in the mountains

I am writing this post on our 3rd last night in northern BC. Though, our vacation is only halfway through... still have the lower mainland to visit! Tomorrow we are taking the train back to Prince George, and after a couple of days there are headed down to Vancouver, Abbotsford and Victoria for more BC fun. Hurray for holidays, vacation, visiting and adventures!!


This is the view from where I am typing:

webcam shot- big tree, farm yard, snowy mountains and beautiful sky..

Not bad eh? Brian and Bronwen and I have had a lovely vacation so far. It started out with a pretty busy but awesome weekend with all members of the Claus family.. including all 7 grandchildren- aged 5,4,3,2,1, 4 months and 3 months. We have all aspects of early childhood covered ;). It was great to catch up and also enjoy some of the sites to see in Prince George. Real northern BC activities such as the Railway and Forestry Museum (with a mini railroad!), Cottonwood Island Park, where we had a great picnic; and a recreation area by the Nechako River where we had a campfire and delicious dinner (including smores!)

We don't get to see this side of our family much (even less than the Bergshoeffs) so it was great as the last time we were all together was at our wedding, almost 2 years ago. After our reunion extravaganza, Brian and I and Bronwen travelled with Mom and Dad C another 750 or so km west to the town of Terrace, BC- right in the coast mountains. This is where the Claus's make their new home.. it is on a lovely island in Terrace called Braun's Island, in the Skeena River- River Mist Farm. We had a very relaxing time here and got to drink lots of tea together, share some delicious meals, do a few hikes and picnics, and even venture out to Prince Rupert.

I love this area. it's just surrounded by wilderness. Every direction you look there are mountains. Wild spaces. Unexplored peaks. I see some of these mountains and I just feel this urge to climb them. This fascination with mountains started the first time I ever saw a real mountain, from the Greyhound bus at about 5 am as we drove through the Rockies on my way to Prince George for my first season of BC planting, in April 2006.

As I look now at the mountains, I remember something I read in one of my favourite books, Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller. It goes something like this..

And these mountains, could they speak
Would thunder glory at their Maker
But instead stand silent
So that man's weak praise could be given God's attention

(I think I just made some of that up). But either way, that's kind of what I think when I look across the way at those hills.

These thousand hills roll ever on
Footprints of a mighty God
They bring me to my knees in praise
Amazing love, amazing grace
          -third Day- that one is for real ;)

I just noticed that my post about dear Chelsea has been looked at over 130 times. Maybe that is by the same person, I can't tell. But either way, her death has impacted us. It has impacted me. I think about her when I see a horse, when I think of swimming lessons, when I wrap Bronwen every night in the special blanket made by her mom Aunt Donna. I think about my Aunt Donna wrapping up her baby Chelsea every night and tucking her in to sleep and how she had to say goodbye 23 years later. I think and I wonder as I look at the mountains.

I lift my eyes up to the mountains
Where does my help come from?
my help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth

He will not let your foot slip
He who watches over you will not slumber
He who watches over you will neither slumber nor sleep

He was watching over Chelsea. That is what is so hard to understand sometimes.

Lord, grant us Your peace.