My Experiential God: An Adventure On The Grand Teton

Guys my time in The Grand Tetons have been truly blessed and entirely God present. As we descended from our successful summit attempt nearly 19 hours after we began, I couldn't believe that We had actually made it all the way up to begin with. It's insane what times of darkness can actually bring to you strength wise. It covers various discouraging mental blocks and helps us to move forward knowing that there is and will be light that will lead us to victory through glorifying The Father.

Mind Blown.

It certainly was not by my strength but the strength of my God that we were able to accomplish this 23 hour experience. All glory be to my incredible, Almighty God.

Thank you Jesus.


Here are a few photos from our adventure up the Grand Teton. 13770' of awe inspiring, humbling and God fearing creation that will blow your socks right off.

-Keep Adventuring.

Smoke haze from all the forest fires up north.

Sunrise route readings before beginning the climb.

There was a lot of gandering.

Continually ascending.

Beginning the first pitch of Upper Exum.

Researching the next pitch while taking in the view with an epic stance.

we weren't thrilled with breakfast. In fact it tasted terrible. However when you need calories, you need calories. Beef and cheese sticks.

View above the smoke line from the fires. Incredible

Happy Boy.

Austin climbing the "V-Pitch" Which is a classic fun, very exposed pitch. On the right is the Grand Teton. On the left is a sheer rock face that plummets thousands of feet. Sorry Mom and Dad.

Approaching a small scramble to get to the summit.

13770' summiters!

Hi Mom!

Happy Birthday Jamie all the way in Switzerland/ France!!!

Shout out!

View from the summit. All the Glory be to God!

During out descent...Austin is in this photo. Can you see him?

A photo showing the descent we had ahead of us after already going for 19 hours. That lake all the way down there was our final destination.

 

 

 

Thank you, Thank you!! For all of the prayers and good vibes sent our way! We are stoked and thankful to walk away with this incredible experience!

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Thought Process of a Middleschooler.

Music videos. There is something about music videos that I absolutely love. I remember growing up flipping back and forth between MTV and VH1 watching music videos and sometimes watching pop-up video on repeat. Oh man now that I think of it, I really miss Pop-up Video.

I like interpretation. Not interpretive dance.

 But the interpretation of lyrics and song meanings. I always found it interesting how being in middle school how it seemed like N*syncs lyrics were so deep while they sang, "I drive myself crazy thinking of you" then upon viewing, "Making the Video" how they interpreted the song to look like this: Drive Myself Crazy. If I'm honest, I can openly admit that I made a terrible mistake at ever thinking N*Syncs lyrics were "deep", "wise" and "spot-on". But luckily there were other artists whose music I found to be really interestingly interpreted.

I will also openly admit that in the midst of these song interpretations, I had different interpretations in my head. As I would sing to my mirror with an imaginary micraphone (I never used a brush because I thought it was dumb to sing into a hair brush), I played out these interpretations in my head. Further down the road reading more into lyrical meanings and musical interpreation, I was rather thrown off. Parts of me were ripped apart to figure out that some artists literally had no meanings to the lyrics they wrote or that the reasonings for writing the music was just to make money and not express anything. This caused me to seek artists who sought out meaning through their music and lyrical flow.
With in the last 15 years I have learned more of how music brings freedom to think of whatever we want to when we hear music. To break that down from my perspective for you, Just because the artists interprets the song or lyrics one way doesn't mean that in order to enjoy the music we need to see it as the same interpretation.

In very recent years, I have heard multiple songs about other people or the strong hold of relationships with significant others and the intimacy within that. While listening to artists such as Incubus or even Brandi Carlile, I personally have seen an uplifting benefit to rewriting the main subject in my brain to the main subject surrounding Christ.

Two examples:
Incubus- Dig
Brandi Carlile- The Things I Regret

Dig:
We all have a weakness
But some of ours are easy to identify
Look me in the eye
And ask for forgiveness;
We'll make a pact to never speak that word again
Yes you are my friend.
We all have something that digs at us,
Atleast we dig eachother
So when weakness turns my ego up
I know you'll count on the me from yesterday
If I turn into another
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me
Sing this song
Remind me that we'll always have eachother
When everything else is gone.

The Things I regret:
 With the weight of the world resting on my back,
and the road on which I've travled is as long as it is cracked.
But I keep pressing forward with my feet to the ground,
for the heart that is broken makes a beautiful sound.

But when you're wearing on your sleeve,
all the things you regret,
you can only remember what you want to forget

Let them roll over me.
Let them roll over me,
when I doubt you.

Let them roll over me.
Let them roll over me,
when I doubt you.


