Time to hit the road again

It's that time of year again - time to pack up the car, fill up the gas tank, put the phone on airplane mode, and literally take a hike (or two or ten).

To say I'm excited would be an understatement. This annual trip is just what I always seem to need - there's nothing like a dose of sunshine (hopefully!) and incredibly beautiful sights to remind you of God's goodness and just how important it is to clear your head from time to time.

This year my friend and I are actually going to camp in the parks - I finally invested in a sleeping bag, hiking poles, a Camelbak, and hiking boots. (How I made it this far in life without these things considering how much I love the great outdoors is beyond me...) I still don't own a tent - that belongs to my friend.

I must admit that I'm mildly afraid of running into bears; though, a good friend did lend me her bear spray. But I'm going to try to not let that fear interfere with the overall experience or preoccupy my thoughts. (In all honesty, the more I've read about bears in the parks the more comfortable I feel.)

This summer is going to go by so fast - changing jobs/schools, grad school classes and graduation, my sister's wedding. I feel that it will be over in the blink of an eye. I want to drink it all in and enjoy it to the fullest, so bring it on. Let's get this road trip started!

I can't think of anything better (or more needed)

I was scheduled to be at school till 6pm today for aftercare duty, but, as luck would have it, I got out over an hour early. Yes!!! That meant I had time to do a few things I hadn't banked on being able to do tonight: go to the grocery store, eat dinner, and bake a cake. Pretty soon I found the time nearing 7pm, which meant I needed to get going if I was hoping to get to Adoration on time.

Admittedly, I don't go to Adoration nearly as often as I should, but I am convinced that if more people spent time in Adoration our world would be a better place. With such hectic and crazy (and LOUD!) lives, our world (myself included) needs to SLOW DOWN. And Adoration provides just that - an opportunity to be still...to listen...to wonder...to love...

Tonight was a much needed date with Jesus. In His presence I felt such peace and such joy. I can't really even put it into words...but maybe these lyrics are close:

My little heart is swelling with a song from somewhere else,

It's filling up with glory and I'm ringing like a bell,

My little heart, my little heart is racing,

It's racing just to keep up with your love and live to tell, and live to tell,

and it's all I know...

- "No Turning Back," Audrey Assad

I feel like I needed tonight even more so than usual, as I now feel grounded for everything about to happen this weekend and upcoming week (which is the last one before Christmas break). And there are a lot of people in my life who need some extra prayers lifted up to God right now. Tonight, I turned it all over to God, and, therefore, my prayers are in the best hands.