earth day

hello, weirdos.

happy earth day! i hope that you were able to go out and spend time in His creation--admiring the blue, starry, or grey sky above your head; enjoying one of your favorite hikes, adventuring somewhere abroad, or laying in a grassy patch with a favorite book. i spent my day in joshua tree national park (located in socal). i hiked through the desert terrain and took in the beautiful flora in bloom. granted, i'm not a botanist but i can't fathom how something so vibrant can thrive in a desert terrain. throughout a chunk of my exploring time, i kept singing gungor's beautiful things. in the midst of dry sand, flowers were blossoming and providing habitats for local insects, reptiles, and wild life.

it's an interesting thing -- to hike by oneself. contemplated playing some gregory alan isakov but decided to walk among nature's own soundtrack: the sound of buzzing bees, scurrying lizards, the rare breeze blowing through the joshua tree, and my rapid heart beat. it was strange not having lush forest surrounding me with the comforting sound of running water or seeing your neighborhood porcupine a few feet over.

i spent time on hike #1 talking aloud to myself and also spent solid time reflecting on my devotional from this morning--going through women of the Old Teste. today's emphasis was placed on Shiphrah and Puah (hebrew midwives to pharoah). these two women were ordered by pharoah to kill newborn baby boys but because of their relationship with God, they disobeyed pharoah's orders and let them live. these women had every right to fear pharoah in their disobedience but they feared God's wrath and holiness even more so. as a result of their loyalty to Him, He blessed them with their own children. fast forwarding to today, there are definitely moments in whch we have to choose between the fear of God and the fear of man. i should always choose God because His law and love trump all things; He will honor my bold obedience. and He has and will for sure continue to. it just comes back to patience and complete trust that He will guide me through hardships to the gates of glory. it's wild.

hike #2, up mt. ryan, was much more challenging--as there was a giant elevation gain in about 1.5/2 miles. i went into it thinking, "i hike all the time in alaska--this will be a piece of cake." i went HAM but shortly found myself in a state of humility as i was battling the ninety degree weather, tender legs, and constant thirst. on the way down, i ran into another group who had a five year old. i passed them but the five year old stayed by me, so passersby going up thought he was mine. and then when i left, he told me that he loved me. sure, i want to be a mom (of five) (i think) but NOT NOW.

(granted, i am binge watching say yes to the dress while my body marinates in aloe vera but it's more so i'm living vicariously through the diva brides and thinking "never will i be like this." i'm humbled once again as i am gently reminded that it's not my place to judge the girl crying about her dress not having enough poof and glitter...)

no other weird encounters thus far -- other than california drivers make me mega salty and cause me to call them names: butt crust, ball sack, and chumps. working on cleaning it up.

that's all for now.

xoxo
-A