God is in the mountains....

We just got back from our summer vacation. We had a great time traveling through New Mexico and Texas! The bulk of our time was spent in Red River, NM...oh how I enjoyed the mountains in the summer! I can see why people say that "God is in the mountains"...I think that maybe it's because of the peace amidst the movement and the beauty of the quiet growth that surrounds you in the mountains. While we were there, I read Psalm 104...it's a beautiful passage about the majesty that we experienced in the mountains:

"Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight; they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them. You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth. He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work..."

"...These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things...When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works-he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. "

Re-Register and Replace

It is anniversary season. Right around the end of May and into June our friends start talking about their anniversary plans. We're coming up on our 9 year anniversary this year! We don't have any special plans yet, but are excited to celebrate 9 years.

The other day I was talking to my neighbor, Candace, and we decided that it would be nice to "re-register" on our 10 year anniversaries. It was so nice to receive all the kitchen gadgets and dishes and things when we got married, but as the years have gone by those things are starting to fall a part:

Like this chair.
(It fell apart on Saturday night...unfortunately for my neighbor who was enjoying his evening in the comforts of this 9 year old chair.)

I think that I might keep a running tally of the things that are falling apart at our house after 10 long years of marriage. And next year, maybe all our friends will feel sorry enough for us to shower us with replacement gifts! :)

Here's to 9 fun and active years!