picnic in paradise

When Sasha mentioned taking me on a hike up into the mountains at first I was a little freaked out.  I love nature, but had no idea what to expect.  How hard was she going to work me?  I mean were we going to need ropes and stuff?  HA!  Weren't there bears and critters that could maul us to death?  It was a little intimidating.

What I didn't really consider would be the overwhelming, almost hush of reverence I felt for the Lord and the beauty He created.  It felt like we were walking on holy ground.  HOLY GROUND people!!

 

Every branch, every vista...unique and surreal.

 

I felt like I was in one of those landscape pictures in an antique store.  I could almost hear the music building and could visualize Julie Andrews running over the hill twirling her arms singing "The hills are alive with the Sound of Music....ahhhh ahhhh a ahhhh.....

How is it possible this exists?  It was postcard worthy...

 

 

And I was actually standing in it!

 

 

 

The hike was challenging, but doable.  We saw a lot of older people.  Mostly older people, and honestly at times I was chanting to myself...if they can do this so can I...if they can do this so can I;)

There are rules not to get off the beaten path.  The rules are so you don't destroy the flowers or get attacked by wild animals.  For the most part we followed the rules.  There was just one time we moved off to get a better picture of some flowers.  And of course don't you know we had a scare that I'd lost my phone.  We eventually found it buried in my backpack:/  I'm kind of a mess, you should know this about me;)

This is where we sat...on a boulder and ate our lunch and took in His creation. We picnicked in paradise. 

This girl KNEW bringing me here was going to blow my mind.  She knows me so well.  She loves me that much!  We had a spiritual experience on that mountain and on the way down we drank in praise music. It was amazing!

At the end of our hike we collapsed on the damp earth and stretched our legs.  The cool air was refreshing...the sun was warm on our shoulders.  I could have sat in that spot all day long.  There was a little creak running nearby.  It was cool from the melting snow.  And I had this scripture pop in my head... from Luke chapter 19:39-44

³⁹ Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, get your disciples under control!”

⁴⁰ But he said, “If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.” ^41-44 When the city came into view, he wept over it. “If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you!

Many years ago I heard a praise song about rocks and trees praising the Lord.  It stuck with me.  When I'm out in nature I still think about that.  It's His creation...all of it.  They are living things.  If we don't praise Him...THEY WILL!  How unbelievably crazy is that!!!  Vibrating, swaying...worshiping their Creator.  Too amazing to even imagine.  I want to be the one praising Him.  I can do it so much better than a rock:)

*It may take me a month to share everything.  Hope you don't mind;)

 

 

Have a blessed day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

782. Sasha

783.  God's glory which overwhelms me

784.  simple sandwiches that taste heavenly, on a rock in paradise

785.  a body that allows me to move and climb

786.  that i found my phone!!