My shirt is sticking to my back from the humidity and scorching Texas heat and all I did was walk outside to throw the trash away! We’ve been home from our family vacation in the mountains of Colorado only two days and I’m ready to endure the 20+ hour car ride back to crisp, chilly evenings, a star encrusted sky and no cell or internet service.
Yet, reality calls and the boys begin school tomorrow forcing me into a daily routine. *sigh* 😉
Once we made it to White Sands, NM I was redeemed of my failure to plan with Carlsbad Caverns. The rolling dunes of bleach white sand were vast and smooth, perfect for sledding. Though the sand was cool to our feet the sun reflected off of the sand and within an hour the heat got the best of us. More hours in the car and another stop in Santa Fe, NM the boys were troopers. By Sunday we made it to our final destination in Twin Lakes, CO. Without missing a beat the kids were out of the car and exploring the National Forest and riverbed that runs along my parent’s property. 
I sat on the upper porch of the cabin and listened to the rush of the stream, chirps of crickets and watched the hummingbirds as they swarmed the plastic feeder. Their dance was entertaining as they swarmed in and out of the flowers, knocking other hummingbirds off their perch to get to the sweet red juice. I took in a deep breath and silently said a prayer of thanksgiving as I let it out. This spot would be my holy place for the rest of the week surrounded by His creation.
Friends of ours, that Neal and I met on our honeymoon 16 years ago, brought their family down from Utah and we enjoyed the remaining 4 days of vacation hiking, exploring, playing games and talking. We all had grown and flourished along our journey of life and it was a blessing to hear how we all seemed to come to the same conclusion – we are not in control and it is only through God that we find order in our world of chaos.
The greatest moment of the trip for me was when Brooke and I took our oldest kids hiking. It had been 8 years since we’d seen one another and our children and at that time we both were commiserating on the hyperactivity and impulsiveness both of our kids displayed. The validation we received at the time was that we were not alone and we were not imagining the behavior that had us at our wits end. Now our kids are teenagers, well-mannered, well-behaved positive influences on society. We took them on a hike up Mt. Elbert (a 14,000+ elevation) and both Brooke and I were apprehensive that either child would go with us let alone make it the entire hike. About 10 minutes into the hike Ryan decided he was done and he wanted to go back to the cabin. Dejected but not surprised I let him go. Paige, Brooke’s daughter, hung in there though and we continue our trek up the steep incline. After a few stops to catch our breath we had gone about 45 minutes when Brooke said she saw someone coming up the trail.
It was Ryan! He went back to the cabin and then realized he didn’t want to miss out on anything so he went back up the trail and hiked by himself eventually catching up to us. We were all stunned. I stared at him forcing back the tears that threatened to embarrass him and ruin the moment. All I could see was this young man who was once a little boy who couldn’t be outside because of all the flies and bugs. Ryan, who was once afraid of his own shadow, had now hiked one of the most difficult inclines up one of the highest peaks in Colorado by himself because he didn’t want to miss out.
We continued on together up the trail and due to the time we had to manuever the slippery slope back down the mountain we only made it to about 12,500 elevation. I had never been more proud of the both of us! And I will say that from now on I will consider what is causing me to ‘turn back’ and what I might be ‘missing out’. Sometimes we need to push forward so God can reveal to us the strength to endure so as not to ‘miss out’.
I’m still on a Rocky Mountain High wishing I could be typing this as I sit on the porch, listening to the stream and rustle of Aspen leaves, breathing in the cool crisp air. But I’m not. Yet it doesn’t mean I’m not surrounded by God’s creation…I have my boys, who are a wonderful work of art, in the next room. 😉
I’m ready to get back to work…each day is a day I don’t want to ‘miss out’!
Blessings
Shannon