The Top Ten Reasons...

...why I will never be Kelly Bass when I grow up:

#10. because I love my *pink* thermal underwear and my *pink* hoodie and I plan to wear them to every campout this year

#9. because I have pretty much lapped her in height

#8. because I like taking pictures of flowers  (although I almost took a picture of bear "scat" when
we were at Boy Scout camp as well as a picture of a tree branch that looked like a Q)

#7. because I would never rappel down a mountain when there is a perfectly good path to walk down

#6. because I don't think I could ever have as much energy as she has...even if I drank three energy drinks a day (although I am pretty sure that would be quite amusing)

#5. because, after looking all over our tent at camp, I never did figure out where to plug in my curling iron

#4. because I cannot get up at 4:30 a.m. to run with my dog...my dog is way too lazy

#3. because I could never fit five days worth of clothes in a backpack, much less five days worth of clothes, a tent, a sleeping bag AND my share of the food

#2. because I am sorely tempted to bedazzle my baseball cap

                        and the number 1 reason why I'll never be Kelly Bass when I grow up...

#1. because I don't think I will ever be able to "leave no trace"

     

Last Week I Learned... Part Four

                               ...a buck in your purse is better than three bucks in the backyard

...into each life a little rain must fall...and in Colorado that usually happens every day

...our campsite is our "home sweet home" and home is that much sweeter when we can put the "smellies" in the trailer so the bear can't get them

  ...it might be a hill to you but it is a mountain to me.




























...the sky seems bluer, the grass seems greener and God seems nearer in Colorado

                                                ...good things come to those who wait

                                                ...bad things happen to good people

                                                ...and some things you just can't figure out

Last Week I Learned... Part Three

 ...it's going to rain so I better be prepared.

...just let the bear have whatever the bear wants














...and stay out of his way...unless you're burly and have a big voice...(or a stick and a pile of rocks)

         .
                       ...you've got to keep climbing, even when the mountain seems impossibly high

              ...if you go hiking with this guy he will take really good care of you










...bloom where you are planted...even if it is in the middle of the path...and you might get stepped on

                                                               ...keep looking up

                        ...there will always be another mountain for another day---at least, in Colorado

Last Week I Learned... Part Two

                                                  ...to look for reminders of the love of Jesus everywhere







 

...a few aspen trees can make even a scummy lake beautiful

...I don't need reveille when the sunrise calls to me as it kisses the trees on the mountain above our campsite

                                                       
                                                          ...even the trees have eyes

...to put my focus on what is really important--both in life and in photography

                    ...stopping to smell the flowers is worth having to run to catch up

Last week I learned: Part One

                                      ...there's joy in the journey as well as in the destination.

                                                        ...even thistles are beautiful.



















...this is fashionable footwear at camp.













...Spam isn't really so bad...as long as you're hungry and there is lots of cheese on top!

...perspective is everything. The tree seems bigger than the mountain but that is just because I am closer to it.  Should I focus on the mountain I could climb tomorrow or the tree I could climb today?





                                           
                                                   ...whatever you do, stay on the path

..