Friday, July 16, 2010

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Our entrance into the CITY!
Stephanie with two of the Brothers from St Damiano Friary.
The pilgrims with the Brothers of St Damiano Friary. They really enjoyed the service, dinner and conversation.
Our home in San Francisco. It was a rush to get here, drop off our bags, then drive to the Friary and find parking! Whew!

Saturday, July 17, 2010
Stephanie’s Prayer/Activity Day
Theme: God and Homebase
6:30 am Wake up (Dani & Katie prepare breakfast)
7:00 am Breakfast (bring your packed bags to breakfast) morning prayer
7:30 am Final cleaning/pack vans
8:00 am Depart for Fort Mason (Fisherman's Wharf Hostel - San Francisco)
12:00 pm Arrive Ft. Mason – noon prayer (lunch on the way?) Explore the Presidio/Golden Gate National Recreation Area, walk Golden Gate Bridge, walk to Lombard Street, get groceries & dessert for dinner at Friary
6:00 pm Mass at St. Damiano Friary (Open House) dinner provided San Damiano Friary
8:00 pm Evening Activity
8:30 pm Evening Gathering (prayer/reflection)
9:00 pm Personal Time
10:00 pm Lights Out
Daily Questions: · Think about your family and friends at home - Who inspires you? Who challenges you? How? · Who do you look up to? Why? · Who are you missing?


We arrived in San Francisco safely! Kellie, Hannah, and Dani are super excited to finally be in the city. Had dinner at St Damiano Friary! Loved it! More to come later....We decided to sleep in a little this morning, then head to SF. It took a little longer than anticipated with the traffic, not knowing our way, etc. We finally arrived at the hostel, drop off our bags, and headed to St Damiano Friary. We made it just in time to make quick introductions, learn our part in the service, begin the service. Afterward, we enjoyed a fabulous spaghetti dinner with the Brothers and their guests. Then it was back to our dorm rooms at the hostel. Since we arrived late in the city, we didn't have time to really explore Golden Gate National Recreation Area, nor the Golden Gate Bridge like we had hoped. We did see the exit side of Lombard Street. Barb didn't like sitting on the hill below the crooked street.

Theme: God and Homebase
Think about your family and friends at home. Who inspires you? Who challenges you? How?

My neighbor Naomi challenges me. She thinks she's better than me.
My mom inspires and challenges me. She was a single mom, raising me and going to college. She challenges me to do what I aspire to be.
My brother and dad challenge me. Challenge me to go outside my comfort zone.
My older sister inspires and challenges me. She is successful, going to medical school, has a job, handles her life; pushes me and challenges me.
My dad and brother tell me to try everything, get my feet wet. My brother succeeded, and tells me to give 10% more, go first class. My mom inspires me by getting up at 4 am, is hardworking.
My cousin Russell, immediate family push me for greater goals.
My friend found her niche in life, overcame personal challenges. My parents inspire me. My dad followed his dream and made it a reality. My last boyfriend challenged me to make relationship work.

Who do you look up to? Why?

Sister Dani, who always pushed through things, always happy.
Haley - very different, with hair, sings, like her a lot.
My mom. despite being pregnant while she was young, she became successful.
My brother. never catches a break;moves past shortcomings; great personality;will miss him when he goes away to college.
My sister's boyfriend, who does what he wants without holding back.
My dad. He followed his dream, passion, took risks, created his company.
My grandpa. Whatever he wants to do he does it.
My friends, parents, grandmother. She was a single parent who raised 5 kids on her own, and taught me how to sew and cook. Looking forward to spending more time with her.


Who are you missing?

Not really missing anyone. I am transitioning, and will be leaving for school. I love my family, but am not really missing them. I am happy to spend time with the group, getting closer to God.
My family. Not really homesick.
My brother. Miss being there this week for him, as he was getting his wisdom teeth out. I am not there to entertain him.
My family and best friend Chloe. I consider her like my sister. Everyone in my family. My mom is always there. My dad, he's funny. My brother, who's really weird.
I miss my dog, my mom, Calvin and Hobbs (geckos). I am sure they've grown. Miss my other animals.
Kind of miss my dad.
My best friend Katie.
Nikoly. I miss people back home - Dad, dogs, friend Josh, Ryan, dogs, Mom.

Highlight of the Day:

skunk in the garden
Getting into the city
The Friary - "cool guys"!
Seeing new sites and walking into the Friary.
CITY! (Kellie)
Being in the car, laughing, listening to Max's tangents, dancing, singing, talking on the walkie talkies, walking after being cramped in the car.
The worship service at the Friary. It was different than usual.Finally able to recite the Lord's Prayer like we usually do! (different than the Prayer Book)
The whole evening at the Friary. Just to sit and converse and find things in common.

