ex(PR)essed

What a spectacular fall weekend! The weather was so fabulous that Jeff and I felt obligated to spend lots of time outside soaking up the warm, afternoon sun. Yesterday, we spent a few hours hiking the Appalachian Trail up Peters Mountain. The key word is UP. My calves were aching about 20 minutes into the hike, and my legs were trembling by the time we reached the peak, but these types of views made the hard work totally worth it.

We both spent so much time staring at the rock-strewn trail that we lamented that we had probably missed a great deal of beautiful scenery. On the descent we noticed a few squirrels (I love how busy they are this time of the year), a couple of eerily twirling leaves, and two trees completely stripped of their bark. I also noticed a single leaf stuck to the side of the tree and found the composition simply stunning.

After a thoughtful Sunday morning service, it was nice to spend the afternoon soaking up the creation that God so lovingly created for our enjoyment. I’m thankful to Him for the changing leaves, mammoth rocks, and trees that seem to stretch beyond my vision. And, I’m thankful too for the ache in my legs that reminds me that I drew a bit closer to Him.