This gallery contains 40 photos.
Traveling all the time is fun. Not knowing what is next around the corner is the best part. It keeps me from falling asleep all the time. Just after our wilderness trip over the week of the 4th, we headed straight down to Houck, AZ to team up with another LT crew on a mission [...]
I spent my 2011 4th of July next to a raging river with 18 students falling asleep to a storm underneath the night sky…. glorious, truly glorious.
4th of July never seems to fail in bringing the rain as it arrives each year. As I lay down in my half occupied 2 man ten, the dribbles begin. Imagining Palmer Lake’s occupancy and laying down against the outfield fence with all my neighborhood friends waiting for the show. Strikes of lightning and distance crackles have been lingering just over top rocks at the top of the canyon all evening. Anticipating the storm, my stomach half satisfied and head slightly tense, I affirm myself with my dry and warm fleece. P.J.’s haven’t felt so good in a long time.
Listening to the drops grow in size and strength, I can’t help but to smile. Randoe waves of splatters only getting louder crafts my mind to the realization of falling trees that could crash all around me. Then a sharp, fast, bright light revealing the tree shadows along my tent walls only brings a crackle and not the awaited fallen crash. Knowing the storm is just at it’s tip and more to come is joyous. I cover my ears to soften the pats on my fly, trying to link a memory with the familiar sounds, bringing me to the red tin roof at the cabin. BANG, RUMBLE, Crack, rumble. The storm is directly on top of our site. The thunder doesn’t just come from behind, but starts and ends in all parts of the night sky above the canyon. Totally engulfing and taking over the once blue sky we saw earlier.
Lightning and thunder never seem to cease bringing to life the power of God. How big he is and the damage He is capable of doing. FLASH!! My tent lights up sending pains through my eyes because of the extreme light irritating my pounding head. Knowing mom would be cautious and worried, I begin to worry myself. Are 6 tents with medal rods in a clearing surrounding a large “pre-struck” dead tree a safe place to be right now? Then photography distracts my mind. Not wanting to forget the journey and the experience.
Noticing the thunder is traveling and light thinning, I relax. beep! Watch reminding me it is 10 pm and most of the USA is watching or wishing they were watching fireworks. Jealous starts to boil up but is quickly shut down because of the proud fact that at 2 am when my bladder just can’t take it any longer, I will see the greatest light show. The stars up here… are another story.
Rain, starts with chaos. no one wants to get wet scrambling to find a dry area. cleaning up and hiding packs and shoes, unzip the fly, jump in!, zip up fast… instant relaxation. knowing the tent is a safety and dry zone. odd, but dry is always comforting. my vents aren’t openeed. do i open them? will water seep in? do i risk that or the risk of a condinsation on the inside of my rain fly in the morning?aw… morning dew. rain brings the smells that are so unique they are impossible to immitate. inspiring. when leaves, needles, bark, even dirt and rocks get wet from the sky a new aroma arises. yes, compleyt different. then it sits all night and morning comes with a brand new scent. so sweet, fresh, so crisp. a smell that doesn’t tickle or peirce. it sooths and calms.energizes and inspires. yes, i can’t wait for that!
Being in the woods brings you close, sometimes uncomfortably close, to the Lord. Because we become distraction free, we see things, hear things, smell things that we miss so often and sometimes every day. God’s beauty has been perfectly and magically made. He has shared it with US?! Yes! Us! His children. He has blessed us with beautiful mountains, rivers, storms, and night skies.
John 15:4 “Abide in me, as I abide in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
What does ABIDE really mean?
He has created each of us perfectly and uniquely.
Definition -
: to endure without yielding : withstand
: to bear patiently : tolerate
: to accept without objection
: to remain stable or fixed in a state
: to conform to
Synonyms: stay, dwell, hang around, remain
Remaining in the Lord can mean many different things to people. For some it is remaining in the word each and every day. Others it is acknowledging that God does exist and He is powerful enough to take over this world. I think to me, abiding (or remaining) in Him is to devote my daily actions to Him. To draw near to Him in joys and pains. To give thanks and appreciations. To confess. To ask. To serve. Remaining in the Lord is a life style, not an easy one, but it is a life style. As it says in
Matthew 10: (boldness added for emphasis on the hardship we will endure.)
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake,to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake.But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in one town,flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
We know that this is a life style that comes with hardships. It is filled with pain because of the arrogance of the people of this world. But that is our duty to show and bring about a revelation of God to the people that hurt us or are lost.
In Matthew, God also promises us that He will be with us through this all. See… it is not all bad news. Abiding in the Lord means that in return, He will abide in us.
