Beauty in the Mountains

I had a wonderful adventure out in the pretty nature of the Pacific Northwest; a cabin retreat with with young women and leaders from church. An overnight in the mountains, next to a beautiful river. How did I get so lucky? 

It was a simple activity of staying in a cabin, eating food, having fun with the girls talking, playing the guitar, singing girls camp songs, eating chocolate, dressing in cute pjs, playing games, spiritual learning, and exploring the nature. It was so much fun, and I'm so grateful that Shaun could watch the kids so I could attend. 

Cutie girls and I were eager to go hiking behind the cabin, discovering a rushing river, and loads of mossy trees. 

Walking down the hill into a mossy and moist forest was a fabulous experience for me. Everywhere I looked, there was beauty. It was like I was in a National Geographic magazine. The scenery was just gorgeous. The sounds of the river rushing along, splashing on rocks, was such music to my ears. I was walking on a carpet of moss and plants, and my feet would sometimes sink down. It was that soft. The trees and branches everywhere were covered with this carpet. Completely different from a desert, but the desert has its own beauty. Its just neat to experience other states and their beauties.

We saw this platform, a tree fort, and had to check it out! 

On the way, I was dazzled by this somewhat meadow of green plants, Trilliium. I stopped and looked down, and at myself surrounded by them. For some reason, I just thought of "Avatar" and the planet at night time, with all the lit up plants. Dork.

We braved climbing up. No doubt, it was built by some adventure seeking boys, to which we were grateful for. What a view. How exhilirating it was to be up high near the trees and see everything. 

I loved seeing the girls being content in nature, carefully stepping through the many cracking branches, and searching in the river for fish. We saw a huge salmon swimming up the river. It looked to be 2-3 feet long. I laughed and admired one girls determination to get in the river and catch it, saying her dad would be so proud, making me think of the influence of a loving parent. Sometimes, I would just sit on a mossy, huge log and watch everything around me, listening to all the sounds. Just loved it.

Highlights from that evening:

• Bringing my guitar and playing. We had a few men leaders come up and stay in the smaller cabin next to us. Some of them picked up the guitar and played. Love seeing others enjoy music. 
• John Denver music was requested. Made my day. We sang 'Country Roads', 'Annie's song', and more. Totally made me remember Mom, and all those driving hours in the van, listening to his music on the tape deck. Mom loved John Denver. 
• Playing "Radioactive' for one of the dear girls, and singing it with her. Such a cool song. 
• Hearing one of the guys play Metallica's 'Enter Sandman', and knowing what song it was within three notes of him playing it. Got way too giddy over hearing that. Again, dork and tomboy.
• Seeing the usual girl sweetness of sitting and playing with each other's hair. 
• Hearing the girls scream over spiders and a dead mouse. 
• A wild hour of girls camp songs, and circle games. Good times. 
• Being totally blown away by one of the guy's amazing card tricks. 
• Finally hitting the bed at midnight, and hearing softly the girls talking and laughing till 1am. 
• Forcing myself to emerge from bed by 7ish, competely tired, but wanting to sit outside by the river and read scriptures. The ultimate gift!

Anyways, it was fabulous:)