Snow!

We're in the Grand Canyon now and yes...it's snowing! Like blowing snow...like slushy, icy roads- snowing!
We are in the Maswik Lodge near the rim and in the forest outside our window are Elk. Huge-300 to 400lb Elk! This is pretty cool!!! I wish you could see it. How cool is God!

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Zion, Page & Grand Canyon

We can now add wild turkey and buffalo to the list of animals we've
seen. I love seeing all these animals. Yesterday, at Zion we saw
several mule deer so close that if I had taken one step closer I could
have touched them!

Lake Powell was very beautiful. Basically, it is a series of canyons
filled with water. It acts as a reservoir.
We took a boat into Navajo Nation country and saw Rainbow Bridge- a
natural arch formed by water. It is so tall that the Statue of Liberty
could sit beneath it.

We're now driving to the Grand Canyon and the country around us
reminds me of pictures I've seen of the African Savannah. We are
driving across Navajo country, which incidently is the largest Indian
Reservation in the US.

See you at the Grand Canyon!

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I will woo her into the desert and speak tendery to her there.

The title of this entry can be found in Hosea. This is God speaking
about wooing His bride to Himself.

I love the desert. What?! Yes, yes, I love it! It's not like the Gobi
out here; but it is a desert. I am amazed at how alive it is.
Yes, it is arid and dry; but it is covered in vegetation. Even the
ground is alive! A series of bacteria grow over several years which
creates some of the most nutrient rich soil around.
Wild animals abound. From big horned sheep to fox to mule deer,
bobcats, cougars, coyote to kangaroo rats to lizards, snakes and frogs.
When I look across the blankets of red rock what a beautiful suprise
to see wild flowers springing up here and there. Bright red Indian
Paintbrush, yellow Broom, white Daisies, and a purple flower whose
name I don't know quite yet peak up at the edges of rocks.
And speaking of rocks- they do Circ du Soile-like balancing acts, pop
up in the middle of fields like the wildflowers. They're the shapes of
people and animals. And the other day I saw one that must have been a
mile wide in the shape of a heart.
Yes! I love the desert. There is a peaceful quiet here. What a wild
and beautiful place for the Lord to speak tenderly to His people. He
speaks to me here. This earth reflects His wildness which is
captivating, and His beauty which is majestic, breathtaking, and
enthrolling.

Today we will be leaving Bryce Canyon, traveling to Zion and then on
to Lake Powell.

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Arches & Canyonlands

First off, I'm so sorry that we can't get the pictures to go through.
I'm trying to get that fixed.

However, in the meantime, yesterday was awesome! We were able to spend
about 4 hours in each park.

In the Arches National Park rocks where the shapes of people, sheep
and marching elephants.
My favorite part was a primative trail where we saw a kangaroo rat! We
stopped for a rest here and this sweet little bird flew into a Juniper
bush right in front of us and sang the most beautiful song.
Canyonlands took my breath away. Vistas that stretched for miles with
the La Sals in the background, then mesas, then a drop off into canyons.

We are in Green River this morning and are headed to Capitol Reef an
Bryce Canyon.

If I can't get the pictures working rest assured there will be an
incredible album posted when we return!

Love you all!

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The Road Before Me

I'm on one of those roads that stretches out before you with no end in sight. In the distance there are mountain and to my right- mesas. The way the sun kisses this land is stunning. It looks wild here and at the same time- inviting. 

Yes- the earth is full of the glory of God. This earth is reflecting both His wildness and His beauty! Shout rocks-shout! 

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CAPTIVATING
Our Lord is captivating! Wow! How awesome is our God!
The Captivating Retreat was incredible! The Lord spoke to the deep places of my heart and I am grateful! What a beautiful time of retreat! I went by myself and now I know why that was important. God wanted to spend time with me- without distraction and the temptation of people pleasing and people validation that I have sought in the past.
God is concerned with me. He thinks of me. And he wants to spend time with me- His Beloved! (He thinks of, loves, and wants to spend time with you too!)

Dennis and I are descending the Rockies as I type. I'll try to send pictures through the phone. Hopefully I'll connect the picture of Stasi Elderege to this entry!

My precious friends and Captivating Sisters: go in the presence of the Lord and rest!

A Memorial

Wow...I cannot believe that it is almost here! Our adventure through the Southwest is here!

A dear friend prayed for me this morning. It was so sweet to be reminded. Reminded of God's love for me, that He thinks of me, that He is in pursuit of my heart.

She asked that God would create "markers" for me throughout this trip, as reminders of what He is teaching me--of those sweetnesses between us. I thought of all the times in the old testament when the Israelites would put up a memorial to remind them that the Lord did...whatever He did at the time. Like in Genesis 28 when Jacob set up the stone as a pillar that would be God's house or in Joshua 4:

"So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, "What do these stones mean? tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." Joshua 4:5-7 NIV

I love her prayer! That the Lord would set up memorials for me, to remind me of what He has done--of Who He Is!

I hope to blog about our adventure through the Southwest in the coming days. To share with you these little remembrances of the Lord Who Loves Us!

Check back beginning April 25th and follow our adventure!

This Makes Me Laugh to the Point of Tears

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp_Ju_vbPro

This is one of the funniest clips I have ever seen. Not really a Charlie Sheen fan, but the way he delievers these lines makes me laugh! Please click and enjoy! So funny!!!

Surrender

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIkQ7YVys_A
This is a link to a YouTube video of Mikeschair's release of "Let the Waters Rise." I've never been a real fan of music videos, but this song is incredible. The video might speak to you, but it is the song that resonates with my soul.

Of course you all know how much I love the sea so the images that this song depicts are beautiful to me. Take a look at some of the lyrics:

"There's a raging sea
Right in front of me
Wants to pull me in
Bring me to my knees
So let the waters rise
If you want them to
I will follow you
I will follow you
I will follow you

I can swim in the deep
Cuz You'll be next to me
You're in the eye of the storm
And in the calm of the sea
You're never out of reach

God, you know where I've been
You were there with me then
You were faithful before
You'll be faithful again
I'm holding Your hand"

To me--this song sounds like the the most beautiful picture of surrender to God. It is a surrender that might be accompanied by pain; but it is also a surrender of complete trust, affection and love.

Getting Ready for a Road Trip!

Hello All! It has been a very long time since I have written. So much has happened since you last heard from me.

I received the book Waking the Dead by John Elderidge for Christmas. I can not say enough wonderful things about it. I highly recommend it.

Anyway, I entered a lottery to be chosen to attend the Captivating Retreat in Fraser, CO this April. Captivating is the book written by John & Staci Elderidge.

I was accepted!

Well, Dennis and I have decided to make a whole road trip adventure out of this excursion. He will meet me out there and then we will road trip throughout the Southwest. We will be camping, hiking--enjoying nature and standing in awe of the LORD of creation.

I will be blogging throughout our trip. So check in--or sign up as a follower of this blog and you can travel along with us!

Tune in at the end of this month and join us on this adventure! We are very excited!

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" Galatians 5:1.

Hey All,
I'm testing out my mobile blogging capabilities!