Saturday, February 22, 2014

More Sneak Peaks of The Wedding

Love these shots from Izaak and BreAnne's wedding







3 Generations



This is a great family photo - isn't it? 



Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Fun at Fairy Falls (Beale Falls)

Directions at end of post. 

We went exploring today and had fun in "Northern" California.  We had heard about "Beale Falls." A quick search showed  it is also commonly known as "Fairy Falls," or "Shingle Falls."   The trail head is at the site of an old mine in the Spenceville Wildlife and Recreation area. It promised to be an easy 5 mile hike (in and out).  We were warned NOT to go on opening weekend of Turkey Hunting or some other hunting season - but this weekend didn't hit any of those. We set out after the kids' Japanese lessons were over. 

It WAS easy...through meadows, along streams....nice roads...and then we reached this spot. We picked a trail that we later learned wasn't a trail at all.  It WAS fun....and we DID eventually meet up with the Upper Trail and made it to the top of the falls. We went straight at this sign - on to a trail - we "should" have gone right and straight and we would have stayed on one of the main, cultivated roads. 

It wasn't bad - its just that the cows weren't happy to see us and one was aggressive...so we put Michael in front....and texted Krista that we were climbing through cow pastures up the side of a hill - which came a bit later. 


Even off road wasn't terribly challenging....



Picnic at the top 




I wanted my toes in water - and Yuuki wanted to rest. LOL 




Ahhhhh......


We came back down the main trail and it was a walk in the park. LOL 

 Mistletoe au naturale

 Don't look for State park signs - look for sharpies. ::snort:: 

Poison Oak

We found our first cache.....and it was hilarious. Michael and Zander got up close and personal with the cows....and looked like insane tourists...but we loved them for it....note the hilo dragon in the same spot as the black cache. 

Foundation of a house

The well

Looking for cache number two.....in the sky....

I was more interested in the giant pine cones

We found a rope swing over a swimming hole. No one was dressed for swimming...but Arielle goaded Zander into trying the rope.....

Then did it herself...

 Zander was NOT happy to get wet....


Nolan decided to take the gamble



We knew SOMEONE would eventually fall in....and she was the one in shorts! It's all good. 


Yuuki had been having a lovely time rolling in the sand...so she went swimming too. Some day she'll learn cause and effect....she seems to enjoy this tradition now. 
Today was a beautiful day for a hike. We keep pinching ourselves to be sure it is the end of February. It was 70 degrees today!

We discovered it's much shorter to go through the base and out the Grass Valley gate if you have base access..... Back at home we ate left overs, Michael worked on his sermon some more, the kids and I soaked in the hot tub, showered, AND now we're going to watch Belles on Their Toes.  I had planned to cook for tomorrow's Fellowship Sunday - but I'm going to have to get up early. I'm wiped out. LOL

Directions: 
From the base: Go out Grass Valley Gate on to Chuck Yeager Rd. Turn RIGHT on to Waldo Road - it's a marked dirt road.  You will shortly see a shooting range to the LEFT. Continue past the range all the way to the end where you will a wooden decked one lane bridge. Cross the bridge, turn LEFT onto Spenceville. You will come to a road on the right - but follow the LEFT and continue until you come to a big turn out on the LEFT for parking. There's a yellow gate and a sign that says "Falls" and points the way.

From Marysville: Drive east on Hammonton/Smartville Road. Go past the first Beale AFB sign - turn right on Chuck Yeager Road (used to be Smartville Rd) - you are heading towards Beale AFB. Go about 5 miles and turn LEFT on to Waldo Road - it's a marked dirt road.  You will shortly see a shooting range to the left. Continue past the range all the way to the end where you will a wooden decked one lane bridge. Cross the bridge, turn LEFT onto Spenceville. You will come to a road on the right - but follow the LEFT and continue until you come to a big turn out on the LEFT for parking. There's a yellow gate and a sign that says "Falls" and points the way.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Love - Complete and Courageous

Jesus answered, the foremost is, Hear oh Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commanded greater than these. Mark 12:30-31

Via Google Images
Love God completely ~ Love others courageously! 

These are very familiar verses - they never fail to challenge, encourage, and take my breath away.

This agape love is a decision of my will. It is not a warm fuzzy affection. It is a sacrificial love which will lay down self-interest for another. It is a love that serves with loyalty. It is a choice to show favor and goodwill.  It always seeks the good of the loved. This is the kind of love God has for me. It's the kind of love I have for Him.  It is the kind of love I'm to have for my neighbors. (Side note - this is the love we have for enemies...not philieo - which is warm and fuzzy affectionate, friendship feelings). 

Who are my neighbors? I've heard so many times that this goes far beyond our neighborhoods. I believe it does. However, I believe we've lost impact in our society because we are NOT loving our physical neighbors as Jesus commanded us to do.

The most important thing I can do in my life is apply these verses. They form the basis of my life mission statement.

Do I love God with ALL my heart (center of my emotions and intellect)? Do I love God with ALL my soul? Do I love God ALL my mind? Do I love God with ALL my strength? At different times I find I need to shore up areas which are lacking. To be well-rounded in our love of God we will strive to love Him with ALL.

Is there anything dividing my affection for God and the things of God?

Is there anything distracting me? Causing anxiety? Is my soul at peace?

Do I worship God with my intellect? Am I becoming lazy or apathetic in my approach to God and the things of God?

Am I giving my strength to so many things that I have no time to love God with all my strength? Are my energies focused where God would call me to focus?

Do I love my neighbor? Those with which  I worship, attend Bible study, "meet" in Walmart, live next door?

It takes courage to love this fully.

Choosing Joy!
©2014 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...