Zion Day 2

It appears that early morning drives up the coast with a carload of surfboards, food, and boys will be my ticket to sorting and editing pictures this summer. I get to sit in the car with my books and journals, and with my computer and images, until it warms up and the sun comes through the marine layer. I'm not complaining one little bit about this arrangement.

On the other hand, Blogger has recently changed things up again and this has been a little frustrating. I don't have the time or the interest to figure out coding and html stuff. I can no longer apply my usual workflow and I'm going cross-eyed trying to tweak default image settings. I've figured a few things out, but pictures remain wonky on mobile devices. Had I ever imagined I'd be blogging for as long as I have, I might have chosen a different platform!

But for what ever reason, I'm still persisting in this hobby despite all the impetus to stop.

Zion, Day 2

June 2020

I mentioned previously that Covid-19 closures and limitations challenged our strategic planning skills. With the shuttle buses closed and extremely limited parking in the canyons, few cars make it in each day. So we got up shortly after 3 a.m. (felt an hour earlier because of a time zone change) and lined up for park admittance just before 4 a.m. We couldn't believe how many people had beat us there! The park opened at 6 a.m., and I later discovered it maxed out by 6:08. Needless to say, we were among those who got in.

Do what you gotta do in life!  

I've hiked under the stars before, but never in morning twilight. It was absolutely dreamy!

The immensity of the rocks, the depth of the canyons, and the beauty all around were too much for me to capture. The scenery is arresting. It was utterly impossible to look at such splendor and not ascribe majesty and glory to God. For me, natural beauty wells up adoration for the Creator, and such personal peace knowing this creator is my God and Father.

The climb was wonderful. We stopped to explore the crevices some, but we kept our pace knowing that more people would be joining us as the morning progressed. We reached our destination at the exact time the sun crested the mountain across the canyon from us.

Andrew was sitting on the edge of 1070 straight drop. Talk about "arresting" for a mom's heart! I could hardly take the picture!

Yeah, I know I went skydiving this year, but this was freaky! I was so nervous-- 

Andrew was making fun of me here!

One of the most perfect days I can think of...

We kept on passed the main destination because that's how we like to do things... Go further, see what lies beyond, lose the crowds.

Best hiking partner right here!

I love switchbacks! The more, the better! I wondered if they ever host races here...

Sign me up!

My love of the outdoors has often been misunderstood; it has even been implied with sarcasm that I'm a "nature worshiper." Whatever. I'm in good company among the rocks, waters, plants, and creatures-- It always seems to me that we worship the Lord together. 

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy." Ps. 96:11-12

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Rev. 4:11

"For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." 

Rom. 1:20

~Katherine

Resolved to be at Peace

When the pictures from the sky jump place arrived in my email inbox, this is the image that made me pause and smile the longest. This picture represents a feat I am very proud of, even more than jumping out of a plane in mid-air. (Is it arrogant to express pride, or can it be appropriate to rejoice over personal achievements and progress? I choose the latter because I truly am grateful.)

Let me just reiterate that fear had replaced all interest in jumping after I'd been gifted a ticket to the skydive place.

This moment right here was what I had to consciously and consistently set aside as I anticipated the jump. This moment represented the final and hardest act of resolve. I knew that to scoot my body to the edge of the plane, to sit with legs dangling and body ready to drop, and to do it willingly, would be the single most difficult moment. What came after (falling) was more passive in terms of resolve, and active only in choosing to take in the experience. I didn't allow fear to rule me in the days leading up to our jump, or while preparing on the ground, or during the 20 minute flight up. One single flinch in this resolve and I would have changed my mind in an instant. I'm so thankful I didn't!

Instead, when fear was menacing and threatened to dominate, I was resolute and at peace. I'm proud of jumping, yes, but more so that inner peace conquered over the tyrant of fear.

I'm not naturally a strong person, but when strength of any sort comes, truly, I am humbly grateful. Self-control is both practiced and received as a gift (Gal. 5:22-23). There are so many ways that implementing self-control is needful in my life. Determined self-control or resolve to do difficult things are persistently needed. For instance, resolve...

