Engaged Encounter

Sean and I spent a wonderful weekend on an Engaged Encounter retreat. What a wonderful marriage preparation program! It was so helpful to take a break in all the dress, reception and invitation decisions and agonizing over guest lists to just focus on our marriage and what that means. Our weekend was led by two couples, each coming from different backgrounds and married a number of years, who shared some of their own joys and challenges from their marriages. They were so generous with their time and sharing about what marriage really looks like with a bunch of starry-eyed engaged couples--some serious and others, well, not-so-much.

It was intense, and Saturday, in particular, was an arduous day as we took our communication to a whole new level. It was an intensive weekend of work during which we were offered the time and opportunity to question, examine, and deepen our relationship with each other and with God. Our leaders challenged us to explore our relationship in a much deeper, more honest way than we have been before. One of the most important things is we've developed an understanding of how to fight, make decisions and to forgive easier. In the midst of all the wedding planning stress, we really needed this opportunity to stop and think about marriage, and this was the perfect opportunity to do this.

This weekend, we've grown to love each other more, yet when we first arrived at the retreat, we hadn't thought that would be possible. We're looking forward to receiving the sacrament of matrimony more than ever before. I'm so grateful that we had this opportunity, and so happy that God has blessed me with this wonderful man!

Editorial Review, The Mayflower

Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community and War
By: Nathanial Philbrick
From Sean, Marianne, and Lara’s Required Reading List

Few periods in American history are as clouded in mythology and romantic fantasy as the Pilgrim settlement of New England: The Mayflower, Plymouth Rock, the first Thanksgiving, Miles Standish, the Pokanoket Indians, Massasoit and his son Philip, Edward Winslow and his son Josiah, and the brave and heroic tales of Benjamin Church. What adventures and tales of courage, community, and war that took place in the 17th century, still have a profound influence on this country, because a small group of devout English Pilgrims fled their homeland in England and Holland to escape persecution transformed the New World forever.

From a perilous ocean crossing to the shared bounty of the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrim settlement of New England has become our most sacred national myth. This fifty-five year epic story of the Pilgrims is much more than the well-known tale of piety and sacrifice; it is a tragic, heroic, exhilarating, and profound tale of our country’s beginning. The Mayflower’s religious refugees arrived in Plymouth Harbor during a period of crisis for Native Americans as disease spread by European fishermen devastated their populations. Initially the Wampanoag’s, under the charismatic chief Massasoit, and the Pilgrims, maintained a fragile working relationship. But within decades, New England would erupt into King Philip’s War, a savagely bloody conflict that nearly wiped out English colonists and natives alike and forever altered the face of the fledgling colonies and the country that would grow from them.

This book is required reading for all American History students and history buffs alike.

Summer Joy Hiking in Yosemite

Note: The activities described on this website are potentially dangerous. Hiking involves unavoidable risks including the risk of serious bodily injury and death. All forms of wilderness recreation have a higher level of risk than most ordinary activities. The owner and publisher of this web site do not assume any responsibility or liability for your safety. Those who use this information, and those who venture onto mountainous terrain, do so at their own risk. Now get out there and lets go hiking!

Mount Hoffmann Hike

Yosemite National Park

July 2007

Click on the picture for the Slide Show

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Summer Joy

Summer nights outside with the Pacific Symphony are a sheer delight. Last night was "All That Jazz" with an emphasis on Gershwin. The symphony was joined by a jazz ensemble called the Shelly Berg Trio. And they were amazing together! This was the most emotive and by far the very best version I have ever had the privilege to hear of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Shelly Berg exudes pure joy as he plays jazz piano. His own piece, "Incandescent, Iridescent, Effervescent" is his own musical incarnation. He reminded me of the rafting guide we had last week who would periodically shout, "I LOVE my job!" , only Shelly communicates this with both his music and his whole body. Head back, mouth open, huge grin, body swaying--wow. He was completely in the zone as he played--pure uninhibited passion and rapture. James giggled at first, but I reminded him of how blessed he would be if he is fortunate enough to find a life's work that makes him feel like THAT. He got it. :)

Boys Are Weird.

I was tutoring 2 brothers this afternoon--ages 15 and 11. We were having lunch together while we worked, and they were sharing French fries. The younger boy picked one up and in the middle of our very-serious-conversation about the qualities of good essays says, "Hey! This one looks like a gun!"

Wow--Ok, back to the books.

