Photo Blogging Challenge (December 2015): Holidays

Chester Santa Dash

Chester Cathedral

When the theme for this month was posted I thought it would be a piece of cake.  I planned on taking all sorts of great, artistic sorts of photos.  Humph!  This month just flew by and, in all honesty, the artist in me just didn't appear as I would have liked.

That being said, Christmas was terrific this year.  Not that it isn't every year, but somehow this one was different.  I think there was less emphasis on stuff and more on being - being present and aware of the moment at hand.

Watching 5,000 Santas run in the rain.  Sitting by the fire with company on Christmas Day.  Listening to Dad play Christmas carols on the organ.  Making candy at Sis' house.  Watching a three-and-a-half year old pass out stockings to family.   Praying the St. Andrew's novena.  Prayer buddies.

All great presents and even better presence.

To see more, visit A 'lil Hoohaa

 

AMDG

 

On the Seventh Day - We Are Called Anew

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

 

Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, Fear of the Lord

"In our own age, then, we are called anew by the ever ancient and ever new faith of the Church, to draw near to the Holy Spirit as the giver of life." 

 - Pope St. John Paul II , DOMINUM ET VIVIFICANTEM

AMDG

The Sixth Day

Six days of creation

Joy to the world! The Lord has come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

AMDG

On the Fifth Day

The first five books of the Old Testament

 

Everything old is new again. 

These books - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy - are often called “the Law,” but in addition to legal materials they include poems, songs, and epic narratives about the people of God.  The Pentateuch tells a story that extends from the Creation to the time when the people of Israel are encamped on the edge of the promised land.

AMDG

The Fourth Day - Worthily and Well

Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

We have two deacons at the parish in which we belong, Deacon Roger and Deacon Rich.  They often assist at Mass, and when doing so, proclaim the Gospel.  Prior to doing that they ask the priest for his blessing.

"May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips, that you may proclaim his Gospel worthily and well, in the name of the Father .…"

Everytime I hear that prayer, one part stands out to me - worthily and well.

We are all called to live and preach the Gospels, some by word, all by action.  I like to think of that prayer as my reminder to check my actions.  How am I doing?  Can I do better? 

Of course I can.

AMDG

On the Third Day

Faith, Hope, and Love

 

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

 

Jesus, Mary and Joseph

It seems perfect to me that the third day of Christmas falls on the Feast of the Holy Family. I think Chesterton would agree.

“If the moderns really want a simple religion of love, they must look for it in the Athanasian Creed. The truth is that the trumpet of true Christianity, the challenge of the charities and simplicities of Bethlehem or Christmas Day never rang out more arrestingly and unmistakably than in the defiance of Athanasius to the cold compromise of the Arians.  It was emphatically he who really was fighting for a God of Love against a God of colourless and remote cosmic control; the God of the stoics and the agnostics.  It was emphatically he who was fighting for the Holy Child against the grey deity of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.  He was fighting for that very balance of beautiful interdependence and intimacy, in the very Trinity of the Divine Nature, that draws our hearts to the Trinity of the Holy Family.  His dogma, if the phrase be not misunderstood, turns even God into a Holy Family.”

― G.K. Chesterton, The Everlasting Man

 

AMDG

On the Second Day

“The more we are proud that the Bethlehem story is plain enough to be understood by the shepherds, and almost by the sheep, the more do we let ourselves go, in dark and gorgeous imaginative frescoes or pageants about the mystery and majesty of the Three Magian Kings.”

– Christendom in Dublin by GK Chesterton

AMDG

The First Day

God became man

so man could become God

Wishing you a blessed Christmas season!

AMDG

Home, Home on the Road

I have been traveling for work more than usual lately.  If the stay is an extended duration, I unpack my suitcase rather than living out of it – blouses, pants and dresses are hung in the closet and undergarments and socks are in a dresser drawer.  I “move in.”

 

But, no matter how long I stay, it’s just not home.  The bed isn’t mine.   Definitely not the pillows.  Neither are the bathroom and living areas.   Even though Himself is just a phone call away, he’s not with me.

 

I have found one place, no matter where I am at, that I feel right where I belong – church.

 

I know when I through those doors I will see a crucifix, front and center.  Also prominent will be the tabernacle.  Somewhere will be the Vatican flag.

