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Mountain Biking 101
Dev took me on a gnarly biking trail last night up Hobble Creek Canyon. It's an 8-ish mile ride. For 4 miles it climbs up over the mountain ridge with breathtaking views. I am new to the whole mountain biking scene and I am loving it. Like rock climbing, your brain is constantly focused in on your whole surroundings and you have to be hyper concious and aware of the terrain, obstacles, and the best way to approach the challenge in front of you. Deep crevases, big rocks, logs, dips, not to mention the insanity of the downhill where you experience what Devon refers to as controlled "out of control." I didn't know the meaning of that until I braved the dirty decline for myself. The whole time my back tire is fishtailing behind me while my hands are cramping up from holding so tight on the handle bars you'd think my life was on the line, which I definately felt it was a couple times... trying to convince myself that gripping harder will somehow help me restrain the gravitational pull of the monster slope englufing me with it's power. Then just as the ground beneath my tires begins to level out enough for me to catch my breath Devon calls back to me "it's not over yet!" The next drop is somehow even more intense then the one before. It comes faster than my mind has time to capture what's going on but I take it on like I'm an old hardcore mountain bike pro which I know I definately am not, but for a couple minutes I convince myself I am. Then the funniest part of all, after I've conquered the beast, tamed the fury of the mountain, fought to the death and overcome my fears and am within 50 feet on our destination (a.k.a. the jeep parked in the dirt at the bottom of the hill) the bike takes me on and just as I'm basking in my pride of what I've just accomplished, my face is suddenly basking in the dirt and rocks of the slope that felt the need to remind me of my vunerability. I remember that I can't ever really master the greatness and nobility of a mountain for I am only a visitor here. The grandeur of the high peaks overshadow me, whispering beauty and honor. They are to be respected, not dominated or ruled. As humans and creatures, we are born, live and decay as the mountains live on. People can try to claim them, own them, overtake them, degreade or break them. But our journey here is just that, a journey, a visit to this beautiful land we live in. One with a beginning and with a physical end. Our spirits will live on and I believe it is then that we will begin to comprehend the majesty and holiness of all the amazing creations we were surrounded by here on earth. So bottomline, don't mess with the mountains or the mountains might just mess with you!
A Time and Season for Everything
Anyone who knows anything about me, probably knows that winter is something I don't get too psyched about to say the least... A month or two is fine. A white snowy Christmas is great, grand, wonderful, bring it on. But come January 1st, I'm about ready to break out the shorts and flip flops and bask in the sun again. January thru April seem to drag as the dark night creeps in during the late afternoon and frozen air blows and grey skies linger like an annoying neighbor who won't go away. (not that I have any of those) :)
Since marrying into the Krebs family and learning that winter is their FAVORITE season, I have tried to adapt to the cold a little more, grin and bare it the best I can and pretend I'm having the time of my life bundled up in negative 20 degrees on the top of a blustery bone freezing, toe numbing, frosty mountain. But despite me and Dev's differences in temperature and season preferences, I've decided that I am officially going to soak in the season this year and truly, whole heartedly enjoy it. I'm not going to just bite the bullet or eat grimey gofer gut sandwiches and wallow in my own pitty. I have come to the profound but I'm sure to most of you, obvious conclusion that much of the experiences of life are about attitude and perspective.
I was reminded of that great lesson recently on my trip out to Tennessee where I chose to dwell on my seperation from Devon and the boys and as a result, wasn't able to live in the moment or appreciate the opportunities I had to bond with other family, equally loved and cherished. But with that learning, I also learned that life is for learning and I can decide to beat myself up over regret or change my outlook to encourage a brighter outcome next time I am in a similiar uncomfortable situation... like winter!
I think one thing that helps me to face the weather so frightful, a little more delightful this time around, is knowing that I have made a very concious and well thought out decision to live in Utah. Dev and I have looked at out of state possiblities quite a few times, and although I hope we will still have some moving adventures ahead, we decided that living right here right now is the right thing to do. And with that comes countless benefits like closeness to family and friends, tall rugged breathtaking mountains, amazing rock climbing, endless hiking trails, mountain biking (my new fascination), sweet fresh canyons to run up, big muddy lakes to boat on, slot canyons to repel and explore, top of the line resorts to ski on and the list goes on for the outdoor enthusiats we have become.
