Another photo blog today! I went up to Maine a few weeks ago to see my cousin Kevin, his wife Debbie and their three kids. They moved from Portland to Raleigh, NC last year. I used to be able to travel the hour and a half to visit them easily - but now they are an airplane ride away. They came up to Maine to visit Debbie's side of the family first (LI came next for Kev's and my side of the family) and since Maine is closer for me I chose to visit them there. We spent almost the entire Saturday on Sebago Lake tubing, swimming, sunning and enjoying food and company. It was beautiful. I miss them already.
Sweet Lily on the way to the lake.
Maddy and Zach! My kiddos <3
Lily and a friend playing in the shallow water
"Zach, are you ready to go tubing?" I got two thumbs up!
A couple of Saturdays ago, I met my cousins halfway between Boston and New Paltz, NY. We ended up in Berlin, CT. A town not too far from my hometown, but I had never known there was a Berlin in Connecticut. Go figure. We met for breakfast at The Pepper Pot in Southington which was quite adorable. If you ever make it out to the Southington/Berlin area, I highly recommend the diner. It was large enough for bigger parties, but small-town-esque with the friendliest waitresses. After a filling breakfast, we headed to Ragged Mountain for our 6-mile hike. Except it turned into a 10+ mile hike. We're not exactly sure how much we actually walked since we got lost. Bad. We ended up out of the preserve and had to walk around a reservoir. Thank God it was warm enough to take a little break and go swimming! But getting around the reservoir wasn't the easiest task... the brush got so bad we couldn't pass. So we ended up on private property walking through their apple orchard and reached the street on the other end of the farm. We walked the road until we found a path back into the preserve. We thought we had missed the trail that lead to the peak of the "mountain" (I put that in quotes because in CT there aren't really mountains, just really large hills that disguise as tough terrain every once in awhile). But, we found it! We made it to the top. And it was so worth it.
More of a photo blog today - so enjoy!
We felt like we were on LOST. There were turned over cars in the middle of the trails, no road in sight. It was extremely puzzling. But seriously, how did they get there?
Gina and Laura... before getting lost :)
So many bugs! Swatting them away all... day... long... Good lord.
Calm part of the trail. Little did we know what was just ahead.
The climb! (Please no Miley references)
Thank God we stumbled across the apple orchard eventually. We had walked completely out of the preserve and we didn't know how long it would take us to get back to our car. We were hungry! And the apples were just ripe enough 0:)
The orchard
FINALLY made it. The detour took too long in my humble opinion. But oh! was it worth it. This shot was to my left.
To the center...
A little to the right... (yes, that's the reservoir we walked around)
All the way right.
Photo opp.
You can tell I'm tired, but happy!
The ropes by our feet are rock climbers... yikes!
Up close.
Can you see us?
We did it!
So tired by the end... we had to take a little nap :)
Ragged Mountain
Near where we parked our cars there were 30 pairs of shoes hanging on the electrical lines. We're not sure why. But Gina wanted to join in on the fun without losing her shoes forever. This was her compromise. Ha!
Seriously, what is up with Ragged Mt? Cars in the woods, shoes in the sky?
So I have these great photos I want to share. Photos from my past two weekends. I love weekend trips. They are what I live off of in the summer months. But I forgot my camera cord at the location of my first weekend trip two weeks ago. Which also happens to be my phone charger. So not only am I charging my phone in my car for an hour or two every day (which is highly inconvenient), I'm also trying desperately to be patient with accessing my photos and being able to upload them. Give me after this weekend and I will get back to everyone! I can't wait to update you all on what is going on in my life :-)
Pandora is a God-send. I find these amazing songs I would never otherwise hear. Today I was listening to my Tenth Avenue North station trying to be in the spirit of the Lord throughout my day and I heard the perfect song. It's breathtaking and magical. Last night I was struggling with feeling lonely and wondering why it's always me that never seems to find happiness (or contentedness? - per 30 Cent's conversation on Sunday). Sometimes I feel as if I'm not brave enough. I'm shy when it comes to guys but I can hold my own in a group. Something about the intimacy of looking at someone and knowing that they know you like them. It's scary. The movies make it look effortless. It's not. Staring down that guy across the room and holding the gaze is one of the most brave things anyone can do. Yet I'm afraid. And I don't know how some people can so openly show themselves to others. I feel like I need to see someone prove their worthiness before I open any part of me. And that's partly healthy and partly not. But beyond being brave, I must remind myself to be patient. And that's what I'm struggling with lately. I'm not asking for my future husband right now. I honestly think I have a lot of learning to do before that happens. But I would like to be thought attractive, interesting, likable. And then the song came on. Love is Waiting. I was exploring my new obsession, Pinterest, and sifting through some of the most creative photos I've ever seen and I was pulled out of my soft bubble.
"I'll be waiting for you baby."
My! Using a shoe organizer as a pantry organizer for small items is brilliant!
"I'll be holding back the darkest night."
Wow that storage unit is super cute and convenient.
"Love is waiting 'til we're ready, 'til its right. Love is waiting."
The song pulled me out of my procrastination exploration and I just had to hear the rest of the song. I YouTube-d (can that be used as a verb?) the song, sung by Brooke Frasier, and absolutely fell in love. I had to tell the world ("I'm in love, I'm in love and I don't care who knows it!" - Elf). Many of the viewers take this song to mean that love means waiting for marriage. A sentiment I don't disagree with, but my take is a bit more helpful in my state. Love's waiting until I'm ready. Who is love? God is love. He's waiting until I am ready. Until the man I marry is ready. Until He has done with us what He wants. Until we have learned what we need to move on to the next phase of our life. I know the Lord has not promised me a future with a marriage and a family. But I know He loves me. And this song came just at the right moment. And the Lord hears our hearts. And He's there. Telling us "I know, my daughter, I know. That thing you wanted is not going to happen. Not the way you've always dreamed. I know this hurts. I know this stings. I know you feel like I am distant or not aware of where you are and who hurt you and what you think life was supposed to be like. I know in moments like this you doubt that I can count the hairs on your head or have your best in mind. But please, I am not done. I have barely started to reveal your life to you. I am the God who satisfies your desires with good things. That is me! And when it comes to your hopes and your fears and your dreams, I know, my [daughter], I know" (Jon Acuff).
In the autumn on the ground, between the traffic and the ordinary sounds I am thinking signs and seasons while a north wind blows through I watch as lovers pass me by Walking stories - whos and hows and whys Musing lazily on love Pondering you I'll give it time, give it space and be still for a spell When it's time to walk that way we wanna walk it well
I'll be waiting for you baby I'll be holding back the darkest night Love is waiting til we're ready, til it's right Love is waiting It's my caution not the cold there's no other hand that i would rather hold the climate changes, I'm singing for the strangers about you don't keep time, slow the pace Honey hold on if you can the bets are getting surer now that you're my man
I could right a million songs about the way you say my name I could live a lifetime with you and then do it all again and like I can't force the sun to rise or hasten summer's start, neither should I rush my way into your heart