This is the same boy who last year, while reading a book about Knights and Castles, read this aloud to me, "Severed enemy heads were sometimes thrown to demoralize the opposition." He then proceeded to show me a lovely medieval picture of a trebuchet tossing heads over the wall of a castle. Disgusting. Knowing his sense of humor, I said, "A boy must have thought of this idea."

His response? "Well, duh!"

I love boys.

Kern River Adventure - July 2007

Our View at the Mountain River Adventures Campsite

Our Kern River Adventure

July 2007

Another Edition of Modern Machinery Magazine: The Smoke Stack

A smoke stack is a system for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. They are typically vertical to ensure that the hot gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion through the chimney effect (also known as the stack effect). All pictures taken by the author.

Goodbye, Harry!

A great article written by Stephen King about the final book in the Harry Potter series.

"But there's comfort. There are always more good stories, and now and then there are great stories. They come along if you wait for them. And here's something I believe in my heart: No story can be great without closure. There must be closure, because it's the human condition. And since that's how it is, I'll be in line with my money in my hand on July 21.

And, I must admit, sorrow in my heart."

I agree, Uncle Stevie.

Each Little Bird That Sings

Deborah Wiles has written a wonderful little book, Each Little Bird That Sings, about a young girl named Comfort Snowberger, self-described "Explorer, Recipe Tester and Funeral Reporter". The first line is unforgettable, " I come from a family with a lot of dead people," and continues on in Comfort's clear, sweet voice. You see, Comfort's family owns and runs the Snowberger Funeral home--her father is the mortician, her mother is the florist, and Comfort, her dog, Dismay, and her brother, Tidings, help out wherever they can. The Snowberger family motto is, "We live to serve."

At the beginning of the book, Comfort's great-great-aunt Florentine and her great-uncle Edisto pass away within months of each other, bringing loss into Comfort's life in a new and much more real way, even though she's attended 248 funerals in her young life. In the midst of all this growing up, her best friend, Declaration, and she have a terrible falling out, leaving Comfort feeling very much alone in the world. But something happens to make Comfort realize how strong she really is--all on her own.

I highly recommend this wonderful summer read--full of tidbits of truth about life, love and loss.

Excerpt from Chapter 1:

"I come from a family with a lot of dead people.

Great-uncle Edisto keeled over with a stroke on a Saturday morning after breakfast last March. Six months later, Great-great Aunt Florentine died -- just like that -- in the vegetable garden. And, of course, there are all the dead people who lay temporarily downstairs until they go off to the Snapfinger Cemetery. I'm related to them, too. Uncle Edisto always said, "Everybody's kin, Comfort."

Downstairs at Snowberger's my Daddy deals with death by misadventure, illness, and natural causes galore. Sometimes I ask him how somebody died. He tells me, then he says, "It's not how you die that makes the important impression, Comfort; it's how you live. Now go live a while, honey, and let me get back to work." But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me back up. I'll start with Great-uncle Edisto and last March, since that death involves me -- I witnessed it."

Favorite quote: There is always something good to come out of disappointment, Comfort. You'll see. Open your arms to life! Let it strut into your heart in all its messy glory!--Uncle Edisto

May Lake and Murphy Creek Hike

Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this hike comes from volunteer reports and may be used at your own risk. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of hikes which are posted on this site.

My day started driving into Yosemite National Park after ten in the morning on the 4th of July. I snuck past the Gate Guard Nazis with my expired park pass and headed to my ultimate destination, the May Lake Trailhead. I had the Lord of the Rings Soundtrack playing on the way up the hill as the radio stations had faded into static. I was constantly reminded of Frodo, Sam, Pippin and the gang heading into different directions to save the world from the evil that surrounded them. I made it to the parking area singing along as I found my way through the forest past a small pond. I was eager to get started and save the world from orks and the like as well. I needed a sword but I didn't have one with me. I am sure the Park Nazis would not like me swinging a glowing blue sword on my hike up the hill. My emergency kit, hiking boots, MRE, and sun tan lotion were all secure and I was ready. Tally Ho!

The hike began at the May Lake Trailhead at the end of May Lake Road or Old Tioga Road. I needed to get away from the stifling heat in the valley and the stresses of modern day life. Frodo and the gang were with me as I ascended the trail to May Lake, an easy, short start for my adventure up, up, up. A few minutes after beginning the hike I crossed some granite mounds and began to ascend more steeply. Past the granite the trail begins to switchback with a total elevation gain of 500 feet. Mt. Hoffmann was visible to the northwest as I reached the lake and I wondered what it would be like to hike that. I don't know of a trail up there, but I will have to do more research for future adventures. May Lake lies in the shadow of this 10,850-foot peak, which is considered the geographic center of Yosemite National Park. The lake was very pretty as well.