 

The most important part, though, is when Mass begins.  Regardless of where I am at, what country, what time zone, the readings, the prayers, the order of the liturgy will be the same.  The catholic-ness, with a little “c”, is apparent.  It is universal.

 

We bless ourselves in the same manner.  We say the same prayers, the same words, though perhaps in a different language.

Our Father who art in heaven.

Padre nuestro que estás en los cielos. 

Vater unser im Himmel
* * *
And with your Spirit.

Y con tu espíritu.

Und mit deinem Geist
* * *
Glory to God in the highest.

Gloria a Dios en el cielo.

Ehre sei Gott in der höchsten  

 Our faith binds us.  We are home.

 

Do I hear an Amen?

 

Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Denver, Colorado

 

Cathedral of St. Mary, Cheyenne, Wyoming

 

St. Francis of Assisi, Chester, England

AMDG

TToT (13): There's No Place Like Home

 

 “There are two ways of getting home; and one of them is to stay there.”

– The Everlasting Man  GKC

 

- one -

The trip that was cancelled a couple of weeks ago was rescheduled and occurred this past week.  Everything went smoothly and it was a productive trip.

 

- two -

All my flights were not only on time, one got in more than a half hour early.  Got to love that jet stream!  

 

- three -

I stayed in Chester while in England.  It is a beautiful and historic town that I frequently found myself getting lost in.  But, since everything is in walking distance, I was never really all that far from the hotel. 

 

- four -

After Mass on Sunday morning I wandered through town trying to get the lay of the land.  And find coffee.  I kept seeing Santa.  Everywhere.  It turned out that there was a Santa run that was to be starting shortly.  There had to have been a least 3000-4000 people in this race.  It took nearly ten minutes from when the race began for everyone to get across the starting line.

 

 

- five -

I was told by a number of people that while in Chester I really should visit the Cathedral.  They were right.  It was beautiful.  Founded in 1092 as a Benedictine Abbey, it is now home to the Church of England.  The windows in it are spectacular.

 

 - six -

Our last night in town we stumbled onto a parade.  Truth be told, it is the oddest Christmas parade I have ever seen.  And the shortest.  There were only about 10-12 units in it. 

 

 

  

- seven -

We have been praying the St. Andrew Christmas Novena this year.  My chaplet that I won a number of years ago once again traveled with me. 

  

- eight -

I decided that I wanted to do something a little different than our normal Advent wreath this year.  I was able to find unscented pillar candles online at Quick Candles and a beautiful print from HatchPrintsShop on Etsy.  Himself made my vision happen while I was gone.  Perfect! 

 

 - nine -

The weather this weekend was in the sixties.  I really wouldn't mind if all of winter was like this  I know, wishful thinking!

 

- ten -

Yesterday, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, was my "blogiversary".  When I started writing this five years ago I had no idea where it would lead or how long it would last.  I have been blest with opportunity to share things that are important to me as well as things that are just plain silly or goofy.  Many of you I consider friends, whether I have met you or not.  Thanks for coming along for the ride! 

 

Check out more goodness at  A Fly on Our (Chicken Coop) Wall.

 

AMDG 

Wonder Doubled: Baby Steps in Combat Boots

We have a new post up at the USCCB website For Your Marriage.

This was her first attempt to play a song on the piano for others since the lady who teaches toddlers to play began working with her.  She was confident and not afraid to be less than perfect. G. K. Chesterton said, “A thing worth doing is worth doing badly.”  He wasn’t advocating careless indifference, but rather, he was encouraging amateur enthusiasm.  He thought people were becoming so specialized and narrow that one day no one would whistle because the professional whistler did it best.

 You can read the whole article here.

AMDG

First Photo: December 2015

The sky, grey with clouds and mist and rain, seems to make everything look weary and tired.  After a long year, there seems to be a need for rest.  Soon it will all be tucked in under a blanket of snow.

Hopefully not too soon.

AMDG

Photo Blogging Challenge (November 2015): Morning

 

"Daybreak is a never-ending glory, getting out of bed is a never-ending nuisance"

- GK Chesterton

 

Chesterton had it right.  The dawn of a new day is a glory and a miracle that repeats itself over and over.  Sometimes getting out of bed to meet that new day can be challenging, especially now that the mornings are so dark and cold. 

But, once we do, the reward is great: glorious sunrises, good coffee, the attention of a hairy beast, and morning prayer with my love.