Of all the places I have been and areas we have considered living, nothing has been comparable to God's great masterpiece of Maple mountain, Needle Peak, Timp, Nebo, Lone Peak and all the other nameless peaks just as spectacular. There are some intriguing things that attract me to living out of state, but I am also pretty attached to my mountains and family here in Utah and if it really came down to making a decision to stay or go, I think the weight in value of those two cherished blessings would probably outweigh anything attempting to pull me away from this place. And so with such incredible gifts I've been given in this quiet valley close to the strong, protecting mountains, I will take all that this environment has to offer. The brisk, cold, but beautifully white winters along with the warm, green, liberating summers.
There is a blessing to be found in every season of life... literal seasons and spiritual seasons...with all the highs and lows of being fully human, vunerable and exposed. And just like the cool, snowy breeze of the season ahead might bring with it a little opposition in my world, it is comparable to any other storm in life... The storm itself is not a negative thing. Instead it is an opportunity for me to create something good or bad. God waits to see if I will thank Him for His glory, see the "beauty of the beast," and praise His name for chances to learn and grow or if I will choose to focus on the storm and block out the light and peace He has to offer. There is a time and season for everything and now is the time to choose to see more, love more, give thanks more, and turn that thanks into giving more of ourselves for all that we have been given.
Since marrying into the Krebs family and learning that winter is their FAVORITE season, I have tried to adapt to the cold a little more, grin and bare it the best I can and pretend I'm having the time of my life bundled up in negative 20 degrees on the top of a blustery bone freezing, toe numbing, frosty mountain. But despite me and Dev's differences in temperature and season preferences, I've decided that I am officially going to soak in the season this year and truly, whole heartedly enjoy it. I'm not going to just bite the bullet or eat grimey gofer gut sandwiches and wallow in my own pitty. I have come to the profound but I'm sure to most of you, obvious conclusion that much of the experiences of life are about attitude and perspective.
I was reminded of that great lesson recently on my trip out to Tennessee where I chose to dwell on my seperation from Devon and the boys and as a result, wasn't able to live in the moment or appreciate the opportunities I had to bond with other family, equally loved and cherished. But with that learning, I also learned that life is for learning and I can decide to beat myself up over regret or change my outlook to encourage a brighter outcome next time I am in a similiar uncomfortable situation... like winter!
I think one thing that helps me to face the weather so frightful, a little more delightful this time around, is knowing that I have made a very concious and well thought out decision to live in Utah. Dev and I have looked at out of state possiblities quite a few times, and although I hope we will still have some moving adventures ahead, we decided that living right here right now is the right thing to do. And with that comes countless benefits like closeness to family and friends, tall rugged breathtaking mountains, amazing rock climbing, endless hiking trails, mountain biking (my new fascination), sweet fresh canyons to run up, big muddy lakes to boat on, slot canyons to repel and explore, top of the line resorts to ski on and the list goes on for the outdoor enthusiats we have become.
Of all the places I have been and areas we have considered living, nothing has been comparable to God's great masterpiece of Maple mountain, Needle Peak, Timp, Nebo, Lone Peak and all the other nameless peaks just as spectacular. There are some intriguing things that attract me to living out of state, but I am also pretty attached to my mountains and family here in Utah and if it really came down to making a decision to stay or go, I think the weight in value of those two cherished blessings would probably outweigh anything attempting to pull me away from this place. And so with such incredible gifts I've been given in this quiet valley close to the strong, protecting mountains, I will take all that this environment has to offer. The brisk, cold, but beautifully white winters along with the warm, green, liberating summers.
There is a blessing to be found in every season of life... literal seasons and spiritual seasons...with all the highs and lows of being fully human, vunerable and exposed. And just like the cool, snowy breeze of the season ahead might bring with it a little opposition in my world, it is comparable to any other storm in life... The storm itself is not a negative thing. Instead it is an opportunity for me to create something good or bad. God waits to see if I will thank Him for His glory, see the "beauty of the beast," and praise His name for chances to learn and grow or if I will choose to focus on the storm and block out the light and peace He has to offer. There is a time and season for everything and now is the time to choose to see more, love more, give thanks more, and turn that thanks into giving more of ourselves for all that we have been given.
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