I reached the top of the ascent where the trail splits. The left trail leads to a dispersed campground for backpackers and the lakeshore, and the right fork leads to the May Lake High Sierra Camp. This site consists of cabins with a backcountry feel. This hike is part of the High Sierra Loop, a series of six camps located between Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite Valley. These camps have facilities for backpackers, but the best way to go is to stay in the tent cabins, which includes great meals. Most of the camps can be reached via a day hike from either Yosemite Valley or Tuolumne Meadows. It may be fun to do these cabins and camps sometime, but I am sure Aragorn would not stay in a cabin. I hear the food is scrumptious. Second breakfast anyone?

After getting a last fill of water at the camp, I descended up, up, up again into the granite hills towards Murphy Creek. I hiked for over an hour and my tummy said it was time to feed it. I hiked past Raisin Lake and up, up, up to a large granite outcropping. I didn't see anyone for miles, with exception of a group of backpackers near Raisin. I started eating and checking my supplies, when a family snuck up on me. Orks! No, just a family coming from Glen Aulin
Camp. Ok, I am in the middle of the geographic center of Yosemite, on a huge granite outcropping, and this family pops up. Ok lunch was good, the family was nice, and I got to use the modern communication I brought along. I wonder if Merry and Pippin would have used the cell phone to call Frodo to bring help from the sneaky family?

After second breakfast, I decided to do the Murphy Creek Trail down instead of go back up, up, up towards May Lake again. Why I decided to go the long way I am not sure. My IT Band was telling me to be good so I didn't want to go back up, up, up the way I came. Maybe Saruman had the trail blocked or it was impassible, but I went down, down, down, into the heart of the Murphy Creek Valley instead.

Murphy's Creek was cooler than up on the ridge. The Polly Dome Lakes also sat at the base of Polly Dome, an enormous polished granite dome to the east of my location. The hike ends at Tenaya Lake, my destination before I go back up, up, up. The Murphy Creek Trail parallels the east side of the Dome. It was dry with exception of a few puddles. One of the puddles even had trout in them. They did not look happy as their home was almost dry--perhaps Gollum will find and enjoy them. The trail gently descends through a shady evergreen forest and crosses a series of bedrock slabs peppered with smooth glacial erratics. Part of the trail is off-trail and full range as I picked my way along Murphy Creek. There were no signs of hostiles and the trail was desolate.

Look, a road! Tioga Road lay before me as I escaped the forest. Tenya Lake was glistening before me. I must go in! The lake was about eighty degrees. I stayed in for five minutes or so before I headed for adventure number three, around the lake and up, up, up to the parking lot. The two miles around the lake was uneventful. No orks! Sword in hand, I found the 1.5-mile trailhead north and to the old abandoned Tioga Road. I was almost to Mordor, when altitude made
me stop every five minutes. Must get to Mordor! At the top of the steep grade, I found the truck waiting for me to take me down, down, down the mountain and home to the steamy hot valley. Without orks to slay, my adventure was a success. I solved the world's problems on the way up, up, up and I came back with a new light in my head, or was the light of Urindi? Anyhow, I completed my adventure, made it to the gas station for a tuna sandwich and a gallon of orange juice. I sweltered my way into the valley and looked for a new adventure!

Hiking /The Motherlode Gold Mining Region Pics.

Sean's 4th of July Hiking Pictures
May Lake and Murphy's Creek Trail/Loop

Pictures From the Previous Week
The Motherload Gold Mining Area
Sonora/Jamestown, California

Abundance

This little tree in my mom's front yard is the epitome of a abundance. I planted it a year and a half ago--just 3 feet high. It is giving us 13 plums this year. Aren't they lovely?

Heart of California's Motherlode, Gold Country

Jamestown, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park

Jamestown, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park

Sonora, California “Queen of the Southern Mines”
Settled in 1848
Saint Patrick's Church

Moaning Caverns
California's Largest Public Cave Chamber

Moaning Caverns at the Bottom of the Pit

Columbia State Park

Saint Anne's Chuch

The Oldest Brick Church in California

Columbia State Park

Old School House

Sean Doing Number Two

Columbia State Historical Park