Camelback

Yesterday my friend Natalie and I hiked the Echo Canyon trail on Camelback mountain. Not long in terms of distance...only 1.2 miles up....however, there is a gain of 1263 feet in elevation. So yeah...steep. Average grade is 40%...some places is more than 60%...hands and feet kind of steep...a good, hard hike.

At the top we made friends with a little chipmunk/squirrel (chipirrel, squipmunk...let's face it...they are the same animal to me) who enjoyed sharing my edamame chips...so much so that when I stopped feeding him, he came and climbed on my backpack that was sitting by me to beg for more. Sorry, Chippy, only brought a few and you got almost all of them-you little piggie.

Don't get mad animal people...the chips are organic. I'm sure totally safe for his tiny little system. (Confession: during a slightly less-focused part of my worship @ church today, I wondered if he was dead on Camelback mountain due to edamame intolerance). Look @ his cute little fingers... "Chippy"...

This is near the beginning...steep...two sections where there are metal rails...except when it's 100 degrees outside and the rail temperature is approximately 4,583,982 degrees-you use the fence instead...it's a tiny bit less likely to burn your hands.

Love this picture of cute Natalie laughing at the top...adorable. She's so fun. Such a great time...thanks Nat, love you much!

Whole World...Encore

Okay...I can't not post this. I had to decide between two...look @ this darling kiddo. It starts getting extra-darling around 1:16....stop it! I laugh OUT LOUD every time I watch it. Darling little wonder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Orv5v4rLfk&feature=related

Whole World in His Hands...

Today I had to do something that I knew would be hard (nothing Earth-shattering, just difficult, don't ask...I'll tell you later). On my way to do this hard thing, I was listening to the radio (KLOVE...a Christian radio station) and heard an artist mention that "Jesus has got the world in his hands." This made me remember a song I once learned and sang when I was about 3 or 4 and a member of a little singing group called Sunshine Generation. As I drove, I sang it and it made me smile. It's true. He DOES have the whole world in His hands. Including me. Always has. Always will. No matter what.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDG5rUexXRc

Attention Utah...listen up!

Dear Friends and Family in Utah,

Good news...my good friend Kathy Crouse is coming to UT...she's an amazing photographer...and will be in Utah at the end of this month. So...if you have a darling baby...cute kid...or other person who you love and want photographed (come on...admit it...the school photos...inevitably after recess and lunch...don't do your little one justice, right?) feel free to check out her work and get in touch with her....she has room in her schedule for a couple more shoots.

http://kathryncrousephotography2.blogspot.com/