Love is...

Love is forgiving and making amends.
Love isn't passive and always defends.
Love is so deep, honest and open.
Love isn't about listening, but hearing the unspoken.

Love is about faith, trust and loyalty.
Love isn't just about making memories, but finding your destiny.
Love is sincere, honest and true.
Love isn't about the old, but about creating something new.

Love is about feeling what others merely only dream.
Love isn't about being poorly glued - more like stitched at the seams.
Love is so special; when you get it, don't let it go.
Love isn't wondering what could've been, it's about what you already know.

Love is about second chances, forgiving what's been said and done.
Love isn't abut finding new, but realizing you already have the One.
Love is patient and always makess time.
Love isn't about what's been lost, but about what you'll find.

Love is about kindness and staying true to your heart.
Love isn't about being separated, but becoming stronger as you're apart.
Love is about not wanting to argue but always ready to fight.
Love isn't about what went wrong, but about what's right.

Love is about being fearless, fearing nobody and nothing.
Love isn't about wanting everything, but always cherishing that something.
Love is about always being there through the thick and thin.
Love isn't about saying good-bye but saying hello again and again.

Love is about keeping promises through the imperfection and flaws.
Love isn't about starting over, but picking up where you paused.
Love is about perseverance - supporting them through the good and bad.
Love isn't about changing dreams, but chasing the ones you had.

Love is about the simple things, and not sweating the tough.
Love isn't about what's on the outside because what's inside is enough.
Love is about taking chances and living what's real.
Love isn't about apologizing for what was said, just say what you feel.

Love is rejoicing in the good, becoming stronger in the worst.
Love isn't self-healing but seeking help from His word.
Love is believing in God and the love He gives.
Love isn't about imagining - your love is to be lived.

-- Emilie Lauren Mankey
                  July 25, 2010

Camping and Hiking

Dave and I decided to finally put that tent he bought for me in 2008 to good use. Last weekend we went camping in Sequoia National Park at Atwell Mill. While we had a rocky start to getting out the door (returning home three times after leaving to retrieve various important items) by the time we got on the road it was a straight shot: 198E, take a right on to a windy mountain road and keep straight on till morning. We arrived around 6pm and had plenty of campsites to choose from (they are all first-come-first-serve).


We were able to unpack and get the tent set up, a fire going, before it was dark. A Good thing too- it's very very dark out there.  All of our food and "smelly" things such as tooth paste, deoderant, charcoal, and hot dogs - had to be kept in bear-proof boxes - steal containers with a bear-proof handle.

Dave turning hot dogs over the fire.

Dave was very proud of himself - and I was, too - for starting the fire without anything but matches - no starter-logs or anything! As you can see, it was roaring. We didn't feel the chill of the night at all until we'd retired to the tent to play Banana-grams. I was petrified the entire night of bears. I would make Dave check things out outside routinely (sorry, hun). I know what squirrels sound like and that was NOT a squirrel outside the tent. The next morning, as Dave is re-lighting the fire for a breakfast of eggs and coffee, a Park Ranger pulled up to our campsite to write down our receipt number. She informed us that a bear lives on the ridge just above where we camped. And I mean, JUST ABOVE.

The bear lives and walks right up there! On the upper left. Awesome. No wonder I couldn't sleep.

So my fears were legitimate. We told the Ranger we thought we heard him last night and she said, "Well, then that was a deer you heard. If it were a bear, you wouldn't have heard a thing. For as large as they are, they don't make a sound walking about." Again, I'm terrified.

As we were finishing breakfast, some of Dave's squadron-mates pulled up to our campsite. They knew that we were camping, and were on their way to go hiking, decided to drop by (it's on the way) and see if we wanted to come. The hike, TJ describes, is "a moderate 6 mile hike, shouldn't be too easy, but not overly hard." So Dave and I agree. 

Dave at the beginning of the trail.

The Valley. See that far peak in the distance? That's our destination. (Dave and I didn't know that at the time.)

Look! A  picture of Dave and me!

A meadow closer to the top of the mountain.

The view from the top - we are level with most of those peaks. 

The reason we hiked up hill for three miles - crystal clear, all-natural, melted snow lake.

We finally made it!

On the way down, we saw an adolescent black bear. He was 10 feet away from us, munching on some berries.
This only reinforces my fear of bears. 

We had a great time camping and hiking. Hiking- way more difficult than we thought. We thought we'd be walking around, not necessarily up to the top of a mountain. Worth it, though, and we'd do it again. And we discovered that I have a fear of bears.... And caterpillars.

What's for Dinner: Grilled Pizzas

Well, again, this dinner was a while a go, but was delicious none the less. From the magazine found at grocery check out lines around the country, Every Day Food's grilled pizza recipe was yummy. (I bought the magazine because it had a delicious picture of Smores, which made me want them and hence the purchase.)

Typos

I love finding typos or grammatical mistakes. And it's not too difficult, if you just keep a watchful eye. I found one at the doctor's office last week. I suppose I find it gratifying. Here's one I found this morning one World Market.com .

Disclaimer: Just because I enjoy finding typos doesn't mean I never make them!