I am blessed.

To see more, visit A 'lil Hoohaa

 

AMDG

Last Call: Advent Prayer Buddies

With Advent fast approaching, there is still time to sign up for Prayer Buddies.  See this post for details.  You don't have to be a blogger to join in.

I will be sending out emails either Friday afternoon or Saturday morning with your assigned buddy.

 

Join us this Advent in praying for a specific blogger/reader's intentions!

AMDG

TToT (12) - I "Auto" Know By Now

 

- one-

It seems nothing is ever as simple as it should be with cars anymore.  I brought the car in for an oil change at one of those "quick" places, which it was.  But, when they went to pull the dipstick out to check the level, it broke.  Thankfully they took care of getting a replacement and installing it. 

- two-

We made an appointment to get the snow tires put on that same car.  I arranged to work from home on Friday so we could drop off the car.  When we arrived we found out that they hadn't put the work on the schedule and were booked for the day.  The shop managed to get the work done in spite of their busy schedule and even gave the car a good once over for other things as well.  That garage is a keeper!

- three-

We didn't get any snow! 

 

- four-

Himself detailed the inside of the car, ridding it of copious amounts of dog hair and dirt and gravel from our hikes in the park.  I feel like I'm riding around in a chariot now!

- five -

I am ever so grateful that the price of gas has dropped.  It's now under two dollars a gallon here. 

 

- six -

Since my tip to the UK was cancelled last weekend I had time to get some yard work done that I hadn't yet gotten to do.  I had been wondering when I was going to get it done.  All the perennials in the back garden have been cut back and the leaves raked up and put into the compost.
 

- seven -

I had time yesterday to plow through my messy, messy office and rid it of much clutter, old craft and sewing projects, and paperwork.  Somehow it always seems to sneak up on me.  It's not perfect, but I feel so much better in there now.  I don't know about you, but I find neat and clean to be very calming.

- eight -

Did you know you can get playing cards made with whatever picture you want on them?  Sis had a deck made up with my most beautiful niece's photo for my birthday.  It was such a perfect present since Himself and I often play rummy in the evening and Sis and BIL join us for euchre games now and then.

- nine -

It's only a three day work week this week.  Whoo hoo!!

- ten -

It's once again time for Advent Prayer Buddies and there is still time to sign up.  It is a great opportunity to spend time these four week before Christmas remembering the intentions of someone else. 

 

Check out more goodness at  A Fly on Our (Chicken Coop) Wall.

AMDG

Advent Prayer Buddies Anyone?

Yikes!  We're more than halfway through November and quickly approaching Thanksgiving and Advent. I've been pleasantly surprised, so far, that I haven't seen all that many Christmas commercials.  I'm sure that is all about to change soon.

But, before I start planning for Christmas, I want to start planning for Advent.  I have found putting time, thought and a bit of effort during these four weeks makes for a much more joyous and meaningful Christmas season. 

Last year a bunch of us returned to an old Catholic (IF) blogger tradition, Prayer Buddies.  During Advent, you can say prayers, novenas, and rosaries, light candles, and offer up suffering for your secret Prayer Buddy and whatever intentions he or she specifies.  On Christmas, or shortly thereafter, you will let your assigned person who you are and how you remembered them.

Those interested in participating, please email me at:

prayerbuddy@roadrunner.com

I will need from you is:

Your first name or first initial
Your blog address (or email address if you are not a blogger)
Your intentions

Optional:

Your full name
Your address
(Address can be provided if your Prayer Buddy plans to send you a small gift at Christmas)

DEADLINE FOR SIGN-UPS IS: Thursday, November 26th

AMDG

A Most Unsettled Feeling

All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go

'Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane

 

Well, no I’m not.  I was supposed to, though.

 

I’ve had a work trip planned for the last six weeks or so.  I rushed to get my passport renewed.  I worked hard to complete a couple of projects needed for the meetings and trainings that were to occur.  I did laundry, bought new shoes (because what trip cannot occur without those?) and made GORP.  I downloaded videos to watch on the flight.  I packed my suitcase. 

 

What was supposed to be a quiet evening at home Friday night, before taking the red-eye the next day to the UK, instead became a night glued to television and internet news reports and sending emails to my manager who was already there.  What have you heard?  Is it safe?

