Yosemite

Over the 4th, we went backpacking in Yosemite. The family on this trip consisted of Mom&Dad, Jane & I, Abe, and Hannah & Rebekah.  We dearly missed Adam and Peter... and the weight they could have carried.   In my opinion, the best part about it was the time we spent together and

 the beauty of being in nature.  

As expected in camping, sleeping quarters were cramped.  but after a restless night, I was not expected to wake up to a 'quick! you've gotta check out this bear!'  yes... he must have been the one walking around in the middle of the night.   As far as other animals, we saw 2 brown bears, 1 black bear, a handful of deer 

and ground squirrels and only a very few humans.  

Many of our trails crossed huge patches of burnt trees.  The only really beautiful thing about this was that the undergrowth in each of these patches was taking over splendidly.  I am so glad that God builds his ruined places and will heal all hurts, and in some cases, given two-fold.   

I loved being submerged in nature and with time to reflect and praise God.  It also gave me quality time with each 

of my siblings where I could discuss things from repentance to prayer to Lord of the Rings to controlling thought patterns.  

As we all do when out of our element, I learned several things about myself or at least was reminded of a few.  1. I love climbing on rocks.

 Abe, Hannah and I dropped 

off our bags a few times to scramble up to the top of different rock outcroppings.  2. I don't mind playing in mud and being dirty, but I love having clean hands.  3.  I love water!  ... another thing that I take for granted far too often.  Finding streams always raised the morale, and when the water supply ran short, we were all 

grumpy.

 4. A view is always worth the hike.  Nature brings so much peace.  I love being immersed in it.  

Cockles and Mussels 

In Dublin's fair city, where girls are so pretty, I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone as she wheeled her wheel barrow through streets broad and narrow, Crying Cockles and Mussels, Alive Alive Oh!

She was a fishmonger, but sure 'twas no wonder, for so were her father and mother before and they each wheeled their barrows though streets broad and narrow, crying Cockles and Mussels, Alive Alive Oh!

She died of a fever, and no one could save her, and that was the end of sweet Mollie Malone; her ghost wheeled her barrow through streets broad and narrow, crying Cockles and Mussels, Alive Alive Oh!