Harapnuik Adventures

Our 1998 van served us well the climb up to 12,640 feet to Winter Park, CO. The mountains on both sides, in our eyes, are like summers before on mountains before. The richness of green, the smell of pine and cedar began the excitement of being in a space in time where Levi and Caleb could enjoy the thrill of driving their bikes down a crazy high mountain and test their skills that have been somewhat dormant for a year.

Keystone, Colorado 12,900 feet

A born and bred West Texan said to me today, “Been to Victoria and it’s beautiful, but I’d never want to live there. I’m a true Texan who loves flat: blue and brown. Green is not my color”. I laughed with him and his obvious contentment in his home.

Driving away after the 2 1/2 weeks of  the  Colorado Rockies we began the descent. I was amazed at the beauty and thought how I had missed the view of what was behind when we were working our way to the top. Looking back, we see beauty we missed the first time.

Going back to Canada I saw the beauty that I missed the many other times I’ve traveled the way.  When people in Texas hear that I’m from Canada they always, and I mean always say, “It’s so beautiful up there”. I often reply that there are parts that aren’t so beautiful. I will change that response.

Driving from BC into Alberta I could hardly grasp the beauty. I was constantly interrupting the boys with, “Look at how turquoise the water is,  look at how white the snow is, how purple and gray and ragged the mountains are, how many greens there are in the trees, how rich, how fresh, how blue, how… have I missed it all before?”.  Our God did His great work in the Canadian Rockies. Then there’s the Alberta prairies stretching like long open arms across the horizon where the blue meets the green and nothing stands in the way. Where angry skies wait to unleash their tears onto blazing yellow miles of canola held up by fragile green legs; all of this vastness making it difficult to return my eyes to the road.

My memories were not this vivid. I am reminded. How. Beautiful. Is. This. Land.

And the people. There’s something unique and deep being with people who know and are part of your history, my brother and sisters

Glen and Sarah Stuart's children

and to those whom I’ve adopted as sisters.

Jann, our lives entwined before we knew how to spell entwined and became my “RCMP friend” that Levi and Caleb know will bring with the mention a story about stealing (me, not her).

Trudy and her family, whose connection runs across growing from quasi adulthood to walking through the years of watching our babies grow and becoming people whom we admire.

Typical time with Trud...tipping a canoe

Elna, the one who never lets me off the hook and shows me my inner face and teaches me to love what’s there, cause she does and “it’s all good”.

Julie, who asks the right questions and isn’t afraid to hear the answers and listens and breathes deep sighs with me and feel the pain/joy/doubt/hope/instability. Leah, with her excitement fresh off the plane from 1/2 a world away; contagious experiences that connect across miles.

Cathleen: time stands still with her and nothing else matters except now, and I’m forever late leaving the coffee bar for there’s always more to know and ask and tell.

Joan(ie) sharing what’s new after many adjustments in both of our lives; me moving away and her moving back. She’s the owner of my most quoted quip, “it’s not wrong; it’s just different” which has taken my stubborn brain through banking, medical and grocery store mishaps in the last year and partnering in my second most quoted quip, “it’s not where you are, it’s who your with that matters”. All ladies tremendous gifts from God.

But greater still is family. The rest that comes with being with the first gifts God gave me. No fake fronts or time of hesitant eye contact to see if it’s still there; the acceptance and love and depth of understanding that I’ve come to rely on for rest. Peace.

I enjoy being in two families as a daughter and sister and aunt and cousin and niece again.

I met new babies that will be loved as I was in circle of our family.

I’m not quite sure how humans can operate without this circle. I know they do, I’m just not sure how.

Looking back to Canada allowed me to look back at Abilene. It’s been just over a year in our new home of Abilene and we drove into Lethbridge on our one year anniversary of leaving Lethbridge. It’s been a climb for me. I’m not a hiker. I’d rather sit in a coffee shop with my book and look at pictures that others took on the hike than do it myself. Last year I am in the boots sometime carrying a walking stick, but mostly not.

I follow the path, looking down to make sure I don’t stumble over rock or root. I miss the excitement of the top, the details on the side, the beauty on the way. I only notice the obstacles that trip me or make me work too hard to avoid, or fight too hard to get over.  But God in His grace gives me a second look and a second chance. I see what we have become. I hear the boys say they miss Abilene. I feel a draw to return to our home. And when we land, I know we are in the right place. I know that the climb has been hard, but when turned and looking  back, it is beautiful and awesome and good.

