Take a hike

After spending our anniversary in Park City back in July, Bryan and I decided that the hike we took was something we wanted our children to experience. Brandon miraculously didn't have gymnastics workouts over Labor Day weekend so we decided to make Saturday a hiking day.

(We brought our mini "Sister Croft" with us on our adventure...Rebekah was at least with us in spirit.)

It was forecast to be windy. With the potential for rain showers. We forged ahead with our plans...much nicer to hike in cooler weather anyway, right?

A few raindrops fell while taking the Crescent chair lift to the top of the mountain. And as we came over the peak, the freezing wind blasted us. I told the kids that once we got off the top of the mountain and onto the trail in the trees, the wind wouldn't be as strong and would also provide a bit of shelter from the rain. But they continued to look at me like I was crazy as I finished up with the suggestion of considering it all an adventure...war stories. "My parents made me slog through a massive windstorm with the rain coming down in sheets all in the name of family togetherness!!" (Complete with wild exaggerations.)

I was right, though. The wind was nowhere near as strong once we got down into the trees. And the rain tapered off rather quickly. When we got the occasional cloud burst, we'd move off the trail under a tree and wait it out seeing as they always passed by within 5 minutes. The sun came out and our jackets came off. The scenery was beautiful and I was reminded me of the quote from Anne of Green Gables when Anne has just come to stay and Marilla is teaching her how to pray in the correct and proper way. Anne says, "Why must people kneel down to pray? If I really wanted to pray I'll tell you what I'd do. I'd go out into a great big field all alone or into the deep, deep woods, and I'd looke up into the sky--up--up--up--into that lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no end to its blueness. And then I'd just feel a prayer." 

Because really, there is something about nature that makes me feel God's presence. There are few other places that show me so certainly the existence of God. Hiking this trail in the mountains with my family, trees and plants and wildflower and little critters and such beauty all around....I was so content.

We took a wrong turn at some point (well wrong from the way Bryan and I had done it back in July) and found ourselves at an old silver mine, with buildings that were in various stages of decay. We explored a bit...peeking in windows and doors. Being careful to not knock into or step on anything that might give way. And watching for any animals that might be making their home inside one of these buildings. (Actually I might be the only one that had concerns about that. I'm not a fan of running into something slithery. Or stinky. Or anything that might not like us disturbing its home....)

The ride down the Payday chair lift was a well earned break after all our hiking around and was such a beautiful and leisurely way to finish up our time on the mountain. We stopped for BBQ at a restaurant on Park City's historic Main Street before making the drive home. The kids all admitted that their worries of a miserable hike in the wind and rain were unfounded and that they had a wonderful time. It really was such a great day!

A different sort of Friday

I was a little surprised when I got the email asking if I would be willing to be a judge at the Davis School District Jr. High Drama Festival. And though I was flattered, I wondered if my friend Jason was getting somewhat desperate if he was asking me. All the same, Jason and I first met when we did a show together a few years ago and we take voice lessons from the same teacher so he knows that I monthly attend master classes where I perform in character. And though I'd probably be better at judging a vocal department's solo and ensemble....all the same, I supposed (and so did Jason, apparently) that I had what it took to judge a bunch of young jr high teenagers. Still, I was a little nervous. I wanted to do right by these kids. My theatre experience was of a more adult level. I was worried that it would take some adjusting to discover what was great and not-so-great at a jr. high level. I didn't want to find out half way in that I'd been judging the first few performances too harshly, you know?

I was worried for naught. The performers were amazing! I mean, obviously jr high, yes...but wow! They got up there in front of me and threw it all out there. And I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised, because that's what true drama geeks do. If they are serious about theatre, which obviously these kids are if they are competing in a big district festival, then they don't care about what others think...they just put everything out there on display as if to say, "this is me...love it or lump it, this is what I do." Julianne is the exact same way. And it always amazes me because I was so much more insecure and shy when I was her age, always too worried about what people thought, not wanting to stick out too much.

They were all so great that my biggest problem was how to rank them. Oh, I gave them constructive criticism and feedback as to what was really great and some little things that they could work on. But I was very impressed overall. I judged three sessions...pantomime, dramatic monologue, and humorous monologue. And then in between each session we were to take our judging papers up to the judges room. They had snacks for us to munch on. And, as theatre people in their outgoing, social sort of ways are wont to do, we all got to know each other really well. We sat around tables finishing up our comments on our judging papers, sharing experiences of what we had just judged, sharing experiences of past shows we'd been in or seen recently, and laughing. A lot of laughing.

But then as soon as my judging stint was over, I switched from theatre mode to hiking mode. I picked up Bryan and Lilian at the office, picked up Brandon and Andres from gymnastics (Rebekah and Julianne were at a young women church retreat) and then headed up the mountain. A quick stop to drop of the kids at Andres' house and to change from my little black dress and heels into jeans and hiking shoes...and then to the trail head where Bryan and I met up with Hade and Frederic (Andres' parents) and other friends of theirs to celebrate Hade's 40th birthday. Hade had worried earlier that the trail she wanted to hike was rather steep...but I wasn't worried. I mean, really...I'm in fairly decent shape, yes? And besides, how hard could it be? Well...it was actually quite steep and quite hard. And I have to admit that I was breathing pretty heavily. Trying to carry on a conversation was a tad difficult. But hey, it was beautiful up there. And truthfully, it really wasn't anything I couldn't handle...it just ended up being a very good workout.

At the top, Hade and Frederic pulled out a picnic. An assortment of drinks, sandwiches, chips, sushi and, of course, Bruges Belgium waffles. And while we ate, we watched the sun set over the valley and the Great Salt Lake. Wow. And again....WOW. Seriously one of the most beautiful views I can remember. And when the our picnic was complete, and we had watched the lights wink on down in the valley, we hiked down in the dark under the stars. We were hoping that the full moon would show its face but it was a little late on arrival. So to aid in lighting the trail, all the men pulled out flashlights. (Why is it that most men tend to carry little flashlights with them?) Bryan and I had such a great time....we talked about it all the way home. Something along the lines of...dang, that was really fun, maybe we should do that again sometime soon! And...next time I'm going to bring a better camera! (See woefully inadequate iPhone pics below...)

All in all, what a unique and fun Friday.