What a beautiful first week of Autumn we have had here in eastern New York!
The colors are just starting to turn in the mountains and down here the the nights are getting much cooler and although we had a day of rain, we've also had some glorious sunshine. Autumn is definitely a fave of mine.
I'm sharing five blessings from the past week and linking up at Susanne's site to join along with other people doing the same thing. What's something that made you smile this week?
- HARD HIKE! I'd been wanting to hike this one particular mountain for the last couple of years and I finally had the chance to go. My good friend Gerri came too and our goal was to climb to the overlook (2.5 miles). The mountain (Jay) is 3600 feet high and is the 79th tallest mountain in NYS/ADKS. Well once we were up there, we saw the ridge line and just had to try it. It's another 2 miles from the overlook to the summit. I figured if I made it to the last and famous cairn, I would be good. I didn't really wanna climb the summit as it kind of scared me. It was a TOUGH climb as the trail disappeared after the over look and we had to rely on the herd path plus the cairns that were placed every so often. I ended up making it up the summit but I had to climb on my hands and knees until one spot where we could stand and walk the rest of the way on the bare granite. Here are a few pics of the climb although I have many more! We hiked a total of 8.8 miles that day and I was gone from my home from 6:30 a.m. until 9:30 pm. Jay Mountain is about 2.5 hours from my home. It was a LONG day! But we felt so accomplished and it was one of the harder mountains I've ever climbed. I'm thankful I was able to do it!
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| walking the ridge line from the overlook on Jay Mt Jay Mt Wilderness Area High Peaks Region, ADKS |
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| I made it to the famous large cairn..... ...only another 1/4 mile to go to the summit behind me! |
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| me and Gerri on the summit at 3600 feet! |
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The summit of Jay Mountain.
Yes, I climbed this.
I was exhausted!!
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| Whiteface Mountain, a high peak (see the ski runs?) from the overlook on Jay Mt (Whiteface is the 5th tallest mountain in NYS/ADKS) The mountain in the center-left is Cascade which I have climbed. It's also a high peak. |
- STIRRING SERMON: Our pastor had an amazing sermon on Sunday that stirred many of us up.....one thing he said just grabbed my attention:
"God expects us to get out of our comfort zones and take some risks...." ~Dr. Rex Keener, Grace Fellowship Church, 23 Sept~
I found it amusing given the risks I took the day before on Jay Mountain ridge line and summit and I also found it timely as my new small group I lead started up this week and it's stretching me already.....I'm thankful for a pastor who preaches Truth in Love. I also had a wonderful time of chatting with him after the sermon and even got to introduce him to two of my little students as the family attends our church!
- SMALL GROUP SESSION: The first session of the small group I lead was this past Wednesday evening in my home. I have 4 new ladies plus 3 who have returned from last year. We are reading through the book Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper and I'm already hooked! It's deep, driven, and very thought provoking with some tough questions for discussion. This is one quote that popped out at me when I was doing some research on the internet. Talk about timely...it goes right along with what our pastor was preaching on! Basically, we are to take some risks for the gospel. Whatever that looks like for you. For me, it's becoming bolder in my speech and testimony to unsaved family and friends. I'm thankful for this group of ladies to do life with and for men like Piper who write well and challenge us!
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| Moreau Lake south-eastern ADKS 23 Sept |
- BOATS BACK! On Sunday afternoon, Dave and I went up to the lake to get our kayaks off the property there. It was a gorgeous day...I just love the beginning of autumn at the lake. We got the boats back home, washed down, and stored on our kayak rack in the backyard. Tomorrow morning before I leave for a day trip, I will put a new tarp over my own boat as the one from last year really took a beating with last winter's weather. Dave's boat is covered with a new one already. I'm thankful that chore is done although I will miss kayaking after work!
- SAFE SOJOURN! Dave left yesterday morning to drive to Maryland. He's attending a science fiction writers conference for the next three days. It's a long drive from NYS but he made it safely to his hotel. I'm thankful he had a safe trip!
That wraps up my faves.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend doing some fun autumnal things!!
6 comments:
Wow, that hike does look hard. Congrats on grabbing the courage to do it all the way to the summit! I love when the sermon really motivates, builds up and yet challenges. And how neat that it lined up with your study. Our first night of Psalm 119 was great too. Kinda sad when we have to pack up the summer stuff, isn't it? We have flurries predicted but hopefully it's just a small bit and we'll get back to nice fall weather.
It's still warm and humid and muggy here. I'm hoping we get some cooler weather soon. The leaves just started changing, with a few falling.
Congratulations on the successful hike!
I love it when God emphasizes the same truth through various means. I've heard of the book of Piper's but have not read it yet.
Wow that hike was some achievement. Well done. I hope hubby gets home safe. Enjoy your weekend.
That was a busy week for you ! Good to hear that the weather is still warm and sunny, my neighbor is going to NY for a week with her sister and niece !
Faith - you and your friend are amazing. The risks you took sure turned out to be beautiful and satisfying.
Now that the kayak is put away for the year, will you walk after work instead?
Don't you love it when a sermon, a book and an activity all join together with one message? That seems to happen frequently, especially when I am paying attention.
For me, taking a risk for the Gospel is speaking in public. I am always petrified before hand and have a sense of awe afterwards. Awe because God used me (a broken vessel) to say His Words.
I will get that chocolate mousse recipe to you. My daughter is not feeling well right now.
When we do our cards, I always give our writers a page of things they can say. And of course, I start off the time with prayer that we would touch the recipients' hearts with God's love. We've sent cards 3 times now. The first time, no one said anything. The other two times, we received lots of positive feedback.
I didn't think the question was weird at all. Where I live there are only a few trees in my town that turn brilliant red or yellow. The leaves on the rest of the trees are green when they fall off. The weather gets down to 60's and in good years it rains. Someday I hope to visit a state that has a proper autumnal show.
My son and family live in Berkeley. My daughter used to live in Emeryville. So I've been to the Bay Area a lot and LOVE their cooler temps. It doesn't get so foggy in their area. And I have hiked at Muir Woods about 3 times. It is lovely there.
I hope your week is a GREAT one, Faith.
I hope Dave's weekend was fun and successful. I didn't know he is interested in writing sci fi (or writing at all).
Wow! I'm impressed that you made it to the summit of that mountain! hurray for you!
Our pastor just retired (two weeks ago) and we had a candidate preaching this morning. It was great and challenging!
Have a good week, Faith, and enjoy your beautiful autumn weather.
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