 

As the horror unfolded in Paris, Himself thought it best I didn’t go.  I still wanted to try to make it, mostly for selfish reasons.  I was to have a free afternoon on Sunday and had located the Catholic church closest to the hotel.  The Mass I was going to attend was in Polish, in England.  How universal!  Afterwards I was going to go wander an old cathedral and grounds and then peruse a used bookstore for Chesterton, Belloc, Lewis, and Fletcher. 

 

Saturday morning came and the breadth of the carnage in Paris was more apparent.  Along with that came threats elsewhere.  The travel advisories were being raised quickly to the highest levels in the UK.  Emails from the company’s CEO and President were coming quickly.   And it was decided that if you weren’t in the air, you weren’t going to be.

 

That quickly changed my plans and my coworkers' plans for the week.

 

I wandered the house trying to figure out what to do.  For the last few weeks, I knew what I was going to be doing yesterday and today and the rest of this week.  And now?  I felt very unsettled.

 

All will be back to normal in a week when I was supposed to be back home.  For me.

 

But what about all those people who were there?  The ones that won’t come home, ever.  Or the ones injured and maimed.  And those that, though not physically harmed, witnessed it, escaped it, lived it.  They woke today with their lives changed.  The husband or wife who was supposed to be next to them, isn’t.  A daughter or son, sister or brother, gone or hurt.  Their plans for tomorrow, next week, next month or the years that follow are suddenly changed.

 

I can handle being “unsettled” for a day or a  week.  I thank the Good Lord that, for right now, that’s all it is.

 

Agnus Dei,
quitollis peccata mundi: miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei,
quitollis peccata mundi: miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei,
quitollis peccata mundi: dona nobis pacem.

 

AMDG

Wonder Doubled: Don’t Feed the Monkeys

We have a new post up at the USCCB website For Your Marriage.

I lived with my grandparents for a few years before I started grade school.  They were of Eastern European descent and were an endless source of ethnic food, culture, and insights which I retain to this day.  When I wasn’t immersed in Slavic culture, I was exposed to the influence of 1960s America via the television set resting on doilies in my grandmother’s living room.  I was particularly enamored with the colorfully cartoonish Batman show of that era.  I would pester my grandmother to let me know when my show came on.  This was especially important because I had once turned the television on by myself one afternoon, only to be confronted by the fanged visage of Barnabas Collins, a character on the Dark Shadows gothic soap-opera.  I relied on Grandma after that.

You can read the whole article here.

AMDG

TToT (11) - All of November Should Be This Good

 

- one -

We are only a week into November and already it as been a great month.  After trick-or-treating with my niece, we spent the night at Sis and BIL's house and went to Mass and out to breakfast with them on the first.  What a perfect way to being the month!

- two -

I unexpectedly had a the day off on Wednesday.  Since the weather was perfect, we decided to go to the zoo.  I haven't been to the zoo in years and we had never been to this one.  Oh my goodness, what fun!

 

- three -

Three cheers for being silly!  Himself took a ride on the caterpillar in the zoo gardens.

 

- four -

Not to be outdone, I posed as a penguin!

 

- five -

And the alpaca posed for many pictures.

 

- six -

The zoo not only has a lot of animals, it has a lot of animal statues.  Some of them amused us more than others.

 

- seven -

The Bradford Pear tree in the backyard still has a few leaves left on it.  It never ceases to amaze me each year to see one tree with so many different colored leaves on it. 

 

- eight -

The awesome weather this week extended into the evenings.  My walks with the hairy beast were just lovely.

 

- nine -

Friday I was treated to lunch by my friend, T.  We could have talked all afternoon.  Unfortunately, I had to head back to work.

 

- ten -

When T. picked me up at work for lunch, she handed me a lovely pink box from the local cupcake store.  Isn't it great when a friend knows you so well that she knows exactly what flavor will make your eyes light up in anticipation?  The raspberry chocolate cupcake was delish!

 

 

Check out more goodness at  A Fly on Our (Chicken Coop) Wall.

 

AMDG

First Photo: November 2015 - Gold Leaves

 

This month starts in beauty and I have no words to add to it as I head out the door to enjoy what sunshine we now enjoy.  I'll let the master of words speak to the season.

 

 

 Gold Leaves

G. K. Chesterton

Lo! I am come to autumn,

When all the leaves are gold;

Grey hairs and golden leaves cry out

The year and I are old.

