Today was a good day. A fun day. A physically tiring day. But a day full of praise.
Today we went on our very first hike as a family...through the Sumatran jungle!
(I only took pictures when we stopped...and only with my phone camera. Who wants to carry the "big camera" while hiking?!)
Just before we started the hike.
Both girls did amazingly well! My oldest made it through the entire 3-hour hike without assistance. (Though on the way back, we took several short breaks for her little legs to regain strength). And our little one made it almost the entire first half on her own feet, but then she got an awesome shoulder ride by our friend the rest of the day (yes...that equates to about 2 hours of the hiking with a 35lb child on his shoulders! WOW!).
Making our way through the jungle.
Ella's shoulder ride...for 2 hours!
The jungle is teeming with life. New species of plants and trees that we've never seen before. Some enormous vines grew out of the ground and somehow made its way up to the top of the tree-line, which ended up looking like a gigantic "J" to our eyes. Ella's favorite plant was the "Shy Princess" - when their spanned out leaves are touched, they pull them in to look only like a little branch. This entertained little Ella along the path. (Sorry...no pictures of either of these.)
The streams were deliciously refreshing (not that we drank from them, but we certainly cooled off in them).
Enjoying a little break by the stream.
The water was so cold and clear.
After an hour and a half of making our way through the lush jungle, a beautiful secluded beach appeared before us. The turquoise water crashing against the rocks with the salty cool ocean mist and breeze greeting us and inviting us to sit down for a lunch break.
A perfect spot to rest and have lunch!
During our beach break, we looked about, discovering and adventuring (is that a word...if not, it is now because I like it!).
Exploring the rocks and streams near the beach.
A family shot just before we began our 1-1/2hr trip back.
After 3+ hours of hiking(and A LOT of sweat!), we were ready for a cold shower and a nice long nap.
Our victorious family shot. We did it!
God's creation is amazingly creative and beautiful. There is no artist like our God! His very word created all that we saw today and we stood amazed. Throughout our adventure, being surrounded by such awesome beauty, we would spontaneously burst out in song to God - "How Great is our God!" If we hadn't, the rock and the trees would have!
"Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord all the earth...let the heavens be glad, and all the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all it contains. Let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy." Psalm 96:1,11-12
"Jesus answered, 'If these become silent, the stones will cry out!'" Luke 19:40
May I encourage you today? If you haven't recently, I highly encourage you to step outside (in sun, rain, or snow) and behold the beauty of the Lord through what He has made. Look closely. Enjoy Him. Thank Him.
And then sing to Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment