My Day in Boston

Not sure what to say about Boston. Mostly I am just blogging because I have internet access...

So I totally get why Elle Woods stuck out so much at Harvard. No one here gives a rip about what they are wearing!

Driving in Boston is way worse than LA.

Lunch at Durgin Park today cost a week of food money (I had lobster) but it was totally worth it. 

I walked the Freedom Trail. America is so awesome. 

The stairs pictured are at Park Street Church, my family has a long history with this church!

I am staying the the dorm room of a couple of really awesome girls at Harvard. They are so nice and SO smart! I went to the Harvard-Radcliffe Christian Fellowship with them tonight. It was smaller than I had expected, which was too bad cause Harvard is a really big school. It was a nice time and very friendly people. I am so enjoying being a part of random Christian communities across America! Thanks friends, for hooking me up.

My, but isn't this grand!: Tales of the Grand Canyon

At the very start of this trip (-though I feel as though I have hardly begun) I read Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller. It seemed appropriate... And so it was. I really enjoyed it. At one point Donald and his traveling partner go to the Grand Canyon. They decide to hike to the bottom and camp then take two days to hike back up the canyon on the Bright Angel trail. This inspired me to do the same thing. Gee, if Donald Miller can do it, so can I!

I start doing research on hiking the Grand Canyon with Aunt Janet in the background telling me what a bad idea it is. It's grueling, she says. You're not prepared, she says... But if Donald Miller can do it, so can I! I navigate to the 'Safe Hiking Tips' page on the GC website and the very first tip- in bold- reads: Do not attempt to do this hike alone.

Oh.

So Aunt Janet and I went up and camped for the night at the rim instead. It was such fun! We walked (drove) along one of the more touristy paths to see the canyon for a couple hours so I could take 4358998456 photos with my 7 cameras then headed back to the campground to make camp. 

While we were making s'mores it started to snow!! Fortunately, Aunt Janet brought her van so we didn't have to sleep in a tent. We were snug as bugs in rugs in the van with our down duvets and dogs to keep us toasty.

It was a great little trip.

Streams in the Desert

I can't remember where I first picked up Streams in the Desert. It was years ago. I read it through once (it is a 366 day daily devotional reading) and have picked it up here and there since then. 

The Lord has used these pages to speak to me and minister to my spirit in so many ways on so many occasions. It really is incredible. And now, as I find my self walking through the valley of the shadow of death these words seem daily written just for me. 

It is amazing- no- beyond amazing how every single day the devotional in this little, insignificant book speaks exactly to my needs for that day. Thank you, Lord!

I told Aunt Janet (whom I am currently staying with in Arizona) about this little tome. She told me that Grandma and Aunt Mary (Grandma's big sister) both read it for years!! I love it. She gave me Grandma's copy of the book. What a gift. It was gifted to her in 1983 and has an inscription and several underlines, book marks and little notes. It is so special. 

My Grandma and I had a special relationship. We are a lot alike; cut from the same cloth. The more I learn about her the more I find this to be true. (Well, except that I'd make a terrible teacher!) 

This book comes highly recommended!