Matthew 10: (boldness added for emphasis on promises.)
26“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33but whoever denies me before men,I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
When we abide in the Lord, we begin to discover the unknown. We understand what He says to us in the dark. We hear His whispers. We do not fear man. For we are VALUED to God. Valued… ponder that word. God wants us. He has use of each and everyone of us, a specific use. He has a desire for us. He wants us to be with Him. He cherishes us. He will acknowledge us if we acknowledge Him… The KING OF THE UNIVERSE. If we can acknowledge God before men here on Earth, we will be acknowledged in heaven where God sits on His mighty throne.
What does abiding in the Lord look like for you?
Just transferred to WordPress… to be fully updated view my old blog at
http://hollymikulas.wordpress.com/
I don’t know what it is, but I always seem to be the only girl in my days. Grew up with 3 brothers. Targeted girl in pick-up football, back yard soccer, on the slopes, and now here at Leader Treks. I am the only female trip leader.
I love it. With me not exactly having a “valley girl” type personality, it is nice to be able to chill with the guys.
I’ll tell you one thing, it is never boring. There is constantly a funny, disgusting, or entertaining conversation going on. I am learning that I do not have the thought process of a “normal girl.” I am an extremely simple and complex-free spirit. Yes, I would consider myself as a free spirited person, but not in the way that analyzes or complicates things.
I think my simpleness has confused the boys at times. “I haven’t figured you out yet.” Dave said one day as we were trying to find a trail. He assumed I was frustrated when really, I was just enjoying the complexity of leading a trip.
Being on the road and traveling with people really accelerates the “get to know you” process. Not only with your fellow travelers, but with yourself as well. I have learned a lot about myself this summer, and it’s only been about three weeks in the field.
I think that understanding the way other people operate, think, and act is a very important ability. Reading people helps you to relate, work, and better communicate with those around you. Not only is it beneficial, it is fun too. For example, I love the mornings. I love waking up in a sun-heated tent and unzipping the fly as the cool air rushes in. However, Dave on the other hand is not a morning person. It takes him just a bit longer to wake up. So, in order to not upset or irritate Dave I choose to only talk and joke around with Robbie before I move to Dave. That way he will be in a good mood- and not make me feel like a total idiot! haha
Anyway- All I am trying to say is that I love the two guys God has placed me with this summer. Dave and Robbie are such a blessing. Not only am I learning so much from them, they are pushing and challenging me so much to better myself and my relationship with God. Walking on trails, eating fast food, and even watching movies at a KOA in the tent; no matter what we are doing together, they always bring a smile to my face!
Tying knots in the Shoshone Ranger Station just before sweet and precious Vikki got the bear video set up for us!
With Oakland Naz we were supposed to be able to cross this river.... so flooded it raged the entire valley. That is where we decided to turn around, retrace steps. In doing so, we got 8 inches of snow in the morning. --Favorite part, simply because I love the danger!
Reminded me so much of hiking around the Spruce Mnt area if you are a Monument person.... not ideal when leading students in WY for a wilderness trip... still pretty, but not exactly the Big Horns.
meant to be a 2 day 1 night route. Totally knocked out 20+ miles in 11 hours! back just in time to check into a KOA for the night.
snow up Bear Tooth pass. they received over 300% of their annual snowfall this year.
Just at the top of the pass is a ski resort where you can ride. I wanna board there one day!
Hey guys,
So I am switching to this blog site because it is updated and, well basically better. Here is the first one as I try to get the hang of it. Here are some miscellaneous photos that hopefully help to fill in some left out info. Leave a comment to let me know just what you are up to?! I still wanna be updated in your lives tooo!!!
Love you all!
Hollyday I
hiked up about 2.5 miles to see this perdy lake. it was neat and fun.
National Outdoor Leadership School- I.Will.Work.Here.One.Day. Lander,WY
Let me inform you of the value of trekking poles... there is some statistic that proves they save some 1000 lbs of wieght on your knees during a 6 day pack. serve as great hangers for jackets, pots, waterbottles. Can lead pack up againts them. Can beat Robbie and Dave with them. Can defend self from bear! therefore, a necessity while in the back country!
Coolest room, ever. Topo maps covering the walls and the director, Gary, helping us search for some dry land.
Perfection
Pictures do no justice.
This is my Leader Treks Trip Leader, Dave Williams. Such a wonderful creation.
Boys indulging after Clarks Fork Hiking at Bubba's BBQ
Hours in McDonalds utilizing free wifi trying to find a trail.
I Like Nature. -Bobby Mikulas
sorting water bottles by number for our students. "your bottles, cups, and spoons are your identity!" -dave williams
