 yards away! I tried to get my camera but there was too much to do at the time. When I did finally get the camera out of my pack, it was set wrong and the moose moved further into the trees

Jim and Chris were on the hike with us and fortunately Jim took a photo of him from the trail after I tried to alert them to what I'd seen. I'll try to get it to you later. When we got to the lake we all had lunch together and stuck our feet in the icy cold water. Oooh, it felt good.

Boulder Lake is a place I'd recommend. The flowers were all out and it was like walking through a garden. The trail was moderate and only about 4 miles or so from the car.

Riding high

Riding your bike in Colorado is a little different than most other places. First of all, it's a little rough because the road isn't exactly flat. Secondly, it's hard to watch the road because of all the nice scenery. Third, you almost always have good friends to ride with you because of #1 and #2.

Roads, Chickpeas, and vegetarians

I drove to Moscow, ID from Spokane, WA with Robert earlier in the week. The trip consisted of rolling green hills covered with wheat and garbanzo beans or chickpeas, and other vegetables. I thought, "WOW" this would be a vegetarian's delight. But I still think it's expensive to be a vegetarian. They can't make both ends meat!

Entiat

I was in Wenatchee, WA earlier in the week and went bug collecting with my 95 year old Dad near the Entiat River. I wish I'd brought my fishing pole! It was a beautiful river complete with clear water and Steelhead trout. So, I didn't catch any fish but my Dad caught a Bombylead (little fly with wings like jet). He was happy with his catch and I thought it would make mighty fine bait.

Doubts about God

I like what Crabb said about doubting God. "When our doubts about God create a terror of living like, what will happen tomorrow? Will I be all right? And even rage at God like, Why won't he come through for me as I want him to?, We then turn to others, not to love them, but to demand that they give us something to make our lives pleasant, or least more bearable. Something has to be done, but we can't count on God."

Crabb goes on and says that we might hide our demands of others behind a "veil of civility and kindness," but we have another agenda. Our agenda is, it's all about me and respect me whether I deserve it or not. Our society says and advertising tells us that "I want what I want, when I want it." What could our society value more?

But it's God's grace which frees me from needing to be better than I am and frees me to face what I'm really like without giving up. The shock of seeing the truth about myself enables me to embrace God's grace more fully.

Attack on Jesus

The attack upon the Savior Jesus Christ is made - anonymously. Glory be to the human race!

It's as if Christ said to your soul; How can you be anxious about me? How am I a threat? I am in fact your savior. Believe me that I am. This is not an assurance, this is infinitely more than an assurance. Perhaps Christ would say; I let myself be crucified for you, if this cannot convince you, then it is impossible.

Road vs. Mountain biking

Riding on the road bike can be especially fun. You go faster, you're more comfortable in the saddle because there isn't the jarring from going over rocks, the air blows over you faster so it has a cooling effect, and it's easier to talk with others when you ride. There is really only one downside: the cars.

Tents and electricians

I set up the tent in the basement so the grand kids could see what it's like. We were going camping but the high heat during the day and hard rains and lightning at night left us with this alternative. I never heard so many squeals and screams before. What fun!

I make it a point never to hire an electrician with singed eyebrows! But look at this! Maybe she has a career in electrical engineering. My neighbor is a government electrician, but I wonder about him. He was on the escalator for two hours waiting for another electrician to come and fix it.

American classic

Grant Wood did his classic American Gothic in 1930. The house he used as a model in the background was a miniature and is now kept at Tiny Town, Colorado, just a few miles from my house.

The only thing missing is a pitch fork. Oh well. It's the new generation of gothics. Instead of pitchforks they'll have computers in their watches, hand helds, and who knows what?

Not so tiny bubbles

Blowing bubbles is loads of fun. I don't know who enjoyed it more, the kids or grandma! She's had this stuff in the pantry for months just waiting for this very moment. I think she went through a couple gallons of the stuff!

Friends forever

Noelle's good friend Taylor left Tucson a year or so ago and moved to Denver, of all places. So while Seth, Noelle and the kids are visiting Taylor dropped by for a visit with her kids. It seemed like lots of fun.

When they left the kids had to say, "goodbye." But learning how to give a goodbye hug is not easy. It looks more like a wrestling hold to me. Anyway, everyone appeared to have a great time.

Racing and Richard Petty

I was in Memphis last week and met Richard Petty. I heard stories about moonshine, not running from the law because they didn't have to, and hot cars. I told him American cars are going to be around a long, long time, in fact I'd bet my Kaiser on it! He was a very nice man and I enjoyed meeting him.

Forgiveness

When you forgive someone you slice away the wrong from the person who did it. You in essence disengage the person from the hurtful act and literally recreate him or her. Instead of branding someone as a powerful evil you think of them as someone who needs you. That is what God has done for us.

Shots fired

I was sitting in the McCalls beautiful new office in downtown Memphis working at one of the open cubicles when a very loud shot was fired. We all went out to the reception area to see what had happened and there was a hole in the ceiling right above the reception area seat and sheet rock and pellets all over the floor. She had just left her work station for a moment. The police arrived in minutes with their shotguns and ran upstairs to an apartment. Evidently, the occupant was moving his shotgun to another place and it accidentally went off.

What amazed me was how fast the police arrived. I no sooner arrived at the reception area and they were coming in the door with their shotguns.