I heart Lake Superior

What's goin' on!?!? Well, every few weeks I have been taking some time out and going on a nice hike some where. Well, the other day I got the urge to go to Gooseberry Falls because it was a nice drive and I haven't been there all summer. Well, I happened to go on a cool, cloudy day so it wasn't as beautiful as it would have been if it were sunny. But that's ok. It forced me to really persue God and not sit, stare and be distracted.
These are some pics that I took and then played with some of them to make them cartoon-esque!

Well, it was great. I was able to take my time and wonder down the trail to the shore. The leaves are turning over and there was nice, crisp air all around. I picked a spot on the rock and sat. I breathed in the fresh air, listened to the wind blow, and sat as silently as I could while listening to the waves meet the rock I was sitting on.

*Sidenote: I have come to realize that I enjoy water. I guess I already knew that, but I'm starting to do something about that. I grew up near the Pacific Ocean for half of my life and then when we moved to Austin, TX we swam in pools and then when we had the oppertunity, drive to the gulf Coast and swim there. I grew up in the water. My mom would always call Sister and I fish.

*And we're back.
So as I sat and listened to the waves ever so gently hit the rocks, I had this lovely peace (It really gave me the urge to buy one of those Nature sounds CD's). I just soaked everything up God is His creation. Once again, I felt that God made this shore for me to sit on just for this day and no one else. I like thinking that. No offense to any one else, but it kind of reminds me of being in front of "an audience of One". And when I get to that point, I think it opens up myself to His presences.

The past week has been tough. A friend of mine is going through a hard time and they sent out an email that explained what they were going through. It hit a little close to home with me and put words to what I have been feeling the past few weeks and possibly months. It's scary when you recognize a sin in your life, but yet still are unwilling to change and pull yourself out of it. I have noticed my laziness lately and it's spreading from my working out routeen that I stopped doing, to even making time for devotions during the day. I know I want to spend time with Him, but I have been so disappointed with previous quiet times, that I think "what will make this one any different?"

I have been constantly reminded by some great people that God has put in my life, that sometimes God will allow us to struggle, wrestle, with certain things because in that we are able to realize that He is the only thing, THE ONLY THING, that will last. This world will fade; friendships will fade; circumstances will fade; life will go on, the things around you will change. But God will always be the same- his constant, unconditional love will be and needs to be the only thing that gets us through each day.

This is completely easy to write, but what will I do with this tomorrow morning when I wake up? Will I embrace a new day with new grace and mercy, or will I wake up, get ready and go about my day with little "thank yous" for not getting side-swiped, for getting an item on sale, a rockstar spot in the parking lot etc...

***PS my pinky toe is slowly healing. A little tender, but not bruised anymore and it is a little more flexible.