Relief of Spring - Sunday Snapshot #55

Waterfall - Sunday Snapshot #11

Ears - Sunday Snapshot #10

If You Feel Discouraged, Check This One-Eyed Cat

You know that saying about herding cats? You know, how it's impossible? Well, it's even more impossible to get a cat to pose for an actual picture. Goodness.

If you didn't know I was a cat person, click here.

This is my family's cat. I've grown quite attached to the animal over the years. He's lived in North Carolina, Tennessee, and now Washington. A few days before I came home for the holidays, the cat got into a nasty fight that ended up taking out one of his eyes.

As I spent time with the cat, I noticed his personality and demeanor was pretty much unchanged. He was as affectionate as he'd been before. He was as friendly as he'd been before. It was like he'd never lived through the trial that had ultimately defaced him.

I've seen that in other pets, too. My brother's dog had an injured knee that may be permanently damaged, but the dog kept trying to walk it off anyway.

Animals seem to understand better than humans that there's no use fretting over a trial we can't control. Sometimes, bad things just happen. I've found that the greatest amount of happiness in life comes when we don't only wait for the sunrise, but also appreciate the light cast by the stars.

Daily Adventure: Red Rock Canyon Hike

Micah 7:12 - "In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain."

So after my friends and I chilled in the sun, we finally roused ourselves to go on a hike up red rock canyon.

The red rock part of the canyon.

The triumph and the moon.

Thankfully, only three rescue crews were required to get them out of there.

The canyon prepares to sleep as the sun turns out the lights.

Only four rescue crews were required to get them out of that one.

We didn't have cell phone service. We took a route up a cliff that was less difficult going up than would have been going down. We wandered around for a bit, trying to find sea level without dying. We laughed and ate a picnic lunch and just enjoyed being out in the rough.

I want to do stuff like that more often. I want to feel closer to my roots. I want to dig my fingers, toes, and soul into nature and breathe it in. I want to leave technology behind and find peace in the beauty God created for us.

I'm so grateful when I do.

Sunset (with Added Commentary)

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

I reserved some time yesterday for some introspection.

I went up to the hill by our house, whereupon I'd watched fireworks on the fourth of July, and just watched the Colombia River Gorge as the sun set off on the horizon.

I considered where I've slipped in my own spirituality, what activities I could be improving on, what I wasn't doing at all.

I read scriptures from my smart phone, snapping photos every so often.

I'm not perfect. I recognized many things that needed to change, either for the better or completely.

I nonetheless felt a peace overcome me.

Upon returning home, I led a devotional for the teacher's quorum here at our ward, who were all spending the night in anticipation for assisting with a move this morning.

Dad and I sat and talked about my dreams and aspirations for a spell before we both finally staggered off to bed.

I thanked God for his love, all that he has given me, and all that he will give me.

Hey, there! I wrote a commentary about this post on November 27 of 2014. Click here to read it!