Quote of the day:


"No, the guy was looking at me" Max
"Snarf" (Dani's favorite word)
""If you punch someone in the face while you're wearing this ring, you will leave an elephant impression." (Br. JP showed the kids his ring)
"I think we have to stay off that street"


Our Aha moment:


Realized we made it to San Francisco.
The city is bigger than I thought it was.
Saw the skunk
I locked my key in my lockbox.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Don't worry, we didn't let her eat any of this sugar pine cone!
Dani and Katie preparing breakfast!
The pilgrims sitting in front of one of God's magnificent creations. Finally seeing these giant sequoias. To know that these were here during Christ's time on earth was just amazing!

A little taste of just how small we are!
Bonding, playing a little frisbee after lunch.
Our prayer area, in God's Cathedral, under the tall trees.
Just sittin' around under the giant sequoias.
Enjoying some silly time, hoping that Emma would feel better.
Learning about each other and their willingness to try new things.
Helping to put it all in perspective, the roots of a giant sequoia.
Realizing how small you are, yet how important!
What a beautiful smile! (nice hair, too!)
Not sure what the riddle is all about, but enjoying the kids!
Our Beagle Wolf One driver. (Max created a story about beagle wolves, so we became known as Beagle Wolf One and Beagle Wolf Two, depending on whose car you were riding in.
Drew cooking us breakfast. Mmmmm Good!


Friday, July 16, 2010 Dani’s Prayer/Activity Day

Theme: Seeking the God of Wonder
6:00 am Wake up (Drew prepares breakfast)
6:30 am Breakfast (prepare/pack lunches for the day) Morning Prayer
7:30 am Vans to Sequoia NP (Grant & Sherman Trees) (sack lunches)
6:00 pm Dinner (Kellie & Hannah prepare dinner) dinner. Prayer
7:30 pm Clean areas/pack 8:00 pm Evening activity
8:30 pm Evening Gathering (prayer/reflection)
9:00 pm Personal time
10:00 pm Lights out


Today was our silly day. Emma wasn't feeling well, so we just kind of hung out around the house, being silly, while she rested. The girls played with the boys hair, straightening, brushing, creating. Lots of laughter. Then Emma felt better, and it was on to Sequoia/King's Canyon. We saw lots of "big trees", and took lots of pictures. A mother bear and her two cubs were entertaining blocked cars along the road. We were graced with a beautiful amazing sunset on our way out of the parks. During our dark descent down the mountain a cougar sauntered out in front of Beagle Wolf 1, (our group name is Beagle Wolves, car one and car two) We heard all about it in Beagle Wolf 2, over the walkie talkie!! Had dinner in Oakhurst - wonderful pizza, before heading home! A really late night.


Notice the God of Wonder on our travels today. Notice where you experience a sense of awe and wonder. What has inspired you?

• The size of the trees- big, heavy and tall- mind blowing
• Strength and endurance of the trees through the fires
• Hollowed out trees were used for so many different things
• The sunset last night
• The cougar, baby bears, and deer (Beagle Wolf One had a cougar cross the road in front of them on our trek down the mountain out of Sequoia.)
Shadows of the mountains at night
• The steepness of the cliffs
• Color of the trees- red glowing color- phrase came to me, “the Glory of God”


Think of a song, poem, or quote and/or write your own to express what this pilgrimage means to you.

• I can only imagine by Mercy Me
• Lost (A writing that was left for pilgrims to find during our spirit walk.)
Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here, and you must treat it as a powerful stranger, must ask permission to know it and be known. The forest breaths. Listen. It answers, I have made this place around you, if you leave it you may come back again, saying Here. No two trees are the same to Raven. No two branches are the same to Wren. If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you, you are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows where you are. You must let it find you. –David Wagoner
• Time to Pretend by MGMT
• All the Small Things by Blink 182
• Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show
• Poem-
I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. – John Muir
• I’m on my Way by Mercy Me
• Columba’s Rock
• Psalm 126 on page 89 in our hour by hour prayer books.
• “Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God’s handwriting-a wayside sacrament.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson


Highlight of the Day

• Beauty Day!!
• We were able to go to see the trees!
• To see the cougar, the baby bears, and the buck
• The sunset
• To just hangout and relax.


Quote of the Day

• “Beagle wolf 2… OH CRAP!!... I am beagle wolf 2!” (learning how to use the walkie talkies)
• “My buns are tight, they are giving me a headache.” (Kellie had buns put in her hair that were apparently too tight!)
• “Cougars? We don’t have cougars! We have mountain lions. Don’t scare me!” –southern girl (the fee collector at the entrance station, as we were leaving the park)
• “Ma’am! Ma’am! Please stop!” –southern guy (people were excited about seeing a chipmunk, and wanted Barb to stop walking so they could get a video of the critters playing)
• “The hour is not premium for the doing of the up.” – Pedro in a Ukraine accent (silly time in the car! You had to be there!!)
• “It is not many a day when I laugh into the toilet.” – Emma in a Ukraine accent (Another silly time, where you really had to be there!!)
• “Can I touch your buns?” (a comment regarding Kellie's hair buns)


Our “Aha” moments

• Walking through the hollow Sequoia tree
• The stump they had school on.
• California hoax not believing the Sequoia tree was not a real tree.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Thursday, July 15, 2010

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)