God knows what He is doing, not letting us know the future. We would run from it, hide, lock ourselves away. We would never know the beauty of looking back because we would never move forward. We would never know how good He is if we didn’t trust in His goodness. He gives us spiritual markers, “a ha” moments along the way to remind us how far we’ve climbed. Stop. Turn. Look. The climb is part of the journey. Even if it’s long and high, the beauty that it’s grown in you wouldn’t there if you didn’t take the steps forward, in trusting it’s where He wants you.

(verses from a quilt hanging in the Gleaners lunch room).

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This is a quick post. Ken and Heather are taking us out for dinner after the big day of moving, but I must tell you about this lady.

Lydia is a mom of a freshman college age daughter and a 13 year old son. Her husband teaches at ACU and she home educates. I met her through her son who befriended Levi and Caleb the first month we were here.  They moved here from Portland 7 years ago and knows the struggles of being uprooted.

She is such a blessing in my life. She invites me to everything, encourages me in everything and I can talk to her about everything. God knew what I needed in a pal and she is it.

Today she called up after all the moving was completed and said she wanted to stop by with something. She has an injury that kept her from helping in the move, but she knows every nick and cranny of our house cause she helped clean it from top to bottom. 20 minutes later she’s at our door with a pan of noodle bake, salad, watermelon and cake! You know the type of person she is cause I’m sure you have on in your life, or you are one in someone’s life. She is a true servant, always available for those God places in her life. I call over and she’s had an over nighter of 3 extra boys from age 2-7 cause the family had to go to Dallas for medical reasons, she may be driving someone’s dog across the country so it doesn’t have to fly on a plane cause she’s going anyway for a vacation. She mends, bakes, knits, entertains, babysits, teaches, tutors, etc. and she’s my prayer partner where she’s carved an hour out of her week to meet. She just called to let us know that their pool is open for the summer and we are welcome to use it anytime, even if they’re not there.

I know it sounds like it’s because of all she does that she is so important in my life. It’s more than that. It’s who she is and it spills into service. She loves the Lord and is always looking for a way to show His love in her world. I have learned so much from her in our conversations and watching her life. Just wish you all could meet her and have a lovely chat.

God love her and so do I!

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Last Saturday when we went to the gym to play games we played Hockey!!!!!! The 9 other guys actually did pretty good for the first time. Too bad I couldn’t score that much (that wouldn’t be fair). But I got dad pretty good. Mwa ha ha ha ha

The night before, we went to Big Five Sports Store to get some more sticks and balls. We went to the storage bin to get our sticks. After a little bit of showing the guys how to hold their sticks, we started. They were different from any other group that we have played with because the just went crazy. They weren’t that good at stick handling or shooting but they rushed at you swinging their stick at the ball. It was really fun and I think they had fun too.

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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Baba’s bread is almost gone. What will I do?????? Oh wait. I can make more,

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Dwayne did me a huge favor last week. I don’t have many Christmas traditions, but one is pulling out Bruce Cockburn’s Christmas album around September. In an age of itunes, we’ve left all our cd’s in storage, so everything we listen to is via ipods, not cd players (my comfort zone). Not having many things familiar around this time of year, my lovely man downloaded Bruce for me and I’m a happy woman. There were two happy boys to, as they listened and remembered their favorite. The Huron Carol, Go Tell it on the Mountain, Joy to the World all hold a Christmas part in their heart. Guess it only takes 15 years of seasonal playing to get them on board for some unique Christmas music. ya!

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I HAVE THE 100 POST ON THIS  WEB SITE….. But i don’t know what to write about on it

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Were going to lubbok this friday to look at a giant STP. If I don’t like it I’ll get a P3. only 1 more

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Yes, I want to post the 100th post of this website. Only six more I think……

We went to Dallas Saturday to look at some bikes at Richardson Bike Mart. We looked at a P3 for me and if I don’t find any other good bikes than I think I’ll get a P3. We went to airsoft this Sunday and I got one person.I want the P3 because it has single speed chain and it feels the best out of all the P series. Here are some specs…

The originator of the progressive hardtail, P. bikes are still the finest when it comes to dirt jumping, urban street and park riding. With spot-on geos, up to the minute specs and overall durability, it’s no wonder folks like Darren Berrecloth like to throw these bikes around just to see what sticks.

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Since it’s thanksgiving Here are somethings I am thankful for.

Family
Gods love

food

shelter
LIFE!!!!

There are a lot more but you get the idea…..I hope. :p

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I learned that is snowed in Edmonton yesterday. That is weird because it rained the same day. We will do another post soon.

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