Reconnecting with God on top of Sentinel Dome. Be still and know that I am God. It was much easier to experience God amidst the peace and quiet of nature.
Pilgrims atop Sentinel Dome, with Half Dome in the background
Saying our evening prayers, after a day of hiking, and discovering. Another late night!
Starting our day off with a good breakfast before heading off to Yosemite for a long day of hiking, and seeking God in Nature.
Barb helping carry Stephanie's pack.
Some of us couldn't resist the temptation of climbing a fallen tree!
Max inside a trunk of a fallen tree.
Developing a friendship for life on this journey. Max and Drew up on top of Sentinel Dome.
Kellie enjoying God's beauty!
Taking in God's beauty!
Seeking God in Prayer and Play!
Max just loves God's creation so much!! I think he was just supposed to smell it, but.... well, you know!
Just had to stop!
Sisterly love sitting upon a rock on top of the world, Sentinel Dome.
Having fun hanging out with each other!
The boys keeping the rocks apart!
Another one of God's beautiful creations!
It may look like they were resting, but bonding was taking place!
Hannah soaking up some sun atop Sentinel Dome. What a glorious day. Delaney had given us some reflection time here, which helped bring God into perspective for a lot of us.
Drew thinking just how big this place really is.
Our hike to the top of Sentinel Dome for some glorious views of the Yosemite Valley below. It was a tough hike, but well worth the work! Lots of comments about how much easier it was to experience God.
Friendships, bonding, having fun!
Some thought the bark smelled like caramel.
Linda and Max stopping for photos!
Dani posing in front of the tallest waterfall in North America.
They are not sitting on the edge, I promise!
Enjoying new experiences, new friends, and a deeper relationship with Our Creator!
Trying to stay cool, while enjoying the experience!
The precursor sniff before the taste test!
Having fun before departing Glacier Point!
Our gadget guy, and GPS guru, taking a short break.
God created a lovely place for us to dine and praise Him! Then it was on to another "Spirit Walk". Good time for introspection and reflection.
God is always with us!!Thursday, July 15, 2010 Katie’s Prayer/Activity Day
Theme: Caring for God's Creation
5:45am Wake up (Max prepares breakfast)
6:15 am Breakfast-Morning Prayer (MUST BE ON TIME - bring everything needed for the day)
7:00 am Vans to Yosemite (Glacier Point)
9:00 - 4:00 Hike with guide, Glacier Point (lunch provided) – noon prayer
6:30 pm Dinner (Stephanie prepares dinner) -dinner prayer 8:00 pm Evening Activity
8:45 pm Evening Gathering (prayer/reflection)
9:15 pm Personal time 10:00 pm Lights out
Our second day with Delaney! Today we hiked up to Sentinel Dome, where the expansive views of Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls were just amazing!! We stopped to smell the bark of the Jeffrey Pine, which had an aroma of caramel. Chris loves caramel, so his quote was, "If the bark tasted as good as it smelled I’d eat the bark.” Our Park Ranger actually chewed a piece of bark, just to try it! We enjoyed a few moments of silence enjoying the Holy Spirit as he moved each of us in our own way! Then it was on to lunch, before our hike onto Taft Point. At Taft Point, some overcame their fears and looked over the guard rail, looking down several thousand feet to the valley below. We were graced by a Perigrin Falcon flying over our heads. Then it was back to the cars, and on to Glacier Point. Hannah was lucky enough to find another visitor to speak French to! Said our goodbyes to Delaney, and on to Mariposa Groves to see some "big trees!" Home to dinner to Stephanie's delicious pasta creation!
“God saw that it was good.” How are we messing it up? What steps can we take to better care for the good creation?
• Humans are throwing trash onto the ground
• What people do effects the eco system in the area and also other areas- SF pollution- travel to Yosemite
• Using chemicals carefully to avoid polluting environment. (H2O)
• Leave no trace
• Being conscientious in general
• War is destructive
• Disappointed to see smog- such a beautiful majestic place.
What will you do differently when you go home to show your care/concern for creation?
• Downtown pick up trash, recycle
• Drive less, ride your bike or walk, carpool
• Recycling
• Don’t be as wasteful- food; conserve H2O
• Plant trees
• Lake shore cleanup
• Go out of my way to pick up trash and recycle
•
Highlights of the Day
• Lizards
• View on Sentinal Dome
• Chipmunk that tried to eat Stephanie
• Spirit walk
• Chickadees saying cheeseburger
• Peregrine falcon
• Taft Point looking down at the railing (some had a fear of heights, and this was a fear they were able to overcome)
• Lots of picture taking
• Views and scenery
• Learned how to use panoramic option
• Getting in the car
Chris eating tree bark
Quote of the Day
• “That is not the way!”
• “If the bark tasted as good as it smelled I’d eat the bark.” (Chris loves the taste of caramel)
• “You think I look like a troll doll?”
• “Green Glass Door” ( a riddle the kids were trying to solve)
• “Yeah that’s what I usually hear when I take my hair down, I look like Jesus.” (Delaney had his hair in a ponytail and took it down)
Our “Aha” moments
• Almost falling in the fissures
• Small girl carrying a pine cone almost as long as she was
• Taft point!
• Seeing pointy snow covered mountains from on top of Sentinel Dome
• The glaciers were the first to be photographed
• To be near something that Ansel Adams photographed. (weathered tree)
