In The Shadow of the Cross

This is the name of the Coastal Christian high school production that has been running this weekend at the Waldo Theatre in Waldoboro. Jubal was a Roman guard, a small non-speaking role. I'm happy to report that he managed to portray all of his facial expressions flawlessly. The play, written by one of Jubal's teachers, Ms. Townsend, flowed very smoothly and the students really did an excellent job portraying the characters. The two main actors did an outstanding job learning an impressive amount of lines. It was an enjoyable way to spend a couple hours.

Bring On The Sunshine!

This was a day to be spent outside.....and so I kicked the kids out into the yard and then joined them in the glorious warmth of spring. While they ran around the house, jumped on the trampoline, and sent Minnie Mouse on a spelunking adventure, I spent the afternoon clearing out my largest flower garden. One down and two to go. My poor plots of dirt were completely neglected last year and it will not happen again.

Long Week

I feel like it should be the weekend already.

That's it. I'm not writing anything else.

I just spent fifteen minutes writing a whole blurb and with one accidental press of the button it was erased from existence. Only I will ever know what I wrote. I'm not typing it again because I'm tired and I should have gone to bed two hours ago.

Easter

Ephesians 1:18-23 ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

I'm not one for New Year's resolutions. I shy away from making commitments that rely on my own steadfastness to see them to completion. Honestly, I rarely follow through. In my flesh I am prone to be weak and lazy. I find that Easter, however brings out the desire for me to look inward at the things which need work in my life, both on a physical and spiritual level. Remembering the power of the resurrection of my Saviour, His conquering of sin and death, reminds me of His omnipotence. I am His, and therefore I am able to live my life through the power of His Holy Spirit. Things which are impossible for me, are easy for Christ to accomplish through me.

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."

That's the daily battle. Will I live in the flesh or the Spirit?
My resolutions hang in the balance.

Brutal Bear

Not long after heading to our tents last night, the rain stopped and a brilliant full moon was revealed. In the morning, aching bodies and sore feet found their way out of tents into another day of hiking. By noontime the last of the hikers, (by now you know that was Liz and myself), had made their way down a long steep descent to
Bear Mountain Bridge, where we all crossed together in single file. From that point, most of the group headed up Bear Mountain, which Peg said was brutal. On day one, we had left one of our vehicles near the bridge "just in case" we might need it for something at the halfway point. Three of us
drove the van to get the Explorer and pick up the group as they descended from the mountain, bringing us, once again to the RPH Shelter, because of the forecasted rain. As of this moment it has only been sprinkling. We'll see what the morning brings.

Ten Tough Miles

Beautiful day for hiking. Liz and I don't have a clue what went on with the rest because we brought up the rear all day. It started raining Just as tents were going up. The girls have a pee shanty. I'm so sore and tired. Going to bed.

Rain Delay

3:30 AM wake-up,

Attempting to pick up the Wi-Fi of passing buses on the highway,

"Peter Pan Wi-Fi!?" - Macy

Meeting friend Anita Roundy from Lewiston, ME in a random MA McDonald's bathroom,

Trying to buy a football from a young boy so a game of field football could be played, then having it given to us instead,

exchanging indoor plumbing for a smelly outhouse,

learning to play cribbage,

and laughing with friends, old and new.

These are all things we did today.

If you notice, there was no hiking.

The reason for that is the sound I hear as I lie in my bunk typing this blog: Rain, rain and more rain.

We decided to stay at the RPH shelter and get a fresh, DRY, start in the morning. I'm glad.

3 days until the AT hike so I'm testing out my updated iBlogger. I believe I can now add photos. Nice.
Jubal often attempts to converse en Espanol in the car ride home after school. Today was no exception. As a general rule I reach back in my brain through 20 years of cobwebs and try to pull out what little Spanish vocabulary I recall to respond intelligently with a phrase or two. This afternoon, however, I responded by saying "kabhi kabhie", which means "sometimes" in Hindi. Perhaps I need to leave Bollywood and go back to watching movies in English for a while. Or I could follow Jim's suggestion that I get a Rosetta Stone Hindi language course so there's no need to read the subtitles.

Mobile Blogging from here.

Mobile Blogging from here.

New Life

Don and Deb Fisher became grandparents around 1:30 this morning and they're very excited about it. I know this because, with no regard at all for my beauty sleep, I received a text from Don, "Wake up. Miriam is here." and the photo in this post from Deb at exactly 1:46 am. Luckily, I am an extremely heavy sleeper and didn't see either until I woke up at 5:30 this morning. Congratulations to Sarah and Frank on the arrival of Miriam Rose down in South Carolina! I'm sure Don will stop posting new photos of her on his Facebook page sometime next year.

10 Left to Train

Only ten days left until the AT hike! Jim and I only unpacked all the gear last weekend. I still have much to organize and several things to purchase before we're supposed to have Greg inspect the packs on Friday. (I'm pretty sure he's not really expecting ME to have mine ready by then.) I think my training has gone well using the weight machines and the treadmill on high incline, but we'll know for sure in a couple weeks. This spring, weather and time have prevented any opportunities to actually put the pack on and do some short jaunts as we did before last year's hike. On Monday I walked about a half hour down in chilly rain to Ambrose Auto Body to pick up Jim's truck. It was a good test for my trail rain gear, which kept everything dry except for my face, hair and hands. I did notice that being on uneven terrain, trudging at times through the mud and small snow mounds on the side of the road, affected my lower calf muscle. That area must not get worked very well on the machines. I suspect that I won't even notice those muscles at the end of the first day's hike. There will be too many others vying for my attention, screaming out in agony. Tell me, why am I doing this again?