#TBT : Grand Canyon!

Nature. 

Mysterious. Defiant. Breathtaking. Unbelievable. Serene. Dangerous. Sublime.
The list goes on.. and on... and on......... and on.... but one thing that never changes is nature's complete ability to deliver when we least expect it, and usually when we think we've seen it all.

This week's #TBT goes back to 2011, when I trekked out west with Kalyn & Sam; that trip culminated with a visit to the grandest of the grand: The Grand Canyon itself:

p - e - r - f - e - c - t - i - o - n.
grand canyon national park | az 

If there's one place I know I won't fully cover by the time I leave this planet, it's the GC. There are so many trails, valleys, ridges and rims to see there, that you literally would have to live there in order to wholly experience what it can offer.

another shot from my 2011 trip - looking into bright angel trail
grand canyon national park | az

And then maybe you do live there.. and work there. I don't, but my bestie's brother and his girlfriend are both locals there now, and shared some shots from today that I couldn't help but share with whatever audience I've got here today:

12.11.2014 : inversion @ the grand canyon
grand canyon national park | az

^^^ THAT?!

I'm no weather guru, so I let those more-qualified do the actual explaining [as seen >> HERE << ], but that shot is one of the few that Nathan [bestie's brother] shared with the world from his personal vantage point this afternoon.

His girlfriend Aly shared this one, captioned as her view on the way to WORK:

beautiful!!!!
grand canyon national park | az

For the record, she's a park ranger there.
I work in a sometimes-less-than-desirable-neighborhood-in-a-half-sketchy-city-slicker-landscape here in Cincinnati. To say I'm jealous of her "daily commute" should be the understatement of ... life, but hey, that just makes a visit to AZ a priority.

Move over, man-made anything.. Nature wins this one today.

Not a bad way to flip the page into Friday, I'd say.
..Til' Next Time! ♥♥

xo | cmd 

God Paints

I'm sure if I were to ask you to recall an experience, memory, or event that left a permanent stamp in your mind or on your heart, you'd be able to jog yourself enough to describe at least one thing. For me, I like to keep a catalog of scenes, places, people, or happenings that have served as clear reminders of God's overwhelming presence, grace, and creativity. Not just in my life, but in a general capacity: I think of my visit to the Grand Canyon, and can't imagine touching the hands that carved each individual pocket on such a vast 3-D canvas.  I remember family vacations and other leisure trips to beaches and oceans, and squinting to see the seemingly infinite horizon at which water met sky. I've seen children with disabilities and the parents that love them, unconditionally, willingly blind to the ailments of their physical bodies. The beauty in that is jolting, emotional. Adversely, I hold the images of miniature magenta blossoms on scattered wildflowers poking up through cracks in contrasting concrete on an abandoned playground.

My point is, God paints.


Heaven as a canvas

Today I was reminded again.  It was a pretty visible, pretty typical note posted up across the sky, written in red and orange, with purplish-sienna undertones. The immediate atmosphere had become a completed portrait. I saw it while I was driving home from work, and I have to say it caught my attention and softened that short portion of my day-end commute. Take it from a girl whose husband studies, analyzes, describes, and forecasts weather for a living in the U.S. Air Force: I know there are physical, chemical components that explain light refraction, yadda, yadda, yadda, but, I also believe that our God could've structured the skies to be perpetually gray regardless of weather elements, had He deemed it best that way.

But He didn't. He made it breathtaking.
I'm thankful that we were created and loved by a God who prides Himself on the beauty He creates on a daily basis. It's timeless, it's perfect, and it's ours for the taking.

Thanks for that one, Lord. I needed it.

Enjoy the evening, boys 'n gals.

xo | cmd

THE GRAND CANYON!! [& Sedona, too!]

I officially ♥ Arizona.

Well, at least Sedona & The GC.

bell rock | sedona!

After sleeping in to a whopping 8:30AM [we’re crazy like that, *smirk], the three of us loaded up in the Benz [yeah, I said it] with first destination: Sedona. Kalyn drove us up there, and I had the liberty of riding shotgun in the White Spaceship [aka Mercedes C-Class] through the gorgeous landscapes of Arizona on the way to Sedona.



benz c class



delicious.



We stopped at the Sedona Olive Oil Company for an open tasting; I very well could’ve stayed there all day if it weren’t for the impending appointment with the Grand Canyon. We were educated on the truth behind vinaigrettes, their origins, and how to discern between a real vin and an imposter. Fascinating. I have a form for ordering, because although snagging a bottle of $16 vinaigrette was tempting, I have no desire to check my bag at the airport on Thursday for its sake. We lunched at one of the touristiest [new word, chya….] places around, meaning the food’s well-overpriced and pretty lame at the same time.

After choking down some weak margherita pizza and what I’m convinced was just a melted craft cheese square quesadilla, we set out for the canyon of grandeur, as it should aptly be credited. We rendezvoused with Aly and another park ranger, and tailed her back into the park. [[THANKS!]]

aly | our very own park ranger!

While I was absolutely breathless by the intrinsic beauty of this national park, I was sorely disappointed that Joe couldn’t have been there to share that moment. I made myself a promise that we would take another trip out this way as a family and we would go there together. Of course, throwing in a planned hike and/or a camping trip wouldn’t hurt, either. ;) As I stood marveling at this creation whose scenery reflects the inherent spirit of the one who created it, I was refreshed. I can’t explain it, but I needed this. Thank you, Lord.

the. grand. canyon. || thank you, lord.

Here’s a true story: we’re immersed deep in elk territory, yet are still waiting to set eyes on an actual elk. So we’re driving back from the canyon, conversing about horseback riding when I spot four very large silhouettes perched on a bank right along the roadside. Before I could spit it out, we had zoomed right past the largest bull elk I’ve ever seen. We turned around just to see them again, but, instead of intelligently reacting when we spotted them the second time, we screamed at them through open windows like 12-year-olds a Bieber concert.

Not my proudest moment.

BUT, it doesn’t change the fact that we did see them and they were incredible, from their towering body size to their massive antlers. Good stuff.

Long day. National park #3, in 3 days. Tomorrow I fly back to MO/IL. It’s bittersweet.

Time to dream about the Canyon….   

xo | cmd