In youth I sought the prince of men,

Captain in cosmic wars,

Our Titan, even the weeds would show

Defiant, to the stars.

But now a great thing in the street

Seems any human nod,

Where shift in strange democracy

The million masks of God.

In youth I sought the golden flower

Hidden in wood or wold,

But I am come to autumn,

When all the leaves are gold.

 

Taken just one week earlier, on Oct 25th

 

AMDG

There’s a Day for That

Did you know that today is National Chocolate Day?  I didn’t until I saw it on a food blog that I have just started following.

I have noticed lately that there seems to be a lot of “Days.” The obvious ones, the ones that you hear about the most, seem to be around a variety of professions.  National Nurses Day is on  May 6th.  We just missed Teachers Day on October 5th.  And sometime during the year there is Secretaries Day and Hug a Plumber Day.  Veterans Day is coming up on November 11th.

National Techies Day was October 3rd.  I missed that one.  I guess I was too busy celebrating our wedding anniversary.  October 4th, however, is a day not to be missed next year.  National Vodka Day?  Count me in!

There are days for just about any food.  I found fritters, cotton candy, gazpacho, bouillabaisse, maple syrup, roast suckling pig, oatmeal muffin, sangria, French fried shrimp, vinegar, doughnut, nachos, pickle, baklava, stuffing, French toast, whipped cream, popcorn, granola bar, Irish coffee, blueberry pancake, peanut butter and peanut brittle, homemade soup, frozen yogurt, fettuccine alfredo, tortellini, plum pudding, chocolate soufflé, and cream cheese brownie days.  Whew!  And those are just days in five months.  I didn’t look at the other seven.

I’m sorry I missed National Pro-Life Cupcake Day on October 9th.  I’ll put in on the calendar now so I don’t miss it next year.

There are some that just make me scratch my head.  Moldy Cheese Day was on October 9th and No Bra Day was October 13th.  Must I ask why?

We will be busy on December 2nd.  We will be celebrating National Mutt Day.

So how are you celebrating National Chocolate Day?  Me?  I think we’ll have brownies for dessert tonight.


AMDG

Photo Credit

The Long Awaited and Much Anticipated Nancy Brown is Here!

If you have read this blog for any length of time, it comes as no surprise that I am an avid fan of GK Chesterton.  In addition to reading a number of his works, I have also had the opportunity to attend several of the conferences hosted by the American Chesterton Society. 

 

We had the pleasure of meeting, and also sharing a college dorm apartment, with Nancy Brown at the first conference we attended at Mount Saint Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland.   At a later conference, Nancy gave one of the talks.  Her topic?  The woman behind the man - Frances Chesterton.  Although the couple lived a century earlier, I started to identify with them.  They, too, dealt with infertility and never had children. 

 

Nancy has written a number of books, but this is the one for which I have been waiting - The Woman Who Was Chesterton.  I've been looking forward to reading this for a while and my mailbox held a welcome surprise when I got home from work.   

 

I haven't started it yet, but my guess is that you, too, should have your own copy.  You can get it here, here, or here.  I'm in the middle of reading two other books.  I guess it's now three.

 



 AMDG

The Dinner Party That Wasn't, or Was It?

A couple of weeks ago I called my husband's aunt and invited her and her husband over for dinner.  We planned on Sunday, the 18th, at 2pm.  Himself and I haven't seen them for a while, probably at a graduation or First Communion party, and were looking forward to their visit.

 

We spent yesterday cleaning and picking produce from our garden.  I made an apple pie and a loaf of pumpkin bread so that we would have a couple of choices for dessert.

 

Before church I prepped the carrots and potatoes that were going into the crockpot with the pot roast.  While I was setting the table, I mentioned to himself that we should do this more often, but just for ourselves.  He looked at me quizzically. 

 

I am admittedly not a good housekeeper.  I am great at keeping clutter at bay but I don't dust, vacuum or do all those other cleaning type things nearly often enough.  But, oh how good I feel when the house is clean!  I figured that we should do a deep clean more often and have our Sunday dinner in the dining room at a prettily set table.

 

Well, two o'clock came and went.  One of the roads nearby is closed for construction, so we thought that they might be delayed by the detour.

 

At about two thirty we started thinking that maybe they thought we had planned on 3pm.

