There a few things pure in this world anymore, and home is one of the few.

I had the most fabulous day today (actually the entire month of July has been fabulous). First, here is how it ended - with a 6.5 trail walk/run through Flatirons Vista Park.

Today was record heat in the Denver area, but you wouldn't guess it. The dry air makes it feel like 90 instead of 95 and once that sun goes beyond those lovely Rocky Mountains, things cool down quickly. I am not exactly sure if the summer months make up for the 9 1/2 months of winter, but it's close enough for me. Before taking this marvelous trail, I met Michael in Boulder to give him some key items he left at the house before heading up to camp (i.e. underwear, pants, and a sleeping big...all of which are pretty necessary at camp, agreed?) we grabbed a bite to eat, talked about camp, then he headed up into the mountains, and I headed down. I then spent almost 2 hours hiking myself back into these "flatirons". By the time I was finished, and the dogs were finally tired, I turned around to see the sun setting beyond those mountains.


There were several dozen sun rays shooting out as the sun sank low below the mountain. I often think of those "rays" as a gift from the Lord, kind of like a rainbow (I have a story about that in a minute). I picture his face then the rays of sunshine beaming so bright from something even brighter. I couldn't capture a picture of this particular one, but hopefully you know what I'm talking about. A particular song popped into my head with these lyrics:


All who are thirsty
And all who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life

Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of His mercy
As deep cries out to deep, we sing

Come, Lord Jesus, come
Come, Lord Jesus, come


At that very moment, all I could think about is just asking my God to come into my life. To wash all of my pain and sorrrow away and truly dip my heart into his streams of life. The breeze began to start blowing past my body - yes, come Holy Spirit, please, I need You. So, for a few moments I truly let myself enjoy the Lord invading my body and then, with what words I could muster I said, "thanks." Words completely escaped me and as I watched the sun set beyond the mountains, and the sun rays fading, I thought to myself, "this is exactly where I need to be right now. Why would I ever leave the peace and presence of the Lord?" You know me, always looking for something more - but truly - our lives are so at peace with our surroundings it is kind of scary.


I always pictured myself moving home, made plans to move home, wanted our children to be raised at "home". But, where is "home" anyway? Granted I have a pretty amazing farm and immediate family in Winchester, but does that make it "home"? Or is home now where Mike and I have made it? I made my sister a pillow one time that said, "Home is where the Horse is." Is that true? Oh boy. I'm going to have to chew on this thought for a while...what do you think? Do I have a misconception as to what exactly "home" is? What do YOU consider home?


I am going to Winchester next Tuesday for my best friend's wedding. I cannot belive the summer is going by this fast! We recently had Nashville friends in town for a few days and in a couple days my brother in law is coming up to spend 2 wks in Colorful Colorado! Life never ends, does it?

Here is a picture of a rainbow - one that appeard to my fellow 3-day walker Debbie and I right after we finished walking 11 miles in 3 hours. What a promise, right? So if this is what we saw on our way HOME from the walk, here is what we saw as we were leaving her driveway:

AHH! This is NOT a lawn ornament! This is a live, wild, elk sitting munching on someone's front lawn! WTC! Can you belive this? Look at the rack on this thing (ha! That's what she said). Unbelieveable, truly, it is.




So, tell me what home is for you. Do you have an elk in your front yard? Even as a lawn ornament? My dogs are snoring they are sleeping so hard, I think I might follow in their footsteps.


Love you all, Love wins.