To take the first steps of a 15 mile run, or to run to the bitter end
To accept an invitation to speak
To let a child grow into independence, to let them risk, or even fail
To accept the unexpected
To attend an event where people who are cold to us are present
To try something new and difficult, to grow
To say hard but needful things
To be a participant and to contribute, to make myself vulnerable; or
To be guarded, to discern, to draw boundaries
To accept not being understood
To break the mold of expectations, to be unashamedly human, to disappoint
To accept my lot (portion), to live open handedly
To remember hardship, to feel and acknowledge, to move on
To let go what cannot be changed
To serve while being treated as a servant, and to continue serving
To love despite cost
To see past this temporal life
To plead for an outcome, then to wholeheartedly trust God

To be at peace in any storm. And to smile.

>:<

We are urged to "be filled with the Spirit" by the very same Spirit of God who commands, "Peace, be still!" 

I want it fiercely.

Who cares about a dumb picture and about self-imposed thrills? Who cares about practicing mind games to conquer fear if it's all just selfish and temporal?

I want something deeper.

"The peace that passes understanding will guard your heart in Christ Jesus." That's what I want! How do we find this peace? Because "The Lord is at hand" right here, right now, inviting us into relationship and intimate conversation: "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Then He comforts our anxieties and quiets us with his love. (Phil. 4)

Set your heart resolutely on Christ who said: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." 
(John 14:27)


~Katherine

Skydiving at Last!

Choose your favorite quote:

"Any idiot can fly a plane, but it takes a special kind of idiot to jump out of one." -Unknown

"Those who don't jump will never fly." -L. A. Almashat

"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you." -Unknown

To some, we're that special kind of idiot. I'm certainly not a daredevil (I'm even afraid of heights), but I do enjoy a good thrill. In a sort of curious and dreamy way, I've often wondered what it would be like up there in the sky, free falling and then soaring. Those little orange parachutes looked so fun up against the blue sky. I had mentioned this interest to Jon in sort of a casual, non-committed way.

Then he went and bought tickets for our anniversary.

And I immediately became terrified of jumping. I couldn't fathom doing it anymore. No more curiosity, only fear.

We held on to those tickets for nearly a year and half until they were set to expire. Every time Jon mentioned we should set a time to go, I'd avoid him with a hesitant "uh-hum." When the kids asked I'd respond, "Oh, sometime. I don't know exactly..." and I'd hope Jon would take a hint and sell our tickets instead. 

But being averse to wasting money, we set the date just before the tickets expired, and I took on the challenge of ruling my fears. So glad I did. This was a thrill I'm so grateful to have experienced!

13,000 ft.

Countdown to freefall

It's not a feeling easily described. It's a thrilling mix of super-woman and utter helplessness.

I had read that it would all happen so fast, that your mind and body are experiencing too much to process, and that the first jump would be a blur. I didn't want my jump to be wasted like that; I determined to be aware of the moments, mentally present, consciously taking it in. That was my goal, and it was this one objective that helped to suppress and smother fear.

What a relief when that parachute went up!

Without waiting for me to respond, my instructor took us on a "rollercoaster" ride. He asked if I like rollercoaster just as he pulled on the right tether, and immediately we were off. In that same moment I thought, "Shoot! I forgot to tell him I don't want to do that thing!"

This is where the parachute and jumpers are closer to being parallel to the ground rather than perpendicular, and you start spinning in a corkscrew fashion. 

Somehow I still smiled for this part. 

Now, seeing these pictures, I wonder my a smile doubles as my expression of terror. Is there something totally messed up about me, or have I mastered a facade?!

Stable once more, and taking it all in...

Possibly Jon in the sky to the left. It's hard to tell. We were the first pair of eight to jump and Jon was second, but somehow I was not the first to land.

Our landing field below next to the airstrip.

Olivia and Michael came to watch and took some shots as well. The images above were GoPro shots, while the ones below are Olivia's. I've posted each set in chronological order.

We spent a long time in the wait area watching jumpers roll and prepare their gear.

There's no one else I'd rather jump from a plane with...

We bungee jumped when we were dating and took a paragliding lesson for our 10th anniversary (short solo flights with a radio strapped to the harness).

Getting set up and choosing... to trust a stranger.

Would you do it?

~Katherine