Kindergarten!

Alek started Kindergarten on Monday. Wasn't he just born? It was such an exciting day for all of us. He stayed home with me all of last year so we were ALL ready for this new chapter. He was so excited to go and had no apprehensions on the first day. Of course it helped that he had a buddy he already has known his whole life and his Baba (Evan's Mom) teaches at his school so he has the awesome treat of seeing his Grandma every so often. I was on the verge of getting emotional but seeing his confidence and Joy made me proud and so I didn't end up crying. I definitely tried to not think of emotional things or moments with him over the years that day to keep the tears at bay. I couldn't be more pleased with where we have him and so excited for all he will learn this year. 

                                           

Climbing Mountains

Evan announced yesterday morning, "let's go hiking". I used to ask a ton of questions in response to something like this. Like, "where are we going?...how long?... and on and on". These days I just go with it. I have no agenda with the gift of staying home, so what does it really matter? I am also learning that going with it, leads to unexpected joys instead of unmet expectations.

So off we went to Millerton Lake. We kept it simple since we had Alek with us. It was his first hike so we weren't sure how it was going to go with him. We followed the San Joaquin Trail (I think that is what it is called) and had a glorious time. It was a beautiful day and I continued to be proud of Alek's amazing attitude. Not once did he complain. It wasn't an extremely difficult hike but enough where my heart was pounding and my legs are a little sore today (and I've been working out!). Overall we just did 2.4 miles but what I got from the hike was more than a walk down a trail.

Going through my mind was gratitude. I was grateful I had a body that was healthy and able to walk the trail and manage the climbs. I was grateful I was experiencing a beautiful day with my husband and son who were both so happy to be outside. I was grateful that I have come so far in letting so many things go. I just finished the book One Thousand Gifts and so the word Eucharisteo was on my mind the entire time and I added so many things to my own list of gifts when I came home.The trail section we went on is not flat and climbs the whole time. The final climb we did was to the top of Pincushion Mountain. It was the toughest part of our hike. It was a little section of heart pounding, muscle tiring upward climb but we knew only through the climb would we gain the perspective of an amazing unfiltered 360 degree view.

The whole time I couldn't help but think of how different things were last year on that same day. I was in a lot of physical pain and about to head to the hospital to find out I had an ectopic pregnancy which would involve surgery. It was also the day I immediately quit my job to stay home. It was last year that I was climbing my own kind of mountain. My body ached, I didn't think I could go on, I wondered when God would respond to my pleading prayers.

As I made it to the top of Pincushion Mountain yesterday, I was overjoyed by the breathtaking view. We were surrounded by mountains and Millerton Lake shimmered below us like glitter. The breeze at the top cooled our heated bodies and I instantly felt small, insignificant and extremely grateful. We had to climb the mountain to experience the gift which was a clear and open view of beauty. We got a taste along the trail but not until we got to the top did we feel completely enveloped in God's creation. I was grateful a simple hike reminded me that the mountains we climb in life are so often part of a bigger gift He wants to give to us.