The Whitney Classic

This past weekend Michael and I joined Summit Adventure for the Whitney Classic.
Michael had the opportunity to photograph the event, which is a 135 mile bicycle ride


from Death Valley

to the portal of Mt. Whitney (Mt. Whitney has the highest peak in the lower 48 states -at 14,496 feet elevation).
The event is a fund raiser for Summit Adventure .

We enjoyed seeing the event first hand. So much goes into making this event happen; Riders training, fund raising, providing sag drivers (drivers that follow them as they ride), "Sammers and Hammers" (Good Sam's Club, and Ham Radio Operators) volunteering their time and talents to the event, as well as the work of staff, volunteers and supporters who help make the event run smoothly.

We were able to visit with friends Ginger and Spinner Allen who currently live in Florida. Check out Spinner's blog Filatore

I got to be along side my very good friend Kelli to cheer riders on at the start of the race, and to celebrate and cheer them through the finish line. The first riders arrived at 11:33 p.m. with the last one finishing at 10:18 a.m.

You should know that being outdoors in the dark, and cold, on some mountain, with a sign that says "active bear warning," isn't my thing. It's very much my husbands thing, and it was good to see him do two things he loves (outdoors and photography). It was also good to be with and see Kelli in her element as well, especially as this was her last weekend working for Summit Adventure. Keep Kelli in your prayers as she prepares to serve with Pioneers. I know that God has a greater adventure for Kelli ahead, and that He has greater summits to lead her to.
That God would go before you and behind you friend on this
adventure (a wild and exciting undertaking; to take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome), and that he would lead you to the summit (the highest point of a hill or mountain; the highest attainable level of achievement; highest) He has planned for you. That He will be your provider, confidence, love, life, hope, truth, joy, peace and way is my prayer for you.

Jesus!


BTW- a super huge THANK YOU to Gramps & Nana for keeping the kiddos for 4 long days!

Soaring

Jennifer left a comment regarding my word "soar" that was so good I have to share it-
She said that to soar is like rest (her word), "it's an act of letting go, you know, when you stop flapping your wings, you stop working and struggling so hard... you rest, and enjoy the ride."

Ahhh, I hadn't considered the depth of it.

I know the reality- I'm a wing flapper!! I make everything a struggle! I hold on to EVERYTHING, because I think it is my job to help God do his job. A year ago I became so worn out from flapping, struggling, and working. My fists were tired from clenching things so tightly, that I quit! I quit activities (leading worship and planning celebrations) I love to be a part of because I was coming undone.
Hmmm, God wants us to enjoy the ride.
Imagine what a wife, mommy, daughter, sister, friend would look like who enjoyed the ride!
God would be glorified.
Everyone would want to soar!

"I'm gonna fly
No one knows where
But I'm gonna fly
And soar through the air
As I have felt for the first time
I can be myself
No more faces to hide behind
Just a smile and a dream that is mine
Even if I am the only one... who wants to fly."
Amy Grant

Soar

pink everything and it's the little things are teaming up for a give away!

To sum it up-They want you to choose a meaningful word that would be your word for the next year. The winner will receive one of Lisa Leonard's beautiful necklaces with their word.

My word would be -soar.
I have been thinking a lot this year on the Scripture from Isaiah 40:28-31
"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary,
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
(and i have)
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
they will SOAR on wings like eagles;
They will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not grow faint."

I have spent much of this year being weary, but I am learning to "hope in the Lord." I have spent much of this year stumbling and falling. I want so much more. I know that God has promised me that I will "soar on wings like eagles."
I am waiting for lift off!

What would your word be?

Celebrating our 11th Anniversary!!

Speak in a summer tone
Pause in the after glow
Tenderly whisper my name
Tell me once again why I am your bride
So I can fly
So I can fly
Pause in your busy day
Look extra long my way
Wink at me across the room
Kiss me longer
Touch my arm when I am by your side
So I can fly
So I can fly
Oh how the little things
Strengthen my tiny wings
Help me to take on the world
When you love me there's nothing I wouldn't try
I might even fly
I might even fly
I might even fly


by Sara Groves

Falling in love with Jesus

"I think the most important thing that happens within Christian spirituality is when a person falls in love with Jesus.
Sometimes when I go forward to take Communion, to take the bread and dip it in the wine, the thought of Jesus comes to me, the red of His blood or the smell of His humanity, and I eat the bread and wonder at the mystery of what I am doing, that somehow I am one with Christ, that I get my very life from Him, my spiritual life comes from His working inside me, being inside me.
I know our culture will sometimes understand a love for Jesus as weakness. There is this lie floating around that says I am suppose to be able to do life alone, without help, with out stopping to worship something bigger than myself. But I actually believe there is something bigger than me, and I need for there to be something bigger than me. I need someone to put awe inside me; I need to come second to someone who has everything figured out. All great characters in stories are the ones who give their lives to something bigger than themselves. And in all the stories I don't find anyone more noble than Jesus He gave His life for me in obedience to his Father. I truly love Him for it."
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

Recovering Pharisee

My name is Denise Jones and I'm a pharisee.

We have all heard the phrase "once an alcoholic always an alcoholic". For me it is "once a pharisee always a pharisee." I have seen pharisee defined as a -self righteous, hypocritical person. I have read about the pharisees in scripture and found I resemble them more than the man they pointed fingers at (Jesus).

I am overwhelmed because-

God is so good and so gracious. He loves me so much. He is shaping , molding , moving, humbling, and revealing himself and his way to me. I am undeserving.

And, I am overwhelmed because I'm a recovering pharisee. Yuck! And here is the ugly truth- I am good at pointing fingers, at being better than others, at building myself up, at following lists, formulas, or a moral code.

I am not good at humility, at being less, at not winning approval, at grace.

I wish recovery was like cleaning a closet. I could get it done in a day, and toss all the unwearable items. It is more like putting on something you haven't worn in a while, feeling comfortable in it at first, and later, in the right mirror, and the right Lighting, discovering it's not flattering.

I have had to recognize that the Jesus I followed for so many years, looks little like the Jesus that is. That the Jesus I thought I resembled looks very little like Jesus.

I want to know Jesus. I want to be humble, less as others are more, enough to my Maker... I want to give the grace that has been given to me (which is A LOT!).

Overwhelmed.