 

When three o'clock passed, we started to get worried.  We were hoping and praying nothing bad had happened.

 

Finally, at about twenty after three I called his aunt.  Since she has caller ID she knew immediately who it was on the other end of the line.  She asked sheepishly "Are we supposed to be there this weekend?" 

 

Yep, she had written down our dinner plans for the 25th, not the 18th.  She felt so bad and couldn't apologize enough.  As long as they were okay and nothing bad had happened, we didn't care.

 

And, actually it worked out okay.  We did just what I had wanted to do in the future.  We had a dinner party for two.   

AMDG

The TV Show That Broke My Heart

The TV show Castle has quickly become one of my favorites.   In turn, it can funny, pithy, serious, and suspenseful.  You know from the start that Richard Castle was falling madly and deeply in love with Kate Beckett.  She fought it for a while, but finally succumbed to his charms.

 

As a woman, you want to be her – a beauty pursued in a gentle, persistent, and insistent manner.  I think guys want to be him - intelligent, masculine, handsome and funny.   It took six seasons, but Castle and Beckett finally became “Caskett,” tying the knot in a romantic, sunset, beachside, intimate wedding. 

 

The recent two part season opener, however, makes me want to bag the series.  Kate has demons from her past, and apparently some deep secret, that only a stranger can help her excise.  So, in order to “protect” Castle, her husband, she leaves him.

 

Huh???

 

There are days when Himself and I can annoy the bejeezus out of each other.  But, when it comes right down to it, he is the one person that I know I can count on, no matter what.  He has my back. He’s there to help me, to protect me, and sometimes, even save me from myself.  He knows I will do the same.

 

Castle may be just a television show, but I think it reflects something bigger.   Marriage has become something where we only want our spouse to see our better parts.   Wedding vows on television are all about “you make me smile” and “you’re my best friend” and “I like who I am when I am with you” sort of things.   That's the easy part. 

What about I’ll love you and honor you in good times and in bad?  If there are demons out there, I want to fight them together. 

That’s the kind of marriage I want.

 

AMDG

It Was a 'Yeah God' Sorta Day

As I mentioned in TToT(10), two weeks ago I was in Colorado and Wyoming.  I needed to be in Cheyenne on Monday morning for training at our plant and the flight was much, much cheaper if I flew in on Saturday rather than Sunday.

So that left me with a day to “kill”.  Sunday found me driving from Denver to Estes Park and then on to Cheyenne.  What a day that was!

A former coworker who had just moved to Estes Park gave me some advice about things to see.  She also warned me that on a weekend traffic could be heavy and therefore slow.  Taking that into account, I hit the road early.

I have to admit that I find much of Colorado rather meh.  It’s a dessert after all, lots of dry grass and sandy brown dirt.  But this drive showed me the beauty in all that.  Huge, wide open spaces and vistas like none other I’ve seen.

As I drove north on I25 I began to think I was seeing things.  UFO sorta things.  And I was.  Hot air balloons and lots of them.  Out came the camera and my first attempt at road photography began.
  

 



 

I had the radio tuned to a local country music station.  As I got closer to the mountains, Tim McGraw's song Top of the World came on.  Oh so appropriate!

Don't know where we're gonna be
But I know we're gonna be
Sitting on top of the world
So keep hanging on to me
Yeah, don't you wanna be
Sitting on top of the world
Top of the world

 

 

I stopped at the Visitors Center in Estes Park.  When I told the woman there that I had limited time but would love to see some of Rocky Mountain National Park she suggested Lily Lake.  It was a fairly easy drive and didn't require paying a fee to enter.  Since I was a little uncertain about driving some of the roads I had seen in RMNP, and I was too cheap to pay the twenty dollar entrance fee, it sounded perfect.

It was. 

It doesn't matter what direction I looked, the views are stunning.  I would walk ten or twenty feet, stop, take a picture, and repeat.  I met an artist along the way and chatted with her a bit.  She was happy to share her work with me.  As we talked I told her that seeing all this made me think "Yeah God!" and she agreed.

 

 

 

 

The day ended with the lunar elcipse.  I stood in the parking lot of my hotel watching it with a dozen or so other travelers, knowing that Himself was at home doing the same.

I couldn't help but think about how awesome the day had been.  How perfect, how glorious a world our good Lord gave us. 

Shouldn't every day be a Yeah God sorta day?

AMDG