Blessed Days...In His Hands: Colorado Beauty

Written from the Summer....

I don’t know that I am living my best life?

What does that look like to me?

Close family togetherness and bonding.

Not carrying extra weight.

Connected to my husband- him not being too tired to hear my stories at night.

My head being able to wrap itself around all the details of the day, anticipate needs, respond to all correspondence in a timely manner.

At the beach, laughing, fun, free to go because we don’t have sick kids (that have been sick for weeks).

But this is My life. These are my kids who need me. It may not feel glamorous or freeing to be at my 3 year olds beckoned call and to not step foot outside all day but this is my best life for today. It is being a soft place for those who need to feel safe in my care.

As I grow older I am trying NOT to make a day or two or even a week define me. Even a season. Things, issues, needs, sickness, and days pass. And new things, issues, needs, come.

There are always highs and lows passing through. Always.

I would like to grab onto the idea that God is enough and He is here. Often I have no idea what that means other than to grasp the reality and believe I am not alone and even if no one else sees me, He does. It might just mean sitting and doing nothing until my baby wakes from coughing so I do the next thing, hold her and comfort her until she sleeps again.

I so don’t have all the answers and I land softly onto anything that tells me I don’t have to.

(From Dev's travel journal)

^{Our Nature Walk}

^{On a sunny Colorado afternoon we went into nature on a walk. As we were climbing to get to the top, I examined my surroundings and observed many quaking aspen trees also known as Populous Tremuloides which have a distinct white bark and round leaves.}

^{This was my first time seeing an aspen tree. I found them very beautiful. The white bark against the contrast of the green turning into yellow leaves and how they moved carelessly in the wind was very beautiful. On this particular day I felt the wind against my back as it rushed straight for the aspen trees. I felt the cooler and fresher air as I walked up the mountain but the sun still managed to peak through and warm me.}^{In some places it was almost hard to look up because I would see the light coming down so brightly. I felt very happy, a bit carefree, and a strong sense of calm like I did not have a care in the world. I felt very peaceful, for example, when I would talk to Roni, my aunt, whatever we seemed to talk about didn’t matter much. At first, I thought the hike was going to be very boring and I also thought it was going to be very hot but it ended up being just right. My favorite part was when the light was hitting the trees. Overall I just love the forest.}

^{I discovered “The aspen tree is native to cooler areas of}^{North America}^{. It is most well known as quaking aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, and mountain or golden aspen. The quaking aspen is a tall, fast growing tree, with smooth pale bark, scarred with black. They have glossy green leaves, dull beneath, and they become golden to yellow, rarely red. Aspens do produce seeds, but seldom grow from them.”}