It is personal interpretation that makes me wonder if the artists themselves have ever seen or read their lyrics in the way that I or possibly others see it in this context. Either way I personally can see God very much speaking to me through music continually and reminding me of his faithfulness and boldness in seeking us out continually.

Bonus:
This was a song that I literally would belt out alone in my room, beleiving that it was my life even though I had never even experienced the deep heart ache that was rather apparent through out this entire song. Step further, I acted it out in my room and loved this song and artist so much, in that  chubby middle school season of my life, that I actually dressed and cut my hair to try and look exactly like her...
I still blare this song when it comes on shuffle.

You're welcome.




-Keep Adventuring.



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Life and The Love in It.

It's amazing what God can throw at you through life and how everything can feel so different yet there are so many things that just feel the same but in new ways. That is the feeling of joy that I experienced this past weekend as I ran up to hug one of my best friends from Pennsylvania who now lives in Southern Colorado!

It all began when we proclaimed out best friendship in a hot tub on the side of Stratton Mtn. Vermont. Leading up to that conversation we had adventured places and most importantly from the get-go, we dreamed of adventure and what they could look like as well as what we felt called to do in the midst of our late teen years when we thought we really knew everything and ourselves.

As these 10+ years continue, I am thankful to know her. Thankful to be known by her and so thankful and praising God for his calling and purpose within this friendship. Cheers to another 10 Ry!

This past weekend we had a lot of firsts experienced! Specifically our First show at Redrocks Amphitheater.

Mind Blown... Brandi Carlile played an incredible show. I swear she gets better and better each time I see her live. Great music, great friends!

Ry and I stoked to be at Redrocks and Stoked to be reunited.

Ry, husband Sam, me and Boyfriend Austin

Lovely faces and lovely rocks.

Brandi KillING it!

Mind Blown.

 "9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

-Philippians 2:9-11

"14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."-Matthew 24:14

My mind was blown further and my heart filled with joy when Brandi Carlile, the artist we saw perform at Redrocks, proclaim Jesus' name to a crowd of thousands! Talk about taking the folk world to a whole new level. It was amazing. Every single ear heard his name and the truth of who he is, our Savior! Amen!

Here are a few of her songs that I love and hope you do too!
Mainstream Kid (Crank this one)
Wherever Is Your Heart
Blood Muscle Skin & Bones (Crank this one too)
The Things I regret
The Story
Turpentine




Along with the concert weekend we also camped outside of Breckenridge and went mountain biking on the Gold Dust trail! RAD! Enjoy the photos and enjoy the vibes that all of my memories from this weekend have to offer!

Trail head of Gold Dust Trail. 8 mile... Mostly down hill.

He's a forester...It's OK.

Views on views on views!

Met in PA, moved West...Is this real life?! So thankful.

Werked.

-Keep Adventuring.





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This Hope Wont Let Me Go.

"O Lord, "clouds are the dust of [your] feet"! (Nah. 1-3). Help us remember how near You are during the dark and cloudy days! Love beholds You and is glad. Faith sees the clouds emptying themselves and thereby making the hills on every side rejoice."- Charles H Spurgeon

The quote stated above is not to speak of recent darkness in my own life or the discouragement that might seemingly be felt. But rather it is very much a prayer and reminder for me today. I hope and pray the same for who ever reads this.

3 years ago I had returned from one of the most impactful summers of my life. My legs felt like steel and my heart, though overflowing, was extremely lost and heavy. I had just finished a 3400 mile bike ride from Seattle WA to New York City. In the midst of this transition and transference I had spoken a lot with God that summer about what my future would look like. I almost commited to moving to Boulder CO on a whim and really had no want within me to return to the Redwood forrest (as stange as that seems). Instead I would rather have run to avoid what I ultimately knew I needed to do, return to work in Northern California.

I remember sitting in a field in front of a church in Plymouth, Wisconsin telling God and asking Him to please give me direction. To please give me clairity on what I should do considering I needed to let those in California know and soon! I argued, begged and tried to hop around the truth.

The conversation went as follows:

D: "God please, I can't go back."

G: "I need you to go back"

D: "Why? I'm exhausted, bitter and burnt out"

G: "I know. But I need you to go back."

D: "Please don't make me."

G: "I know. In fact, this will be one of the hardest seasons of your life... But I need you to go back."

D: "...Fine."

G: "It'll be worth it. I promise.Trust me".

D: " ::sigh:: alright."

"Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass".- Joshua 21:45

"Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time?"- Psalm 77:8

"so you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises".- Hebrews 6:12

"by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire".- 2 Peter 1:4

The first day that I returned to work I was given a promotion. You would think I would be thrilled about this. I wasn't. If anything I was more distrusting and stressed out. The promotion I had received was to a position that didn't exist yet. I was put in charge alongside my boss to create a new position to go with the expansion of our programing in the Redwood forest. There was no routine, there was no "getting used to things again", no transference. As the weeks continued I was finding it harder and hard to get out of bed to approach work. It became harder and harder to care... About anything except my exhaustion, stuck in a deep black hole of thoughts and how I couldn't comprehend why God really wanted me back here. A few weeks after that, I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with moderate to severe depression.

I have been taking a pill everyday for the last 3 years of my life to regulate what my body fails to produce. Chemicals in my brain that help me to function both physically and mentally.

I was bitter to need medication in such a medicated generation, I wanted to go against it. I felt guilt crumble me in the sense that I had been told multiple time, "You're not praying enough", "You need to trust the Lord more", "You should read your bible more".

Stigmas...

Yes Depression is not of the Lord. But yet He still allows it. Yes there is an imbalance in my brain that causes my body to react the way that it does. Our bodies have been flawed since the fall of man. Sure medication isn't the answer but God (the great physician) provided knowledge and responsibility of physicians to create this medicine that can help many to see the truths and not allow our flawed bodies, our flesh to over take our souls and spirits.

Yes I struggle with depression but perhaps God is using this as a huge tool to minister. He grew me tremendously in that season to trust the promise that he set before me of knowing that through hard seasons it would be worth it. and it has been 300 times over.

I say all of this because this week is the first week that I have not taken a pill everyday. Instead my doctor and I are experimenting to see how my brain does for the rest of August into September without medication. Over the last few months of moving to Laramie my stress levels have dissipated tremendously and I have been able to go down in dosage. through this transition my prayer goes back to the quote above.

I will openly admit that I believe that God has not healed me from my depression. And that is His choice. I know that he can if he wants. But until then, I know that there is reason for everything... There is a specific reason for it. And that in these storms we should not dread the dark clouds and rain because through each season or rain, blessing, cultivation and new growth comes with it and from it.

Thank you Jesus!

Tunes for the week:
Still hooked on these gems-
Running To You
Good Good Father
Up In Arms




-Keep Adventuring.




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Dead Man Raised.

Tunes to start you off:
Good Good Father- Housefires
Running To You- Shane and Shane



I need to admit something. Sometimes even at 28 I feel I get into this mentality that I've "seen it all". I have gotten in these minds sets that basically my flesh and my eyes are tired and I think that there could not possibly be anything greater or more awing to see than what I have already witnessed in these past years of adventuring around the world.
I was humbled last week...

My final course of the Summer consisted of meeting up with First Presbyterian Church youth students who were from Houston Texas, in Grand Teton National Park. I can tell you from the very beginning this course was not like the rest of SROM's courses. It was rather opposite of what we do yet God works in all things and not only were students greatly impacted but we as instructors were also impacted.

 "3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by Gods power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5



"All People are like grass,
and all their glory is like flowers in a field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord endures forever." 1Peter 1:24-25

The inheritance is far, far greater than Patagonia fleeces, than souveniers, stickers and even far greater than any of the views we will ever experience in our short time on earth. It will be sweeter than any lovely stream, ocean, mountain, trout or salmon caught. For all these things bow at His name.

"You are more radiant with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game"- Psalm 76:4

"Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."-Psalm 90:2

"He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to man kind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth- The Lord God Almighty is his name."- Amos 4:13

"The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it." Nahum 1:5

It's so hard for me to comprehend this truth. But it is with in the reminders of His glorious majesty in these mountains, lakes and waterfalls this week that I am reminded, humbled and giddy to know that all of this pales in comparison to who my God is.

Thank you Jesus for showing me glimpses of your majesty within your creation that we climb and play on as well as showing us glimpses of yourself within each other through the exploration of your creation and the creation within each of us.

Between hikes, Bison, Geysers, swimming holes, sunsets and mountain peaks I have been reminded that until I go home, That feeling of awe will never be fulfilled here but instead my soul will continue to long for His glory. My soul will continue to seek and accept in wonder and awe of the sites he sets in front of me. Mountains, people, all or it.

Bridge across String Lake in Grand Teton National Park

Old Faithful gazing with Liv in Yellowstone!

Big Dougy Furs in Yellowstone!

Skys out thighs out with Mr. Chris Gearheart!

atop Angle Mountain 10,500' with a 360 view of EVERYTHING!

Me and Lower Falls in Yellowstone: Mind Blown!

Taking it in atop Angle Mountain in the Teton Wilderness

Instructor Team heading back to Laradise doing what we do best... Eat ice cream!

 -Keep Adventuring.












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